GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 341 
the slate rocks; disappearing probably where the river 
first enters these schistose mountains, and forms the nar- 
rows, and rising again a little below their termination, at 
Point Sondie, where the channel begins to widen, and from 
whence to Lemboo Point, a succession of tornados and 
whirlpools were observed to disturb the regular current of 
the river. ‘These whirlpools are described, both by Cap- 
tain Tuckey and Mr. Fitzmaurice, to be so violent and 
dangerous, that no vessel could attempt to approach them. 
Even the eddies occasioned by them were so turbulent as 
frequently to resist both sails, oars, and towing, twisting 
the boats round in every direction; and it was with the 
utmost difficulty, that they were extricated without being 
swamped. ‘The instances of rivers losing themselves for a 
time under ground are so common, in all countries, that 
there seems to be no particular objection to the hypothesis 
of the Zaire losing a great portion of its waters in its 
passage through the narrows, under its schistose bed. 
At the same time, the eye might be deceived in estimating 
the quantity of water forced into a narrow channel, and 
running with the rapidity of a mill-sluice tll it falls overa 
cataract, by a comparison with that which flows ina deep 
and expanded bed, in one uniform and tranquil motion ; 
having besides an eddy, or counter-current, on one or both 
sides, which carries a considerable portion of water in a 
retrograde direction. 
Be this as it may, the Zaire, beyond the mountainous 
regions, was again found to expand to the width of two, 
three, and even more than four miles, and to flow witha 
