6 4 
The Factories. 
extend some seventy miles south to Ambrizette : 
slavers keep all such details very close, and 
doubtless for good reasons—“ short-cuts ” greatly 
facilitate shipping negroes. The lesser Congo 
delta is bounded north by the Banana or Malela 
stream, whose lower fork is “Pirates’ Creek;” 
and south by the mangrove-clad drains, which 
subtend the main line : the base measures 
12-15 miles. At the highest station, Boma, I 
shall have something to say about the greater 
delta. The left bank of the embouchure projects 
further seaward, making it look “ under hung,” 
representing in charts a lower jaw, and the projec¬ 
tion of Shark Point the teeth, en profile. 
My first care was to collect news at the factories. 
French Point is a long low spit, which supports 
two establishments where the chart (September 
1859) gives “ Emigration Depot.” It is the old 
Banana Point, and probably the older Palmeirinha 
Point of James Barbot, who places it in the terri¬ 
tory of Goy (Ngoy), now Cabinda. This part has 
greatly changed since 1859; either the Banana 
River requires removing two miles to the north, or 
French Point must be placed an equal distance 
south. The principal establishment, M. Regis’ of 
Marseilles, is built in his best style; a two-storied 
and brilliantly “chunam’d” house, containing a 
shop and store on the ground-floor, defended by 
a three-pounder. Behind it a square “compound,” 
