The story of Emin's rescue as told in Stanley's letters

Front matter

BY A A WITH Mh AN L

STORY OF EMIN'S RESCUE

AS TOLD IN

LETTER VIII. The March to the Coast — Discoveries by the Way — Imprisonment

of Emin and Mr. Jephson— The Mahdi 79

12 CONTENTS.

LETTER IX. page

The Difficulty with Emin — Treachery of the Egyptians— Muster of the Fugitives — The March to the East Coast — Stanley's Illness — New Geographical Discoveries 99

Africa's Cortez (by David Ker) 171

EMIN PASHA.

AS TOLD IN

H. M. STANLEY'S LETTERS.

Letter I En Route

The following are extracts from some letters of Mr. H. M. Stanley, dated from the steamer Serjpa Pinto, River Congo, March 20, and Matadi, 21, 1887:

"We left Table Bay on the evening of March 10th, and arrived on the morning of March 18th, at Banana Point, after a pleasant and satisfactory voyage. Daring the day I chartered the steamers Serjpa Pinto, a Portuguese vessel, the R. A. Nieman from the Dutch House, and the Albuquerque from the British Congo Company, the united capacity of which was 645 men, 20 donkeys, 30 goats, and 150 tons general cargo. We shipped all these on the morning of the 19th. The steamer Heron, State vessel, will bring up all else on the morning of the 20th.

" We hope to be united in camp at Matadi by the evening of the 22d. By the 27th, as estimated in London, I hope to be on my way.

" We have had three deaths out of 800, and we shall probably be obliged to leave a dozen behind sick. We have had no epidemics aboard. I do not know of any expedition from Zanzibar to the Congo which has had such a wonderful immunity from sickness. Ten per cent, is the usual rate of reduction from the numbers of physically fit; ours is one and a half at the utmost. All the Europeans are in excellent condition. Some of them are wonderful workers, and they all save me an immense amount of anxiety and labor by the quick and ready manner of going about their duties."

" There was a row soon after leaving Zanzibar. The 620 Zanzibaris and ninety Tippu Tib's men crowded the Soudanese into a hot and stifling place between decks. Strangers all round them, and no one understanding their guttural Arabic, the poor fellows became frantic and abused the strangers right and left. This led to blows. Sticks, clubs, and firewood flew in all directions, and the matter looked serious. We dashed in, however, with our sticks, and, flourishing them in earnest, the Zanzibari mob was driven back. The Soudanese were marched into another part of the vessel, and sentries placed to bar the sections between the opposing factions. Now, among our colored people there is perfect peace and contentment. The Somalis are excellent fellows, intelligent and willing.

"At Boma the committee in charge of the administration of the Congo Free State came on board, and Lieutenant Yalcke, the president, informed me that a serious famine existed as far as Stanley Pool. He also said that the Stanley steamer is at present hauled up for repairs. You can imagine, then, that I shall have some work to do to reach Emin Pasha. We have to march through a country suffering from famine, but we shall find means to live somehow. We shall have to collect transport steamers together and repair those in need of repair, and we shall manage this somehow. The refusal of the Baptist Mission to lend their steamer Peace is a great disappointment, and a poor return for the services I have rendered them in the past.

"My thoughts at leisure moments are fixed, as you may suppose, on this important question, and I shall know no happiness until I am on terra firma on the Upper Congo."

Letter II. In The Forest — Looking For The Rear-guard

[Letters from Mr. Stanley to Major Barttelot.]

Camp on S. Bank, Aruwimi River, opposite Arab settlement, September 18, 1887.

