Chapter 19

Concluding Remarks.

I have thus attempted to trace a picture of the Congo River in the latter days of the slave-trade, and of its lineal descendant, "L'Immigration Africaine." The people at large are satisfied, and the main supporters of the traffic--the chiefs, the "medicine- men," and the white traders--have at length been powerless to arrest its destruction.

And here we may quote certain words of wisdom from the "Congo Expedition" in 1816: "It is not to be expected that the effects of abolition will be immediately perceptible; on the contrary, it will probably require more than one generation to become apparent: for effects, which have been the consequence of a practice of three centuries, will certainly continue long after the cause is removed." The allusion in the sentence which I have italicized, is of course, to the American exportation--domestic slavery must date from the earliest ages. These sensible remarks conclude with advocating "colonization in the cause of civilization;" a process which at present cannot be too strongly deprecated.

That the Nzadi is capable of supplying something better than slaves may be shown by a list of what its banks produce. Merolla says in 1682: "Cotton here is to be gathered in great abundance, and the shrubs it grows on are so prolific, that they never almost leave sprouting." Captain Tuckey ("Narrative," p. 120) declares "the only vegetable production at Boma of any consequence in commerce is cotton, which grows wild most luxuriantly, but the natives have ceased to gather it since the English have left off trading to the river," I will not advocate tobacco, cotton and sugar; they are indigenous, it is true, but their cultivation is hardly fitted to the African in Africa. Copper in small quantities has been brought from the interior, but the mineral resources of the wide inland regions are wholly unknown. If reports concerning mines on the plateau be trustworthy, there will be a rush of white hands, which must at once change, and radically change, all the conditions of the riverine country. Wax might be supplied in large quantities; the natives, however, have not yet learnt to hive their bees. Ivory was so despised by the slave-trade, that it was sent from the upper Congo to Mayumba and the other exporting harbours; demand would certainly produce a small but regular supply.

The two staples of commerce are now represented by palm-oil, which can be produced in quantities over the lowlands upon the whole river delta, and along the banks from the mouth to Boma, a distance of at least fifty direct miles. The second, and the more important, is the arachis, or ground-nut, which flourishes throughout the highlands of the interior, and which, at the time of my visit, was beginning to pay. As the experience of some thirty years on different parts of the West Coast has proved, both these articles are highly adapted to the peculiarities of the negro cultivator; they require little labour, and they command a ready, a regular, and a constant sale.

When time shall be ripe for a bonâ fide emigration, the position of Boma, at the head of the delta, a charming station, with healthy air and delicious climate, points it out as the head- quarters. Houses can be built for nominal sums, the neighbouring hills offer a sanatorium, and due attention to diet and clothing will secure the white man from the inevitable sufferings that result from living near the lower course.

With respect to the exploration of the upper stream, these pages, compared with the records of the "First Congo Expedition," will show the many changes which time has brought with it, and will suggest the steps most likely to forward the traveller's views. At some period to come explorers will follow the line chosen by the unfortunate Tuckey; but the effects of the slave-trade must have passed away before that march can be made without much obstruction. When Lieutenant Grandy did me the honour of asking my advice, I suggested that he might avoid great delay and excessive outlay by "turning" the obstacle and by engaging "Cabindas" instead of Sierra Leone men. At the Royal Geographical Society (Dec. 14th, 1874) he thus recorded his decision: "For the guidance of future travellers in the Congo country, I would suggest that all the carriers be engaged at Sierra Leone, where any number can be obtained for 1s. 3d. a day. From my experience of them I can safely say they will be found to answer every requirement, and the employment of them would render an expedition entirely independent of the natives, who, by their cowardice and constant desertion, entailed upon us such heavy expenses and serious delays. My conviction, after nearly four years of travel upon the West African coast, is this: if Sierra Leone men be used, they must be mixed with Cabindas and with Congoese "carregadores," registered in presence of the Portuguese authorities at S. Paulo de Loanda.

I conclude with the hope that the great Nzadi, one of the noblest, and still the least known of the four principal African arteries, will no longer be permitted to flow through the White Blot, a region unexplored and blank to geography as at the time of its creation, and that my labours may contribute something, however small, to clear the way for the more fortunate explorer.

Appendix

I.

