CHAPTER XXIII.

THE WONDERFUL RESOURCES OF THE CONGO.

THE MESSENGERS OF KING LEOPOLD II., OF BELGIUM -- MEET STANLEY AT MARSEILLES, FRANCE -- OBJECT OF THE INTERVIEW -- ANOTHER EXPEDITION TO AFRICA, TO EXPLORE THE CONGO, IN THE INTERESTS OF COMMERCE -- THE COMITÉ D’ETUDES DU HAUT CONGO -- OBJECT OF THE EXPEDITION DEFINED -- STANLEY RETURNS TO AFRICA -- ARRIVAL AT THE MOUTH OF THE CONGO -- COMMERCIAL POSSIBILITIES OF THE CONGO BASIN -- RAILWAYS NECESSARY -- THE POPULATION -- STATISTICS OF TRADE -- PRODUCTS OF THE IMMENSE FORESTS -- MARVELLOUS BEAUTY OF THE COUNTRY -- VEGETABLE PRODUCTS -- PALMS -- INDIA-RUBBER PLANTS -- THE ORCHILLA -- REDWOOD POWDER -- VEGETABLE FIBRES -- SKINS OF ANIMALS -- IVORY -- THE CLIMATE -- IMPORTANCE OF THE EXPEDITION, BOTH COMMERCIALLY AND POLITICALLY -- RETURN OF STANLEY TO ENGLAND 420