Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-26
RICHES or THE CONGO.
A Returned Missionary Describes the
Wonders ofthe Free state.
From The Ven I'o,h STIR

residence in the Congo Free State, talks
very Interestingly OF the Dark Continent.
The present great interest in the. new
world which has been opened up to Eu-
ropean and American enterprises
arises from its making the interior acces-
sible.
1.-The advantages presented by the Con-
60" said DR.. Sims. in an interview, "are
unequaled anywhere in equatorial ATT
ca, unless, perhaps, by the Niger. 1t Is
only within the past three months that
we have any exact knowledge of the ca
pabillties and resources Of the country,
for the tributaries Of the great river have
just been explored and the Information OF
its peoples obtained. The Congo passes
through country about 900 miles square,
containing about 100000 square miles,
traYersing it first north, then across and
then SOUTH Most OF this country is pure
virgin forest. II has immense tributaries
flowing into it ramifying some for 100
nilas and some as far as 800 miles. The
greatest tributary is the MObangi, which
is, as 1t were. repetition OF the Congo,
being at itsmouth II 10 10 miles wide;
100 miles in the interior il is miles wide;
400 miles IN the interior it is half mile
wide IN the mountain gOrges. The oppor-
tunit5s tor reaching the southwest OF the
S0udan by this river are unequaled, and
by its means a great riverlne hiatus is till-
ed, and even the remOtest parts of equa-
torial Africa are now accessible by navI-
gable rivers. Another example will show
the accessibility OF this country Tor mer-
camille pursuits.
A NEW WAY TO THE SOUDAN.
Tho Loika, which recently assembled
TO nearly three degrees north ofthe Equa-
f1,rr aaras no 80 an
people IN the central SOudan, where from
the rounded clay houses and native cut
lery it was plainly evident that we were
among southern Soudanese populations
discovered some time ago ana described
by Schweinfurth and Junker. | descend
ed the LOmami river, which runs due
south from the opposite side from the Al
uwimi for 800 miles, till we We're right
along the Watwa, mentioned by Stanley
in bis recent work. AT our turning point
the river went still south and was naviga-
hie for probably several hundred miles. In
addition 10 these, there are the Buluki,
Lulongi, Ikelamba and Cassi rivers pene-
tratiug into all the remaining country,
added 70 which are such rivers as the
MukanI, MbOshi, Ntsala, with the western
tributaries of the Great MObangi, which
drain all the country at the back of the
seaboard, from the Cameroons TO the Ga
boons, and empty themselves into the
Congo"
Now as to the resources, soil, and
that much-disputed question, the eli
mateY'
1.-THE resources or the region are great
and mainly undeVeleped. Perhaps half
Of this vast territory is virgin forest of
great thickness and value. Wherever /
have been the great rubber wealth of the
country is yet untouched. This will be
accessible as soon as the natives find there
is market for it somewhere on the river.
Considering that at present the rubber
supply OF America is inadequate, it is
plain that sooner or later this equatorial
supply will be tapped and immense for
tunes realized. The quantity of ivory
which lies unused and is, comparatively
speaking, of no value in this region is I'M
told.
IVORY KITCHEN UTENSILS.
Everywhere saw a vast amount OF il
utterly wasted or applied to base pur-
poses, being used even as chopping- blocks
and 10 be obtained for triie. The for
ests are filed with redwood, which is
worth $50 ton in the European market
but, owing to the present existing difficult
ties Of transport on the lower Congo, is
worthless and was put by us into the fur
naces OF the steamers. Gum cOpal il
found every where in a fossil state. In the
| forests there contain three species o
| palms, one Of which yields valuab OF
! which the natives extract. While vet I'm
| developed, the palm oil industry promises
| to be one OF the richest In the upper Con
/ 60 when Mr.. SANKEY'S railway is com
| pleted. The country of the upper Congo
| is exceedingly fertile. The natives make
clearings in the forests for their gardenl
and plantations by cutting the tops of b,
| trees and filing the stumps to their roots
| Plantains, bananas, maize, tobacco, man
iOcha, peanuts and yams are cultivated
! We have frequently found coffee growing
wild in this part OF the country. From
my knowledge of coffee plantations on tn,
African coast i am convinced THAI COTE,
! plantations on the Congo would be Verl
successful.
"As to the climate, from my experienc,
! j do not doubt that Europeans can lIV,
there with comparative safety and com
fort. have lived there myself for nearl,
year. II young man in good natura
health observes carefully the rules which
apply TO tropical country, being tempe
rate in both eating and drinking, there i,
no reason why his health should not be-
| retained. Unbridled enthusiasm lead.
/ people 10 all kinds OF indiscretions. /
Europeans work as hard as at home they
J must fall. Other causes, for which per
!
! the loss Of health. have known person,
TO live there nearly three years without
! sickness. Lieut.. Iaunt. L. :. n, wa,
| one of them. There is no distinction as Il
| wet and dry seasons. Rain falls one,
! every two or three days, generally 10 tn,
/ night. The temperature maintains al
| average of So TO 30 degrees all the yea
round. The nights are cool and pleasant
with the temperature at 70 TO 70 degrees
| There are a few mosquitoes, but they ar,
not Troublesome"
How did you find the peopleY
THE PEOPLE FRIENDLY.
"The people in the upper Congo show
/ remarkable spirit Of friendship, which
promises we'll for their future progress h
| civilization. We anticipate that they vii
| rapidly become quiet and amenable 10 thu
/ laws Of the state. They suffer greatl
/ from incursiOns of Arabs, who devastat
| their houses and villages, and carry OF
/ their women and children. The captor
treat their oapuyes with the greatest cru
/ city. The natives are hardy and indus
triOus. with great commercial instinct
and a spirit OF enterprise. On the uppe
portions the natives are given TO canni
balism In it's most revolving forms. This
7 ] think, Is attributable TO the scarcity O
meat and fish. The sentiment OF the won
en- and children and many OF the men /
against IT,"
ais the Congo Free State, in your opin
ion, successW
Yes. Its political aspects are dali
improving. The state is exercising
great influence over the natives Inter