The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1903-06-25
EXPLORING A NEW RIVER.
Another white space ON the Congo
Mar neinR FILLED with Geo
graphite Detail.

More than 20 years ago sayorgnan
de Brazza carried little steam
launch overland between the head
waters of the large 0gowe river and
the upper part Of river on the
other side of the divide, a few miles
away. The natives called this stream
the Alma, and De Brazza believed II
was a tributary OF the Congo and
that he might steam down the Alma
TO the upper Congo far above Stan
ley Pool.
His experiment was great sue
cess, says the New York sun. He
descended the Alma about 400 miles
and finally entered the Congo where
the great river is several miles in
width. Then he floated down that
river TO Stanley Pool.
Meanwhile Stanley had been la
boriously ascending the Congo, drag
ging his supplies around 235 miles
of rapids; and when he reached Stan
ley Pool he was much surprised to
find the French flag floating on it's
northern bank De Brazza had ar
rived before him and was founding
the station of Brazzaville.
Ever since that day q large white
space has existed on the map be-
tween the Alma and the Congo.
Explorers were too busy elsewhere
TO trace the rivers in that region.
At last the Pama river, supposed to
be the largest tributary Of the Alma,
has been partly explored, and q por-
tion Of the blank space on the map
has been filled.
Capt. seheerlinck, agent of the
Commercial and Agricultural Society
Of the Alma, has ascended its Pama
tributary for a distance Of about so
miles. The upper part of the river
has also been explored but no one
has visited the middle portion.
The river Is about 200 miles in
length, and Capt. Scheerlinck found
that for Il part Of the way It flows
through a wooded region in which
are numerous herds Of elephants and
buifaloes. The country is not dense
ly peopled, but there are n number
Of large settlements on its banks,
where white trading stations have
been established.
II was near the place where the
pama joins the Alma that De Braz-
"a found a native chief, whom he
attempted 20 use 20 further his po-
litieal schemes in behalf Of France.
The story Is good illustration Of
the tricks 90 which explorers some
times resort when they are scram-
bling for an the territory they can
seize.
De Brazzn announced that on the
Alma was the capital Of the great
King Makoko, direct descendant
of the ancient kiRgs Of the large ma
tive state Of Congo. south Of the
river of that name. and In Portu-
euese territory, Tiis sovereign, he
declared, was the ruler OF all the
country between the Alma and the
Congo and OF both banks Of the Con-
60 between Stanley Pool and the
mouth Of the Alma.
He signed a treaty with this great
king, who placed his entire territory
Under the sovereignty Of France.
The treaty was seriously discussed
and approved IN the French cham
Der Of deputies; but, after all, France
never came into possession Of both
banks Of the upper Congo.
II was couclusiyely shown IN
few months that the great King
MaBoko" was nothing but poor
little Bateke chief, with only a few
hundred followers and very small
territory. lie had no influence what
ever outside his small domain When
the real facts were made known,
nothing more was said about the
famous Makoko, and the French gave
up all claim to the territory on the
left bank OF the Congo.
fzYTrzUDc IN NOT rfrrzfNreza \