Middletown transcript., 1886-02-19

past Stanley Falls We lid proceed
$50 miles farther up the river, and
then a portage of two miles would
give us $50 more. In addition to
these distances upon the Congo ITSELF
its larger afluents make up a total
navigable length of more than 1000
miles. Along the main stream we
have constructed thirteen stations in
the most likely places, among peaceful
tribes, with whom we are on terms of
familiar intercourse, and who have
welcomed us as brothers"
The Importance of these measures,
which practically bridge over the gap
dividing the inland trade of the upper
Congo from the coast trade ofits low
er course, can hardly be over-rated.
Even in 1883 the annual value of the
local traffic was estimated at $4,000,
600; and now that the Berlin Confer
ence of 1884 has. disposed of the abb
surd claims Of Portugal, and estab-
lished freedom of trade throughout
the entire basin Of the Congo, it may
reasonably be expected to develope
apace. Bounded on the north by the
watershed of the Nile, on the sonth
by that Of the Zambezi and the Loge,
on the east by Lake Tanganyika, and
on the west by the Atlantic Ocean,
this vast tract comprises almost the
whole southern portion Of Central
Africa, having a lenght of 400
miles by breadth of 1900, and an
area Of 100000 square miles.
Its population, though a mere
nothing to that which it may support
with ease at no very distant date, is
already very considerable. In one
section Of the upper Congo Mr.. Stanly
counted fourteen tolerably large vii
lagos within very limited space; and
the most reliable among the many es-
Inmates Of the total population rates it
as high as 100000.
The lower Congo enjoys the price
less advantage of traversing an in
zone admirably fitted for
cultivation, separating two opposing
tracts, in one of which cultivation is
rendered impossible by absolute want
Of water, and in the other by per-
manent excess of it. The great mass
of forest and swamp covering the basin
of the Niger and almost the whole of |
;he west coast stretches southwark as
far as the mouth ofthe Ogoway River,
about fifty miles south of the equator.
Here it gradually begins to melt away,
he rivers being still thickly wooded,
while the open country assumes the
orm of wide green savannahs, dap
,led with clumps of trees, and rep
'esenting the "park-like region SO
,ften and SO enthusiastically referred
o by Mr.. Johnston. This in its turn
,ives place by degrees to the scantier
of the Portuguese provinces
f Benguela and Mossamedes, growing
hinner and ever thinner as it recedes
rom the limit of the oil palms at the
enth parallel of south latitude, till
be last trace of vegetable life vanishes
n the border of the great Kalahari
)esert, which lies Immediately north
f the Orange River and Cape Colony.
It is through thegreat natural park
bove mentioned that the Congo flows
ownward to the sea, with all the
advantages that can be
iven to it by a magnificent climate
nd soil of unexampled fertility.
.mong the products of the Congo ba-
n enumerated by Mr.. Stanley are
aim oil, cassava, plantains and other
uits, palm wine, copper, iron, ver-
ilion, camwood, tobacco, sugar-cane,
for a survey. He keeps this mo
along in quite promising fashion,.