The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-04-12

Correspondence OF the Associated Press.
BRAZZAYTLLE. Africa. Jan SL-I nave
been waiting many days for some authen-
tic news from Merchants expedition. The
leaders we're a. Brazzavi4e when I arrived
on the coast. bat the road between Many
anzs and 2razzzyille. distance of about
seventy-1ye miles. Vas closed on account
OF wars among the natives ard Mer-
chands men could not get their 3se1 loads
up 10 Brazzavi'ie 30 proceed on their jour
ney up the Mobangfs river towards the
equator. As a last reEort Merchand burned
every village on the Nanyanga read. Kill
iHE a fe. hundred natives and taking al
their available food.
In coming up from the coast we learned
that forty natives had stopped two white
men and their carriers al the crossing OF
the Queil0 river. We were n no mood to
be stopped as our food supply vas nearly
exhausted. We having been delayed on the
road by severe rains which h< oversowed
the rivers and creeks. So when the na-
tives stepped up We loaded our rifles before
them. advancing threaieuingly and told
them that the nrst one who interfered
would be sha,. We passed through the
blockade with the carriers and supplies
without any difficulty.
Upon arriving al Brazzsville we found
Merchand making preparations 10 go TO
the relief OF the men at the Quello river
CT ossing. This was a pretext OF declaring
war against the natives. TIE details of
the battles we're received from one Of the
soldiers. who returned here. Tue first
real skiTmish was With a chief named
Mohyalla who. or some OF his tribe. kill
ed a French soldier about a year ago.
Merchand's men marched on the village.
Mobyalia showed resistance. but his flint
locks were not equal 10 the modern Tffies.
MObyalla was wounded. and his head was
cut of and brought 10 Brazzayille. The
natives say over loo men were killed in
this village. but Merchand's soldiers as
sert that the number was not more than
twenty five or sixty. After the battle the
village was burned.
Continuing their march, the villages
along the Msnyanga road were surround
ed at night, and a. daylight appeared. the
natives were awakened by the blast OF a
trumpet and as they came out OF their
huts were shot down on all sides. Village
after village was destroyed in this man
ner. no quarter being given. The natives
used clay balls In their old muskets. hav-
ing burned them dry TO about the con-
sistency OF brick. In shooting they do
not put the gun 10 the shoulders or look
sloug the sight. pointing at the object
as one would with stick. and then Ar.
Ing Several OF Merchand's men were
struck BY these clay balls, bu. were not
wounded seriously.
They arrived at Loanxo, on the coast
July "A. 1886. Merchand and some OF the
white officers came direct TO Brazzayiile.
but the main body did not succeed in get
ting here until January Il.
Preparations are now making 10 con-
.inue the march up the Mobangie river.
Capt. Dnan!s has charge or force which
IL marching - the equatorial lakes and the
sources OF the Nile, on Henry NJ. Stanley $
o!a tTan. up ths AruminI Tiver. Capt.
expedition or the Congo state that cleared
The Arabs ous in the Upper Congo back OF
Stanley Falls station. lie II vas who XIII
ed Sefro. Tippo Tbs son. and captured
Rashid. Tippo This nephew and governor
OF Stanley Falls. BaShld L. row prisoner
on the Kassis river, q thousand miles
away, r. closely watched and has no hope
OF escape.
Another expedition. under the leadership
OF NJ Gentfis which started out from here
some tine ago. r. hlockaded on ore of the
small rivers which ernp;ies into the Mo-
bangle. where Il turns south toward the
Congo. The latest word from him Is thst
his expedition Is short Of provisions and his
position critical
The object OF the Merchand expedition
IL "a march 70 the headwaters Of the Mo-
bangle. cross over - the heaawaters of the
Nile and sti.ck the Dervishes or Arabs
while Capt. Dhsnis WITH attack them from
another point Tho expeditions. while en-
desvoriax to conquer the Arabs. viii ais.
hook after the French interests in this sec.
ti0v and checkmase the English ir al.
tempts 20 occupy the territory. II the pla-
! IS successful q viii c-nnect the French
/ Congo with Lake Tchad