FROM THE ALBERT NYANZA TO THE INDIAN OCEAN.
Emin Pasha’s Indecision -- Much Time Wasted -- Stanley Grows Impatient
-- Jephson’s Report -- Stanley Demands Positive Action, and Threatens
to March Homeward on February 13th -- Receives Emin’s Reply, Accepting
the Escort, on the Day he had Proposed to Begin his Return March --
Stanley Furnishes Carriers to Help him Up with his Luggage -- Stanley
Greatly Hindered by the Suspicions of the Natives -- Convalescent from
his Recent Severe Illness, Stanley leaves Kavalli with his United
Expedition, for the Indian Ocean, April 12th -- Letter of Lieutenant
W. G. Stairs -- Reaches Ursulala -- Stanley’s Letter to Sir Francis de
Winston -- Expeditions Fitted Out and Forwarded to the Interior to
Meet Stanley -- Stanley reaches Msuwah November 29th -- Meets the
“Herald” Commissioner -- Reaches Mbiki, December 1st -- Kigiro,
December 3d -- Bagamoyo, December 4th -- Grand Reception Accorded
Stanley at Bagamoyo -- Enter Zanzibar December 5th -- Sad Accident
Befalls Emin Pasha -- Seriously, if not Fatally, Injured -- The End of
a Remarkable and Extraordinary Expedition -- The Closing Words of
Stanley’s Story.
In a previous chapter reference is made to the hesitancy shown by Emin
Pasha, Casati, and followers, to accept the escort of Stanley out of the
country, and the time that was wasted in considering the proper step to
take. That our reader may more fully comprehend how the patience of
Stanley was tried at this time, we will quote from his letter to Sir
William McKinnon, under date of August, 1889. In referring to this
matter, Stanley says:--
“If you will bear in mind that August 17, 1888, after a march of six
hundred miles to hunt up the rear column, I met only a miserable remnant
of it, wrecked by the irresolution of its officers, neglect of their
promises, and indifference to their written orders, you will readily
understand why after another march of seven hundred miles I was a little
put out when I discovered that, instead of performing their promise of
conducting the garrison of Fort Bodo to Nyanza, Mr. Jephson and Emin
Pasha had allowed themselves to be made prisoners on or about the very
day they were expected by the garrison of Fort Bodo to reach them. It
could not be pleasant reading to find that, instead of being able to
relieve Emin Pasha, I was more than likely, by the tenor of these
letters, to lose one of my own officers to add to the number of
Europeans in that unlucky Equatorial province. However, a personal
interview with Jephson was necessary in the first place to understand
fairly or fully the state of affairs. February 6, 1889, Jephson arrived
in the afternoon at our camp at Kavalli on a plateau. I was startled to
hear Mr. Jephson in plain, undoubting words say, ‘Sentiment is Pasha’s
worst enemy. No one keeps Emin Pasha back but Emin Pasha himself.’ This
is a summary of what Jephson had learned during the nine months from May
25, 1888, to February 6, 1889. I gathered sufficient from Jephson’s
verbal report to conclude that during the nine months neither Pasha,
Signor Casati, nor any man in the province had arrived nearer any other
conclusion than that which was told us ten months before this:
“The Pasha--‘If my people go, I go. If they stay, I stay.’
“Signor Casati--‘If the Governor goes, I go. If the Governor stays, I
stay.’
“The Faithful--‘If the Pasha goes, we go. If the Pasha stays, we stay.’
“However, a diversion in our favor was created by the Mahdist’s
invasion, and the dreadful slaughter they made of all they met inspired
us with a hope that we could get a definite answer at last, though Mr.
Jephson could only reply: ‘I really cannot tell you what Pasha means to
do. He says he wishes to go away, but will not make a move. No one will
move. It is impossible to say what any man will do. Perhaps another
advance by the Mahdists would send them all pell-mell towards Utoagin.
They are irresolute, and require several weeks’ rest to consider
again.’”
In February, however, Stanley despatched a messenger with orders to
Lieutenant Stairs to hasten with his column to Kavalli, with a view to
concentrate the expedition ready for any contingency. Couriers were also
dispatched to Pasha telling him of these movements and intentions, and
asking him to point out how they could best aid him--whether it would be
best for them to remain at Kavalli, or whether they should advance into
the province and assist him at Mswa or Tangura Island, where Jephson had
left him. Stanley suggested the simplest plan for him would be to seize
the steamer and employ her in the transport of refugees, who he heard
were collected in numbers at Tangura, to his (Stanley’s) old camp on the
Nyanza; or that, failing with the steamer, he should march overland from
Tangura to Mswa, and send a canoe to inform him that he had done so,
when, a few days after, he (Stanley) could be at Mswa with two hundred
and fifty rifles to escort them to Kavalli. But Stanley demanded
something positive, otherwise it would be his duty to destroy the
ammunition and march homeward on the 13th of February.
[Illustration: TIPPU-TIB.]
The following letter, by a courier, was received by Stanley from Emin
Pasha, much to his astonishment, on the very day he had proposed to
begin the homeward march, Emin being then actually at anchor just below
his camp:--
CAMP, February 13, 1889.
HENRY M. STANLEY, Commanding Relief Expedition.
