INTRODUCTION 



equally extraordinary happens. The days are spent in 

 idleness by most of the people ; the men gather in front 

 of the chief's hut and discuss various topics of the 

 moment. This usually takes place after the early morning 

 meal of half-smoked fish, matamma (native flour), etc. 



In a brief account which appeared in the London 

 papers on my return home, I stated that one of our 

 greatest difficulties was the fact that it was impossible 

 to rely on the published maps of the Congo. Those 

 issued by the Belgians are typical of a skeleton adminis- 

 tration. Scores of towns and settlements are shown, but 

 few of them exist except upon paper. I searched in vain 

 for many of them. No one knew where they were. 

 Mountains were indicated where rivers ran. Towns 

 where only groups of huts were to be found. 



The north-eastern Congo of to-day is little different 

 from its condition when Stanley, Schweinfurth, and one 

 or two others first entered the country. 



Something like one thousand followers accompanied 

 Stanley into Central Africa. Many weary days and nights 

 have I spent in traversing the plains and forests of Congo 

 wilds with but three boys ! encountering the worst of 

 uncivilized races, and sneaking away, under cover of 

 darkness, from some hostile village or other to escape a 

 furious savage onslaught. 



Many people have suggested that next time I should 

 get three or four friends to go with me, and a large number 

 of native followers. This would be impracticable. The 

 natives are not in a position at every village to find food 

 for, say, one hundred and fifty porters. Sometimes we 

 had to carry food for ourselves and our porters sufficient 

 to last for several days. This was always the case when 

 near a Government station, for neighbouring chiefs have 

 to provide constant supplies of matamma, potatoes, and 

 what not for the staff and askaris, and should they fail 

 to send in the necessary quantities, no matter what 



vi 



