One of the many mysteries in Tarzan Of The Apes is the northern trek of the ape-man and Lieutenant Paul d'Arnot when they left the Greystoke cabin in search of civilization. Edgar Rice Burroughs reveals to us on multiple occasions that the Greystoke cabin is located at 10 degrees South Latitude. That is slightly north of São Paulo da Assunda which is modern-day Luanda, Angola.
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| Greystoke Cabin Location |
The question is... why would the two travel north over a long distance when they could have traveled a few miles south to find civilization supporting international shipping? ERB does not answer this so anything we have to say is mere speculation.
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| D'Arnot & Tarzan |
We would not expect the jungle man to know, for at this time in his life, he had never seen white people except in his books. The former Mangani king was still residing locally in Kerchak's tribal territory, unaware that white settlers were just a few miles south.
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| Tarzan & D'Arnot |
Lieutenant Paul d'Arnot being a French naval officer on the other hand had to know this. São Paulo da Assunção de Loanda (modern-day Luanda), was the most developed port in the region at that time.
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| 1893 São Paulo da Assunção de Loanda |
São Paulo da Assunção de Loanda (modern-day Luanda), was the administrative capital and the primary maritime gateway for the Portuguese West African colony. In the 1890s, it was the most consistent port for boarding a steamship bound for Europe.
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| 1893 São Paulo da Assunção de Loanda |
By 1893, São Paulo da Assunção de Loanda (modern day Luanda). had an established harbor and was a regular stop for the Companhia Nacional de Navegação (CNN), the Portuguese shipping line that connected Lisbon to its African colonies.
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| Companhia Nacional de Navegação |
A traveler is unlikely to find a direct ship to Marseille or Le Havre from São Paulo da Assunção de Loanda (modern-day Luanda). D'Arnot and Tarzan would have to board a Portuguese steamer to Lisbon, and from there, take a secondary ship or a train (like the Sud Express) into France. This could have been the reason D'Arnot chose the northern exit instead.
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| São Paulo da Assunção de Loanda (modern day Luanda). |
The next viable northern port would be Ambriz. This coastal town was a significant hub for the export of coffee and ivory. While ships did stop there, they were mostly smaller merchant vessels or tramp steamers. It was significantly less dependable for passengers seeking a comfortable trip to Europe compared to the capital. |
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| Africa |
One must keep in mind that the two European travelers were now in possession of the Porter treasure. You know security was heavy on D'Arnot's mind.
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| Tarzan |
While there are ports further north (like Cabinda or Boma in the Congo Free State), crossing the Congo River in 1893 was a logistical nightmare involving different colonial jurisdictions and unpredictable ferry crossings. Sticking to the Portuguese infrastructure in Luanda was the safest and fastest bet.
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| Rivers Of Africa |
In 1893, if D'Arnot and Tarzan were hiking north from São Paulo da Assunção de Loanda (modern day Luanda). and looking for the absolute closest seaport where you could find a ship available to take you to France, it was not actually in French territory
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| Africa Elevation |
The closest port north of São Paulo da Assunção de Loanda (modern-day Luanda), with consistent shipping connections to France, was Banana (located at the mouth of the Congo River in the Congo Free State). Located approximately 180 miles north of Luanda, Banana was the primary maritime pilot station for the Congo River.
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| Africa Rivers |
The French shipping giant of 1893, Chargeurs Réunis maintained a regular schedule along the West African coast. While their headquarters in the region were in French Congo (Loango), their steamships frequently stopped at Banana to pick up passengers and mail before heading north.
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| Banana |
From Banana, D'Arnot, and Tarzan would have boarded a steamer that would take them to Bordeaux or Le Havre, usually with stops in Libreville and Dakar.
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| Banana To Bordeaux |
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| Africa |
To get there, you would have to traverse the Portuguese Enclave of Cabinda and the Congo Free State (King Leopold II’s personal colony).
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| 1893 French Steamer |
The closest and most significant seaport in French territory in 1893, was Loango Located just north of the modern-day city of Pointe-Noire, Loango was the administrative heart of the French presence in the region. It served as the primary port for the Congo-Océan trade route.
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| Loango |
To reach Loango from Northern West Portuguese Angola, D'Arnot and Tarzan would have to cross the Congo River: They most likely would head to Boma or Banana (in the Congo Free State) to find a ferry or small vessel to take them across the massive mouth of the Congo River.