Sir:--In answer to your letter of the 7th inst., for which I beg to
tender my best thanks, I have the honor to inform you that yesterday
at three I arrived here with my two steamers carrying the first lot of
people desirous to leave this country under your escort. As soon as I
have arranged for cover of my people, steamships have to start for
Mswa station to bring on another lot of people awaiting
transportation. With me there are some twelve officers anxious to see
you and only forty soldiers. They have come under my orders to request
you to give them some time to bring their brothers, at least such as
are willing to leave, from Wadelai, and I promised them to do my best
to assist them. Things having to some extent now changed, you will be
able to make them undergo whatever conditions you see fit to impose
upon them. To arrange these matters I shall start from here with
officers for your camp, and if you send carriers I could avail me of
some of them. I hope sincerely that the great difficulties you have
had to undergo and the great sacrifices made by your expedition to
assist us may be rewarded by full success in bringing out my people.
The wave of insanity which overran the country has subsided, and of
such people as are now coming with me we may be sure. Sig. Casati
requests me to give his best thanks for your kind remembrance of him.
Permit me to express to you once more my cordial thanks for whatever
you have done for us until now, and believe me to be, yours,
faithfully,
DR. EMIN.
During the interval between Jephson’s arrival and the receipt of this
letter Jephson had written pretty full reports of all that he had heard
from Pasha, Signor Casati, and the Egyptian soldiers, of the principal
events that had transpired within the last few years in the Equatorial
province. In Jephson’s report appear such sentences as the following:
“And this leads me to say a few words concerning the position of affairs
in this country. When I entered it, April 21, 1888, the first battalion
of about seven hundred rifles had been long in rebellion against Pasha’s
authority, and had twice attempted to make him prisoner. The second
battalion of about six hundred and fifty rifles, though professedly
loyal, was insubordinate and almost unmanageable. Pasha possessed only a
semblance, a mere rag of authority, and if he required anything of
importance to be done he could no longer order, he was obliged to beg
his officers to do it. Now, when we were at Nzabe, in May, 1888, though
Pasha hinted things were a little difficult in his country, he never
revealed to us the true state of things, which was actually desperate,
and we had not the slightest idea that any mutiny or discontent was
likely to arise among his people. We thought, as most people in Europe
and Egypt had been taught to believe by the Pasha’s own letters and
Juncker’s later representations, that all his difficulties arose from
events outside his country, whereas in point of fact his danger arose
from internal dissensions. Thus we were led to place our trust in people
who were utterly unworthy of our confidence or help, and who, instead of
being grateful to us for wishing to help them, have from the first
conspired how to plunder the expedition and turn us adrift; and had the
mutineers in their highly-excited state been able to prove one single
case of injustice, cruelty, or neglect of his people against Pasha he
would most assuredly have lost his life in this rebellion.”
Jephson further says, in summing up his report:--
“As to Pasha’s wish to leave the country, I can say decidedly he is most
anxious to go out with us; but under what conditions he will consent to
come I can hardly understand. I do not think he knows himself. His ideas
seem to me to vary much on the subject. To-day he is ready to start up
and go; to-morrow some new idea holds him back. I have had many
conversations with him about it, but have never been able to get his
unchanging opinion on the subject. After this rebellion I remarked to
him: ‘I presume now that your people have deposed you, and put you
aside, you do not consider that you have any longer any responsibility
or obligations concerning them,’ and he answered: ‘Had they not deserted
me I should have felt bound to stand by them and help them in any way I
could, but now I consider I am absolutely free to think only of my own
personal safety and welfare; and if I get a chance I shall go out
regardless of everything.’ And yet only a few days before I left him he
said to me: ‘I know I am not in any way responsible for these people,
but I cannot bear to go out myself first and leave anyone here behind me
who is desirous of quitting the country. It is mere sentiment, I know,
and perhaps a sentiment you will not sympathize with, but my enemies at
Wadelai would point at me and say to the people, “You see he has
deserted you.”’ These are merely two examples of what passed between us
on the subject of his going out with us, but I could quote numbers of
things he has said all equally contradictory. Being somewhat impatient
after one of these unsatisfactory conversations, I said: ‘If ever the
expedition does reach any place near you I shall advise Mr. Stanley to
arrest you and carry you off, whether you will or not,’ to which he
replied: ‘Well, I shall do nothing to prevent you doing that.’ It seems
to me that if we are to have him we must save him from himself. Before
closing my report I must bear witness to the fact that, in my frequent
conversations with all sorts and conditions of the Pasha’s people, I
heard with hardly any exception only praise of his justice and
generosity to his people. But I have heard it suggested that he did not
hold his people with a sufficiently firm hand.”
In answer to Emin’s request, Stanley supplied him with carriers and
successfully aided him in bringing up his luggage and that of his
European companions.
