42 
THE FRENCH SOUDAN. 
always outnumbered the small European expeditions during their un¬ 
equal struggles by which they have gained possession of a wide and 
rich country. 
The Chamber of Deputies will soon have presented to it, for its study 
and consideration, the projects which the Colonial Administrative De¬ 
partment has in preparation, for the consolidation of this extensive ac¬ 
quisition, the task of conquering which has occupied already some 
fifteen years of steadily progressing enterprise, in order to develope and 
improve the value of these immense territories by organised exploitation. 
It is needless to add that no colonisation proper by European immigrants 
is possible in this part of Africa. As soon as peace has been thoroughly 
established in this country, at present half ruined by the devastating 
wars which the powerful native chiefs have long waged among one 
another, and which, indeed, have resulted in French intervention, no 
doubt French and European merchants will be enabled to establish a 
profitable trade with the inhabitants throughout the French Soudan. 
But, of course, the accomplishment of this end will be dependent, in a 
great measure, on the means which the Colonial Department will adopt 
to hold in peaceful subjection the various and diverse tribes which 
people this country, and to work harmoniously to preserve the 
economical interests of the native peoples, as well as the sovereignty 
of France and the benefit of her traders. It is in order that the com¬ 
prehension of these projects may be rendered clearer to our readers 
that the following description of the French situation in the Western 
Soudan has been compiled from the most authentic sources. 
THE SOUDAN, FROM 1879 TO 1888. 
First Operations against Ahmadou and Samory. 
• It was in 1879 that France was induced to interest herself in these 
regions, then but little known, which are drained by the Senegal and 
Niger. In that year, it may be recollected, M. de Freycinet formed the 
celebrated Trans-Saharan Commission, which was instructed to draw 
up a programme for the best means of pushing French interests inland 
and for carrying out exploration towards the Central Soudan. 
A distinguished engineer, M. Duponchel, had already proposed the 
establishment of a railway across the Sahara desert, to bring Algeria 
in communication with the populations of the valley of the Niger, of 
Sokoto and of Bornou. But many good authorities, amongst others 
General Faidherbe, who had long governed Senegal successfully, were 
much prejudiced in favour of another route, which would start from 
the point where the Senegal ceases to be navigable, i.e. } the post of 
Medina, and traverse the interval between the upper waters of that 
river in a south-east direction to the higher navigable stream of the 
upper Niger at Bammako, some 300 miles or more. This project of 
General Faidherbe is fully explained in the instructions which he gave to 
Lieut. Mage (of the Imperial Navy) when, in 1864, he sent that ex¬ 
plorer to reconnoitre the Upper Senegal and the Niger : “ The object,” 
