3 so STANLEY'S JOURNEY THROUGH AFRICA 



not seem to represent a very formidable race. But these dwarfs are 

 very nimble, and the arrows they shoot are invariably poisoned. Soon 

 after, when the boat party was encamped on the bank, awaiting the 

 arrival of the column marching by land, hundreds of wild savages 

 attacked them, blowing their war-horns, and yelling their war-cries, 

 and shooting clouds of poisoned arrows. All that day and through the 

 greater part of the night the contest went on. Early next morning the 

 fight was renewed, and continued with few interruptions till night. 

 On the following day, reinforced by about a thousand neighbors in 

 canoes, the savages attacked again, and this time with desperate fury. 

 From the forest on the one side and the river on the other they came in 

 vast numbers, showering their arrows on the gallant little band. In 

 the midst of the battle, the advance guard of the land column made 

 its appearance, and at the sight of the reinforcements the natives 

 retreated. During the night, which was dark and stormy, Stanley 

 crossed the river to the island whither those who attacked in canoes 

 had retired, and under cover of darkness cut the canoes adrift and 

 floated them down the river to his camp. Being now in a position to 

 make his own terms, he rowed to the island on the following morning, 

 and offered the surprised owners fifteen of their canoes if they would 

 make peace. This they consented to do — Stanley reserving twenty- 

 three for conveying his expedition down the river. 



But the Arabs had had enough of this wild country, and its 

 turbulent people, and Tippu Tib declared that he and his men would 

 not go one step further to what they knew to be certain destruction. 

 Only twelve of the stipulated twenty marches had been performed, 

 but Stanley saw that the time had come for the final parting, and 

 accordingly released Tippu Tib from his agreement — rewarding him 

 with a draft for about £500, together with numerous presents forj 

 himself and his chief people. Through the fidelity and courage of 

 some of the Wangwana, Stanley was able to arouse the enthusiasm of 

 his own band in the coming voyage down the river, and with such 

 good effect that, in finally leaving Tippu Tib and his camp behind, not 

 one of the expedition had deserted. 



On the following day the little flotilla was attacked from both 

 banks at once. Hundreds of savages with gaily feathered heads and 



