AT YAMBUYA.
We land at Yambuya villages--The _Stanley_ leaves for Equator
Station--Fears regarding Major Barttelot and the _Henry Reed_--Safe
arrival--Instructions to Major Barttelot and Mr. Jameson respecting
the Rear Column--Major Barttelot's doubts as to Tippu-Tib's good
faith--A long conversation with Major Barttelot--Memorandum for the
officers of the Advance Column--Illness of Lieutenant Stairs--Last
night at Yambuya--Statements as to our forces and accoutrements.
We were now over 1300 miles from the sea. Opposite to us were the
villages which we hoped, with the goodwill of the natives, to occupy
temporarily as a depot for the men and stores left at Bolobo and
Leopoldville, 125 men and about 600 porter-loads of impedimenta; if not
with the natives' goodwill by fair purchase of the privilege, then by
force.
On an exploring visit in 1883 I had attempted to conciliate them without
any permanent result. We had a very serious object in view now. In
prospective we saw only the distant ports of the Nile and the Albert
Nyanza, defended by men ever casting anxious glances to every cardinal
point of the compass, expectant of relief, as they must by this time be
well informed by our couriers from Zanzibar; but between us and them was
a broad region justly marked with whiteness on the best maps extant.
Looking at that black wall of forest which had been a continuous bank of
tall woods from Bolobo hitherto, except when disparted by the majestic
streams pouring their voluminous currents to the parent river, each of us
probably had his own thoughts far hidden in the recesses of the mind.
Mine were of that ideal Governor in the midst of his garrisons, cheering
and encouraging his valiant soldiers, pointing with hand outstretched to
the direction whence the expected relief would surely approach if it were
the will of God, and in the distance beyond I saw in my imagination the
Mahdist hordes advancing with frantic cries and thrilling enthusiasm
crying out, "Yallah, Yallah," until from end to end of the swaying lines
the cry was heard rolling through the host of fervid and fanatical
warriors, and on the other sides multitudes of savages vowed to
extermination biding their time, and between them and us was this huge
area of the unknown without a track or a path.
[Illustration: A TYPICAL VILLAGE ON THE LOWER ARUWIMI.]
Ammunition was served out by the captains of the companies, and
instructions were issued to them to have steam up on board their
respective steamers that we might commence the first most important move
preparatory to marching towards the Albert Nyanza.
At six o'clock in the morning of the 16th of June the _Peace_ glided from
her berth until she was abreast of the _Stanley_, and when near enough to
be heard, I requested the officers to await my signal. Then, steaming
gently across the river, we attempted to soothe the fears and quiet the
excitement of the natives by remaining abreast of the great crowd that
stood upon the bluffy bank fifty feet above us, regarding us with wonder
and curiosity. Our interpreter was well able to make himself understood,
for the natives of the lower Aruwimi speak but one language. After an
hour's interchange of compliments and friendly phrases, they were induced
to send a few of the boldest down to the river's edge, and by a slight
movement of the helm the current pushed the steamer close to the bank,
where another hour was passed in entreaty and coaxing on our part,
denials and refusals on the other. We succeeded in the purchase of one of
their knives for a liberal quantity of beads! Encouraged by this, we
commenced to negotiate for leave to reside in their village for a few
weeks at a price in cloth, beads, wire, or iron, but it was met with
consistent and firm denial for another hour.
[Illustration: OUR LANDING AT YAMBUYA.]
It was now nine o'clock, my throat was dry, the sun was getting hot, and
I signalled to the steamer _Stanley_ to come across and join us, and
when near enough, according to agreement a second signal caused the steam
whistles to sound, and under cover of the deafening sounds, pent up as
they were by the lofty walls of the forest, both steamers were steered to
the shore, and the Zanzibaris and Soudanese scramble up the steep sides
of the bluff like monkeys, and when the summit was gained not a villager
was in sight.
We found Yambuya settlement to consist of a series of villages of conical
huts extending along the crest of the bank, whence far-reaching views of
the Aruwimi up and down stream could be obtained. The companies were
marched to their respective quarters. Guards were set at the end of every
path leading out. Some of the men were detailed to cut wood for a
palisade, others to collect fuel, and several squads were despatched to
ascertain the extent of the fields and their locality.
In the afternoon two natives from a village below Yambuya made their
appearance with a flattering confidence in their demeanour. They belonged
to the Baburu tribes, to which these various fragments of tribes between
Stanley Falls and the Lower Aruwimi belong. They sold us a few bananas,
were well paid in return, and invited to return with more food, and
assurance was given that they need be under no alarm.
On the next day men were sent to collect manioc from the fields, others
were sent to construct a palisade, a ditch was traced, workers were
appointed to dig a trench for sinking the stockade poles, woodcutters
were sent to work to prepare to load the steamers with fuel, that with
their weakened crews they might not be surprised on their return journey
to the Pool, and everywhere was life and activity.
Several captures were made in the woods, and after being shown
everything, the natives were supplied with handfuls of beads to convey
the assurance that no fear ought to be entertained of us and no harm done
to them.
On the 19th fuel sufficient had been cut for six days' steaming for the
_Stanley_ with which she could proceed to Equator Station. A cheque was
drawn for £50 in favour of the Captain, and another for a similar amount
for the engineer, on Ransom, Bouverie & Co., and both were handed in
their presence to Mr. Jameson to be presented to them on their return
from Stanley Pool, provided they safely reached Yambuya about the middle
of August. A valuable jewel was sent to Lieutenant Liebrichts as a token
of my great regard for him. The _Stanley_ left next morning with my
letters to the Emin Relief Committee.
