min. at Palabala station. Nothing but one or two small
houses for the R.R. men. A short distance farther we
stopped again to replenish the water in the boiler. No
more stops until 9:15 when we stopped at N.Kenge a few
box houses are here eovered with grass. The Dutch have
a trading house here. This was the first real station
on the R.R. From Matadi to NKenge is one hill piled on
tep of another hills between hills hills all around hills
Hills every where. If you can figure out this description
you ean know what kind of a country it is. Since leaving
NKenge the land which the R.R. runs through is compara—
tively smooth, seeming to be a kind of plateau. At 10315
we stop to fill up the boiler again. The men on board
are all Belgians 12 others and myself. Making that unfor-
tunate No. 13. Glad to say I am mistaken our No. is 11
instead of 13 - they all drink but are comparatively
quiet. One man is on here who eame out on the 8.9.
Edward Bohlen with me. He is P.M. at Tumba. At 11 o'eloe
we come to a little place called Morolithe - here I saw
a native with a little animal about as large as a wharf.
rat and looking mueh the same gray, but had heir on its
tail it would follow him like a dog it is ealled a
mangos. We stopped at Lufu and from there for about an
hour we hed quite a level stretch of country. When we
stopped at Sungalula where are quite a nueber of people,
mostly R.R. hands. There are three large sheds for
sheltering Engines &¢ and for repairing then. A small
depot and several stores. It looks really like a little
country village , a very poor one though. Next we come
to Quilu only one house, depot, and a few tents, some
bridge irons just a little beyond - a new bridge is
being put in. Here I see Esapanet get on the train. We
have now gone around the most crooked piece of R.R..I
ever saw, and a little stream over which a bridge is
under construction. Espanet had the train stopped & he
got off and gave some instruetions while the train waited.
Now we are going again & the smoke is coming in volumes
into the car. About 7 pem., a bright moonlight night I
arrive in Tumba and Bro. Phips with some boys met me at
the train. We go up to the station where I see beautiful
bear grounds ~ not a speek of anything green on thea - a
frame of a house with a few pieces of zince on top and a
few boards on part of two sides, about 4 of it floored.

I am teken into a little zinc house about 16 X 10 and I
