HEART OF THE CONGO 363 



On May twenty-first we motored to Buta. En route 

 I made my fifth crossing of the Uele, a rapidly flowing 

 tropical river. It required nearly an hour's paddhng 

 and poHng by a score of natives to make the trip. On 

 tliis occasion they missed the landing by several hundred 

 yards and had a hard struggle against the strong cur- 

 rent which flows near the bank before they were able 

 to tie the rickety ferry to the crude wharf. While the 

 trucks were being taken ashore, I bought some beauti- 

 fuUy decorated ivory from a native who had just arrived 

 from the bush. Some of these black men have been 

 brought up by the Fathers at the Mission, who have 

 taught them numerous crafts, one being wood and ivory 

 carving. 



Our fears that Jones had been stricken with the dread 

 malady of sleeping sickness proved unfounded, for 

 upon driving up to the hospital building we found liim 

 to be quite well. They had treated him so splendidly 

 he hated to leave, but it was necessary that our journey 

 be continued immediately, so, after restocking our food 

 supphes and loading on as much gasohne as it was 

 possible to carry, we again headed westward. No one 

 could teU us for a certainty how far it was to 

 Bangui, nor the condition of the road, providing 

 there was a road. 



As we sped toward Bangassou we constantly en- 

 countered natives waUdng along the paths with huge 

 nets slung over their shoulders. Whenever we reached 

 a large river, I w^ould scan it in search of fishermen 

 using these enormous seines but never found any in 

 use. One day the mystery was solved, for, during a 

 stop for lunch, we heard distant shouting, and, upon 

 going to investigate, found one of these nets strung 