The _Peace_ was detained for the sake of accompanying her consort, the
_Henry Reed_, which was now hourly expected from Stanley Falls according
to the instructions given to Major Barttelot, as she ought to have
reached us on the 19th.
In a wild country like this, cannibals in the forest on either hand, and
thousands of slave raiders in such a close vicinity as Stanley Falls, we
were naturally prone to suspect the occurrence of serious events, if
one's expectations were not promptly and punctually realized. Major
Barttelot had passed the mouth of the Aruwimi on the 11th inst. in
command of the steamer _Henry Reed_, conveying Tippu-Tib and party to a
settlement from which an English commandant and garrison had been
precipitately ousted. True, the Arab chief had been very confident in his
manner, and earnest in the assurance that in nine days after arriving at
his settlement he would present himself at Yambuya with 600 carriers in
accordance with his agreement, and I was loth to believe that he was in
any way responsible for this detention of the Major. Yet the Major should
have reached Stanley Falls on the 13th, on the evening of the 14th he
should have been at the mouth of the Aruwimi again, and on the 16th at
Yambuya; that is, provided the Major was gifted with the spirit of
literal performance and permitted nothing to tempt him to delay. It was
now the 21st. The officers were confident that nothing had occurred but
the delays natural to circumstances of existence in Africa, but hourly I
found myself straying to the edge of the bluff sweeping the view down
river with my glass.
On the 22nd my uneasiness was so great that I penned an order to
Lieutenant Stairs to take fifty of the best men, and the Maxim machine
gun, to proceed down river on the morning of the 23rd with the _Peace_ to
search for the _Henry Reed_, and if all other eventualities mentioned and
explained had not transpired to proceed to Stanley Falls. On arriving
before this settlement if the vessel was seen at the landing-place, and
his friendly signals as he advanced were not responded to, he was to
prepare everything for assault and re-capture of the steamer, and to
hurry back to me with the news if unsuccessful.
At 5 P.M., however, the Zanzibaris rang out the welcome cry of "Sail ho!"
Barttelot was safe, no accident had occurred. Tippu-Tib had not captured
the vessel, the Soudanese had not mutinied against the Major, the natives
had not assaulted the sleeping camp by night, the steamer had not been
sunk by a snag nor had she been run aground, and the boat for which we
were morally responsible to the Mission was in as good order and
condition as when she left Stanley Pool. But in Africa it is too wearing
to be the victim of such anxieties.
The Major had been simply detained by various mischances--fighting with
natives, palaver with Tippu-Tib and men, &c. &c.
Two days later the steamers _Peace_ and _Henry Reed_ were loaded with
fuel and despatched homeward down river, and we had severed the last link
with civilization for many a month to come.
On this day I delivered the following letter of instructions to Major
Barttelot, and a copy of it to Mr. J. S. Jameson his second in command.
_June 24th, 1887._
_To_ Major Barttelot, &c., &c., &c.
Sir,--As the senior of those officers accompanying me on the Emin
Pasha Relief Expedition, the command of this important post
naturally devolves on you. It is also for the interest of the
Expedition that you accept this command, from the fact that your
Soudanese company, being only soldiers, and more capable of
garrison duty than the Zanzibaris, will be better utilized than on
the road.
The steamer _Stanley_ left Yambuya on the 22nd of this month for
Stanley Pool. If she meets with no mischance she ought to be at
Leopoldville on the 2nd of July. In two days more she will be
loaded with about 500 loads of our goods, which were left in charge
of Mr. J. R. Troup. This gentleman will embark, and on the 4th of
July I assume that the _Stanley_ will commence her ascent of the
river, and arrive at Bolobo on the 9th. Fuel being ready, the 125
men in charge of Messrs. Ward and Bonny, now at Bolobo, will
embark, and the steamer will continue her journey. She will be at
Bangala on the 19th of July, and arrive here on the 31st of July.
Of course, the lowness of the river in that month may delay her a
few days, but, having great confidence in her captain, you may
certainly expect her before the 10th of August.[G]
It is the non-arrival of these goods and men which compel me to
appoint you as commander of this post. But as I shall shortly
expect the arrival of a strong reinforcement of men,[H] greatly
exceeding the advance force which must, at all hazards, push on to
the rescue of Emin Pasha, I hope you will not be detained longer
than a few days after the departure of the _Stanley_ on her final
return to Stanley Pool in August.
Meantime, pending the arrival of our men and goods, it behoves you
to be very alert and wary in the command of this stockaded camp.
Though the camp is favourably situated and naturally strong, a
brave enemy would find it no difficult task to capture if the
commander is lax in discipline, vigour and energy. Therefore I feel
sure that I have made a wise choice in selecting you to guard our
interests here during our absence.
