264 
In the Heart of Africa 
of the Congo State, especially at the time of the Arab rising. 
The fort consists of towers and walls provided with loopholes, 
extending along the Aruwimi. This extensive post comprises a 
considerable number of European dwelling-houses, magazines, 
barracks, a hospital and a prison. Broad, shady avenues of 
well-kept mango trees give the place a pleasant, homely look. 
The Commissaire general, who commanded the Aruwimi district 
at the time, escorted us round and pointed out the fruits of his 
and his predecessors’ work. 
We took the opportunity to examine one of the larger store- 
sheds. It was filled with cases of all sizes containing the multi¬ 
farious articles with which the State pays its workers. Whole 
shiploads of stuffs, wire and beads, lay heaped up together with 
mountains of straw hats, leather belts and other European 
articles in bulk, which probably sprang from some Brussels or 
Antwerp bazaar. Ready money is not used in the Upper Congo. 
The State pays for its labour in kind, fixing the value itself, 
and in this way satisfies at the same time all civilised wants 
felt by the natives. 
Basoko bears a bad reputation on account of its climate. 
Malaria, black-water fever, and dysentery have been fatal to 
many Europeans. They found a last quiet resting-place in the 
cemetery on the western side of the station under the shadow 
of the palms and the mango trees. A long row of cairns, con¬ 
structed of bricks and lime, bear the name and date of death of 
those buried there. Formerly hardly a year went by without one 
or two names being added to the list of those who had passed 
away. Matters are improved to-day. The progress made in 
tropical medicine, the most brilliant success of which has been 
prophylactic quinine, has robbed malaria, and with it black-water 
fever, of a good many of its terrors, and dysentery has decreased 
with a more accurate knowledge of its causes. Yet, in spite 
of all, these illnesses are always the greatest dangers connected 
with a sojourn in the tropics. 
I may, perhaps, in this space be permitted a brief word as 
to the state of health of the members of the expedition. Ex- 
