STANLEY IN AFRICA.

Manawatu Herald, 22 July 1881, Page 4

STANLEY IN AFRICA.

The Belgian Colonel Vandenbogaort, who recently returned from Africa to Brussels, gives a good account of the Stanley expedition, which he came across at Yisi, on the upper waters of Congo. With Stanley there were his two lieutenants, the Bub-lieut*>nant, the engineer Neef, and a body of 7 0 men. Everyone*was in good health, sufficiently employed in establishing stores of food further in the interior, in preparation for the forward movements of the expedition ; M. Neef was strengthening the camp, and M. Valcke Was blas'ing his way along the river 'bank, with the idea of clearing away the rock sufficiently to make a practicable road, Yisi is* on one part of the Congo which is not at present navigable, and probably never will be. The course of the stream is a succession of rapids and waterfalls,- and could only be rendered navigable by the erection of ll3,locks at the very least. The natives are describe<l as treating the expedition with great respeot ; but as they are armed with flint-locks %hereas the expedition is supplied with the best modern rifles, that is sot . perhaps -to be wondered at. Meanwhile our knowledge of the Oongo iB being rapidly increased, aad a French expedition has just started to reaoh the, river from Gaboon. -.The* next year or^two will prbbdfciy see a great addition made to our- knowledge of this part of Africa,— Pall M til Gazette.