stand. On surmounting the hills on the east side of the Lomami, I was delighted to see by the help of my glasses that the State flag was still flying, three miles off” across the valley. Arriving in the station, the cause of the disquieting rumours which had reached me became apparent. The whole population of N'Gandu and the surrounding districts (deprived as they were of their head) had split up into factions, which were fighting amongst each other, raiding each other's quarters, and murdering whoever they came across.

A few shots had even been fired at the State station, probably by drunkards or men in a fighting frenzy. During the ten days following my arrival, the unfriendly attitude of the white officers and the anarchy in the district made my position anything but an enviable one; and I was very