The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-04-04
STANLEY.
Contents of the Recent Letter OF
the Famous Explorer in
Africa.
Horrors of March Through the
Gloomy Jungles of the
Dark Continent.

LONDON, April Henry M. StaEley's
letter describes his journey, Ambunys and
Albert Nyanza. 1t goes much into detail
and is very interesting. Stanley, after stat
ing the orders given by him to Major
Bartelot, describes the advance of the col
umns of the expedition, which consisted
of 3S9 officers and men, and started from
Yambuga June 2S, 1887. On the first day
the expedition marched twelve miles
along the river bank to Yambarde. On the
approach of the column the natives set
fire to their villages and under cover of
the smoke attacked the pioneers. A
skirmish followed, lasting fifteen minutes.
During the next six days the expedition
marched inland in an easterly
direction through densely
populated district. The natives used
every art known to them to modest and
impede the advance of the party but al
though several conflicts took place Stanley
did not lose man.
Finally, perceiving that the path he
had been following was taking him out of
his proposed course Stanley struck out to-
ward the southeast, and again reached the
river on July 8. From this date until o.
tober Is he followed the left bank of the
AurWhimi. After seventeen days oontin-
uous marching the expedition halted for
one days rest. On August l death oc-
CURED, the disease being dysentery. So
far for thirtyfour days the course of the
exdedition had been singularly successful.
The party now entered wildcountry in
their nine days march, through which
their sufferings multiplied and several
deaths occurred. On August 8, on arriv
ing at Arisiba, the natives presented q, bold
front, and the party lost five men from
poisoned arrows. Lieutenant Stairs was
wounded below the heart and suffered
greatly, but recovered.
August 81 the expedition met party of
many Arabs, and their misfortunes began.
On this date, Stanley writes, he had taken
the Congo route to avoid the Arabs.
Twenty-six men deserted.
What Stanley describes as an awful
month begins on September 10. Leaving
the stations of Arabehi and Ugarava the
expedition numbered 1858 men, having
Lost sixty-six by desertion and
death, and having left fifty
six sick with Ugarava. The march led
to the Arabs settlement of Kalinga Tonga
The men lived on wild fruits, fungi and
nuts. Before reaching Kalinga Longs
Stanley lost fifty-five men through starva
: ton and desertion. A slave owner al
Kalinga Tonga did his utmost to run thu
. expedidition short of supplies. He in
sisted upon purchasing RATS, ammuni
ton and clothing, SO that the expedition
left the station beggared. The men were
absolutely naked, and were 30 weak they
were Unable to carry the boat. Stanley
was therefore obliged to leave the boat II
order to get several loads of goods a
Kilingalong.
After twelve days journey the party
on November IL, reached Ibideweri
The Arab devastation which had reached
) within few miles of Ibidiweri, was sc
thorough that not a native hut was lief
standing between Ugarava and Ibidiweri
: What the Arabs did not destroy the ele
plant destroyed, turning the region int
horrible wilderness.
Stanley continues: "Our suffering
terminated at Ibidiweri. We were beyond
the reach of the destroyers. We were OIL
virgin soil, populous region Astounding
with food. We we're mere skeletons
From 2S9 persons we now numbered ia
The remainder of the party seemed &c
,, have no hope of life left. A halt wa
ordered for the purpose of recuperating
Hitherto our people we're skeptical OF wha
we had told them. The suffering had beef
7 so awful, the calamities SO numerous ant
forests so dense they refused. to believ
that bye and bye we would see the plain
and cattle. They had turned deaf ca
to our prayers and entreaties; made des
' perate by hunger and suffering, they sol
Q their rifles and equipments for few ear
p of Indian corn, deserted with their am
Z munitlon and became altogether democrat
lied.
Perceiving that mild punishment woul
8 be of no avail, resorted to the deaf
penalty, and two of the worst cases wer
i hanged in the presence of all. We halle
: thirteen days at Ibidiweri, revealing o.
o fowls, goats, bananas, corn, yams, et'
The supplies were inexhaustible and on
d people glutted themselves with such oil
u feet we had 173 sleek and robust me
when we started for Albert Nyanza.
II On November "a, We were still PIG mile