The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-27
STANLEY'S BOOK.
" In Darkest Africa" the Latest
Work of the Great Explorer.

EzsHE public has awaited with interest
Ge2S the authentic account of the expe-
eyE4S dition for the relief of Emin Pasha
and their journeyings through the dense
iungles of the Dark Continent. Stanley
return, his public receptions and the inter-
esting romances woven into his life have
recently made him a conspicuous figure in
the public eye, and now comes the Quest,
Rescue and Relief of Emin, Governor of
Euatoria," before this interest is allowed
to subside Undoubtedly the publication
is well timed, and while an erroneous i'm
preston obtains that the publishers by ex-
pediting the work have sh0rn it of high
literary finish there is abundant evidence
in the book that Stanley still yields the
same dexterous pen as in the days OF yore.
The first volume opens with PREDATORY
letter to Sir William Mackinnon, Bart,
Chairman of the Emin Pasha Relief Com
mittee to whom the work is dedicated, CIV
ing a succInct review OF the expedition
with reflections on its successes and its fail
ures and the causes to which they are to be
attributed.
Following the dedication is an Introductory
chapter reciting the various political events
leading up to the beleaguerment of Emin,
including the downfall of khartoum and the
massacre Of Gordon. The massacre is de-
scribed as lasting three hours, during
which time 1900 persons at least were killed.
The Bashi Bazouks and white regulars,
numbering 1927, and the Shaigiair regulars.
numbering $780, were mostly all killed in
cold blood after they had surrendered and
been diSarmed a Greek merchant who es-
capped from kart0um, reported that the
town was betrayed by the merchants there,
who desired to make terms with the enemy
and not with Farag PaSha. The prepara-
tions for the expedition are mlnutely de-
scrbed, the impedimenta OF the journey,
the cost of each article and the amounts
subscribed are detailed serlatlm 1he OH
GERS and men, with their various traits
OF character and idi0syncracies, are
sketched in such vivid and lifelike colors
that as the expedition starts on It's long
and evtntful pilgrimage the tout ensemble
seems to be directly under our eye. Hay-
ing decided on the Congo route, the expe-
ditiOn left Zanzibar on the 10Th OF Feb
ruary, 1887, for the Congo River, which
they paYigated distance OF one thousand
miles to Yambuya, whence the journey
through Darkest Africa properly began.
Naturally penetrating Il trackless wild
for the first time the march was at lu-
neral pace in some places at the rate Of AGO
wards an hour. At 4 o'clock in the after
noon Of this day we were still on the
march, having passed through wilderness
of creeks, mud, thick scum-faced qaag-
mires green with duck-Weed, into which we
sank knee-deep, ana the stencil eXhaleG
from the fetid slough was most slckenlng.
We had Just emerged out of this baneful
stretch Of marshy ground, lntersected by
law creeks and shallow long stream-Shaped
pools, when the forest became suddenly
darkeued, so that could scarcely read the
compass, and a distant murmur, increasing
into loud sougAing and wrestling and toss
ing OF branches and groahlng OF mighty
trees warned us of the approach of a
tempest. AS the ground around about US
. had 10
through the increasing gloom, and then as
the rain began TO drip we commenced to
form camp. The tents were hastily pitched
over the short. serubby brush, while bill
hooks crashed and axes rang, clearing a
space for the camp. The rain was cold and
heavily dTipped, and every drop large as
dollar on the cotton clothes sent SILVER
through the men. The thunder roared
above the lightning flashed a vivid light
of fire through the darkness, and still the
weary, hungry caravan fled in until 9
O'clock.
THE rain was so heavy that fires could
not be lit and until 5 o'clock in the morn
ing we sat huddled and crouching amid the
cold, damp and reeking exhalatlon and
minute spray. Then bon-fires were kim
died, and around these scores OF flaming
pyramids the people sat to be warmed into
hilarious animation, to roast the bitter
maniOc and to still the gnaWlnG pain OF
their stomachs.
For months through forests primeval
they journeyed much OF the time without
food, subject to the attacks OF hostile tribes
and cannibals enduring privatlonS and SUI
ferings from which deliverance seems a
miracle.
6 At last on the Goth of April. 1888, at s
o'clock, amid great rejoicing and after re-
peated salutes from rifles Emln Pasha HIM
self walked into camp accompanied by Cap
tain Casati and Mr.. Jephson and one of the
Pasha's officers. | shook hands with all and
asked which was Emin Pasha. Then one
rather small, slight figure, wearing glasses,
arrested my attention by saying In excellent
English, | owe you thousand thanks,
Mr. Stanley; really do not know how to
express my thanks to YOU
"'Ah! you are Emin Pasha. DO not men
ton thanks, but come In and sit down. 1t
is so dark out here we cannot see one an
other
''At the door of the tent we sat, and a
wax candle threw light upon the scene. L
expected to see tall, thin military oking
figure, in faded Egyptian uniform, but in
stead of 1t | saw a small, spare figure in q
well-kept feZ and clean suit OF snowy cot
ton drilling, well-ir0ned and OF perfect fit.
A dark, grZzled beard bOrdered face of
Magyar cast though pair of spectacles
lent 1t somewhat an Italian or Spanish APP
pearance. There was not a trace on it of
ill-health or anxiety; 1t rather indicated
good condition of body and peace of mind"
lie remaining chapters OF the nrst vol
ume are devoted to verbatim accounts of
conversation with Emin, the consideration
Of the situation and OF their future pro-
ceedngs.
From first to last the book maintains its
interest, every page containing something
new and startling. Presenting, as it does,
the only authentic description uf country
soon to be opened to modern civilization,
the book cannot fail TO be extensively read.
For sale only by subscription by A. l..
Bancroft 81 Co.. 1872 Post street, general
agents for the Pacific Coast.