the surface of the water appears absolutely still and the light glares as from a mirror.  Some of the islands are however, only covered with grass and a herd of buffaloes on one come charging down to the river to drink.  Unfortunately one of the passengers fires a kind of saloon rifle, which might possibly have killed a rabbit at twenty yards, and frightens them back.  This is a great pity, for if we had had time, we could easily have bagged one or two and had some fresh beef for dinner.

At midday on the 29th we reach Mopolenga and stop for wood.  The land in the neighbourhood is well cultivated and manioc, sweet potatoes, bananas and pineapples flourish.  The manioc plant has a green stem, reddish branches and green leaves arranged in clusters of six which turn downwards forming the shape of a parasol, evidently a popular, as it is an appropriate, pattern for vegetable life in this hot country.  The root of the manioc yields the flour, which is made into kwanga and unless it is well boiled, is supposed to be very injurious.  The animals here consist chiefly of monkeys, parrots and finches, but many ducks fly from a swamp near the water.

In the afternoon we reach Bolobo, the head quarters of the Baptist Mission, which is presided over by Mr. Grenfell, a missionary who has resided for over twenty years in the Congo.  He has taught the natives to make bricks and build houses and has erected a Mission Hall, a hospital and a printing house.  The mission enclosure is well laid out with mango trees and other useful fruits and many fat ducks and fowls pass a contented existence there.  Unfortunately Mr. Grenfell was not at home, but we were fortunate in finding Mr. Scrivener, another missionary, who has resided some years in Africa.  He stated that the natives were emigrating from the District of Lake Leopold, which lies behind Bolobo and is Domain Land, because they were forced to collect rubber and were flogged if they refused.  He had never himself seen a native who had been ill treated, but had been told so by natives.  Asked whether the people were ever mutilated, Mr. Scrivener looked very surprised and answered “Oh no, there is nothing of that kind now!”

Bolobo is very populous and many natives flocked down to the beach immediately the steamer arrived and at once held an outdoor market on the beach selling manioc, fish, clothes, pots of various kinds and other articles to the crew and passengers.  A Congo flat fish of the perch family is found here, smoke dried and sold for food and is very good eating indeed.

Two of the crew were chicotted. to-day by order of the captain.  One had attacked another boy with a knife and wounded him and the other had stolen, and then falsely blamed another.  The chicotte is a plain strip of hippo hide and the punishment was administered publicly by the capita on the bridge of the steamer and did not appear to be more painful than an ordinary birching at a public school.