Chapter XX.--"The Sad Story of the Rear Column.

H. M. S.

_July 20th._--Sent out to headmen to try and get more loads. I find I am short of the following loads, viz., 8 bags beads, 3-3/4 brass wire, 10 sacks of hkfs., 9 bales Zanzibar cloth, 5 loads of powder, 10 sacks rice, 1 sack cowries; total 47 loads.

I discovered that the man who shot the Major is named Sanga, and is a headman charged with the care of ten loads. He has fled to Stanley Falls with Muini Sumai.

William Bonny, _Commanding_.

_July 22nd._--It has been raining now thirty-six hours. Mr. Jameson arrived to-day. Camp quiet.

William Bonny, _Commanding_.

_July 25th._--Mr. Jameson left here for Stanley Falls, taking with him the late Major's effects.

William Bonny, _Commanding_.

_July 27th._--The Soudanese paraded to-day, without being asked, and said they wished to speak to me. They said--"We wish to fight the Manyuema; we are waiting for orders, and are ready to fight."... I think they are now ashamed of their conduct on the 19th instant in not following me when called upon.

William Bonny, _Commanding_.

Following from Mr. Jameson:--

"Camp in Forest, "_July 26th, 1888_.

"My dear Bonny,--We have been doing good work, marching eight hours yesterday, and nine and a half hours to-day....

"Met Muini Sumai. He was on his way back to Banalya, having been pursuaded to return by other Arabs coming from Stanley Falls.

"Muini Sumai told me that one of Sanga's women was beating the drum when the Major came up, and the Major went to the house saying 'Who is that?' Sanga says he thought that the Major was going to beat the woman as he had beaten the man the day before, and so fired at him. He is at Stanley Falls.

"Yours, "J. S. Jameson."

_August 1st._--I raided the Zanzibari houses to-day, which resulted in my getting ten pieces of cloth.

William Bonny, _Commanding_.

_August 2nd._--Empty Remington box found in forest. A Zanzibari was found in possession of forty-eight hkfs., being part of stores lost on 19th,

William Bonny, _Commanding_.

_August 6th._--The natives came last night and stole a canoe from our gate, and not two yards from a Soudanese sentry. I fined the three Soudanese sentries each £1 for neglect of duty.

Wm. Bonny, _Commanding Advance Party_.

_August 8th._-- About 10 P.M., hearing an unusual noise, I got up, and discovered that it proceeded from about 100 to 150 canoes knocking together. The natives were in force across the river, and I soon posted my men. The natives observing our movements returned up river. No shot was fired. I want to make friends with them.

William Bonny, _Commanding_.

_August 12th._--The Manyuema, through Chief Sadi, brought me a present of 15 lbs. of wild pig meat. I have had no meat since 25th July.

William Bonny, _Commanding_.

_August 14th._--I received a letter from Mr. Jameson, now at Stanley Falls, in which he states that my letter of the 19th July, 1888, was lost. It was addressed to Mons. Baert, Stanley Falls, announcing the death of Major Barttelot to Tippu-Tib, and enclosed one to Sir Walter Barttelot, Bart., M.P. Tippu-Tib has tried Muini Sumai, and finding him guilty, has torn up his contract. Muini Sumai has to return all rifles, &c. Mr. Ward is at Bangala with letters from the committee, which Jameson has ordered to be sent up. Tippu-Tib has agreed to hand over Sanga, the murderer of the Major, to Jameson for justice. The state officers claim that power, and will try him, as Banalya is within their territory.

William Bonny, _Commanding_.

_August 17th._--Mr. Stanley arrived here about 11 A.M. this morning in good health, but thin. He came by water with about thirty canoes, accompanied by about 200 followers. Some of whom are natives belonging to Emin Pasha.

I briefly told Mr. Stanley the news, handed to him eleven letters addressed to himself, and four addressed to Emin Pasha.

Rain.

W. Bonny.

_August 18th._--A Manyuema admits to Mr. Stanley that, he had two bales of Zanzibar cloth, and knew a man who had a bag of beads, taken from me on the 19th July. Mr. Stanley advised the head man to return the goods to me. Kimanga brought two half bales of Zanzibar cloth, being part of the stores looted on the 19th July. A receipt was given to him. I received a letter dated August 12th, Stanley Falls, from Mr. Jameson. Muini Sumai came in and saw Mr. Stanley.

William Bonny.

_August 19th._--Muini Sumai has now returned all rifles, revolvers, and ammunition, besides top of tent.

William Bonny.

_August 20th._--Soudanese and Zanzibaris paraded to-day of their own accord before Mr. Stanley, and complained to him that they had been badly treated.

The following is from Mr. Jameson:--

"Stanley Falls, "_August 12, 1888_.