Stanley in referring to the dangers which had menaced him, and the many
thrilling incidents that had crowded themselves, one upon another, to
this point of time, to say nothing of the innumerable perplexities,
says:--“There is virtue you know even in striving unyieldingly, in
hardening the nerves, and facing these overclinging mischances without
paying too much heed to the reputed danger. One is assisted much by
knowing that there are no other coups, and the danger somehow, nine
times out of ten, diminishes. The rebels of Emin Pasha’s government
relied on their craft and on the wiles of the Heathen Chinee, and it is
rather amusing to look back and note how punishment has fallen upon
them. Was it Providence or luck? Let those who love to analyze such
matters reflect. Traitors without the camp and traitors within were
watching, and the most active conspirator was discovered, tried, and
hanged. The traitors without fell afoul of one another and ruined
themselves. If not luck, then it is surely Providence in answer to good
men’s prayers. Far away our own people, tempted by extreme wretchedness
and misery, sold our rifles and ammunition to our natural enemies, the
Manyema, the slave-traders’ true friends, without the least grace in
either bodies or souls. What happy influence was it that restrained me
from destroying all those concerned in it? Each time I read the story of
Captain Nelson’s sufferings I feel vexed at my forbearance, and yet
again I feel thankful, for a higher power than man’s severely afflicted
the cold-blooded murderers by causing them to feed upon one another a
few weeks after the rescue and relief of Nelson and Parkes. The memory
of those days at times hardens and again unmans me. With the rescue of
Pasha, poor old Casati, and those who preferred Egypt’s fleshpots to the
coarse plenty of the province near Nyanza, we returned, and while we
were patiently waiting the doom of the rebels was consummated.
“Since that time of anxiety and unhappy outlook I have been at the point
of death from a dreadful illness. The strain had been too much, and for
twenty-eight days I lay helpless, tended by the kindly and skillful
hands of Surgeon Parkes. Then little by little I gathered strength, and
ordered the march for home. Discovery after discovery in that wonderful
region was made. Snowy ranges of the Ruevenzori (Cloud King or
Rain-Creator), the Semliki River, the Albert Edward Nyanza, the plains
of Noongora, the salt lakes of Kative, the new peoples Wakonju, great
mountain dwellers of a rich forest region; the Awamba, the fine-featured
Wazonira, the Wanyoro bandits, then the Lake Albert Edward tribes and
the shepherd races of the Eastern Uplands, then the Wanyankori, besides
the Wanyaruwamba and the Wazinya, until at last we came to a church
whose cross dominated a Christian settlement, and we knew that we had
reached the outskirts of blessed Civilization. We have every reason to
be grateful, and may that feeling be ever kept within me. Our promises
as volunteers have been performed as well as though we had been
specially commissioned by the Government.
“We have been all volunteers, each devoting his several gifts,
abilities, and energies to win a successful issue for the enterprise. If
there has been anything that sometimes clouded our thoughts it has been
that we were compelled by the state of Emin Pasha and his own people to
cause anxieties to our friends by serious delay. At every opportunity I
have endeavored to lessen these by despatching full accounts of our
progress to the committee, that through them all interested might be
acquainted with what we were doing. Some of my officers also have been
troubled in thought that their Government might not overlook their
having overstayed their leave; but the truth is, the wealth of the
British treasury could not have hastened our march without making
ourselves liable to impeachment for breach of faith, and the officers
were as much involved as myself in doing the thing honorably and well. I
hear there is great trouble, war, etc., between the Germans and Arabs of
Zanzibar. What influence this may have on our fortune I do not know, but
we trust nothing to interrupt our march to the sea, which will be begun
in a few days.”
Stanley had been greatly hindered also by the suspicions of the natives.
“It has been current talk in the provinces,” he says, “that we were
only a party of conspirators and adventurers; that the letters of the
Khedive and Nubar Pasha were forgeries concocted by the vile Christians,
Stanley and Casati, assisted by the Mohammedan, Emin Pasha.”
It had also been generally doubted, after Stanley’s expedition had
started, whether Emin Pasha might, after all, be in want of aid. On
September 28th, 1887, this doubt was fully confirmed by a letter from
him, dated April 17th of the same year, which represented him as saying:
“I have passed twelve years here, and have succeeded in re-occupying
nearly every station in the country which General Gordon entrusted to
me. I have won the confidence of the people, sowing the seed of a
splendid future civilization. It is out of the question to ask me to
leave. All I want England to do is to make a free tradeway to the
coast.” The various references to Emin in the recent letters of Stanley
clearly show that the German was far from ready at first to accept
Stanley’s escort to the east coast of Africa. And the letter of Emin
Pasha to the President of the Emin Relief Committee, thanking the
subscribers to the fund and the members of the fund for their generous
help, which “saved a handful of forlorn ones from destruction,”
conclusively establishes the fact that the acceptance of Stanley’s
escort was but a compulsory matter at the last moment.
On the 12th of April, Stanley having somewhat recovered from his severe
illness, and preparations having been fully completed for the march to
the Indian Ocean, the united expedition left Kavalli on the Albert
Nyanza. Of the experiences of the expedition on the homeward march,
Lieutenant W. G. Stairs, in a letter under date Usambiro Mission
Station, Victoria Nyanza, August 30th, 1889, says:
“I wrote you last from Yambuya. Our starvation periods, fighting, fevers
and other trials would occupy pages. Directly on leaving Yambuya some
had a bad fever. Then we got into countries without food, and lost men
at a terrible rate. The natives shot a great many. When, on December
16th, 1887, we reached Albert Nyanza we had one hundred and seventy out
of four hundred and fourteen men that left Yambuya. We could not then
connect with Emin, and had to return one hundred and twenty miles west
of Albert Nyanza. Here we built a strong fort, and I started back to a
place two hundred and twenty-eight miles down the river to bring up our
sick.
