ea again?" It was therefore with a feeling of intense satisfaction
that I was at length able to inform him that another day would see us
out of the hands of the shipwrights and riggers, and that we might sail
on the day following if he so pleased. This news acted like a cordial
upon his spirits; he brightened up wonderfully, and improved more
rapidly within the ensuing twenty-four hours than he had done during the
whole time of his sojourn in hospital, and but for the firmness of the
doctor, would at once have taken his discharge, and actually busied
himself about the final preparations for our departure. He, however,
insisted upon joining me in the acceptance of an invitation to dine with
the Governor that evening; and at the appointed hour I called for him,
and we sauntered slowly to Government House together. The party was not
a very large one, nor did we sit very late; but as the other guests were
taking their leave, his Excellency intimated that he desired to have a
word or two with us in private, and we accordingly deferred our
departure.

When at length we were alone, our host invited us to light up another
cigar, and, himself setting us the example, proceeded to a cabinet that
stood in the corner of the room, opening which he produced a folded
document from a drawer, and unfolding it, laid it before us.

"This, gentlemen," said he, "is a rough sketch-chart of the embouchure
of the Congo. It does not profess to be drawn to scale; but I am told
that it shows with approximate accuracy the relative positions of the
various creeks and indentations that discharge into the main river, up
to the Narrows. Now, the individual from whom I obtained this chart
informs me that at a distance of about two and a half miles up a certain
creek on the south bank--this one, the mouth of which is indicated by a
star--there is a rather considerable native settlement, ruled by a
savage, known to the few Europeans who possess the doubtful honour of
his acquaintance as King Plenty. And, if my informant is to be depended
upon, this potentate, whose chief characteristics are avarice and brutal
ferocity, has discovered a very simple method of combining business with
pleasure by making ruthless war upon his neighbours, and, after his lust
for slaughter is satisfied, disposing of his prisoners to certain
slave-dealers, who have established themselves on the southern bank of
the creek, where they have erected barracoons, factories, and