Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-04-20

n choice BODY OF sharpsbootefs was sent tC
test the eourtg4 Of those descending the
slope Of the higdest range.
Lieutenant Statrs pressed In, crossed a
deep, narrow river IN the face Of the natives,
ana assaulted the first village and took II.
The shar pshooters did their work effectively,
and drove the des ending natives rapidly up
the slope until there became a general fight.
Mr.. Jeps-n was not idle. He marched
straight up the valley east, driving the people
back, taking villages as he went.
AT y III not n native WAS visible any
whore, except on one small hill a mile and a
half west.
"PREPARE FOR NYANZA!"
On the morning Of the 18th we continued
| our march. During the day we had four lit
tie fights. On the 18th We marched straight
east, attacked by new forces every hour TIL
noon, when we halted for refreshments. AT
| p. m We resumed our march. Fifteen min
Mes later | cried, prepare for sight OF
Nyanza!"
The men murmured and doubted and said
-"Why does master continually talk this
way! Nyanza, indeed, is not this a plain,
and can we not see the mountainsW
WELL EARNED REWARD.
After a four days march ahead, at half
past ! y. m, the Albert MAMA was below
them. 1t was now my turn TO jeer and scoff
at the doubters, but az | was about to ask
them what they saw so many came TO kiss my
hands and beg pardon that ! could not say a
word.
This was my reward.
The mountains they said were the mount
aims OF Unyoro, or rather its lofty plateau.
The wall Of Kayali, the objective point of the
expedition, was six miles from us as the crow
flies. We were at an altitude Of $500 feet
above the Sea. Albert Nyarza was over $500
feet below us. We stood In ] deg. 20 min.
lat. The south end Of the Nyanza lay largely
mapped about six miles south Of this posi-
ton.
Right across to the eastern shore every
dent In its low, fat shore was visible, aud,
traced like q silver snake on the dark ground,
was the tributary Laniiiki flowing into the AL
bert from the southwest.
ATTACKED IN THE REAR.
After a short halt to enjoy the prospect re
commenced a rugged, stony descent. Before
the rear guard had descended a hundred feet
the natives OF the plateau We had just left
poured after them. Had they shown as much
courage and perseverance on the plain as they
now exhibited w might have been seriously
delayed.
The rear guard was kept busy until within
A few hundred feet Of the Nyanza plain. We
camped at the foot Of the plateau wall, the
aneroids reading $500 feet above the sea
level. A night attack was made, but our sen
tries drove the natives away. At a. m. of
the l4th We approached the village OF Ka-
kongo, at the southeast corner or Albert
Lake.
Three hours were spent by us attempting to
make friends. We sIgnally failed. They
would not allow us to go TO their lake because
we might brighten their cattle. They would
not exchange blood brotherhood with US
because they never heard Of any good people
coming from the west side Of the lake.
ON Y HAL FRIENDs.
They would not accept any present from us
because they did not know who we were.
They would give Us water to drink and they
would show us our road up to Nyamsassie, tut
from these singular people we learned that
they had heard that There was a white man at
Unyoro, but they had never heard OF white
men on the west side, nor had they seen
steamers on the lake.
There were no canoes TO be had, except
such as would not hold men, etc. There was
no excuse for QuarrellDg. The people were
civil enough, but they did not want us near
them. We therefore we're shown tue path
and followed it a few miles, when we camped
half a mile from the lake. Then we began to
consider our position, with the light thrown
upon it by the conversation with the Ka-
koDgo natives.
IN AN AWKWARD FIX.
my ~couriers from Zanzibar had evidently
not arrived, or, l presume, Emin Pasha with
his two steamers would not have pad the
southwest side Of the lake q visit to prepare
the natives for our coming.
My boat was at k~ilongalongas, 100 miles
distant, no canoes ob;ainable, and TO seize a
canoe without the excuse Of a quarrel my
conscience would not permit. Nc tree any
where OF Il size 10 make canoes could be seen.
Wadelai Was a terrible distance of for an
expedition 50 reduced.
We had used five cases Of cartridges In five
days OF nghting on the plain. A month OF
such lighting must exhaust our stock.
NEVER SAY DIE.
There was no plan suggested which seemed
feasible TO me except that OF retreating to
Ibwiri, build a fort and send u party back TO
ktlongalongas for our boat; store every load
not conveyable; leave a garrison in the fort
TO hold 1T and raise corn for US; march back
again to the Albert Lake and send the boat
to search for Emin Pasha. This was the plan
which, after lengthy discussion with the Of
ncers, | resolved upon.
On the 18th We marched TO the right OF
Kavs1i en- the west side Of the lake. Years
ago kavali was destroyed.
ANNOYING NATIVES.
At p. IN. the Kakongo natives followed,
shot arrows into our pivouac and disap-
peared as quickly as they came. AT 6 y. IN.
We began the mig ht march, AID by 10 D. m. of
the 18th we had gained the crest Of the
plateau once HlOre, the hakOng0 natives nav
ing persisted in following US TO tae slope Of
the plateau. We had one man killed and one
wounded.
STAIRS ARDUoUS TASK.
January Z we were In Ibwiri again, and
after q few days rest Lieutenant Stairs, with
100 men, was sent to Kilongalongas to bring
the boat and goods up. Also sent Surgeon
Parke and Captain Nelson. Out Of the thir-
ty eight sick In charge OF the officers, only
eieven men were brought to the fort. The
rest hal died or deserted. On the return of
Stairs with the boat and goods we sent to
Ugarrowwas TO bring the convalescent. |
granted him thirty nine days grace.
LAID UP FOR A MONTH.
Soon after his departure j was attacked
after a months careful nursing 10y DR..
Parke l recovered, and forty-seven days hav-
ing expired l set out again for Albert Nyanza
on April 2, accompanied by Jepson aud
Parke. Captain Nelson, who had now recov-
cred, was appointed commandant Of Fort
Bedo in our absence with a garrison Of forty
three men and boys.
CAME TO HIS SENSES.
April 26 we arrived In Mozamhini's country
again, but this time after solicitation Mozam-
bini decided TO make a blood brotherhood
With me, though / had fifty rifles less on this
second visit. The example OF Mozambiui
was followed by all other chiefs as far a the
Nyalza aud every difficulty seemed removed.
Food was supplied gratis; cattle, goats,
sheep and fowls were also given In such