Geographical Journal (Journal of the Royal Geographical Society): Volume VIII, No. 5 [‎43v] (89/154)

492
RAILWAYS IN AFRICA.
to the inland waters, and to the upper courses of rivers, was one of the most effec
tive means of counteracting the slave trade in the interior. Here, then, we have
the most formal admission which could be given of the necessity of opening up
main trunk lines of communication into the interior.
But not only does geographical knowledge help to demonstrate the necessity of
improving the means of communication between the coast and the interior, but it
helps us to decide where it is wise to make our first efforts in this direction. In
the first place, it is essential to note that if the continent of Africa is compared
with other continents, its general poverty is clearly seen. Mr. Keltie, in his excel
lent work on the Partition of Africa, tells us that “ at present (1895) it is estimated
that the total exports of the whole of Central Africa by the east and west coast do
not amount to more than 20,000,000/. sterling annually.” For the purposes of com
parison, it may be mentioned that the export trade of India is between sixty and
seventy million sterling annually, and that India is only about one-seventh or one-
eighth of the area of the whole of Africa. On the other hand, the trade of India
has been increasing by leaps and bounds, largely in consequence of the country
being opened out by railways, and there is every reason to hope that somewhat
similar results would occur in Africa under similar circumstances, though the lower
civilization of the people would prevent the harvest being so quickly reaped. But,
however it may be as to the future, the present poverty of Africa is enough to
demonstrate the necessity of pushing ahead cautiously and steadily, and of doing
so in the most economical manner possible.
M. Decle, in an interesting paper, read before the International Geographical
Congress in London last year, strongly advocated the construction of cheap roads
for use by the natives, taking precautions to prevent any traffic in slaves along
them. His suggestions are well worthy of consideration ; but the cost of transport
along any road would, I should have thought, soon have eaten up any profits on
the import or export trade to or from Africa. What must be done in the first
instance is lo utilize to the utmost all the natural lines of communication which
require little or no expenditure to render them serviceable; in fact, to turn our
attention at first to the rivers and to the lakes. I have already pointed out that
the early maps of Africa prove that the rivers have almost invariably been the first
means of communication with the interior, and until this continent is rich enough
to support an extensive railway system, we must rely largely on the waterways as
means of transport.
It may be as well here to remark that geographical knowledge is often required
in order to control the imagination. I do not know why it is, but almost every one
will admit that, if he sees a lake of considerable size depicted on a map, he imme
diately feels a desire to visit or possess that locality in preference to others. A lake
may be of far less commercial value than an equal length of thoroughly navigable
river, and yet it will always appear more attractive. Look at the way in which
the English, the French, and the Germans are all pressing forward to Lake Chad;
and yet Lake Chad is in reality not much more than a huge swamp, and, in all pro
bability, it is excessively unhealthy. Again, it is probable that the Albert Nyanza
will prove to be of comparatively small value, because the mountains come down so
close to its shores. Of course, the great lakes form an immensely important feature
in African geography, but we must judge their commercial value rationally, and
without the bias of imagination.
To develop the traffic along the rivers and on the lakes is the first stage in the
commercial evolution of a continent like Africa. But it cannot carry us very
far. Africa is badly supplied with navigable rivers, chiefly as a natural result
of the general formation of the land. The continent consists, broadly speaking,