86 
Up the Congo River. 
Palm Point, and thus to make a straight run down 
stream. There are three on the north bank, viz. 
M. R6gis (aind), now deserted, Sr. Lima Viana, 
and Sr. Antonio Fernandez; and three on the left 
side, Sr. Alessandro Ferreira, Sr. Guilherme, and 
Sr. Fonseca. Those on the southern or left bank 
facilitate overland transit to Mangue, Ambrizette, 
and other ddpots. At present it is “ tiempo seco ” 
(dull time), and the gSrants keep their hands in by 
buying ground-nuts and palm oil. The slave 
trade, however, makes 500, not 50, per cent, 
and the agents are naturally fond of it, their mere 
salaries being only some 150 francs a month. 
Landing at the factory of Sr. Fernandez, we 
were received by his agent, Sr. Silva, in a little 
bungalow of bamboo and matting, paved with 
tamped earth and old white ostreoid shells, a kind 
of Mya, relished by the natives but not eaten by 
Europeans. To these, doubtless, Mr. W. Winwood 
Reade refers (“ Savage Africa/’ chap, xxxvii.), 
“The traders say that in Congo there are great 
heaps of oyster-shells, but no oysters. These shells 
the negroes also burn for lime.” I did not hear 
of any of these “ ostreiras,” which, if they exist, 
must reflect the Sambaquis of the opposite Bra¬ 
zilian shore. The house was guarded by three 
wooden figures, “ clouterly carved,” and powdered 
with ochre or red wood ; two of them, representing 
warriors in studded coatings of spike nails, with a 
looking-glass fixed in the stomach, raised their 
