258 
In the Heart of Africa 
entering the village we were startled by the appearance of an 
ape in human form, or vice versa. This apparition resolved 
itself before long into the headman of the village. In order 
to increase his charms, the fellow had daubed the whole of his 
body a fiery scarlet with powdered camwood. 
We came to the most imposing cataract when we reached 
Panga. These falls have a huge drop, and the roar of the 
boiling waters may be heard from afar. The cascades, divided 
only by detached, brush-covered rocky masses, extend the whole 
breadth of the river and present a magnificently picturesque 
subject for a painter’s brush when seen in the light of the setting 
sun. We did our best to secure a photographic souvenir. As 
these cataracts are said to be impassable we changed our boats 
and our crews. Having bidden farewell to my beautiful canoe, 
which had borne me safely in spite of a leak, I was all the 
more pleasantly surprised to see it again, and in good con¬ 
dition, amongst the new craft. The men had succeeded in 
taking it through the raging torrent on long liane from the 
bank. 
There is an island which lies in front of the waterfalls on 
which Mr. Hannam, the discoverer of nearly all the valuable 
mines in the Congo State, lives. This famous prospector had 
also found conglomerate gold in that spot, which justified the 
highest hopes and indicated a possibility of profitable working. 
Two of his agents were prospecting farther down the river, and 
apparently were equally successful. These finds gave further 
witness of the wealth which was lying around in the soil and 
not being turned to account. Mr. Hannam, whose frank and 
simple manner charms everyone, is, as may be easily understood, 
one of the most popular men in the State. Equipped with a 
very considerable amount of expert knowledge, gained in the 
most important mining centres of the globe, the Congo State 
has taken him into its service, and certainly not to its own 
detriment. For it was due to him that the abundant wealth 
of copper and gold at Katanga was discovered, and it was on 
his advice that the active and prosperous industry at Kilo was 
