34 THE LEWIS BROOKS MUSEUM. 



Farther to the west we find the useful minerals, coal, 

 iron ore, etc., and forests yielding valuable timber in abun- 

 dance. ■ Still farther west the great grain and grazing dis- 

 tricts are located. In the mountains, on the Pacific side of 

 the Continent, we find the mines of the precious metals. 

 All this results directly from the geological structure. 

 Could there be a more favorable arrangement to bind the 

 country together ? 



It would be an interesting problem to trace out what 

 would be the effects of uniting the mountains in the centre 

 of the Continent. Obviously the political result would be 

 the existence of two great nations, differing in material re- 

 sources, in commercial relations, and in other points so 

 greatly that no force could hold them together. 



If we ask why Equatorial Africa, so abounding in na- 

 tural products, has remained till now closed to the civilized 

 world, we find the answer in the geological structure of 

 the country. This will, for a long time to come, compel it 

 to remain isolated. Owing to the fact that the great rivers 

 issuing from Central Africa have to pass over a high moun- 

 tain border, they form rapids and cataracts. 



Rivers easy to navigate attract commerce to a new 

 country. If these do not exist, the interior must first be so 

 far developed as to afford a variety of products sufficient to 

 justify the erection of artificial channels of communication, 

 such as canals, railroads, etc. This period, however, comes 

 comparatively late in the history of a new country. Africa, 

 owing to her geological structure, must first be developed 

 from within. 



It would not, at first sight, seem probable that Geology 

 could give us any definite information concerning the mate- 

 rial and social condition of pre-historic communities and 

 nations, yet this is the case. The results of investigations 

 in the caves, lake dwellings and refuse heaps of Europe are 

 found to be most definite and valuable data for reconstruct- 

 ing the history of peoples who have left no other records of 



