On arriving at the hotel we were shown our rooms and
nice ones too - then we had dinner. A really good one
very different from our London meal. Then we went out
to the Cathedral & looked through that. We then went
to Je F. Best & Co's office and found that some of our
packages were missing and we went to the docks with a
frenchman who could not speak a word of English and
tried to find the missing packages. We could not so
we went to the office again & M. was very exercised
over the matter. But I told him all would be right.
He however sent a telegram & letter to Mr. Whyte. I
went around to Mons. J. B. Schoepen, Bookminister

rue Dr. Gage 16 Antwerp, and found there a letter for
me from Jennie. I had a very pleasant visit with Mrs.
Schoepen. Mons. Schoepen had gone to Brussels on
business & would not be back until 10 o'clock tonight.
However, upon invitation, I made an engagement to call
tomorrow morning at 8 o'clock. I then went out and
purchased some and 2 deck chairs came back to
the hotel and wrote a letter and retired.

Dec. 6 ~ Sunday

I had a good nights rest last night and arose early

this a.m. much refreshed and afer a hearty breakfast

I went around on rue Dr. Gage to see my old friends,
Mons. &Mrs. Schoepen. I found them very pleasant and
agreeable persons and I enjoyed my visit very much. I
then went around to the hotel and we made preparations

to go on board the steamer. Edward Bohlen filling up
the cab a second time and going to the docks we had a
time getting through the crowd to the ship if we

enquired no one could ans. so we did the best we could
and finally got on board. Then we saw ovr luggage brough!
on by the cra on - or derrick as we would call it, and
put down in the hold. After all was on we had to go
down & pick out our packages and had them put up on

deck, 80 that we might have them in our stateroom. I
never saw people take on so over anything as the Belgians
ago over anything pertaining to the Congo. The Band
always goes out to play the ship away - that is if it is
selling for Congo ~ and today although it was Sunday I
think there must have been 10000 people out to see the
ship off - citizens soldiers & all. You would never
know it was Sunday. But about 1/2 past 12 we started and
had a nice pleasant ride to the mouth of the river
