Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 3.djvu/338

 a missionary society penetrated 180 miles beyond Baikie's farthest, ascending 36 miles the Faro confluence, where the Benue had already been crossed by Barth.

Since that time both the Benue and the Niger have been brought within the sphere of European trade, and the "Royal African Company," formed by a number of English merchants, has b-come the almost official sovereign of all these regions,

comprising numerous kingdoms and republics, and peopled by various races with different languages and religions. According to the stipulations of the Berlin Conference held in 1885, the future supremacy of the Joliba, or Upper Niger, is reserved to France, that of all the rest to England, the main stream being, however, thrown open to the flags of all nations.