These discoveries were, however, unimportant compared to the effects following our return home and the publication of our experiences. The Brussels Conference of 1890 was preparing to sit, and it was not difficult to impress the Plenipotentiaries with the immediate necessities of the Dark Continent, such as railways, prohibition of importing fire-arms, the suppression of slave-raiding, etc., etc. On the Congo State authorities our revelations had a still more marked effect. Preparations were then commenced to deal with the slave-raiders of the Congo, and the despatch of Vankherkhovin’s Expedition to the Upper Welle, that of Captain Stairs to Katanga, and for the definite construction of the railway to Stanley Pool. The spirit of annexation was once more roused, and there was what might be called a race for the possession of the undelimited region west of Lake Victoria. The British East African Company’s troops were pushed into Uganda, and the expeditions under Mr. Jackson, Captain Lugard, Major Eric Smith, and Mr. Piggott, performed excellent service in their various explorations. One of the most important effects of this renewed _furore_ was the conclusion in July of a Treaty between Great Britain and Germany, which nullified the efforts of Emin Pasha and of Dr. Peters to seize upon Uganda and the lake regions west of it. The German Government agreed to surrender all the territory it occupied or claimed north of the British sphere, and the protectorate of Witu and the coast up to Kismayu was transferred to England. This Treaty not only extended the British possessions to the Abyssinian frontier, thus excluding any European competitor for influence on the Upper Nile, but established a British Protectorate over the Sultanate of Zanzibar. In return for the claims surrendered by Germany, England ceded Heligoland, and for the sum of £200,000 Germany received the sovereignty and revenue of the African coast between the Rovuma and the Umbe Rivers. From the following list of African explorers who have crossed Africa since this book was issued, it will be recognised at a glance how rapid has been the increase of geographical knowledge:— 1. Serpa Pinto From Benguella to Durban 1877-1879. 2. Herman von Wissman ” Mossamedes to Quilimane 1881-1882. 3. Arnot the Missionary ” Durban to Benguella 1881-1884. 4. Capello and Ivens ” Mossamedes to Quilimane 1884-1885. 5. Gleerup ” Banana Pt. to Bagamoyo 1883-1886. 6. Dr. Lenz ” Banana Pt. to Quilimane 1885-1887. 7. Herman von Wissman ” Banana Pt. to Quilimane 1886-1887. (2nd journey) 8. Mons. Trivier ” Loango to Quilimane 1888-1889. 9. Stanley’s second journey ” Banana Pt. to Bagamoyo 1887-1889. 10. Dr. Johnston ” Benguella to Zambezi Mouth 1891-1892.