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 selp:cted papers 
 
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 FROM THK 
 
 \ PROCEEDINGS 
 
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 ROYAL MILITARY COLLEGE CLUB 
 
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 1803 
 
 No. 1 
 
 A SKETCH OF THE LIVES AND SERVICES 
 
 OF THE LATE 
 
 CAPTAINS H. B. MACKAY, W. H. ROBINSON 
 
 AND 
 
 W. G. STAIRS 
 
 BY 
 
 'm 
 
 Captain A, H. van STHAUBENZEE, R. E. 
 
V3 
 
 1 1 
 
 .1 
 
 ~ K a.*" _% 
 
.1' 
 
 A SKETCH OF THE LIFE 
 
 OF 
 
 CAPT. H. B. MACKAY, D. S. 0., R. K 
 
 Huntly Brtxlie Mackay was born at Kingston, Ontario, 
 on i4tli March 1858, and died at Mombasa, of West African 
 fever, on 16th April 1891 at the early age of 33. He was 
 the elder son of H. B. Mackay, Esq,, of Montreal and came 
 from a good old Highland family, being connected on his 
 mother's side with the Gordons and Sutherlands. His 
 paternal grandfathei' served in the 42nd Royal High- 
 landers, the famous Black Watch, and went through the 
 Peninsula Campaign. He was educated at the Montreal 
 High School, but left at an early age to join the staff of 
 the "Daily W^itness" one of the leading papers of Montreal; 
 during tliis time, puvt of his occupation consisted in reading 
 through the *' London Times * and by his good memory, he 
 stored away a mass of useful information, which stood him 
 in good stead in after life. The R. M. College was estab- 
 lished in June 1876, and at the half yearly entrance exam- 
 ination in February 1878, Mackay passed in first with a 
 good lead. From that time every examination saw him at 
 the top of the list, until he graduated in June 1881, winning 
 the Governor General's gold medal and several prizes, a first 
 class certificate, with honours in 8 subjects. During his 
 College course Mackay worked conscientiously and hard, 
 making the very best of his opportunities, he was a general 
 favorite with both Staff and Cadets, and many an old 
 graduate will gratefully remember the assistance he cheer- 
 fully gave them in working out a difficult problem in 
 
 L^ 
 
mathematics or D. G. He was a good swimmer, fond of 
 b<jating, and a !iard working forward in the foot-ball team. 
 
 Some of you may remember how at one of the quarterly 
 examinations in Mathematics out of a maximum of 25 ho 
 lost I mark, at this grievous loss he expressed surprise and 
 deep regret, so that for a long time there was a standing 
 joke against him. How about that mark ! this illustrates 
 his earnestness of purpose. He was gazetted to the Corps 
 of Royal Engineers on 25th June 1881 and joined the 
 head-quarters of the Corps at Chatham in September of 
 that year, the next 2 years were spent in going through the 
 or.linary courses at Chatham. Surveying, construction, 
 tield works, rail, law, tactics, chemistry, telegraphy, drill, 
 &c., the batch of officers to which he was attached were 
 fortunate in having several instructional tours, one for 
 construction in the South of England, for fortification to 
 the Isle of Wight and Portsmouth, a geological tour in the 
 N. of Wales, mounted reconnaissance from Chatham to 
 Canterbury, and a foreign tour to Germany visiting many 
 of the battlefields in the last Franco-German War. 
 
 In November 1883 he joined the 29th Co. R. E., at the 
 Curragh Camp Ireland and remained there until May, of 
 the following year when he obtained 4 months leave to 
 Canada, prior to going to India, for which he had put 
 down his name. On his return to England from leave, he 
 volunteered for service in the Bechuanaland Expedition, 
 which was then being organized. Sir Chas. Warren the 
 Commander of the Expedition, who, as Instructor of Sur- 
 veying at the S. M. E. Chatham, had recognized Mackay's 
 ability and devotion to his profession, gladly accepted his 
 services, and he was appointed to the Topographical Depart- 
 ment under Com. Bethell R. N. Here he worked very 
 hard for about a year, being appointed eventujiUy to the 
 party under Major Conder R. E., employed in surveying 
 
 hW-l 
 
 r^ 
 
 \4 
 
— 5 
 
 vi*l 
 
 and laying down the West boundary of the Transvaal. This 
 work was carried out at a time of considerable excitement, 
 and during its course Lieut Mackay was more than once 
 left in charge of'the frontier })arty. On one of these occa- 
 sions a dispute with the Transvaal Guards p.ight have 
 led to serious consequences, but for the combination of 
 firmness and patience with which he met the emer- 
 gency. He was afterwards despatched noithward to join 
 Sir Chas. Warren on his visit to the tribes near Matabili 
 Land, and here his knowledge of astronomy and skill as a 
 surv^eyor were of great geographical value, the situation of 
 places never before properly fixed being det^'^mined with 
 great exactitude by the use of very portable instruments in 
 a manner which was to a great extent originated by liim- 
 self, at the close of this expedition the boundary being 
 peacefully settled between the Transvaal Republic and the 
 new Crown Colony of Bechuanaland, Lieut. Mackay was 
 »}ent by the War Ofiice in September LS85 to the West Coast 
 ©f Africa and superintended the ei-ection of batteries at 
 Sierra Leone, where he was employed every year till 1889. 
 During this period he served with the expedition against 
 the Yonnies from November 1887 to February 1888 under 
 Colonel Sir F. de Winton (mentioned in despatches). He 
 afterwards took part in the expedition to the Sulymah 
 district against the Chief Mackiah, where he distinguished 
 himself, being in command of the rocket party, by being 
 the first to climb over the stockade of the town of Fanima 
 and the mud wall beyond. His promptitude and courage 
 were considered to have been mainly instrumental in pre- 
 venting another of our small wars, which might otherwise 
 have become necessary ; and for his services he received 
 the decoration of the "Distinguished Service Order." Pro- 
 moted Captain 28 December 1889. Returning to England 
 in 1889 with health somewhat impaired, he was appointed 
 
- G 
 
 to the Ordnance Survey at iSouthainpton ; Imt his eager- 
 ness for active work rendered him restless as soon as health 
 returned. He therefore accepted employment undei' the 
 Imperial British East Africa Company and Rtart( d in 
 .lune 1890 for his new field of African laliour. At Mom- 
 basa, he was to be the company's resident agent, and to have 
 a military command, proceeding to the Uganda district as 
 soon as he had mastered the Swahili language. It was 
 that j)art of Africa which Alex. Mackay, the devoted mis- 
 sionaiy, who died of fever 15 months before our Mackay, 
 had made known to us and where he liad worked so hard 
 to christianize and civilize the natives. In a letter written 
 shortly before his death Mackay refers to the missionary 
 h\ these words " Alex. Mackay, the missionary to my mind, 
 is one of the greatest of the Mack ays," the two had many 
 traits in common, both were engineers of acknowledged 
 ability, occi*pying important positi()ns in Africa, and both 
 were possessed of great energy.^ perseverance, courage and 
 a high sense of duty. On reaching Mombasa, Mackay 
 found the Company were making arrangements for the 
 construction of a railway towards Lake Victoria Nyanza, 
 the responsibility for the survey, and work of construction 
 (up to the date of his death) devolved upon him, a most 
 onerous and dispiriting task, when one realizes that all the 
 work had to be done under a tropical sun with unskilled 
 natives, to whom labour of any kind is uncongenial. It is 
 to be deeply deplored that the previous fatigues, combined 
 with the labours of this new and arduous undertaking, 
 proved too much for his strength, and that he succumbed to 
 fever just when his fitness for high employment had been 
 recognized by the directors at home. Since he was first 
 taken ill, he had been living in the administrjitor's house 
 and it was thought that he would sooner pick up, if he had 
 some light office occupation that would take him oft* himself. 
 
