The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-07-27

grass They are called Dshim becks, and
afford but poor protection against the
seorching sun Of the dry season or the
pouring rains Of the wet season Good
shelter. with an abundance OF good whole
some food and far allowance Of pure
| Bordeaux of Portuguese wine, with indoor
occupation or amusement after nightfall,
would, am sure, go very far towards
guarantee of fairly good health on the
coast and in the lower river countries.
These facts ale appreciated and made use
of by the Duteh-African company, who
do everything possible for the comfort of
their employees in the direction indicated,
and the result is that, generally speaking,
they enjoy good health and are enabled
to remain in the country for terms vary
ing from two TO four years without yaca-
I ton.
! Along the entire coast the products are
not at al unlike, the exports consisting
ing principally Of rubber, ground nuts,
palm oil, palm nuts, cola nuts, and gum
copal. Some ivory is also exported, but
in small quantities; the principal coast
markets for ivory being al different points
in Angola.
Common cotton and wooden goods,
rum, gin. glass beads, guns, powder, to-
bacco, and common cutlery make up the
principal imports, and with these articles
the traders barter for the products Of the
country. II is the only currency known.
Fifty per cent Of all the goods which go
to the coast, including provisions, are
purchased in England. The gin comes
mainly from Holland, and is manufacture
ed expressly for the trade. The Holland
article comprises about 40 per cent Of all
the Gin imported the remaining 10 per
cent may be distributed amongst other
Countries.
The Congo river is navigable for the
largest ocean steamers to Bona, a dis
lance of seventy-fve miles from the
sea Steamers drawing Il to IS feet can
60 safely to Noki, thirty miles above
Bona. while between Noki and Nivi only
small, light draught steamers can be used
with safety Approaching Nivi and the
F alls Of Yellala the current is very rapid
rocks are numerous, and dangerous whi:l.
| pools are constantly forming, and chang
ing position, tossing a steamer about as
though in heavy sea, thus rendering il
Unsafe for any but powerful steamers of
light draught. Particularly is this so il
the rainy season, when the river becomes
swollen, rising often from 10 10 20 feet II
as many hours. At Vivi the river is
about one mile wide, but as you approach
| the sea it ranges from twoto i've miles in
width, reaching a depth in places Of two
bundled fathoms.
Below Bona, the banks OF shores on
either side are covered with dense forest:
or b ard wood.
Banana Point affords an excellent slel
tered haIbor for the largest sea Coing
! ships and general supplies, including coal
can be purchased here from the Dutch,
African company.
As you % Up the rsvey from Banana,
YOU pass, respectively, the landings OF
Ponla ia LeuLa, Cocoa>Nassi, Binda, and
N'kougolo before reaching Bona. A.
each Of these points there IS az least ort
factory or trading station, the chic
depository Tor the near inland stations.
and TO which the small trading vessels 60
with supplies, and take away The acclmu
lated products Of the country.
The forests on the lower Congo ard
along the coast are dense. YET, IS II Bra
I'll. the traders send 10 Europe for lun-
oe-, as tley have no wood working ma
Chi1eTy. nor i it possible at present L
I introduce it into the Country.
t The trading companies invariably have
E their heaa Offices IN Europe, whence a.
j supplies are furnished and employees en-
gagged. They receive 81 products which
nay be purchased on the coast by thei
e respective agents, and market he SAINT
: from their European repositories.
J The business on the coast Is simpll
barter and tr4de, with values fixed from
5 day to day By the trader. The profits are
E as rule, large, though the last year ha:
G not been prosperous one because Of TIT
I unsettled condition Of affairs owing TO TIT
e long continued discussion in Europe owe
d African affairs.
= I refer to the manner in which bushes
2 / is conducted in the lower coast countries
5 so that agents representing American
G houses may apply 10 the European hea'
!. Offices and noi 20 10 the coast.
p There are no hotels Or even stoppiD.
: places, and several cases Of extreme hard
r, ship and suffering have come 70 ny no
e tice, where agents have been sent to IL
:. coast without knowing where they TeT
:. going OF what they were going Tor. 0
J. course, this does not apply to the Ango
la
e found il impossible 10 obtain from Ii
. differen; houses statistical information a
Il to the quantity and value Of exports en-
r. imports. ! was in every case politely rs
II ferred 70 the head C1Hces n EuTcpe
Were alone the information could be Ok
4 tanned
). Reports which have been publishe
5 from tine 10 time purporting to give tb
,. quantity ard values Of exports and in
}, ports 10 and from the Congo, have bee
!. made up from mere guess work, as al
], assured by the managers Of commer,i
ID houses that they are not in position l
,e give the information. There being L
le custom houses OF offices Of record Of an
% kind, you will readily understand the di
hcultY in obtaining any information e1
II cepting from the quarter indicated.
T, There are but two lines Of mail steam
: ers touching the coast at any point be
re tween Gaboon and the cape settlements
,e One is the West African Steamship CON
q pany Of Liverpool, alternating with
De branch of the same line from Hamburg,
sr monthly, and the other is the Portuguese
,e mail, monthly, from Lisbon. The fir
line requires fifty to iftyfve days TO max
=. the voyage, either from Liverpool {
b Hamburg, while the second, being und,
n mail contract with he Portuguese gov
j. eminent. makes tie voyage to Congo j
n twenty days
d As 10 the government on the low,
IN Congo, or on the coast north of Angol
d there is none, nor even sembiance {