262 PROFESSOR SMITH’S JOURNAL. 
through the telescope I did not discover any difference in 
the form or colour of the trees. Some of them scattered 
about towards the beach appeared higher than the rest, 
and were probably palms of the cocoa tribe. ‘The pieces 
of wood which we have fished up, do not present any 
variety in their appearance. Ben asserts that the banks 
of the river Congo are perfectly similar to this shore. 
Whales (probably Physeter . . . . ) are seen daily swimm- 
ing near the vessel. We catch every day a number of 
Sparus resembling Pagrus. Its flesh, though dry, has a 
very good taste. On the 28th we had passed that vast 
tract of land, the appearance of which has been here de- 
scribed, extending from Cape Mayambo through Malambo 
and Guilango down to the bay of Loango. In the two last 
days the aspect of the country has changed. The trees 
do not form themselves into forests, but are scattered in 
groups only, or stand singly, having uncommonly large 
tops. These groups might be discovered from a great 
distance, even when the whole country presented itself 
only as a blue line, bordered by a gently rising ground 
apparently naked, with banks of a greyish white colour, 
which probably are banks of clay that have fallen down. 
To-day we made several attempts before we could weigh 
the anchor. The current was very strong, and the bottom, 
which before consisted of a sandy clay, was here uncom- 
monly uneven, with banks of coral rocks and mud alter- 
nately. Although the sea-breeze blew fresh, the vessel 
made not the least progress. On weighing the anchor for 
the fourth time, we found it now to be so difficult, that 
