1883.] Geography and Travels. 1149 
- M. Roudaire, who with a party of engineers has been engaged 
in making borings across the lowland between the Mediterranean 
and the Algerian Chottes, is reported to have as yet met with 
nothing more formidable than sand, so that the interior sea may 
after all become a fact. 
Max Buchner gives some curious particulars respecting the 
kingdom of the “ muatiamvo,” south of the Congo. The muati- 
amvo, or king, is not the only ruler, a second high authority is 
the “ lukokessa,” or queen, who is not, however, his consort, but 
entirely independent of him, with her own consort, the “shamo- 
ana,” and numerous husbands of a lower order. The “ muati- 
amvo,” whose name is Shanana, or Naoesh-a-kat, has sixty wives. 
The country, about as large as Germany, can hardly have more 
than two millions of people. 
Kuilu, on the Loango coast, which M. de Brazza had intended 
to secure as the starting point for his direct road va the Niari 
