The River Congo from its mouth to Bólobó; with a general description of the natural history and anthropology of its western basin (1895) (14761659394)

Identifier: rivercongofromit00john (find matches)
Title: The River Congo from its mouth to Bólobó; with a general description of the natural history and anthropology of its western basin
Year: 1895 (1890s)
Authors: Johnston, Harry Hamilton, Sir, 1858-1927
Subjects: Natural history
Publisher: London, S. Low, Marston & Co.
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries



Text Appearing Before Image:
s of the Pool, alternately covered and uncovered,according to the season of the year, and there are alsofloating reed and papyrus islands, formed of these massesof aquatic vegetation, which are so strongly interknittedby their fibres and roots that a man can stand on them.These floating islets are occasionally of some extent, andmay be taken for real islands until their motion with thecurrent is observed. White egrets and many waterbirclsfrequent them, and the hippopotami play round theirreedy shores. The large islands* are resorted to byelephants and buffaloes, which creatures swim backwardsand forwards from the mainland with ease. Innumerablewaterbirds, storks, pelicans, cormorants, herons, egrets,sacred ibises, spur-winged and Egyptian geese, terns and * These vary in size and number according to the season. In therainy months they are subdivided into two or three each, with shallowchannels between. In the dry season the number of islands is muchdiminished by the retreating waters.
Text Appearing After Image:
the Calamus palm in different stages: with fruit. STANLEY POOL. 123 plovers, frequent the thick tangles of high grass and themany sand-banks, where they form strange groups withthe crocodiles, who are wont to lie basking in the sun ina state of semi-conscious beatitude. The Pool forms, as it were, a great cup-like basin, withan incomplete rim formed by sierras of peaked andpicturesque mountains, ranging on the southern side from1,000 feet to 3,000 feet in height. The banks of thisgreat expanse of water offer considerable variety incharacter. At the northern, or north-eastern end, wherethe Upper Congo enters it through a somewhat narrow