River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-10-22

more beads, to make brotherhood With
him. TO this, after some slight show Of
reluctance to give too much, assented,
and he departed apparently pleased.
Half an hour afterward the war cry OF
the Waturu was heard resounding
through each of the 200 villages Of the
valley Of the Leewumbu. The war cry
was similar to that Of the Wagoco, and
phonctically it might be spelt "Hehu,
| Hehu," and the latter synables drawn
ut in prolonged cry. thrilling and loud.
As we had heard the Wagogo sound the
war notes upon every slight apparltlon
, of strangers we imagined that the Tarri.
ors Of Ituru were summoned TO contend
against some marauders like the Warllke
Mirambo or some other malcontent neigh
bors, and, nothing disturbed by 1t. we
pursued our various ayocations, like
peaceful beings, fresh from our new
brotherhood with the elders of lturu.
Some of our men were gone out 70 the
neighboring pool to draw water for their
respective messes, others were gone TO cut
wood, others were about starting TO pur-
chase food, when suddenly We saw the
outskirts Of the camp darkcned by about
100 natives in full war costume. Feath-
erS OF the bustard, the eagle and the kite
waved above their heads, or the name of
the zebra and the giraffe encircled their
brows; their left hands held their bows
and arrows, while their right bore their
spears
When the Waturu were so numerous
in our vicinity that it was no longer
! doubtful that they were summoned to
fight us, despatched young man who
knew their language to ascertain their
intention. As he advanced towards them
six or seven warriors drew near to talk
with him. When he returned he informed
US that one of our men had stolen some
milk and butter from small village and
that we must pay for it i'll cloth. The
messenger was sent back to tell them
that white men did not come to their
country to rob OF quarrel; that they had
but to name the price of what was stolen
to be paid at once, and that not one grain
Of corn or millseed should be appropri-
ated by us wrongfully. Upon this the
principal warriors drew nearer, until we
could hear their voices plainly, though
we did not understand the nature of the
conversation. The messenger informed
us that the elders demanded four yards
Of sheeting, which was about six times
the value of the stolen articles; but at
such time it was useless to haggle over
such demand, and that both was paid.
When it was given to them the eldest said
they we're satisfied, and withdrew.
HosrIIITIEs BEGUN.
But it was evident that though the
elders were satisfied the warriors were
not, as they could be seen marrying by
scores from all parts of the valley and
gesticulating violently in crowds. Still
we waited patiently, hoping that if the
elders and principal warriors were really
amicably disposed toward us, their voices
would prevail, and that they would be-
able to assuage the wild passions which
now seemed to animate the others. As
we watched them we noted that about
200 detached themselves from the gestic
ulating crowds east of the camp and were
hurrying to the thick bushes west of us
Soon afterward one of my men returned
from that direction bleeding profusely
from the face and arm, and reported that
he and youth named Sulieman were out
collecting firewood when they were at
tackled by large crowd of savages, who
were hidden in the bushes. A knobstick
had crushed his nose and spear had Sc
verc!y wounded him in the arm, but he
had managed to escape, while Sulieman
was killed, dozen spears having been
plunged into his back.
This report and the appearance of the
bleeding youth so excited the soldiers OF
the expedition that they were only with
the utmost difficulty restrained from be
ginning a battle at once. Even yet
hoped that war might be prevented by a
little diplomacy, while did not forget to
open the ammunition boxes and prepare
for the worst. But much was to be done
The enclosure of the camp required tc
be built up, and something of fortifica
tion was needed to repel the attack o.
such a large force. While we were thu,
preparing without ostentation to defend
ourselves from what ! conceived to be ar
imminent attack, the Waturu, now a de
clared enemy, advanced upon the camp
and a shower Of arrows fell all around us
Sixty soldiers, held in readiness, were at
once ordered to deploy in front Of the
camp, nifty yards Oh, and the Nauguana,
4 or freemen OF Zanzibar, obedient to the
command, rushed out Of the camp, and
the battle commenced.
FoRrIFYlNG THE CAMP
Immediately after these sixty men,
with axes, were ordered to cut bushes
and raise high fence of thorn around
the camp. while twenty more were or
dered to raise lofty platforms like towers
within, for sharpshooters. We busted
ourselves in bringing the sections of the
Lady Alice to make a central camp for a
las. resistance, ond otherwise strengthen
ing the defenses. Every one worked
with a will, and while the firing of the
skirmishers, growing more distant an
nOunced that the enemy was withdrawing
from the attack, we were left to work un.
molested. When the camp was prepared.
| ordered the tugler to sound the retreat,
in order that the savages might have
time to consider whether it was polite
Tor them to renew the fight.
When the skirmishers returned they
announced that fifteen OF the enemy were
killed while great many more were
. I IL. 4 IA 1