STANLEY IN AFRICA.

Marlborough Express, Volume XVI, Issue 54, 5 July 1881, Page 2

STANLEY IN AFRICA.

The Belgian Colonel Vandenbogaert, ■who recently returned from Africa to Brussels, gives a good account of the Stanley expedition, ■which he came across at Visi, on the upper waters ot Congo. With Stanley there were his two lieutenants, the snb-lieutenant, the engineer Neef, and a body of 70 men. Everyone was m good health, sufficiently employed m establishing stores of food further m the interior, m preparation for the forward movements of the expedition; M. Neef was strengthening the camp, and M. Valcke was blasting his way along the river bank, with the idea of clearing away the rock sufficiently to make a practicable road. Visi is on one part of the Congo which is not at present navigable, and probably never wik be. The course of the stream is a succession of rapids and waterfalls, and could only be rendered nrvigable by the erection of 113 locks at the very least. The natives > are described as treating the expedition with great respect; but as they are armed with flint-locks whereas the expedition is supplied with the best modem rifles, that is not perhaps to be wondered at. Meanwhile our knowledge of the Congo is|being rapidly increased, and a French expedition has just started to reach the river from Gaboon. The next year or two will probably see a great addition made to our knowledge of this part of Africa.— " Pall Mall Gazette."