“Home” to Fernando Po. 
261 
home specimens of the six reptilia , the six snails 
and land shells, the seventy-five sea shells, and 
the no fishes, all known by name, which they 
collected upon the island and in the bay. It is 
to be presumed that careful dredging will bring to 
light many more : the pools are said to produce 
a small black fish, local as the Proteus anguineus 
of the Styrian caves, to mention no other. 
I was curious to hear from Mr. Mackey some 
details about the Muni River, where he travelled 
in company with M. du Chaillu. It still keeps 
the troublous reputation for petty wars which 
made the old traders dignify it with the name of 
“ Danger.” The nearest Falls are about thirty 
miles from Olobe Island, and the most distant 
may be sixty-five. Of course we had a laugh 
over the famous Omamba or Anaconda, whose 
breath can be felt against the face before it is 
seen. 
Late in April 24th I returned the books kindly 
lent to me from the mission library, shook hands 
with my kind and hospitable entertainers at the 
mission house, mentally wishing them speedy 
deliverance from Corisco, and embarked on board 
the “Griffon.” We quickly covered the “great 
water desert” of 160 miles between the Gorilla 
Island and Fernando Po, and at noon on the next 
day I found myself once more “ at home.” 
