Into the Congo River. 61 
it has been recognized, they say, at a distance of 
300 miles. Lopez, Merolla,and Dapper 1 agree that 
the Congo freshens the water at thirty miles from 
the mouth, and that it can be distinguished thirty 
leagues off. The Amazonas tinges the sea along 
the Guiana coast 200 miles, and the effect of the 
Ganges extends to about twenty leagues. At this 
season, of course, we saw none of the floating 
islands which during the rains sail out sixty to 
seventy leagues from land. “ Tuckey’s Expedi¬ 
tion" informs us, that the Hon. Captain Irby, 
H.M.S. “Amelia/' when anchored twelve miles 
from the South Point, in fifteen fathoms, “ observed 
on the ocean large floating islands covered with 
trees and bushes, which had been torn from the 
banks by the violent current." The Journal of 
Captain Scobell, H.M.S. “Thais," remarks : “ In 
crossing this stream I met several floating islands 
or broken masses from the banks of that noble 
river." We shall find them higher up the bed, 
only forming as the inundation begins ; I doubt, 
however, that at any time they equal the meadows 
which stud the mouth of the Rio Formoso (Benin 
River). 
Historic Point Padrao, the “ Mouta Seca," or 
Dry Bush, of the modern Portuguese, showed no 
signs of hospitality. The fierce rollers of the 
L “ Philipp’s Voyages,” yol. iii. p. 236. 
