The Democratic advocate., 1890-11-29
VOL. XXVI.-NO. f.

J President of the International Africal
Association, the King of the Belgians an,
I asked to lead the enterprise. With tn
memory of his sufferings and privations S,
fresh in his mind the man who had jus
crossed the continent was in no mood to 81
soon renew those terrible experiences. H,
agreed to give the expedition his advie,
and counsel, but before year had gon'
by, encouraged and invigorated by hi.
period of comparative repose, Stanley haC
accepted the post of commander-in-c chief Of
the expedition, and January, 1879, found
him once more on the way to Zanzibar
His first work was to send relief and
instructions to the Belgian expedition
under Gambler, which had gotten into
trouble with Mirambo somewhere between
Unyamyembe and Uiiji
AGAIN AT THE MOUTH OF THE CONGO.
By May Stanley had organized a strong
party of 40 men for the ascent of the Congo,
and, embarking on the steamer Albion,
proceeded by way of Suez and the Mediterra-
mean to the mouth of the great river, reach
ing there on August II, exactly 2 months
after his first arrival there from the interior
ia broken-spirited and desolate wan
derer." Matters were in a different shape
now, however, and, thoroughly equipped
for his work, Stanley ascended the Congo
and began his work of establishing trading
stations, arranging treaties with the native
chiefs and completing scientific survey of
the country-in word, the planting of
the Congo Free State.
The work was by no means an easy one,
and required all of Stanley's experience,
courage and skill The first settlement was
made at Vivi, where the principal depot for
supplies, ETC., of the expedition was estab-
lished this work occupying until the end
of January, 1880. The opening of road
past the mighty and impossible barrier of
the Livingstone Falls was next undertaken,
Stanley making the long and perilous
journey to Isangila to test the practicability
of the feat. He returned to Vivi in June,
and conveyed force of 106 men, with
the required tools and supplies, to Tsangila.
BY February, 1881, the great natural bar
rlers had been overcome, and 15-feet
wide roadway connected Viva and Isangila,
distance of 52 English miles. By means
of this roadway the boats were transported
above the cataracts, and another stretch of
the river of over 90 miles was made naviga-
Bile. After voyage of 20 days Stanley
reached Manyanga May 1st, 1881, the
expedition being then 14O miles above
Viva. Over year had been occupied in
Foad building and in hauling up the heavy
'stores, and during this time 1916 miles
mad been traversedx-a
The expeditio,rAor;fis sw stricken by
gloom and apprehension by the iIlncss of
its great leader For six weeks he strue-
gled with the African fever, and was so
near death that his followers had made
their "last farewells," but timely dose of
quinine checked the disease, and, though
emaciated and feeble, the commander re-
covered. Fresh men and supplies arrived
June 4th, the delayed negotiations with
the natives were resumed and the second
station was established at Manyanga,
minor post having also been made at
Isangila. Stanley proceeded up the Congo,
and by April, 1882, the town of Leopold.
vile had been thoroughly established.
voYAGING ON THE UPPER CONGO.
On April 18th the first Upper Congo
expedition started from Leopoldvillo for
the navigation of the Stanley Pool, After
beginning the station at Mswata, Stanley,
with small party, explored the Kwa, one
of the tributaries of the Congo, from the
south, and opened up rich country In
the Mini river the traveller met the
Queen of Musye, and afterwards explored
Lake Leopold II, sheet of shallow water
covering an area of 500 square miles. He
was again attacked by the fever and forced
to return to Mswata, whence he was taken
to Vivi, reaching the latter station July
Sth, and to Loando week later. He
rapidly recovered here, but his system was
so much shattered that on August 18th he
embarked for home. Stanley had accom-
plished great work for the association,
placing its feet on the upper waters of the
Congo, opening the way from the ocean
for distance of 40 miles and establish
ing five stations.
After brief rest Stanley returned to his
field of labor, reaching Vivi by the goth
December, 1882, only to find that station
after station had been abandoned and the
work of years ruined. Some time was
spent IN the opening OF new routes and in
re-establishing the abandoned stations. In
May, 1888, with new steamers, Stanley
continued his advance up the river, in order
to open the immense fertile country where
he believed that, "under European control,
there could be formed great African EN-
pire, open to the commerce of the world, to
become the centre of future civilization over
large portion of the Dark Continent" "
The story of Stanley's dealings with the
native chiefs, of the stations which he
planted, would require too much space to
be given in any detail The Equator Sta
ton was founded June 13, 1888, and after
Stanley had returned to more firmly plant
some of the intermediate posts, he resumed
his progress up the Congo, making Stanley