THE FRENCH EXPEDITION TO CENTRAL AFRICA. 3 



In this manner they traversed successively the territories of Ondonubo, of 

 Umbete, and of Baliki, when they made such diligence as to prevent the intended 

 robbery of their baggage by the natives, with the assistance of the carriers. 



After quitting the basin of the Ogoone, the expedition suffered greatly from 

 hunger and thirst, for the country traversed had been devastated by famine. A 

 watercourse, N'gambo, running toward the East led the explorers to an import- 

 ant river, the Alima, which appears in geography for the first time. 



This river is over one hundred yards in width with a depth of fifteen feet, 

 and is doubtless one of the affluents of the Congo. M. de Brazze and his corn- 

 companions thought, however, at first that by following its course they would 

 eventually reach the Atlantic, although its course at first led in a opposite 

 direction. 



They soon met with menacing demonstrations from the natives, which were 

 soon followed by actual assault in which three of the party were wounded by 

 bullets, and they were compelled in self-defense, to use their own weapons. 



On the evening of the same day they arrived in sight of two large towns, 

 one upon each bank of the river, and both full of enemies. Wishing to avoid a 

 night combat upon the water M. de Brazze disembarked his party and intrenched 

 himself. At break of day he was assaulted by thirty canoes full of natives, 

 armed with muskets. The battle was short ; the blacks were dispersed after 

 having proved the superiority of European arms and skill. 



It was not safe to persue the perilous route farther with so few guns and 

 with such reduced force, and accordingly the explorers left the river, which con- 

 tinued to flow eastward, and moved toward the north, where they naturally 

 expected less inhospitable treatment, but where, unfortunately, they found but 

 few provisions. After having crossed several streams which flowed eastward, 

 M. De Brazze sent Dr. Ballay and M. Hamon towards the Ogoone, and alone con- 

 tinued his exploration to the Equator. It was an act of supreme heroism, as 

 for five months he suffered hunger, fever and bodily pain. 



He was finally compelled to return before the rainy season began, and, 

 rejoining his companions, they descended the Ogoone, and on the 30th day of 

 November, 1878, reached Gabon. 



In summing up this expedition it is seen that for three years, fifteen months 

 of which were spent beyond the reach of civilized man, the explorers had to sup- 

 port great sufferings and to combat great dangers. They opened to the world an 

 area in Central Africa previously absolutely unknown — larger than many of the 

 smaller European States. 



COAL DEPOSITS IN CENTRAL AFRICA. 



A letter addressed from Livingstonia, under date of September 12, IS7S, 

 announces that a mine of coal has been discovered in Central Africa upon the 

 borders of Lake Nyanza. 



