26 
II. THE JOURNEY 
vessel is anchored in a quiet bay, and the passengers 
creep into their mosquito nets. Many sleep in the 
cabins ; others on the couches along the walls of the 
dining saloon, under which are stored the mail sacks. 
About 5 a.m. the engines are set in motion again. 
We have now covered nearly 130 miles (200 kilometres), 
and the forest is more impq^g than further down- 
stream. In the distance appears a hill with red roofs 
upon it : the mission station of N’Gomo ; and the two 
hours spent in shipping logs gives us time to see the 
station and its sawmill. 
Five hours later the slopes of Lambarene come in 
sight, and the steamer sounds its syren, though it will 
take another half hour to reach the village. But the 
inhabitants of the widely scattered stores must be 
warned in good time, so that they can bring their 
canoes to the landing stage and take possession of the 
goods that we have brought for them. 
The Lambarene mission station is an hour further 
on by canoe, so that no one could be at the landing 
stage to greet us, but while the cargo was being unloaded 
I suddenly saw a long, narrow canoe, rowed by merrily 
singing boys, shoot round the ship, and so fast, indeed, 
that the white man in the stern had only just time to 
throw himself backwards and save his head from 
contact with the ship’s cable. It is Mr. Christel, with 
the lower class of the boys’ school, and behind them 
comes another boat with Mr. Ellenberger, rowed by 
the upper class. The boys had made it a race, and the 
younger ones had won ; perhaps, however, because 
they were given the lighter boat. They were, therefore, 
allowed to convey the doctor and his wife ; the others 
took the luggage aboard. What charming young 
