STANLEY'S JOURNEY THROUGH AFRICA 
35 ° 
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 for, 
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 
