Dec. 30 - Wednesday

This asm. I got up at 6:50 o'slock and intended going on
shore to pest some letters but it rained fearfully nard
and I did not go. I sent them by one of the men who
attend the P.0. While we were still at Banana there
came a gentleman on board whom I heard speaking in our
own American style and I sought an introduction to him -
and to my very great delight, he was from New York - a
Dr. Lynch ~ missionary of the American Baptist society.
The Baptists have a sanitariwn not far up the river from
Banana on the Portugus side. Its name is Kenveka. It
was really'a treat to talk with an American - and T
introduced to hiw all our boys - us four missionaries
You know, and we had a very pleasant visit. About eleven
o'clock we started and passed one little place on the
Portugus side Lusenga. A very fine house, two story with
a nice veranda dl the way around each storye The house
was square and reminded me of a very large freme Hotel.
About four o'clock p.m. we struek a sand bar in the
middle of the river and here we are now. We are still
stuck at bed time. We have just hed prayers and now I
will retire. But our Belgians are drunk again and
trying to keep every one awake. Good night.

Dec. 31 - Thursday

Sometime during the night we worked off the bar and
anchored a short distance as we cannot travel in the
river at night. About 8 o'clock this aem. we started
and at 11 o'clock we got too Boma. Quite a pretty little
town, partly in the vally & partly on the hill = several
very nice houses. I see some church steeples, several
small stesmers are at the piers. I don't know how leng
we will be at this place. Going on the Congo is so
uncertain and everybody seems to take their time, and
never hurry. Now I will go ashore & looke Wescott &
myself went out for a little walk - went through @ nice
little garden where there were nice flowers, Bananas &ce
Tehn we went into a store and looked sround then came
back to the ship & I saw my trunk on a Negroe's head. He
head just brought it from the ship & then I had to go to
the chief mate and get him to have it bro't bk. You see
when it went out the customs officer checked it - & I
had to let him know about it when it was brot back on
board. After a little we went out again in another
