Reviews: The Population of the Congo - Atlas Général du Congo: Cartes de la densité et de la localisation de la population dans la province de l'Équateur

Summary

This review examines a detailed fascicle of the Atlas Général of the former Belgian Congo and Ruanda-Urundi, elaborating on a 1951 general population density map by Professor Gourou. The section provides an in‑depth treatment of both density and distribution of population for a major administrative province. Three maps at 1:1,000,000 scale form the core contribution. A key map delineates administrative hierarchies down to the smallest unit (groupement). The second map employs a conventional choropleth technique with sixteen carefully chosen density categories, ranging from fewer than 0.3 to over 50 persons per square kilometre; a non‑linear progression highlights contrasts at low densities. Colours from white through blues, greens, yellow and reds to purple give an effective visual impression, with a dasymetric concession for uninhabited zones. Urban centres are shown as vertical prisms scaled to the square root of population. The third map, illustrating distribution, distinguishes ordinary rural settlement (black) from other rural dwellers (red) and uses dot and circle symbols; it reveals a striking concentration along communication routes and a frequent avoidance of larger river corridors. Although the distribution map is praised for clarity and utility, a slight shortcoming is noted: the symbols are not exactly proportional to magnitude. Accompanying statistical tables, bilingual in French and Flemish, supply detailed demographic data down to the smallest census units, including inhabited and uninhabited areas and water surfaces. The work is judged a valuable tool for serious geographical analysis of the region, though ongoing political turmoil in the Congo will necessitate subsequent revisions.