262 
In the Heart of Africa 
been made to grow cotton plants. It would be premature to pass 
any final judgment as to their ultimate chance of prospering, 
but the healthy appearance of the plantation indicated that the 
soil, at least, was promising. 
After hearty farewells we proceeded on our course, accom¬ 
panied by the retiring Chef de paste at Mogandju, M. Bisteau, 
who was going home on furlough on finishing his " terme.” The 
whole village, with all the head-men, had hurried up to view 
his departure, and one read genuine sorrow in their faces at 
having to lose their kind and honoured master. They pressed 
around him, stretching out their hands and entreating him to 
return to them, and as long as we could see them from the 
steamer they kept on waving adieux. The feeling they exhibited 
was really genuine and a sign of the firmly cemented mutual 
interest existing between superior and subordinates. 
Tranquil and unconcerned, we enjoyed the beautiful passage, 
until a violent shock made the ship tremble and took us for a 
moment out of our course. We had run with full force against 
a sunken reef falsely marked on the chart, or not marked at 
all, and the water was pouring with irresistible force through a 
great leak on the port side into the hold where our baggage 
was lying. Although the crew bailed continuously they could 
not keep pace with the constant stream of water; the bow sank 
deeper and deeper and the vessel threatened to sink. Nothing 
remained but to beach the ship. We steamed with full power 
against the brushwood on the northern bank. In vain! The 
Delivrance recoiled like a ball from the boughs, oscillating 
violently. “Full steam astern, hard a-port, and full steam 
ahead across the river 1 ” came the orders, which were executed 
with admirable coolness. Then we saw the flat shore of a village 
on the further bank. To lessen the top-weight we all descended 
to the lower deck; which was nearly submerged. We exerted 
the engines to their uttermost and steered straight for the bank 
—still fifty yards, thirty, ten, and then a terrible crash! The 
steamer lurched heavily over, righted herself and rode firm. A 
hurrah of relief escaped our throats. Our brave boys, however, 
