The general atlas of the Beige Congo

Summary

The "Atlas général du Congo Belge" is a comprehensive cartographic project presented by René Cambier on behalf of the Institut Royal Colonial Belge. Developed by a dedicated commission, the atlas aims to assemble all known information on the Belgian Congo and Ruanda-Urundi into a single encyclopedic work. When complete, it will comprise sixty to seventy plates covering the full spectrum of the Belgian colonial domain, each accompanied by explanatory notes in both national languages, French and Flemish. The plates are organized under seven thematic headings: History, Geodesy, Physical Environment, Biogeography, Anthropological and Cultural Sciences, Administrative and Social Policy, and Economy. An introductory section features a 1:3,000,000 map of the Congo with an alphabetical index to facilitate the location of localities, most bearing indigenous names. All other maps are drawn at a scale of 1:1,000,000, with the provision for larger-scale insets where detail requires. At present, three plates have been completed: a phytogeographic map by W. Robyns showing vegetation types grouped into natural provinces; a map of the great explorations by René Cambier tracing the itineraries of the first explorers of the Congo basin; and a map of national parks and nature reserves of the Belgian Congo and Ruanda-Urundi, also by W. Robyns, detailing governmental efforts to protect indigenous fauna and flora. The production is expected to proceed at a rate of eight to ten plates per year, so that this true encyclopedia may be finished within a relatively short time. Acknowledging that knowledge is ever-evolving, the work is not intended as definitive; successive updated editions are planned, justifying a limited initial print run of 1,000 copies.