Porto da Lenka. 
97 
stream before one, now divides into three parallel 
branches, separated by long narrow islands and islets, 
banks and shallows. The northernmost channel 
in our maps, “ Maxwell River,” is known to Euro¬ 
peans and natives as Noangwa; Mamballa or the 
central line is called by the moderns Nshibul, and 
the southern is dubbed by the hydrographer, “Rio 
Konio,” a truly terrible mistake for Sonho. As a 
rule, the Noangwa, though infested during the 
rains by cruel mosquitoes, is preferred for the ascent, 
and the central for dropping down stream. The 
maximum breadth of the Congo bed, more than 
half island, is here five miles ; and I was forcibly 
reminded of it when winding through the Dalma¬ 
tian Archipelago. 
The river still maintained its alluvial aspect as 
we passed along the right bank. The surface was 
a stubble strewn with the usual trees ; the portly 
bombax; the calabash, now naked and of wintry 
aspect; and the dark evergreen palmyra, in dots 
and streaks upon the red-yellow field, fronted by 
an edging of grass, whose king, cyperus papyrus, is 
crowned with tall heads waving like little palms. 
This Egyptian bush extends from the Congo 
mouth to Banza Nokki, our landing-place ; it grows 
thickest about Porto da Lenha, and it thins out 
above and below : I afterwards observed it in the 
sweet water marshes of Syria and the Brazils. We 
passed sundry settlements — Loango Pequeno, 
ii. 
H 
