Scramble for Africa (Map Game)

Moderators
Moderators are people who can: Cause political and natural unrest, or add OTL events. Basically, the players should respond to the mods posts. They will be underlined and not bulleted. You can also challenge implausiblilites, take votes to revoke some posts, and in very rare cases, you can actually kick people out! Please sign with only 3 tildes, like this: Collie Kaltenbrunner. There only can be three moderators.

Collie Kaltenbrunner

Lordganon

CrimsonAssassin

Rules

 * 1) 1 Nation per User.
 * 2) Be plausible.
 * 3) There are various minor states in Central Africa, so this area is harder to occupy. These minor states aren't counted in the map.
 * 4) Must be registered user.
 * 5) One turn each day.
 * 6) The Map will have to be updated each turn.
 * 7) Each turn is equivalent to one year.
 * 8) If there is anything else, post in the talk page.
 * 9) Write something in the sections (ex:1825: Cape Colony expands northwards) before changing the map.
 * 10) The game starts by 1825 and ends in 1914.
 * 11) The interior of Africa will be available to be explored after 1850.
 * 12) Only the nations below are available. Write your name (with three tildes) before the name of the country (Like this; Collie Kaltenbrunner - Germany) and only write your name in vacant countries. You can't overwrite the name of one user that already have United Kingdom, as of example
 * 13) Although countries like Morocco are in the map, they are not playable.

Nations
Baconton - United Kingdom - Dark Blue

CrimsonAssassin - United States - Orange

Detectivekenny - Spain - Dark Green

Matt - Portugal - Pink

PitaKang - France - Red

Collie Kaltenbrunner - Germany (available after 1870) - Black

BlackSkyEmpire - Italy (available after 1870) - Silver

ZL123 - Belgium (available after 1840, restrictions regarding the size and growth rate of the colonies) - Dark Purple

Ethiopia (gets weaker as the time goes on) - Yellow

StarkBlack - Ottoman Empire (gets weaker as the time goes on, restrictions regarding expansion rate) - Brown

Lordganon - Sweden (restrictions regarding the size and growth rate of the colonies) - Turquoise

Netherlands (available for play and interaction after 1840, restrictions regarding the size and growth rate of the colonies) - Light Purple

Denmark (restrictions regarding the size and growth rate of the colonies) - Light Blue

God Bless the United States of America - Russia (restrictions regarding the size and growth rate of the colonies) - Light Green

1825

 * In order to gain a stable supply of slaves for their colony on Saint Barthélemy, the Swedish government finances the establishment of a trading station for it on the African mainland. A site north of the Portuguese territory of Angola, near the mouth of the Congo river is chosen for its reputation, and an expedition leaves in the fall, to arrive just after the New Year.
 * France begins to plan to expand their colony in West Africa for gold, salt, and slaves. The West African Trade Company is formed, and begins making deals to African leaders.
 * The US expands east.
 * A Portuguese fleet takes Zanzibar from Oman, securing a great source of wealth. The colony at Mozambique expands a good bit northwest towards Lake Malawi.
 * The Ottoman Empire begins to go under reform.
 * Río de Oro colony is formed by Spain with settlement of El Aaiún and Villa Cisneros, south of Morocco. Spain expands its territory in Spanish Guinea.
 * Russia establishes a small colony of 250 people near the Niger River ocean opening. They name this new colony the Delta State. The main purpose of the Colony is to mine Coal, which is becoming a valuable good in Europe due to the Start of the Industrial Revolution, and to grow Tea and Coffee, also valuable goods.
 * The British begin colonial plans to invade Madagascar.



1826

 * Spain expands Río de Oro at Villa Cisneros and Al Aaiún 2.5-fold by adding several small coastal forts around its main cities in the nearby desert, although the net change is small. Spain sends a small settlement party to OTL Lüderitz, naming it Lérida Baja after the Aragonese city of Lleída.
 * In early February, the Swedish expedition arrives at its destination, and established a post on an island and a nearby peninsula near the mouth of the river. Considering the semi-Catholic nature of the locals, they rapidly begin construction of a fortress to ensure its security. By the fall, the first shipments of slaves have already left for the Indies. News of attacks on the traders as they go about trading for slaves arrives back in Stockholm in November, and debate begins over what should be done.
 * Russia sends 500 more colonists, and a fleet of 5 Frigates to the Delta state colony.
 * France sends hundreds more colonists, and begins to establish ports for trading slaves, gold, salt, and more. They offer Sweden, Spain, and Russia trade alliances for complete trade to bring wealth to their nations. Shipments of slaves begin arriving in French Guiana. They also expand their colonies, signing more treaties with leaders.
 * USA expands east in Africa.



