( 8 o3) 
CHAPTER IX. 
TO BOLOBO, 
Meoxgo—Frencn IT'nacs AT Mspamo—IiMBE—VALUE OF SALT— 
Foorerints oF HIprpoporTraMI—SAND-BANKS AND IsSLANDS— 
BoLtopo—THE Great CHier [paka—THE Mosquitors—A Royvau 
Visir—A DrinkInc CEREMONY—IBAKA’S PECULIAR Hat—Houvusrs 
At Poroso—A SxKketcHiIng ADVENTURE—THE FeEtTIsH Man 
His Duties anpb OccupatTions—HeErps or ELEPHANTS AND 
BuFFALOES—ANIMALS OF THE UD.strict—MeEtrats—Monko.i 
TOPAZ. 
March 2nd.—The forest scenery is becoming richer and 
more “tropical looking” the farther we advance towards 
the Equator, that is, I mean, that the vegetation is assum- 
ing the same luxuriant character, the wild exuberant 
erowth which are usually associated with aspects of nature 
under an equatorial sun and a zone of constant rain. 
The stream of the Congo is at the present time thronged 
with masses of a brilliantly green water-plant, Pistia 
stratiotes, common to most tropical rivers. The recent 
floods have detached it from the little inlets and quiet 
reaches, where it ordinarily grows, and have broughi it 
down in great quantities with the stream, and are also the 
cause of the many floating logs and torn-up trees which 
frequently block the navigation, 
There are many rocks along the river’s bank and 
stretching out some distance into the current, suggesting 
the idea of their being the remains of ancient cataracts. 
Indeed when one says that the falls of the Congo do not 
begin until below Stanley Pool, it is hardly correct. The 
only difference between the upper and lower river is this, 
that above Stanley Pool the rapids are never sufficiently 
serious to hinder navigation, 
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