April 29, 1887.] 



8Ci:EJsrcu, 



409 



low the cataract, on the left bank of the river, 

 there are two villages belonging to two of Tippo- 

 Tip's followers, — Nasr and Mvana Nsigi. They are 

 built in the midst of thick woods, which are said to 

 extend three days' Journey from the river, and to 

 be uninhabited. The Kongo, which runs at Tippo- 

 Tip's village very rapidly, forms a little above the 

 station the famous seventh cataract which im- 

 pressed itself so deeply upon Stanley on his journey 

 across the continent. Though the fall is only 

 about six feet high, the impression is grand, on 

 account of the enormous volume of water and the 

 uproar of the tumultuous waves below the falls. 



The inhabitants of this district are the Wagenia 

 (Stanley's Wenya) ; but also Tippo-Tip. with his 



STANLEY PALLS. 



1. Stanley Falls Station. 



2. Singi Singi's village. 



3. Nsaki's village. 



4. Tippo-Tip's village. 



5. Nasr's village. 



6. Mvana Nsigi's village. 



7. Seventh cataract. 



Arabs and slaves, and the station garrison, are 

 established here. The latter was commanded by 

 two whites, and had one hundred and fifty soldiers 

 and working-men. These were composed of so- 

 called Hausa (men from the Guinea coast and the 

 Niger) and Bangalla, men from the upper Kongo, of 

 the same tribe who so furiously attacked Stanley on 

 his descent of the river. Besides these, there were 

 a number of women and children, — slaves taken 

 by Tippo-Tip on his predatory excursions to the 

 north, and sold to the station. Many of the women 

 had become wives of the Hausa : others were 

 working for the station. The men were clearing 

 the dense woods which surround the houses of the 

 station, filling the swamps of the island, and work- 

 ing on the plantations. Bananas, manioc, and 

 maize were grown there. Sweet-potatoes, papaya, 

 and lemons were introduced from the lower Kon- 

 go. Tippo-Tip, who has large rice-plantations on 

 the Lualaba and at Stanley Falls, furnished the 

 station with rice. The stock consisted of three 



cows, several sheep, goats, and some poultry. The 

 climate is very unhealthy all the year round. It 

 appears that the natives, who were employed by 

 the station, were kept as slaves used to be in the 

 southern states. 



The Wagenia live on friendly terms vpith Tippo- 

 Tip, who uses them for boatmen in travelling up 

 and down and in crossing the rivers. They are 

 fishermen. By far the greater part of their food 

 is obtained in weirs built in the rapids and cata- 

 racts of the Kongo. Baskets are fastened to a 

 line of heavy poles, which are strengthened by 

 cross-beams, and the fish are carried into them by 

 the rapid current. The fish are smoked, and 

 traded to the inhabitants of the Lindi and Bivere 

 for bananas and other vegetables or for iron spear- 

 heads and daggers. The Wagenia wear teeth in 

 perforations of the upper lip, beads in the nose and 

 in the eai's, and rings of copper, iron, or brass 

 round the neck, arms, and legs. 



Their trading excursions to the tribes below the 

 cataracts are made in their large canoes, which 

 have a platform for the steersmen on each end. 

 On extensive journeys, they cover the boat with a 

 roof, under which they build a fireplace of clay. 

 It is remarkable that no demoralization through 

 the influence of the Arabs has thus far been notice- 

 able. The latter are ravaging the whole district, 

 particularly the country north of the Kongo, and 

 it may be expected that their influence will spread 

 out still further, now that the station has been 

 abandoned. 



Africa. 



According to Nature of April 14, the Swedish 

 government is preparing an expedition under the 

 direction of Lieut. A. Wester, formerly chief of 

 the Kongo Station, Leopoldville. At the last 

 meeting of the Stockholm society of anthropology 

 and geography, Lieutenant Wester reported on the 

 subject. The expedition may probably start next 

 summer, and will be absent about a year, making 

 Kamerun its base of operations. The cost will be 

 about forty thousand dollars. 



Mr. Camille Douls, says La gazette geographique 

 of April 14, who was sent out by the French gov- 

 ernment for exploring the Wad-Dra, has been 

 made prisoner by the natives of Cape Bojador. Mr. 

 Tempest, chief ofiScer of the English post at Cape 

 Juby, however, succeeded in releasing him from 

 the Arabs. Mr. Douls has resumed his journey up 

 the Wad-Dra. ^ 



America. 



The field-operations of the geological survey of 

 Canada for the coming season include some im- 

 portant geographical work. The Yukon expedi- 

 tion, of which Dr. G. M. Dawson is in command 



