124 



NATURE 



{Dec. 1 6, 1875 



upon it he gives some interesting details. A good map 

 of the coast districts for two degrees on each side of the 

 equator accompanies the first volume. 



The second volume refers to a visit made in July — 

 September, 1863, to the Congo and the Portuguese 

 settlements on the adjoining coast. Concerning these 

 settlements many valuable and curious facts are given 

 throughout the volume, both historical and as the result 

 of the traveller's own observation at the colony of Loanda. 

 Capt. Burton notes a considerable improvement in the 

 morals and manners of the settlers as compared with 

 previous accounts. The picture of the English establish- 

 ments at Loango is not a very bright one. He paid a 

 visit to Calumbo on the Cuanza or Quanza river, and 

 mentally noted an exploration eastwards which he pur- 



posed to make in the future, but which he is glad to see 

 has been taken up by Capt. von Homeyer. Ambriz to 

 the north of Loanda was visited, and a short trip inland 

 was made, during which, of course, many notes are made 

 on the character and customs of the people. Ambriz has 

 recently come to the front in connection with the German 

 African expedition. 



The chief interest of the second volume is connected 

 with the Congo river, up which Burton journeyed as far as 

 the Yellala, or rapids, which he calculates to be between 

 116 and 117 miles from the mouth, the total fall in that 

 distance being 390 feet, of which 195 feet occurs between 

 the Yellala and Boma, 64 miles. From the Great Rapids 

 to the Vivi or lowest rapids, a distance of five miles, the 

 fall is loo feet. Some important facts are given as 



The Yellala (rapids) of the Congo River. 



to the character of the Congo mouth and the changes 

 which are constantly taking place, which must even 

 yet be of value to chart constructors. Considerable 

 details are also given concerning the delta or series of 

 islands at the mouth of the Congo, and a chapter is 

 devoted to the explorations of previous travellers. An 

 amusing account is given of his interview with the 

 native king at Banza Chisalla, a few miles above 

 Boma, and in this connection an attempt is made to 

 account for the fondness for what seems to us a most 

 ridiculous dress on the part of African and other 

 savage potentates. The author gives a minute and 

 graphic description of the river and its many reaches 



between Boma and the rapids ; the scenery on the banks 

 is often quite Rhine-like in its character. The river 

 itself Capt. Burton regards as one of the noblest in the 

 world. With a valley area of 800,000 square miles, it has 

 a yearly mean volume of 2,500,000 cubic feet per second, 

 nearly four times that of the Mississippi, which has a 

 very much larger drainage area. In this connection some 

 interesting data are introduced concerning the four great 

 African arteries, the Nile, the Niger, the Zambeze, and 

 the Congo or Nzadi, as Capt. Burton makes the true 

 native name to be. In the chapter, " Notes on the Congo 

 River," which contains the summary of the explorations 

 of previous travellers, Capt. Burton discusses the probable 



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