REPORT FROM THE CONGO EXPEDITION' 



Jiij IJ( rhi it L'ltifi 



[The Museum's Conpto KxiK'dition sends word of Uic lieulih of its inenihers and the 

 success of its work in zooltj^ical survey, witli tlie story of luintin^; llu; rare okapi from a eliain 

 ofisolated camps in tlie liot, wet jungle. Tlie next issue of tlie .Journal will contain a colored 

 I)lale of the okapi with an aceoinit of i)resent knowledfre regarding the spi-cies. P>litor| 



WI'] left A\akul>i December 7, 1909. with fifty-five porters and 

 afiei- iuerea.sing our collections at X'Gayu and BatValujka, 

 arrived at Medje January ll^). As we heard about good hunt- 

 ing grounds, possibly with okapi, south of Gamangui, we made the neces- 

 sary preparations and set out at once. After more than six months' work 

 in a lonel\' uninhabited tract some eighty miles square, we returned to Medje 

 July 17. Since then we have made several transports and stored safely 

 all our collections, l)esides accumulating the necessary equipment with 

 which to set out next Saturday, October 1.5, for the Uele. 



We profit by this occasion to thank all those who have extended to us 

 the i)ri\ ilege of carrying on such interesting work in regions that well deserve 

 to be called the "Heart of Africa," and who by their great generosity have 

 provided us with an eciuipment that makes it comparatively easy to main- 

 tain good health even under a most trying and disagreeable climate. Tliongii 

 camped for nearly six iiiontlis in or about the dense forest, we both enjoyed 

 excellent health. 



All our iKitixc helpers lia\e always been in good condition. All our 

 equipment including firearms and tents is in perfect order. Oiu- supplies 

 are .sufficient to carry on the work without interruption. The active pcr- 

 .sonnel has remained practically the same — eighteen native assistants. 

 One Loango had to be sent back to Leopoldx illc on account of the ill-health 

 of liis wife, and has since been replaced by an intelligent Mangbetn, whose 

 services are very desirable in this region of the Maiigbetu people. 



The plans for porterage have worked \ery .satisfactorily, and although 

 the natives are true cannibals and are seldom seen without poisoned arrows 

 or other weapons, we have succeeded well in enlisting their ser\"ices. This 

 may best be illustrated by tli(> fact that the Congo Expedition since lea\ ing 

 Stanleyville has employcnl and paid more than 3,400 natives and li;is iie\f r 

 experienced the slightest accident in handling them. 



The record of the expedition shows a total of 4.9.")2 specimens collected, 

 exclusive of at least 1.5,000 invertebrates, and 1,120 pages of data and 

 descripti\(' notes which are supplemented by 800 photographs. It is 



1 Selections from the Annual Riport of the Conf/o Eipediiinn by Herbert Lang. Manuscript 

 sent from Medje. Haut Ituri. October S, 1010: received at New York .Jantiary \%. 1911. 



44 