 W 
 

 Mr. iMackenzie the administrRtor, therefore iiit'ornied him 
 of the director's desire and decision (which he then heard 
 for the first time) that he should fill the post of acting 
 administrator. He was much gratified, and at once inter- 
 ested himself in all Mr. Mackenzie's doings and ideas, 
 which the latter freely discussed with him. He started for 
 Witu in the Henry AV right, with the administrator it 
 being thought that the sea trip would do him good, but he 
 found himself unfit to undertake the journey, and had to 
 return to Mombasa by mail steamer. 
 
 Mr. Mackenzie on his return from Witu, found him 
 still so far from well that he induced him to place himself 
 in the hands of the doctor. The doctor considering it a 
 critical case, recommended a sea voyage, and Mackay elected 
 to go with the Administrator by the first mail steamer to 
 Aden, but did not live to carry out this plan. 
 
 From the ilth April two medical men were constantly 
 in attendance, and though his appetite was good and he 
 took as much nourishment as they thought advisable, he 
 gradually grew worse. On the 16th he seemed in some 
 respects to have made very decided improvement, and it 
 was hoped to get him away by steamer, l)ut a change set 
 in that afternoon, and he passed away about a (juarter past 
 nine the same evening. 
 
 The funeral took place with every mark of regard and 
 respect, at 5 o'clock on the evening of the 17th at the 
 Church Missionary Society's consecrated ground at Frere- 
 town. During his time at Mombasa, he took part in the 
 Witu Expedition, which was under the command of Vice- 
 Admiral Sir E. B. Freemantle, K. C. B., the town was 
 taken and destroyed on 27 October 1890, the loss on the 
 enemy's side being about 100 killed and wounded, the 
 British casualties 12 wounded. Mackay was the first man 
 to get over the wall and into the town, being followed by 
 
8 -^ 
 
 Capt. Hniitli of the 1st Life Uuards. On i-eoeipt of the 
 news of Captain Mackays' death, the director's of the 
 Imperial B. E. Afrinn Co., pawsed the following rcHolution. 
 
 *' That this meeting of the Directors of the Imperial 
 *' British East African Company expresses its sincere sym* 
 *' pathy with the family of the late Captain Huntly Bi-odie 
 '' Mackay w his sudden death, and record its high appre- 
 *' ciation of the ability and zeal he always displaye<l^ and 
 " its regret at the h)ss of so valued an ofticer.'V Also; in 
 forwarding the telegrapliic news of his death to'H. R. H., 
 the Commander-in-Chief, they desired "to add an expres- 
 " sion of their deep regret at the loss of an officer of so 
 " much promise, and to wiiose zeal and capacity in the per- 
 *' formance of his duties this company has been much 
 *' indebted, during the past year." 
 
 The Directors of the Company have also erected a stone 
 to mark his grave, the stone bears the following words ■.— 
 
 •m% 
 
 In memory ok 
 
 Captatn HITNTLY BRODIE MACKAY, D. S. O, 
 
 Royal Enginesrs, AcrrxNO Adminisi'ratoh, 
 
 Imperial BRrrisH East Africa Company, 
 
 Born 14th March, 1858. 
 
 Died 16'th April, 1891. 
 
 At the time of his death Captain Mackay was in charge 
 of the important office of administrator of the company's 
 territories, a position to which the directors had appointed 
 him with the fullest confidence in his abilities. 
 
 The writer of an obituary notice in the R. E., journal 
 said of him. "To a handsome person Captain Mackay 
 " added a courteous and winning manner, combined with 
 " great determination and prompt decision." 
 
 « 
 
 y» 
 
 ' I ' 
 
■«^ 
 
 Ho was a type of the higliost order of Hritish Otiieer, 
 capable both of military and also, by a rare eoinbination of 
 civil administrative work. A cheerful humour diHtinguJHhed 
 his accounts of his adventures, and never deserted him, 
 even in times of fatigue and anxiety. He made fri<'nds of 
 all undei- whom he sjerved, and of the hund>lest of those 
 who served under him, and was regardtMi as one of the 
 most distuiguished officers in the army iov his age and 
 service. 
 
 Having had the privilege of his friendshi[) for M years 
 I can heartily endorse these sentiments and feel sure they 
 find an echo in the hearts of all who knew him, he visited 
 Canada in 1884, 188G, 1889 (was present at the closing 
 exercises of the R. M. C), and so kept in touch with the 
 large number of friends and admirers he had on this side 
 of the Atlantic, who one and all moutn his loss but none 
 more than his old College comrades, the interests of which 
 College he has done so much to advance both in Canada 
 and abroad. 
 
 One of the valuable lessons we may learn froui his life, 
 has been well expressed by a wise man of old " whatsoever 
 thy hand, iindeth to do, do it, with thy might." 
 
 M 
 
 vi. 
 
 ^ i ^ 
 
A SKETCH OF THE LIFE 
 
 OF 
 
 CAPT. W. H. ROBINSON, R. E. 
 
 WilUain Henry Robinson was born at St. John, New 
 Brunswick, on the 18th July 1863, and was killed in ac- 
 tion at TamVn on the 14th March 1892, when taking part 
 in & Frontier Police Expedition in the Tambaku district, 
 West Coast of Africa. 
 
 He was the eldest son of the late Major W. Robinson, 
 26th Foot (Cameronians) and 3rd W. I. Regt., and received 
 his early education at the Collegiate School Fredericton, 
 N. B. 
 
 At the half yearly entrance examination in February 
 1879 he passed into the R. M. College at the early age of 
 15, here be found himself pitted against many good, and 
 older Cadets, but his great abilities soon brought him to 
 the front and he graduated in June 1882 winning the 
 Governor General's gold medal and several prizes. 
 
 He never took a very active part in field sports but was 
 an inveterate reader and fond of society. 
 
 He was one of the earliest subjects of the " Mock Court 
 Martial " held in the smoking room which were initiated 
 by the renownti MacVicar, and caused us all mu<"h inno- 
 cent fun, in what we are now pleased to style *' the good 
 old days," both court martial and smoking room art nov 
 things of the past. After spending 2 years at Chatham 
 going throuh the usual coursers, h^ was in 1885 selected to 
 go though a special course of instruction at Sir Wm. Arm- 
 strong's work, Elswich near Newcastle, after this he spent 
 about 2 years at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, where be 
 was practically traffic manager. 
 
 ^f 
 
— 11 
 
 •9- * 
 
 ' ^tt 
 
 In February 1888 he went out to Sierra Leone under tlie 
 late Capt. H. B. Mackay, D, S. O., R. E., wlioni he suc- 
 ceeded in Nov. 1889 as C R. E. and was given the local 
 rank of Captain^ retaining this appointment up to the day 
 of his death. Promoted Captain 22 September 1890. 
 
 Major Fairtlough, R. A., of whom, many of you have 
 kindly recollections, has written and spoken in the highest 
 terms of praise, of the (quality and amount of work done at 
 Sierra Leone by both Mackay and Robinson. 
 
 Capt. Robinson was under orders for England but vo- 
 lunteered to accompany the expedition which left Freetown 
 on "he 7 March 1892. 
 
