O'GOBAI, or Onowil. a large river of western Africa, in the district between the Gaboon and Congo, which falls into the sea by many mouths, between s. lat. 0° 40' and 1° 20'. Its delta Is not less than 1300 sq.m. in extent, and consists of a most compli cated network of channels and creeks, with two ,main branches, the most northerly of which reaches the sea at Nazareth bay; the other principal month, the Bango or Fernand Vaz, about 50 in. further s., has its outlet at the legoon of Came or Neorni. The researches of Du Chaillu, its first explorer, in 1856 and 1865; of Walker in 1866 and 1873; of CompThgne, Marche, and Dr. Lenz in 1874, and in 1875-78 of M. Savorgnan de Brazza and Dr. Bailey, have all helped to increase our knowledge of this region. About 60 m. inland, above the head of the delta, the Ogobai flows for a distance of about 50 In. from the eastward, its average width being about 2,500 yards. It then 'bends n. for 15 m., and here occurs the junction of the Okanda river, from the n.e., with the Ngtmie from the south. The bed of the main stream, the Okanda, is from 800 to 1000 yds. wide above the confluence, with a series of rapids on its upper waters, at a distance of 180 m. from the sea. In addition to a French commercial establishment on the lower river, there is a British and Hamburg station at Adelina Longa, below the Ngunie. This latter district is distinguished by numerous lakes, one of which, 15 in. long by 7 broad, is connected with the Ogobai by three rivers. Lake Azingo, to the n., is-connected with the Ogobai by the river Koli. In 1875 M. de Brazza was at Lope, and explored the Fan country; lie then advanced to Doumd, 50 m. s. of the equator, where the course of the river is from the s.e. to the n.w. ' Interrupted by films,
he resumed his explorations in April, 1877, advancing to the Poubarn falls, in i° 45' s., where the Ogobai becomes an insignificant stream. eastward into unknown country. lie crossed the water-parting, and discovered the Alima, a hitherto unknown river, Wilk!' he found to be 150 yards wide, flowing eastward. and in all probability a tribu tary of the Congo. The region between the Ogohai and Alima is 50 m. across, and con sists of hills of moderate height, with easy passes. The dense forests of the Ogobai are the main haunts of the gorilla (q.v.), and of several other anthropoid aces, amongst which are the nest-building apes (q.v.). S. of the Ogobai dwell the Ashira and Apingi tribes, the latter being skillful weavers, though cannibals; between the Ogobai and the Gaboon are the Fans, first fully described by Du Chian, who are also cannibals, and have been moving westwards for some years, so that the whole Gaboon region is men. pied by them. The Fans excel in smith-work, but they have deteriorated since their contact with the whites. itext in importance to the Fans are the Bakalai, inhabiting the country around the confluence of the Ogobai and the Ngunie. Amongst the other tribes on the upper Waters are the '0k0Crt, 04Yeba (cannibals), and the Okanda. The rise of the Ogo! ai corresponds with the heaviest rainfall, which takes place in March and April, and again in October and November. Inland, rain is more frequent than at the cons..
Opabai seems to gather most of its volume from lands comparatively near the coast, and not to depend greatly on more remote tributaries.