258 In the Heart of Africa 



entering the village we were startled by the appearance of an 

 ape in human form, or vice versa. This apparition resolved 

 itself before long into the headman of the village. In order 

 to increase his charms, the fellow had daubed the whole of his 

 body a fiery scarlet with powdered camwood. 



We came to the most imposing cataract when we reached 

 Panga. These falls have a huge drop, and the roar of the 

 boiling waters may be heard from afar. The cascades, divided 

 only by detached, brush-covered rocky masses, extend the whole 

 breadth of the river and present a magnificently picturesque 

 subject for a painter's brush when seen in the light of the setting 

 sun. We did our best to secure a photographic souvenir. As 

 these cataracts are said to be impassable we changed our boats 

 and our crews. Having bidden farewell to my beautiful canoe, 

 which had borne me safely in spite of a leak, I was all the 

 more pleasantly surprised to see it again, and in good con- 

 dition, amongst the new craft. The men had succeeded in 

 taking it through the raging torrent on long liane from the 

 bank. 



There is an island which lies in front of the waterfalls on 

 which Mr. Hannam, the discoverer of nearly all the valuable 

 mines in the Congo State, lives. This famous prospector had 

 also found conglomerate gold in that spot, which justified the 

 highest hopes and indicated a possibility of profitable working. 

 Two of his agents were prospecting farther down the river, and 

 apparently were equally successful. These finds gave further 

 witness of the wealth which was lying around in the soil and 

 not being turned to account. Mr. Hannam, whose frank and 

 simple manner charms everyone, is, as may be easily understood, 

 one of the most popular men in the State. Equipped with a 

 very considerable amount of expert knowledge, gained in the 

 most important mining centres of the globe, the Congo State 

 has taken him into its service, and certainly not to its own 

 detriment. For it was due to him that the abundant wealth 

 of copper and gold at Katanga was discovered, and it was on 

 his advice that the active and prosperous industry at Kilo was 



