On the 11th we arrive at Barumbu, a small Post with a large brick house for the Commissaire when he visits the place.  Here most of the natives were dancing and looked very ridiculous.  They did not move over the ground and seemed to be doing a kind of physical drill.  First one leg was kicked forwards and backwards while the other did a heavy stiff looking hop.  Then perhaps the arms were thrown up and down and the whole body advanced from the hips, and finally the head was jerked to and fro.  These movements were repeated time after time, evidently in a regular set order, for once started, several people performed exactly the same in perfect time whether they could see each other or were back to back.  The whole affair looked stiff and ungracious, but was keenly enjoyed by the natives.

[Illustration:  GENERAL VIEW OF BASOKO.]

An hour later we arrived at Basoko, the capital of the Aruwimi District.  It is different from other Posts, for it has a wall running along the river front with a square tower in the centre, giving the appearance of fortification.  There are indeed a few guns here, but not many troops.  After paying a short visit to the Commissaire General of Aruwimi, Captain Pimpurnieaux, we continue our journey.

Next morning was pay day, all the ordinary seamen receiving 21 mitakos a week, but the capitas and wheelmen were given more.  These latter are usually a very responsible set of men, for after a few journeys they remember every island and land-mark on the river and often steer all day without a word of command from the captain.  About midday we met the Ville de Paris which differs from the other steamers in having her wheels at the side instead of at the stern.  This arrangement has not however, proved a success, for this boat is neither so fast nor so easily steered as the others.

I am now troubled with a new complaint, synovitis of the knee joint with a good deal of effusion, which makes it very difficult to walk.  It is curious why this malady should have appeared, for I had not knocked or otherwise injured the joint and had indeed been sitting quietly on steamers all day for the previous week.

On the afternoon of the 12th we reach Isangi, a Post at the junction of the Lomami and the Congo.  This river drains the territory occupied by the Company of the same name and we turn up it to visit Hambi, the chief town.  There are a few large villages on the banks where the natives exhibit a curious method of hair dressing.  It is allowed to grow long, which is very unusual in the Congo, and is then turned up and matted together on the top of the head with grease and the red powder of the cam-wood.  The effect is, that each appears to be wearing a red and black cloth cap.