“Meantime Stanley and two of our officers went east to the lake and
connected with the Pasha. Then our return march to Yambuya commenced.
April 12th the united expedition left Kavallis on the Albert for the
Indian Ocean. Our numbers were then one thousand one hundred and
seventy-five. Now, on reaching here, Ursalala, we have about six hundred
and seventy.
“We have made many important geographical discoveries--one of the most
important being Mount Ruevenzori, which for all these three thousand
years has been undiscovered. The very source of the Nile is from its
snow-capped peaks. It is a wonderful sight. I went up ten thousand seven
hundred feet, but was stopped by ravines two thousand feet deep.
“Anchori and the Albert Nyanza are new places to Europeans--at least
beyond the mere names. Here in Karagwe we found the Urigi to be a large
lake instead of the petty thing laid down on the maps.
“After a hard march of four months we reached here (Ursalala) and found
Mr. McKay and Mr. Dreaks of the Church Missionary Society. We have been
here three days, and from these kind-hearted people have received a most
hearty welcome, and rejoiced again in a cup of tea, with milk and
biscuit. We fortunately found that cloth and beads for us had come up
from the coast enough to buy our way out to the coast. Everything has
been stopped on its way inland by the Arabs, making affairs assume a
very critical aspect for missionaries and attached whites living inland.
“From here to the coast--should we have open roads--is a four and a half
months’ march for the caravan. If the Arabs, however, oppose our
progress no one can say how long it will take.
“Of our trials and sufferings I have said very little, but so far our
expedition has been an immense success, in spite of sneers seen in some
of the English papers. I hope we will emerge triumphantly to the coast.
The Pasha we have; also Casati, the Italian, besides Egyptian and
Turkish officers, soldiers, men, women and children and convicts.
“We have had no news from the coast here for over one and a half years,
and we are all in uncertainty. If pluck and determination can carry us
through, we shall reach the coast.
“One of our greatest dangers has been from starvation in the immense
forest between the Congo and the Albert Nyanza, which was thought to be
an open, grassy country. In this forest we lost out of six hundred
Zanzibaris some three hundred and sixty; also sixteen Somali boys and
about forty Nubian soldiers. This was _en route_ to the Pasha. The loss
of life since leaving the Albert Nyanza has been general--some two
hundred. In this forest for three weeks we lived on roots and fungi, and
though we hunted and fished, not a thing could we bring in. Of course
our poor men died like dogs, and we whites were just about pegged out
when we reached food.”
Under the date of Ursalala, August 31, Stanley writes Sir Francis de
Winston a long letter, wherein he objects very strongly to the tone of a
batch of newspaper cuttings he had received, which commented with an
utter lack of common sense and a total disregard of accuracy upon his
expedition. He dwells upon Emin’s indecision, which cost him a journey,
otherwise unnecessary, of thirteen hundred miles for Barttelot.
He justifies the payment of a salary of £30 per month to Tippu-Tib as a
means for averting a desolating war, and declares that if both parties
are honest in the maintenance of their agreements peace may continue for
an indefinite period.
He rebukes those persons in England who had lost faith in his
steadfastness of purpose to such a degree as to give credit to rumors
that he was marching in the direction of Khartoum.
He dwells at much length upon the case of Barttelot, and removes the
impression produced by previous letters reflecting upon the Major’s
conduct. He says that to extricate himself from his dilemma Barttelot
only needed qualities that will not be gained save by long experience in
Africa, and eulogizes his courage and high qualities. He knew the Major
was a man of little forbearance, and had intended to keep him with
himself, but necessity compelled the change that caused him to leave him
behind. Barttelot was ignorant of the language of the people, and his
interpreter may have been false, and occasioned the coolness between the
men and the Major which was never overcome, and led to his death.
Stanley recites in detail the instructions given to Barttelot, and
finally denies with much emphasis the alleged Congo atrocities of the
Manyema, the cannibalism, and the story of photographing women during
execution. During the whole expedition he executed only four men.
As Stanley and Emin neared the confines of the colonized territory on
the east coast great interest was manifested as to the time and place at
which they would emerge from their long and wilderness enshrouded
journey. Considerable difference of opinion was held as to their exact
whereabouts, the course they were taking, and the point on the coast at
which they would appear. When the question was still one of extreme
uncertainty the “Herald” made the following prediction, which the
information now received shows has been fulfilled:
“In our opinion Stanley and his gallant comrade, Emin Pasha, himself a
German, will come home by the shortest practicable route. This, as a
glance at the map will show, is through German territory, where Captain
Wissmann, representing the German Government, and the special
correspondent of the ‘Herald’ await them with sympathy, succor and
congratulations upon their brilliant success.
“Within the last few months several expeditions, one of which was fitted
out by the ‘Herald,’ have been sent toward the interior to meet Stanley.
This was done not through great concern for his safety, but to extend to
him a welcome, made substantial by generous quantities of tea, coffee,
tobacco, spirits and food supplies, which it was believed would prove
both needful and gratefully acceptable after the hardships and
deprivations of his long journey.”
On the 29th of November, 1889, the expedition reached Msuwah, whence the
“Herald” commissioner sent the following despatch:
MSUWAH, November 29.--5 P. M.
I have just met Henry M. Stanley, Emin Pasha, Casati, Lieutenant
Stairs, Mr. Jephson, Dr. Parke, Nelson and Bonny, and five hundred and
sixty men, women and children.
