flying flags &c in honor of the inauguration of the Gongo
Railway ~ Chemin de fer dv Congo - The excursionists are
on the way from Matadi 3 o'clock p.m. 18t train arrived
with 24 passengers and every 20 min. afterwards until 5
trains had arrived, then came the work of the reception
committees - after all had come and shown their roome &c -
, At 7 o'clock p.m. all sat down to a fine dinner ~ a great
' banquet - we had an excellent dinner ~ mineral water -
wines of various kinds ~ champagne &c ~ I only partook of
the mineral water meats of various kinds salads potatoes
bread &c ~ Fruits & nuts cafee Mr. Strandman slept in our
hourse. France, Spain, Belgium, Itely, Portugal, Russia,
were represented, & England, officially, America had 2
missionaries Mr. Cramer & myself. No one drunk - all went

off nicely - big speeches, in french we will go to Stanley
Fool tomorrow.

Tuesday July 5 - 1898

I left on the 18t train at 5#30 o'clock this a.m. arrived
at Pool at 4 p.m. went over to Mr. Gordons BM.S. & put
upe A Big dinner was served for the guests at the Pool.
Manu about the same, but not a banquet. Good night 12
o'clock & sleepy.

Wednesday July 6 ~ 1898
At the Pooll Yes. Last week Sophie made a nice white
flannel suit of clothes for me, and today I wore them.
Every body complimented me on my nice appearance, and
wanted to know where I got my new clothes. If I had them
from Europe &¢ when I told them that my wife made them
they were surprised and said they were very fine. We had
an excursion across the lake or rather the Pool & lunched
with the Gov. General of French Gongo. At night we had
another big banquet at the State Place - when more speectes
were made & the completion of the Inauguration took place.
retired at 12:30 o'clock midnight.

Thursday June 7 ~ 1698

Up at 4 o'clock in the morning - got on the first train
for Tumba but it was so crowded, that with some others I
waited for the next. Mrs. Underwood was ill - Mrs.
Crowley did not go - we had plenty to eat on the way down
on the train and a commissaire to see that we lacked for
nothing Arrived home at 4 p.m., and had the final supper
there - Mr. Straudman again put up his bed in our house -
retired late, wrote some letters for home.
