Or 
“~ 
ACCOUNT OF THE MUSEUM’S CONGO EXPEDITION 1. 
associates. The organization of this committee gave definite form and 
impetus to the negotiations which finally brought about the sanction of 
the authorities in Belgium to the Museum’s exploration of the Congo, 
and which so controlled circumstance at home that the project dreamed 
of became a reality. 
The history of the following months, in fact, till May 8, 1909, when 
Messrs. Lang and Chapin sailed on the “Zeeland” of the Red Star 
Line for Antwerp, is a fascinating chapter of work preparatory to the 
launching of a great expedition. 
The matter of financing the expedition was taken in hand by a 
group of the Museum’s members and friends, to whom the institution 
is deeply indebted and to whom the world in the future will be indebted 
because of the large scientific value of the expedition. They are Messrs. 
John B. Trevor, Charles Lanier, 
Cleveland H. Dodge, J. P. Morgan, 
Jr., William K. Vanderbilt, A. D. 
Juilliard, Robert W. Goelet and Wil- 
liam Rockefeller. 
Plans were outlined for the scientific 
end of the work: to push at once into 
the central part of Africa so that 
headquarters might be located eight 
hundred or more miles from the coast 
in a region formerly unexplored zo6- 
logically; to make the aim of the ex- 
pedition a zodlogical survey of the 
basin of the Congo, collecting heavy 
game but also directing energies along 
other lines of investigation, so as to 
make collections for all departments of 
the Museum. While awaiting the final 
arrangements with the Belgian gov- 
ernment, codperation and enthusiasm 
among those concerned pushed the un- 
dertaking to a wonderful success in its 
preliminary stages, assuring an aim and 

scope to rank the expedition as perhaps 
the greatest the Museum ever sent out. GRRE Wa eR Caa EIN oeteE aes 
