I40 In the Heart of Africa 



the various members of the expedition to interrupt their labours 

 for a little while and to meet together at Kissenji. 



In the meantime Derche, the Belgian commandant of the 

 Russisi-Kiwu territory, which we should have to traverse after 

 leaving our protectorate, had arrived at Ngoma with his staff, 

 and came over to Kissenji to greet us. His visit gave a welcome 

 opportunity of discussing a number of pertinent questions, as 

 we were about to cross into the Congo State. 



The days which now followed were very strenuous, for in 

 consequence of the various separate journeys to Lake Lukondo- 

 Bolero, to Bugoie, to the Rugege forest, and to the larger islands 

 of Lake Kiwu, and also to northern Kiwu, a considerable collec- 

 tion of ethnographical, zoological, botanical, geological and 

 topographical material had amassed at Kissenji. All this had 

 to be sorted out and duly labelled, so that it could be despatched 

 without delay to Europe. Further, a large number of photo- 

 graphic plates had to be developed so as to test the reliability 

 of the apparatus, which had suffered a good deal from exposure 

 and damp within the last few weeks. For this purpose we erected 

 a dark-room of bamboo, so heavily thatched with grass that no 

 ray of light could pierce through, even when the sun was at its 

 brightest. 



Added to all this work, there was a huge mail to be got 

 ready and despatched to Europe. As a matter of fact, we 

 only met together at the common meals in the officers' mess. 

 Weiss started away again on the i8th of October to continue 

 the interrupted topography of the volcanic region. On the 

 2 1 St a caravan comprising seventy loads of scientific material 

 was sent off under the leadership of two Askari to Bukoba, to 

 be forwarded thence to Berlin and Leipzig. Before we departed 

 we duly celebrated the birthday of Her Majesty the Empress. 

 I gave an address to the Askari and the population of Kissenji 

 and ordered a march past of the troops. A few days later we 

 set out for the Congo State territory. 



Keeping to our principle of divided marching, it was arranged 

 that Schubotz and Mildbraed should first visit Bugoie, and then 