1827

 * The Swedish government decides to send troops to deal with the attacks, which seem to be supported by the nearby local nobles from the native kingdoms in the area. Soldiers are sent, along with some colonists, and arrive in the fall, preceding to attack the nobility and conquer some of their territories. A response from the locals is expected in the new year, so earth-forts are hurriedly put under construction.
 * Spain expands its Nueva Lérida colony by settling the mouth of the Orange River, calling it Río de Naranjas because the chief of the settlement party had a vision that the riverbanks were filled with orange trees. Spain expands Río de Oro so that about 1/3 the coastal gap between Villa Cisneros and El Aaiún is closed. Spain experiences a slight decline in production in Africa as the focus switches to expansion.
 * The Portuguese continue to expand towards Lake Malawi.
 * The Ottomans continue to go under reform. They build forts along their borders.



1828

 * The native king attacks the Swedish forts, the construction of which is mostly complete, and puts them under siege, only to be repulsed by newly-arrived troops from Sweden in the summer. Impressed by their victory, the king agrees to let them control the coast, in return for some trading concessions and a monopoly on the right to sell slaves to them.
 * Spain funnels some of its work force in its Nueva Lérida into forming a third settlement, with only fifty THIS IS BULLSHIT!!!!!!!!! people, at OTL Walvis Bay, which they name San Guillermo. It is mostly dependent on hunting and fishing, which the settlers pick up from the native bushmen. On the last day of the year, a settlement party is sent to West Africa to form Santa Alejandra colony at OTL Sassandra, between Liberia and Côte d'Ivoire. Despite efforts by settlers to make peace, raids on Nueva Lérida, Río de Oro, and Spanish Guinea colonies begin increasing to a problematic level. Due to the locations of Río de Oro and Nueva Lérida in desert areas, famine begins. The emphasis on expansion causes irrigation propositions to be struck down, leading to water and food shortages. Spain is forced to send supplies along with the Santa Alejandra colonizing party. Spain, trying to rebuild its economy while colonizing Africa at the same time, requests economic aid from Britain.
 * France continues to expand their colony, sending more colonists and making tribes sign away more land. Meanwhile, they continue to ask for an alliance with Morocco, and bulk up their navy.
 * The Russians expand further north,into a area they call Edo State.

this it total crap!!!

1829

 * With the Santa Alejandra expedition completed barely, Spain decides to spend the year fixing its economy from the Napoleon Wars, and sending supplies to existing colonies.
 * After a year of consolidation, Portuguese colonial troops arrive at the shores of Lake Malawi and claim the surrounding land. Small groups of settlers are moved in along the southern lakeshore. The Angolan colony expands eastward considerably, and the colony in Mozambique grows westward.
 * France continues to expand their colony, and send several exploration missions into Africa. They meet up with Ottoman leaders and ask if they could have a possible alliance.
 * With peace holding in the region, the Swedish Crown sends a party of fishermen, along with slavers and more soldiers, to a spot named "Pointe Noire" by Portuguese explorers in the 15th century after black rocks in the area, just to the north of nearby Swedish holdings. A colony, called "Svart Peka", is thus established here with these people.



1830

 * The Swedish government lends its support to a group of merchants who want to seize the port city of Mombasa in Eastern Africa. Their ships move into the area in the fall and seize the city from the local Sultan. Another party of settlers is sent to Svart Peka as well, expanding holdings there somewhat. Swedish outposts in the region to the south of Peka, however, begin to come under attack by the locals once again, prompting more discussion about a heavy-handed response in Stockholm.
 * Spain enters another year of consolidation and improving of its economy. Irrigation is improved, and deals are made with natives. Spain imports rubber to be grown in Spanish Guinea and Santa Alejandra and dates for Nueva Lerida and Río de Oro. A dirt road for horse and foot travel allows connection between the Río de Naranjas and Lerída settlements, and Santa Alejandra is expanded slightly to the east and west for farming and small amounts of rubber tree growing for cash.