I have found Stanley looking exceedingly hearty. He wears a Prussian
cap, linen breeches and canvas shoes. I presented him with the
American flag with which I was entrusted, and it is now flying from
Mr. Stanley’s tent.
The great explorer’s hair is quite white and his mustache is
iron-gray.
Emin Pasha is a slight, dark man. He wears spectacles. In a short
conversation which I had with him he told me he did not wish for any
honors for what he had done. He simply desired to be employed again in
the Khedive’s service.
I have given Captain Casati his letters. He looks well, but the
hardships which he has undergone seem to have quite undermined his
constitution.
All the other Europeans are well. We shall all proceed toward the
coast the day after to-morrow.
Stanley, Emin and Casati were entertained at dinner last night in this
camp by Baron Gravenreath. Speeches were made by the Baron and by
Stanley. The Baron complimented Stanley, Emin and their companions on
their march from Central Africa. Stanley responded, and praised German
enterprise and civilizing abilities.
On the 1st of December the expedition reached Mbiki. The “Herald’s”
despatch informed the world that its force had united with Stanley, and
was then escorting him to Bagamoyo:
MBIKI, December 1.--Noon.
Stanley’s expedition, accompanied by the force sent out by the
“Herald,” arrived here safely to-day. All the Europeans connected with
the caravan are well with the exception of Stevens, the Commissioner
of the New York Gift Enterprise, who has been struck down with fever,
and lies in my tent very ill.
Stanley is bringing with him two hundred and eighty-six of Emin
Pasha’s people. Many of these persons are aged, decrepit or sick, and
they are all being carried down to the coast by Stanley’s Zanzibar
men.
The troops and carriers in Stanley’s command elicit the unbounded
admiration of every one. They are under the most perfect discipline,
and when on the road march in that perfect order which could only be
expected of a well-trained and well-provisioned army.
Acting under the orders of Major Wissmann, Lieutenant Schmidt and a
few soldiers are accompanying us to the coast. It is their duty to
slightly precede the main body on the march, and to make all
preparations for camping comfortably at the various places selected
for nightly halts.
Stanley and all his officers are loud in their praises of the kindly
reception they met with at the hands of the Germans. A special caravan
was sent up to Mpwapwa by Major Wissmann, bearing many of the comforts
of life of which the gentlemen of the expedition stood sorely in need.
I am assured that these things were most welcome.
Although we are only four days from the coast, Stanley is still
expecting to meet the caravan of provisions which should have been
sent out in accordance with the directions which he gave four months
ago.
The next despatch, dated from Kigiro, December 3d, read:
We have a march of two hours to-morrow to the Kinghani River, where we
will stop. As there is only one boat we shall be all day crossing the
stream. We should reach Bagamoyo December 5. There a British
man-of-war and one of Major Wissmann’s vessels will meet us and convey
us to Zanzibar.
The Egyptian Government has chartered a British India steamer to carry
Emin and his people to Egypt. Emin brings with him two hundred and
eighty-three officers, soldiers, civil servants, three women and
children, but not a single tusk of ivory. It was all burnt or
deposited with native chiefs.
Stanley says he finds his reward in the accomplishment of his deeds.
He has received the “Herald” caravan of provisions for his people.
Stanley reached Bagamoyo, at eleven o’clock on the morning of the 4th,
Major Wissmann having provided horses for him and Emin at At-oni, the
day before, on the opposite bank of the Kinghani River. The town of
Bagamoyo was profusely decorated. Verdant arches were built across all
the avenues and palm branches waved from every window. A salute of nine
guns was fired by Major Wissmann’s force and the same number by the
German man-of-war. All the officers of the expedition were sumptuously
entertained at a luncheon at Major Wissmann’s headquarters.
The Captain of the _Sperber_ on behalf of the German Emperor, formally
welcomed first Stanley, then Emin, and congratulated them upon their
return to civilization. All the vessels in the roadstead were dressed in
bunting.
Many persons came from Zanzibar, among them being Mr. Nichol, who came
on behalf of Sir William Mackinnon, President of the Emin Pasha Relief
Committee; the British Consul, Mr. Churchill; Judge Cracknall of the
British Court, and the German and Italian Consuls.
In the evening a banquet was held, and amid a flood of champagne the
German Consul, General Steifensand, toasted the Queen of Great Britain
and Ireland, and Major Wissmann toasted Stanley, calling him his master
in African exploration.
Stanley, in reply, said he thanked God he had performed his duty. He
spoke with emotion of his soldiers whose bones were bleaching in the
forest, and remarked that with him and those of his party work was
always onward. He bore testimony to the Divine influence that had guided
him in his work.
Then he said: “Emin is here, Casati is here, I am here, and all the
young gentlemen who went with me are here,” and concluded by thanking
Major Wissmann and the “Herald” for their kindness in sending him
stores.
Emin Pasha toasted the German Emperor, and Lieutenant Stairs returned
thanks for Stanley’s officers. Captain Brackenbury, senior naval
officer, toasted Major Wissmann. This toast was drunk with honors, the
whole company joining in singing “For he’s a jolly good fellow!”
Stanley and his men went to Zanzibar on the day following by the
_Sperber_, which had been specially placed at his disposal by the German
Emperor. Emin’s people were taken over by the British man-of-war.