My dear Major, — You will, I am certain, be as glad to get news, definite and clear, of our movements as I am to feel that I have at last an opportunity of presenting them to you. As they will be of immense comfort to you and your assistants and followers, I shall confine myself to give you the needful details. We have travelled 340 English miles to make only 192 geographical miles of our easterly course. This has been performed in 83 days, which gives us a rate of 4 I 1 - miles per day. We have yet to make 130 geographical miles, or a winding course, perhaps, of 230 English miles, which, at the same rate of march as hitherto, we may make in 55 days. We started from Yambuya 389 souls, whites and blacks. We have now 333, of whom 56 are so sick that we are obliged to leave them behind us at this Arab camp of Ugarrowwa. We are 56 men short of the number with which we left Yambuya. Of these thirty men have died — four from poisoned arrows — six left in the bush or speared by the natives ; 26 have deserted en route, thinking they would be able to follow a caravan of Manyema which we met following the river downward. But this caravan, instead of going on, returned to this place, and our deserters, misled by this, will probably follow our track 2 downward until they meet you or be exterminated by the natives. Be not deluded by any statements they may make. Were I to send men to you, I, of course, would send you a note, but in no instance a verbal message, or any message at all, by the scum of the camp. Should you meet them you will have to secure them thoroughly.

The first day we left you we made a good march, which terminated in a fight, the foolish natives firing their own village as they fled. Since that day we have had probably thirty fights. The first view of us by the natives had inspired them to show fight. As far as Panga Falls we did not lose a man or meet with any serious obstacles to navigation. Panga is a big cataract with a decided fall. We cut a road round it on the south bank and dragged our canoes and went on again.

We had intended to follow a native path which would take us towards our destination with usual windings of the road. For ten days we searched for a road, and then took an elephant track, which took us into an interminable forest, totally uninhabited. Fearing to lose ourselves altogether, we cut a road to the river, and have followed the river ever since. From the point whence we struck the river to Mugwye's country — four days' journey below Panga — we fared very well. Food was abundant ; we made long marches, and no halts whatever. Beyond Mugwye's up to Engweddeh was a wilderness, eleven days' march, villages being inland and mostly foodless. From this date our strength declined rapidly. People were lost in the bush as they searched for food or were slain by the natives. Ulcers, dysentery, and grievous sickness, ending in fatal debility, attacked the people. Hence our enormous loss since leaving Panga — thirty dead and twenty-six deserters. Besides which we are obliged to leave fifty-six behind so used up that without a long rest they would also soon die. Of the Somalis one is dead (Achmet), the other five are at this camp until our return from the Lake. Of the Soudanese, one is dead ; we leave three behind to-day. All the whites are in perfect condition to-day, thinnish, but with plenty of go.

Among our fights we have had over fifty wounded, but they all recovered except four. Stairs was severely wounded with an arrow, which penetrated an inch and a half, within a little below the heart, in the left breast. He is all right now.

We have had one man shot dead by some person unknown in the camp ; another was shot in the foot, resulting in amputation. This latter case, now in a fair state of health, we leave behind to-day. The number of hours we have marched ought to have taken us back to you by this time, but we had to daily hew our path through forest and jungle to keep along the river, because the river-banks were populated. The forest inland contains no settlements that we know or have heard of. By means of canoes we were able to help the caravan carry the sick and several loads. The boat helped us immensely. Were I to do the work over again, I should collect canoes as large as possible, man them with sufficient paddlers, and load up with goods and sick. On the river between Yambuya and Mugwye's country the canoes are numerous and tolerably large. The misfortune is that the Zanzibaris are exceedingly poor boatmen. In my force there are only about fifty who can paddle or pull an oar, but even these have saved our caravan immense labor and many lives which otherwise would have been sacrificed.

Our plan has been to paddle from one rapid to another. On reaching strong water, or shoals, we have unloaded canoes and poled or dragged them up with long rattan or other creepers through the rapids, then loaded up again and pursued our way until we met another obstacle. The want of sufficient and proper food regularly pulls people down very fast, and they have not that strength to carry the loads which has distinguished them while with me in other parts of Africa. Therefore any means to lighten the labor of the caravan is commendable.

If Tippu Tib's people have not yet joined you I do not expect you will be very far from Yambuya. You can make two journeys by river for one that you can do on land. Slow as we have been coming up and cutting our way through, I shall come down river like lightning. The river will be a friend indeed, for the current alone will take us twenty miles a day, and I will pick up as many canoes as possible to help us up river for our second journey up river. Follow the river closely, and do not lose sight of our track. When the caravan which takes this passes you look out for your men, or they will run in a body, taking valuable goods with them.

Give my best salaams and kind remembrances from us all to your fellows. Bid them cheer up ; so many miles a day will take you here in so many days. It depends on your own going and your power how many or how few you will be.