1831

 * The Swedish government, at the expense of the merchants, decides to send a half-regiment, despite the high casualties expected, to their colony in the Kongo region, in order to fight off the attacks on their forts and take the fight to the natives in the New Year. Elsewhere, the merchants in control of Mombasa install a Royal governor, and begin to expand their holdings.
 * The Spanish government decides to spend much of the resources being poured into Africa to better the home economy. The Spanish colonies enter a period of relative stability, as new methods of obtaining food and water are learnt from natives. In Nueva Lérida, the sparse population of natives is utilized by pensinsulares to help develop settlements. The settlement of Río de Naranjas experiences a year of prosperity and expands south along the coast about a third of the way to Cape Colony and inland along the Río de Naranjas. Gobernador Gonzalo Gaudí Cruz of Santa Alejandra orders a campaign to annex nearby coastal cities, securing a border with France.



1832

 * The Mombasa territory is further expanded by Swedish merchants, as they shadily acquire the seeds for spices in the East Indies, and plant them in the region. The soldiers arrive in the west, and are deployed to the borders, where they begin offensive operations against the native kingdom. More are sent over the course of the year, with major operations planned for 1833 and 1834 that will temporarily hinder the growth of this colony.
 * Russia expands north into the Kogi State, and celebrations are held as the total population of the colony is now 5000,including the natives.
 * Portuguese colonists continue to arrive along the western shore of Lake Malawi, and a smaller group arrives in the Angolan territory, expanding it east towards Mozambique somewhat.
 * Spain's colony in Spanish Guinea begins to grow prosperous. A Spanish settlement is established to the north of Río Muni, intended for mainly peninsulares. The area is annexed as part of Spanish Guinea. Río de Oro colony comes close to becoming connected due to the work on a connecting road between Villa Cisneros and El Aaiún. San Guillermo colony at OTL Walvis Bay makes a minor expansion to the north. Back in Spain, the economy begins to show signs of upturn due to the trade of spices and rubber. Nueva Lérida proves to be a liability, based on hope for a trading depot for gold with the inland, thus slowing progress sligthly, but settlers have high hopes for the colony as a major port. Overall, the year is prosperous, with a few minor setbacks such as floods.
 * France expands their colonies all equally, in all directions. However, they find the natives not so cooperative. Because of that, they offer them a deal. France will once again start slave trading, and so the coastal kingdoms could get rich off of getting them slaves. France will, for that, get 1) trade rights, 2) small amounts of territory 3) the kingdoms/tribes would not make any deals with the other European nations. However, they do not know whether this will work, as that some people in France and others might criticize them for beginning to trade in slaves again.



1833

 * In order to help secure their territory at Mombasa, the Swedish merchants seize Mafia Island, south of Portuguese Zanzibar. The colony itself also expands, and a group of people fleeing oppression in India are allowed to settle as well. Troops in the west secure the areas around their forts, and launch their first major offensive, routing a native army, and killing more of the local nobles.
 * With the transfer of power in Spain to three-year-old Queen Isabella II, there is increased interest in colonization. San Guillermo colony is expanded due to the discovery of the OTL Swakop River mouth, which could possibly create a second port in the area. Río de Oro colony is finally united with the completion of the road between Villa Cisneros and El Aaiún. The colony also establishes a border with Morocco, in addition to expanding south.