 Ine following extract from a letter written by Major A 
 McDonnell Moore, R. T. Fusiliers, Commanding the expe- 
 dition speaks for itself : 
 
 Kukuna, 16th March 1892 
 
 ... It is with the deepest regret that I write to tell 
 you of the great loss we have all sustained in the death of 
 poor Robinson. He had been so hard w^orking all the way 
 up that everyone was full of admiration for his soldier like 
 qualities, but our just appreciation of him was heightened, 
 if possible, when we saw his magnificent conduct under fire. 
 He was as cool as on parade, fired his rockets and watched 
 their effect with interest, and when at last he was asked to 
 blow in the gate, f.greed at once. 
 
 He ran back a good distance for his explosives, and then 
 with an " All right. Major, I'll be back in a minute " was 
 through the first fence and up to the gate. The man car- 
 rying the gun cotton did not follow him past the fence, so 
 Robinson returned and himself carried up and fixed the 
 charge. , ,: v.^ *' 
 
 It was a beautiful thing to see him calmly lying down 
 amidst the rattle of fire arms at the gate and fixing the 
 
^~ 12 
 
 ) * 
 
 detonator, as if he were at practice in the school. He 
 came back safely, and he, Lendy, Cockburn and their men 
 charged twice for the gate, but failed to eilect an entrance. 
 Robinson, who had been in each time with his men, was at 
 the end of the second charge shot straight thi-ough the heart 
 and lungs, and fell dead. I ran to him at once, but as I 
 lifted him to bear him off, I saw that he was dead. My 
 (rod ! my heart was sad. Such a good fellow, such a sol- 
 dier ; and just slain at the moment when we were fall of 
 admiration for him, at the moment when lie had so distin- 
 guished himself and gained, without a doubt, such a 
 recognition as the soldier covets. 1 would he had lived to 
 wear it 1 
 
 " Receive my deepest expression of sympathy for the loss 
 you and the corps liave sustained by the death of such a 
 brilliant officer. 
 
 Al. McDonnell Moore. 
 
 The body was brought to Kamassasa and buried there 
 on the morning of the 15th March. Robinson was gifted 
 with splendid abilities and was a most conscientious and 
 energetic officer. He is a great loss to the army and to his 
 old college to which he did honour, the example of gallantry 
 ana courage displayed on the day of his death has thrilled 
 our hearts with pride and serve, only to add to the sorrow 
 we all feel at his untimely end. He visited Canada in 1884 
 and 1891, but never managed to pay us a visit at Kingston, 
 It was his intention to come out again in 1892 to be present 
 at the wedding of one of his sisters, but alas " Man pro- 
 poses, but God disposes ". 
 
 I may add that MacKay and Robinson were both entitled 
 to a medal and clasp for their services on the V/est Coast 
 of Africa, the issue of this medal was only approved of 
 last autumn and has since been sent to their relatives. 
 
 I < 
 
 m. 
 
! t 
 
 i { 
 
 t 
 
 A SKETCH OF THE LIFE 
 
 OF 
 
 CAPT. WILLIAM GRANT STAIRS, 
 
 William Grant Stairs, was the son of the late John 
 Stairs, Esq., of Halifax, N. S., and was born in tliat city 
 on the Ist July 1863. He received his early education at 
 Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh, and subsequently 
 passed into the R. M. College in Sept. 1878, being the 
 youngest cadet in his class. During his time at College he 
 worked faithfully and well, was a prominent forward in 
 the footlmll team, a great favourite, full of fun, and noted 
 for his sound common sense. He graduated in June 1882, 
 and soon after sailed for New Zealand where he spent the 
 next 2jL years, working as a surveyor, and in the rough 
 bush life there, gained much valuable experience, which 
 stood him in good stead, later on in life, it was this expe- 
 rience, that in the main, made Stanley decide to select him 
 as one of his Staff. 
 
 In 1885 a number of extra commissions, in the Imperial 
 Service were offered to the R. M. College, and Stairs 
 accepted one of these, being gazetted to the corps of Royal 
 Engineers on 30 June 1885. He had barei^ completed 
 his course of studies at Chatham when he stfjrted in the 
 spring of 1887 for Africa on the staff of the great explorer 
 H. M. Stanley. His services with the Emin Pacha Relief 
 Expedition are well known, and to recount them would 
 make it almost necessary to write again " In darkest 
 Africa ". He was one of Stanley's most efficient and loyal 
 lieutenants and exhibited at all times great courage, and 
 
u 
 
 devotion to duty. It was 8tairs who rescued Surgeon 
 Parke and Captain Nelson from starvation, it was he who 
 ascerwled the snowy Ruwenzori to a height of some 10,000 
 feet. " One of those rare personalities oftener visible 
 " among military men than among civilians, who could 
 " obey orders without argument, who could accept a com- 
 " mand, and without ado or fuss execute it religiously ; 
 " courageous, careful, watchful, diligent and faithful." 
 Such is Stanley's testimony to the many good qualities of 
 his right hand man. 
 
 On one occasion Ikj was wounded severely in the breast 
 by a poisoned arrow, and his life was more than once 
 dispaired of, but his usual pluck, and the devotion of his 
 friend Surgeon Parke, were the means under God, of his 
 pulling through. 
 
 A recent writer in the R. E. Journal states " whatever 
 " may have been said of the expedition. Stairs name was 
 *' always above reproach, and the credit he gained undim- 
 " med by a breath of calumny." 
 
 On his return from Africa lie was appointed Adjutant 
 R. E. troops at Aldershot, and a dinner was given specially 
 in his honour by the Corps of Royal Engineers at Chatham. 
 
 On the 3rd December 1890, he was entertained ai dinner 
 at the Canada Club, London, and was presented by Sir 
 Charles Tupper with a handsome piece of plate subscribed 
 for by the corporation and citizens of Halifax, N. S. 
 
 On 25th March 1891, he was transferred to 'The Welsh 
 Regiment "(old 69th) with rank of Captain, but never 
 joined his new corps. On 12th May 1891 he left England 
 to command the expedition to the Katanga District sent 
 out by the King of the Belgians, to establish trade rela- 
 tions with the natives. From the following account which 
 appeared in the February member of the R. E. Journal, it 
 will be seen how successfully this difficult duty was carried 
 out :- — 
 
15 
 
 CAPTAIN STAIRS' LAST EXPEDITION. 
 
 We publish below extracts translated from Le Mouve- 
 nwid Oeographiqiie giving the official report of the events 
 of the last expedition undertaken by Capt. Stairs, mostly 
 quoted from that officer's reports, and Capt. Winn, R. E., 
 has kindly furnished us with extracts of a letter from Mr. 
 Daniel Crawford, a missionary at Garenganze, to the editor 
 of the Echoes of Service, which we publish with it (the 
 spelling of proper names in each has been retained as in 
 the originals). 
 
 From, Le Mouvement Geo(iraphique. 
 
 It was on the 4th July that the Belgian Expedition 
 placed under command of Capt. Stairs left Bagamoyo, 
 opposite Zanzibar, for Karema. It consisted of Capt. 
 Stairs, in command ; Lieut. Bodson, 2nd in command ; 
 the Marquis de Bonchamps, adjutant ; Dr. Moloney and 
 his assistant, Robinson; 3 Englishmen, 1 Belgian, and 1 
 Frenchman conducting a caravan of 336 Zanzibaris and 
 Mombas. 
 
 We have no need to detail the march of the Expedition 
 to Tanganika, as our readers have been kept mi courant 
 with events in previous issues. 
 