METEORLOGICAL

Instruments used for altitudes:-- Pocket aneroid, corrected +0.55, "R.G.S" Casella's Alpine Sympiesometer, corrected to 67° (F.).

N.B.-- Returning to Fernando Po, found that part of the liquid has lodged in upper bulb, and therefore corrected index error by standard aneroid 1.15 (Symp. = 29.258, and standard, 30.400).

Observations at the Congo mouth in February, 1863 (from log of H.M.S. "Griffon").

Thermometer Barometer Winds Place Engine in sea. Force & Direction Room. A.M. P.M.

86° 76° 29.90 (1) S.E. (1) N.N.W. Loanda. 92° 77° 29.92 (1) S.W. (2) W.N.W. En route to Congo. 108° 76° 29.90 (1) S. (3) S.S.W. En route to Congo. 86° 78° 29.90 (2) S. (3) W. En route to Congo. 88° 78° 29.90 (2) S.W. (2) S.S.W. En route to Congo. 94° 80° 29.90 (2) S.E. (2) S.W. En route to Congo. 90° 83° 29.90 (2) S. (2-3)S. Congo. 90° 80° 29.90 (0) Calm (1) W. Congo.

(Signed) F. F. Flynne, Assistant-Surgeon in Charge.

Place and Date. Time of Day. Thermometer. Symp. Remarks.

9th September 6 a.m. 65° 28.00 cor. 29.12 Cold morning, light wind from N.N.E., Banza nokki 9 a.m. 72° 27.70 cor. 28.82 threatened rain, 8 a.m.; noon misty, on hills above Noon. 78° 27.90 cor. 29.02 day hazy; 3 p.m., sun hot, wind cooler river 3 p.m. 80.5° 27.85 cor. 28.97 from west; evening, stiff sea-breeze, 6 p.m. 72° 27.90 cor. 29.02 people complain of cold; night, heavy dew.

10th Sept. 6 a.m. 67° 27.90 cor. 29.02 Misty morning, warm at 9 a.m., wind; noon, Same place, 9 a.m. 75° 27.75 cor. 28.87 hot sun, high sea-breeze; 3 p.m., hot Nokki. Noon. 83° 27.85 cor. 28.97 sun, cool west wind; cloudy evening; 3 p.m. 85° 27.75 cor. 28.87 windy night, dew cold and heavy. 6 p.m. 74° 27.85 cor. 28.97 Altitude of Nokki above sea, 1,430 feet.

11th Sept. 9 a.m. 77° 27.70 cor. 28.82 Misty morning, warm but clouding over; Banza Noon. 87° 27.55 cor. 28.67 at noon high sea-breeze, glare and hot Chingufu 3 p.m. 83° 27.45 cor. 28.57 sun, when clouds break 97° in sun, above Nokki; 6 p.m. 73° 27.50 cor. 28.62 2 p.m.; 3 p.m., high sea-breeze up see also 18th river; 6 p.m., cold sea-breeze, cloudy and 19th Sept. sky. Altitude of Chingufu, 1,703 feet.

Chingufu

12th Sept. 6 a.m. 65° 27.70 cor. 28.82 Clear fine morning; high west wind First observation Nekolo. at 6 a.m.; pocket aneroid 29.00 Chingufu, 9 a.m. 76° 28.50 cor. 29.62 Shady verandah facing to west; at others at Nekolo Noon. 84° 28.35 cor. 29.47 noon aneroid 30.05; 3 p.m., hot lower down & near 3 p.m. 85° 28.40 cor. 29.52 sun, westerly breeze, few clouds; river. 6 p.m. 77° 28.30 cor. 29.42 6 p.m., very clear, east wind strong; no dew at night.

Negolo Nkulu. 13th Sept. 6 a.m. 70° 28.45 cor. 29.57 Close cloudy morning; 9 a.m., Negolo and near 9 a.m. 77° 28.50 cor. 29.62 alternately clear and cloudy, Congo River. Noon. 90° 28.45 cor. 29.57 glare, no wind; noon bright and sultry, no clouds; 3 p.m., in shady cove 10 feet above river; rain at 5.30 p.m., lasted two hours; dispersed by westerly breeze. Cove near river. 3 p.m. 94° 29.10 cor. 30.22 Height of Negolo, 828 feet.