I need not say that I wish you the best of health and luck and good-fortune, because you are a part of myself. Therefore good-bye.

Yours very truly,

Henry M. Stanley.

Major Barttelot.

[Written in pencil on the first corner of the above is the following : " Dear Major, — I send this on to you ; the former attempt was a failure. — W. E. Stairs."]

Fort Bodo, Ibwri District, Feb. 14, 1888. My dear Major, — After much deliberation with my officers upon the expediency of the act, I have resolved to send twenty couriers to you with this letter, which I know will be welcome to you and your comrades, as the briefest note or even word from you would be to us.

Fort Bodo is 126 English miles from Kavalli, on the Albert Nyanza, or 77 hours of caravan marching (west), and is almost on the same latitude. It is 527 English miles almost direct east from Yambuya, or 352 hours of caravan marching. You can easily find out where it is by tracing on your map a straight line from Yambuya to Kavalli, and dividing that line into five equal parts; four-fifths would be the distance from Yambuya, and one-fifth from our port on the Nyanza.

I send a little tracing of our route sufficiently exact for your use, and on it I have marked six principal places where food may be had between Yambuya and the Nyanza.

First, Mugwye's villages, on the north bank of river, 184 English miles, or 124 hours' caravan marching from Yambuya. The villages are five in number, backed by extensive cultivations of manioc, bananas, and Indian-corn.

Second, Aveysheba villages, fifty-nine English miles, or thirty -six hours' marching. These villages are on south bank, near a lazy creek thirty-five yards wide. There were five villages here when we passed, and abundance of very large bananas. Ten miles higher up on north bank there is an extensive settlement close to river, untouched by us. It is situated at the foot of a rapid. By sending the guns across river from Aveysheba you would gain better access to these.

Third, confluence of the Nepoko with the Aruwimi. Villages on south bank, opposite the big cataract of the Nepoko, which tumbles into the Aruwimi in fine view of landingplace. Nepoko is almost as large as the Aruwimi, therefore you cannot mistake it. We found abundance at these villages, which are numerous and scattered. They are situated thirty-nine miles above Aveysheba, or twenty-six hours' caravan marching.

Fourth is Ugarrowwa's, an Arab settlement on north bank. Hospitality would be given, but food would be dear, and you would have to disburse cloth. It is ninety-three miles above the last place, or sixty-two hours' inarching.

Fifth, Fort Bodo, is a place built by us in Ibwiri after our return from the Albert Nyanza. We have abundance of food here. To-day our stock inside the fort consists of four cows and a calf, ten goats, three of these being milch goats, six tons of Indian-corn. Outside the fort we have four acres planted in corn and half an acre of beans. We have bananas for two miles west of us and half a mile on either side of the fort. Our houses are comfortable, whitewashed within and without. The men mostly sleek and glossy. Stairs, Nelson, Parke, and Williams are with me here. Jephson is out foraging for live-stock, and hope to see him to-morrow. Our force consists of 184 present, eleven at Ipoto, fifty -six at Ugarrowwa's — total rank and file, 251 souls.

By the new road we estimate Fort Bodo to be distant from Ugarrowwa's 162 English miles, or 108 hours' marching for caravan.

Sixth is the brow of the plateau looking down on the Albert Nyanza, and between it and Fort Bodo we have experienced no want of provisions of all kinds necessary.

The object of this letter is not only to encourage and cheer you and your people up with definite and exact information of your whereabouts and the land ahead of you, but to save you from a terrible wilderness whence we all narrowly escaped with our lives. I wrote you from Ugarrowwa's a letter sufficiently detailed to enable you to understand what our experience was between Yambuya and Ugarrowwa's, therefore I began from Ugarrowwa's, and go east to the Nyanza.

After leaving Ugarrowwa's on September 19th we had 285 souls with us, and 56 sick at Ugarrowwa's — total, 341. By October 6th we had travelled along south bank of river, amid a country depopulated and devastated by Arabs ; and our condition was such, from a constant pinching want, that we had eight deaths and 52 sick — that is, 60 utterly used up in 16 days. I was forced to leave Captain Nelson, lamed by ulcers, and 52 sick and 82 loads with him, at a camp near the river, while we would explore ahead, find provisions, and send back relief.