The interests now entrusted to you are of vital importance to this
Expedition. The men you will eventually have under you consist of
more than an entire third of the Expedition. The goods that will be
brought up are the currency needed for transit through the regions
beyond the Lakes; there will be a vast store of ammunition and
provisions, which are of equal importance to us. The loss of these
men and goods would be certain ruin to us, and the Advance Force
itself would need to solicit relief in its turn. Therefore,
weighing this matter well, I hope you will spare no pains to
maintain order and discipline in your camp, and make your defences
complete, and keep them in such a condition, that however brave an
enemy may be he can make no impression on them. For this latter
purpose I would recommend you to make an artificial ditch 6 feet
wide, 3 feet deep, leading from the natural ditch, where the spring
is round the stockade. A platform, like that on the southern side
of the camp, constructed near the eastern as well as the western
gate, would be of advantage to the strength of the camp. For
remember, it is not the natives alone who may wish to assail you,
but the Arabs and their followers may, through some cause or other,
quarrel with you and assail your camp.
Our course from here will be due east, or by magnetic compass east
by south as near as possible. Certain marches that we may make may
not exactly lead in the direction aimed at. Nevertheless, it is the
south-west corner of Lake Albert, near or at Kavalli, that is our
destination. When we arrive there we shall form a strong camp in
the neighbourhood, launch our boat, and steer for Kibero, in
Unyoro, to hear from Signor Casati, if he is there, of the
condition of Emin Pasha. If the latter is alive, and in the
neighbourhood of the Lake, we shall communicate with him, and our
after conduct must be guided by what we shall learn of the
intentions of Emin Pasha. We may assume that we shall not be longer
than a fortnight with him before deciding on our return towards the
camp along the same road traversed by us.
We will endeavour, by blazing trees and cutting saplings along our
road, to leave sufficient traces of the route taken by us. We shall
always take, by preference, tracks leading eastward. At all
crossings where paths intersect, we shall hoe up and make a hole a
few inches deep across all paths not used by us, besides blazing
trees when possible.
It may happen, should Tippu-Tib have sent the full number of adults
promised by him to me, viz., 600 men (able to carry loads), and the
_Stanley_ has arrived safely with the 125 men left by me at Bolobo,
that you will feel yourself sufficiently competent to march the
column, with all the goods brought by the _Stanley_, and those left
by me at Yambuya, along the road pursued by me. In that event,
which would be very desirable, you will follow closely our route,
and before many days we should most assuredly meet. No doubt you
will find our bomas intact and standing, and you should endeavour
to make your marches so that you could utilise these as you
marched. Better guides than those bomas of our route could not be
made. If you do not meet them in the course of two days' march, you
may rest assured that you are not on our route.
It may happen, also, that though Tippu-Tib has sent some men, he
has not sent enough to carry the goods with your own force. In that
case you will, of course, use your discretion as to what goods you
can dispense with to enable you to march. For this purpose you
should study your list attentively.
1st. Ammunition, especially fixed, is most important.
2nd. Beads, brass wire, cowries and cloth, rank next.
3rd. Private luggage.
4th. Powder and caps.
5th. European provisions.
6th. Brass rods as used on the Congo.
7th. Provisions (rice, beans, peas, millet, biscuits).
Therefore you must consider, after rope, sacking, tools, such as
shovels (never discard an axe or bill-hook), how many sacks of
provisions you can distribute among your men to enable you to
march--whether half your brass rods in the boxes could not go also,
and there stop. If you still cannot march, then it would be better
to make two marches of six miles twice over, if you prefer marching
to staying for our arrival, than throw too many things away.
With the _Stanley's_ final departure from Yambuya, you should not
fail to send a report to Mr. William Mackinnon, c/o Gray, Dawes and
Co., 13, Austin Friars, London, of what has happened at your camp
in my absence, or when I started away eastward; whether you have
heard of or from me at all, when you do expect to hear, and what
you purpose doing. You should also send him a true copy of this
order, that the Relief Committee may judge for themselves whether
you have acted, or propose to act, judiciously.
Your present garrison shall consist of 80 rifles, and from 40 to 50
supernumeraries. The _Stanley_ is to bring you within a few weeks
50 more rifles and 75 supernumeraries, under Messrs. Troup, Ward
and Bonny.
I associate Mr. J. S. Jameson with you at present. Messrs. Troup,
Ward and Bonny, will submit to your authority. In the ordinary
duties of the defence, and the conduct of the camp or of the march,
there is only one chief, which is yourself; but, should any vital
step be proposed to be taken, I beg you will take the voice of Mr.
Jameson also. And when Messrs, Troup and Ward are here, pray admit
them to your confidence, and let them speak freely their opinions.
I think I have written very clearly upon everything that strikes me
as necessary. Your treatment of the natives, I suggest, should
depend entirely upon their conduct to you. Suffer them to return to
the neighbouring villages in peace, and if you can in any manner by
moderation, small gifts occasionally of brass rods, &c., hasten an
amicable intercourse, I should recommend you doing so. Lose no
opportunity of obtaining all kinds of information respecting the
natives, the position of the various villages in your
neighbourhood, &c., &c.
I have the honour to be, your obedient servant,
Henry M. Stanley.
_Commanding Expedition._
The Major withdrew to read it, and then requested Mr. Jameson to make a
few copies.
About two o'clock the Major returned to me and asked for an interview. He
said he desired to speak with me concerning Tippu-Tib.
"I should like to know, sir, something more regarding this Arab. When I
was delayed a few days ago at the Falls, you were pleased to deliver some
rather energetic orders to Lieutenant Stairs. It strikes me that you are
exceedingly suspicious of him, and if so, I really cannot see why you
should have anything to do with such a man."
