Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-04-11
LETTER FROM STANLEY.
Dark Continent from Jnne 2s, 1887, to
August 2s, 1883.

His Movements In the Interior of the
Dark Continent from Jnne 2s, 1887, to
August 2s, 1888.
LONDON, April 4.-Henry ". Stanleys
letter announced as received by Sir Francis
DE Winton, the chairman of the Emin re-
lief committee, and written from the lower
Aruwimi river, Aug. 2S, 1888, is narrative
Of the terrible experiences of his command
while passing through the terra incognita of
the dark continent from Gambuya on the
lower Aruwimi to Kavalli on Lake Nyanza,
where he expected to be able to communi-
cate with Emin PaSha by boat.
He set out June 2S, 1857, after leaving ex-
plicit orders with Maj. Bartellot, whose
death and the failure of the reserve expedi-
tion to follow has long been known. For
nearly all the way he was compelled to fight
with the natives, while the Arabs did their
best to ruin the expedition.
On Aug the first death occurred, the
cause being dysentery So far, for thirty
four 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. l3, on arriving at Airsibba, the
natives presented bold front, the party
losing five men from poisoned arrows.
Lieut. Stairs was wounded below the heart,
and suffered greatly, but he recovered
On Aug. 81 the expedition met a party of
Manyemas, and their misfortunates began
on this date. Stanley writes that he had
taken the Congo route to avoid Arabs, who
would tempt his men. Within three days
of this unfortunate meeting twenty-six men
deserted.
What Stanley describes as an awful month
begins on Sept 49, Leaving the station of
the Arab chief, Ugarrava, when the expedi-
ton numbered 263 men, having lost sixty
six men by desertion and death, and having
left fifty-six sick with Ugarrava, the march
led to the Arab settlement of Kilinga Tonga.
The men lived on wild fruit, fungi and nuts.
Before reaching Kilinga Longa Stanley
last forty-five men through starvation and
desertion. A slave owner at Kilinga
Longa, named Abedsalim, did his utmost
to ruin the expedition, short of open hostili-
ties. He insisted upon their purchasing
rifles, ammunition and clothing, SO that the
expedition left the station beggared.
The men were absolutely naked, and were
SO weak that they were unable to carry the
boat. Stanley was therefore obliged to leave
the boat together with seventy loads of
goods at Kilinga Longa, under the care of
Surgeon Parke and Capt Nelson, the latter
of whom was unable to march.
After twelve days journey the party on
Nov, 12 reached lbidwiri with ia out Of
259. The Arab devastation, which had
reached within few miles of Ibidwiri, was
SO thorough that not a native hut was left
standing between Ugarrow and Ibidwiri.
What the Arabs did not destroy the ele-
plants destroyed, turning the whole region
into horrible wilderness.
Thereafter, although compelled to fight
occasionally, they were out of the dense
forests and in a land of plenty On the
shore of Lake Albert Nyanza he was with
out means of reaching Emin with news, and
was compelled TO return to Kilinga Longa
for it
During his absence Emin had heard of
him and was searching the west shore of the
lake for him. Finally they met and debated
the question of Enins escape The latter
has about 1,400 soldiers besides irregulars,
and his government embraces about 5000
people.
This talk occurred in May, 1858. and shows
that it is difficult thing for Emin to do.
However, he thought it best, and the proba-
bilities are that he and Stanley are on their
way out toward the east coast
Stanley graphically describes his disap-
pointment on returning to Gambuya, and
finding the rear of his expedition dis.
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