A SEA ROUTE TO CENTRAL AFRICA.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 403, 27 September 1875, Page 4

A SEA ROUTE TO CENTRAL AFRICA.

[ From the Times of Avgust &thA Yesterday Lord Carnarvon received a deputation on the subject of the North-West African Expedition. Among those present were Sir Arthur Cotton, Captain H. A. Moriarty, C. 8., Mr Donald Mackenzie, Mr R. N. Fowler, the Hon Arthur Kinnaird, M.P., the Hon Evelyn Ashley, M,P,, Mr A. W. Archer, and Mr H. F, Brien. The Hon Evelyn Ashley, M.P., introduced the deputation, and stated that their object was to call his Lordship’s attention to a scheme which had been propounded for public criticism at a meeting held at the Mansion-house about a fortnight ago to establish a commercial and missionary station at the mouth of the River Belta, in the neighborhood of Cape Juby and Cape Bojador, on the north-west coast of Africa, opposite the Canary Islands; and to make a preliminary survey of the route between Cape Bojador, on the Atlantic coast, and the northern bend of the River Niger, at Timbuctoo in the interior, for the purpose of cutting a canal for opening commercial intercourse with Central Africa.

Sir Arthur Cotton and Mr Donald Mackenzie, in addressing his Lordship, spoke of the importance of a commercial highway into the interior of Africa, the revenue that would arise, and the civilising influence effected among the native races. Lord Carnarvon said he should like to have a little information as to how far the engineering and mechanical difficulties had been considered by the deputation. Sir Arthur Cotton said, as an engineer, he could say that they had all the information necessary to take a prima facie view of the case. What they proposed was to go to the coast and make further inquiries. They coqld then return and lay it before the public in order to prepare the way for opening up the country. With respect to the letting in of the sea, that was quite a secondary point, because whether by sea or land that was the most convenient route for the interior. Lord Carnarvon said he understood the letting in of the sea was an essential part of the whole scheme. Sir Arthur Cotton said that was not the case. Lord Carnarvon then asked whether the scheme which the deputation had in view was either an alternative route in this particular line into the interior to Timbuctoo, or the letting in of the sea so as to create an inland lake by which navigation would be carried up to Timbuctoo.

Sir Arthur Cotton said the land route was quite independent. It was the best way of getting to Timbuctoo. Lord Carnarvon thought that in such a case very little engineering would be required to open up a route. It is simply a question of a mere track for camels and mules. The amount of engineering work and displacement of ground for that would be very small indeed. That altered the whole character of the scheme as it is conceived by the public. The Hon Evelyn Ashley said no doubt the essence of the scheme was the canal, and if the survey showed that it was impracticable, still the survey would not be lost, because it would then determine the making of a route by land. Lord Carnarvon said he had great satisfaction in meeting the deputation. He felt bound to point out to them that he had no direct connection with the scheme either as a land route or as a sea route. Colonists did not go into the interior of Africa, and therefore his official interest in the matter was not more than that of any of his colleagues. Personally one could not help seeing that it was a great scheme, and one to which one could not help vyishing good as a means of opening up, possibly a large tract of Africa now excluded from the markets of the world of commerce and industry. He had to look at the scheme as it had been represented to the public—as a scheme for admitting the ocean into the interior of Africa. If it resolved itself simply into the question of opening a caravan route, it would just take its position by the side of other schemes which had been attempted either by civilized or uncivilised Governments ; and the result from that would be very small indeed. If it assumed the larger dimensions of admitting the ocean into the heart of Africa, of course it became a question whether it was practicable or not, on which he did not for one moment express an opinion. Of course, it became a scheme more interesting and more attractive so far as the imagination was concerned. Something had been said by one of the speakers as to the facilities that he could render. He was not aware that he could render any facilities. Their colonial jurisdiction did not extend to that part of the world, and he would be going beyond his province if he were to hold out any hope

of being able to render any useful cooperation in the matter. There were at the same time one or two points in an engineering point of view which he would have been glad to have had a little more discussed if the question was to be mooted. He always understood that along that coast the surface of theground had risen either from washing up of the sand banka or the upheaval of the land. There was no question that the level was very much higher than it was two or three centuries ago. The River Oura, he believed, was navigated by the Portuguese some 300 years ago, and now he understood that within 80 miles it ceased not only to be navigable but almost to be called a river, In the same way he fancied there was close to the mouth of the canal pretty clear evidence that the land had risen 30ft higher than it was some century or two ago. All that, of course, was an important element in the matter. It would imply that there was a great deal more ground to displace, and that the interior levels were not such as they were supposed to be. At all events, from what had passed that day, it would be admitted that the scheme at present was quite in embryo, A great deal more information was wanted before any one could be prepared either to lend countenance or to give any sort of recommendation in favor of it. Surveys had not yet been taken, levels had not yet been obtained, and whatever might be the interest which attached to so bold a scheme, still no doubt a great deal more information was required than that which they already possessed. Having said so much, he could only say, putting aside the official point of view, on which ho did not feel competent or entitled to speak, that personally the scheme had his good wishes, because he believed that if it was only carried out on the dimensions and in the manner generally represented, it might open up a great deal of trade, which was either suppressed or hardly in existence at all, or it might be the means of reclaiming from savagery a great number of tribes leading a most miserable life. On these grounds, he said, it had his good wishes. Beyond that he was afraid he was not in a position to say anything in the way of official sanction or encouragement. Sir Arthur Cotton said the question was whether they had made out a ]>rima facie case for having an exploration. Lord Carnarvon thought that was a matter which the association, which had so much enterprise and commanded so much ability and skill, might solve. The Hon Evelyn Ashley hoped they would be able to bring the results of a survey that would induce his Lordship to give the matter his favorable consideration. The deputation then retired.