11 S Dr Brown on the Correspmdence between Mr Parle 
‘‘ From Yacka, Moose Yacka.” On the 9th query he says. 
There are no European factories in the Congo, but vessels may 
be found lying there at all seasons of the year. And on the 10th 
query be mentions, that the nearest European settlement to the 
mouth of the Congo is Loando St Paul’s, a large ^city in 8° 55' 
south latitude, the roadstead of which is sheltered by a low 
sandy island, and strongly fortified ; but they have very little 
intercourse with Portugal, their trade being chiefly with the 
Brazils. Neither would a traveller from the interior of Africa, 
in his opinion, find himself comfortable with them, being a colo- 
ny of convicts, little better than the Giagas, and extremely jea- 
lous of other nations gaining any knowledge of that country. 
They have also a detached fort. Nova Pedonda, in 11° 8' south 
latitude, and Benzuela Nova in 12* 30^ south latitude, protect- 
ed by a fort mounting 30 pieces of cannon, but most of the 
carriages are unfit for use. At all which places on the sea- 
coast, they have vast herds of cattle, and supply ships on very 
moderate terms ; a large bullock being only 15s. or 20s. These 
two last, with Banza Congo, are dependent on Loando St Paul’s, 
and from these they have numerous factories, branched out hun- 
dreds of miles to the eastward. 
Such were the answers which Mr Maxwell sent to the que- 
ries of Mr Park ; but he did not stop there : for, considering it 
of importance to make Mr Park acquainted with the best me- 
thod of ascending the river, he stated to him the plan which he 
himself had intended to adopt had circumstances admitted ; and 
this plan is so simple and natural, that I shall give it to the 
reader nearly in his own words. 
His scheme was to have carried out six supernumerary boats 
of light construction, to row and sail fast, and to have called at 
Cabenda, before entering the river, to have engaged thirty-six 
black rowers, which could have been hired at the rate of 2s. or 
2s. 6d. per week, which would have saved the white people from 
the fatigue of rowing, and exposure to sun and rain, the chief 
cause of all the mortality on the coast of Africa. They would 
at the same time have served him for linguists a great way up, 
and when they began to fail as such, he would then have enga- 
ged another to act as interpreter to them, and so on successively 
as he went along, wliich would have enabled him to keep up an 
