Complete Works

which the State & Company agents are content to live. Fine buildings. Position on a hill. Rather breezy.
    Left at 3.p.m. At the first heavy ascent met Mr. Davis, Miss.,
    returning from a preaching trip. Rev. Bentiey away in the south with his wife. This being off the road, no section given.1
    Distance traversed about 15 miles. Gen. direction E. N. E.
    At Luasi we get on again on to the gov1 road.
    Camped at 41A p. m. With Mr. Heche in company. To-day no sunshine. Wind remarkably cold. Gloomy day.
    Monday, 28th. Left camp at 6:30 after breakfasting with Heche. Road at first hilly. Then walking along the ridges of hill chains with valleys on both sides. The country more open and there is much more trees2 growing in large clumps in the ravines.
    Passed Nzungi and camped, 11, on the right bank of the Ngoma, a rapid little river with rocky bed. Village on a hill to the right.
    General direction E. N. E. — Distance 14 miles.
    No sunshine. Gloomy cold day. Squalls.
    Tuesday 29th Left camp at 7, after a good night’s rest. Continuous ascent; rather easy at first. Crossed wooded ravines and the river Lunzadi by a very decent bridge. At 9 met Mr. Louette escorting a sick agent of the compy back to Matadi. Looking very well. Bad news from up the river. All the steamers disabled - one wrecked.3 Country wooded. At 10:30 camped at Inkissi.
    General direction E. N. E. — Dist^lS miles.
    Sun visible at 6:30. Very warm day.
    Inkissi River very rapid; is about 100 yards broad. Passage in canoes. Banks wooded very densely, and valley of the river rather deep, but very narrow.
    To-day did not set the tent, but put up in Gov: shimbek.
    ‘Sections of the day’s marches, with numerous names on them, were given under the following dates: July 3rd. 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th. 25th, 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st, August 1st.
    ‘One of the few un-English phrases in the diary. By 1890 Conrad had been a British subject for six years, but he never learnt the language until he was grown up.
    ^Compare “Heart of Darkness,” p.72: “One of them [the white men at the Central Station] . .informed me with great volubility and many digressions ... that my steamer was at the bottom of the river.”
    Zanzibar!1 in charge — very obliging. Met ripe pineapple for the first time. On the road to-day passed a skeleton tied up to a post. Also white man’s grave — no name — heap of stones in the form of a cross. Health good now.
    Wednesday, 30th. Left at 6 a.m. intending to camp at Kinfumu. Two hours sharp walk brought me to Nsona na Nsefe. Market. V2 hour after Harou arrived very ill with billious [s/c\ attack and fever. Laid him down in Gov’- shimbek.
    Does of ipeca. Vomiting bile in enormous quantities. At 11 gave him 1 gramme of quinine and lots of hot tea. Hot fit ending in heavy perspiration. At 2 p.m. put him in hammock and started for Kinfumu. Row. with carriers all the way.2 Harou suffering much through the jerks of the hammock. Camped at a small stream. At 4 harou better; fever gone.
    General direction N.E. by E. V2 E. Distance 13 miles.
    Up till noon sky clouded and strong N.W. wind very chilling. From 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. sky clear and a very hot day. Expect lots of bother with carriers tomorrow. Had them all called and made a speech, which they did not understand.3 They promise good behaviour.
    Thursday, 31st. Left at 6. Sent harou ahead, and followed in V2 an hour.4
    Road presents several sharp ascents, and a few others easier but rather long. Notice in places sandy surface soil instead of hard clay as heretofore; think however that the layer of sand is not very thick and that the clay would be found under it. Great difficulty in carrying Harou. Too heavy — bother.5 Made two
     See note, p.163.
    2Compare “Heart of Darkness,” p.71: “Then he [the white man with him] got fever, and had to be carried in a hammock slung under a pole. As he weighed sixteen stone I had no end of rows with the carriers.”
    ‘Compare “Heart of Darkness,” p.7:”... one evening, I made a speech in English with gestures, not one of which was lost to the sixty pairs of eyes before me.”
    ‘Compare “Heart of Darkness,” pp.71-2:”... the next morning I started the hammock off in front all right.”
    5Compare “Heart of Darkness,” p.71: “... he [the white man with him] weighed sixteen stone...”
    long halts to rest the carriers. Country wooded in valleys and on many of the ridges.
    At 2:30 p.m. reached Luila at last, and camped on right bank. Breeze