Left bank. 14th Sept 6 a.m. 74° 29.30 cor 30.50 Dull, warm, and cloudy. Right bank. Banza Vivi on 9 a.m. 84° 29.35 cor. 30.57 Aneroid 30.60, dull day. hills above right Noon. 80° 28.95 cor. 30.07 Anerodi 30.10 dull day, very little bank. 3 p.m. 84° 28.35 cor. 29.47 breeze, village shut in, clouds 6 p.m. 79° 28.85 cor. 29.97 from west

Banza Vivi. 15th Sept. 6 a.m. 74° 29.15 cor. 30.25 Thick drizzle from west, no wind. At Banza Simbo, half way up Vivi range, aneroid 29.42. Banza Nkulu Noon 78° 28.10 cor. 29.22 Under tree facing north; puffs of above rapids. west wind, threatened rain, none came. 6 p.m. 75° 28.10 cor. 29.22 In veranda facing north-east; clear night, heavy dew.

Banza Nkulu. 16th Sept. 6 a.m. 69° 28.20 cor. 29.32 Grass wet, heavy dew, rain threatened, aneroid 29.50. 100 feet above rapids. 7.30 a.m. 73° 29.25 cor. 30.37 Aneroid 30.55. Banza Nkulu again Noon. 80° 28.10 cor. 29.22 Aneroid 29.55, dull, cloudy, rain threatened. 3 p.m. 75° 28.00 cor. 29.12 Dull day, clearer towards evening, 6 p.m. 75° 28.00 cor. 29.12 very heavy dew. Altitude of Nkulu, 1212 feet. Altitude of Yellala Rapids, 390 feet.

Nkulu. 17th Sept. 5.30 a.m. 67° 28.15 cor. 29.27 Grey, cool; threatens sunny day. Right bank of river. 9.20 a.m. 77° 29.30 cor. 30.42 Cool west wind. In canoe on river below Little Rapids. 10.50 a.m. 81° 20.20 cor. 30.32 Aneroid 30.57(59) Left bank 20 feet above water, under fig-tree facing north. Noon. 81° 29.20 cor. 30.32 Aneroid 30.50. Negolo Town 3 p.m. 83° 28.30 cor. 29.42 Day hot, aneroid in verandah 30.50. Banza Chingufu. 6 p.m. 71° 27.55 cor. 28.67 Clear evening, misty towards night, young moon with halo. Height of river below Vivi Fall, 195 feet.

18th Sept. 6 a.m. 65° 27.60 cor. 28.72 Cool, grey, no wind. At Chingufu as 9 a.m. 76° 27.65 cor. 28.77 Strong land wind, from east, no before. sun, heavy clouds N.E. Noon. 90° 27.50 cor. 28.62 High west wind, hot sun. 3.30 p.m. 88° 27.35 cor. 28.47 Clear at 1 p.m., thermometer 100° little wind, sun hot. 6 p.m. 77° 27.45 cor. 28.57 Clear evening, no dew, misty moon, high sea-breeze at night.

19th Sept. 6 a.m. 67° 27.70 cor. 28.82 Still grey morning, no wind. At Chingufu. 9.30 a.m. 76° 27.65 cor. 28.77 Lighter, wind from west. Noon. 81° 27.60 cor. 28.72 Dull, light west wind. 3 p.m. 88° 27.45 cor. 28.57 Cloudy and sunny, west wind. 6 p.m. 72° 27.50 cor. 28.62 Clear, fine, little wind. How do these agree with September 11?

Chingufu. 20th Sept. 6 a.m. 69° 27.70 cor. 28.82 Fine, clear, and still morning. On river. Down river 9 a.m. 82° 29.35 cor. 30.47 Hot day, aneroid 30.55; at 10 a.m. 29.85. Off Chacha village on river. Noon. 87° 29.35 cor. 30.47 Sea-breeze, sun hot, but obscured by smoke of bush fires. On river. 3 p.m. 86° 29.20 cor. 30.32 Aneroid 30.40, stiff sea breeze. Last observation taken about 5 miles above Boma.

21 Sept. 9 a.m. 76° 29.30 cor. 30.42 Cool, cloudy, pleasant. At Boma. Noon. 81.5° 29.25 cor. 30.37 Dull, threatens rain. 3 p.m. 86° 29.25 cor. 30.37 Dull, muggy, cloudy.

