ABSTRACT

Those who travel eastward, pull for a day and a half up the right hand or south-eastern arm of the Gaboon or Aroongo, which arm is formed by the junction of several small streams, about sixty miles from its confluence with the north-eastern arm. Landing about thirty-five miles up it, two and a half journies are occupied in trave1ling over an uninhabited country, described as savannah, and called W oongawoonga; it is entirely open, and buffaloes are numerous. Here they reach the Ogooawai, a rapid river, frequently as wide, and, genera1ly, considerably deeper than the Gaboon ; and which, as we shall presently see, runs to the Congo, of itself insignificant. One day up the Ogooawai, is the small kingdom of Adjoomba, consisting but of four towns. One journey beyond, on the Ugooawm, and north-eastward, is Gaelwa, a kingdom of m0re importance, its length three journies. The King's name is Roiela, and the capital, a considerable town, Inkanjee: Goondemsie is second to it. Adjoining Gaclwa is Eninga, where the river widens considerably; this country is larger than Adjoomba, very populous, and composed of several small governments. The river winds very much; frequently they save time by carrying their canoes over the peninsulas ; they are also opposed by impetuous currents. Hitherto the language is the same as the Empoongwa or Gaboon. Twenty journies from the frontier of Gaelwa and Eninga, through the small state of Okota, is the kingdom of Asheera; and ten beyond it, that of Okandee,

the greatest they know. The King's name is Adoomoo, the capital extensive, and kept particularly clean: their law forbids any native of Okandee to he sold as a slave. None of the nations on the Ogooawai are cannibals. On the eastern confines of Okandec this river is described to join or flow from the W ola. The countries between the lVIoohnda and Ogooawai, are called Sappalah, Koomakaimalong, and Okaykay, and described as vast extents of savannah. Deeha was spoken of as a large co.Jntry in the neigh· bourhood of the 'Vola. I could not make these interior natives, or the people of Gaboon, understand \rhat I meant by a Moor; there are none but pagan negroes throughout. The slaYes recently arrived viewed me with afl'right ; they said none in their country would believe there were white men.