The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-08-16
W-lds OF Africa.

''The River Congo from its mouth to
BolObo." An account Of the recent
explorations to this unknown land will
be of interest: Our traveller tells us
that when, in October. 1882, he pro-
ceeded by land from Ambriz to the
mouth of the Congo, Portuguese
possession was bounded by the river
Lodge, between Ambriz and Kinsembo.
The luxurlant vegetation of the inter-
ior does not reach the coast until few
miles south of the Congo mouth, from
which, as far as Bona, about 80 miles
up the river, extends belt rich in
vegetation and animal life, but the
home of deadly fevers and sickeuing
heat. The cataract region, which,
until Stanley surmounted its difficult
ties, effectually cut off the Upper
Congo, stretches from little above
Bona to near Stanley Pool, and seems
to be, save in the ravines, down which
clear streams ran through dense woods
to join the main river, an uninteresting
country, bare or almost everything
save grass so high that it effectually
shuts out the view In every direction,
and so thick, strong and teeming with
awned seeds as to make travelling the
perfection of misery. Though the
Congo probably never descends more
than II feet at a time, the continual
SUGGESTIONS of rapids extending over
some two hundred miles is, and must
continue, great barrier to the develop
ment Of the interior basin, until rail-
way or good road is constructed via the
XVIII. From Stanley Pool upwards
the Congo Basin is densely timbered,
and in the neighborhood of Msuata,
the country commences to be thickly
populated.
From the account given of the eli
mate Of the region from Vivi upwards,
it would appear that the greater part
of the sickness attributed to it is really
due to want of conformity with hygi.
enic rules, caused partly by Impru-
dence, and partly by the lack Of neces-
sary comforts. There are four months
of rain on the coast, but on Stanley
Pool there are but four months Of dry
weather, and higher up rain falls even
in June, August and September. The
extent of the forest belt is largely limit
ed by the native bush fires, which
sweep off the forest from many DIS
tricts that have dry season. Among
the plants Of the Lower Congo, the
LeguminoS0 are especially prominent
represented by such beautiful flowers
is RhyncoSia and CanloensiG, by
ErythrophlgIun, tree from 70 to 100
feet high, by numerous mlmosas, etc.
The composite, mallow, rose, orchid
commeluna and palm tribes are abun-
dant and present some striking forms.
Insect life swarms, and unfortunately
is not limited to gorgeous butterflies
and innocent beetles, but includes
some terrible ants, and still more for
midable flies, accompanied by an
abundance of their spider enemies.
Crocodiles are common and dangerous,
so much so that the voyager is ever on
the look out for them. Large monitors
and many smaller lizards abound, but
snakes are rare. Bird life is plentiful
IN all its forms, darters, pelicans,
tropic birds, spur-winged ployers, fruit
pigeons, plaintain eaters, barbets,
COLES, sunbirds, king-fishers, wood
peckers, parrots, fill the forests and the
river banks with life The one species
of vultuIe is the GypolieiraD who
catches fish better than the fishing.
eagle, and eats everything. More
dangerous to man than even the croco'
die is the hippopotamus, which appears
to take pleasure in wrecking canoes
thus leaving their crew prey to the
watchful reptiles. Elephants are com
mon, but the rhinoceros doe not otter
occur, and the forest regions are poor in
antelopes. The children at the mission
schools recognize the gorilla, but it Is
not found on the Lower Congo, wi ere
true monkeys are scarce, but gaIagos
and certain other lemunrids are com.
mon.
The people of the Congo are Bantu;
somewhat degraded or mixed upon the
coast (Ka-kopgo, Ba-shi kongo) but
becoming finer in the interior. The
Ba-shi kOngo are degenerate branch
of the great Ba-kongo tribe which was
once the ruling race upon the lower
Congo. The Ba-kongo settlements
still extend to Stanley Pool, but the
once great Congo empire is limited to
small territory between San Salvador
and the river. The Ba-kongo are IN
dolent, tickle, and sensual, greatly in
ferior to the Ba teke and Ba yansi
above them. Among these latter peo-
pies the mystical phallic worship pre-
walls, whereas it has disappeared among
the lower coast tribes. The Upper
Congo people are well formed and
muscular, kindly, fond of color ard
music, and decidedly artistic. Their
houses are comfortable, and the family
is well developed, husbands, wife and
children often making pretty family
picture. The want of hair upon the
skin is largely artiicial-every hair,
even the eye brows and eye lashes,
which ventures to appear anywhere
except upon the top of the head is re-
morselessly plucked out.
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