22nd Sept. 6 a.m. 77° 29.10 cor. 30.22 Dull, cloudy, cool; instrument in Boma. verandah facing south-west. 9 a.m. 76° 20.30 cor. 30.42 Noon. 84° 29.30 cor. 30.42 Dull and warm. 3 p.m. 84° 29.10 cor. 30.22 Very dull, strong sea-breeze comes up in afternoon, and lasts till 9 p.m. 6 p.m. 79° 29.20 cor. 30.32 Dull night. Mean altitude of Boma (commonly called Embomma), 73 feet.

23rd Sept. 6 a.m. 70.5° 29.20 cor. 30.32 Dull morning Boma. 9 a.m. 81.75° 29.25 cor. 30.37 Clear and sunny. 3 p.m. 92° 29.10 cor. 30.22 Clear, hot, and sunny. 6 p.m. 79° 29.15 cor. 30.27 High wind, sun.

24th Sept. 6 a.m. 74° 29.20 cor. 30.32 Cool and clear. Boma. 9 a.m. 81° 29.30 cor. 30.42 Hot and clear. 12.30 p.m. 93.75° 29.10 cor. 30.22 Hot and clear. 3 p.m. 93.57° 29.05 cor. 30.17 Very strong sea-breeze till late at night. 6 p.m. 79.5° 29.15 cor. 30.27 Very strong sea-breeze till late at night.

25th Sept. 6 a.m. 74° 29.20 cor. 30.32 Dull, no sun, rain threatened. Noon. 81° 29.20 cor. 30.32 3 p.m. 83° 29.19 cor. 30.31 Aneroid 30.15. 6 p.m. 78° 29.10 cor. 30.22 Dull, no sun, wind subsided at night.

Porto da Senha at factory. 26th Sept. 6 a.m. 78° 29.25 cor. 30.37 Aneroid 30.62, day clear. 9 a.m. 76° 29.30 cor. 30.42 Aneroid 30.40, hot sun. On passage in canoe down river. Noon. 87° 29.20 cor. 30.32 Aneroid 30.45. 3 p.m. 95.5° 29.00 cor. 30.12 Aneroid 30.52. Mean altitude of Porto da Lenha, 38 feet.

28th Sept. 6 a.m. 71.25° 29.15 cor. 30.27 Dry, cloudy morning. Banana factory, 9 a.m. 75° 29.20 cor. 30.32 Calm, land and sea breezes very mouth of river, regular. 60 feet above Noon. 81° 29.10 cor. 30.22 At noon thermometer at seaside in sea level. sun (overcast) 83.5°. 3 p.m. 75.5° 29.05 cor. 30.17 6 p.m. 74° 29.05 cor. 30.17 Symp. (corrected) 30.32°.

29th Sept. 6 a.m. 73° 29.20 cor. 30.32 Weather calm; at seaside in sun same place. 9 a.m. 80° 29.20 cor. 30.32 (overcast) thermometer 74.5°. Noon. 83° 29.10 cor. 30.22 3 p.m. 80° 29.15 cor. 30.27 Symp. (corrected) 30.32°. 6 p.m. 74° 29.05 cor. 30.17 Night cold and windy.

30th Sept. 6 a.m. 71° 29.20 cor. 30.32 Clear weather, high wind. same place. 9 a.m. 79° 29.15 cor. 30.27

II.

Plants Collected in the Congo, at Dahome, and the Island of Annabom, by Mr. Consul Burton.

Received at the Herbarium, Royal Gardens, Kew, September, 1864.

