livers of geese and he prefers his meat decomposing as some like their game.  He takes no more thought for the morrow than many civilised people who live from hand to mouth without considering the future and finally he sees the world from his point of view and has little desire to discuss that of others.  Mr. Van Luttens the Chef du Poste kindly meets us and places a house at our disposal.  We then read our mail, the first news from home since July, and glance through the newspapers.  The country around Yakoma is flat and as there is no sign of forest, the plantation consists of rubber bushes only.  Much rice is also grown here and at one time a large amount of coffee was raised from plants brought from Liberia but these have since died.  The native coffee, however, does well and is certainly as good as any in the world, so it seems to be wiser to cultivate this and to leave foreign varieties alone.

This is one of the very few places in the Congo where the cows give more milk than is required by their calves, and where butter can be made.  The farm is well stocked with horses and cattle for breeding purposes which function they fulfil very well, the foals and calves looking strong and healthy.  All the Chiefs in the neighbourhood come and call upon us.  They are all very rich, powerful and loyal in this district and delight in wearing European clothes or uniforms.  One of them was dressed in an old naval uniform with an antique sword and another as a captain in the State service although he had no right to wear the uniform of the Force Publique at all.  Just opposite Yakoma on the opposite bank of the Uele is a village for retired soldiers where they have their own gardens and plantations and live a life of ease but are not pensioned.  The term of service is for three or seven years with option of signing for another three years after the long period with increased pay and another three years if desired after that.  It is not at all uncommon to find sergeants who have served ten or twelve years and they are always very responsible men.

As usual the people offer us many native articles in return for cloth and we add to our already large collection.

As there is no big game near at hand I decide to make a collection of small birds, of which there are very many here, with most beautiful plumage.  Unfortunately I have no smaller shot than 5-1/2 and it is difficult to avoid damaging the smaller varieties.  However, by firing with the full choke barrel at about fifty yards two or three pellets almost always hit even the smallest birds.  A very good method of preserving them is to inject formol into the bodies which at once stiffen out and become rigid in any position they are placed.  Birds can thus be set with the wings extended in a flying position or as if roosting, the effect being much prettier than any which can be obtained by stuffing.  If is however, necessary to arrange them and inject very soon after they are dead for