1834

 * In the Swedish Congo, soldiers defeat another native army, before forces led by the local king begin to force them back. However, the dry season begins shortly thereafter, and the Swedish troops, after hacking windbreaks into the jungle, light fire to it. This results in massive losses for the native king, and by the end of the year, he will have agreed to peace and the vassalage of his kingdom to the Swedish crown. Settlers are sent to try and take advantage of this new region to influence, due to arrive in the New Year. More people from India are allowed to settle at Mombasa, and the colony expands its spice farms southwards as a result.
 * France expand their colonys all eastward, defeating the natives with their superior weapons and tactics. However, they soon encounter challenges they have never faced before: the Sahara and the Rainforest. This slows down expansion significantly.
 * Spain establishes a border with Britain's cape colony at its Río de Naranjas colony, while expanding along the OTL Orange River significantly. Spanish Guiana expands north so that it the new border is halfway to that of the Russians. To avoid the French gaining excessive power near Santa Alejandra, the colony is expanded slightly northward. Meanwhile, the Spaniards begin exploration of the Comoros, with hope of gaining strategic access to East Africa.



1835

 * In an effort to ensure that the colony is entirely overrun by people from India, the Swedish merchants at Mombasa, under the guise of their new trading company, the "Swedish East Africa Company," pay for the transport of Finns, and other non-Russians from the Baltic area of the Russian Empire, to settle south of Mombasa, with the colony expanding southwards towards Mafia Island. The colonists sent to the Congo arrive in March, and begin to set up farms in some of the areas burned by Swedish troops the year before. A representative also arrives in the local king's court to take charge.
 * Spanish explorers return from the upper Río de Naranjas, saying that the Orange River would provide fertile soil if irrigated. Alarmed by growing British influence in the region, the queen regent orders an aggressive campaign of expansion along the river, capturing well over a ninth of the river's course. A settlement known as Lérida Alta de los Naranjas is built near the eastern extent of the expansion. Upriver, natives are given firearms and are told to use them if they recognize the Union Jack. Meanwhile, a small party settles Mayote (OTL Mayotte), claiming it for the Spanish crown. Spanish royalty hopes the abundance of resources will make up for the lack thereof in Nueva Lérida. Río de Oro also expands markedly to the south.
 * Russia expands into the Ekiti State.
 * France expands all their colonies equally, while offering an alliance again to Sweden, and to Spain and Russia. Meanwhile, the natives agree to France's slave proposal, and slave trade starts again, bringing riches to the coastal kingdoms and to France.



1836

 * The Swedish government, increasingly bothered by the increased levels of immigration of its citizens to North America, passes an act that financially rewards any who choose to move to the African colonies, though few take them up on the offer, with the majority of these people moving to the Mombasa colony due to a better climate and it being more peaceful. Most of these people settle near Mafia Island. Foresters and Fishermen left with less work because of industrialization in Sweden itself, move to the Swedish Congo, expanding upriver after hearing rumors from returning soldiers about plentiful fish and timber there, despite what they hear about the disease. While many die, the hardier ones survive, clearing the forests around their settlement, known as "Trädavfisk."
 * The Spanish government thanks the French government for the retribution and decides how to distribute the budget. Sixty percent will go towards making Spanish Guinea Spain's crown colony within ten years by upgrading port facilities greatly, and building new economic buildings. In the countryside, much of the money is used to set up plantations and good-quality roads. Twenty percent of the money is dedicated to peninsular Spain, upgrading its merchant fleet and infrastructure as well as its trading facilities. The remaining twenty percent is divided among the remaining colonies in Africa evenly. In Mayote, the local settlers manage to take control of the entire island, but save most of the money. The colonists at Nueva Lérida use the money immediately for expansion, because without ample farmland, it was clear the colony would be on a marginal existence. Explorers from San Guillermo discover land of mediocre quality to the north-east of San Guillermo, and to avoid the Portuguese getting ahold of that land, San Guillermo expands to the north along the coast. Because of the relatively easy terrain and the lack of inhabitants, there are few obstacles to halt the rapid expansion to the north. The colony utilizes the French retribution payment to amplify what would otherwise be an aggressive expansion up the Orange River, through the building of forts. Santa Alejandra uses the money to expand negligibly to the north. Río de Oro uses the money to help bridge the gap between the Nuacjot (Nouakchott) exclave and the main colony, but most of the money is saved for later.
 * France expands their Senegal colony eastward, and Napoleon III visits the Spanish court as a sign of goodwill. Meanwhile, an alliance is offered to Portugal, as well as to Russia again. Methods are developed to cross the Sahara, by talking with the Saharan kingdoms on how other survive in the desert. The Sahara is named "Le Grand Désert", or the Great Desert.