Argemone Mexicana Dahome. Cleome Guineensis, Hf. Congo. Gynardropsis pentaphylla, D. C. Ditto. Ritcheia fragrans. Br. Dahome. Alsodeia sp. Congo. Flacourtia sp. Dahome. Polygala avenaria, Willd. Congo. Polycarpæa linearifolia Dahome (not laid in). Seda cordifolia, L. Congo. Seda an S. humilis (?) Ditto. Seda urens, L. Ditto. Abutilon sp. Ditto. Urena lobata, L. Annabom and Congo. Hibiscus cannabinus, L. Dahome. Hibiscus vitifolius, L. Congo. Hibiscus (Abelmoschus) Moschatus, Moench Ditto. Hibiscus aff. H. Sabdariffæ Dahome. Gossypium sp. Congo. Walthenia Indica, L. Dahome. Walthenia (?) Congo. Triumfetta rhomboidea (?) Congo, Annabom, Dahome. Acridocarpus sp. Congo. Citrus Aurantium (?) Annabom (not laid in). Citrus sp. Annabom (not laid in). Cardiospermum Helicacabum, L. Annabom. Anacardium occidentale, L. Congo and Annabom. Spondias dubia? Reich. Annabom. Cnestis(?) sp. Dahome. Cnestis(?) sp. Congo. (?)Spondias sp. (very young) Ditto (not laid in). (?)Soindeia sp. fl. ft. Congo. Rosa sp. Ditto (not laid in). Jussieua acuminata, Jno. Congo. Jussieua linifolia(?) Vahl. Ditto. Mollugo Spergula, L. Ditto. Combretum spinosum(?) Dahome (fl. only). Combretum sp. Congo. Quisqualis ebracteata(?) Ditto. Combretum sp. (fruct.) Ditto (not laid in). Combretum sp. Congo. Modeeca tamnifolia(?), Kl. Annabom. Syzygium Avariense, Kth. Congo. Melothria triangularis(?), Kth. Ditto. Melothria(?) sp. Ditto. Cucurbitaceæ (3 other spp. very imperfect and not laid in). Umbelliferæ Congo. Desmodium Mauritianum(?), D.C. Ditto, Annabom(?) Desmodium do. v. adscendens Congo. Desmodium latifolium, D.C. Dahome. Desmodium Gargeticum (?), D. C. Annabom. Cajanus Indicus, L. Congo. Eniosema cajanoides Ditto. Eniosema aff. id. Ditto. Eniosema aff. glomerata Ditto. Abrus precatorius(?) Annabom. Pisum sativum Congo. Phaseolus sp. Annabom. Rhynchaesia sp. Congo. Tephrosia sp. Ditto. Milletia(?) sp. Ditto. Milletia(?) Ditto. Milletia or Lonchocarpus (?) Congo. Indigofera af. I. endeeaphylla. Jacq. Annabom. Indigofera sp. Congo. Indigofera sp. Dahome. Indigofera sp. Ditto. Sesbania sp. Congo. Crotalaria sp. Dahome. Glycine labialis (?) Annabom. Erythrina sp. (?) Dahome. Berlinia sp. (?) Congo. Cassia occidentalis, L. Ditto (not laid in) Cassia mimosoides (?), L. Congo. Dichrostachys nutans (?) Ditto. Mimosa asperata (?), L. Congo (not laid in) Zygia fastigiata (?) Ela Dahome. Vernonia (Decaneuron), Senegalensis Ditto, Annabom. Vernonia Congo. Vernonia an V. pandurata (?) Ditto. Vernonia cinerea Ditto. Ethulia conyzoides Ditto. Vernonia an V. pauciflora (?) Dahome. Vernonia stæchadifolia, Sch. Ditto. Ageratum conyzoides, L. Annabom, Congo. Mikania chenopodiifolia, Wild. Ditto. Grangea, sp. Congo. Bidens pilosa, L. Ditto. Coronocarpus (?) Dahome. Blumea (?) sp. Ditto. Blumea sp. Ditto. Blumea sp. Ditto. Chrysanthellum Sengalense (?), D.C. Dahome. Verbesinoid. dub. Congo. Gnaphalium an luteo-album (?) Ditto. Hedyotis corymbosa, L. Ditto. Otomeria Guineensis (?), Kth. Ditto. Randia longistyla, D. C. Dahome. Borreria ramisparsa (?), D. C. var. Ditto. Octodon (?) sp. Dahome. Spermacoce Ruelliæ (?), D. C. Ditto. Baconia Corymbosa, D. C. Ditto. Baconia aff. d. Annabom. Rubiaceæ, dub. Congo. Rubiaceæ Ditto. Rubiaceæ Annabom. Diospyros (?) sp. Congo. Cynoctonum (?) aff. Ditto. Ipomæa sp. (?). Ditto. Ipomæa sp. Ditto. Ipomæa sp. Ditto. Ipomæa sp. Dahome. Ipomæa filicaulis, Bl. Congo. Ipomæa sp. Ditto. Ipomæa involucrata. Dahome. Ipomæa sessiliflora (?) Clius (?) Ditto, Congo. Leonotis nepetifolia. Bil. Congo. Ocymum an O. gratissimum (?) Ditto (not laid in). Moschoesma polystachya (?) Ditto (ditto). Heliophytum Indicum, D. C. Ditto. Heliotropium strigosum (?), Willd. Dahome. Brillantaisia an B. patula, P. A. (?) Congo. Dicliptera verticillaris (?), Juss. Ditto. Asystasia Coromandeliana (?) Dahome. Justicia Galeopsis Ditto. Lycopersicum esculentum Congo. Capsicum an C. frutescens (?) Ditto (ditto). Solanum Ditto (ditto). Solanum Annabom (ditto). Solanum Congo (ditto). Schwenckia Americana, L. Ditto. Scoparia dulcis, L. Congo (not laid in). Spathodea lævis (?) Dahome. Sesamum Indicum, var. Ditto. Plumbago Zeylanica, L. Congo (ditto.) Clerodendron multiflorum (?), Don. Ditto, imp., Ditto. Clerodendron sp. Congo. Lippia sp. Ditto. Lippia an L. Adoensis? Ditto. Stachytarphita Jamaicensis, V. Dahome. Celosia trigyna (?), L. Congo. Erua lanata Ditto (ditto). Pupalia lappacea, Moq. Annabom. Achyranthes involucrata, Moq. Dahome. Achyranthes argentea (?), Lam. Congo. Celosia argentea, L. Dahome (ditto). Amaranthus paniculatus, L. Congo. Euxolus irridis Congo. Phyllanthus pentandrus (?) Dahome. Phyllanthus Nivari, L. Congo. Acalypha sp. Ditto. Manihot utilissima (?) Ditto. Antidesma venosum Ditto. Euphorbia pilulifera, L. Annabom. Croton lobatum Dahome. Phytolacca an P. Abyssinica (?) Congo (bad, not laid in). Ricinus communis (?) Congo (not laid in). Phyllanthus sp. Ditto. Cannabis sativa, L. Ditto (ditto). Boerhaavia paniculata Ditto (ditto). Polygonum Senegalense, Meiss Ditto. Castus Afch. Ditto (ditto). Aneilema adhærens (?) Ditto. Aneilema an A. ovato-oblongeum Ditto. Aneilema Beninense Congo. Commolyna (?) Dahome. Fragts. Commolyneæ (not laid in). Phœnix (?) spadix Congo. Canna Indica (?) Congo and Annabom. Chloris Varbata (?), Sw. Congo (not laid in). Andropogon (Cymbopogon) sp. (?) Ditto. Andropogon, an Sorghum (?) Ditto (ditto). Panicum an Oplismenus (?) Ditto (ditto). Panicum sp. Congo and Annabom. (?) Eleusine Indica Annabom (not laid in). Eragrostis megastachya, Lk. Congo. Leptochloa sp (?) Ditto. Pennisetum sp. Ditto. Pennisetum sp. Dahome. Pennisetum sp. Congo. Mariscus sp. Annabom. Cy. flagellatus (?) Hochst Congo. Cy. sphacelatus Annabom. Scleria an S. racemosa Congo.

