40 
In the Heart of Africa 
and causes them to swell up, frequently to an extraordinary extent. 
We saw skin puffings on the foreheads of the Bangala, the chief 
race of the middle Congo territory, swollen up to about two centi¬ 
metres. Countless variations may be found, among which the 
half-moon shape occurs most frequently. 
An immense mail was waiting for me, so that Wiese and I 
found our hands very full. First of all fresh plans had to be 
discussed. To Weiss and Kirschstein, who were once again in 
company, was forwarded detailed information as to our inten¬ 
tions and the road to be followed. To West Mohasi was sent 
tidings of our arrival. A letter from Captain von Grawert was 
sent on to Niansa, and soon the Askari postmen-patrols were 
flying about in all directions. We remained two full days in 
our tents busied with clerical work. The nomads had turned 
into settlers. 
Wintgens having set out the day before for the west end of 
the lake, Wiese and I followed on the 30th. At first we journeyed 
over fairly easy paths leading alongside hills or across them; 
now and again we were afforded a view of that long, narrow 
mirror, Lake Mohasi. Then the way lost itself in deep ravines 
or over high summits, which tried the powers of the load carriers 
most heavily. Several watercourses passed on the way offered 
refreshing draughts to our exhausted men. We descended at 
an early stage from the backs of our mules, which constantly 
touched the ground with their knees in the steep ascents. Many 
of the carriers, too, lost control of their powers; some threw 
down their loads and sank exhausted to the ground. In addition. 
Lieutenant von Wiese’s health during the past few days had not 
been all that could be desired. The consequences of a heavy cold, 
accompanied by feverish symptoms, now made themselves felt, 
so that the poor fellow suffered severely. This state of affairs 
continued for two days through a fairly well populated country 
until, at a sharp bend of the road, the mirror of the lake suddenly 
became visible. Immediately afterwards we sighted the camp, 
which was in a state of some commotion at the news of our 
arrival. 
