930 General Notes. [November, 



over the region between the Ogowe, the Equator, and the Congo 

 and over the tract of country on the southern bank of the Congo 

 from Impila to the confluence of the River Djue, to the south of 

 Stanley Pool. 



The station at Ntamo was established -on October I, 1880, and 

 named Brazzaville. Leaving the station in charge of a sergeant 

 and three men, M. de Brazza tried to find a new route to the sea 

 by the valley of the N'Duo, which empties itself into the Niari 

 and leads from Ntamo to the coast in a nearly due westerly di- 

 rection. He was obliged, however, to abandon this, and continue 

 his journey down the Congo. He arrived at the Gaboon in De- 

 cember, 1880. Failing to find Dr. Ballay or any reinforcement 

 for his expedition here, he again, for a third time, ascended the 

 Ogowe and reached Franceville in February, 1881, where ^e 

 found about 100 natives engaged in various industries and the 

 settlement self-supporting. During the following six months 

 preparations were made to transport a steamer, to be sent in sec- 

 tions, from France, from the Ogowe to the Alima — a path being 

 cleared by 400 laborers. This steamer has, however, not yet 

 reached the Ogowe. 



In October, 1881, M. de Brazza set out from Franceville to 

 endeavor again to explore the Niari valley route, from Stanley 

 Pool to the Atlantic. He was more successful in this second 

 attempt. The Niari proved to be a beautiful river which enters 

 the Atlantic under the name of Quilliou, and flows for a long 

 distance without rapids or falls past a broad, fertile, and densely 

 peopled valley, lying athwart the great parallel terraces over 

 which, ladder-like, the neighboring Congo has cut its bed on its 

 way to the ocean. After many adventures, including a fight with 

 a hostile tribe, M. de Brazza reached the coast at Landanaon the 

 17th of April, 1882. 



The valley of the Niari is the best line for a railway to Brazza- 

 ville or Ntamo. 



The London .///>. v/ ( ,-v////, however asserts that the road along 

 the Congo is far preferable to the route of M. de Brazza. which is 

 considerably longer, and leads to a part of the coast where com- 

 munication with the land is only poss.hle in surf-boats, while the 

 Congo is accessible at all times to vessels of the largest burthen. 



Mr. Stanley has recently returned to Europe. He has now 

 seven steamers on the Congo, and has founded four factories on 

 ground ceded by the native kings. 



Stearns' Expedition to Labrador.— The Stearns' Expedition to 

 the coast of Labrador, reached home safely, on the 1 2th of Septeni; 

 ber. Mr. Stearns went as far north as Triangle i I arbor, a few miles 



