124 



C ONGO. 





Congo, no and Melamba, and the burnt mountains of the sun, 

 "* m ~^, r ~ m,/ (those of crystal, or saltpetre, and silver,) and by the 

 rivers Verbela and Chilandea; and on the west by that 

 part of the Atlantic Ocean called the Ethiopic Sea, or the 

 Sea of Congo. According to this definition of its limits, 

 Congo Proper extends about three degrees from north 

 to south, lying on the coast between 8° and 9° south 

 lat. but widening in its breadth inland with the course 

 of the river Zair, which runs winding above 2° more to 

 the north. Both however in this direction, and still 

 more in that of its length from east to west, its di- 

 mensions are very uncertain, no exact observations ha- 

 ving been taken of the precise position of those na- 

 tural boundaries within which it is contained. Ac- 

 cording to the relation of John Anthony Cavarri de 

 Monte Cuculo, a capuchin missionary, the dominions 

 of the kings of Congo were much extended towards the 

 east and south, before the introduction of the Christian 

 religion ; whereas, since that event, many of the remote 

 provinces, in these directions, having been dismember- 

 ed from it, it was reduced, in consequence, from above 

 600 leagues in circuit, to less than one half of that ex- 

 tent. Dr Brookes and Mr Walker state it to be 1 50 

 miles long, and 372 broad. 



Divisions. Congo is divided into six large provinces, of which 

 the county of Sogni, and the great duchy of Bamba, 

 stretch along the Sea coast ; the duchy of Lundi, and 

 the marquisate of Pango, are situated towards the north; 

 the marquisate of Pemba is within land, and to the 

 west is the duchy of Batta. These provinces are subdi- 

 vided into lesser seignories, or lordships. Besides those 

 principal divisions, there are comprehended under the 

 same general denomination several other lesser provin- 

 ces, most of which are covered with forests or moun- 

 tains, and inhabited by races of men in a state the most 

 uncultivated and savage. 



River?. The principal rivers of this country are the Zair, 



already mentioned, with the Dando. In the interme- 

 diate parts between these are the Lehundo, Doce, Am- 

 brez, Loze, Onzo, and Lutana, with several others of 

 less note. There is, besides, a considerable number of 

 tributary streams of some moment, flowing chiefly into 

 the Zair, such as the Bancaro, the Vambra, the Congo, 

 and the Barbela. 



Climate, Congo Proper, being situated within the torrid zone, 



Seasous,&c. is liable to excessive heats. These, however, are consi- 

 derably mitigated by winds and breezes, rains and con- 

 stant dews, the effect of which is at the same time far- 

 ther favoured by the greater equality in those latitudes 

 in the length of the days and nights. The summer and 

 the winter, which compose the year of the Congoese, are 

 divided by them into six seasons, which they distin- 

 guish by the names Massanza, Neasu, Ecundi, Quitom- 

 6o, Quibiso, and Quimbangala. The first four of these 

 comprehend what may be called then - summer. At 

 the commencement of this period, which corresponds 

 to our month of October, the rains begin to fall in those 

 countries, and they continue during the two, and some- 

 times the three next months. The floods which are thus 

 occasioned, are commonly succeeded by a famine, the 

 low lands being overflown by them, and the corn car- 

 ried off; while, notwithstanding the frequency of such 

 misfortunes, by which it might have been expected 

 that experience would have been gained, and better ha- 

 bits induced, the inveterate sloth of the inhabitants con- 

 tinues such, that due care is seldom taken to make any 

 proper provision against such disasters. Neasu begins 

 about the end of January, when the produce of the 

 lands has arrived at its full height, and wants but a 



few days of being ripened for harvest. The first crop Cong<». 

 is no sooner gathered in, than the fields are soAvn """"Y"^ 

 anew, two harvests being commonly obtained here in 

 the course of the year. The third and fourth sea- 

 sons are frequently (if such an expression may be 

 used) blended together towards the middle of March, 

 when the more gentle rains begin to fall, and conti- 

 nue to do so till the month of May. The principal 

 distinction between these two seasons, or the parts of 

 them, consists in the greater or lesser quantity of rain 

 that falls during their progress. During the rest of the 

 time in which the rains do not prevail, the air is clear 

 and dry, while the clouds, being overcharged with elec-» 

 trie matter, burst out occasionally into the most terrible 

 thunders and lightnings, without yielding, though they 

 seem loaded with it, the least drop of rain. These sea- 

 sons taken together, last till about the beginning, or 

 sometimes till the end of September. The two last sea- 

 sons, Quibiso and Quimbangala, constitute the short win- 

 ter of this country, of which the distinguishing features 

 are not frost or snow, which are unknown in these re- 

 gions, but dry blasting winds that strip the earth of its- 

 verdure, and induce a general face of deadness and 

 desolation, till with the return, in the appointed time, 

 of the next massanza, or spring, the vernal bloom is re- 

 stored. The weather is, during this period, considered 

 by the natives as cold, though to those accustomed to 

 the regions of the northern European climates, it would 

 on the contrary appear rather hot. By another divi- 

 sion of time recognised among the Congoese, the year 

 is made to consist of 12 lunar months, beginning, like 

 the year of the Jews, with the month of September. 

 They have also weeks, but consisting of four days 

 only, three of which are appointed for labour, and the 

 fourth for rest or religious exercises. 



Congo is said by some of those who have visited it, Mineral 

 to be very rich in mineral productions. According to proeruc- 

 Josser, its mountains yield in several places very fine tions. 

 stone for building, which may, moreover, be obtained 

 of an extraordinary magnitude. There are here also 

 even entire mountains of porphyry, of jaspei*, and of 

 marbles of different colours, which in Italy are known 

 by the name of the marble of Numidia, of Africa, and 

 of Ethiopia. In the same mountains there is found a 

 kind of stone containing beautiful hyacinths diffused 

 over the mass, previously to the separation of winch 

 it might be formed into columns of the greatest beau- 

 ty. Among other articles of rare produce in this de- 

 partment, there are mentioned various stones that ap- 

 pear impregnated with copper and other metals, which 

 receive the finest polish, and are of admirable use in 

 sculpture and engraving. Mines of copper of an excel- 

 lent quality are very frequent in Congo. It is particu- 

 larly prevalent in the province of Bemba, near to the 

 city of the same name. In Sogni, it is hardly less 

 abundant ; and the copper of that district, being even 

 better than that of Bemba, it is used at Loanda in the 

 fabrication of bracelets and rings, which are in the way 

 of trade transported to Kallabar, Kiodelkey, and other 

 places. Linschoten asserts, that in Bamba there are 

 mines of silver, and some other metals, and that at Lun- 

 di there are found mines of crystal and of iron. The 

 last, he says, are the most highly esteemed of the ne- 

 groes, because of that metal they make their knives, 

 swords, and other arms. It has been imagined by some, 

 that there are immense treasures of precious stones con- 

 cealed in this country. Dapper seems satisfied, from 

 different assurances which he had received on the sub- 

 ject, that it contains mines of gold, particularly in the 



