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
On the 10th the Expedition reached Hippo Broads. On this date we saw a
cloud of moths sailing up river, which reached from the water’s face to
the topmost height of the forest, say 180 feet, so dense, that before it
overtook us we thought that it was a fog, or, as was scarcely possible,
a thick fall of lavender-coloured snow. The rate of flight was about
three knots an hour. In the dead calm morning air they maintained an
even flight, but the slightest breeze from the banks whirled them
confusedly about, like light snow particles on a gusty day. Every now
and then the countless close packed myriads met a cloud of moth migrants
from above river, and the sunbeams glinting and shining on their
transparent wing caused them to resemble fire sparks.
Bits of turfy green, cropped close by hippo, which favours this fine
reach of river, distinguish the banks near this locality. Many oil
palms, some raphia, arums, phrynia, amoma, pepper bushes, &c., denote a
very ancient site of a human settlement. My tent was pitched under a
small branching fig-tree, which protected it from a glowing Equatorial
sun, but the heat reflected from the river’s face mounted up to 87° in
the shade at 3 P.M. This unusual heat preceded a tempest, with
lightning, startling thunder, and deluging rain.
At the Bafaido Cataract, a woman who fell into our hands informed us
that the Medze tribe lived on the other side of the Ngaiyu River and
that the Babandi were found on its left bank.
Near Avaiyabu, a lurking native who had been standing behind a leafy
screen of parasites depending from the branches of a big tree, suddenly
stepped into the path, snatched a little girl belonging to the Manyuema,
and drove his double-edged dagger from breast to back, and holding his
weapon above his head uttered a furious cry, which might well have been
“Death to the invader!”
And at the next camp, Avamberri landing-place, Soudi the wise little boy
who had served the Major, while being carried past the rapids to the
canoes waiting above, died on the carriers’ shoulders. The enamel
covering of the leg-bone had been all destroyed by the virulent ulcer.
Since we had left Bungangeta Island, Soudi had been carried and nursed,
but want of exercise, and exposure to sun in the canoe and constant rain
had weakened his digestion. His constitution had been originally healthy
and sound. The little fellow had borne his sufferings bravely, but the
reserve medicines were at Bangala, and we could do nothing for him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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