Until October 18th we marched in the hope of obtaining food, and on this day we entered a settlement of Manyuema, but in the interval we had travelled through an uninhabited forest, where we lived on wild fruit and fungi. In these twelve days we had lost twenty-two by desertion and death, but the condition of the survivors was terrible.

We were all emaciated and haggard, but the majority •were mere skeletons. On the 29th Nelson's party was relieved, but out of fifty -two there were only five left. Many had died, many had deserted, about twenty were out foraging, out of which party ultimately only ten turned up.

On October 28th we marched from the Manyuema settlement for this place, Ibvviri. Here we found such an abundance that we halted to recuperate until November 24th. On this day the advance column mustered as follows : Sick at Ugarrowwa's (Arab settlement), 56 ; sick at Manyuema settlement, 38 ; present in Ibwiri, 174 — total, 268. On September 19th we numbered 341 ; November 24th, 268 ; dead and missing, 73.

Beyond this place, Ibwiri, no Arab or Manyuem had ever penetrated, consequently we suffered no scarcity, and on November 24th we marched from Ibwiri for the Albert Lake, which we reached December 13th, having lost only one by death, result of wilderness miseries, and we returned to this place from the Albert Lake January 7th, having lost only four, two of whom died from cause of wilderness miseries — one Klamis Kaurnru (chief), inflammation of the lungs one Ramagitebin Kuru, fever and ague contracted near lake. Thus, between November 24th and January 7th, we had lost but five ; three of these deaths were the result of privations undergone in the wilderness.

We first met the Manyuema on the last day of August, and parted from them January 6th. In this interval we have lost 118 through death and desertion. In their camps it was as bad as in the wilderness, for they ground us down by extortion so extreme that we were naked in a short time. They tempted the Zanzibaris to sell their rifles and ammunition, ramrods, officers' blankets, etc., and then gave food so sparingly that these crimes were of no avail. Finally, besides starving them, tempting them to ruin the expedition, they speared them, scourged them, and tied them up, until in one case death ended his miseries. *

Never were such abject slaves of slaves as our people had become under the influence of the Manyuema. Yet withal they preferred death by scourging, spearing, starvation, illtreatment, to the duty of load-bearing and marching on to happier regions. Out of thirty-eight men left at the Manyuema camp eleven have died, eleven others may turn up, but it is doubtful. However, we have only received sixteen ; sixteen out of thirty-eight ! Comment is unnecessary.

When we left the Manyuema camp, October 28th, we were obliged to leave our boat and seventy loads behind, as it was absolutely impossible to carry them. Parke and Nelson were detailed to look after them. We hoped that we should find some tree out of which we could make a sizable canoe, or buy or seize one ready-made. Arriving at the JNyanza, we found neither tree nor canoe, therefore were obliged to retrace our steps here quickly to send men back to the Manyuema settlement for the boat and loads. The boat and thirty-seven loads were brought here by Stairs and nearly one hundred men the day before yesterday.

You will understand, then, that Emin Pasha not being found or relieved by us, made it as much necessary that we should devote ourselves to this work, as it was imperative when we set out, June 28, 1887, from Yambuya. And you will also understand how anxious we are all about you. We dread your inexperience and your want of influence with your people. If with me people preferred the society of the Manyuema blackguards to me, who am known to them for twenty years, how much more so with you, a stranger to them and their language ! Therefore, the cords of anxiety are strained to exceeding tension. I am pulled east to Emin Pasha and drawn west to you, your comrades, people, and goods.

Nearly eight months have elapsed, and perhaps you have not had a word from ns, though I wrote a long letter from Ugarrowwa's. We were to have been back by December; it is now February, and no one can conjecture how far you may have reached. Did the Stanley arrive in due time? Did she arrive at all ? Did Tippu Tib join you ? Are you alone with your party, or is Tippu Tib with you ? If the latter, why so slow that we have not had a word ? If alone, we understand that you are very far from us? These are questions daily agitating us.

