Comoro Islands.-The French resident in Anjoan was compelled to ask protection of the Governor of the island of Mayotta because of insubordination of the natives. In Grand Comoro, the most important island of the group, the people deposed their Sultan, who was under French protection, and at Mohilla island a war vessel was found necessary to keep in order those who were dissatisfied with the French protectorate.

Madagascar.-The Governor of Belmona, who had massacred 200 persons for complaining to the Government of his misrule, was executed in February.

Serious troubles were impending in Madagascar in September. The French claimed the right of giving their exequaturs to the consuls in the island. The native Government, however, insisted that the right had been reserved to them by the last treaty with France. Neither party was disposed to yield, and war seemed inevitable. The Prime Minister, the husband of the Queen of the island, had lately lost his brother and one of his sons by poison, as was supposed, and there seemed to be a plot to kill the ruling family.

Mozambique.-The Mozambique Company was reorganised in November, and received the sanction of the Portuguese Government to their new articles of association. 150,000l. of British capital was turned over to the company with a guarantee of a much greater investment as the money should be required. Colonel Machado, late Governor-General of Mozambique, was appointed the company's first Governor in Africa.

German East Africa.-Baron von Soden was appointed in April to be Governor of German East Africa, and Major von Wissmann and Dr. Peters to be "Commissaries at the disposal of the Governor." Emin Pasha was also offered a sub-Governorship by Baron von Soden. The programme of the new administration included the reduction of the Colonial forces, increase of import duties, taxation of the natives, the protection of the established companies and mission stations, and increased facilities of communication by the construction of roads. In February, Lieut. Siegl, with a small force, occupied Tabora, having concluded treaties with most of the petty Sultans of Unyamwesi, by which they yielded their sovereignties to Germany. A serious engagement took place (Aug. 17) between the German troops and the Wahehe tribe at Uhela, south-west of Mpwapwa. The Germans were commanded by Lieut. Zelewski, who was slain with several other officers of the expedition. The Wahehes originally emigrated from the south, and resemble the warlike Zulus, to whom they are said to be related. This was the most severe disaster that the Germans had met with in East Africa, while the force was the strongest that had been sent to the interior, and included one-fifth of the German colonial troops in the country. The official report (Aug. 30) of Lieut. Tettenborn, who led the retreat, stated that the losses of the column were 250

privates, with their rifles, four officers, six subalterns, 96 carriers, three guns, and most of the baggage. The Wahehe army numbered 3,000, and 700 were left dead on the field. Major von Wissmann, in December, procured 300 Soudanese soldiers in Egypt to replace the German losses in this battle.

Zanzibar.-Under the security given by the British protectorate, Zanzibar was rapidly becoming the centre of trade for East Africa.

A remarkable increase of tonnage was apparent in the shipping trade. For the six months ending September 30, the net tonnage entered was 131,000, and for the previous six months 72,000. The Sultan, by the advice of the British Consul-General, Mr. Gerald Portal, had provided the entrance to the harbour with buoys at considerable expense, and was ready to provide the whole coast with lights if the actual expenses could be met by levying harbour and light dues. With the Sultan's consent, a government consisting of British and native officials was formed at Zanzibar in October, which it was hoped would much increase the commercial importance of the port. General Mathews took the office of Prime Minister, with the approval of the Sultan, and the assent of the other members of the Government appointed at the same time. The revenue, except a sum of three lakhs of rupees annually reserved for the Sultan's privy purse, was to be expended for police, for harbour improvements, and for public works, under supervision of the Sultan and the British ConsulGeneral. The Sultan exerted himself to suppress the sale of spirits in his dominions, and licenses for limited sales to Europeans were procurable only from the Consul-General. The Sultan decreed in December that the import duties from foreign countries would be abolished February 1, 1892, except those on alcoholic liquors, arms, munitions of war, kerosene oil, and explosives. Great enthusiasm was displayed at a public meeting of merchants, where Mr. Portal, the Consul-General, announced this decree.

WEST AFRICA.

Sierra Leone.-Requests were made by English merchants that Great Britain should assume a protectorate over the Samory country, but this conflicted with a recent treaty made with the French Government, by which it was agreed that Sierra Leone should not extend beyond the Niger, so that it was too late to urge the extension of English influence into a sphere assigned to France by definite treaty.

Certain native tribes, north of Grand Cape Mount, rebelled and appealed to the British at Sierra Leone for protection. The Liberian republic in December was on the point of sending troops to suppress the movement.

In June the French annexed nearly 200 miles of coast, under claim of the Governor of Konakry, who proceeded thither with

two war vessels, and declared the territory from St. Andreas to Cavally to be under French rule, and that it had belonged to the French for many years. Part of this coast had, however, been claimed by Liberia for nearly a century. The affair caused much excitement, which was partly appeased by the Governor's promise that no Customs duties would be levied for some months at least. A British frontier police force, under Captain Campbell, met with a severe repulse from the natives at a town on the borders of the British settlement. An official visit to the tribes in the interior by Governor Llewellyn, of Bathurst, who proceeded up the river to arrange for trading facilities, was made early in the summer.

Congo Free State.-A regulation was made that all steamers going to the Upper Congo must have their cargoes inspected to prevent the sale of arms and ammunition to the Arab slavehunters. The manager of the Dutch Company on the Upper Congo ordered his steamers to disregard this rule, and when the Dutch vessels were forcibly inspected, complaints were made of illegal interference. The slave-hunters, finding their passage across the river Aruwimi intercepted by the Congo State forces, crossed the Roubi and threatened Djobbir.

After the Brussels Conference the Congo State reduced the tariffs which injured trade. In 1890 the Free State exported ivory to the value of 4,668,887 francs. A reduction of duties, amounting to 7 per cent. on this commodity, was effected, leaving a duty of 10 per cent. ad valorem. India-rubber duties were also reduced to 10 per cent. Certain other taxes were reduced by one-third.

