274 PROFESSOR SxMlTH'S JOURNAL. 



Point is just before us. At this point, towards the bank 

 that runs down perpendicularly 100 fathoms, the wood 

 appears as if it were cut off. It is at this point that the 

 river first commences its proper breadth. Shark Point 

 is a narrow and unsafe anchorage. The bottom is steep 

 and very uneven, as we have a depth of 17 fathoms on one 

 side the vessel, and a depth of SO fathoms on the other ; 

 and a few fathoms father off is the whirl of the rapid cur- 

 rent. The Congo had also her anchor broken by careless- 

 ness. We expect to be very busy tomorrow morning, but 

 there is scarcely any hope of getting on shore. This is a 

 tedious tantalizing busines. At ten o'clock this evening 

 we have a brio-ht moon-light. The dark forest and the 

 white foaming surf below, present an interesting appear- 

 ance. The negroes have made several fires on the Point. 

 About the twilight the cries of parrots were heard from 

 the vessel, and large eagles hovered over the forest. It is 

 rather cold (69°), and the dew falls in large drops. The 

 current runs at the anchorage about three knots an hour. 



July 7. Early this morning the Mafook or governor 

 came on board in two canoes, with his retinue. At first 

 his pretensions were very lofty. He insisted upon being 

 saluted with a discharge of cannon, and on observing us 

 going to breakfast, declared that he expected to be placed 

 at the same table with the Captain, and endeavoured to 

 make his words sufficiently impressive by haughty gesti- 

 culations. Sitting on the quarter-deck in a chair covered 

 with a flag, his dress consisting of a laced velvet cloak, 

 a red cap, a piece of stuff round his waist, otherwise naked. 



