262 In the Heart of Africa 



been made to grow cotton plants. It would be premature to pass 

 any final judgment as to their ultimate chance of prospering, 

 but the healthy appearance of the plantation indicated that the 

 soil, at least, was promising. 



After hearty farewells we proceeded on our course, accom- 

 panied by the retiring Chef de poste at Mogandju, M. Bisteau, 

 who was going home on furlough on finishing his "terme." The 

 whole village, with all the head-men, had hurried up to view 

 his departure, and one read genuine sorrow in their faces at 

 having to lose their kind and honoured master. They pressed 

 around him, stretching out their hands and entreating him to 

 return to them, and as long as we could see them from the 

 steamer they kept on waving adieux. The feeling they exhibited 

 was really genuine and a sign of the firmly cemented mutual 

 interest existing between superior and subordinates. 



Tranquil and unconcerned, we enjoyed the beautiful passage, 

 until a violent shock made the ship tremble and took us for a 

 moment out of our course. We had run with full force against 

 a sunken reef falsely marked on the chart, or not marked at 

 all, and the water was pouring with irresistible force through a 

 great leak on the port side into the hold where our baggage 

 was lying. Although the crew bailed continuously they could 

 not keep pace with the constant stream of water ; the bow sank 

 deeper and deeper and the vessel threatened to sink. Nothing 

 remained but to beach the ship. We steamed with full power 

 against the brushwood on the northern bank. In vain ! The 

 Delivrance recoiled like a ball from the boughs, oscillating 

 violently. " Full steam astern, hard a-port, and full steam 

 ahead across the river!" came the orders, which were executed 

 with admirable coolness. Then we saw the flat shore of a village 

 on the further bank. To lessen the top-weight we all descended 

 to the lower deck; which was nearly submerged. We exerted 

 the engines to their uttermost and steered straight for the bank 

 — still fifty yards, thirty, ten, and then a terrible crash! The 

 steamer lurched heavily over, righted herself and rode firm. A 

 hurrah of relief escaped our throats. Our brave boys, however, 



