A TYPICAL WEST AFRICAN RIVER BANK*
THE OGOWÉ
Wherein the voyager gives extracts from the Log of the Move and of the
Eclaireur, and an account of the voyager’s first meeting with those
fearful Fans,” also an awful warning to all young pèrsons who neglect
the study of the French language.
June 5th, 1895.— O f f on Move at 9.30. Passengers, Mr.
Hudson, Mr. Woods,. Mr. Huyghens, Père Steinitz, and I.
There are black deck-passengers galore ; I do not know their
honourable names, but they are evidently very much married
men, for there is quite a gorgeously coloured little crowd of
ladies to see them off. They salute me as I pass down
the pier, and start inquiries. I say hastily to them : | Farewell,
I’m off up river,” for I notice Mr. Fildes bearing
down on me, and I don’t want him to drop in on the
subject of society interest. I expect it is settled now,
or pretty nearly. There is a considerable amount of
mild uproar among the black contingent, and the Mové
firmly clears off before half the good advice and good
wishes for the black husbands are aboard. She is a fine little
vessel ; far finer than I expected. The accommodation I am
getting is excellent. A long, narrow cabin, with one bunk in it
and pretty nearly everything one can wish for, and a copying
press thrown in. Food is excellent, society charming, captain
and engineer quite acquisitions. The saloon is square and
roomy for the size of the vessel, and most things, from rowlocks
to teapots, are kept under the seats in good nautical
style. We call at the guard-ship to pass our papers, and then
steam ahead out of the Gaboon estuary to the south, round
Pongara Point, keeping close into the land. About forty feet
from shore there is a good free channel for vessels with a
light draught which if you do not take, you have to make a big
sweep seaward to avoid a reef. Between four and five miles