Mr. J. S. Jameson has kindly volunteered to proceed to shoot hippopotami to obtain meat. We are giving 1 lb. of rice to each man--just half rations. For the officers and our Arab guests I have a flock of goats, about thirty in number. The food presents from the various chiefs around have amounted to 500 men's rations and have been very acceptable. Capt. Nelson is busy with the axemen preparing fuel for the steamers. The _Stanley_ must depart to-morrow with Major Barttelot and Surgeon Parke's companies, and debark them at a place above the Wampoko, when they will then march to Mswata. I must avail myself of every means of leaving Stanley Pool before we shall be so pinched by hunger that the men will become uncontrollable. _April 25th._--The steamer _Stanley_, steamed up river with 153 men under Major Barttelot and Surgeon Parke. I paid a visit to Kinshassa to see my ancient secretary, Mr. Swinburne, who is now manager of an Ivory Trading Company, called the "Sanford Exploring Company." The hull of his steamer, _Florida_, being completed, he suggested that if we assisted him to launch her he would be pleased to lend her to the Expedition, since she was of no use to anybody until her machinery and shaft came up with Baron von Rothkirch, who probably would not arrive before the end of July. I was only too glad, and a number of men were at once ordered up to begin the operations of extending the slip to the river's edge. Our engineer, Mr. John Walker, was detailed for service on the _Henry Reed_, to clean her up and prepare her for the Upper Congo. One Soudanese and one Zanzibari died to-day. _April 27th._--Thirteen Zanzibaris and one Soudanese, of those left behind from illness, at stations on the way have arrived. They report having sold their rifles and sapper's tools! _April 28th._--Struck camp and marched Expedition overland to Kinshassa that I might personally superintend launching of hull of steamer, _Florida_, which we hope to do the day after to-morrow, when the ship is finished. We are being hospitably entertained meanwhile by Mr. Antoine Greshoff, of the Dutch Company, and Mr. Swinburne of the Sanford Company. [Illustration: LAUNCHING THE STEAMER "FLORIDA."] _April 29th._--In camp at Kinshassa under the baobabs. The steamers _Stanley_ and _Henry Reed_, towing-barge _En Avant_ arrived. _April 30th._--The hull of the _Florida_ was launched this morning. Two hundred men pulled her steadily over the extended slip into the river. She was then taken to the landing-place of the Dutch Company and fastened to the steamer _Stanley_. Each officer was furnished with the plan of embarkation, and directed to begin work of loading the steamers according to programme. The following orders were also issued:-- The Officers commanding companies in this Expedition are--