"Well, sir, I shall be pleased to discuss him with you, or any other
subject," I replied.
"Three days before your steamer was sighted coming up river, I must
confess to have been very anxious about you. You were in command of a
steamer which belonged to other parties to whom we were pledged to return
her within a certain time. You had a company of forty soldiers,
Soudanese, as your escort. The vessel was well fitted and in perfect
order. We knew the time you ought to have occupied, provided no accident
occurred, and as your instructions were positively to depart from Stanley
Falls, as soon as the cow promised by our friend Ngalyema was aboard, and
if she was not forthcoming within an hour you were to slip away down
river. Assuming that no accident happened and that you obeyed orders, you
should have been here on the evening of the 16th, or on the 17th at the
latest. You did not arrive until 5 P.M. on the 22nd.
"We have no telegraphs here, or posts. As we could gain no intelligence
of you, my anxiety about you created doubts. As one day after another
passed, doubts became actual dread that something unaccountable had
occurred. Had you struck a snag, run aground, like the _Stanley_ and
_Royal_ did, as almost all steamers do, had you been assaulted by natives
in the night like Captain Deane in the A. I. A. at Bunga, had your
Soudanese mutinied as they threatened to do at Lukungu, had you been shot
as a Soudanese regiment shot all their white officers in the Soudan once,
had you been detained by force because Tippu-Tib had been over persuaded
to do by those young fire-eaters of Arabs at the Falls, had you
quarrelled with those young fellows, the two Salims, as Stairs and
Jephson did below Stanley Pool. If not, what had occurred? Could I, could
anybody suggest anything else?"
"But I was obliged----"
"Never mind, my dear Major, say no more about it. Don't think of
defending yourself. I am not mentioning these things to complain of you,
but replying to your question. All is well that ends safely.
"Now as to Tippu-Tib. I have nothing to do with Tippu-Tib, but from
necessity, for your sake as well as mine. He claims this is his
territory. We are on it as his friends. Supposing we had not made
agreement with him, how long should we be left to prepare for the march
to the Albert, or how long would you be permitted to remain here, before
you had to answer the question why you were on his territory? Could I
possibly leave you here, with my knowledge of what they are capable
of--alone? With eighty rifles against probably 3000, perhaps 5000 guns?
Why, Major, I am surprised that you who have seen Stanley Falls, and some
hundreds of the Arabs should ask the question?
"You have accompanied Tippu-Tib and nearly a hundred of his followers
from Zanzibar. You have seen what boyish delight they took in their
weapons, their Winchesters, and valuable double-barrelled rifles. You
know the story of Deane's fight at Stanley Falls. You know that Tippu-Tib
is vindictive, that his fiery nephews would like a fight better than
peace. You know that he meditated war against the Congo State, and that I
had to pass on a relief mission through a portion of his territory. Why
how can you--grown to the rank of Major--ask such questions, or doubt the
why and wherefore of acts which are as clear as daylight?
"Our transport the _Madura_ was in Zanzibar harbour. The owner of this
district, as he calls himself, was preparing munitions against all white
men on the Congo, resenting and resentful. Would it have been prudent for
me to have left this man in such a state? That he prepared for war
against the State did not materially affect me, but that he intended
doing so while I had to pass through his territory, and in his
neighbourhood on a humane mission was everything. Therefore I was as much
interested in this affair of patching up a peace between the Congo State
and King Leopold as His Majesty himself was, and more so indeed.
"And I suppose you will ask me next how does it affect your personal
interests? Have you not told me over and over again that you are burning
to accompany us, that you would infinitely prefer marching to waiting
here? And is it not understood according to your letter of
instructions--that failing Tippu-Tib's appearance with his 600 carriers,
you are to make double-stages, or triple-stages rather than stay at
Yambuya?
"Look at these pencilled calculations on this paper--nay, you can keep
it, if you please. They represent what you can do with your own men, and
what you can do assuming that Tippu-Tib really keeps to the letter of his
contract.
"Now I have grounded my instructions principally on your impetuous answer
to me at Bolobo. 'By Jove! I will not stay a day at Yambuya after I get
my column together!'
"See here! The letter says--'It may happen that Tippu-Tib has sent some
men, but not sent enough; therefore, you know, use your discretion;
dispense with No. 7, provisions, such as rice, beans, peas, millet,
biscuits. See how many sacks of provisions you can issue out to your
men--they will eat them fast enough, I warrant you.'
"It goes on--'If you still cannot march, then it would be better to make
marches of six miles twice over--that is, to go one march of six miles,
and then return to fetch another lot, and march forward again. Such as my
work was on the Congo, when with 68 men I made 33 round trips on the
stretch of 52 miles to take 2000 loads--5 immense waggons and make a
waggon road, building bridges, etc.' That pencilled paper in your hand
informs you how many miles you can do in this fashion in six months.
"But this is how my pact with Tippu-Tib affects you personally. If
Tippu-Tib performs his contract faithfully, then on the arrival of the
_Stanley_ with Messrs. Ward, Troup, and Bonny, and their men, you can set
out from Yambuya within a day or two, and perhaps overtake us, or on our
return from the Albert we shall meet before many days.
"Now which would you personally prefer doing? Travelling backwards and
forwards from camp to camp, twice, or perhaps thrice, or have Tippu-Tib
with 600 carriers to help your 200 carriers, and march at a swinging pace
through the woods on our track, straight for the Albert Nyanza?"
