Europeans pleasing fidelity. Merit wins quick promotion in
such a work as ours. Lieut. Valcke is appointed chief
of Leopoldville, which sadly needed some man of
calibre; and in a little over two months a wonderful
change has come over the most important station of
the Upper Congo. The rising buildings, the expanding
terrace, the utter absence of discord,. prove that the
place has found a fit master. There are no complaints
from Europeans of poor diet, no murmurs from native
employes of severity and cruel injustice, nor do I hear
of any controversies with the aborigines. The plaza
is alive with marketing and innocent chaffering; the
aboriginal chiefs are in perfect confidence assembled
by his side; the garden is green with growing bananas,
plots of potatoes and other vegetables; the caravans are
regular in their coming and going, and the store-rooms
are filled with goods and provisions.
Then comes a different trial. Vivi, the only, weak
link in an^ otherwise perfect chain of; stations, is in disorder
for want of a similar faithful agent. The letters
from the lower river show that there is a crying need
for the presence of some one possessing* firmness and
capacity; Lieutenant Valcke is selected with full
powers to act as my deputy, and the effect of his
presence is such that I am enabled to devote my attention
to the pressing duties up-river. He is hastened
to his duties at Leopoldville, which by this time is the
centre of a large .area, and in the district of Stanley
Pool there are three other stations, directed by the
presiding officer of the principal station. Hence this
group of four stations, influencing an area of 2000 Europeans
square miles, is called the Division of Stanley Pool, the “ Afri°a'
political interests of which are becoming of greater
importance every day, so that only a person of tried
ability can be intrusted with it. Lieutenant Valcke is
LIEUTENANT VALCKE.
therefore appointed Divisional Commander. For five
months he governs it admirably, and executes the
various and manifold duties which the government of
such a constantly fermented district implies, with precision,
-intelligence, and unflurried patience. From
none of the two scores of chieftains of Bambundu,