This glorious and most welcome news was, however, destined to be broken
in upon by the sad intelligence which so closely followed, that Emin had
met with an accident. The Pasha, being nearsighted, had walked out of a
window, fallen and fractured his skull, the report stated, and was lying
in a most critical state at Bagamoyo. This report was subsequently
modified, so far as the facts were concerned. Instead of falling out of
a window he had misjudged the height of a balcony parapet, overbalanced
himself, and fell a distance of twenty feet. When found his right eye
was closed and blood was issuing from his ears. His body was also
terribly bruised.
The report further stated that all the doctors had given him up except
Stanley’s physician, Dr. Parke, who remained with him, and who said he
thought he might save him. He was receiving every care and attention
from Major Wissmann and his officers.
Later reports brought more encouraging words from the attending
physician: that the results of the accident to the Pasha had not been so
serious as was at first supposed, and that with careful nursing and
quiet rest he might be moved in about ten days.
Thus has ended, what must be conceded by every intelligent mind, the
most remarkable and extraordinary expedition that ever essayed to
traverse the terrible wilds of this Dark Continent; and the story of
Stanley, its brave leader, will take a place in history whose prominence
future ages of marvellous deeds and heroic adventures can never
overshadow. Stanley’s story, too, is fittingly closed by the grand and
sublime words he uses in reviewing the work of his co-laborers as he
reaches civilization once again; and we can give it no better ending
than through the language of him, who said:
I gave as much good will to my duties as the strictest honor would
compel. My faith that the purity of my motive deserved success was
firm, but I have been conscious that the Issues of every effort were
in other hands.
Not one officer who was with me will forget the miseries he has
endured; yet every one that started from his home, destined to march
with the advance column and share its wonderful adventures, is here
to-day, safe, sound and well.
This is not due to me. Lieutenant Stairs was pierced with a poisoned
arrow like others, but others died and he lives. The poisoned tip came
out from under his heart eighteen months after he was pierced. Jephson
was four months a prisoner, with guards with loaded rifles around him.
That they did not murder him is not due to me.
These officers have had to wade through as many as seventeen streams
and broad expanses of mud and swamp in a day. They have endured a sun
that scorched whatever it touched. A multitude of impediments have
ruffled their tempers and harassed their hours.
They have been maddened with the agonies of fierce fevers. They have
lived for months in an atmosphere that medical authority declared to
be deadly. They have faced dangers every day, and their diet has been
all through what legal serfs would have declared to be infamous and
abominable; and yet they live. This is not due to me any more than the
courage with which they have borne all that was imposed upon them by
their surroundings or the cheery energy which they bestowed on their
work or the hopeful voices which rang in the ears of a deafening
multitude of blacks and urged the poor souls on to their goal.
The vulgar will call it luck; unbelievers will call it chance; but
deep down in each heart remains the feeling--that of verity. There are
more things in heaven and earth than are dreamed of in common
philosophy.
I must be brief. Numbers of scenes crowd the memory. Could one but sum
them into a picture it would have great interest. The uncomplaining
heroism of our dark followers, the brave manhood latent in such
uncouth disguise, the tenderness we have seen issuing from nameless
entities, the great love animating the ignoble, the sacrifice made by
the unfortunate for one more unfortunate, the reverence we have noted
in barbarians, who, even as ourselves, were inspired with nobleness
and incentives to duty--of all these we could speak if we would, but I
leave that to the “Herald” correspondent, who, if he has eyes to see,
will see much for himself, and who with his gifts of composition may
present a very taking outline of what has been done and is now near
ending, thanks be to God forever and ever.
Yours faithfully,
HENRY M. STANLEY.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
CONGRATULATIONS
AND
Opinions of Eminent Persons
ON
STANLEY’S LAST EXPEDITION.
The Queen of England, under date of December 12th, cabled Mr. Stanley at
Zanzibar:
My thoughts are with you and your brave followers, whose hardships and
dangers are at an end. I again congratulate you all, including the
Zanzibaris, who displayed such devotion and fortitude during your
marvellous expedition. I trust Emin Pasha is making favorable
progress.
The Emperor of Germany also cabled:
Thanks to your perseverance and inflexible courage, you have now,
after repeatedly crossing the Dark Continent, overcome a new and long
succession of exceeding perils and almost unendurable hardships. That
after surmounting those your return journey should lead you through
lands covered by my flag affords me great satisfaction, and I welcome
you heartily to civilization and security.
To which Mr. Stanley sent the following reply:
IMPERATOR ET REX: My expedition has now reached its end. I have had
the honor to be hospitably entertained by Major Wissmann and other of
your Majesty’s officers under him. Since arriving from Mpwapwa, our
travels have come to a successful conclusion. We have been taken
across from Bagamoyo to Zanzibar by your Majesty’s ships, Sperber and
Schwalbe, and all honors coupled with great affability have been
accorded us. I gratefully remember the hospitality and princely
affability extended to me at Potsdam, and am profoundly impressed with
your Majesty’s condescension, kindness and gracious welcome. With a
full and sincere heart I exclaim, “Long live the noble Emperor
William!”
