that the superior person promised to me in 1882 as
principal assistant, and second chief or administrator,
had not arrived, the confusion had been very great at
our principal base. “ Captain ” D had made only
a short stay at Yivi, but his reign had been a singularly
unhappy one. Owing to some incomprehensible
reason, Vivi, both with its Europeans and natives,
was in a ferment'continually. Finally, Sir Frederick
Groldsmith had appeared, and had relieved the station
of the presence of “ Captain " D . Sir Frederick
had himself made an inspection of the country as far
as Isangila, but had returned to Europe, and the
kindly influence that had begun to glow on the
Lower River became extinguished at his departure.
Chief after chief had tried their fortunes with
governing this Augean station, but each and a l l .
had failed to relieve me of the manifold complaints
that poured to Leopoldville during my absence. Out
of 120 letters awaiting me on my return from the
Falls, all but thirty contained the most deplorable
accounts, and revealed a state of affairs that compelled
me to abandon the hope that it could ever be remedied
while the Chief of the Expedition remained
away on the Upper Congo. With an efficient second it
might be possible yet, but, excepting the notice of Sir
Frederick Groldsmith, who had already returned to
Europe, there was no promise or indication that the
Comite intended to assist me with any one. Therefore,
after seeing the steamers and boats duly prepared and
equipped, and framing most elaborate instructions for