Part 21 (2/2)

Matadi is built on a solid piece of granite The name is a version of the word _matari_ which means rock In certain parts of Africa the letter ”r” is often substituted for ”d” Stanley's native name was in reality ”Bula Matari,” but on account of the license that I have indicated he is more frequently known as ”Bula Matadi,” the title now bestowed on all officials in the Congo It was at Matadi that Stanley received the designation because he blasted a road through the rocks with dyna and lot population, Matadi is a picturesque spot It is the goal of every official through the long years of his service in the bush for at this place he boards the steamer that takes him to Europe This is the pleasant side of the picture On the other hand, Matadi is where the incoo soil If it happens to be the wet season the foot is likely to be scorched for it is by common consent one of the hottest spots in all the universe That well-known fable about frying an egg in the sun is an every-day reality here six months of the year

Matadi is the ado railhich has extensive yards, repair-shops, and hospitals for whites and blacks

Nearby are the storage tanks and pu station of the oil pipe line that extends from Matadi to Kinshassa It was installed just before the Great War and has only been used for one shi+pment of fluid With the outbreak of hostilities it was iet petroleum Now that peace has come, its operations will be resuo River steamers into oil-burners

Tied up at a Matadi quay was ”The Schoodic,” one of the United States shi+pping Board war-built freighters The Aave me a real thrill for with the exception of the solitary national emblem I had seen at Tshi+kapa it was the first I had beheld since I left Capetown I lunched several times on board and found the international personnel so frequent in our merchant marine The captain was a native of the West Indies, the first ineer was a Connecticut Yankee, and the steward a japanese They were a happy fah under the Stars and Stripes and we spentere back ho ever moves on schedule time I expected to board the steamer immediately after my arrival at Matadi and proceed to Antwerp There was the usual delay, and I had to wait a week Hence the diversion provided by ”The Schoodic” was a Godsend

The blessed day caed from the dirt and discomfort of the river boat and the colonial hotel to the luxury of the ocean vessel It was like stepping into paradise to get settled oncebrass bedstead and the inviting bathroo on the divan and revelling in this welcoood to be true

Nelson regage in the shi+p, which was the first liner he had ever seen He was alnitude I asked him if he would like to accompany me to Europe He shook his head sole and I ao hoave him more money than he had ever before seen in his life It only elicited this laconic response, ”Now I ah to buy a wife” With these words he bade me farewell

[Illustration: A GENERAL VIEW OF MATADI]

”The Anversville” was another agreeable surprise She is one of three sister shi+ps in the service of the Coo

The other two are ”The Albertville” and ”The Elizabethville” The original ”Elizabethville” was sunk by a Ger the war off the coast of France These vessels are big, clean, and comfortable and the service is excellent

All vessels to and froo, which is five hours stea down river from Matadi We remained here for a day and a half because the Minister of the Colonies was to go back on ”The Anversville” I was glad of the opportunity for it enabledof the colonial administration

The palace of the Governor-General stands on a coinal capital of the Congo was Vivi, established by Stanley at a point not far froo on account of its undesirable location There is a strong sentiment that Leopoldville and not Boma should be the capital and it is not unlikely that this change will be made

The Minister of the Colonies and Monsieur Henry, the Governor-General, who also went home on our boat, received a spectacular send-off A thousand native troops provided the guard of honour which was drawn up on the bank of the river Native bands played, flags waved, and the populace, which included hundreds of blacks, shouted a noisy farewell

Slowly and majestically the vessel backed away froled feelings of relief and regret I watched the shores recede as the body of the river widened Near the mouth it is twenty miles wide and hundreds of feet deep

At Banana Point I looked o River For h a land that teems with hidden life and resists the inroads of man I had been lulled to sleep by its dull roar; I had observed its varied caprice; I had caught the gla of its vast and hty stream seemed more than ever to be invested with a tenacious human quality Sixty miles out at sea its sullen brown current still vies with the green and blue of the ocean swell It lingers like the spell of all Africa

The Congo is er lure