afternoon. It was quite free from islets, and this
made me suspect it was a separate river. The
main river was here about six miles wide.
During our voyage on the 26th the grassy
islets became more frequent, inhabited by the
flamingo, pelican, stork, whydahs, ibis, geese,
ducks, $c. The salt-makers find a great source
of wealth in the grasses; and the smoke of their
fires floated over the country in clouds.
At 10 a.m. the Levy Hills rose into view about
two miles beyond the river on the left bank,
which as we neared Kutumpukti approached the
river, and formed a ridge. Instantly the sight
of the approaching hills suggested cataracts, and
the memories of the terrific struggles we had
undergone in passing the Stanley Falls were
then brought vividly to our mind. What should
we do with our sadly weakened force, were we
to experience the same horrible -scenes again?
A t noon I took an observation, and ascertained
that we were in south latitude 2° 23' 14".
Edging off towards the right bank, we came to
a creek, which, from the immense number of
those amphibious animals, I have called “Hippopotamus
Creek.” Grass-covered islets, innumerable
to us as we passed by them, were on either
side. When about half-way through this creek
we encountered seven canoes, loaded with men,
about to proceed to their fishing haunts. Our
sudden meeting occasioned a panic among the
natives, and as man had hitherto been a dreaded
object, it occasioned us also not a little uneasiness.
Fortunately, however, they retreated
in haste, uttering their fearful “ Yaha-ha-has,"
and we steadily pursued our way down river,
and about 3 P.M. emerged in view of the united
stream, 4000 yards wide, contracted by the steep
cultivated slopes of Bolobo on the left, and by
a beautiful high upland— which had gradually
been lifting from the level plains on the right
bank.
For a moment, as we issued in view of the
stream, with scores of native canoes passing
backwards and forwards, either fishing or proceeding
to the grassy islets to their fish-sheds
and salt-making, we feared that we should have
another conflict; but though they looked at us
wonderingly, there was no demonstration of
hostility. One man in a canoe, in answer to
our question, replied that the bold heights
200 feet above the river, which swarmed with
villages, was Bolobo. Being so near the border
of the savage lands above, we thought it safer
to wait yet one more day before attempting
further intercourse with them-
On the 27th, during the morning, we were
still among islets and waving branches,, but
towards the afternoon the islets had disappeared,
and we were in view of a magnificent breadth
of four miles of clear water. On our left the