 Suffice to say that, thanks to the energy and experience 
 of the commander and his companions, and thanks, too, to 
 the benevolent protection of the German East African 
 authorities, this first section was covered with extreme rapi- 
 dity on the 7th September the Expedition was at Tabora, 
 
 on the 9th October it reached Karema, whence it crossed 
 the lake to the Congo territory on the west bank, at Mpala, 
 which place it quitted in good order and perfect health on 
 31st October. 
 
-^ 16 — 
 
 The further account we quote from Capt. Stairs' re- 
 port : — 
 
 " From Mount Rumbi, the station of Capt. Joubert, we 
 directed our way towards the river Lualaba, arriving on 
 12th November at Gwena on that river. 
 
 " I have obtained from the house of Kassongomwana a 
 deed of submission by that chief, and have given him the 
 flag. 
 
 '* From Gwena, I sent messengers to Lake Moero, and 
 brought to my camp the powerful chief Mpueto. I suc- 
 ceeded in putting an end to a quarrel which had lasted a 
 long time between this chief and Gwena, and obtained from 
 each of them an act of submission, and gave tliem flag. 
 Meanwhile, Kafindo came to my camp, and I managed to 
 make arrangements with him, he pledging to do his utmost 
 to keep the route open. On the 14th I despatched messen- 
 gers with presents and letters in Swahili and English to 
 Msiri. 
 
 " After crossing the Lualaba in my two steel boats and 
 some canoes lent by Gwena, we began, on the 20 Novem- 
 ber, our march on Bunkeia. 
 
 However, the rumour spread everywhere that I would 
 never be permitted to enter the kingdom of Msiri, or even 
 the neighbourhood of his abode. We nevertheless continued 
 our march forward. 
 
 " My messengers returning from Msiri met me near 
 Kifuntwe. The brought me the chief's reply couched in 
 terms of warm friendship. 
 
 *' After crossing a tine stream, the Lufira, we made our 
 entry into the capital, and pitched our camp there. We 
 were at the end of our journey. It was then the 14th De- 
 cember. We had covered the distance which separated us 
 from Bagampyo in 120 stages of an average length of eight 
 English miles each. I am glad to report that during all 
 
 It 
 
' 
 
 i i < 
 
 17 — 
 
 this time we did not lose a single load, and that live only 
 out of 200 rifles were missiuor. 
 
 '* The situation at Katanga was bad. For more than 
 nine months there had been constant warfare between the 
 Wasanga (the aborigines of the district) and Msiri's men. 
 A large number of inhabitants were in Hight, deserting the 
 country to take refuge with the Wasanga and other tribes, 
 in fear of the consequences of Msiri's anger. Entire vil- 
 lages, formerly flourishing, were al)andoned, one and all 
 for the same reason. Famine naturally was the conse- 
 quence ; everywhere one met entire tribes living' solely on 
 roots, and waiting till the few c^ops still stiinding should 
 ripen. Unfortunately, little sowing has been done this 
 year, and for seven months more the famine will rage worse 
 than ever. 
 
 " The allies of the Wasanga against Msiri are the Ba- 
 lunda, the Baramlm, and other small tribes that the com- 
 mon need of defence against the enemy of all has forced 
 to forget their ancient feuds and unite for the common 
 weal. 
 
 '' The outbreak of this interminable War is due to Msiri 
 himself. He claimed a total monopoly of the ivory of the 
 country, and refused absolutely to allow anyone a tusk on 
 any pretext whatever. The revolt at last broke out. It 
 has never l)een marked by a decisive victory for one side 
 or the other, but has resulted in the disorder of the countiy, 
 the flight of the villagers into the forests, and a fatal })low 
 to agriculture, owing to the cessation of sowings. 
 
 " Msiri, indeed, has behaved to the Wasanga in a brutal 
 and barbarous fashion for yeai-s. He considered them to 
 be mere dirt. He has driven away several of his most 
 devoted chiefs, who wei-e obliged to fly to save their heads 
 from the effects of his next ebullition of rage, and has taken 
 to live with him all the women that pleased him that he 
 
 ' I- 
 
18 
 
 t'oumi at these chief's homes. Also, the chief people among 
 the Wasumba, who are of tlie same tribe as himself, nou- 
 rished a (lire hatred a<^ainst him. Everyone would have 
 been glad to contribute; to his downfall, except, indeed, hia 
 own entourage, whom he paid well. 
 
 " Up to the day of my arrival he continued to stick the 
 heads of his victims (jn stakes erectod round his village, 
 and only stopped doing so to try and conciliate me. 
 
 " Le Marinel's Expedition arrived here six months be- 
 fore me, and left here two Belgians, who have built a station 
 on the river Lifoi, not far from the river Lufira. They have 
 declared to the chief that the country belongs to the King 
 of the Belgians. Little by little Msiri has come to detest 
 them, because they refused all countenance to his despotic 
 proceedings. 
 
 " When I arrived here, relations were very strained, 
 and the chief's p* licy betrayed itself at once in the attempt 
 he made to excite me against the Belgians, and in his 
 vacillation when he found that my opinion agreed with 
 their's. i-.. 
 
 " The three missfonaries, Messrs. Thompson, Lane, and 
 Crawford, were completely at Msiri's mercy, who did what 
 he liked with them, turning them to public ridicule before 
 his people, and constantly endeavouring to compel them to 
 give up their property to him. The work of the mission 
 was naturally checked, and it was going to be removed to 
 the Lifoi, for life had V)ecome intolerable for white people 
 in the capital. Msiri, in fact, considered Europeans to be, 
 as he called them, * Aviiite slaves.' M. Alex. Delcommune, 
 chief of the expedition of the Katanga Company, arrived 
 at Bunkeia in OctoVjer last. Msiri tried to keep him, but 
 the explorer's instructions did not allow of his staying ; he 
 had to visit the country to the south, and continued his 
 journey. From this time, Msiri began to understand that 
 he would soon have to deal with Europeans, 
 
-_ 19 — 
 
 '• M. Legat, commander of the Ooverninent post esta- 
 blished on tlie Lifoi, has, throughout the whole of the 
 difficult period, during which he has remained, so to speak, 
 alone, exposed to the machinations of the despotic negro, 
 shown a very firm attitude. He took up a strong position 
 in the country, thanks to the construction of a very power- 
 ful fort and to his unceasing energy in expressing his 
 opinions to Msiii without fear. Unfortunately, the small- 
 ness of tlie number of men under his command prevented 
 his taking up other than a passive attitude of observation. 
 Until my arrival no one had succeeded in obtaining from 
 Msi ri an act of submission, or a contract ecjuivalent thereto, 
 nor had thev been able to make him hoist the tlatr. Mr. 
 8harpe, of the British South Africa Company, who had 
 been here iast year, only ^stayed a week. He oflended the 
 chief bv his insistance in demanding: the site of the i^old 
 mines, and in pressing him to hoist the English flag. Msiri 
 absolutely refused to sign any paper that Mr. Hharpe pre- 
 sentend to him, and the latter left the country, leaving in 
 the hands of Mr. 8wan, the English missionary, the act of 
 submission for him to get the Katanga Chief to sign as soon 
 as he could persuade him to change his mind. 
 
 *" M. Le Marinel had obtained, it is true, a letter from 
 Msiri in which he explicitly agreed, to a certain extent, in 
 his submission to King Leopold ; but neither he nor Del- 
 commune had succeeded in getting the flag of the Free State 
 hoisted at Kat^uiga. ' . v. 
 