Therefore we are agreed that, while we bear the boat to the Albert Nyanza to make a final finish with Emin Pasha we should try to communicate witfy you. With that view I have called for volunteers at £10 per head reward to bear this letter to you even as far as Yambuya, if (as it might chance, for all we know to the contrary) you have not started, and to return to me with your news. To us who have gone over the ground Yambuya seems about a month's distance only. Stairs escorts the twenty as far as Ugarrowwa's, and brings to me the fifty-six men, who are all recovered (as we hear). Stairs, on his return, will find me about five days from the lake, and we will then push on fast to the lake when he has joined us.

According to my calculation, we shall be on the Lake April 10th. All about Emin Pasha will be settled by April 25th ; on the 13th of May we shall be back here, and on the 29th we shall be at Ugarrowwa's, if we have not met you. We shall surely, I hope, meet with the return messengers. Re these messengers, I should advise your keeping two of them as guides — Ruga, Rugu — in front, but they should be free of loads. Send the eighteen and two others back to me as soon as you can, because the sooner we hear from you the sooner we will join hands ; and after settling the Emin Pasha question we shall have only one anxiety, which will be to get you safely up here.

Assuming that Tippu Tib's people are with you, our guides (two) will bring you quickly on here, and we shall probably meet here or at Ugarrowwa's ; the Stanley arrived within reasonable time, you have arrived at some place about twenty-tw T o or twenty-four of our former journeys from Yambuya, below Mugwye's, as I take it. Hence, before you get near the Arab influence, where your column will surely break up if yon are alone, I order you to go to the nearest place (Mugwye's, Aveysheba, or Nepoko confluence) that is to you, and there to build a strong camp and wait us, but whatever you decide upon, let me know. If you come near Ugarrowwa's you will lose men, rifles, powder, everything of value; your own boys will betray you, because they will sell food so dearly that your people, from stress of hunger, will steal everything.

At either of the three places above you will get safety and food until we relieve you. So long as you are stationary there is no fear of desertion, but tbe daily task, added to constant insufficiency of food, will sap the fidelity of your best men. (These directions are only in case of your being alone without Arab aid. If Tippu Tib's people are with you, I presume you are coming along slowly.)

With everybody's best wishes to you, I send my earnest prayer — that you are, despite all unwholesome and evil conjectures, where you ought to be, and that this letter will reach you in time to save you from that forest misery and from the fangs of the ruthless Manyueman blackguards. To every one of your officers, also, these good wishes are given from Tours most sincerely,

Henry M. Stanley.

To Major Barttelot, Commanding Rear Column, E. P. R. E.

Letter III. Major Barttelot Tells His Story

[The following letter from Major Barttelot was received in London, September 19, 1888.]

Yambuya Camp, June 4, 1888.

To Mr. William MacKinnon, President of the Emin Pasha Relief Expedition.

Sir, — I have the honor to report to you that we are about to make a move, though with far less numbers than I originally intended. Tippu Tib has at last, but w T ith great reluctance, given us 400 men. I also have obtained from another Arab called Muni Somai thirty more carriers; we shall move not earlier than the 9th of June, and our forces will be as follows: Soudanese 22, rifles 22; Zanzibaris 110, rifles 110, loads 90 ; Manyuema 430, muskets 300, loads 380. The officers who are going are Major Barttelot, in command ; Mr. J. S. Jamieson, second in command; Mr. W. Bonny; Sheik Muni Somai, in command of Manyuema force.

Sheik Muni Somai is an Arab of Kibuyeh, who volunteered to accompany the expedition as commander under me of the native contingent.

On May 8th the Belgian Steamer A.I. A. y with M. Yan Kerkhoven, the chief of Bangala, arrived here, having on board Mr. Ward's escort of thirty Zanzibaris and four Soudanese, one Soudanese dying at Bangala.

May Wth. — They left us to go to Stanley Falls.

May 14th. — I left for Stanley Falls, going overland and catching the steamer at Gallasula, on the Congo. I proceeded with the Belgians to the Falls on May 22d.

Mr. Jamieson and Tippu Tib, with 400 men, returned from Kasengo.

Mr. Jamieson wrote to you while at Kasengo of his proceedings there. He told me on arrival that Tippu Tib had promised him 800 men, but would make no written agreement with him.