The Anti-Slavery Conference in Brussels, sent him a greeting by cable in
these words:
We have been deeply moved by the sufferings and perils you have
braved. We congratulate you upon the success of your expedition, and
appreciate the great services you have rendered. Convey our sympathy
to Emin Pasha.
Professor G. B. Adams, of Yale College, says:
This is the greatest and most important of Stanley’s explorations. His
pluck and self-confidence are nothing short of miraculous. I am
inclined to believe that Stanley has proven what modern geographers
have conjectured concerning the soil and physical features of the
region he has explored. One of the most striking portions of his
letter is his description of a temperate region under the “burning
Equator.” Just what the extent of this tract is, and exactly what he
means, will be anxiously waited for by the scientific world. There is
every reason to believe that Stanley has opened the gates of Africa
for the progress of civilization.
His firm belief in religious guidance has been one of the greatest
elements of his success, without which even Stanley’s determination
and genius would have quailed before such gigantic difficulties.
Professor A. M. Wheeler says:
Every civilized man owes a debt of gratitude to Stanley. To my mind
the exploration is without parallel in the history of discoveries. He
is the Columbus of the nineteenth century. No geographer had dared to
conjecture what Stanley has now made a reality. His unswerving
fidelity to one purpose, amid the greatest dangers that have ever
befallen man, is wonderful. The discovery of the connection of Albert
Edward Nyanza and Albert Nyanza is but one of his triumphs over what
was beyond the reach of all other African explorers. Stanley’s work
seems like that of an inspired man.
Ex-Judge Charles P. Daly, President of the Geographical Society of New
York City, says:
His geographical insight is wonderful. When going north on the Congo
and passing the Equator, he felt that he would come out on the east
coast of Africa, and he has done so. That, I think, is quite
remarkable. Stanley is one of the most remarkable explorers of the
age.
George C. Hurlbert, Esq., also of the Geographical Society of New York
City, and who has followed the exploration in Africa closely, says:
Everything was against Stanley in his task, but he showed himself to
be a born ruler--a leader of men. He overcame dangers with a
persistency, energy and pluck that commanded all praise. It was the
quality of the man that always conquered and came to the front, and
Stanley’s quality has brought him through all difficulties. He had the
courage and the enterprise and the will to achieve great things. He
had the gifts of a great explorer.
Professor Libbey, of Princeton College, says:
With regard to the geographical results it would be hard to tell their
magnitude at present, but we cannot doubt but that they will be of
great importance, judging from the information contained in the
letters which have reached us from time to time, the discoveries,
already hinted at, showing that the White Nile rises in Lake Muta
Nzige, giving us a better knowledge of the shape of this lake; the
discovery of the River Semlike and Mount Ruevenzori, which rivals in
height the giant of the eastern coast, Kilimanjaro, and his further
discoveries in the course of the outlines of Victoria Nyanza.
Undoubtedly there will be a rich harvest of information concerning the
country lying between the Congo and Lake Albert Edward, and also
between the lakes and the coast. I think Stanley was right in his
decision to go around the Cape of Good Hope and up the Congo rather
than to push his heavily-laden caravan through the mountains and the
hostile country between the lakes and the Zanzibar coast. Not one of
the least advantages of the trip will be the fact that he has brought
Emin Bey back with him to civilization, where it is hoped that this
learned, enthusiastic and successful student of the races and the
natural history of the country in which he has so long been a
voluntary exile will be content to remain and give to the world some
of the valuable stores of knowledge, to obtain which came so near
costing him his life.
The Boston _Transcript_, in a late issue, says:
An experience like that which Stanley went through in Africa, and of
which he sends the world a graphic and harrowing account, is well
calculated to awaken all the latent piety in a brave man’s nature. Men
who war with nature and with barbarous peoples, and who pass through
narrow escapes and dreadful emergencies, are always the last to assert
that they themselves performed the wonders which they witness. Stanley
has pretty well established a claim to greatness in this last African
venture of his, and it is not strange to those who have read history
to find him exclaiming, with many other men of great force and genius:
“There was a Divinity that hedged me about.”
Captain O’Kane, Commander of the U. S. Steamer Boston, says:
I consider Mr. Stanley’s expedition a marvellous one, and his
successful arrival at the coast an achievement of which the world--and
particularly America--may be proud.
Mr. Stanley has now opened to civilizing influences the last important
unexplored region of the world, and all future ages will applaud and
honor him for it.
Stanley on arriving at Cairo, Egypt, on January 14th, met with a great
and notable reception at the station from Sir Evelyn Baring, General Sir
Francis Grenfell, Acting United States Consul Grant, and others. He went
to the Khedive’s palace in state, and made an official call on him
lasting half an hour, and was decorated with the Grand Cordon of the
Medjidich, a very distinguished honor. He also here received an officer
bearing a special letter of congratulation from King Leopold of Belgium.
“Throughout the length and breadth of the United Kingdom, and the same
may be said of Europe and the rest of the civilized world, the name of
Stanley is on every tongue. On the streets, in the clubs, wherever men
congregate, the one theme of conversation is Stanley, his wonderful
achievements and his modesty, as illustrated in his letter to the
‘Herald,’ which is on all sides held to be a masterpiece and to stamp
its author as a truly great man.”--_London Cablegram to N. Y. Herald._
The Worshipful Company of Turners, of London, at a banquet held on the
evening of December 5th, received the following telegram from the King
of the Belgians:
I understand you will, as Master for the second year of the Worshipful
Company of Turners, propose at their annual dinner the health of your
illustrious honorary member, Mr. Henry M. Stanley. Let me, as an
honorary member of the Worshipful Company, a title I am proud to
possess, assure you beforehand how cordially and gladly I join the
Turners in all their expressions of admiration of the unparalleled and
heroic services rendered by our friend Stanley to science and
civilization in that vast continent, in the discovery of which he has
taken so great a share.
