The Eastern Congo 



must have been many times greater than even the broad 

 Lake Victoria. 



Having descended the last spurs of the forest highlands 

 we soon found ourselves approaching Stanleyville along the 

 newly made motor road that runs towards them across 

 those lowlands, and which it is hoped will one day reach the 

 Kilo gold mines. Our arrival at Stanleyville was somewhat 

 of an occasion for us two, for we had completed the last lap 

 of over two thousand miles ; it was moreover the greatest 

 relief to realise that we were to be free henceforth from the 

 eternal petty worries of native porters and servants, and that 

 instead of having to get ourselves along it was now possible 

 to hand over the arduous business to a tireless machine. 

 This last lap had tried our endurance to the utmost, 

 especially so as the latter end of the trip had been marked 

 by violent thunderstorms which occurred daily, making 

 the nights terribly oppressive and the paths wet and 

 slippery. 



The Stanley Falls which I visited, and which lie close above 

 the township of Stanleyville, are not imposing or spectacular 

 in any way, although the bar or barrage, reaching right 

 across them from bank to bank, is a remarkable structure. 

 It has been put together pole by pole in a wonderful way 

 by the river fishermen for the purpose of trapping fish. The 

 uprights being of considerable size and weight could only 

 have been placed in position with the utmost difficulty and 

 perseverance ; they seem to be held in position by being jammed 

 into " pot-holes " formed in the soHd rock along the hp of 

 the fall. As it kept the none-too-well provided town below 

 supplied with fresh food, the loss of this fishing industry 

 must have been felt by the residents of Stanleyville, for 



210 