1837

 * The Swedish East Africa Company, otherwise known as the SEAC, begins to expand its territories further inland from Mombassa. However, they begin to find that their spice crops, and sugar cane that they have begun to plant as well, do not do as well there, for they are within sight of a mountain range now and the climate has started to cool somewhat from what it is at the coast. They begin to finance more Finns and Baltic people from the Russian Empire to immigrate there, believing the area to be much less full of the fever so common in the region. The explorers, along with more immigrants from India, take up shop at a native village, called "Voi" by the locals, and get ready for the new settlers and begin to go about setting up a regional headquarters. The SEAC begins to search for a better crop to use in the region as well. Not liking the situation with the native kings in the Kongo, the Swedish government outfits another small expedition, which begins to map the territory north of that colony with authority to claim and settle wherever they please. More soldiers are sent to help secure the area around Trädavfisk as well.
 * Using the money given by France, Spain continues with its advancement. While most of Spain's colonies make use of the money to expand their economies, the Spanish crown puts intense funds into making the Nueva Lérida colony profitable. Significant expansion takes place along the Orange River, by many colonists driven by desire to be able to farm land. The Spanish government promises anyone who partakes in the expansion of the Orange River a plot of land of 400 hectares of prime land upriver, as well as ten pesetas of capital. This generous offer attracts thousands of Spanish from the peninsula, as well as many Filipinos wanting a new life. Expansion rises because of this, leading to six new forts being built on the river during the year. The forts are of low quality, but improvement is left for later in order to ensure maximum expansion. The natives generally accept the Spanish as a defence against the British, although many see the Spanish as intruders. Meanwhile, expansion of San Guillermo also occurs, directly to the northwest along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. They steadily grow nearer to the Portuguese border. Economic improvement continues in Spanish Guinea, Mayote, and Santa Alejandra at a significant rate.
 * Russia accepts France's earlier offer of Alliance. Russia also bars the SEAC from its territory, as they believe them to be infringing upon the Russian Empire's Zone of Influence by recruiting settlers from the Baltic Russian territory. Coal production is raised through the use of Native Labor and and new technologies.
 * The French African Trade Company becomes larger and larger, and becomes one of the most profitable trade companies in the world. Meanwhile, Some money is offered to colonists, about 100 francs, and many people perk up at the offer. Forts are created to protect themselves from the native peoples, as well as from other European nations. France offers an alliance to Sweden for the  last  time, as that they want as many powerful allies as possible. If Sweden accepts the alliance, France will put pressure on Russia to stop their sanction of the SEAC, but if they do not, then France will add themselves to banning the SEAC from their territory. Meanwhile, the Senegal colony is expanded more, however, they now find themselves in a semi-desert area, and begin to work more on improving their colony rather than expanding it. All other colonies are expanded a little.



1838

 * The SEAC is forced to leave the Baltics because of Russian Pressure, withdrawing all advertisements they had put up there. They do leave the offer open for the future, however, though with their withdrawal, and removal of their actions, in their view incredibly unjust since other nations are allowed to continue doing so, they are completely removed from areas that Russia considers in their influence. They start to recruit Norwegians instead, however much they may find them disloyal, and a party from Bergen are the first to take up the offer. This results in the settlement of Bergengard being established northwest of Voi, and the population of Voi itself rising as well. SEAC officials, after some research, become convinced that coffee may grow well there, and take steps towards that end. At the same time, the Norwegian settlers discover that wheat grows fairly well there too. The exploration party sent out by the Swedish government the year before discovers a river north of the Kongo colony, and establishes itself on a peninsula just north of there, at a good harbor location, establishing the settlement of Varghamn, named in part after the peninsula, itself named after Duarte Lopez, a Portuguese explorer from the 1500s, and the colony of Bernadottien, named after the royal family. Another group of Indians are settled at the southern end of the Mombasa colony as well.
 * Spain makes good progress during the year. Due to the influx of Filipino immigrants into Nueva Lérida, the rate of one fort eastward along the Río de Naranjas every two months is maintained.  Many Filipinos are sent upriver to instruct the local Khoisan and people to attack British who enter the land, claiming they are imperialists who want to take their land.  In San Guillermo, the northern party finally establishes a border with the Portuguese Angolan colony, and also expands slightly inland, managing to take some land for farming.  Santa Alejandra is expanded to the north and northeast along the French border, and northwest along the American border, to exert a more commanding presence in the interior of Africa.  Meanwhile, residents of Río de Oro found a new settlement on OTL Cape Blanc called Cabo Blanco, between Nuacjot and Villa Cisneros.  Mayote does not expand but attracts many Filipinos who do not wish to live in Nueva Lérida's poor soil or dry climate, helping it to become more prosperous.  Spanish Guinea's northern reaches expand slightly and it continues to rise in standard of living.  The colony also expands markedly to the south.  Overall, the year provides excellent profits to Spain and its colonies.



