Press Opinions on the "Curse of Central Africa" — contd. 



Society, which we give elsewhere. As to whether ajiything can 

 be done to improve matters, Captain Burrows indicates his own 

 opinion with sufficient clearness. Belgium ought to be deprived 

 of the government, and the Congo partitioned amongst the 

 three principal Powers possessing adjoining territory, viz., 

 England, France, and Germany. This, of course, is easier 

 to put on paper than to perform in practice ; but the Powers 

 which sanctioned the creation of the Congo State at the Berlin 

 Conference of 1885 cannot shake off their responsibility for 

 what has happened. Failing action on their part, civilisation, 

 to say nothing of Christianity, will continue to see Central Africa 

 made a shamble in order that the Belgians may ' gather ' rubber 

 at a fabulous profit. As a parting gleam of light, and as show- 

 ing that something can be done by a humane official, we may 

 mention that, when commissioner at Basoko, Captain Burrows 

 succeeded in suppressing the flogging of vyomen. He declares 

 that he has evidence to prove that before his arrival half-a-dozen 

 women were flogged every day." — Christian World, 



" As the first edition is marked ' Second Impression,' it may 

 be presumed that this much-talked-of volume has been toned 

 down since the publisher was threatened with libel actions, and 

 that some of the passages included for the 'first impression' 

 have been prudently cancelled. The volume, as we have it, at 

 any rate, makes fewer attacks on individuals than we were led 

 to expect. It does not for that reason lose any of its value as 

 an impeachment of the methods of Congo State administration. 

 In some other respects, however, it is disappointing. Though 

 Capt. Burrows's name appears as its principal author, about 

 half the volume consists of ' A Campaign amongst Cannibals,' 

 contributed by Mr. Edgar Canisius, and with both writers' com- 

 positions Mr. J. G. Leigh, the editor, admits that he has taken 

 great liberties. He has 'ventured to modify' Capt. Burrows's 

 work ' as originally planned and completed,' and he leads us to 

 suppose that he has practically written, or re-written, all Mr. 

 Canisius's chapters, besides supplying the lengthy introduction 

 which he signs. Even if in this way the literary quality of the 

 book is improved, its authority is weakened as a record of first- 

 hand information. It is unfortunate, moreover, that both writers 

 should have to admit that, after several years' service under the 

 Congo Government, and experience of the abominations in 

 which, as servants of the State, they had to take part, they 

 were willing to renew their occupations, and have only made 

 their disclosures now that their offers have been rejected. 

 Whatever defects may be found in the book, however, it 

 affords very valuable confirmation of charges that have re- 



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