May 23d. — I had my palaver with Tippu Tib. He then told me he could only let me have 400 men, 300 of whom were to carry forty -pound loads, and 100 twenty -pound loads. He said the men were present, and ready to start as soon as I had my loads ready. I told him of what he had promised Mr. Jamieson at Kasengo, but he said never had any mention of 800 men been made, only of the 400 ; that it was quite impossible he could give us more men, as he was short of men at Kasengo and Nyanjwe, as he was at present engaged in so many wars that he had completely drained the country. I was forced to submit, but hoped that he might be able to collect another 100 or so at and around Yambuya.

Tippu then asked me if I wanted a headman, stating that in the former agreement Mr. Stanley had said that if a headman was taken he should be paid. I replied, " Certainly, I want a headman." He then presented me to the Arab, Muni Somai. This man agreed to come, and I send you the terms I settled with him.

I got back to Camp Yambuya May 30th. June 4th, the Stanley steamer arrived, and the A. I. A., the former bringing Belgian officers for the Falls Station, the latter Tippu Tib himself. June 5th, I had another palaver with Tippu Tib, asking him where were the 250 men already sent. He explained to me that they had been dispersed, and on trying to collect them they refused to come, owing to the bad reports brought in by the deserters, and that as they were subjects and not slaves, he could not force them. That was the reason why he had brought 400 entirely fresh men from Kasengo for us.

However, Tippu said he could let me have thirty more men of Muni Somai. This, as I was so terribly short of men, I agreed to.

Muni Somai himself appears a willing man, and very anxious to do his best. He volunteered for the business. I trust you will not think his payment excessive, but the anxiety it takes away as regards his men and the safety of the loads is enormous, for he is responsible for all the Manyuema and the loads they carry, and thus saves the white officers an amount of work and responsibility which they can now devote to other purposes.

The loads we do not take are to be sent to Bangala. They will be loaded up in the A. I. A., or Stanley, on June 8th, a receipt being given for them by Mr. Yan Kerkhoven, which is marked B and forwarded to you, also a letter of instructions to him and to Mr. Ward. Perhaps you would kindly give the requisite order concerning the loads and the two canoes purchased in March for Mr. Ward's transport, also for those stores purchased by Mr. Ward on behalf of the expedition, as it is nearly certain I shall not return this way, and shall therefore have no further need of them or him. Mr. Troup, who is in a terrible condition of debility and internal disarrangement, is proceeding home at his own request. Mr. Bonny's certificate of his unfitness is attached, and his application marked E, also letters concerning passage, etc., to M. Fontaine, marked F. I have given him a passage home at the expense of the expedition, as I am sure it would be your and their wish.

My intentions on leaving this camp are to make the best of my way along the same route taken by Mr. Stanley. Should I get no tidings of him along the road, to proceed as far as Kavalli, and then, if I hear nothing there, to proceed to Kibero. If I can ascertain either at Kavalli or Kibero his whereabouts, no matter how far it may be, I will endeavor to reach him. Should he be in a fix, I will do my utmost to relieve him. If neither at Kavalli nor Kibero I can obtain tidings of him, I shall go on the Wadelai and ascertain from Emin Pasha, if he be there still, if he has any news of Mr. Stanley, also of his own intentions as regards staying or leaving. I will persuade him, if possible, to come out with me, and, if necessary, aid me in my search for Mr. Stanley. Should it for sundry reasons be unnecessary to look further for Mr. Stanley, I will place myself and force at his disposal to act as his escort, proceeding by whichever route is most feasible, so long as it is not through Uganda, as in that event the Manyuemas would leave me, as I have promised Tippu Tib they shall not go there, and that I will bring them back or send a white officer with them back to their own country by the shortest and quickest route on completion of my object. This is always supposing Emin Pasha to be there and willing to come away. It may be he only needs ammunition to get away by himself, in which case I would in all probability be able to supply him, and would send three-fourths of my Zanzibar force and my two officers with him, and would myself, with the other Zanzibaris, accompany the Manyuemas back to Tippu Tib's country, and so to the coast, by the shortest route — viz., by the Mwuta- Ezigi, Tanganyika, and Ujiji. This is also the route I should take should we be unable to find Stanley, or, from the reasons either that he is not there or does not wish to come, relieve Emin Pasha.