 **' Arriving on the 14th December, 1891, I visited Msiri 
 on the 16th. I was received by him with great effusion, 
 for he imagined I had come to drive M. Legat out of the 
 country. 1 let him think so, and promised at the first in- 
 terview to put an end to the war raging between the 
 Wasanga and the Wasumba, but I refused to give him 
 any powder. At the close of his interview I told him that 
 
20 - 
 
 I ;' 
 
 the land could never prosper under the reign of such a cruel 
 man as himself, whose favourite method of getting rid of 
 those whc displeased him was to shut them up, bound, witli 
 famished dogs, to be eaten alive. 
 
 " On the 18th, Msiri opposed the departure of the mis- 
 sionaries. Legat and I promised to ensure their security, 
 and to lire on anyone who tried to stop them. 
 
 '* On the 1 9th, I arranged to obtain a second interview 
 with the chief, and took with me this time a Hag, after 
 giving orders to Bodson to carefully reconnoitre round the 
 camp. 
 
 " For 3 hours and 40 minutes I talked with Msiri in 
 Swahili, trying to persuade him to accept the flag. 
 
 " I kept incessantly before his eyes the attempts of the 
 British South Africa Company. It was imperatively neces- 
 sary that he should hoist the flag of the Free State first. At 
 the end of this long interview Msiri at length consented to 
 take the flag the next day, provided I exchanged blood 
 with his brother Chikako. I replied, ' No, I will exchange 
 blood to day, and with you, and I am going to hoist the 
 flag.' I saw clearly that Msiri wanted to gain time to get 
 together those of his soldiers who were away from home. 
 In the end he rose to go back to his botna. Then I said to 
 him. ' Very well in that case I am going to hoist the flag 
 whether you like it or not.' Presently Bonchamps and I, 
 with 25 armed men, taking a pole from the chief's own 
 boma, ascended the hill near Msiri 's village, and the flag 
 was hoisted there without opposition. But about nine in 
 the evening, Msiri, seeing the situation wii.s getting strained, 
 secretly left Bunkeia and went to the village of Moemena. 
 During the night more than 150 inhabitants fled for fear 
 of war. #•*■•**' '^■'- ■ .'M^etf-sm'f.ji 
 
 ^ " The next morning I sent four times to inform the chief 
 that I was waiting to exchange blood with him. The reply 
 came that Msiri had not risen. 
 
 *f« 
 
21 
 
 ** I had his house aearchod and found he had j?one to 
 Moemena. I ^^athered from these occurences th.it Msiri 
 was planning the assassirwition of nil the Europeaiis in his 
 country. 
 
 *' At nine in Uie momini,', the same day, 20th, I struck 
 my cajnp and occupied a stion^ position in the village of 
 Maria. I was accompanied by M. Legat and aV)out 10 of 
 the Dahomeyan soldiers. At the same time we told the 
 English missionaries, wlio were on the Lifoi, to i-etire im- 
 mediately to the station of the Free State, for wai* was 
 imminent. 
 
 > *' As soon as all was ready, and we had secured our po- 
 sition in Maria, I resolved to Ijring Msiri before me, by 
 force, if necessary. Accordingly 115 rifles were detailed 
 under Captain Bodson and the Marquis de Bonchamps, 
 who were directed to go to Moemena, see Msiri, and bring 
 him before me. They started at 1 1 o'clock." 
 
 We now give the Marquis de Bonchamp's accornt, fronr 
 a letter to us, of the events of which he was an eye-wit- 
 ness. 
 
 " At 11 in the morning Bodson and I set out from the 
 camp in the direction of the village (about two miles dis- 
 tant) where Msiri was said to have taken refuge. One 
 hundred men followed us with a pretty martial bearing, 
 but did not inspire us with much confidence ; it was the 
 first time we had taken them under fire. It was a little 
 after midday when we reached the outskirts of the village. 
 Moemena is a collection of about five score huts scattered 
 over a considerable distance, and protected by palisades of 
 stakes and thick hedges of euphorbia. We deployed our 
 small force at once in a single line facing the village, with 
 our backs to the hills. The inhabitants did not appear to 
 take much notice of us ; we saw some, certainly, from time 
 to time, mostly armed with guns, hiding behind. the pali- 
 
0-f 
 
 i M ! 
 ! ■ i ' ! 
 
 I in 
 
 sades, but that was all. At last, aft(;r alxnit a (jUaitor of 
 an hour, the chief of the village caine to ask us what we 
 wanted. We replied that we wanted to see Msiri and 
 speak to hini, but assured him we intended no hai*ni to 
 the villagers. The chief then invited one of us to accom- 
 pany him. 
 
 " Captain Bodson wished to ^^o, despite my entrt^aties, 
 for all those armed villagers hiding behind the palisades 
 inspired me with serious fears. 
 
 " He went, however, with alxmt a dozen soldiers and 
 two of our iVi/aniparas, leaving me in command of our small 
 force, and telling me to attack immediately if 1 heard re- 
 volver shots. 
 
 " Ten minutes at most had passed since his departure 
 when T heard several revolver shots, followed immediately 
 by rifle tiring. 
 
 " 1 attacked the village at once. At 50 paces from the 
 gates we were i-eceived with a well-sustained fire, and the 
 greater part of my men hesitated and halted. This was only 
 natural, as it was impossible to see the enemy across tlie 
 clumps of euphorbia. 
 
 '' It was necessary to lead the way. I did so, and had 
 the satisfaction of seeing all my men follow me aci'oss the 
 lab' ri nth of ianes bordered by euphorV)ia which sepjArated 
 th? luts. 
 
 " tiring was still going on when T arrived with some of 
 my men at a sort of central space, from which some inha- 
 bitants were escaping. Alas, there, close to a tetabe, lay 
 my poor friend, grievously wounded by a bullet in the right 
 side. Near him lay Msiri, pierced by several revolver 
 bullets. Further off was the body of one of Msiri's rela- 
 tions, and in a corner of the clearing one of our soldiei^ 
 and one of our Nyamparan lay groaning and wounded- -the 
 one had his ankle fractured, the other his knee pierced by 
 a ball. 
 
- 23 — 
 
 '* T interTo^ated the Nyampan, who was ahh; to tell ino 
 what occurred. IJodsoii, ou (•iitering the village, had heeii 
 conducted to the central clearing, with his eHcoit. There 
 lie found Ms'ii sitting in front of his house, surrounded by 
 about 300 of his followers, nearly jdl armed with guns. 
 The captain, when brought into the presence of the chief, 
 begged him to follow him and he would conduct himtooui* 
 camp, before our chief, adding that no harm should be (hnu^ 
 to him. 
 
 '* At this juncture ^siri rose and made a menacing ges- 
 ture with his sabre. IJodson, seeing himself threatened, 
 fired four times at Msiri with his revolver. Msiri fell, hit 
 by two bullets froni the Nyompaiuf. At the same monjent 
 my poor friend was hit l)y a V)all tired by one of the chiefs 
 round Msiri. He fell in his turn, and the tight became 
 general. 
 
 '* There was 1 in the middle of the village ; 1 would not 
 desert my ccmirade, who suffered terribly, while on tlie other 
 hand 1 was afraid every HKjment of being cut ofi* by the 
 villagers. After a long quarter of an hour I managed to 
 get together about onf^third of my men. The rest were 
 looting, or firing blindly on the flying enemy. T got myself 
 at once into a defensive position, and at the same time sent 
 8tairs word by a Nyampai*a of how I was situated. Tn 
 two hours and a-half 8tairs sent me the do'itor, and rein- 
 forcements in men and ammunition. All being now quiet, 
 we took our way to the camp, carrying the unfortunate 
 Bodson on a stretcher." 
 
