Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-29
INTERESTING AFRICA.
A Lecture to Students on the LanA
About Which Little IL Known.

AbOuf which Little L. Known.
Yesterday Mr.. ]. Ormond Wilson deliver
ed, before the Preparatory School Of tho
Columbian College. a very interesting leo
ture upon Africa. AS secretary Of the
American Colonization Society he ID adj
mirably qualified to discuss the geography
and present political condition Of this con-
tinent.
Mr.. Wilson said that there is more nat
ural wealth In Africa than in any other
continent. though this wealth is not yet
developed; IT is about 5000 miles in length.
5000 in breadth. being four times as large
as the United States; Africa resembles q
deep plate reversed, with a rim of from
30 to 150 miles; the dense growth of trees
on the coast renders this part of Africa
unhealthy. The mean height is about
Z'oOo feet above the sea, while the mean
height Of Europe 10 but 1000 feet; some
parts OF the former are from 5000 to 5000
ieet IN height; the highest peak OF the
highest mountain is 10000 feet In altitude
Inc rivers are Of great length. the Nile.
the Congo. the Niger and the Zambesi, with
It's great falls. The northern line of Africa
corresponds with the northern line of the
state OF Georgia The Belgian government
" now building a railroad to connect two
saea, waterways. The lakes of Africa are
population of Africa consists OF ON on 0OO
negroes and 100000 Caucasians This con-
uheht could support three times the num-
Der tnat II now has The religions are
pasanism' the faith of Mohammed and the
Christian. Mohammedanism has imnroved
tne nauves In large measure, because II
teaches the worship of one god and the
practice OF sobriety. The animal tribes are
numerous and interesting. The feathers of
one ostrich are sometimes sold for $l25; the
single tusk OF a fine elephant Is worth S2s0
The variety of vegetable productions is
striking. The Africans have nearly all of
our vegetables, with many more. Liberian
conee Is well-known ard valued In the
markets of Europe. The coffee trees are
Plahteo ana In hve years they begin to
produce. Many kinds of wood grow there.
though the people have scarcely any plants
Ior manufacturing wood. The pine Is not
found there. Commercially Africa In very
important to Europe. England leads in
these commercial relations; then come
Germany and France. The value of money
In place of beads and rum is being more
appreciated by the natives. In southern
africa you would imagine that some of the
towns were American cities. Nearly ali
parts are now to be reached by the sub
marine telegraph. Railroads are constantly
being built. 1t is to be hoped that the
negro will ultimately have q portion of his
native land, where he rnsy devotion the
spirit Of self-government At present
France claims about one-fourth; England
nearly as much: Germany q large territory
while the Congo Free State, under the M.
pervision of the king Of the Belgians. has
land and other possessions The history of
northern Africa Is replete with interest;
mere was played a part of the great Ro-
brought their customs and religion Older
sun and richer In legends and history Is
Egypt. whose civilization comes from pre-
historic times.