56 
Central Africa. 
had entertained the theory that this great river would prove 
to be the Nile, as it flowed from Nyangwe in a northerly 
direction ; but Cameron proved that its level was a hundred 
feet lower than that of the Nile, therefore it could not 
possibly flow upwards into that river. It was also proved 
that the river conveyed five times the volume of water past 
Nyangwe, compared with the Nile at Gondokoro, and that 
therefore some mightier outlet must be found for it. This 
was the problem ; it could only be solved by a long and 
perilous journey through forests, savages, and unknown, 
but much-feared dangers ; still Stanley determined to suc- 
ceed or die in the attempt. 
He and his party set out from Manyuema, and com- 
menced to penetrate the forests which lined the river banks 
on both sides for fifteen hundred miles. A large Arab party 
accompanied him as escort, during the first stages of the 
journey, and these men cut down trees in order to make a 
track for the explorers ; but the forest was so dense, that 
daylight could not penetrate. Stanley says, " Every leaf 
seemed weeping. Down the branches, creepers, and vege- 
table cords the moisture trickled, and fell on us. Overhead, 
the wide-spreading branches in many interlaced strata, each 
branch heavy with broad thick leaves, absolutely shut out 
daylight. We knew not whether it was a sunshiny day, or 
a dull, foggy day, for we marched in a feeble, solemn 
twilight, such as you experience in temperate climes, an 
hour after sunset. It was so dark sometimes that I could 
not see the. words, recording notes of the track which I 
pencilled in my note-book." For a fortnight or so, this kind 
of struggle with Nature's forces went on. Swamps, water- 
courses, immense creepers, thorns with formidable hooks, 
which tore the flesh of the men, sickness, darkness and 
gloom, at last dismayed the party, while the Arabs began 
