* 
1879. | Geography and Travels. 335 
specially chartered steamer, for the purpose of opening that 
region to commerce. 
M. Paul Soleillet, according to the last intelligence received in 
Paris, had reached Sego and was proceeding onwards, 
One of the most important explorations recently accomplished 
is that of the river Ogowé, the largest river in the French colony 
of the Gaboon. This expedition, commanded by M. Savorgnan 
de Brazza assisted by Dr. Ballay, has now returned after three 
years of hardship and danger, having had to struggle against the 
ill-will and cupidity, and eventually the open hostility, of the 
natives. e Ogowé may be divided into three almost equal 
parts, the upper, middle and lower. The middle portion follows 
the equator as nearly as possible, and the other two incline about 
a degree and a half southwards, the one towards the source and 
the other towards the mouth. MM. de Brazza and Ballay started 
from Lambaréné, the extreme limit of the European factories, in 
August, 1875. They halted first at Lopé, a large village on the 
middle course of the river, whence M. de Brazza went by land 
into the country of the Fans, who were friendly, and from thence 
to Doumé, much higher up the river, where he was rejoined by 
Dr. Ballay. Above the Poubara falls the Ogowé becomes an 
insignificant stream. Having ascertained that it did not commu- 
nicate with the great lakes in the interior, they left the basin of 
the stream, which evidently has its source from a high plateau 
not very distant from the coast. They now suffered much from 
want of food and water, but continuing on reached the N’yambo, 
a stream flowing eastward, and which brought them to the Alima, 
a large river not indicated upon any map. It was here 165 yards 
broad and sixteen feet deep, and is thought to be one of the afflu- 
ents of the Congo. They followed it for some distance partly on 
foot, partly in canoes, but owing to the attacks of the savages 
were finally obliged to abandon the stream, which continued to 
, 
1878. 
march barefooted. About 800 miles of ground were covered, 
Some of the other affluents of the Ogowé, which may prove of 
§reater importance than the branch now made known. A cor- 
