CONGO, a kingdom of Africa, bounded on the north by the river Zair, or Congo, which divides it from Lo ango ; on the south by the river Danda, which separates it from Angola ; on the cast by the kingdoms of Fungono and Melamba, and the burnt mountains of the sun,(those of crystal, or saltpetre, and silver,) and by the rivers Verbela and Chilandca ; and on the west by that part of the Atlantic Ocean called the Ethiopic Sea, or the Sea of Congo. According to this definition of its limits, Congo Proper extends about three degrees from north to south, lying on the coast between 8° and 9° south lat. but widening in its breadth inland with the course of the river Zair, which runs winding above 2° more to the north. Both however in this direction, and still more in that of its length from east to west, its dimensions are very uncertain, no exact observations having been taken of the precise position of those natural boundaries within which it. is contained. According to the relation of John Anthony Cavarri de Monte Cuculo, a capuchin mis sionary, the dominions of the kings of Congo were much extended towards the cast and south, before the intro duction of the Christian religion ; whereas, since that event, many of the remote provinces, in these directions, having been dismembered from it, it was reduced, in consequence, from above 600 leagues in circuit, to less than one half of that extent. Dr Brookes and Mr Walker state it to be 150 miles long, and 372 broad.
Congo is divided into six large provinces, of which the county of Sogni, and the great duchy of Bamba, stretch along the sea coast ; the duchy of Lundi, and the marquisate of Pango, arc situated towards the north ; the marquisate of Pemba is within land, and to the west is the duchy of Batta. These provinces are subdivided into lesser scignories, or lordships. Besides those prin cipal divisions, there are comprehended under the same general denomination several other lesser provinces, most of which are covered with forests or mountains, and inhabited by races of men in a state the most uncul tivated and savage.
The principal rivers of this country are the Zair, already mentioned, with the Dando. In the interme diate parts between these are the Lehundo. Deice, Am brez, Loze, Onzo, and Lutana, with several others of less note. There is, besides, a considerable number of tributary streams of some moment, flowing chiefly into the Zair, such as the Bancaro, the Vambra, the Congo, and the Barbela.
Congo Proper, being situated within the torrid zone. is liable to excessive heats. These, however, are con siderably mitigated by winds and breezes, rains and con stant dews, the effect of which is at the same time far ther favoured by the greater equality in those latitudes in the length of the days and nights. The summer and the winter, which compose the year of the Congocse, are divided by them into six seasons, which they distinguish by the names Massanza, -Yeast', Ecundi, Quitombo, Quibiso, and Quimbangala. The first four of these com
prehend what may be called their summer. At the commencement of this period, which corresponds to our month of October, the rains begin to fall in those coun tries, and they continue during the two, and sometimes the three next months. The floods which are this occasioned, are commonly succeeded by a famine, the low lands being overflown by them, and the corn carried off; while, notwithstanding the frequency of such mis fortunes, by which it might have been expected that ex perience would have been gained, and better habits in duced, the inveterate sloth of the inhabitants continues such, that due care is seldom taken to make any proper provision against such disasters. Neasu begins about the end of January, when the produce of the lands has arrived at its full height, and wants but a few days of being ripened for harvest. The first crop is no sooner gathered in, than the fields are sown anew, two harvests being commonly obtained here in the course of the year. The third and fourth seasons arc frequently (if such an expression may be used) blended together towards the middle of March, when the more gentle rains begin to fall, and continue to do so till the month of May. The principal distinction between these two seasons, or the parts of them, consists in the greater or lesser quantity of rain that falls during their progress. During the rest of the time in which the rains do not prevail, the air is clear and dry, while the clouds, being overcharged with electric matter, burst out occasionally into the most terrible thunders and lightnings, without yielding, though they seem loaded with it, the least drop of rain. These seasons taken together, last till about the beginning, or sometimes till the end of September. The two last sea sons, Quibiso and Quimbangala, constitute the short win ter of this country, of which the distinguishing features are not frost or snow, which are unknown in these regions, but dry blasting winds that strip the earth of its verdure, and induce a general face of deadness and desolation, till with the return, in the appointed time, of the next massanza, or spring, the vernal bloom is restored. The weather is, during this period, consider ed by the natives as cold, though to those .accustomed to the regions of the northern European climates, it would on the contrary appear rather hot. By another division of time recognised among the Congoese, the year is made to consist of 12 lunar months, beginning, like the year of the Jews, with the month of September. They have also weeks, hut consisting of four days only, three of which are appointed for labour, and the fourth for rest or religious exercises.