JOURNEY ACROSS THE GREAT PYGMY FOREST 27 



native carriers. He, however, met with no serious difficulty 

 from the natives and had not to fire a shot in self-defense, 



Interviewed at Lishon by a representative of Reuter's news 

 agency, Mr Lloyd said : 



" I left Bamutenda in Torn 'on September 19, striking due south to Fort 

 Katwe, the British military station on the northern shore of Lake Albert. 

 Thence I followed the Semliki river to M'beni, the frontier fort of the 

 Kongo State. There I crossed the Semliki into Belgian territory. From 

 this point I crossed through the heart of the great pygmy forest, the 

 northern part of which was traversed by Stanley. After passing through 

 the forest I traveled right down the Aruwimi to the junction of that 

 river with the Kongo. Although a portion of the journey, especially 

 along the Aruwimi and through the dark forest, was somewhat risky, I 

 met with no serious opposition. I never had to resort to the use of arms. 

 I was entirely unaccompanied by Europeans until I reached the Belgian 

 State station at Basoko on the Kongo. My caravan consisted of two 

 Baganda boys as personal servants and a few native carriers. Guides I 

 obtained at the various villages en route." 



As to the situation in Toru, Mr Lloyd said : 



" Since the administration of Captain Sitwell in that province marvel- 

 ous progress and improvement have been made. When I first went there 

 two years ago there was constant trouble with the chiefs and the natives, 

 but now matters go on very smoothly. The chiefs recognize the King 

 who was placed there b} T Captain Lugard and loyally obey him. It is 

 very significant that, owing to the loyalty of the Watoro, Mwanga's people, 

 despite repeated efforts, have never crossed Toru, but have met witlj 

 continual repulses. It is a matter of great congratulation that the force 

 of 120 Sudanese in Toru under Captain Sitwell has remained absolutely 

 loyal during the whole of the rebellion. This is the only province of 

 Uganda which has not been disorganized, owing to the late mutiny. Just 

 after I left, Captain Sitwell and Captain Meldon started on an expedition 

 to check the rebels under Gabrieli, Mwanga's commander-in-chief, who 

 was attempting to proceed to the north to join the ex-King of Uganda in 

 Unyoro. King Kasagama, of Toru, is a thoroughly reliable and indeed 

 exemplary man. Baptized by Bishop Tucker in 1896, he has since lived 

 a thoroughly consistent Christian life." 



Describing his journey and his experiences with the pygmies, 

 Mr Lloyd continued : 



" During the first ten days' traveling through Toru nothing of a spe- 

 cially noteworthy character occurred. I reached the Belgian frontier post 

 of M'beni on October 1, and then entered the great dark forest. Alto- 

 L'rtliiT I was twenty days walking through its gloomy shades. I saw a 

 great many of the little pygmies, but, generally speaking, they kept out 

 <>f the way as much as possible. At one little place in t he middle of the 

 forest, called Solenga, I stayed at a village of a few huts occupied by so- 



