New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-14
HORRORS OF CAMP YAMBUYA
AFFIDAVIT OF THE SYRIAN INTERPRETER
AND A FURTHER STATEMENT
FROM BONNY.


FROM BONNY.
AssAD ARRAN's REVOLVING STORY OF THE
CRuELTIEs OF BARTnEIIOT NND THE INHU-
NAN ACT OF JAMEsoN-BoNNY's BELIEF
THAT THE MAJOR WAS INSANE
RETRIBUTIoy In DEATH.
London, Nov. IA" The Times" publishes tile
iuii text of Assad Faran's affidavit. 1t is written
In bad English and the original is in Assad's
handwriting. Assad begins by explaining that he
was obliged in London to contradict his account
Tor certain reasons, especially because the commit
tee did not desire him to reveal anything He pro-
cecds to describe how Barttelot. after Stanley
left iambnya, finding food scarce employed armed
Soudanese to attack neighboring villages, but
found them deserted. He then had recourse to
capturing native women and demanding food for
their ransom Bonny did the same thing. The
women escaped often. This caused isolation in
the camp, the natives each fearing kidnapping.
Assad relates how Bartteot daily ordered the
men to- be given from twenty to 100 ashes
for various offences. He describes the arrival OF
and the negotiations with Tppoo Tib He speaks
OF numerous cases Of the stealing Of food, the
thieves being punished with 100 or more
In one case the Major ordered this punishment to
be stopped. but few days later the victim, Iav-
ing recovered somewhat, was given $50 more
lashes The man then compelled to walk ten
hours in the sun daily, heavily chained. This
was continued for two months. when the victims
sores became putrid and maggoty. The Major
then relieved him for a week. and Dr. Bonny gave
him medicine, after which the punishment of
marching in the resumed. The man
finally decamped, but recovered after four
days, through the Offering OF reward, and was
shot, despite Jameson's protest.
Incidentally, while describing Ward and Troup's
return, with ample supplies, from their visit to
Tppoo Tib. WITH message to hurry the porters, he
says Ward and Troup. having everything they
wanted seemed content with the life of Yam
bnya. and disinclined to march The Manyemas
daily brought plenty of varied food, which
they exchanged for cloth and matakos,
and the natives brought fresh fish
daily, but the men in the camp
were starving and dying daily, being reduced to
skeletons. Often we asked the Major to issue u
little old rotten rice to make soup for invalils.
but this was impossible. The camp became n
miserable sight yet none of the officers appeared to
care
THE STORY OF CANNIBALIsM.
After dealing with the reports of Stanlcys death
and the getting of Tippoo's men, comes the Jane
son affair at Ribakiba. Jameson expressed to Tip
poos interpreter curiosity 10 witness cannibalisn
Tippoo consulted with the chiefs and told Jameson
he had better purchase slave. Jameson asked
the price, and paid six handkerchefs. man
returned q few minutes afterward with ten
year-old girl. Tippoo a,d the chiefs ordered the
girl 60 be taken to the native hus. Jameson him.
self, Selim, Masonde and Farhan, Jameson's
servant, presented to him by Tippoo. and many
others followed The man who had brought the
girl said TO the cannibas ..-.-. ...
This is present from a white man, who de-
sizes TO see her catcn.'
The girl was tied to tree, the natives sharpen
ing their knives the while. One Of them then
stabbed her twice lin the belly. She did not
scream. but knew what would happen, looking 10
the right and left for help. When stabbed, she
fell dead. The natives cut pieces from her body.
Some took the legs, arms. breasts and other
portions straight to the huts. while
Others took the entrails to the river and washed
them, Jameson in the meantime making rough
sketches of the horrible scenes. Then we all
returned to the chiefs house. Jameson afterward
went to his tent where he finished his sketches in
water-coors There were six of them, all neatly
49,
was led to the tree The second showed her stabbed,
with the blood gushing from the wounds. The
third showed her dissected. The fourth showed a
man CARRYING leg in one hand and a knife in the
other The fifth showed a man with a native axe
and the head and breast of the victim. The sixth
showed a man with the entras. jameson showed
these and many other sketches to all the chiefs"
THE OFFICERS "TRIP TO STANLEY FALLS.
Assad then describes tie officers going TO Stan
ley Falls at the end of May lie tells of jameson S
anger at the quarrel of Barttelot with Selim
Mahomed, which delayed the starting, and of the
anxiety of both to seek or discover whether Stan
ley was dead in prison as rumorcd. Bartteot
said that if he could relieve Stanley from impris-
onment he would become full Colonel when he
returned to Yambuya.
Assad details the troubles experienced in regard
to the carrying of loads, and then goes on to tell
how Jameson showed his sketches of the canni-
bal scenes to Captain Vangee. The latter was
surprised that Jameson showed such a sight and
examined several natives with the view of getting
a confirmation of Jameson's story. Jameson was
proud of the sketches, and showed them to
all the officers, including those of the
steamers from the Falls but contra
dicted himself in describing the scene
to Troup and Bonny. In concluding his state
ment Assad says the camp was divided, Jameson
and Barttelot being on one side and Ward, Iroup
and Bonny on the other, and that all were afraid
of Barttelot. lie says he lacks tine to remember
other stories, but he promises full account IN
the future if desired.
FURTHER STATEMENT PROM BoNNY
Bonny makes further statement to the effect
that the canniba incident was the cause of the
death of both jameson and Bartteot he says
that Assad told the Congo State authorities OF the
incident. and that they, indignant and excited over
the outrage, forced As5ad to make an affidavit,
which was sent to Europe. Barttelot becoming
aware of this, took full notes in his diary, and
when he arrived in the village where he was shot
he was in q terrible state Of excitement and indig'
nation, fearing that IL the matter became known
in Europe he would lose his commission. He said :;
When it becomes known that one Of our men did
this awful thing shall be blamed" Bonny adds
Violent as he had been before, the Major had
never so utterly lost control of himself as now