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| Tarzan & D'Arnot Cross The Congo River |
Once across, the two would trek north through the Cabinda Enclave (Portuguese). After crossing the Chiloango River, the European travelers would enter French Congo and arrive at the Loango port.
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| Tarzan & D'Arnot |
Once at Loango, D'Arnot and Tarzan would be looking for the Chargeurs Réunis, a major French shipping company. The two would board a "mixed" steamer (carrying both cargo and passengers). These ships typically sailed north along the coast, stopping at Libreville (Gabon) and Dakar (Senegal) before crossing the Bay of Biscay to arrive at Le Havre or Bordeaux, France.
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| Tarzan & D'Arnot |
In 1893, the voyage from Loango to France would typically take 25 to 35 days, depending on the weather and the number of coastal stops for rubber or ivory cargo.
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| Loango |
Boarding a Chargeurs Réunis steamer like the Ville de Maceio in 1893 was like entering a floating piece of Parisian society, albeit one smelling faintly of salt spray and industrial coal smoke.
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| Ville de Maceio |
Here is a speculative description of what D'Arnot and Tarzan's 30-day journey from the West African coast to France would have been like.
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| Tarzan Goes To France |
After receiving sufficient funds D'Arnot would have traveled first class. He was rich and he always had the best. D'Arnot and Tarzan would each have a small wood-paneled cabin with a washbasin and a narrow berth. In 1893, electric lighting was still a luxury; they likely relied on oil lamps secured in gimbals to keep them level as the ship rolled.
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| D'Arnot & Tarzan |
The Saloon was the heart of the ship—a grand dining hall with velvet upholstery and long tables bolted to the floor. This is where the two would take their meals and socialize with colonial officers and merchants.
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| Ship Saloon |
The sea voyage was a test of patience, broken up by the ship’s bells and a very strict social schedule:
- Morning: Coffee and rolls served on deck as you watched the coastline of Gabon or Sierra Leone slide by.
- Afternoon: This was spent reading, writing in journals, or playing deck games like shuffleboard. The heat was stifling until you cleared the Gulf of Guinea; passengers spent most of their time under canvas awnings.
- Evening: Dinner was a formal affair. Even in the tropics, gentlemen were expected to wear jackets. You would be served French cuisine—soups, roasted meats, and wine—though the quality of the "fresh" produce diminished the further you got from the last port.
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| Tarzan & D'Arnot |
The ship wouldn't sail straight to France. It acted as a "coastal bus," stopping at:
- Libreville (Gabon): To load rubber and timber.
- Dakar (Senegal): The final African stop. Here, the ship would take on massive amounts of coal, covering everything in a fine black dust for a day.
- The Canary Islands: A chance to stretch your legs and buy fresh fruit and Spanish lace.
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| Tarzan & D'Arnot |
As the ship neared France, the weather would turn cold and the sea notoriously rough. This was the "final test" where most passengers succumbed to severe seasickness.
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| Rough Seas |
If there were an outbreak of yellow fever or cholera at any of your stops, the ship would be forced into Quarantine upon arrival. Passengers would have to stay on the ship (or at a "Lazaretto" on shore) for several days before being allowed to set foot on French soil.
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| Staying Healthy |
The moment of arrival was spectacular. After a month of seeing nothing but jungle and ocean, the sight of the stone quays of Bordeaux and the bustling European crowds was overwhelming. The two would pass through customs, show their papers, and finally be free to take a train to Paris.
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| Tarzan & D'Arnot Arrive In France |
About The Author
James Michael Moody is a lifelong fan and collector of Edgar Rice Burroughs. Moody has contributed over two hundred articles to various ERB-related fanzines over forty-five years. He also manages an unauthorized Tarzan blog titled, Greystoke Chronologist: James Michael Moody. There the researcher chronologizes the Tarzan books starting in May 1872 (known as the pushback theory) instead of the more accepted date, May 1888.
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| James Michael Moody |
James Michael Moody is also the author of the sci-fi/fantasy action/adventure Unium series. Pioneers On Unium, December 31, 2019, Exiled On Unium, published August 25, 2022, and Swordsman On Unium, published July 15, 2024.
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| James Michael Moody |
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