264 In the Heart of Africa 



of the Congo State, especially at the time of the Arab rising. 

 The fort consists of towers and walls provided with loopholes, 

 extending along the Aruwimi. This extensive post comprises a 

 considerable number of European dwelling-houses, magazines, 

 barracks, a hospital and a prison. Broad, shady avenues of 

 well-kept mango trees give the place a pleasant, homely look. 

 The Commissaire general, who commanded the Aruwimi district 

 at the time, escorted us round and pointed out the fruits of his 

 and his predecessors' work. 



We took the opportunity to examine one of the larger store- 

 sheds. It was filled with cases of all sizes containing the multi- 

 farious articles with which the State pays its workers. Whole 

 shiploads of stuffs, wire and beads, lay heaped up together with 

 mountains of straw hats, leather belts and other European 

 articles in bulk, which probably sprang from some Brussels or 

 Antwerp bazaar. Ready money is not used in the Upper Congo. 

 The State pays for its labour in kind, fixing the value itself, 

 and in this way satisfies at the same time all civilised wants 

 felt by the natives. 



Basoko bears a bad reputation on account of its climate. 

 Malaria, black-water fever, and dysentery have been fatal to 

 many Europeans. They found a last quiet resting-place in the 

 cemetery on the western side of the station under the shadow 

 of the palms and the mango trees. A long row of cairns, con- 

 structed of bricks and lime, bear the name and date of death of 

 those buried there. Formerly hardly a year went by without one 

 or two names being added to the list of those who had passed 

 away. Matters are improved to-day. The progress made in 

 tropical medicine, the most brilliant success of which has been 

 prophylactic quinine, has robbed malaria, and with it black-water 

 fever, of a good many of its terrors, and dysentery has decreased 

 with a more accurate knowledge of its causes. Yet, in spite 

 of all, these illnesses are always the greatest dangers connected 

 with a sojourn in the tropics. 



I may, perhaps, in this space be permitted a brief word as 

 to the state of health of the members of the expedition. Ex- 



