cxviii 
APPENDIX. No. IV. 
" which, with the trees still erect, and the whole wafting to the motion of 
" the sea, rushed far into the ocean, and formed a novel prospect even to 
" persons accustomed to the phenomena of the waters." He adds, that 
there are soundings to the distance of from thirty or forty miles from the 
coast, arising probably from the vast quantity of alluviaj matter brought 
down by the force of the stream. 
Other accounts state, that the waters of the Congo may be distinguished 
at sea more than thirty leagues from the coast, and that the water is fresh at 
the distance of thirty miles.* These, perhaps, are exaggerations; but they 
may be received, in confirmation of the preceding testimonies, as sufficient 
proofs of a general opinion amoug navigators with regard to the size and 
force of this prodigious river. It is mentioned by Major Rennell in his very 
interesting account of the Ganges, that the sea in the bay of Bengal ceases to 
be affected by the waters of that river, and recovers its transparency, only at 
the distance of about twenty leagues from the coast. (Phil. Transactions, 
vol. Ixxi.) But the Ganges being obstructed by its Delta, and passing through 
eight channels into the sea, is probably much less rapid and impetuous than 
the Congo. 
To this it must be added, that all the accounts concur in representing, that 
the stream of the Congo is of a more uniform height, and subject to much 
less variation from the dry and rainy seasons, than any tropical river which is 
known ; and that on a comparison with such rivers, it may be considered to 
be in a perpetual state of flood. The average rising of the Ganges in the 
rainy season is stated by Major Rennell to be 31 feet, being about the same 
with that of the Nile; whereas, the difference between the highest point of 
the Congo about February, and the lowest in September, is only about nine 
feet ; and the river, at the latter period, has all the appearance to a stranger 
of being in full flood*. It is this remarkable peculiarity, which distinguishes 
the Congo from other great rivers of a similar description, and which leads 
to important conclusions with regard to its origin and course. 
In support, then, of the hypothesis which identifies the Congo with the 
Niger, the following arguments, deduced from the preceding facts and obser- 
vations, may be alleged : — 1. The great magnitude of llie Congo. 2. The 
probab'lily that this river is derived from very remote sources, perhaps consi* 
derably north of the equator. 3. The fact, that there exists a great river 
* Lopez, Merolla, and Dapper, referred to in Phillips's Voyages, vol, iti. p. 23§. 
+ MS. Letter of Mr. Maxwell to Mr. Park, Oct. 12, 1804. 
