Geographical Notes

Abstract

THE Mouvement Géographique contains details of Lieut. Van Gèle's recent exploration of the River Mobangi, the great tributary of the north bank of the Congo, which discharges a little below the equator. It will be remembered that the Rev. George Grenfell succeeded in making his way up the river as far as 4° N. latitude, where he was stopped by the Zongo rapids. Lieut. Van Gèle started on October 26 last, and reached the rapids on November 21. There are six of them, covering a space of 34 miles. They are situated in what is really a mountain gorge, the mountains, in gentle slopes, coming down to the river banks. The steamer Eu Avant had. to be unloaded several times and dragged up the rapids. The spaces between the rapids are mostly covered with islands, with great bars of rock stretching between them. The country on each side is described as being fine, fertile, and covered with villages. The people here are all of the same tribe; head shaved except at the nape, bristling moustaches, and no tattooing. Above the middle falls, the Bakombé inhabit the country. These arrange the hair in queues, some of which are over 6 feet long. From the upper end of the falls the river continues in a north-east direction for about 32 miles, when it rounds to the east. It has a breadth of about 2600 feet, and the navigation is easy, the average depth being 14 feet. The easterly direction is maintained as far as the En Avant went, about 172 miles further. The mountains disappear from the right bank, and the left is marked by low hills, with grassy plains and woods alternating. The villages are at some distance from the river, but the people came down to the vessel in crowds all the way up, and were perfectly friendly until the last few days. Over the whole course tropical cultures of every kind were abundant, as well as sheep, goats, and fowls. The natives on the right bank belong to the Buraka and Madura tribes; those on the right to the Bakangi, the Mombate, and the Banzy. They mostly shave the head so as to leave a triangle of hair, with the forehead as base. The ears are enormously elongated with heavy copper rings. The river here is covered with islands, mostly cultivated and inhabited. Among the Banzy the huts have the shape of huge conical extinguishers, resting on a circular wall about 2 feet high. These huts are ranged in circular rows, forming broad streets, well kept, and with a common meeting-house in the centre. Each hut is divided into two apartments, one used for sleeping. Iron is admirably worked into all sorts of implements, weapons, and ornaments. Ivory is abundant, but used only for bracelets, anklets, and pelelé or lip-ornaments. About 100 miles above the Zongo rapids a second is met with, at Bemay. The vessel succeeded in passing it, and a third 25 miles further up. Just above Bemay, the only tributary met with from the Zongo rapids upwards—the Bangasso—discharges into the right bank of the Mobangi. Above the river the country is densely peopled by the Mombongo and Yakoma, and these showed themselves distinctly hostile to the expedition. There were unfortunately several conflicts, in which lives were lost on both sides. Rocks and sand-banks obstructed the navigation, and after getting as far as 21° 55′ E., Lieut. Van Gèle turned back, making his way downwards with some difficulty, as the river had lowered about 10 feet. He arrived at Equator Station on February 1. The river was about 8000 feet wide at the furthest point, and covered with islands, mostly inhabited. On the north bank of the river, one village extended along a distance of 3 miles. As Dr. Junker's furthest point on the Wellé was 22° 55′ E., only 1° of longitude separates his point from Van Gèle's furthest, or about 68 miles. As they are both on the same line of latitude, there can be no doubt that the Mobangi and the Wellé are the same river.