Phillips.] 404 ^Nov. 2, 1888, and 



THE JOURNEY UP THE CONGO RIVER. 



Coming from the high sea, the first land sighted is a low sandy coast, 

 fringed with verdure as a background, later a red clay ; here is Point 

 Pedrao. Further is Shark's point, opposite which, on the right bank of 

 the river, lies 



BANANA. 



This is the first of the settlements of the Congo Independent State 

 passed on going up the Congo river, which, at its mouth, is eleven 

 to twelve kilom. wide. Here is a long range of white "factories." built 

 on piles, and the port is accessible to vessels not drawing more than six 

 metres of water ; the rise of the tide is 1M.80. This harbor is claimed to 

 be the best between the Congo river and the Cape of Good Hope. Although 

 pilotage be free, an official service has been organized by the Independent 

 Congo State. Every vessel of more than 500 tons, entering Banana, is to 

 pay a fixed tax of 150 fr., which is intended to cover the State for the ex- 

 penses incurred by the placing of buoys, the building of lighthouses, etc. 

 On paying this due, ships may receive a pilot of the State to take them 

 in and out the harbor without any extra charge. Up to Boma and return 

 pilotage tax is 300 fr. for four days. For each exceeding day an extra 

 charge of 50 fr. is to be paid. Houses, both for dwelling and store-houses, 

 have been built of brick and wood ; a hotel has been erected by the Dutch 

 Co. where travelers are boarded and lodged for seven shillings a day. 



The chief commercial houses here are as follows : 



1. The Dutch Co., having its home office at Rotterdam ; founded in 

 1869, covers a territory of 700 arpents ; employs at Banana thirty whites 

 and 800 blacks ; has forty stations along the river. 



2. The house of Daumas-Beraud et Cie., of Paris, founded in 1865 ; em- 

 ploys eight whites and 100 blacks. 



3. The Compagnie Portugaise du Zaire which possesses half a dozen 

 stations on the river. 



4. Valle y Azevedo, Lisbon ; four whites and thirty blacks. 



All these houses own wharves and docks as well as sailing-vessels ; the 

 Dutch Co. owns four steamers ; the French, and Hatton & Cooksou Co. 

 each one ; the Congo Independent State, fifteen. 



After leaving Banana, the stream narrows to five kilom., and is from 

 20 to 370 metres deep ; the current is about five knots. After an hour 

 Roulambemba point, locally known as the, bottomless pit, is reached ; 

 twenty-two kilom. from Banana the " Scotchman's Head " is passed, and 

 eleven kilom. further on, at Kissanga, are situated the Portuguese fac- 

 tories A short distance further, on the opposite bank, are the factories of 

 Ponta da Lenha, established on the island of Tchiwangi. Here are found 

 the bamboos used in building in great abundance ; they cost from 50 

 to 75 francs per thousand. Even the very largest vessels can come up to 

 this point, where begin the difficulties of navigation at the "Heron 

 Bank." 



