EXPLORATION OF THE BAMINGI 181 



to Fort Lamy owing to sickness. The current, too, was 

 becoming daily stronger so we increased the number of polers 

 in each boat. 

 ^ ,We were fortunate in being able to supplement our sadly 



PELELE WORN BY THE KABBA SARA WOMEN 



Keduced half uatnial size 



diminished stock of tea with some of the excellent coffee 

 which is brought by the natives from N'dele, a town on the 

 right bank, five days distant to the east. Here the coffee- 

 trees, which were discovered by M. Chevalier in 1903, grow 

 to the gigantic height of 40 ft., and there are some of even 

 60 ft. The Banda natives climb the trees to pick the berries . 

 On July 28 we said good-bye to Captain Brunet and 

 left for Irena, a village near the mouth of the Bamingi. A 

 journey of six hours brought us to a Kabba Sara village, called 



