himself at N'Gandu on the Lomami, holding part of Mallela for Sefu, and by raiding gradually extended his influence to the westward, which brought him into conflict with the State. Captain Descamps first, and Baron Dhanis afterwards, defeated him. After the defeat by Dhanis, in April 1892, he came to the conclusion that it was no use fighting any longer against the State; and since the Arabs for some time past had paid him neither for his work nor for the ivory he sent them, he determined if possible to make peace with the State on his own account.

This was a wise decision, as there is no doubt that the Arabs were both afraid and jealous of his power, and would probably before long have assassinated him. At this time Gongo Lutete was perhaps thirty years of age. He was a well-built intelligent looking man of about 5 ft.