Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 3.djvu/563

 same name, has been abandoned; but Equatorville, farther south, is still maintained. It takes its name from its position close to the equator on an elevated plateau at the confluence of the Congo and the Juapa, or Black River. Here a Protestant mission has already been established. "The banks of the Tkelemba, which joins the Congo over a mile above the Juapa, is densely peopled, Leki dotted over with numerous villages, usually defended" by high palisades and deep ditches. Probably no African people disfigure themselves more by tattoo markings than do the tribes in this riverain district, By means of incisions, ligatures, and other devices, they contrive to cover the features with excrescences

in the shape of peas and wens, differing with most individuals, but imparting to all a loathsome appearance. Grenfell mentions a young girl who had a wen on both sides of the nose as large as a pigeon's egg, which prevented her from looking straightforward. In order to recognise anybody, she had to lower her head to allow the glance to avoid the obstruction caused by these "beauty spots."

The Welle Basin, Monbutu and Niam-Niam Territories.

This section of the Congo basin, whose hydrographic connection with the main stream has been clearly established by the explorations of Junker, is one of