KING OF THE BELGIANS,
_Sovereign of the Congo State_.
Mr. Burdett-Coutts, the President of the Company, proposed the health of
Stanley; and, on motion, it was directed that the greetings of the
Company should be despatched to the hero at Zanzibar.
The message despatched by Mr. Burdett-Coutts to Zanzibar was as follows:
Turners’ Company, at their annual dinner with the Lord Mayor and other
old friends of yours, after listening to the full and gracious
telegram with respect to yourself from the King of the Belgians, have
just drank your health with stirring enthusiasm, and congratulated you
on your splendid achievement, and send you a hearty welcome home.
BURDETT-COUTTS, Master.
ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY OF ANTWERP, }
UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF }
H. M. THE KING OF THE BELGIANS. }
ANTWERP, November 25, 1889.
_To the Proprietor of the New York “Herald,” New York._
Sir:--While the civilized world was in suspense over the fate of the
two illustrious travellers lost in Africa, Henry Stanley and Emin
Pasha (Schnitzler); while governments, exhausting their forces in
sterile struggles for the conquest of lands on the African coast, were
showing themselves powerless to carry succor to these valiant
missionaries of civilization, the New York “Herald,” true to the glory
it acquired in rescuing the illustrious and unfortunate Livingstone,
did not hesitate to organize a new expedition in aid of Stanley and
Emin. On learning the welcome news a joyful cry was uttered by all
friends of African civilization, and loudly re-echoed in the midst of
our Society.
Pursuant to a resolution passed at the Society’s sitting on the 13th
inst., we hereby sincerely congratulate you over, and warmly thank you
for this your undertaking.
We hope to soon see in our midst the two illustrious travellers. The
festal occasion would be complete were a correspondent of the New York
“Herald” to find it convenient to be present at this reception in
order to be tendered the expression of our gratitude at the very
moment when we shall be welcoming the two greatest travellers of
modern times--great, really, by their disinterested devotion to the
noble cause of civilization.
We beg, sir, you will herewith accept the expression of our deep and
heartfelt sympathy.
M. WAUWERMANS, President.
P. GENAUD, Secretary-General.
* * * * * *
Transcriber’s note:
Inconsistent and archaic spelling (including the spelling of proper
and geographical names and names of tribes and peoples), hyphenation,
etc. have been retained, except when deviations from the book’s most
common spelling of a word occurred very rarely only (see below).
French accents have not been added or corrected.
Page vii-xx: there are some differences in wording between the table
of contents/list of illustrations and the actual text; these have not
been standardised. The order of entries in the list of illustrations
is as printed in the source document.
Page xviii, list of illustrations: there is no illustration “Floating
Island” in the source document. The portrait on page 500 is not
included in the list of illustrations.
Several of the engravings in the source document were damaged and/or
discoloured because of the book’s binding; some of this damage and
discolouration remains visible in this e-text.
The cover image has been created for this text, and is placed in the
public domain.
Page 20, Bartholmew Dias: as printed in the source document.
Page 24: Heinreich Barth: probably an error for Heinrich Barth.
Page 146, ... five days’ marches brought us to Mrera: possibly an
error, as they recently left Mrera.
Page 146, ... who had by this forgotten ...: there appears to be a
word missing (time or similar).
Page 226, $364 06¹⁄₂: as printed in the source document; the decimal
point (or possibly a digit) may be missing.
Page 313, In the chest ... scrople.: as printed in the source
document.
Page 320, THE homeward march ...: the reason for the small capitals is
not clear.
Page 343-344, There seem to have been ...: as printed in the source
document.
Page 427, ipomæa: probably an error for ipomœa.
Changes made:
Illustrations have been moved outside text paragraphs.
Some minor obvious typographical and punctuation errors have bee
corrected silently.
Page x: KISERI changed to KISERA as elsewhere
Page xvii-xx: Illustration numbers (in the order in which they occur
in the text) have been added to the list of illustrations
Page xix: Entry Rapids of the Livingstone River inserted
Page 62: Backwains changed to Bakwains
Page 130: Ferrajji changed to Feragji as elsewhere; ngali changed to
ugali
Page 131: Tarbora changed to Tabora
Page 138: closing quote mark added after ... I shall come and see him.
Page 157: Opening single quote added before Hello! who are you?
Page 180: Mississipi changed to Mississippi as elsewhere
Page 200: astronominal changed to astronomical
Page 226: closing quote mark added after second D.L.
Page 234: Opening quote mark added before The news ...
Page 265: gorrilla changed to gorilla (2×)
Page 303, closing square bracket added after ... on their way to
Zanzibar.
Page 397: Rumainka changed to Rumanika; Keragwe changed to Karagwe
Page 419: Question mark after ... had been fairly solved deleted;
Muilala changed to Mullala
Page 457: Kartoum changed to Khartoum