From Fort Portal to Bujoiigolo — Mobuku Valley. 



the disposition of the natives, who were known to l)e frequently 

 hostile and tiirhulent in the Congo District. 



Of the two alternatives the latter seemed certainly to offer 

 the more serious risks. The Duke of the Abruzzi decided 



:\[ARKET, FORT PORTAL. 



therefore to follow the more direct and sliorter i^oute, ascending 

 the Mobuku Valley and arriving comparatively quickly among 

 the high mountains, where it would be possible to obtain data 

 for forming; a decision as to the future route. 



The two days at Fort Portal had been days of complete 

 idleness for the native porters, and had been sufficient to 

 undermine and break up tlie discipline to ^A■llich they had 

 become accustomed din-ing their two weeks of steady work. 

 When the drum and the trumpets sounded the reveille at 

 4.30 a.m., June 1st, not one of the whole troop was ready. 

 Boys and porters dropped in late, one by one, and it took 

 over two hours to get the caravan into marching order. At 



103 