1839

 * Explorers and Settlers from the settlement at Varghamn, in the Bernadottien colony, move both south and northeast along the coast. In the northeast, they encounter Spanish explorers. In the Mombasa colony, SEAC ships, having traded spices for coffee plants and their seeds, arrive, and the coffee is brought inland for planting, which is done to start with in settled areas northwest of Bergengard that the new Norwegian colonists are arriving in. Little is expected from it until the next summer, but it is believed it will do well. SEAC recruitment turns to the Netherlands and Denmark, and is mildly successful in Denmark, but meets success in the Netherlands, as their African colonies are considered a failure there. The new settlers will arrive at Mombasa in the spring. And, in return for the charter of their company, a certain amount of these settlers is sent off to the Crown colony at Varghamn, aiding expansion there.
 * Spanish colonists experience another successful year as Filipinos continue to pour into the African colonies searching for jobs. Río de Oro Colony expands inland along its entirety as the Spanish crown wishes to get a stategic hold on the so-called "Grand Désert."  Colonists at Santa Alejandra, meanwhile, expand to the north, benefitting greatly from the production of cash crops.  Spanish Guinea expands in all directions, establishing a border with the Swedish Varghamn colony, and lengthening its border with the Russian colony.  Around San Guillermo, the colony expands inland as well, plus negligibly to the south.  A settlement is built along the Río de Naranjas, called Nuevo Toledo a few kilometres east of the existing Spanish claim, and is settled with a few hundred colonists, most of which come from the Philippine island of Cebu.  Later that year, the settlement is connected to the main bulk of the colony and then surpassed in expansion by a great deal.  Mayote expands to include the island of Anyuán (Anjouan).



1840

 * The SEAC, slightly unnerved by the recent conquest of more native-held islands along their supply lines by Spain, seizes the nearby islands of Ngazidja and Mohéli. Their coffee experiment, proving a great success, which along with other more cool-weather crops like wheat, leads to great buzz in Sweden about the colony, and much profit for the company. Colonists become easier to recruit, this time a large party of Swedes from the Stockholm area, to arrive next year. The settlers sent out late last year also arrive, founding the town of Dribosvels west of Voi, named for the three wooded hills found there. At Varghamn, new settlers continue to arrive and expand the colony northeast and south.
 * Spain establishes full control over Anyuán and attempt to capture the rest of the Comorian Isles but find they have been seized by Sweden, and only grab six tiny islands south of Mohéli, and set up a small settlement known as Puerto Canarias del Sur, administered as part of Mayote. Spain asks SEAC for a peaceful trading relationship and economic alliance, in order to promote growth along Africa's east coast, and a stable coexistence in the Comoros.  Meanwhile, a new shipment of Filipinos expedites the Orange River expansion, with the total number of settlers awaiting the land and monetary payment because of their assistance in expansion approaching two thousand.  Colonists at San Guillermo begin expanding northeast along the Portuguese border as well as south in a narrow but long strip along the coast.  Río de Oro expands inland and southeast along the French border, while Cabo Blanco comes close to establishing a connection between El Aaiún and Nuacjot.  Spanish Guinea expands negligibly inland, forming a small settlement ten kilometres north of OTL Njolé, called Ójohue, after the Swedish-controlled river to the south.  Santa Alejandra creates a few new settlements to the north, expanding on the American and French borders.  Spain's period of prosperity continues due to several new port facilities and profit from trade, but riots in many colonies may signal a slow end.



