The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-04-11
THE DARK CONTINENT.
AN INTERESTING LETTER FROM THE
INTREPID EXPLORER STANLEY.

His Expedition Suffers Terribly Going
Through Forests,-A Horrible and Peril
Gus Experience of Nine Days.-They
Finally Emerge From Darkness Into a
Land of Plenty.
LONDON, April 2. Henry NJ. Stanley's
letter describes the journey between
Yambunga and Albert Nyanza. 1t goes
much into detail and is very interesting,
After stating the orders given by him
to NJ jor Barltelot, he goes on to de-
scribe the advance of the column. The
expedition, which consisted OF 3o9
officers and men, started from Yam
bunga June 2S, 1887. On the fret day
the expedition marched IL miles along
the river bank to Yankarde. On the ap-
proach of the column the natives set fire
to their vii ages, and under cover of the
smoke attacked the pioneers. A skir-
mlsh followed, lasting 10 minutes. Dur
ing the next six days the expedition
marched inland in an easterly direction
through a densely populated district.
The natives used every art known TO
them to molest and impede the advance
of the party, but, although several con-
flCts took place, Stanley did not lose a
man. Finally, perceIving that the path
he had been following was taking him
out OF his proper course, Stanley struck
out toward the northeast, and again
reached the river July 5. From this
daie until Oct. Is he followed the left
bank of he Aruwhlmi. After II day
of continuous marching the expedition
halted for one DAYS rest. On Aug | the
first death occurred. the cause being
dysentery. So far, for "a days, the
course had been singularly successful
The party now entered wild country
in their nine days march, through which
their sufferings multiplied and several
deaths occurred, On Aug, 13, on arriv
ing at Airsioba, the natives presented 6
bold front, and the party lost five men
from poisoned arrows. Lieut.. Stair;
was wounded below the heart and suf
fered greatly. but recovered. On Aug
81 the expedition met party OF Manye
mas, and their misfortunes began OF
this date.
Before reaching Kilinga Longa, Stan
ley lost 50 men through starvation anc
deSertion. a slave owner near Killings
Longa named Abedsalim did his utmos
to ruin the expedition, short of oper
hostilllies II insisted upon purchasing
rifles. ammunition and clothing, SO tha
the expedition lefC the stILlon beggared
The men were absolu ely naked and 81
weak that they were unable to carry thu
boat. Stanley was therefore obliged Il
leave the boat. together with 70 loads o
of goods, at Kllinga Longa, under thu
care of Surgeon Pdrke and Capt. Nelson
the latter of whom was unable to march
After twelve days journey the party
ON Nov. ~ reached lbwirl. The Arat
devastation, which had reached within
a few miles of Ibwiri, was 10 thorough
that net native hut was left standing
between Ugarrava and lbwiri. Wha
The Arabs did not destroy the elephant
destroyed, turning the whole region int
a horrible wilderness.
MIR. Stanley continues; Our suffer
ings terminated at lbwiri. We wer
beyond the reach of destroyers. w
we're on virgin soil in a populous regiol
abounding with food. We onrselve
were meIe skeletons, From 2S0 person
we now numbered ia. Several of III
party seeming to have no hope of llf
lett, halt was therefore ordered for tn
purpose of recuperation. Hitherto ou
people were sceplical of what we toll
Them. The suffering had been so aw
tul, the calamities 50 numerous and IN
forests so endless that they refused
believe that by-and-by we would sc
plains and cattle, the Nyanza and Emi
Pasha. They had turned deaf ear
Jur prayers and entreaties, for, drive
oy hunger and suffering, they sold thel
ifles and equipments fol few ears {
Indian corn, deserted with the amml
nItIon, and became altogether demora
lied. Perceiving that mild punishmer
would be of no avail, l Tesorled to III
death penalty, and two of the worI
I cases were hanged in the presence of al
We halted for 13 days at lbwiri, reVe
ing on fowls, goats, bananas, corn yam
3 etc. The supplies were lnexhaus'lo
, and our people glutted themselves VIII
such effect that we had lI3 sleek an
robust men.
When we started for Albert Nyar2
> Nov. "a, we were still 126 miles from Il
7 lake. Given food, the distance SCENE
2 nothing. Ou Dec. we sighted an ope
country from the top OF Iiige col
uected with Mount Pisgah, which WI
30 named from our first view of the Ian
+ uf promise and plenty. On Dec.
i emerged on the plains, leaving the aea'
I ly and gloomy forests behind US. ATT
lGO days of continuous gloom we sa
the light of broad day shining all aroun,
making all things beautiful. W
thought we had never seen grass
green or country 80 lovely. The me
q, literally leaped and yelled with Joy an
raced over the ground with their ou
dens. Ah This was the old spirit
former expeditions, successfully con
pleted and all suddenly revived. W.
betiGe the natlye aggressor whom v
may meet. However powerful, vii
such a spirit the men will fling then
selves upon him like wolves on shee
=, Numbers will not be considered.
I was the eternal forest that had mac
. hem the abiect, slavish creatures
! nrutally plundered by Arab slaves
Kilinga Lorga.
On the 9th we entered the country
= the powerful Chief Mszamboni. II
villages were scattered so thickly thl
no road except through them could
found. The natives sighted us, but
were prepared. We seized hill as SOC
as WE dIllNtu III AhC NNhllC Va u A'NSS
villages and built Zareba as fast
IbillhoOks could cut the brushwood, II
war cries were terrible from hill 10 h
pealing across the intervening valley
:. The people gathered in hundreds
every point, war horns and drums a
nOunclng the struggle. After slig
skIrmish, ending in our capturing
= COW, the first beef we had tasted stint
l. we lett the ocean, the night pass'
y peaceably, both sides preparing for II
;. morrow.
, Here Mr.. Stanley narrates how neg
- tiations with the natives failed, MazaI
= boni declining peace offering, and no
4 detachment of 40 persons, led by L
Stairs and another of 30, under cor
mand of Mr.. Jephson with sharpshoote
left the zeraba and assaulted and carri'
, the villages. driving the natives into
=, general rout. The march was resum'
If ON the twelfth. There we're consta
p. little fights all along the route. On Il
d afternoon of the 18th, says MIR. Stanle
r. we sighted the NyanzA. With kaval
l. the objective point of the sxpeditlo
a six miles off, had told the men to pr
2, pare 10 see the Nyanza. They mu
I'd INJURED and doubted, saying, why do
N the master continually talk this wa,
Nyanza indeed" When they saw &
Nyapzi below them many came to X
Z my hands.
We were now at an altitude of 80
feet above the sea, with the Albert N
ARA 2O00 feet below, in degree 90 mi
utes. The south end of the Nyanza !
SIX miles south Of this position. Eve
I'd dcnt in its low fat shore was visib
'rs and traced like silver snake OIL I
DIRK ground was the tributary Lani
flowing into the Albert Nyanza from I
n southwest. After a short halt to enj
the prospect, we commenced the ragg
and story descent. Before the re