The Yellala of the Congo . 283 
room shape; short sycomores appeared, and pre¬ 
sently we came to rough gradients of stone, which 
severely tried the “jarrets.” After an hour, we 
crossed at the trough-foot a brook of pure water, 
which, uniting with two others, turns to the north¬ 
east, and, tumbling over a little ledge, discharges 
itself into the main drain. An ascent then led 
over a rounded hill with level summit, and preci¬ 
pitous face all steps and drops of rock, some of 
them six and seven feet high, opposed to the 
stream. Another half hour, and a descent of 127 
feet placed us under a stunted calabash, 100 feet 
above the water, and commanding a full view of 
the Yellala. 
On the whole, the impression was favourable. 
Old Shimbah, the Linguister at Porto da Lenha, 
and other natives had assured me that the Cata¬ 
racts were taller than the tallest trees. On the 
other hand, the plain and unadorned narrative of 
the “Expedition” had prepared me for a second- 
rate stream bubbling over a strong bed. The river 
here sweeps round from the north-west, and bends 
with a sharp elbow first to the south-west and 
then to the south-east, the length of the latter 
reach being between four and five miles. As far 
as the eye can see, the bed, which narrows from 
900 to 400 and 500 yards, is broken by rocks and 
reefs. A gate at the upper end pours over its 
lintel a clear but dwarf fall, perhaps two feet high. 
