76 A JOURNEY UP THE RIVER CONGO. 
rose from the stagnant ooze, and uttering a dismal cry, 
flapped its heavy-winged flight through the miasmatic air. 
It did not rain, but the atmosphere was charged with 
clammy moisture, and gloomy tiers of cloud shut out all 
elimpses of sunshine and brightness. When we at length 
reached firm land, the quaking marsh was exchanged for 
harsh rock and sharp-cutting stones. Nasty, ill-tempered 
looking little bushes, all gnarled and crooked with peevish- 
ness, and bearing lead-coloured, uneatable fruits, dotted 
the dull red soil. There was no sign of animated life—no 
birds or butterflies; all seemed deserted and lone. But 
the hour of our deliverance drew nigh; from a stony 
height by this time attained, I suddenly looked down on 
the river Lulu, which was rolling its brown flood through ~ 
a beautiful and thickly-wooded ravine. We hastened 
towards it and were soon at its banks; but the sorcerer’s 
power was not yet exhausted. The river was in full flood, 
and had swept away the rough suspension-bridge of lianas, 
which was used on occasions when the stepping-stones 
were covered. So I had to sit down and wait till the 
Zanzibaris arrived—for I always walked so quickly that I 
was invariably in advance of the caravan—and two of 
them carried me across the blood-red stream, charged with 
the red soil of the hills which the heavy rains of the pre- 
ceding night had washed by many temporary rivulets into — 
its swollen current. On the other side of the river Lulu - 
every one seemed inclined to repose from their fatigues. 
The loads were all disposed round the camping-place, the 
tent was pitched, and the breakfast put in preparation. 
In the meantime the majority of the men went down to 
bathe. I took off my wet things and laid them on great 
boulders to dry, and also went to wash in the river. ‘The 
water was refreshing and cool, but unfortunately the 
horrible little black flies were still here, and rendered any 
uncovering of one’s person torture, for they settled in 
clouds on the naked skin, spotting it with little points of 
blood. After a good rest and an enjoyable meal, I started 
ahead once more with my Zanzibaris. The influence of 
the bad genius was clearly over, and that of the good fairy 
