The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. THURSDAY, MAY 22, 1890.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2786, 22 May 1890, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

THURSDAY, MAY 22, 1890.

Bonn I anil exact justice to all men. Of whatsoever st'atis or persuasion, religious or political.

Again the Congo is attracting considerable attention iu Europe. It is the next place to which British railway enterprise will most likely he directed, and efforts made to open up the immense country watered by the great river. Yet the land itself is one about which the accounts of travellers are very conflicting, and even the most favourable indicate that it is not a country to which European emigration on any extensive scale can be directed. Rumours have been rife that the German Government were in treaty to take over the rights of the King of Belgium, by whom the Congo State W as—through Mr Stanley—first founded. These rumours have died out, and quite likely other nations— England especially—would have demanded a voice in any arrangement that; might .subject what is now a neutral State to the control of the powerful German Empire. A commissioner wassonfc in 1881 by the United States Government to report upon the Congo country, and his report was far from favourable. He began with the little town of Banana at the mouth of the great river. The population ho put at only about .°>o Europeans and some GOO Negroes, although its foundation by the Dutch East India Company dated 200 years hack. Despite a very tine harbour, the town of Banana has therefore made practically no progress. The commissioner accounts for this by the barren character of the country through which the lower Congo flows, backed by jungles so

dense, as to be impracticable. The largest steamers can ascend to Matuda, about 130 miles from the sea. The produce to be obtained is small, though the country is " thick with kings," all the way to the fur interior, which the projected railway is to open. The commissioner found the chief article of barter to be an execrably coarse and deadly «in, imported for the special delectation of these kings, and their vassal

chiefs; whose other weaknesses were highly coloured pocket handkerchiefs, strings of beads, and red umbrellas. All accounts agreed that the vast tract of low land, covered with fetid black mud, and a luxuriant vegetation is uninhabitable by Europeans, and not likely to be very productive from a commercial point of view. The Commissioner considered the climate dangerous over the whole country for more than 600 miles back, andlearned that hundreds of square miles consisted only of swamp and lagoons. Indian rubber and palm trees are abundant, and prove very profitable to the few whom they support, but arc not likely to produce a large commerce at any time. Manioc (Cassava-root) and corn meal are almost the only food of the native people, and labour is, of course, very cheap. This description, he is careful to say, applies to the north of the river. The south, beyond the immediate banks, consists of vast stretches of rolling land, varied only by cliffs of reddish clay, and the whole marked by the monotony of "an almost boundless unproductive territory." At about 200 miles from the mouth the country is some 1500 feet above the sea level, and covered with rank grasses of gigantic growth, often 12 to 20 feet high. The Commissioner's report was adverse in every sense and ho thought the country never would be a desirable place for Europeans beyond a few traders and those dependent upon them. A railway to the Interior would doubtless develop trade, but he could not see what articles were likely to be produced in sufficient quantity to make the enterprise profitable. This was six years after Stanley's first descent, iu 1878, of the Congo river. In 1889, five years after tho Oornniissiouer had thus reportod, Mr E. J. Glave, one of Stanley's officers, gave his account of the territory which had meanwhile been organised as "The Congo Free State " in 1885. There were already three lines of steamers calling at the Congo, namely, the Koyal African Line from Liverpool, the German from Hamburg , , and the Portuguese from Lisbon. Single steamers belonging to the African trading firms also called, and there were several steam launches running on the river. Boma, about 70 miles from the mouth, was the seat of Government and residence of the GovornorGeneral, but it only contained 100 Europeans, chiefly Belgians, even at that recent date. Palm oil, copra, aud peanuts were tho leading articles of trade. They came from the interior, and a large increase was reasonably expected when the projected railway from Mafcada to Stanley Pool (150 miles) should be finished. Matada is GO miles from Boma, and the railway would therefore end for the present at about 280 miles from Banana, which seems destined now to be left out of the running altogether. Matada is situate just below the first cataract, and at Stanley Pool the river becomes again navigable By means of railway and river together a vast extent of couutry will be opened, but excepting ivory, the produce will be of no great value, while of a character which European labour cannot be largely expended. Mission stations have, however, been established, and the slave-trade has received its death blow. The Government is encouraging the planting of rice, manive, maize and kumaras on a large scale, and the slave-traders of the Upper Congo are finding it more profitable to deal in these interests than to kill their own people or to hunt for others. At present the inland transport is done by natives, and the great facilities that railways and steamers conjointly will offer must lead to a considerable development of the country. But it is quite clear that, aa a field for European settlement, this great territory has not, and is never likely to have, any great value. The river may serve as au outlet for the richer and better country towards the East, but that is quite as likely to be operated from the Zambesi and Zanzibar, or other of the ports on the Eastern coast. There Germany is now actively at work and competing for influence with England and Portugal. The politital interest connected with the Congo is less in its productions than in its connections with the great lakes and commanding position with reference to the African interior. It was this which gave significance to the rumour that Germany was treating for it with Belgium, or rather King Leopold, to whose personal exertions and personal expenditure tho existence of the Congo Free State is very greatly due.