Page:Science vol. 5.djvu/18

 SCIENCE.

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��in session nl Berlin, to establish, if possible, the political status of the association. Many hope that it will ratify the purpose of llie association to establish free navigation on the Kongo. The Germans also demand free navigation wiih international control of the Niger, but are opposed by the EngUsh. who claim the exclusive .innsdifiion and control, although expressing themselves as ready to grant the free navigation of the river to all nations.

The French, nnder De Brazza, have opened a line of Atlantic pommunicatioii with the Kongo ty the River Ogowe, near the equator, with stations on the Ogowe and the Kongo ; thus obtaining an outlet from the valley of the Kongo, north of the territory claimed by the Portuguese. The stations of the French arc generally on the north side of the Kongo, while those of the International association arc upon

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It now seems as if the valley of Ibe Kongo would be the most densely popiilateii port of Afiica. lu climate and soil are favorable for white labor. The great drawback ia the falls near the mouth of the river ; but, to the eleva- tion of land which produces these falls, it owes its favored position. A railway is pro|>osed from Stanley I'ool to Boma. a distance of two hundred miles, — the head of navigation from the ocean. The Niger and the Renue are both na^'igable fVoni their sources far into the interior, and consequently the land in the immediate vallej of these rivers is low and unhealthy ; while south of the valley of the Kongo the country ia probably broken and moutilaiuons. and therefore less fit for culti- vation. '

The maritime nations of Europe are seeking for the trade of Africa, but there seems to be nothing to warrant expectations of a large traffic with central Africa at once. The tiibes. though numerous, are small and have few wauts. One or two generations must pass before they can become even partially civilized, and acquire the needs of civilized life. Emigration from Europe must be slow, as Africa ia not so well adapted as America and Australia to European emigrants ; and not until America is densely populated will the overflowing emigration fVom Europe seek tlie heart of Africa. But the time will come when it will be densely populated, and its long rivers, its many and great falls, iti immense lakes and high mountains, become the resort of a vast popu- lation.

(JAnoiNEti fi. IIuBnAKI). Dk.M.

��LAKE -\riSTA.SSim.

Paraorapus are going the rounds of the news- paiiera, repreaenlioe that a greal lake has recently been discovered in Caimda, Inrgur Mian Ontario, and perhaps a» large at Superior Itself. If llils were true, it would certainly be a matter of great Inteiest. and wonia uanirnlty lead to the Inquiry, how it linf pened that far-off Lake Superior should have been mapped, with an astonishing approach to general correcliiesa of outline, H9 early a.1 1672, while this new lake remained to be discovered more than two hundred years later, [10 1 withstanding the fact that it is at a comparatively short distmice from a region where the Jesuits and fur-traders bad many posts at the time the Lake Superior map waa made.

The immediate cause of the paragraphs in question WHS undoubtedly a communication made to the geo- graphical section of the British UBOclntion, at lis late meeting In Montreal, by the Rev. AbbS Laflamme, and the reference to this communication by Gen. Sir J. H. Letroy, in his opening address before the section as chairman of that body. In thia addreJis Gen. l.efroy gives the impression thai the discovery of ihi» lakeissomethhignewand atarlling. He says. "That it should be left lo this day to discover In no very remote part of the north-east a lake rivalling Lake Ontario, if not Lake Superior, in magnitude. Is a pleasant example of the surprises geography has in store for its votaries" [Prac. royal geogr. sec. for October, 1 884, p. 5S6.|. On referring to the communi- cation made to the section by the Itev. Abb6 Laflamme. it does nut appear, however, that there was any suf- Hcient authority for this statement on the part of the chairman of the section ; and, as the matter is one of considerable interest, it may be worili while to look a little more carefully into what is known about tbe lake In question.

The facta here to be presented will alio* that we in reality know no more about the size of Lake Mistas- sinltfaanwedid two hundred years ago; the reverend ahh6 himself. In his communlcHUuti, doing little more than to say that there is in north-eastern Canada a lake whose dimensions are unknown, but which some persons believe lo be of gii^at extent; an 'old trader,' whose name is not given, 'seeing no reason to doubt' that it It 'but little Inferior in size lo Lake Superior.' There are several statements in tbe reverend abba's communieation lo which exception might be taken; but it la sulBcient to call attention to his mistraiisl alien and in i scon cep lion of the original account of the lake by Father Albanel, who aays that It is reported that twenty days would be required to make the tour of it (pnur fit /aire Ic tour). This the Bev. Ahb£ LaQamme baa translated, ' twenty days to tealk around it;' thus showing a singular misconcep- tion ot the nature of the only possible means of ex- ploration and commuuicatton in a region like that in

This lake, called by the first explorer of that region, Father Albanel, ' (e lac den Miatuittrlnins,' lies on the north side of the watershed between the St. I.awrence and Hudson's Bay, and is represerifd on nearly ei-ery

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