In Darkest Africa, Vol. 2; or, The Quest, Rescue, and Retreat of Emin, Governor of EquatoriaStanley, Henry M. (Henry Morton)
History
In Darkest Africa, Vol. 2; or, The Quest, Rescue, and Retreat of Emin, Governor of Equatoria
Stanley, Henry M. (Henry Morton)
Africa, Central -- Description and travel; Emin Pasha, 1840-1892
From the basin of Utinda we ascended past a few cones dominating a ridge
which enclosed it on the south and south-east, and, after surmounting
two other ridges separated by well-watered valleys, we arrived on the
airy upland of grassy Uhobo, 4,900 feet above sea-level. A little later
Kaibuga entered into our camp. This chief was of the Wahuma settled
among the Balegga, whose grounds overlooked the plain of Kavalli and the
south end of the Nyanza, and whose territory extended to the debouchure
of the Semliki. He urged active hostilities, as Uhobo belonged to Kabba
Rega. Naturally we smiled at this, as we had not seen the semblance of a
single enemy, though it is true that the Uhobo natives had disappeared
from view at our approach. At this instant a picquet signalled the
advance of a column of Kabba Rega’s people armed with guns, and two
companies of Zanzibaris were mustered by Lieutenant Stairs and Captain
Nelson, the latter of whom had so improved by the diet of Kavalli and
Mazamboni that he was fit for any work.
After proceeding about two miles they met the small party of the Pasha’s
people carrying the dead body of Captain Casati’s faithful servant
Okili, for whom Casati entertained deep affection. He had been shot
through the forehead by a rifle-ball. It appears that while the
Soudanese had been bathing in a stream south of Uhobo, the column of the
Wara Sura happened to be observed marching in a pretty disciplined
manner with two flags towards them, and a few minutes later would have
surprised them, but the whole party hastily dressed, and, snatching
their rifles, opened fire on them. Three of the enemy fell dead, and
Okili was shot by the fire that was returned. On the approach of the
Zanzibaris the Wara Sura fled, and were pursued for three miles, but no
further casualties occurred.
[Sidenote: 1889.
May 12.
Mboga.]
A severe rainstorm, lasting seven hours, fell during the night, and in
the morning when marching to Mboga we were involved in cloud and mist.
As the day advanced, however, Ruwenzori thrust its immense body into
view far above the vapours rising from the low Semliki Valley, and every
now and then the topmost cones gathered the cloudy fleeces and veiled
their white heads from view. As we advanced nearer each day to the range
we were surprised that we were not able to discover so much snow as we
had seen at Kavalli, but on reflection it became evident that the line
of snow became obscured from view by an advanced ridge, which the nearer
we approached impeded the view the more. We observed also that the lofty
mountain range assumed the form of a crescent; Ajif Mountain forming the
northern end and the Twin Peak shoulder to the west the other end; and
further, that beyond Ajif, which I estimated at about 6,000 feet above
the sea, there was a steady and perceptible rise to the snow line, and
then a sudden uplift to the proud height of from 2,000 to 5,000 feet
higher, most of which was under snow.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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