The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-08-24
Stanley's Fight with the Natives On
tho Victoria Nyanza.


tho Victoria Eyauza.
The first Of Stanleys recent letters wa
written on the 10Th Of July, 1875, an,
after more than u wear, is published il
the New York Herald 1t contains tht
following graphic description of a 6gh
with the natives Of Bumbirch Island. On
his way from M'tesa's capital to the south
ern end OF the lake, the explorer ran shor
OF provisions, and approached the island
which was large and thickly populated
to get supplies. lie says
We halted at the distance of twenty
yards from shore. and | observed that the
wild behavior Of the natives changed, as
they approached, to at1ability and friend
illness. We exchanged the usual friendly
greetings, and We're invited to come
ashore in such tones as dssipated the
least suspicion from our minds. Nc
sooner, however, had the keel of the boa
grounded than the apparently friendly
natives rushed in q body and seized the
boat and dragged her high and dry on
land with all ON board. The reader may
imagine the number of natives required
TO perform this feat when | state that the
boat, baggage, and crew weighed nearly
1000 poundS twice raised my levoi,
vers to kill aud be killed, but the crew re
strained me, saying it was premature to
fight, rs these people Were friends, and
all would be right. Accordingly | sat
down in the stern sheets and waited pa
tlently for the decisive moment. The
savages fast increased in numbers, and
the hnbbub grew greater. Violent Ian
guage and more violent action we rtceiy-
ed without comment OF word on onr part
Spears were held in their LANDS as ii on
the launch. arrows We're drawn 10 the
head and pointed at each of us with iren-
zied looks and eyes almost bursting out
of their sockets.
The apparently friendly savages seemed
to be now personitiedfur Throughout
all the scenes of civilized and savage life
which have witnessed, never saw mad
rage or wild fury painted 50 truly before
on human features. 1t led them to the
verge OF absurdity even. They struck
the ground and the boat. stamped foam
ed at the mouth, gnashed their teeth,
slashel the air with their spears, but they
| shed no blood. The chief Shekka pre-
vented this. reserving that pleasure, |
presume, ior more oprortune time,
when a new excitement would be requr-
ed. Our interpreters, in the meantime,
were by no means idle; they employed
to the utmost whatever gifts of persua-
sion nature had endowed them with, and
fear created in them, without, however,
exhibiting any seryilty OF meanness.
| Indeed, | was struck with admiration by
the manly way in which they stated our
objects and purposes i'll travelling on to
NyanZa and by the composure OF their
bearing. The sayages themselves OBJ
served this, and commented on it with
surprise. This calm behavior OF the
crew and interpreters acted rs 4 sedatiye
on the turbulence and ranting violence OF
the s;tvagcs, though it broke out now and
then sputtering titluly with the widest
of gestures and most murderous demon
strations
For three hours sat in the stern sheets
of the Boat observing all these prelimina-
ries Of Il tragedy which ! felt sure was
about To be enacted silent, except now
and then communicating Il suggestion to
the interpreters, and seemingly an uncon-
cerned spectator But was not idle, |
wished to impose on the savages by my
behavior was busiy planning y resist
ance and an escape As we We're in their
power it only remained for Us to be quiet
| until they proceeded TO acis OF Violence
and in the mean time endeavor to pur-
chase peace, OF at least postpone the
strife Conlormably with these IDEAS
the interpreters Were instructed to Offer
cloths and beads 10 the chief Shekka. who
| appeared to have despotic authority over
al, Judging from the reyerentnl and
ready obedience paid to his commands.
ohpklla demanded four cloths and ten
necklaces Of large beads ;ts his price for
permitting us to depart in peace. They
were paid to him. Having secured them,
he ordered his people to seize oar oars.
which was done before we understood
what they were about This was tile see
0ni time that Shekkn had acted cunnjng-
laugh from his people showed him how
much they appreciated his wit. After
seiziug The oars, Shekka and his people
slowly went to their village to eat their
noon meal. and to discuss what other
measures should be adopted toward the
strangers \ woman came near us, and
told us to eat honey with Shekk;a, rs it
was the only way to save our lives, for
Shekka and his people had determined to
Kill us and take everything we had. The
cOXSWain of the boat was sent to pro1lcr
terms of brotherhood to Shekka. The
coysWain WAS told to be at ease no harm
was intended US. and ShcEik;t promised
that ON the next day he and his people
would eat honey and make l1sing and
sure brotherhood with lis.
The coNswain returned to us with tri-
umphant cries, and he speedily communi-
Gated his own assurance to the crew But
| checked this over-conlidence and trust
iulness in such cunning and treacherous
people, and told them to trust in nothing
save our own wit. and by means to leave
the neighborhood Of the boat for their
next act would be to seize the guns in the
same manner as they seized the oars
Immediately the crew saw the truth of
this suggestion, and | had no reason to
complain that they paid no heed to my
words, AT p. IN. the natives began to
assemble on the ridge Of a low hill about
100 yards from the boat. and presently
drums were heard beating the call to
war, until within half an hour about 800
warriors had gathered around Shekka,
who was sitting down addressing his peo-
pie. When he had DONE about 80 rushed
down and took our drum and kindly told
us to get our guns ready for fight, rs they
were coming presently to cut our throats
AS soon as saw the savageS had arrived
in the presence of Shekka with our drum.
| shouted to my men to push the boat into
the water. With one desperate effort my
crew of l | men seized the boat rs if she
had been a mere toy and shot her far into
the water. The impetus they had given
| her caused her to drag them all into deep
water. In the meantime the savages, ut
tering furious howl of disappointment
and batled rage, came rushing like Il
whirlwind toward the waters edge
discharged my elephant rifle, with its
two large conical balls into their midst; 4;
and then, assisting one Of the crew into
the boat, told him to help his fellows in
While | continued to fight. My double
barreled shot gun, loaded with buckshot
was next discharged with terrible effect;
for, without drawing q single bow or
launching single spear, they retreated