THE CONGO FREE STATE.
As Stanley's little fleet puffed its way higher and higher up the stream
of the mighty Congo, richer and richer appeared the country through
which the expedition was passing.
The soil seemed almost black, so filled was it with decomposed vegetable
matter, and its fertile appearance was unparalleled by anything which
Stanley had seen in his journeyings.
On either hand the banks were lined with mile upon mile of the most
valuable of the giant growths of the forests. Whole tracts of gum copal
trees were seen for hours together. These trees were literally covered
with orchids, which, in themselves, represented the foundations of many
fortunes to botanists and florists, could they but gather them.
In mid-stream, the islands, which were legion, constantly took on new
shapes. All were characterized by the same exuberance of vegetation.
Truly, here was a land of plenty!
Stanley, with his little fleet, passed slowly up the river, now
exploring any important tributary for a considerable length, now taking
part in the ceremony of the blood brotherhood of which we have read, now
making treaties with the great chiefs; for this brave explorer never
forgot that his expedition was the great mission of commerce and
civilization.
At length the little fleet reached the foot of the seventh, or last
cataract of Stanley Falls. Here it was the purpose of the expedition to
found a settlement destined to be the germ of the future Congo Free
State.
The islands and the mainland west of the falls Stanley found inhabited
by the Wenyas. This tribe was noted for its skilled fishermen and
boatmen. With this tribe Stanley held a council, for the purpose of
purchasing land for a settlement.
There was a good deal of agitation among the natives, we may be sure.
The idea of trading their land with the white man was a novel one to
them. The great chiefs and speechmakers of the tribe were at first
fearful and cautious, and by degrees became prophetic, then indignant
and abusive; finally, they became not only shrewd, but philosophic and
pacific, and, at the close of the conference, even friendly.
As a result of the contract, Stanley exchanged about eight hundred
dollars' worth of beads, knives, cotton cloth, looking-glasses, brass
wire, caps, and such articles, used as currency, for a large portion of
an extensive island, upon which to found a settlement.
The station had a fine situation just below the rapids. In a creek on
the east side of the island was a very good harbor.
East of this Seventh Fall dwelt a powerful tribe, the Bakuma. Stanley
made cordial friends with this tribe, as with the Wenyas.
With both tribes he made treaties, in order to insure his people not
only safety of person but of property. He also made propositions for
civilized methods of conducting commerce.
Thus did Stanley work from point to point along the river to establish
stations, which later were to form the links by which the State was to
be held in peace and harmony, in civilization and progression.
The achievements of Stanley's expedition were wonderful, when we
consider that he had held councils and made treaties with more than four
hundred and fifty chiefs.
As a result, these "great men" had sold to him, for large sums in the
"currency" of their territory, tracts of land which they or their
ancestral fathers, had owned for countless ages. With the transfer of
land they had also yielded their rights as rulers, and given to the new
owners the rights and the privileges belonging to a sovereign. Thus was
laid the foundation of the present Congo Free State.