Feb. 1, 18S9.] 407 [Phillips. 



The Europeaa regains by his appetite the strength that he loses by ex- 

 cessive perspiration ; nothing but the extremest cleanliness can remove the 

 epidermis that decays and replaces itself with enormous rapidity in this 

 hot climate.* Continual baths and the wearing of proper clothing that 

 will readily permit perspiration to take place with the utmost facility are 

 indispensable. 



RESOURCES OF THE CONGO INDEPENDENT STATE. 

 A. 3Iineral. 



1. In the chain of mountains, towards the region of the cataracts, 

 called, by the Portuguese, "La Montague de Cm^rtZ," are found hand- 

 some pink and gray granite, red and rose-colored marbles, and especially 

 remarkable white marble, beautifully veined with green. The quarries 

 are easy to work, being in an easily accessible region, and close to the river. 



2. Granites of all kinds are plentiful in the various parts of the Lower 

 Congo, and the various limestones, necessary for building, etc., abound 

 just where their presence is most desirable. 



3. Two rich deposits of copper near the Congo, and indications of others 

 pointing to a well-developed copper region, were found by Mr. Dupont 

 whilst hunting for a reported deposit of malachite in the French Congo 

 territory, to the north of the Valley of the Congo, in the province of 

 Kwilu. These carbonates of copper contain usually from sixty to seventy 

 per cent of pure copper. 



4. Titaniferous sands were found, but no other indications of gold. 

 Iron shows in abundance. 



5. Iron, tin, lead and sulphur show in abundance. 



B. Agricultural. 



Whilst the Lower Congo is marked by rocks and arid plains, the trav- 

 eler is struck, when ascending the river, by the vivid aspect of the luxuri- 

 ant trees, herbage and vegetation in general, and the wide plains whose 

 agricultural fertility and values seem enormous. A deep, black soil is 

 found, of considerable extent, whose cultivation has resulted in large 

 returns. The deforesting of some parts of the Congo was studied by Mr. 

 Dupont, who is of the opinion that, by a j udicious use of the rivers between 

 the Stanley Pool and the Congo, all the devastations and ravages can be 

 repaired, and the best results ensue. 



Manioc is abundantly cultivated. 20,000 kilos, to the hectare result 

 in six months, even with a vicious system of cultivation. 



Palm nuts are found in profusion, in bunches that often number 500 

 to the cluster. A palm-tree will bear annually a score of such clus- 



* The writers who growl at the supposed impoverishing nature of the food attainable 

 in Central Africa are thus characterized by Bateman : " Their only ground oj plaasMe ex- 

 cuse being the impossibility of glutting themselves with vulgar masses of British beef, stodgy po- 

 tatoes, and bile-creating beer." 