"Oh, there is not a doubt of it. I should prefer marching straight away
and try and catch up with you. Naturally."
"Well, do you begin to understand why I have been sweet, and good, and
liberal to Tippu-Tib? Why I have given him free passage and board for
himself and followers from Zanzibar to Stanley Falls? Why I have shared
the kid and the lamb with him?"
"Quite."
"Not quite yet, I am afraid, Major, otherwise you would not have doubted
me. There is still a serious reason.
"Assuming, for instance, that I had not brought Tippu-Tib here, that the
Arabs at Stanley Falls were not wrathy with white men for Deane's affair,
or that they would fear attacking you. They had but to affect friendship
with you, sell you goats and food, and then tell your Zanzibaris that
their settlement was but six or seven days away--where they had plenty of
rice and fish and oil to tempt three-fourths of your men to desert in a
few days, while you were innocently waiting for the Bolobo contingent;
and no sooner would the other fellows have reached here than they would
hear of the desertion of their comrades for the Falls, and follow suit
either wholesale or by twos and threes, sixes and tens, until you would
have been left stranded completely. Is it not the fear of this desertion
that was one of the reasons I chose the Congo? Having Tippu-Tib as my
friend and engaged to me, I have put a stop to the possibility of any
wholesale desertion.
"Let these reasons sink into your mind, Major, my dear fellow. Yet
withal, your column may be ruined if you are not very careful. Be tender
and patient with your people, for they are as skittish as young colts.
Still, it was with these people, or men like them, that I crossed
Africa--followed the course of the Congo to the sea, and formed the Congo
State."
"Well, now, say do you think Tippu-Tib will keep his contract, and bring
his 600 people?" asked the Major.
"You ought to know that as well as I myself. What did he say to you
before you left him?"
"He said he would be here in nine days, as he told you at Bangala.
Inshallah!" replied the Major, mimicking the Arab.
"If Tippu-Tib is here in nine days, it will be the biggest wonder I have
met."
"Why?" asked the Major, looking up half wonderingly.
"Because to provide 600 carriers is a large order. He will not be here in
fifteen days or even twenty days. We must be reasonable with the man. He
is not an European--taught to be rigidly faithful to his promise.
Inshallah! was it he said? To-morrow--Inshallah means the day after--or
five days hence, or ten days. But what does it matter to you if he does
not come within twenty days? The _Stanley_ will not be here until the
10th, or perhaps the middle of August; that will be about seven
weeks--forty-two days--hence. He has abundance of time. What do you want
to look after 600 men in your camp doing nothing, waiting for the
steamer? Idle men are mischievous. No; wait for him patiently until the
_Stanley_ comes, and if he has not appeared by that time he will not come
at all."
"But it will be a severe job for us if he does not appear at all, to
carry 500 or 600 loads with 200 carriers, to and fro, backwards and
forwards, day after day!
"Undoubtedly, my dear Major, it is not a light task by any means. But
which would you prefer; stay here, waiting for us to return from the
Albert, or to proceed little by little--gaining something each day--and
be absorbed in your work?"
"Oh, my God! I think staying here for months would be a deuced sight the
worse."
"Exactly what I think, and, therefore, I made these calculations for you.
I assure you, Major, if I were sure that you could find your way to the
Albert, I would not mind doing this work of yours myself, and appoint you
commander of the advance column, rather than have any anxiety about
you."
"But tell me, Mr. Stanley, how long do you suppose it will be before we
meet?"
"God knows. None can inform me what lies ahead here, or how far the
forest extends inland. Whether there are any roads, or what kind of
natives, cannibals, incorrigible savages, dwarfs, gorillas. I have not
the least idea. I wish I had; and would give a handsome sum for the
knowledge even. But that paper in your hand, on which I have calculated
how long it will take me to march to the Albert Nyanza, is based on this
fact. In 1874 and 1875 I travelled 720 miles in 103 days. The distance
from here to the Albert Nyanza is about 330 geographical miles in a
straight line. Well, in 1874-75, I travelled 330 geographical
miles--Bagamoyo to Vinyata, in Ituru, in 64 days; from Lake Uhimba to
Ujiji, 330 miles, in 54 days. These were, of course, open countries, with
tolerably fair roads, whereas this is absolutely unknown. Is it all a
forest?--then it will be an awful work. How far does the forest reach
inland? A hundred--two hundred--three hundred miles? There is no answer.
Let us assume we can do the journey to the Albert in three months; that I
am detained a fortnight, and that I am back in three months afterwards.
Well, I shall meet you coming toward me, if Tippu-Tib is not with you,
the latter part of October or November. It is all down on that paper.
"But it is immaterial. The thing has to be done. We will go ahead, we
will blaze the trees, and mark our track through the forest for you. We
will avail ourselves of every advantage--any path easterly will suit me
until I bore through and through it, and come out on the plains or
pastureland. And where we go, you can go. If we can't go on, you will
hear from us somehow. Are you now satisfied?"
"Perfectly," he replied. "I have it all here," touching his
forehead--"and this paper and letter will be my reminders. But there is
one thing I should like to speak about, it refers to something you said
to me in London."
"Ah, indeed. What was said that was in any way peculiar?" I asked.
"Well"--here there was a little hesitation--"do you remember when Mr.
