position, being situate on a projection in the neck of a
mountain funnel. The mouth of this funnel gapes about
fourteen miles to the Atlantic Ocean, then contracts just
above JBoma to about a mile in width, and at Yivi to
about 1300 yards. The pier platform on. which the
old station was built projects about 300 yards across
this breadth, receiving the cold south-west sea-breeze,
which, blowing a five-knot breeze at Banana, is felt of
the force of fourteen knots at Yivi.
Manyanga, another unhealthy station for its unfortunate
position, is Only higher up the neck of the
-funnel. £ Leopoldville again is placed slightly better,
.but still defective, being on the slope of a hill by which
the plateau winds and the upper strata of canon blasts
escape, to be diffused over the expanse of Stanley Pool.
Boma is superior to Yivi for its position, because near
it the Congo Yalley is less confined, and would be. consequently
more salubrious were there some drainage of
the ffats around it effected. Banana Point ought to Climate— Part I,
be superior to both, because the hills are still farthèr
removed, were it not so low, and its neighbourhood so
offensive. The site consists of sea-sand, through which
the sea and river water percolate underneath; the
hollows within present malodorous abominations, and
perhaps the absence of strong moral public opinion
has conduced to its past evil repute.- At the same
time, a wise expenditure of money, and good order,
PLAIT TO ILLUSTRATE HOW THE GORGE DISCHARGES ITS WINDS AT
. E . LEOPOLDVILLE.
would greatly improve the chances of life on the sandy
point. It is certain that a position on the sea coast, if
well chosen, with cleanly living, aided by wisdom in
the petty details of life, ought not to be more unhealthy
than any other place on the globe ; because the mere
heat is no worse than mere cold—it is the careless exposure
to both that invokes its malignancy. The heat
is as cruel to the unprotected body as it is to the head