GEOGRAPHY. 557 



but reserving Mucumbi and Mauyanga, thence along the Congo to its 

 confluence with the Bamba beyond the equator, where the boundary 

 running northwest remains to be determined. The southern frontier 

 follows the Congo from Banana to a point a little above Nokki. the south 

 bank belonging to Portugal, thence on the parallel of Nokki to the 

 Koaugo, along this river to about 9° south latitude, and thence in a 

 diagonal line across the continent to Lake Bangweolo. Eastward the 

 boundary coincides with the west coasts of Lakes Bangweolo, Tangan- 

 yika, Muta-Nzighe, and Albert Nyanza. Within these limits the new 

 state will have an approximate area of 1,000,000 square miles, and a 

 population of probably 40,000,000, mostly of Bantu speech and Negro 

 or Negroid stock. 



The council of the Royal Geographical Society, at its meeting of June 

 22, unanimously passed a vote of congratulation to the King of the 

 Belgians on the success which has attended his work of exploration and 

 civilization in tropical Africa. The resolution was as follows : ''• That 

 the thanks of the council be conveyed to King Leopold II, the King of 

 the Belgians, for the interest taken by His Majesty in the exploration of 

 Africa, and respectful congratulations on the signal success which has 

 attended the schemes promoted by His Majesty's wisdom and munifi- 

 cence." In acknowledging this communication officially, His Majesty 

 expressed his great satisfaction at knowing that his efforts to introduce 

 civilization into the heart of Africa are appreciated by such high and 

 competent authority. 



Bulletin No. 3, 1885, of the Eoyal Geographical Society of Belgium, 

 contains a paper by the secretary on the Congo question, describing 

 the explorations made in the basin between 1485 and 1877, the founda- 

 tion of the International Association, the creation of the Free State, and 

 finally a description of the basin. 



Volume VIII, No. 2, of the GeograpMsclie Blatter, published by the 

 Bremen Geographical Society, contains a similar paper by Dr. Oppel, 

 dealing with the scientific and economical importance of this district. 

 The paper is divided into two main sections : (1) The discovery and in- 

 vestigation of the Congo {a) between 1484 and 1872, (6) the systematic 

 exploration since 1872 ; (2) the extent and boundaries, geologj', &c., of 

 the Congo region. While surprisingly alike in general features, these 

 two papers are by no means coincident, since both show independent 

 thought and preparation, and indeed treat the same subject from quite 

 different standpoints. 



Science for August 23, 1885, contains an excellent map of the Congo 

 Basin, reproduced by permission of Harper & Brothers. 



Among the recent scientific missions ordered by the French minister 

 of public instruction is that under Lieutenant Palat, to explore the 

 route from Senegal to Algeria by Medina, Timbuctoo, Mabrouk, and 

 the Touat. 



Spain has recently acquired considerable territory in Africa, com- 



