Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/950

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

828 FRANCE: — FRENCH EQUATORIAL AFRICA

Murray'n Hamlbooks for Travellers. Algeria and Tunis. 5th ed. London, 1002.

Phillipx (L. M.), In the Desert. [Algeria and the Sahara.] London, 1905.

Play/air (Sir R. L.), Bibliography of Algeria, published by the Royal Geographical Society.' London, 1888.

Reclus (EWsec), Geographie nniverselle. Tome XI. L'Afriqneseptentrionale. Paris, ISSO.

Revue Africaine. Alger. Yearly since 1856.

Reynolds-Ball (E. A.). Mediterranean Winter Resorts. 5th ed. London, 1900.

Rijin (L.), Histoire de I'lnsurrection de 1871 en Algeria. Alger, 1891.

Riviere (C.) and Lecq (H.), Cultures du Midi de I'Algerie et de la Tunisie. Paris. 1906.

S^aw; (Thomas, D.D., &c.), Travels or Observations relating to several Parts of Barbary and the Levant. Oxford. 1838-46.

Stiinford ( C. T.), About Algeria. London, 1912.

Vignon (L.), La France en Algerie. Paris, 1893,

Villot (Gajiitaine), Mocurs, coutumes et institutions des indigenes d'Algerie Paris. 1872.

Wilkin (A.), Among the Berbers of Algeria. London. 1900.

FRENCH EQUATORIAL AFRICA (FRENCH CONGO).

The French Congo extends along the Atlantic coast between the German Kamerun colony and the territories of the Belgian Congo, with the exception of the Spanish territory on the coast from the Muni river on 1^ N. lat. to the German Kamerims, and inland to the meridian of 11° 20' E. of Greenwich, and the Kabinda region which is Portuguese. Inland it is bounded by the Congo and Ubanghi rivers and stretches northwards to the Bahr-el-Ghazal and Lake Chad. French acquisition began on the Gabun river in 1841 ; Libreville was founded in 1849 ; Cape Lopez was gained in 1802, and the French possessions extended along the coast for about 200 miles. Since then the territories have been increased by exploration and military occupation and their limits have been defined in a series of international conventions. By a convention, dated November 14, 1911, France agreed to cede certain parts of the colony to Germany in return for German recognition of the French protectorate in Morocco. The total area ceded is about 107,270 square miles with a population of about 1,000,000. Sleeping sickness is very prevalent in the di.strict and is fast decimating the population. At the same time Germany ceded to France from her Cameroons territory 6,450 square miles {Sec map in the Sjatesman's Yeah Book for 1912).

The area is about 669,000 square miles containing a population esti- mated in 1906 at 10 millions of negro and other races. By decree of Februar}'^ 1.5, 1906, the French Congo is divided into four circumscriptions which form three colonies, viz. : — the Gabun Colony (capital Libreville), the Middle Congo Colony (capital Brazzaville), and the Ubangi-Shari-Chad Colony (capital Bangui) ; the Chad region is, however, for some purposes admi- nistered as a military Territory. The three Colonies have each a Lieutenant- Governor ; they all have financial and administrative automony, and each has an administrative council. The population of Gabun in 1911 was 26,000 (537 French) ; of Libreville, 210 (163 French).

Decrees have been issued changing the name of the French Congo into French Equatorial Africa and extending over the Gabun, the Middle Congo, and the Ubangi-shari Colonies, and Chad Military Territory the anthoriiy of the Governor-General.

The Lieutenant-Governors are under the Governor-General of the French Equatorial Africa, who is assisted by a Secretary-General and a Council of Government. There is a general budget for the whole of French Equatorial Africa, and also separate budgets for the colonies. Local revenues accrue