CHINESE LABOUR. 417 



with great care, and I have come to the conclusion that under 

 the present conditions no real progress can be made, or at 

 least it must be so slow that decades will hardly suffice to 

 set upon a solid basis the work which has hitherto been done 

 with so much trouble. Let ns set aside all discussion as to 

 the cause of the anomalies which exist — regrets are no cure. 

 I cannot get over the conviction that if it is possible for Central 

 Africa to be opened up, it can only be accomplished by means 

 of the Chinese, and that our beautiful country, with all its rich 

 resources, and with the possibility which is afforded of estab- 

 lishing good communications between each settlement by means 

 of such workmen, would repay a thousandfold such an undertak- 

 ing. This idea has been one of my dearest projects for four 

 years, but I kept silence, because I hardly expected to obtain a 

 single response to such wishes. Now, however, that you have 

 given me permission to come to you for advice, it is different, 

 for your influence in Government circles in Egypt will attain 

 much that " un certain Emin Bey " would strive for in vain. 



Will you support me in this matter if I apply officially to 

 the Government? Will you convince the Belgians that a few 

 hundred Chinese established in any suitable place — under the 

 direction of practical Europeans — would form a better nucleus 

 for the civilisation of Africa than any number of Indian 

 elephants and ironclad steamers ? Lastly, will you be so 

 good as to give me your opinion on this subject ? 



Do not be annoyed at my freedom. If I had not the welfare 

 of these lands really at heart, if I did not fear that some day 

 or other I must leave them, and that my work, the result of 

 many a weary day, may fall to pieces, I would keep my own 

 counsel, as I have done till now. Fortune has long permitted 

 me to withstand the tropical climate. My days, however, may 

 be numbered, so is it not better for me to speak out freely ? 



When climbing a high hill in the Shiili district last year, 

 I noticed a species of dwarf tree with reed-like leaves ; its roots 

 penetrated to a depth of about twenty or thirty inches in the 

 moss-covered humus which lined the crevasses existing in the 

 bare granite. The little tree was so remarkable that I then 

 intended to ask its name. 



I have again met with quantities of this tree on the mountains 



2 D 