 Such is the Mar(|uis do Bonchamp's narrative. In theii- 
 private letters, as in their official reports, the companions 
 of the lamented Capt. Bodson pay elo<iuent tribute to his 
 courage and his meniory. Mortally wounded by a shot 
 fired at close quarters by Msiri's follower, he survived his 
 terrible wound or.ly, alas, a few hours. Capt. Stairs thus 
 commemorates his last moments : — * - ^^.^ • 
 
24 
 
 " Capt. Bodsoii was brought to camp on a stretcher \)y 
 Dr. Moloney and the Marquis de Bonchamps. He suffered 
 terriV)ly. On seeing me lie said : ' I am dying, but you 
 may tell my countrymen I have not died in vain, thank 
 God, for ] have delivered tliis beautiful country and Africa 
 from one of the most hateful of tyrants.' At eight in the 
 evenmg he died like a hero. ■ .i > 
 
 " According to Dr. Moloney's statement, '^leath was the 
 result of a bullet wound, which pierced a vitrU organ and 
 caused internal haemorrhage. - .^ 
 
 '* This sa<l death has deprived the Expedition of a ca- 
 pable and energetic officer, faithful, full of zeal to do his 
 duty, and always ready to carry out the instructions he 
 received. I had become his friend, and could appreciate 
 how his heart was in his work, and how suited he was for 
 employment in Africa. He was certainly destined by his 
 abilities t<j till high office in the Congo, had not death so 
 inopportunely cut short his career. 
 
 " On the death of Msiri becoming known, thu country 
 was thrown into a state of agitation. The people armed 
 themselves and prepared for war, but we remained entren- 
 ched in our camp. No one was allowed to g(j out. 
 
 '* The next day, 21st December, we buried Capt. l>odson, 
 and moved the camp to a village whose position was stron- 
 ger. Then, on the 22nd, I began the constr-uction of a fort 
 - -Fort Bunkeia — ^about 750 metres from Msiri's old abode, 
 -ot far from the site of an ancient village. 
 
 '• Here I was visited by his two brothers, Nicanda Wantu 
 and Chamundu. I told them that my line of policy was to 
 establish myself in the country, and punish whoever pro- 
 voked war with iiis neighbours ; that now that Msiri was 
 dead I intended to choose as his successor another chief 
 who would agree to my terms, and that in future the Wa- 
 sanga would l>e free, and the Wasumba have nothing to do 
 with their affairs. 
 
25 
 
 *' When the news uf Msiri's death spread through the 
 country, several of the most important and influential chiefs 
 of the Wasanga and other tribes came to see me, and sub- 
 mitted to my authority. I made them sign acts of submis- 
 sion, promised them peace, and had the Free Wtate Hag 
 lioisted over their villages. Befc re leaving the country, on 
 4th February, I had brought the eleven most important 
 chiefs in the whole district to submit, and the flag of the 
 Free State now floats over their territory. 
 
 *' Msiri's death greatly strengthened our position in the 
 country, and made the Wasanga our most devoted allies. 
 These are, in fact, the true owners of the soil. ^ 
 
 " Soon after Msiri's death I nominated his son Mkanda 
 Wantu chief of the district of Bunkeia, but I limited hivS 
 authority to the immediate neighbourhood of Bunkeia itself, 
 depriving him of all power over the Wasanga and Walo- 
 moto chiefs, who are the original owners of the country, 
 which is called Garenganze by the Wanyamwezi, and Ka- 
 tanga by the inhabitants. 
 
 " We have set at liberty at least 200 women and chil- 
 dren, and a large number of these unfortuna<tes showed 
 proof of the brutal mutilation they had been subjected to 
 by Msiri. Moreover, I have given permission to bands of 
 other illtreated slaves to return to their own country. I 
 have given the Wasanga and Walomoto permission to 
 gather as much salt as they like from the extensive salt 
 beds, about four days' journey south of Bunkeia, on the 
 river Lufira. 
 
 " It was al:)solutely necessary, in ray opinion, before 
 embarking on any other undertaking, to construct a strong 
 fort near the capital, where T could leave some of my men 
 and goods, whilst, with the rest of my party, I scoured the 
 countiy in search of the copper mines and reported gold 
 ore. To leav^e Bunkeia, no matter when, before the middle 
 
2C) -- 
 
 of January would have been fatal unless we had a fort in 
 rear to serve as a retreat for tliose we left behind us. Mo- 
 reover*, the work we had done up to date would have been 
 thrown away. 
 
 " Consequently I determined to set out for the 8. W. 
 on the 15th January, 1892, to visit the copper mines 
 nearest the capital, pacify the Wasanga people, take pos- 
 session of the mines, and lioist the Free State flag every- 
 where. 
 
 " Uidiappily, my hopes were terribly dashed. The Mar- 
 quis de Bonchamps was taken seriously ill on 1st January. 
 Robinson was dangerously ill, and on the 5th January I 
 had a \ illainous attack of hoematuric bilious fever, and had 
 to keep my bed, where I stayed till the day I left, 4th 
 February. 
 
 '' Dr. Moloney, in spite of these drawbacks, set himself 
 to complete the fort. Moreover, he got together the chiefs 
 who had submitted, and sent, from time to time, messengers 
 to the chiefs in the soutli, and succeeded in obtaining acts 
 of submission from them. For 12 days I was in a state of 
 semi-unconsciousness, and during several relapses Dr. Mo- 
 loney feared that 1 should succumb. Nevertheless, 1 deter- 
 mined not to leave the country after this bad attack, but 
 to do my utmost to await the arrival of Capt. Bia. 
 
 " Delcommune's Expedition has been in the country 
 since the month of October. He was well received by Msiri, 
 who hoped at first to get him as an ally against Legat. He 
 went south, and intended eventually to return northwards 
 by the Lualaba. I have made three attempts to commu- 
 nicate with him, but without success hitherto. 
 
 " Capt. Bia reached Bunkeia on the 30th January. He 
 and his officers were in good healt and had been successful 
 in their journey. - -^ > .. ,t; , . ^ i ■ ^v r ^ .-^ 
 
 ^ " Since we arrived at Katanga we had been a prey to 
 
 > SIT < 
 
 I 
 
27 
 
 
 r> 
 
 famine. My men were dying with hunger. Tliey perished 
 at the rate of two and three a day. We could not get any 
 supplies whatever, whether for Europeans or natives, rigJit 
 up to the beginning of February. We were lucky when 
 we got fried locusts or boiled herbs to eat. To stay in the 
 country under these conditions was to condemn all the 
 soldiers of the Expedition and, at least, three Europeans to 
 death. 
 
 " 1 consulted, therefore, with Capt. Bia, and having put 
 him in charge of Fort Bunk'iia, a certain portion of my 
 bales, and one of my steel boats, I left (m 4th February for 
 Mpueto, on Lake Moero, to recruit carriers arid allow the 
 men to recover health and strength. 
 
 '' Although famine and illness have compelled us to leave 
 Katanga without being able to accomplish our mission, we 
 have nevertheless been able to eft'ect the followinif results 
 after a stay of, at most, a month and a-half : — 
 
 " (1). We had got the flag of the Free State hoisted in 
 the capital and highlands. 
 
 " (2). We have deposed of the late Msiri, and later, un- 
 fortunately at the cost of the brave Capt. Bodson's life, got 
 rid of this same Msiri, who, by his barbarous acts, had 
 ruined the whole country. 
 
 " (3). We have obtained no less than 12 acts of submis- 
 sion, signed in our presence by the most important chiefs 
 in the country. We have hoisted the Free State flag at 
 the villages of those chiefs and have succeeded in satisfac- 
 torily explaining to them that they were for the future 
 under the sovereignty of the Free State. 
 
