CONFUSION OF TONGUES 183 



tatives of many nations ; the majority are, of course, 

 Belgians, but there are large numbers of Frenchmen, 

 Dutchmen, Italians, Swiss, and Scandinavians, and 

 a few Germans. The official language is French, 

 which is always spoken in public and at mess ; but 

 this rule is relaxed when strangers are present, and 

 the result is a confusion of European tongues, with, 

 as a rule, a strong dash of Suahili and Bangalla. 

 Some of the Scandinavians talked English excellently 

 well, but amongst the others it was almost unknown, 

 and I can only think of three Belgians who had 

 more than the most elementary knowledge of the 

 language. 



The feast of St. Leopold, which occurred during 

 our stay at Rutchuru, was celebrated by a conclave 

 of the neighbouring chiefs, who received presents, 

 a review of the troops, accompanied by several 

 newly composed bugle-calls, and a dinner in the 

 evening, at which the toast of Great Britain was 

 received with genuine enthusiasm, and acknowledged 

 in my maiden French oration. It is usual in a book 

 of this description to reproduce at least one menu 

 of feasts ; but the various aliases, under which the 

 fatted calf was (not very successfully) disguised, 

 displayed a purely local form of humour, so I will 

 refrain from repeating them here, and will only 

 remark that the Congo custom of drinking ' invalid 

 port ' before dinner and sweet champagne afterwards 

 is directly contrary to the principles of Central 

 African hygiene. 



