3 6 ° 
STANLEY'S GREAT CONGO EXPEDITION 
treaties, insuring his people safe and! permanent dwelling among them, 
and stipulated for a civilized method of conducting commerce, and the 
sovereignty of the powers of umpire in all matters of doubt or diffi¬ 
culty. 
He then set his men to build a strong house, which was plentifully 
stored with provisions, tools, ammunition, cloth, beads, cowries, etc.; 
and gave the charge of the station to a Scotchman named Binnie,—a 
man of small physique, but with a lion’s heart,—entrusting thirty-one 
armed men to his command. On the ioth of December, 1883, Stanley 
turned his back upon the falls, and began to descend the river. The 
little Scotchman was alone in the heart of Africa! It should be added 
here that he behaved splendidly, and in a very short time won the 
affection, as well as the respect, of the neighboring tribes. 
Stanley’s work was almost done. From point to point, along the 
river, he had placed stations, and obtained treaties which gave the 
Association sovereign rights. When the success of these stations had 
encouraged the natives, little difficulty would be experienced in filling 
up the gaps. The pioneering was accomplished, the seeds of federation 
were sown; and time, and time only, could combine the scattered links, 
and weld them into an unbroken chain. All the Congo tribes knew 
and honored “Bula Matari;” and nearly all had covenanted with him 
to keep the peace and advance his aims. The whole region had been 
touched by a master’s hand, and quickened into vitality. The tribes 
of the Congo were ready for the final step—the confederation of their 
units into an undivided whole, ready for agglomeration into one great 
state. 
On August 3, 1884, Stanley arrived at Ostend on his return, and 
presented’ his report to the King of the Belgians. From the work he 
had done has arisen the great Congo Free State, occupying much of 
the heart of Africa. 
