CHAPTER XIX.

ARRIVAL AT BANALYA: BARTTELOT DEAD!

The Relief Force--The difficulties of marching--We reach Ipoto--Kilonga Longa apologises for the behaviour of his Manyuema--The chief returns us some of our rifles--Dr. Parke and fourteen men return to Fort Bodo--Ferrying across the Ituri River--Indications of some of our old camps--We unearth our buried stores--The Manyuema escort--Bridging the Lenda River--The famished Madi--Accidents and deaths among the Zanzibaris and Madi--My little fox-terrier "Randy"--The vast clearing of Ujangwa--Native women guides--We reach Ugarrowwa's abandoned station--Welcome food at Amiri Falls--Navabi Falls--Halt at Avamburi landing-place--Death of a Madi chief--Our buried stores near Basopo unearthed and stolen--Juma and Nassib wander away from the Column--The evils of forest marching--Conversation between my tent-boy, Sali, and a Zanzibari--Numerous bats at Mabengu village--We reach Avisibba, and find a young Zanzibari girl--Nejambi Rapids and Panga Falls--The natives of Panga--At Mugwye's we disturb an intended feast--We overtake Ugarrowwa at Wasp Rapids and find our couriers and some deserters in his camp--The head courier relates his tragic story--Amusing letter from Dr. Parke to Major Barttelot--Progress of our canoe flotilla down the river--The Batundu natives--Our progress since leaving the Nyanza--Thoughts about the Rear Column--Desolation along the banks of the river--We reach Banalya--Meeting with Bonny--The Major is dead--Banalya Camp 468