32 Herbert G. Or/fJei) — Gmf/rapln/ of fhr Land. 



The professions of the African powers are peaceful, but in the 

 division of these unknown niilhons of square miles it requires 

 but little penetration to discern the elements for protracted strife 

 in future generations. The agreement between Germany and 

 England, by far the most imi3ortant of the compacts to extend 

 the protection of European nations to particular zones not em- 

 braced in the Kongo Free State, exemplifies in a marked degree 

 the disputes that may arise, and with what avidity the civilized 

 nations have sought mutual recognition of their right to domi- 

 nate in specified spheres. As might have been expected, how- 

 ever, in an attempt to divide great areas that have not even been 

 mapped, and with an economic value still to be determined, the 

 boundaries of the spheres are oftentimes indefinite, and instead 

 of settling disputed questions, but defer them to the generations 

 yet to come. There are colonies, protectorates, and spheres of 

 influence, with boundaries sometimes so ill defined that we may 

 conceive they have been purposely left indeterminate, that at the 

 proper time the most powerful may push their frontiers to in- 

 clude regions that the adventurous may proclaim desirable ac- 

 quisitions. 



The area of Africa is computed at nearly 12,000,000 square 

 miles ; and about 9,500,000 square miles are claimed by the 

 powers as under their control, protectorate, or influence within 

 the tentative boundaries that seem to have been very generally 

 agreed upon. Fully 83 per cent, of this area has been acquired 

 during the past fifteen years. We have seen during this period 

 the possessions of Spain increase from 3,500 to 200,000 square 

 miles ; England, from 280,000 to 2,000,000 ; France, from 280,000 

 to 2,300,000, while Italy and Gei:many, that were without a square 

 rod a few years ago, now claim extensive areas — Italy about 

 360,000 and Germany over 1,000,000 square miles. Portugal, 

 though not less grasping, seems to have been less successful, as 

 she has acquired less than 100,000 square miles. Perhaps hav- 

 ing encountered a more powerful nation in her path may account 

 for this, but the total area within her " sphere " is nevertheless 

 not insignificant, reaching as it does over three-quarters of a 

 million of square miles. In the Kongo Free State we find an- 

 other million square miles, which many believe will ultimately 

 become a Belgian colony ; but in any event, occupying as it does 

 the larger part of the basin of the Kongo, it is destined to be the 

 scene of an activity in the development of the continent fruitful 

 of the most importa]it results. 



