798 REPOET— 1887. 



sliglitest encouragement Ijeeii given in former years by the Indian Government to 

 enable officers to acquire information as to the territories beyond our Indian 

 Empire, no doubt we should now be in a more secure position. 



But, fortunately for the British Empire, foreign politicians have also much to 

 answer for to their respective countries on account of their ignorance of geography. 



For many years past Germany has been increasing the population of the United 

 States and our own colonies without assisting to further the influence of the 

 German Empire; whereas had her statesmen been able to look forward, a German 

 colony might have been established. Many Germans as far back as 1866 were de- 

 sirous of establishing a colony in tlie Transvaal. But Germany now has to cast 

 about for unoccupied territory, and has chosen a piece of useless territory on the 

 western coast of South Africa, whereas with a little foresight Prince Bismarck might 

 have obtained on easy terms the whole of the French colonies in the Gulf of 

 Guinea and north of the Congo, which France had actually abandoned as worthless. 

 Germany would thus probably have held the position of France with reference to 

 the reversion of the Congo State. 



By the treaty of Fraulifort it was intended that all German-speaking villages 

 were to be ceded to Germany, but the boundary as originally laid down, for want 

 of geographical knowledge on the part of German employes, left several German 

 villages near jNletz in possession of France, and it was necessary subsequently to 

 rectify the error. 



As a section of the British Association we are interested in the development 

 of geographical knowledge in the world generally, but more particularly in our 

 own empire, and it is only by unceasingly calling attention to our shortcomings 

 with regard to the science which causes us to meet here to-day that we may 

 hope for that progi-ess to be made which will enable us to maintain the proud 

 position we at present hold among nations, owing to our practical skill and energy. 

 Hitherto we have possessed so many other advantages that we have been able to 

 dispense with a good system of instruction, but owing to many causes other 

 nations are gaining upon us in various ways, and we in oui- turn should use every 

 effort to successfully grapple with a subject which if properly taught must affect 

 our welfare as a nation so deeply. 



The following Papers were read : — 



1. Explorations on the Upper Kasai and Sanlcurn.^ 

 By Dr. Lvdwig Wolf. 



2. The Bangala, a Tribe on. thr Upper Congo.- Bg Captain Coquilhat. 



3. Tlie Congo helow Stanley Pool. By Lieutenant Li: Makixel. 



4. Notice S7ir VEtat indipendant dii Congo. By M. van Eetvelde. 



5. The Lmver Congo : a Sociological Study. By R. C. Phillips. 



The author deals with the Congo up to Yivi, and with the coast between 

 Ijoango and Kinsembo. Among the factors which account for the present system of 

 society in this region, climate, similarity of soil, crops, food-stuffs, and the impenetra- 

 bility of the country, have proved great impediments to progress. The uncertainty 

 of the rains has a disturbing influence npon crops, whilst the ravages of insects 

 and mould render the storage of reserve supplies impracticable. The physical 



' Published in extcnso in the Proceedings of tlie Royal Geof/rapMcal Society. 

 - Published in cxtenso in the Journal of the Muncltester GcograjiMcal Society. 