An expedition was sent out in May, under the command of Captain Stairs, to take possession of the Katanga copper region, in the interests of the Anglo-Belgian Katanga Company and the Congo Free State. Captain Stairs, who accompanied Stanley in his Emin Pasha expedition, received the active support of King Leopold in this enterprise. Among the leading members of his staff were Lieut. Badson, the Marquis de Bonchamps, and Dr. Moloney. Five hundred men were to be enlisted at Zanzibar, and the route via Tanganyika was intended to be taken.

Niger District.-Major Claude MacDonald was appointed British Commissioner for the Oil rivers and Niger territories in March.

CENTRAL AFRICA.

Northern Zambesia.-Mr. H. H. Johnscon, who was brought into prominence in 1889, in connection with the Serpa Pinta affair, was appointed in March to be her Majesty's Commissioner for the territories within the British sphere of influence lying north of the Zambesi; also to be Consul-General for Portuguese East Africa. Lieutenant Sclater, of the Royal Engineers, who was to be in command of the police in Ayassaland, received per

mission to accompany him. The total area of the plateau region in Central Africa entrusted to Mr. Johnston's care was about 600,000 square miles, with a present population of nearly a inillion, including 300 Arabs and about 400 Swahelis, who are the slave raiders and ivory stealers that disturb the peace of the country. In addition to the allowances made by the Imperial Government, a subsidy of 10,000l. per annum was granted by the British South African Company to Mr. Johnston. Three Vice-Consuls were appointed to serve under the Consul-General, Mr. W. Sharpe, an experienced officer, being chief.

Emin Pasha.-News came from Emin and Dr. Stuhlmann that they had left Mwamba for Kibiro about the beginning of July, with all their porters and goods. Emin declared that it was not his intention to return by the same route. On September 2 he had been already three months in the Albert Nyanza district, and had been received with the greatest enthusiasm by his former troops. Captain Lugard, with 300 regular and 700 irregular soldiers, was sent to oppose his further advance, but they were unlikely to meet him. In December he was probably reinstated at Wadelai.

Uganda.- A treaty was concluded in March with the King of Uganda in behalf of the British East African Company, but in July affairs were in a very disquieting state. Captain Lugard, with a force belonging to the Company, attempted to preserve order, but he was not strong enough to keep the balance of the contending parties. A feud existed between the Romanists and Protestants, and they were farther than ever from agreement. The Company contemplated abandoning Uganda altogether. The Mussulmans were becoming aggressive, and in the autumn Captain Lugard defeated them in a battle near Uganda. From the latest reports the Christians were in a doubtful position.

CHAPTER VII.
AMERICA.

I. UNITED STATES.

THE condition of political parties in the Congress of the United States, Jan. 1, 1891 (the second session of the Fifty-first Congress), was as follows:-In the Senate-Republicans, 51; Democrats, 37. In the House of Representatives-Republicans, 178; Democrats, 154; Levi P. Morton, of New York, being VicePresident of the United States and President of the Senate, and Thomas B. Reed, of Maine, Speaker of the House of Representatives. The Cabinet of President Harrison included James G. Blaine, of Maine, Secretary of State; William Windom, of Minnesota, Secretary of the Treasury; Redfield Proctor, of Vermont, Secretary of War; Benjamin F. Tracy, of New York, D D

Secretary of the Navy; John W. Noble, of Missouri, Secretary of the Interior; Jeremiah M. Rusk, of Wisconsin, Secretary of Agriculture; John H. Wanamaker, of Pennsylvania, PostmasterGeneral; and W. H. H. Miller, of Indiana, Attorney-General. The Senate passed a free coinage measure, Jan. 14, providing that the United States unit of value should be a dollar coined of 412 grains of standard silver, or 25 grains of standard gold, giving all bullion owners authority to deposit bullion for coinage, and making all certificates issued for gold or silver legal tender. The radical character of the Bill, however, caused its defeat in the House of Representatives in February. The opposition in the Atlantic States to free silver coinage was very strong, but in the Western States many held to the delusion that there was need of an increase to the volume of currency to stimulate trade, as well as to give facilities for the payment of mortgages and debts. There was great danger of causing a premium on gold and driving it out of the country by this silver legislation. The average bullion value of a silver dollar in 1890 was 81 cents., and in 1889 it was only 72 cents.

An Act was passed, Feb. 7, making an apportionment of representatives in Congress among the several States under the Eleventh Census, by which the House of Representatives, after March 3, 1893, was to consist of 356 members, each member to represent 173,901 population, which was fixed as the ratio of representation.

After many vicissitudes, the Copyright Bill passed both Houses, and was signed by the President. This was accomplished chiefly through the exertions of Senator Platt, of Connecticut. A very important amendment offered by Senator Sherman had passed the Senate, which allowed the importation of copyright books on payment of a duty of 25 per cent. ad valorem, but this was rejected by the House of Representatives. Finally, the amendment was dropped in the Conference Committee, enabling the Bill to be passed in the last moments of the session. A feature of the Act, which required that a book by a foreign author should be printed in the United States, if it were to be copyright, appeared to give a great advantage to American printers and publishers.

It was the policy of the Secretary of State during the year to negotiate reciprocity treaties with different countries having trade with the United States. One, affecting Cuba, was arranged with Spain, and another was made with Brazil. A commercial agreement was concluded with the British West Indies and British Guiana, whereby, in return for the continued free introduction of sugar and coffee from those colonies, the latter agreed not only to enlarge greatly the free list of their Customs duties, but to make reductions in their tariff charges upon the products of the United States.

The Indian troubles in the North-West that had broken out