126 
AFRICA AND ITS EXPLORATION. 
ancl the land is well populated, because calcareous 
districts are fertile in the tropics and provisions are 
plentiful. Prof. Smith (p. 336) was “ so much enrap- 
tured with the improved appearance of the country and 
the magnificence of the river, that it was with the 
greatest difficulty he was prevailed on to return.” Of 
course, the coaster middle-men report the people to be 
cannibals. 
From the Vivi Rapids to Nsundi along the windings 
of the bed is a total of 115 miles, about the distance of 
Vivi to the sea ; the direct land march was seventy-five 
miles. Captain Tuckey heard nothing of the Lumini 
River entering forty-three leagues above the Yellala, 
and he gives no professional opinion touching the navi- 
gability of the total of six greater rapids which, to judge 
from what I saw, can hardly offer any serious obstruction 
to the development of the Nzadi. 
At Nkulu an intelligent native traveller whom I 
examined through the interpreters, strongly advised the 
line of the southern bank ; five stages would lead to 
Nsundi, and the ten “ kings ” on the road are not such 
“ rapacious gentlemen ” as our present hosts. A glance 
at Tuckey ’s map shows that this southern line cuts across 
a long westerly deflection of the bed. 
I had been warned when setting out that a shipful of 
goods would not take me past Nkulu. This was soon 
confirmed. On the evening; after arrival J had directed 
my interpreter to sound the “ bush-kings ” touching the 
expense of a march to Nsundi. They modestly de- 
manded 100 lbs. of beads, fifty kegs of powder, forty 
demijohns of rum, twelve uniforms, ten burnuses, a few 
swords, and 200 whole pieces of various expensive cloths, 
such as Costa Finas, Riscados, and satin stripes — briefly, 
about £300 for three days’ march. It suggested the 
modest demand made by King Adooley of Badagry, from 
the brothers Lander. 
The air of Nkulu was a cordial ; the aspect of the 
land suggested that it is the threshold to a country 
singularly fertile and delicious, in fact, the paradise 
which Bishop Berkeley (Gaudentio di Lucca) placed in 
