On August 23rd we visit Bikoro a large State plantation of coffee, cocoa and rubber, situated on the bank of the Lake about eight or nine miles from Ikoko.  It is conducted by Mr. Monaie, a Swiss gentleman, who has had much experience in horticulture.  Here nature has been closely imitated but improved upon.  First the undergrowth was cleared from the forest and then the native rubber vines were planted and have commenced to climb the trees.  These are not tapped until they are ten years old, for although it is possible to obtain the rubber milk before, the vines are killed or seriously injured if they are cut when too young.  Some rubber shrubs from Brazil have also been planted, but do not flourish as well as the native kind.  Altogether more than a 1000 hectares have been planted and the various plantations are connected by well kept paths.  More than three hundred natives are employed and the work in the shade of the forest must be very pleasant.  They are housed in a series of huts in a clearing, which are kept scrupulously clean.  There are fifteen or twenty soldiers here who act as policemen—­for only the big towns have a separate Police force—­and guard the rubber and ivory stores.  Gum copal is also found in the district in large quantities and in various qualities and colours.  The brick houses for the two officials face the lake and gardens have been laid out which are very neat and tidy, the whole place, although much smaller, rivalling even Irebu in beauty.

Next day I return to Irebu in the Florida a small stern wheel steamer, and find a welcome mail from home and also a permit to shoot game from Boma.  This latter is an imposing document of nine articles and gives permission to shoot adult male animals but not female if accompanied by their young, or, if possible to distinguish them, even if alone.  The animals named are, hippopotames, baffles, antilopes, gazelles, ibex, chevrotains, les divers sangliers, petits singes, outardes, francolains, perdreaux, pintades and other game birds.  Permission is also given to kill in a scientific manner. one elephant in the close season.  It will thus be seen that the State is determined to protect the wild animals of the forest from indiscriminate slaughter and stringent laws regulating hunting are decreed from time to time.

[Illustration:  THE UBANGI RIVER.]

CHAPTER V.

The Ubangi River.—­Irebu to Banzyville.

We leave Irebu on August 29th in the Florida and steam up the river Ubangi.  The colour of the water at once changes for whereas the Congo carries much sand and is brown, the Ubangi carries much clay and is a dirty yellow.  The banks are densely wooded and in the stream are many islands also covered with forest.  Lying on patches of sand or on the fallen trunks of trees are many crocodiles asleep.  There is not much sport in shooting them but one which was leisurely swimming up stream about fifty yards from the ship, made a sporting shot and was killed with a bullet in the heart.  As the cabin is small and hot, we arrange to sleep on the bridge of the steamer which is almost embedded in trees when we tie up to the bank for the night.  A tornado bursts about midnight, but the dense foliage acts as a protection and very little water finds its way into our improvised bedroom.