The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-09-27
STANLEYS TRIUMPH.

Henry NJ Stanley has finished his African
explorations, not, as most of his predecessors
by dying but by reaching the west coast after
having started on the east. Others have
crossed the continent before him. Twenty
years ago Livingstone passed from Angola to
Mozambique, and only a few months ago
Lieut. Cameron after beginning his journey
ing, as did Stanley, in the dominions of the
Sultan of Zanzibar, ended them by striking
the Atlantic at San Felipe de Benguea in the
Portuguese possessions. Much of his path
way correspondent with that of our American
explorer, but, after surveying Lake Tangan-
yiks and other comparatively well known
localities, he turned far to the southwark to
avoid conflict with the natives, q conflict
which Stanley, with his large retinue of armed
men, was better able to sustain.
The readers of Livingstone's last journals
will remember his visit to the Msnyema coun-
try to the northeast of Lake Tanganyika, his
encounters with the ferocious eannibals inhab-
Iting its dense forests, and his forced retreat
through sickness and want of supplies. A
glance at the map of Africa will show that
the section still marked as "unexplored re-
gions" lies in this vicinity. Here flow the
waters Of the Luslsba, supposed by Living
:.
but believed, and rendered probable by Cam
sron, to be the upper part Of the Congo. 1t
was to this unknown land that Stanley
marched, after q careful examination of the
Nysnzs and Tangsnyika lakes, where he
learned much in addition to what earlier Wis
itOrs had seen. So long had he been unheard
of that his death was apprehended. There
were grave reasons for suspecting the worst
as the resume of his experiences telegraphed
from London to the New York Herald very
plainly shows. His first start was checked
by the impenetrable forests which border the
LualAba. The natives, too, we're cannibals
and fierce as American Indians. Many Of
his bearers were killed by the shots of their
poisoned arrows, while it was impossible
through the thickness of the jungle to return
with much effect their deadly fire. If the
adventures encanped, they only offered q
better mark to the tireless and pitiless foe
All attempts at establishing friendly relations
were vain. One hundred and forty of Stan
ley's recently engaged men deserted in
body, flying terror stricken in the direction in
which they had come, while the remainder
either worked fearfully hard in cutting a
path, or skirmished for the protection of the
AZ wielders. After some sharp fighting the
explorers launched on the river, Stanley and
sOhAo VI Ms pdlbg III ms pOlbADlO OOdt, IhO
Lady Alice; the remainder in canoes. After
doing this they were compelled to clear
portage of eighteen miles to get around SEINE
Cstarscts, their movements being all the while
impeded by keeping the foe at bay. Below
the falls they found the river full of islands,
and varying in width from two to ten miles.
They dared not land, and their provisions
we're so short that they were three days with
out food. At last they reached a friendly
tribe, who supplied their wants. A few of
their entertainers had muskets which showed
that they were drawing near the confines of
partial civilization. Yet before reaching
them they we're forced to encounter, on the
left or south bank of the Congo, a tribe well
armed with guns. By these they were driven
TO their boats again. They were not yet safe,
however, for they we're pursued by fifty -four
canoes. All attempts at pscifcatiOn failed,
and the thirty-second battle since the party
left the neighborhood of Tanganyika was
fought. The rest of the voyage WAS inter
rupted more by the catarscts which must ever
check the navigation of the Congo than by
armed opponents. OF these dangerous rapids
there are about thirty. The boats were fire.
quently overturned, and the Lady Alice was
anally wrecked. Francis Pocock, Stanley's
last remaining white attendant, was drowned
Al Ouo Oi LuosS OlodsbtIs, anu Oh duOlubE OCCd-
sion the leader narrowly escaped. Edward
Pocock had died much earlier in the journey,
while Kslulu, the bright little African boy,
brought to Europe by Stanley on his return
from finding Livingstone, was also among the
drowned. One day in August Stanley, st the
head of lis worn out followers, arrived st
Embomms, ninety-fv miles from the mouth
of the Congo. Thence he took q steamer to
Kslinda on the coast, whence he intended to
proceed to San Paolo de Losnda from which
point there is direct communication with
Liverpool.
Such is the record of one of the most in
Irepid and successful feats of African explora-
ton. 1t has demonstrated the unity of the
Congo and the Lualsba, and has solved one of
the last remaining problems of African geog-
raphy. Since 1916, when Capt.. TucKey and
most of his leading associates died of African
fever after ascending the Congo for several
hundred miles few attempts have been made
to explore its course, and none went Sc far As
he. The last stages of SANKEY'S march we're
over ground never trodden by white men,
unless by Portuguese slave traders, and he has
consequently procured for geogrsphers large
amount of important dats.
There may be those who viii think that
facts attained at such vast expense of life are
not worth the cost. None, however, can re-
frsin from sdmiring the pluck, or wondering
ct the endurance Of the young American.
He may have been ulduly pugnacious IN