THE RIYER CONGO. 607 



since they withdrew from Congo he has been gradually sinking to the level 

 of other chiefs, and, although he keeps up an outward show of authority, he 

 has very little power." Of the River Congo, Lieutenant Grandy observes : — 

 " The Congo, which is one of the grandest rivers of the universe, and still 

 awaits exploration, is navigable for steamers to a distance of one hundred and 

 ten miles from its mouth, even in the dry season ; it floods twice annually, the 

 first and great rise taking place from 10th of September to the 23rd of Decem- 

 ber, the second from first week in March till nearly the end of June. In 1873 

 it only rose nine feet six inches with the first flooding, and two feet with the 

 second. A very low run was expected at the end of August of this year, 

 owing to the small quantity of rain which fell. There are hundreds of canoes 

 on this river, some of them capable of carrying three tons of cargo. A very 

 large trade in nuts and oil is carried on with them between Boma and the 

 towns and markets above the factories. The natives are very skilful in the 

 handling of their canoes, yet a great number of lives are lost annually through 

 the swamping of their frail craft by whirlpools. They stand to paddle, sing- 

 ing the while. The large canoes have two men to steer, and six to paddle ; 

 they chose the early morning for descending the river when there is no wind. 

 The fishermen use nets shaped like a spoon, and choose dark nights for their 

 work, one man holding a lighted brand over the water, whilst the other dips 

 up the fish attracted by the glare with the net." 



Notwithstanding the professions of friendship by the King of Congo, he 

 proved utterly powerless to secure a sufficient number of carriers to enable 

 the party to prosecute their journey. Lieutenant Grandy says : — " I began to 

 fear we never should get out of Congo ; the disaffected people were constantly 

 bringing in reports that chiefs whose towns we had to pass had sent word 

 that they intended to fire upon and exterminate the whole party, and there- 

 fore carriers had better not come with us. These, and like stories, which it 

 would be tedious to repeat, lost us a whole month of the best season of the 

 year." After innumerable delays, and vexations enough to try the spirit of 

 any Job, Lieutenant Grandy succeeded in collecting together a sufficient 

 number of carriers, and, on the 21st June, he left Congo. Proceeding in a 

 northerly direction, he passed through several inconsiderable towns and vil- 

 lages ; and having crossed the Quilo and Luanga rivers, the party at length 

 reached Tungwa, which Lieutenant Grandy declares to be by far the most 

 populous and best-built town he had seen. " The streets are regularly laid 

 out and cleanly ; the people are ivory traders, and the whole place has an 

 appearance of prosperity. Our interpreter said the chief had in his house 

 chairs, tables, and every article of European manufacture that is traded with, 

 and fives in comparative luxury. He looked upon our presents as being very 

 insignificant. The estimated population is about one thousand six hundred. 

 The river, which rises from a fountain about eight miles eastward of the town, 



