amongst those who have been on the Congo, that the healthiest class of men in the whole country are the officers, mechanics, and engineers employed on the steamers and boat services; and this notwithstanding the fact that they live on the water, and are every night moored to the river bank in the immediate neighbourhood of the forest, in order that they may be able to procure fuel for the following day.

In the beginning of April some natives in the interior murdered one of the station soldiers, and their chief, calling his people together, attacked and routed one of our friendly chiefs within three or four hours' march of Leopoldville, killing his two sons and many of his people. An expedition, which I accompanied, consisting of a hundred and fifty men with a couple of officers, was sent to punish the offender.