----, of the India Office, introduced me to you? The words you used
sounded strangely, as though someone had been warning you against me."
"My dear Barttelot, take my word for it, I don't remember to have heard
the name of Barttelot before I heard your name. But you interest me. What
could I have possibly said that was any way peculiar to cling to your
memory like this? I remember the circumstance well?"
"The fact is," he said, "you said something about 'forbearance,' which
reminded me that I had heard that word before, when General ---- pitched
into me about punishing a Somali mutineer in the desert during the Soudan
campaign. I was all alone with the Somalis when they turned on me, and I
sprang upon the ringleader at last when there was no other way of
reducing them to order and pistolled him, and at once the Somalis became
quiet as lambs. I thought that General ----, who is not remarkable for
goodwill to me, had mentioned the affair to you."
"Indeed. I never heard the story before, and I do not understand how
General ---- could have warned me, considering he could not have known
you were going to apply for membership. It was your own face which
inspired the word forbearance. Your friend introduced you to me as a
distinguished officer full of pluck and courage; upon which I said that
those qualities were common characteristics of British officers, but I
would prefer to hear of another quality which would be of equal value for
a peculiar service in Africa--and that was forbearance. You will excuse
me now, I hope, for saying that I read on your face immense determination
and something like pugnacity. Now a pugnacious fellow, though very useful
at times, you know, is not quite so useful for an expedition like
this--which is to work in an atmosphere of irritability--as a man who
knows not only how and when to fight, but also how to forbear. Why, a
thousand causes provoke irritation and friction here between himself and
fellow-officers his own followers and natives, and frequently between
himself and his own person. Here is bad food always, often none at all, a
miserable diet at the best, no stimulant, incessant toil and worry,
intense discomfort, relaxed muscles, weariness amounting to fainting,
and, to cap all, dreadful racking fevers, urging one to curse the day he
ever thought of Africa. A pugnacious man is naturally ill-tempered, and
unless he restrains his instincts, and can control his impulses, he is in
hot water every minute of his existence, and will find cross rubs with
every throb of his heart. To be able to forbear, to keep down rigorously
all bitter feelings, to let the thoughts of his duty, his position, plead
against the indulgence of his passions. Ah, that quality, while it does
not diminish courage, prevents the waste of natural force; but I don't
wish to preach to you, you know what I mean.
"And now to close--one word more about Tippu-Tib. Do you see that Maxim
out there with its gaping muzzle. I regard Tippu-Tib somewhat as I do
that. It is an excellent weapon for defence. A stream of bullets can be
poured out of it, but it may get jammed, and its mechanism become
deranged from rust or want of good oil. In that event we rely on our
Remingtons, and Winchester Repeaters. If Tippu-Tib is disposed to help
us--he will be a most valuable auxiliary--failure becomes impossible, we
shall complete our work admirably. If he is not disposed, then we must do
what we can with our own men, and goodwill covers a multitude of errors.
"Do you remember that in 1876 Tippu-Tib broke his contract with me, and
returned to Nyangwe, leaving me alone. Well, with about 130 of my own
men, I drove my way down the Congo despite his sneer. You said you met
Dr. Lenz, the Austrian traveller, at Lamu, after having failed to reach
Emin Pasha. Why did he fail? He relied on Tippu-Tib alone; he had no
private reserve of force to fall back upon. You have over 200 carriers
and 50 soldiers, besides servants and efficient companions. On the Congo
work I was promised a contingent of natives to assist me. Only a few
came, and those deserted; but I had a faithful reserve of sixty-eight
men--they were the fellows who made the Congo State. You remember my
letter to the _Times_, where I said, 'We do not want Tippu-Tib to assist
us in finding Emin Pasha. We want him to carry ammunition, and on his
return to bring away ivory to help pay the expenses of the Mission.'
Then, as a last proof of how I regard Tippu-Tib, do not forget that
written order to Lieutenant Stairs a few days ago, to rake his settlement
with the machine gun upon the least sign of treachery. You have read that
letter. You ought to know that the gage of battle is not thrown in the
face of a trusted friend.
"Now, Major, my dear fellow, don't be silly. I know you feel sore because
you are not to go with us in the advance. You think you will lose some
_kudos_. Not a bit of it. Ever since King David, those who remain with
the stuff, and those who go to the war, receive the same honours.
Besides, I don't like the word 'kudos.' The kudos impulse is like the pop
of a ginger-beer bottle, good for a V.C. or an Albert medal, but it
effervesces in a month of Africa. It is a damp squib, Major. Think rather
of Tennyson's lines:--
"Not once or twice in our fair island story
Has the path of duty been the way to glory."
There, shake hands upon this, Major. For us the word is 'Right Onward';
for you 'Patience and Forbearance.' I want my tea. I am dry with
talking."
On the 25th the stockade was completed all round the camp, the ditch was
approaching completion. Barttelot superintended the works on one side;
Jephson, in shirt-sleeves, looked over another. Nelson was distributing
the European provisions--share and share alike; our Doctor, cheery,
smiling, anxious as though he were at a surgical operation, was
constructing a gate, and performed the carpenter's operation in such a
manner that I wrote in my diary that evening, "He is certainly one of the
best fellows alive." Jameson was busy copying the letter of instructions.
Stairs was in bed with a severe bilious fever.
