My second journey through equatorial Africa; from the Congo to the Zambesi, in the years 1886 and 1887 - Tapa blanda

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1891 edition. Excerpt: ...then instructor, the experienced old Pogge. We halted, much fatigued, in the middle of the forest close to the river, and now it became obvious to us why the cunning Mutomba had brought us this way, for soon the canoes of the Lussambo appeared. Once more they found an opportunity to sell provisions for lovely beads. The chief himself soon put in an MAGNIFICENT RIVER SCENERY 159 appearance, saluting us in a pacific way as if nothing had happened, which exceedingly amused me and again greatly provoked Le Marinel. After two days' fatiguing march through primaeval forests we reached the first Bassongo or Bassonje, a large tribe extending to the Lulua, and apparently related to the Wassonga or Wasongora, so that north of the Baluba people we were again able to ascertain the existence of a widely scattered tribe. It is certainly more difficult to ascertain the relationship of these people than of the Baluba, because the latter seem to have everywhere turned out and extirpated the aborigines, the Batua; while among the Bassongo and Wasongora a great many dwarfs are still found, who in many places have mixed with the latter. From the highly situated village of the Bena Wapambue we had an open view into the wide valley of the Sankurru, which just here forms a curve at an angle of above 90. The wide, splendid river flows past a sandstone wall, nearly 100 metres high, whose magnificent and brilliant colouring is relieved by the surrounding dark tints of the primaeval forest, which, with the evening sun shining upon it, seems steeped in deep purple. This beautiful scenery, seen in such a light, might be the subject of a magnificent painting. When I saw it I greatly regretted, as I had often done in this continent, not having an artist with me who...