104 
Boma. 
The easternmost Buka, the Booka Embomma 
of the charts and maps, will presently be de¬ 
scribed. In this direction the Zaire assumes the 
semblance of a mountain lake, whilst down stream 
the broad bosom of the Nshibul branch forms 
almost a sea-horizon, with dots showing where tall, 
scattered palms spring from the watery surface. 
We cannot but admire the nightly effects of the 
wintry bush-fires. During the day livid volumed 
smoke forms cumuli that conceal their enemy, the 
sun, and discharge a rain of blacks ten times the 
size of Londoners. In the darkened air we see 
storms of fire fiercely whirling over the undulating 
ranges, here sweeping on like torrents, there delay¬ 
ing, whilst the sheets meet at the apex, and a 
giant beard of flame (<;pxoyog piyocq Truyuv) flouts the 
moon. The land must be splendidly grassed after 
the rains. 
The Boma factories are like those of Porto da 
Lenha, but humbler in size, and more resembling 
the wicker-work native houses. The river, which 
up stream will show a flood mark of twelve feet, 
here seldom rises above five, and further down 
three and four ; consequently piles are not required, 
and the swiftness of the current keeps off the 
jacare. Formerly there were fourteen establish¬ 
ments, which licit trade in palm oil and ground¬ 
nuts, instead of men, women, and children, have 
reduced to ten. The air is sensibly drier and 