"My dear Bonny,--The Expedition is at a very low ebb at present, as I think you will acknowledge. No headman will go in charge of Manyuema although I have done all in my power to get one. Tippu-Tib said he would go for £20,000 paid unconditionally, and said further that if he met with any really superior force, or saw his men threatened with any serious loss, he would return. It is not likely that the Committee would agree to this proposal. Secondly, he proposed for the same sum to take the loads _viâ_ Nyangwe and Tanganika to Kibero in Unyoro, guaranteeing first to pay for all loss of loads. Secondly, to deliver all loads at Kibero in Unyoro within six months of date of starting. Thirdly, after delivering loads at Kibero will look for Stanley. But if war between Unyoro and Uganda, could not guarantee delivery of loads at Kibero. I had a final interview with him last night. I told him that Mr. Stanley's very last orders were to follow the same road he had taken. Major Barttelot's intentions were, at the time of his death, to continue on that road. Major Barttelot wrote to Mr. Mackinnon to say he had started on that road. The reply of the Committee could not have been to go by another, or we would have received it. Emin Pasha's last statement was to the effect that if he were not soon relieved he would put himself at the head of his men and try and get out _viâ_ the Congo. That Emin Pasha had received the messages which Mr. Stanley sent from Zanzibar telling him his route would be by the Congo. That did he start, the Congo would without doubt be the route he would choose to come out. And that finally, in the face of all this, I could not go by a new route unless ordered to do so. Tippu-Tib then said, 'You are right.' I then told him that as regards our old route, he could not get me a headman over the Manyuema, no matter what I did to induce them. He said he would command them himself for £20,000, yet told me that if any serious loss was threatened to his men he would turn back. I replied, 'You will accept no less a sum than £20,000, and that unconditionally.' Many of the Manyuema openly avow their intention should I go without a headman from you, they will proceed a certain distance, and when they come to a good village, throw down our loads and begin ivory hunting. (This Tippu-Tib acknowledged.) Therefore, if I start from here without a headman it might be fatal to the whole expedition.

"The only thing left for me to do now was to get a canoe, and go to Bangala at once. Read the Committee's reply, and if it was to the effect, go on at all hazards. Then I would take thirty or forty loads to be carried by the men Tippu-Tib is going to give me to replace those of Muini Sumai, bring Mr. Ward with me, as in case the Manyuemas chucked their loads, there would be one of us who might get back with the news, and bring no headman. I shall have plenty to do with the Manyuema. Return here at once in the _Stanley_ Steamer, which will be at Bangala immediately after I arrive there, and start at night away again. If the reply of the Committee would justify my stopping, knowing all I do, I would send Ward with a telegram at once to Banana by same canoes I go down in, return in the _Stanley_, go up to you, and all men and loads would be sent to Yarukombé on the Congo. Tippu-Tib guarantees that he will dismiss his men, and keep them close to the Aruwimi, and should the reply from the Committee be to still go on, on either route, he will have them all collected in a few days. There is no one to go down but me. Were I to wait the answer of the Committee here, then if we started at once I would have no loads to replace those lost at Banalya, and Ward could not come with us, and if I thought right to stop and send a telegram, a very serious delay would accrue in Ward's starting with it.

"What I wish you to do now is to stop at Banalya until you hear from me, which ought to be in three weeks or a month.

* * * * *

"If we have to come down to Yarukombé, the thing will be to make Zanzibaris believe that we are going to Zanzibar, then there will not be many desertions. Tippu-Tib has found out the refuge of the deserters. It is at Yatuka, Said bin Habib's place. He has sent men to catch all who are there. Daoud was captured at Yambuya with the Major's sack of cloth with him. Pieces of our cloth are being brought here to Tippu-Tib from villages all over the country.

"Yesterday Sanga (the murderer) was tried before Tippu-Tib and the Belgian Resident. He was found guilty, and shot immediately afterwards.

* * * * *

"My hopes sometimes have been raised to the highest pitch, and then thrown to the ground the next moment. When Tippu-Tib said he would go for £20,000, I told him I did not think the Committee would give it, but if he would give me certain guarantees I would pay half the sum myself as a subscription to the Expedition. But after what he had said no one would take him.

* * * * *

"You remember that in camp I had serious thought for reasons you know of not bringing Ward; but if we do start this time without any headman, it is most necessary that there should be three of us. I assure you that his coming will not in the least interfere with your command of the Zanzibaris. And now, old man, good-bye, and God bless you.

"Very sincerely yours "James S. Jameson."

* * * * *

Copy of pencilled remarks and calculations made in presence of Major Barttelot, June 24th, 1887, when he demanded further light upon his duties, and regarding Tippu-Tib. Fourteen months after it had been handed to Major Barttelot it was restored to me by Mr. William Bonny. It was copied, and the document was returned to him.

"Str. _Stanley_, let us assume, arrives here in August, Mr. Stanley hopes to be at Nyanza same date. He stops two weeks with Emin Pasha, say to 1st September. September and October to come back.

"So you have got seventy-four days with 550 loads; you have 155 carriers, besides two garrisons of fifty men each, to occupy ends of your days' march.

Going 6 miles per day. 155 loads }4 trips to make 6 6 " " 155 " }miles forward, 8 trips 6 " " 155 " }to make 1 day's journey 6 " " 155 " }for a caravan.

"Therefore in seventy-four days you will have made nine marches forward nearer to us.

"If Tippu-Tib sends 400 men with your 208 carriers you can march with all goods towards Muta Nzigé. Then I shall meet you thirteen days from Muta Nzigé."

List of Stores landed at Yambuya Camp, August 14th, 1887, per s.s. _Stanley_ from Leopoldville:--

100 cases gunpowder. 129 " Remington rifle cartridges. 10 " percussion caps. 7 " biscuits (ship). 2 " Madeira wine. 2 " Savelist. 114 bales cloth (assorted). 33 sacks beads. 13 " cowries. 20 " rice. 8 " salt. 1 " empty sacks. 26 loads of brass rods. 27 " brass and iron wire. 1 case tinware. ---- 493 ----

List of Stores left at Yambuya in charge of Major Barttelot June 28th. 1887:--

2 boxes general and private baggage--Mr. Stanley. 29 " Remington rifle cartridges. 38 " Winchester rifle cartridges. 24 " Maxim rifle cartridges. 24 " European provisions. 10 loads officers' baggage. 15 " brass rods. 1 " tobacco. 1 " cowries. 12 " rice. 7 " biscuits. 1 " salt. 3 " tents ---- 167 ----