the French government, de Brazza returned in
1883 to the Congo to open up the new colony, of which he was named
commissioner-general in 1886. This post he held until January 1898, when
he was recalled. During his period of office the work of exploration was
systematically carried out by numerous expeditions which he organized.
The incessant demands on the resources of the infant colony for these
and other expeditions to the far interior greatly retarded its progress.
De Brazza's administration was severely criticized; but that its
comparative failure was largely due to inadequate support from the home
authorities was recognized in the grant to him in 1902 of a pension by
the chambers. Both as explorer and administrator his dealings with the
natives were marked by consideration, kindness and patience, and he
earned the title of "Father of the Slaves." His efforts to connect the
upper Congo with the Atlantic by a railway through French territory
showed that he understood the chief economic needs of the colony. After
seven years of retirement in France de Brazza accepted, in February
1905, a mission to investigate charges of cruelty to natives brought
against officials of the Congo colony. Having concluded his inquiry he
sailed for France, but died at Dakar, Senegal, on the 4th of September
1905. His body was taken to Paris for burial, but in 1908 was reinterred
at Algiers.

See D. Neuville et Ch. Breard, _Les Voyages de Savorgnan de Brazza,
Ogooue et Congo, 1875-1882_ (Paris, 1884), and _Conferences et lettres
de P. Savorgnan de Brazza sur ses trois explorations dans l'ouest
africain de 1875 a 1886_ (Paris, 1887); A.J. Wauters, "Savorgnan de
Brazza et la conquete du Congo francais," in _Le Mouvement
geographique_, vol. xxii., No. 39 (Brussels, 1905). Giacomo or Jacques
de Brazza (1859-1883), a younger brother of Savorgnan, and one of the
men he employed in the work of exploration, published in collaboration
with his companion A. Pecile, _Tre Anni e mezzo nella regione del
Congo e dell' Ogowe_ (Rome, 1887). (G. T. G.)

BRAZZA (Serbo-Croatian, _Brac;_ Lat. _Brattia_), an island in the
Adriatic Sea, forming part of Dalmatia, Austria. Pop. (1900) 24,408.
With an area of 170 sq. m. Brazza is the largest of the Dalmatian
Islands; it is also the most thickly populated, and one of the most
fertile. Its closely cultivated surface though ragged and mountainous
yields an abundance of olives, figs, alm