people and territories in Central Africa, to which all the African Powers, and among them the International Association, voluntarily agreed.  It is therefore clear that the clauses of the Act apply to all the Powers in the territories defined, and that the Act itself was not concerned with founding or regulating the system of Government of the International Association, which six months later took the name of the Etat Independant du Congo with His Majesty Ring Leopold II. as sovereign.

While engaged in studying these treaties, we arrived at Free Town, Sierra Leone on July 5th.  Here again the place forms a beautiful picture from the sea.  A reef runs far out and is marked by a lighthouse, while the town itself, protected by a fort with grass ramparts, lies on the south side of a kind of bay, which, however, has more the appearance of the mouth of a large river.  Palms and other tropical plants grow to the water’s edge and among them are yellow and red houses while higher up the hills behind, are isolated bungalows and the barracks, at this time occupied by the West African regiment.  In the distance, bleak and bare mountains passively regard the scene.  On landing, one meets faces showing every shade from ivory white to jet black and clothes of every known colour.  The roads are not paved in any way, as there are neither horses nor wheeled vehicles here.  Indeed, the houses are built in rows facing each other, a gutter is cut in front and the space between forms a street.  The Custom House is an imposing structure near the beach and the Cathedral is a handsome Gothic church, but as one end was covered with scaffolding, it was not looking its best.  A light railway runs up the hill to the barracks of the native regiment and a special train was arranged for the passengers of the Leopoldville.

Hotel accommodation in Sierra Leone is, like the demand for it, limited.  It is, however, possible to obtain a meal at the Victoria.  Altogether Free Town leaves the impression that it could be developed into a most attractive watering place if it were nearer Europe and had a better climate.

It is now getting rather hot and tropical, while the sea is as smooth as a mirror and equally reflects the glare.

I continue to read up the Congo controversy.  The report of Mr. Casement, at one time British Consul at Boma, created quite a sensation when it appeared.  He stated that the Congo Free State had granted concessions to Trading Companies, which is a fact, and that the agents of these companies compelled the natives by force to collect rubber, which however, he does not attempt to prove by his own experience, but relies entirely upon reports of natives and hearsay evidence.  He quoted one case which illustrates the extreme difficulty of discovering the truth from natives.  He examined a boy named Epondo who stated that his left hand had been cut off by a native sentry.  Not knowing the native dialect, Mr. Casement employed an interpreter,