 '* (4). We have, in fact, delivered the three English mis- 
 sionaries from the position in which they were placed by 
 Msiri's caprices, and have succeeded in establishing them 
 in the country, and placiiig them in a secure and advanta- 
 geous position. .- ..v^ >.*?«.,. «, 
 
 ig:*» * *x • * >.^" .« *|i 
 
 I 
 
- 28 
 
 " (5). We have delivered some 200 natives doomed to 
 a miserable end and enabled thope who could to return safe 
 and sound to their own country. 
 
 " (6). Finally, we have rendered possible the sowing of 
 cerefils and vegetables by the Wasanga, and we have prac- 
 tically ensured the safety of inoffensive inhabitants. 
 
 " If the true state of the contry when we arrived be 
 considered and compared with the changes that have fol- 
 lowed that event, I think it will be fully acknowledged at 
 Brussels that we have done our duty well. 
 
 " Attacks of dysentery and fever have carried off, at 
 least, 73 Zanzibaris, not to speak of others. This is the 
 consequence of the heavy work we were obliged to under- 
 take in the rainy season. There is not the least doubt that 
 for eight months of the year the country is very healthy, 
 . lat at least two-thirds of it is well watered, and that it 
 contains building materials of all kinds. It fultils appa- 
 rently all that was reported of it by the natives, and now 
 ' absolute peace ' is ensured. 
 
 " As to the natural productions of the country, T must 
 refer you to my special report. 
 
 " M. Legat, when I left, was in a favourable position on 
 the Lifoi, ready to build his station. He had not been 
 able to render us other assistance than to stay with us with 
 his 10 soldiers until pacification was complete. Ever since 
 my arrival he has shown himself at all times most courteous 
 and obliging in giving me information. 
 
 " The letter of submission, brought by M. Le Marinel, 
 was absolutely repudiated in my presence by Msiri. He 
 told me he refused to acknowledge the authoril/y of the 
 Free State ; that he was ipso facto the enemy of anyone 
 who approached to ask him to acquiesce in such authority ; 
 that he would sign no act of submission in any form ; and 
 that he would accept no flag whatever, whoever it was that 
 
 « 
 
 > w • 
 
 trmemi^SfxrK' . 
 
> ViV' • 
 
 — 29 — 
 
 brou<);ht it to him. He prepared to resist by force our 
 presence in his country, and was daily concentrating his 
 troops at the capital to strike a blow at us when he felt 
 strong enough. 
 
 " With him dead, the country is tranquil and at peace ; 
 the European is not only feared, but respected. It is pos- 
 sible now to explore the country and open up its i-esources, 
 undertakings which formerly would have ensured the mas- 
 sacre of those wlio attempted th(;m. 
 
 ''(Signed), Stairs." 
 
 We break off the publication of Captain Stairs' first 
 report at the point where he left the Katanga, struck 
 down by illness. 
 
 During the whole of this Expedition, which he led with 
 a courage and rapidity that showed a perfect knowledge of 
 the necessities of African life, the English officer gave 
 proof of rare qualities. On all occasions he showed himself 
 a keen observer, scrupulously faithfr.l to the instructions 
 he received from the Katangi Company for the accomplish- 
 ment of his difficult and delicate mission. His return 
 journey took him to Mueeto, which he left on the 21st 
 March for Abercorh, an English post at the southern 
 extremity of Lake Tanganika, where he arrived on the 
 25th of April. On the 14th May he reached the northern 
 extremity of Lake Nyassa, which h(! traversed from end to 
 end on board one of the steamers of the English Lake 
 Company. On the 23rd he was at Matope, on the Chire ; 
 on the 3rd June at Vincenti^ at the apex of the Zambesi 
 delta ; and next day he arrived in sight of the Indian 
 Ocean. 
 
 Alas, it was there, at the moment of embarking on the 
 Portuguese boat, which should in a few days have brought 
 
- 30 
 
 hirn to Zanzibar, whence his expedition started, that the 
 brave explorer was attaked afresh by a severe bout of 
 h(jeniaturic bilious fever and expired on the 9th June in 
 spite of the assiduous care of his two companions, Dr. 
 Moloney and the Marquis de Bonchamps. 
 
 * * * ♦ 
 
 MM. de Bonchamps and Moloney, with their party of 
 200 men, arrived at Zanzibar, whence they set out on the 
 4th of July on board the Messageries Mari times Steamer 
 Ava^ and arrived at Marseilles on the mornini^ on the 22nd. 
 
 k r 
 
 From the Echoes of Service. 
 
 The long interval which elapsed after the departure of 
 this very doubtful releif party (the Belgian Exploration 
 Expedition) saw me waiting on at the capital, hungering 
 for a scrap of news assuring me of the welfare of our 
 friends. While thus situated with hopes all expectant, 
 looking to the west, you .can imagine my surprise one day 
 — the 28th November —while sitting taking to an Arab 
 under his verandah, to see five Zanzibaris march up, 
 turbaned i\ud armed with breech-loading rifles. From tho 
 east, no doubt, I said to myself, and messengers too ! 
 
 Their chief, Massondi (who crossed with Stardey in the 
 Emin Pasha Expe'^^Hion), handed me a letter from Capt. 
 Stairs, dated a fortnight before from the Luapula river, 
 in which he stated he was coming to Msidi on a mission 
 from the King of the Belgians, and earnestly requested 
 that we would oblige him with any information we might 
 think necessary for him to have regarding the country, etc, 
 Accompanying this letter were two for Msidi in English 
 and Swahili respectively, in which Capt. Stairs and hig 
 
* ! * 
 
 -„. 31 -- 
 
 four white coiiipanioris formally Hent their '* Salaams " to 
 the chief and intimated that they had come from the sea 
 expressly to visit him ; further, that their intentions were 
 peaceable towards him, and that in all they did they desired 
 to act slowly and with his (Msidi's) consent. Capt. Stairs, 
 in conclusion, mentioned casually that the Wa-sundjwa 
 (Msidi's own people) were his friends, and signed himself 
 "The Englishman, W. G. Slairs." 
 
 The last two statements contained in the letter fairly 
 made Msidi's heart " white " (as he termed it) towards the 
 new-comers, but specially the fact that they were English- 
 men, as he mistakenly thought them all to be. "They are 
 English, do you hear, sons of the dust 1 " shouted Msidi to 
 the crowd of his people, " and we know the English to be 
 true people." 
 
 The five Zanzibaris returned, bearing a letter from Msidi 
 written by me, full of expressions of goodwill towards the 
 white men, and requesting them to come on to his capital 
 without delay. At the same time I wrote Capt. Stairs, 
 telling him of the disagreeable surprise that was awaiting 
 him and his three hundred men at Msidi's, where hunger 
 prevailed almost to starvation. My report of the land may 
 have been dreary and the outlook bleak to those new- 
 comers, who were pressing on to Msidi's as to some " El 
 Dorado." But as on the evening of that day I stood on 
 the hill-top overlooking the valley of the capital, and con- 
 trasted the scene with that of (me year ago, I was convinced 
 that no true description of the state of the country could 
 })e other than dreary and depressing. I never realized how 
 far things had run to riot in the country until I looked 
 dow^n upon long stretches of tilled land without any people, 
 whei'e once, and that scarcely twelve months ago, stood 
 hundreds of dwellings compactly built together. What 
 will Mr. Swan say when he hears that after leaving 
 
— 32 — 
 
 Mutoinho's village, going eastward, he would not encounter 
 one mud hut i-ight on to Munema ! 
 
