NEWS OF THE WEEK.
E dispute with the Portuguese in regard to the delimita- tion of their and our spheres of influence in South-East Africa still continues. On Monday, the Times published a telegram from their Zanzibar correspondent, stating that news had been received from Quilimane that, in consequence of the Maniaa incident, a furious mob attacked the British Consu- late at that place on Wednesday, December 9th. The authori- ties, however, acted vigorously, and at once arrested the ring- leaders. Meantime, it is announced that fresh troops are being sent out from Lisbon, with the intention of reasserting the Portuguese claim to Manisa. In view of so threatening a condition of affairs, it is a subject for congratulation that Mr. Cecil Rhodes, the Cape Premier, leaves Africa on Christmas Eve, in order to confer personally with Lord Salisbury. He will view the situation in its true perspective in London, and he will also be of use to the Government should the rumour prove well founded that the Portuguese are going to lease the provinces of Manica, Sofala, Tete, and Quilimane for ninety- nine years to a German Company. The Portuguese think, no doubt, that we should be annoyed at having the Germans in possession of the mouths of the Zambesi ; but there would be certain advantages in such an arrangement. They could not interfere with our right of navigation, and to have an efficient instead of an inefficient porter at the gate of Africa would be an immense blessing to our traders.
