PROFESSOR SMITH'S JOURNAL. 285 



the river. The weather, as usual, was clear and pleasant. 

 Small floating islands, sometimes overgroAvn with waving 

 shrubs of Cyperus papijrus passed by us. The river-side 

 was thickly covered with a variety of plants of interesting 

 forms. We heard the cries of parrots and the warbling 

 of some small singing birds. The scene was solemn and 

 beautiful. The night was approaching when we arrived 

 on board the Congo, where we found our room very close, as 

 we indeed had expected ; but our agreeable prospects made 

 us forget this and every other inconvenience. These 

 prospects were only clouded by the gloom which some of 

 us could not avoid betraying, when speaking of the ex- 

 aggerated accounts of the river, and the forebodings they 

 were apt to entertain of the voyage being speedily ter- 

 minated. 



July 14. In the morning all wished to go on shore, 

 which Avas at the distance of about two gun-shots only ; 

 permission for this purpose was given after breakfast. 

 The landing-place was in a small bay just opposite the 

 ship, with an island covered with plants, and a Rhizophora 

 with bended branches. At the bottom of the bay was a 

 sandy beach, with a small plain, in the middle of which 

 a large Adansonia was growing, and higher np a thick 

 lofty forest was discovered. To the right and along the 

 shore the country was more cjpen. A number of slirubs 

 and trees, from their form and novelty, excited admiration 

 and surprise. Farther on the surface had been set on 

 fire, which is the only method of making a way through 

 the impenetrable thickets. After having Avalked about 



