CHAPTER VII. 
BOMA—OUR OUTFIT FOR THE INTERIOR. 
E now reach Boma, the furthest Portu¬ 
guese factory, about thirty, usually 
reckoned thirty-eight, nautical miles 
from Porta da Lenha, and a total of 
52.50 from French Point 
The upper depot of the Congo lies upon the 
north bank, accidents ground, poor, stony, and sandy 
soil, with rounded, grass-clad hills. The southern 
is less broken; there are long slopes and waves 
of land which trend in graceful lines, charmingly 
diversified, to the uplands, where the old capital, 
Sao Salvador, is situated ; and upon the undulating 
blue ridges, distance behind distance, appear mark¬ 
ings by Nature's hand, which the strangers eye 
can hardly distinguish from villa or village. The 
view explains how the old expedition felt “ every 
day more in love with this beautiful country.” 
