8 
The German Expedition. 
command, and with them were associated Dr. Falk- 
enstein as zoologist, and Dr. Soyaux as botanist. 
A geologist, Dr. Lenz, of Hamburg, was sent to 
connect the Ogobe and Okanda rivers with the 
Loango coast, unless he found a likely north¬ 
eastern route. In this case, the Society would 
take measures to supply him with the necessary 
equipment. 
The expedition began unfortunately, by the loss 
of outfit and instruments in the “Nigritia,” wrecked 
off Sierra Leone: it persevered, however, and 
presently met Dr. Bastian and Professor von Gor- 
schen at Cabinda. The former had collected much 
information about the coast. He had learned from 
slaves that the old kingdoms of Loango, Mahango, 
and Angay are bounded eastwards, or inland, by 
Mayombe, a belt of forest, the threshold of the un¬ 
known interior. It begins the up-slope to the 
great Ghat ridge, which, visible after a days jour¬ 
ney, separates the coast from the central basin. A 
fortnight or three weeks march leads to an open 
country, a land of metalliferous hills, where the 
people barter their goods against gunpowder and 
weapons, brought by traders from the east. These 
“ Orientals ” are now heard of almost all along the 
West African coast, and doubtless, in several 
places, the report will prove true. The prospector 
had also visited, in search of a depot, Futila in 