III.

Heights of Stations, West Coast of Africa, Computed from Observations Made by Capt. Burton.

1863. feet. Sept. 9.-- On route to Banza Nokki 1322 Sept. 11. Nokki 1553 Sept. 9.-- Nokki, on hills 1577\ above river. 1347 | " 1393 | " 1379 | Sept. 10. " 1404 |- Mean = 1430 feet. " 1517 | " 1371 | " 1467 | " 1415/ Sept. 11.-- Chingufu above 1656\ Nokki 1775 | Mean 1703 feet: " 1769 | See Sept. 18., &c. Sept. 12. " 1613/

Nelongo's Village, lower down 781-\ and nearer village. 872 | " 818 | " 961 |-Mean = 828 feet. Sept. 13. " 861 | " 766 | " 736-/ Sept. 13.-- Cove near Congo River 78 feet. Sept. 14.-- Hills above Banza 315 River. 411 " 865 Sept. 15.-- Banza River 179 at level of river. Banza Nkulu above 1149 \ rapids. 1172 |-Mean = 1140. Sept. 16. " 1099 / Banza Nkulu 1144 \ " 1270 |-Mean = 1212. " 1270 | Sept. 17. " 1162 / Nelongo's Village– Negolo 923 Banza Chingufu 1732 Sept. 18.-- Chingufu. 1711 \ " 1611 | " 1697 | " 1854 | " 1804 | Sept. 19. " 1600 |-Mean = 1694 feet. " 1609 | See Sept. 11. " 1636 | " 1751 | " 1775 | Sept. 20. " 1586 / Sept. 21. Boma. 9 \ " 9 | " 19 | " 189 | Sept. 22. " 9 | " 57 | " 135 | " 76 | Sept. 23. " 140 | " 19 | " 78 |-Mean = 73 feet. " 124 | Sept. 24. " 113 | " 29 | " 59 | " 107 | " 124 | Sept. 25. " 113 | " 67 | " 58 | " 180 / Sept. 26.-- Porto de Lenha. 38 Sept. 28.-- Banana factory. 94 \ " 18 | " 67 | " 150 | " 160 | Sept. 29. " 28 |-Mean = 56 feet. " 19 | " 48 | " 29 | " 16 | Sept. 30. " 47 | " 29 /

IV.

(Form of French Passport.)

Immigration Africaine.

Ce jourd'hui _______________ mil huit cent soixante _______________ par devant nous _______________ Commissaire du Gouvernement Français, Agent d'émigration, conformément à l'article 8 du décret du 27 Mars 1852, assisté de _______________ témoins requis, a comparu le nommé _______________ noir libre, né au village de _______________ côte de _______________ âgé de _______________ lequel nous a déclaré consentir librement et de son plein gré à partir pour une des Colonies Françaises d'Amérique pour y contracter l'engagement de travail ci-après détaillé et présenté par M _______________ au nom de M. Régis, au profit de l'habitant qui sera désigné par l'Administration locale à son arrivée dans la Colonie.

Les conditions d'engagement de travail sont les suivantes:

ART. 1.

Le nommé ______________________________ s'engage, tant pour les travaux de culture et de fabrication sucrière &c. que pour tous autres d'exploitation agricole et industrielle auxquels l'engagiste jugera convenable de l'employer et généralement pour tous les travaux quelconques de domesticité.

ART. 2.

Le présent engagement de travail est de dix années à partir du jour de l'entrée au service de l'engagiste. L'engagé doit 26 jours de travail effectifs et complets par mois; les gages ne seront dus qu'après 26 jours de travail. La journée de travail ordinaire sera celle établie par les règlements existant dans la Colonie. A l'époque de la manipulation l'engagé sera tenu de travailler sans augmentation de salaires suivant les besoins de l'établissement où il sera employé. (The employer can thus overwork his slaves as much as he pleases.)

ART. 3.

L'engagiste aura le droit de céder et transporter à qui bon lui semblera, sous le contrôle de l'Administration le présent engagement de travail contracté à son profit. (N.B.--The owner can thus separate families.)

ART. 4.

L'engagé sera logé sur l'établissement où il sera employé; il aura droit, de la part de l'engagiste aux soins médicaux, à sa nourriture, laquelle sera conforme aux règlements et à l'usage adopté dans la Colonie pour les gens de travail du pays. Bien entendu que toute maladie contractée par un fait étranger, soit à ses travaux, soit à ses occupations, sera à ses frais. (Thus bed and board are at the discretion of the employer, and the gate of fraud is left open.)

ART. 5.

Le salaire de l'engagé est de: 12 francs pour les hommes, 10 francs pour les femmes, 8 francs pour les enfants de 10 à 14 ans., par mois de 26 jours de travail, comme il est dit à l'article 2, à partir de 8 jours après son débarquement dans la colonie. Moitié de cette somme lui sera payée fin chaque mois, l'autre moitié le sera fin de chaque année. (Not even festivals allowed as holidays.)

ART. 6.