1841

 * The Swedish government sends a note to the Spanish government, stating that it will allow the SEAC to work with the Spanish government if the arrangement is extended to the Crown colonies in Western Africa as well. The settlers recruited last fall in Stockholm arrive in Mombasa in the spring, from which the SEAC sends them down the coastline, expanding their dominions south. Land around Dribosvels is further cleared as well. A party of Danish citizens from Aarhus is also recruited, and are sent by the Crown to western Africa, when they establish the town of Aarhusso between the two colonies, to be part of Bernadottien colony, almost linking them together. Bernadottien colony also expands further to the north east as well, along the outskirts of Spanish territory.
 * The Spanish crown accepts the offer, and sets about to constructing trading routes along the coast. In addition, they state they will welcome foreign investment in Mayote if Sweden responds with similar measures in the Comoros. Feeling a vibe of conflict in Europe, Spain sends an extra shipment of artillery and ammunition to many of its forts in its desert colonies. Orange River expansion continues, and gains more support as prime land draws closer and closer. Back on the coast, Lérida Baja and San Guillermo begin a push to close the gap between them. The area is so dry and with so few natives, expansion requires only construction of a road. Plans to settle the area fail, but settlers in San Guillermo expanding north and inland have better luck. About 50 km inland from the coast, near the Portuguese border, a settlement is created known as Santa Rosa de la Pampa, making it the first farming town in Nueva Lérida. Spanish Guinea continues to expand inland significantly, wanting to gain a keystone for control of Africa. Santa Alejandra expands slightly inland. In Río de Oro, only Nuacjot expands inland, although it also expands north, where it meets Cabo Blanco, establishing a connection through the whole colony. Spain plans an expedition to OTL Massawa to be completed during 1842. It is met with little support due to its position as a "desert," and it is expected the expedition may not take place in time.
 * The Ottomans send troops to their borders and open up trade routes.



1842

 * The Swedish government and the SEAC decline the Spanish offer, as they intend to only use the islands as a maritime stop for ships and to secure their trade routes. The Bernadottien and Congo colonies expand slightly, so that they now touch each other, and a road is finished being built between Varghamn, in Bernadottien, and Svart Peka, in the Swedish Congo. Bernadottien also expands slightly further near Spanish territory. Another group of immigrants from India arrive in Mombasa, where they are split into two groups, with one establishing farms inland from Mombasa and the other group settling further down the coastline.
 * The Spanish crown continues to send backing to its various colonies, enforcing Ceuta and Melilla, Santa Alejandra, Spanish Guinea, and Mayote. Enforcement is used specifically on borders, each of which contains a presidio, designated forts with extra supplies meant to be centers of defence for the colony.  "Bulges" of terrisory around presidios due to the need of area to enforce them.  This was meant to model on earlier presidios constructed in the New World.  The first was successful, built in Ceuta.  Río de Oro expands only slightly inland, but with significant bulges along the French and Moroccan borders.  Spanish Guinea experiences expansion directly to the north along the Russian borders, and southeast along the Swedish border, bulging significantly along both, while a third presidio is designated on Fernando Po (Bioko).  Santa Alejandra is assigned only one presidio, located close to the geographic centre, but nevertheless expands significantly inland and along both of its borders.  In Nueva Lérida, the presidios at the British and Portuguese borders also experience bulges.  Orange River expansion continues at the same rate, but slightly downriver, the inhabitants of many forts along the river decide to expand southward, reaching the British border.  The Massawa expedition manages to gain enough support to land by the end of the year, where a small trading post of around 200 males and 30 females, many Filipino, is created, called Sierra Verde, along with a small fort.  Spanish Guinea's principal city at Santa Isabel (Malabo) on Fernando Po begins to see some riots in the city by the locals.  Overall it does not affect progress in expansion.  The year falls short of economic expectations due to weather and riots, but the presidio system is deemed a success by the Spanish crown.