542 
AFRICA AND ITS EXPLORATION. 
were transported into tlie presence of the luxuries of 
• civilization. Never did gaunt Africa appear so unworthy 
and so despicable before my eyes as now, when imperial 
Europe rose before my delighted eyes and showed her 
boundless treasures of life, and blessed me with her 
.stores. 
When we all felt refreshed, the cloth bales were opened, 
and soon, instead of the venerable and tattered relics of 
Manchester, Salem, and Nashua manufacture, which were 
hastily consumed by the fire, the people were reclad with 
white cloths and gay prints. The nakedness of want, 
the bare ribs, the sharp protruding bones were thus 
covered ; but months must elapse before the hollow 
.sunken cheeks and haggard faces would again resume 
the healthy bronze colour which distinguishes the well- 
fed African. 
My condition of mind in the evening of the eventful 
day which was signalized by the happy union which we 
had made with the merchants of the west coast, may be 
guessed by the following letter : — 
“ Bama Mbuko, August 6, 1877. 
“ Messrs. A. da Mott a V eil a and J. W. Harrison, 
Embomma, Congo River. 
“ Gentlemen, 
“ I have received your very welcome letter, but 
better than all, and more welcome, your supplies. I am 
unable to express just at present how grateful I feel. 
We are all so overjoyed and confused with our emotions, 
at the sight of the stores exposed to our hungry eyes — 
at the sight of the rice, the fish, and the rum, and for me, 
wlieaten bread, butter, sardines, jam, peaches, grapes, 
beer (ye gods ! just think of it — three bottles pale ale !), 
besides tea and sugar — that we cannot restrain ourselves 
from falling to and enjoying this sudden bounteous store 
— and I beg you will charge our apparent want of thank- 
fulness to our greediness. If we do not thank you suffi- 
ciently in words, rest assured we feel what volumes could 
not describe. 
“ For the next twenty-four hours we shall be too busy 
