The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-05

10 go. Thats all hear! dearlI Ana NJ
induced Lawson. the proprietor, TO consent
The funds were had and went.
First of all, we settled the problem OF the
Victoria; that it was one body of water; that
instead of being q cluster of shallow lakes or
marshes. it was one body of water, 81 500 square
miles in extent. While endeavorine to throw
light upon Sir Samuel Bakers Albert Nyanza
we discovered new lake, much superior lake
to the Albert Nyanza-the Dead Locust lake
and at the same time Gordon Pasha sent his
lieutenant to discover and circumnavigate the
Albert Nyanza, and he found it to be only
miserable lao miles, because Baker, in fit of
enthusiasm, had stood on the brow Of a high
plateau and looking down on the dark blue
waters of Albert Nyanza, cried Economically:
~ see il extending indefinitely toward the south
west" Indefinitely" is not geographical ex-
preston, gentlemen Laughter
We found that there was no outlet to the
Tanganyika, although it was a sweet-water lake.
After settling that problem, day after day, as We
glded down the strange river that had lured
Livingstone 10 his death. we were in as much
doubt as Livingstone had been when
he wrote his last letter and said: II
will never be made black mans meat
for anything less than the classic Nile" After
travelling 400 miles came to the Stanley Falls,
and beyond them we saw the river defect from
its Nieward course toward the northwest Then
it turned west and then visions of towers and
towns, and strange tribes. and strange nations,
broke upon our imagination, and we wondered
what we were going to see, when the river sud-
denly took decided turn toward the south
west, and our dreams were put end to. We
saw then that it was aiming directly for the
Congo. and when we had propitated some ma
tives whom we encountered, by showing them
crimson beads and polished wire that had been
polished for the occasion laughterl. We said:
"Ths for your answer What river is thisT
''WhY, it is the river of course" That WAS not
an answer, and required some persuasion before
the chief, bit by bit, digging into his brain,
managed to roll out generously the words 1t
is the Ko-to-yah Congo"-'1t is the river or
Congoland."
Alas for our classic dreams Alas for Crophi
and Mophi, the tabled fountains of Herodotusi
Alas for the banks of the river where Moses was
found by the daughter of Pharaoh! This is the
parvenu Congo! Then we glided on and on past
strange nations and cannibals-not past those
nations which have their heads under their arms
laughter for l, 100 miles, until we arrived at q
circular extension of the river. and my last re-
naming companion called it the Stanley Pool,
and then, FIVE months after that, our journey
ended.
After that had very good mind to como
back to America and say, like the Queen OF
Uganda, "There, what did tell your But you
know the fates would not permit me TO come
over in 1878 The very day / landed in Europe,
the King of Italy gave me an express train TO
convey me to France, and the very moment
descended from it at Marseilles. there were three
EN- bassadors from the King Of the Belglans, ask
ing me to go back to Africa.
"Whata Back to Africaa Never! Laughter.
/ have come for civilization. have come for
enjoyment. / have come for love, for life, for
pleasure. Not /. Go and ask some of those peo
pie you know who have never been to Africa be-
fore. / have had enough Of it." ''Well, per-
haps, by and by ''Ah don't know what will
happen by and by, but, just now, never, neverl
Not for Rothschild's wealth. Laughter and
applause.
1 was received by the Paris Geographical
Society," and it was then began to feel. 'Well
after all, have done something, haven't W 1felt
superb. Laughter. But you know / have
always considered myself a republican Ihave
those bullet-riddled flags, and those arrow-torn
fags-the stars and stripes-that / carried in
Africa for the discovery of LIVINGSTONE and that
crossed Africa, and venerate those old flags.
have them in London now jealousy guarded in
the secret recesses of my cabinet. allow only
my very best friends to look at them, and if any
of you gentlemen ever happen in at my quarters
will show them to you. Applause.
After l had written my book. Through the
Dark Continent" began to lecture, using these
words: 81 have passed through a land watered
by the largest river of the African continent,
and that land knows owner word to the
wise is sufficient. You have cloths, and hard
ware and glassware, and gunpowder, and those
millions of natives have ivory, and gums, and
rubber, and dyestuffs and in bart there is good
profit" Laughter
The King of the Belgans commissioned me to
go to that country. My expedition. when we
started from the coast numbered 800 colored
people and fourteen Europeans We returned
with 3, 600 trained black men and 300 Europeans.
The first sum allowed me was $50 000a year, but
it has ended at something like $780, 900 year.
Thus you see the progress of civilization. We
found the Congo having only canoes. To-day
there are eight steamers 1t was said at first
that King Leopold was dreamer. He dreamed
he could unite the barbarians of Africa into a
confederacy, and call it free state; but on Feb
25 1885. the powers of Europe, and America,
also. ratified an act recognizing the territories
acquired by us to be the free and INDEPENDENT
state of the Congo.
Perhaps, when the members OF the Lotos Club
have reflected little more upon the value Of
what Livingstone and Leopold have been doing,
they will also agree that these men have done
their duty in this world and in the age that they
live and that their labor has not been in vain
on account of the great sacrifices they have made
to the benighted millions of dark Africa Loud
and enthusiastic applause.