A Soudanese soldier, as innocent as a lamb cropping sweet grass before a
fox's covert, trespassed for the sake of loot near a native village, and
was speared through the abdomen. It is the second fatal case resulting
from looting. It will not be our last. We place a Soudanese on guard;
his friend comes along, exchanges a word or two with him, and passes on,
with the completest unconsciousness of danger that can be imagined. If
not slain outright, he returns with a great gash in his body and a look
of death in his face. The Zanzibari is set to labour at cutting wood or
collecting manioc; he presently drops his task, utters an excuse for
withdrawing for a moment--a thought glances across his vacuous mind, and
under the impulse he hastes away, to be reported by-and-by as missing.
On the 26th I drew out a memorandum for the officers of the Advance
Column, of which the following is a copy:--
We propose to commence our march the day after to-morrow, the 28th
of June, 1887.
The distance we have to traverse is about 330 geographical miles in
an air line--or about 550 miles English, provided we do not find a
path more than ordinarily winding.
If we make an average of ten miles per day we ought to be able to
reach the Albert within two months.
In 1871 my Expedition after Livingstone performed 360 English miles
in 54 days = about 6-1/2 miles per day.
In 1874 my Expedition across Africa performed 360 English miles in
64 days, viz., from Bagamoyo to Vinyata = 5-3/4 miles per day.
In 1874-75 the same Expedition reached Lake Victoria from Bagamoyo,
720 miles distance in 103 days = 7 miles per day.
In 1876 the same Expedition traversed 360 miles, the distance from
Lake Uhimba to Ujiji in 59 days = 6-1/10 miles per day.
Therefore if we travel the distance to Kavalli, say 550 miles at an
average of 6 miles per day, we should reach Lake Albert about the
last day of September.
A conception of the character of more than half of the country to
be traversed may be had by glancing at our surroundings. It will be
a bush and forested country with a native path more or less crooked
connecting the various settlements of the tribes dwelling in it.
The track now and then will be intersected by others connecting the
tribes north of our route and those south of it.
The natives will be armed with shields, spears and knives, or with
bows and arrows.
As our purpose is to march on swiftly through the country, we take
the natives considerably by surprise. They cannot confederate or
meet us in any force, because they will have no time. Whatever
hostilities we may meet will be the outcome of impulse, and that
naturally an angry one. Officers must therefore be prompt to resist
these impulsive attacks, and should at all times now see that their
Winchester magazines are loaded, and their bearers close to them.
Side arms should not be dispensed with on any account.
The order of the march will be as follows:
At dawn the _reveille_ will sound as usual.
First by the Soudanese trumpeter attached to No. 1 Company.
Second by the bugle attached to Captain Stairs's Company, No.
2--Captain Stairs.
Third by the trumpeter attached to the No. 3 Company--Captain
Nelson.
Fourth by the drummer attached to Captain Jephson's No. 4 Company.
Officers will feed early on coffee and biscuit, and see that their
men are also strengthening themselves for the journey.
At 6 A.M. the march of the day will begin, led by a band of 50
pioneers armed with rifles, bill-hooks and axes, forming the
advance guard under myself.
The main body will then follow after 15 minutes, led by an officer
whose turn it is to be at the head of it, whose duty will be
specially to see that he follows the route indicated by "blazing"
or otherwise.
This column will consist of all bearers, and all men sick or well
who are not detailed for rear guard. The major part of three
companies will form the column. Close to the rear of it, keeping
well up, will be the officer whose turn it is to maintain order in
rear of the main body.
The rear guard will consist of 30 men under an officer selected for
the day to protect the column from attacks in the rear. These men
will not be loaded with anything beyond their private kits. No
member of the Expedition must be passed by the rear guard. All
stragglers must be driven on at all costs, because the person left
behind is irretrievably lost.
At the head of the main body will be the head-quarter tents and
private luggage, immediately succeeding the officer in command.
This officer will also have to be on the alert for signals by
trumpets, to communicate them to those in the rear, or be ready to
receive signals from the front and pass the word behind.
The advance guard will "blaze" the path followed, cut down
obstructing creepers, and, on arrival at camp, set to at once for
building the boma or bushfence. As fast as each company arrives
assistance must be given for this important work of defence. No
camp is to be considered complete until it is fenced around by bush
or trees. Those unemployed in this duty will erect tents.
The boma must be round with two gates well masked by at least five
yards of bush.
The diameter of the camp should be about 250 feet. Tents and
baggage piled in the centre, the huts will range around an inner
circle of about 200 feet in diameter.
[Illustration: DIAGRAM OF OUR FOREST CAMPS.]
The above relates only to the circumstances attending the transit
of a caravan through a dangerous country, unattended by more than
the troubles naturally arising from the impulsive attacks of
savages.
The pulse of the country which we shall traverse will be felt by
the advance guard, of course. If the obstacles in the front are
serious, and threaten to be something more than a mere impulse, or
temporary, messages will be sent to the main body announcing their
character.
