Homeward Bound 273 



the white men. Unfortunately, they have increased, and the 

 chief physician of Leopoldville assured me that very few months 

 pass without some European, smitten with the fell disease, beings 

 brought into hospital. 



We were most courteously treated by the authorities, who 

 had kindly placed an express train consisting of three carriages 

 at our disposal to take us from Leopoldville to Matadi. In 

 order to break the journey of 480 kilometres, we spent 

 the night at Thysville, about half-way, in an excellent 

 hotel belonging to the railway company. The port lies 740 

 metres above sea level and nearly 500 metres higher than Leo- 

 poldville, and the pleasant, cool climate it enjoys makes it a 

 favourite resting place for weary travellers coming from both 

 directions. Leaving early next morning, we travelled along a 

 track of railway which is admirably and skilfully laid out. 

 Although no tunnels have had to be made, and very few bridges 

 were necessary, many other difficult obstacles have had to be 

 surmounted. The embankment all along the line is in first-class 

 order. All the employees, including engine-drivers, inspectors, 

 and repairers of the line, are blacks, who carry out their duties 

 with all the skill and adroitness of Europeans. The track has 

 a pretty sharp descending gradient a little way before reaching 

 !'Jatadi. It crosses several rushing mountain streams and deep 

 ravines, and winds around steep slopes. Three or four serpen- 

 tine tracks followed close on each other and reminded us of 

 certain venturesome Alpine mountain railways. 



At the last station before reaching Matadi the line bridges 

 the Mposo, an important confluent of the Congo, which rushes 

 past deep down in the valley, and immediately after passing it 

 we caught sight of the latter majestic river once more, which we 

 had not seen since leaving Leopoldville. Framed in by lofty 

 mountains, the broad and mighty stream tears onward to the sea. 

 On arriving at 5.30 in the afternoon, we found a considerable 

 number of Europeans waiting on the station platform, partly to 

 greet us and partly for the ordinary scheduled train, due shortly 



after ours. We were received by the Vice-Consul, Herr Schmidt, 

 2 J 