L'engagé reconnait avoir reçu en avance, du représentant de M. Régis, la somme de DEUX CENTS FRANCS dont il s'est servi pour sa libération et pour divers frais à son compte, Ces avances seront retenues sur ses salaires à raison de par mois.

ART. 7.

L'engagé déclare par avance se soumettre aux règlements rendus dans la Colonie pour la police du travail et de l'immigration.

ART. 8.

A l'expiration de son temps d'engagement le rapatriement sera accordé à l'immigrant pour lui, sa femme, et ses enfants non adultes, à la condition par celui-ci de verser mensuellement à la Caisse d'immigration le dixième de son salaire.

Si l'engagé renonce à son rapatriement, toute somme versée par lui lui sera remboursée.

En cas de réengagement les conditions en seront débattues de gré-à-gré entre l'engagé et le propriétaire engagiste.

Fait et signé de bonne foi, le

Certifié par le délégué de l'administration faisant fonctions d'Agent d'émigration.

[FN#1] "Die Deutsche Expedition an der Loango Küuste, nebst älteren Nachrichten über die zu erforschenden Länder." Von Adolf Bastian. Jena and London (Trübner and Co.), 1874.

[FN#2] See "The Lands of the Cazembe," p. 15, Royal Geographical Society, London, 1873.

[FN#3] See "The Lands of the Cazembe" (p. 25, note), where, however, the word has taken the form of "Impaçeiro." At p. 27, line 6, a parenthesis has been misplaced before and after "Impalancas," a word differently interpreted by Portuguese writers.

[FN#4] The Directory and Charts.

[FN#5] That of the Hydrographic Office, dated 1863, assigns it to S. Lat. 7° 44', and E. Long. 13° 5'; and the Granite Pillar to S. Lat. 7° 36' 15", and E. Long. 13° 6' 30".

[FN#6] Duarte Lopez, the Portuguese Captain, whose journals were used by Pigafetta. He went to the Congo regions in 1578, and stayed there ten years. "Philipp's Voyages," vol. iii. p. 236.

[FN#7] "Philipp's Voyages," vol. iii. p. 236.

[FN#8] Appendix to Tuckey's "Expedition," No. 6.

[FN#9] See the note of the learned Robert Brown, p. 472, Appendix V., Tuckey's "Congo."

[FN#10] "Relazione del Reame di Congo, e delle circonvicine contrade, tratta dagli Scritti e Raggionamenti di Odoardo Lopez, Portogheze, per Philippo Pigafetta." Roma, 1591, fol.

[FN#11] "Historia de Etiopia," p. 65.

[FN#12] "Geography of N'yassi," note, p. 51.

[FN#13] See "Zanzibar City, Island, and Coast," vol. i. p. 5. "Marinus of Tyre" became by misprint "mariners of Tyre."

[FN#14] Chap. xvii. of the Rev. Mr. Waddell's "Twenty-nine Years in the West Indies and Central Africa."

[FN#15] "Narrative of a Voyage of Discovery to Africa and Arabia," by Captain Thomas Boteler. London: Bentley, 1835; repeated from Owen's "Voyages to Africa, Arabia," &c. London: Bentley, 1833. Lt. Wolf, R.N., has given an able analysis of this great surveying undertaking in the "Journal of the Geographical Society," vol. iii. of 1833.

[FN#16] See chap. v.

[FN#17] Of this lake I shall have something to say in chap. xii.

[FN#18] See "The Lands of the Cazembe," p. 24.

[FN#19] Petermann's "Geog. Mitt." of 1860, pp. 227-235. I have duly obtained at Pest the permission of Professor Hunfálvy, who in 1859 edited the Hungarian and German issues, to translate into English the highly interesting volume, the only remains of Ladislaus Magyar, the traveller having died, Nov. 19, 1864, after visiting large and previously unknown tracts of south-western Africa. The work has been undertaken by the Rev. R. C. G. O'Callaghan, consular chaplain, Trieste, and I hope that it will soon appear with notes by myself. It will be a fitting pendant to Dr. de Lacerda's "Journey to the Lands of the Cazembe."

[FN#20] "Geog. Mitt." 1857, p. 190.

[FN#21] Proofs of the identity of the Lualaba with the Congo;" translated by Mr. Keith Johnston from the "Geogr. Mittheilungen,"