Wherever practicable we shall camp in villages, if the natives have
deserted them, for the sake of obtaining food, but such villages
must be rendered defensive at once. Officers should remember that
it is in the nature of their black soldiers, Soudanese, Somalis or
Zanzibaris, to be thoughtless and indifferent, to scatter
themselves about in the most heedless manner. They must take my
assurance that more lives are lost in this manner than by open
warfare. Therefore their men's lives I consider are in the hands of
their officers, and the officer who will not relax his energy and
rigid enforcement of orders until everything is made snug and tight
for the night, will be the most valuable assistant in this
Expedition for me. Arriving at the intended halting place for the
night, if a village, the officer should first cast his eyes about
for lodgment of his people; select such as will be uniform with
those already occupied by the preceding company, and those to be
occupied by the succeeding company or companies; then turn to and
destroy all those lying without the occupied circle, or use their
timbers, all material in the vicinity to defend his quarters from
night attack by fire or spear. A cue will be given when and how to
do things by the conduct of the advance guard, but the officer must
not fail to ascertain what this cue is, nor wait to be told every
petty detail. He must consider himself as the Father of his
Company, and act always as a wise leader should act.
At all such village camps, Lieutenant Stairs will see to the
nightly guards being placed at the more accessible points, every
company serving out details as may be necessary.
During the first week we will not attempt any very long marches,
that the people and ourselves may be broken in gently, but after a
fourth of the distance has been made the marches will sensibly
lengthen, and I anticipate that, before the half of the journey has
been performed, we shall be capable of making wonderful progress.
Further memoranda will be furnished when necessary.
Yambuya. (Signed) Henry M. Stanley.
_June 26th, 1887._ _Commanding Expedition_.
I close this chapter with a quotation from my diary made on the last
evening.
"_Yambuya, June 27th._--Our men claimed a holiday to-day because it had
been deferred until the steamers were despatched, and the camp was
fortified for the protection of the garrison. Numbers of things had also
to be done. Companies had to be re-organized, since several had sickened
since leaving Bolobo, the weak had to be picked out, and the four
companies selected for the march ought to be in as perfect condition as
possible. Our pioneer's tools required numbering. Out of one hundred
bill-hooks there were only twenty-six, out of one hundred axes there were
left twenty-two, out of one hundred hoes there were only sixty-one, out
of one hundred shovels there were but sixty-seven. All the rest had been
stolen, and sold to the natives or thrown away. It is a trying work to
look after such reckless people.
"Three hundred and eighty-nine souls will march to-morrow--God
permitting--into the absolutely unknown. From a native I have heard of
names of tribes, or sections of tribes, but of their strength or
disposition I know nothing.
"Yesterday we made blood-brotherhood with one of the chiefs of Yambuya.
As the Major was Commandant of the post, he went bravely through the
ceremony, which was particularly disgusting. On the flowing blood a pinch
of dirty salt was placed, and this had to be licked. The chief performed
his part as though he loved it. The Major looked up and saw the cynical
faces of his friends and was mortified.
"'To ensure peace!'
"'Even so,' replied the Major, and sacrificed his taste.
"These forest natives have not been able to win any great regard from me
yet. They are cowardly, and at the same time vicious. They lie oftener
than any open country folk. I do not credit any statement or profession
made by them. At the same time I hope that after better acquaintance
there will be a change. This chief received a liberal gift from the hand
of the Major, and in return he received a fortnight-old chick and a
feathered bonnet of plaited cane. The oft-promised goat and ten fowls had
not yet been seen. And the blood of a Soudanese soldier has been spilled,
and we have not avenged it. We are either so poor in spirit, or so
indifferent to the loss of a man, that a stalwart soldier, worth twenty
of these natives, can be slain unavenged. Not only that, but we entreat
them to come often and visit us, for they have fish and goats, fowls,
eggs, and what not to sell of which we would be buyers. This perhaps will
go on for some weeks more.
"It is raining to-night, and the morrow's march will be an uncomfortable
one. Stairs is so sick that he cannot move, and yet he is anxious to
accompany us. It is rather rash to undertake carrying a man in his
condition, though, if death is the issue, it comes as easy in the jungle
as in the camp. Dr. Parke has made me exceedingly uncomfortable by saying
that it is enteric fever. I lean to bilious fever. We shall put him in a
hammock and trust for a favourable issue."
The Advance Force will consist of:--
No. 1 company 113 men and boys 99 rifles
" 2 " 90 " 85 "
" 3 " 90 " 87 "
" 4 " 90 " 86 "
Officers--Self 1 "
" Stairs 1 "
" Nelson 1 "
" Jephson 1 "
" Parke 1 "
European servant 1 "
--- ---
389 " 357 "
The garrison of Yambuya consists of:--
Soudanese 44 men 44 rifles
Zanzibaris 71 " 38 "
Barttelot's servants 3 "
Jameson's " 2 "
Sowahis 5 "
Sick men 2 "
Barttelot personally 1 " 3 "
Jameson " 1 " 2 "
--- --
129 " 87 "
--- --
Contingent at Bolobo to be joined to garrison of Yambuya:--
Zanzibaris 128 men and boys 52 rifles
John Rose Troup 1 "
Herbert Ward 1 "
William Bonny 1 "
--- ---
131 men 52 "
Advance force 389 men 357 rifles
Yambuya garrison 129 " 87 "
Bolobo, Kinshassa, &c. 131 " 52 "
--- ---
649 " 496 "
--- ---
Loss of men from Zanzibar to}
Yambuya } 57 " 28 "
--- ---
706 " 524 "
--- ---
-----
[G] She arrived on the 14th of August. Had been detained a
few days by running on a snag.
[H] Tippu-Tib's 600 carriers.