XXXVi INTRODUCTION. 
ut, at any time hereafter, be thought expedient to navigate the Zaire by 
steam boats 
It is almost unnecessary to observe to you, how important it will be to keep a 
journal of your proceedings. In this journal all your observations and oceur- 
rences of every kind, with all their circumstances, however minute, and however 
familiar they may have been rendered by custom, should be carefully noted 
down; and although the gentlemen employed in the several departments of 
science, will each be instructed to keep their respective journals, it will not, 
on that account, be the less desirable that you should be as circumstantial as 
possible in describing, in your own, the general appearance of the country, its 
surface, soil, animals, vegetables, and minerals; every thing that relates to the 
population ; the peculiar manners, customs, language, government, and do- 
mestic economy of the various tribes of people through which you will probably 
have to pass. 
The following, however, will be among the most important subjects on which 
it will be more immediately your province, assisted by your officers, to endeavour 
to obtain information. 
The general nature of the climate as to heat, cold, moisture, winds, rains, and 
periodical seasons. ‘The temperature regularly registered from Fahrenheit’s 
thermometer, as observed at two or three periods of the day. 
The direction of the mountains, their names, general appearance as to shape, 
whether detached or continuous in ranges. 
The main branches of rivers, their names, direction, velocity, breadth, and 
depth. 
The animals, whether birds, beasts, or fishes, insects, reptiles, &c. distin- 
guishing those animals that are wild, from those that are domesticated. 
The vegetables, and particularly those that are applicable to any useful 
purposes, whether in medicine, dyeing, carpentry, Xc. scented or orna- 
mented woods adapted for cabinet work, and household furniture ; and more 
particularly such woods as may appear to be useful in ship building; hard 
woods fit for treenails, block sheaves, &c. of all which it would be desirable to 
procure small specimens labelled and numbered, so that an easy reference may 
be made to their mention in the journal; to ascertain the quantities in which 
they are found, the facility, or otherwise, of floating them down to a convenient 
place for shipment, &c. 
Minerals, any of the precious metals or stones ; how used, and how valued, 
by the natives. 
The description and characteristic difference of the several tribes of people. 
