Englisli Intereds in. Africa. 33 



We must reiiieinber, too, that England now occupies Egypt, 

 and that with her protectorate over Zanzibar and her sphere of 

 influence to the northward of that state, that has not yet been 

 limited, it is not improbable that she will eventually reach the 

 Mediterranean, establishing a more extended influence in north- 

 ern Africa than even that which she has exerted over the south- 

 ern end of the continent. >Should England's influence in the 

 north result in the occupation of all the territory that is appar- 

 ently within her " sphere," we may conceive some of the com- 

 plications likely to arise, and see the realization of the proviso 

 in the recent Anglo-German agreement granting her the right of 

 way to build a railroad through the German sphere east of Lake 

 Tanganyika. Englishmen have expressed grave doubts as to 

 the wisdoin of conceding to Germany this large territory east of 

 Lake Tanganyika, claiming it was rightfully theirs through dis- 

 covery, and as they are ' estopped from intercommunication to 

 the westward of the lake by the boundaries of the Kongo Free 

 State, view with alarm the possible intricacies of the situation 

 when they may attempt to exercise their rights in the German 

 sphere. But doubtless there are compensating advantages de- 

 rived from the agreement, as many earnest and able men com- 

 mend the concessions made by their government in view of the 

 greater influence that has been acquired in other regions Avhere 

 it has not heretofore been generally conceded. 



South of the Zambesi there are still other elements that promise 

 fruit for strife ere the region is recognized as settled to the satis- 

 faction of the contending powers. Boundaries now but illy de- 

 fined must be adjusted before the venturous pioneers shall know 

 to which nation their lands belong, and we may well foresee in 

 the sections where exj^loration develops riches and abundance 

 that the peaceful measures of arbitration will fail to satisfy the 

 claims to dominance. We have, too, an element in the south 

 African republic that must ere long find vent in a more pro- 

 nounced movement to secure a seaport than that made a few 

 years ago. The fact that Delagoa bay, the finest harbor on this 

 section of the African coast, is the natural outlet for these people 

 and for the extensive regions adjacent that may eventually come 

 under their control, points to this bay becoming a bone of con- 

 tention if the i30wers interested do not conclude the present 

 arbitration on a just and satisfactory basis. On the lower Niger 

 there are also points of friction, and even the sands of the great 