 Msidi &pent the interval that elapsed after the departure 
 of the Aral)S in rallying all his remaining men, and haran- 
 guing them all day k)ng on the great things he would do 
 when the powder came, for, of course, the white men were 
 bringing him powder ! These remarks i-egarding the powder 
 were accompanied by many a scornful glance at me, as 
 though he would let us understand what a worthless lot 
 we missionaries were. When he spoke of the Belgians at 
 present in tl^e country he ;;rew fierce, charging them with 
 all sorts of treacherous motives. 
 
 December IJ^th.—^hm morning, at Msidi's request, I met 
 Capt. Stairs, who was at the head of his caravan, and con- 
 ducted him to the camping ground appointed by the chief. 
 The large caravan of three hundred Zanzibaris hied in with 
 iiags flying and a very travel-stained look, accompanied by 
 Capt. Bodson, the Marquis de Bonchamps, Dr. Maloney, 
 e .1(1 Robinson, Capt. Stairs' servant. 
 
 Lieut. Legat pitched his tent in the new-comers' encamp- 
 ment, which at once raised Msidi's suspicions, and he 
 ordered the lieutenant to remove from thence, and charged 
 him with trying to come between him and his new friends ; 
 but the real fact was that the chief dreaded lest they 
 should effect a junction, and to prevent this he tried all in 
 his power. 
 
 Msidi having finally accepted our presents, we were glad 
 to leave the capital on the 17th, the day appointed by 
 Msidi for the rf ception of Capt. Stairs. The events which 
 happened after our departure were so momentous and so 
 calculated to turn this whole country upside down that I 
 shall endeavour to give you them in as much detail as 
 
 possible. :■ ' ;< .^;-AU-j- fy.- a> , rx.,;i <j^_,i,,:i. 
 
 17th. — As arranged, Capt. Stairs saw the chief to-day 
 
 r 
 
 
 t 
 
33 
 
 and gave him bi*^ present. Msidi expressed the wish that 
 the captain w« ' become his blood brotlier. 
 
 18th. Cc Htairs was with Msidi again. The chief 
 again expres. ' the wish to become Capt. Stairs' blood 
 brother, but wanted a la»'ge amount of cloth and powder 
 first, before he would consent to the ceremony or the 
 taking of the Free State flag. 
 
 iPM. -To-day Capt. Stairs planted the Congo Free State 
 flag on the high hill immediately adjoining the head village 
 of Mukurru, and as Msidi did not realize the full import of 
 this act, Capt. Stairs sent four of his chiefs to inform him 
 that in future he (Msidi) was excepted to obey the white 
 men, and that there must be no more skulls seen hanging 
 round his village. Of course, this last order roused Msidi's 
 anger, for it me«nt that he must give up that prerogative 
 which lie alon( had exercised - -alas ! so ruthlessly during 
 all tl years of his lording it in these parts. But though 
 he stoimed and fumed at this order, he was still shrewd 
 enough to 'pethat he could not quarrel — that is, profitably 
 — with the new-(;omers, and so, after declaring his right to 
 cut the heads off his slaves or any others who would oppose 
 his rule, he mentioned the day following —the 20th — for 
 the blood-brot'ierhood ceremony. 
 
 Wfh, — A lonp^-to-be-remembered date in 
 history ! This was the day appointed by Msidi for his 
 beco^ning Capt. Stairs' blood brother ; but events showed 
 that he had no intention of keeping his appointment, nor 
 indeed of being the captain's friend at all. Early in the 
 morning a me^ s(!nger was despatched to the head village to 
 know ■ t Msidi Avas prepared to receive Capt. Stairs on that 
 day, but the messenger returned with the word that the 
 chief was sleeping. A little later, a second messenger 
 brought the news that Msidi had left Mukurru at daybreak 
 for Munema, one of the first villages occupied by him in 
 3 
 
 (rarenganze 
 
 5-^s»\iflr.;, 
 
- U - 
 
 this country. When the messenger went to Miujeuia he 
 
 found Msidi, wlio told him that he would receive the white 
 
 man on conditions f/uff he would comr afonr, and uma'roin- 
 
 pfDiied fry any soldvrx. This proposal lK)r'e on the face of 
 
 it some intent on Msidi's part of foul play, and so Capt; 
 
 Rodson and tlie Mar<juis de Bonchamps started for Munema, 
 
 with a l)ofly of Zanziharis, to know definitely whether 
 
 Msidi would submit to the wliite men or otlun-wise. On 
 
 arrivin<^ outsifle the village of Munema, a halt was made, 
 
 ;ind foul' luadmen went to the chief to inform him that the 
 
 white men wei'e outside. This was about 11 ;i.m. An 
 
 hour passed and the headmen not having returned, Capt. 
 
 !]odson took six men and went into the village, lejiving the 
 
 main IxKly outside with the Maitjuis de Bonc^hamps, it 
 
 being understood by the latter that if the sound of tiring 
 
 was heard inside the village, he was to rush in with his 
 
 Zanzibaiis. Not many minutes elapsed after Capt. Bodson 
 
 had gone into the village when the loud report of firing 
 
 was heard, and the Marquis, rushing in with his men, 
 
 found outside the verandah of the largest house the dead 
 
 body ( f Msidi lying opposite Capt. Bodson, who, though 
 
 fiin)self conscii)US, was in a dying condition. Near by 
 
 Msidi lay the dead body of Masuka, one of his warriors, 
 
 whilst opposite lay two of Capt. Bodson's men, one with 
 
 two legs bi'oken, and the other with a bullet in his thigh. 
 
 Capt. Bodson was at once removed to the camp, and 
 
 though in great agony explained in the few^ remairring 
 
 breaths which he drew irr this life what had occurred. On 
 
 entering he found Msidi armed with a fine sword, which 
 
 Capt. Stairs had given him, and surrounded by between 
 
 thirty and for*ty men. Some distance off he saw the four 
 
 headmen, evidently prisoners. Advancing towards Msidi 
 
 he asked him what he intended to do, and had only said a 
 
 few wor-ds when Msidi with the drawn sword in his hand 
 
 !• 
 
 
» • 
 
 ilpw- 
 
 t 
 
 ''\ 
 
 
 t ; :' ,; — 35 -- 
 
 made a thrust at Capt. Bodson, which the latter, spriiii^ing 
 to one side, evaded ; at the same time, drawing his revolver, 
 he shot Msidi dead t}irou<^h the heart. 
 
 ^ Msidi had no sooner fallen than tlie contents of st;veral 
 guns were tired into Capt. Bobson's back hy some men, 
 wounding him mortally. He sjxike with Lieut. Legat(wh(^ 
 was an old friend of his) up to the last, saying that he was 
 dying as a soldier should die, having rid the Cianinganze 
 country of a tiger, and with one sliout '' Long live the 
 King "' this loyal soldier passed away. 
 
 How things are going on at the capital now you will 
 best understand from the following letter, which I received 
 the other day from Capt. Stairs :- " On the 21st we left 
 Maria's village, and moved about HOO yards to Mumoneka's, 
 and next day started building Fort Bunkeya. 1 called up 
 the chiefs Chamunda and Mukanduvantu, told them we 
 had no desire to fight, l)ut would punish anyone who made 
 war in this country. Meantime T sent for Katanga, 
 Ntenke, Mulawanyama, and others, to come to me before 
 electing a chief of the Va-yeke, who will only have power 
 over tins immediate neighbourhood. There will be no 
 more Va-yeke tyrants over the poor Va-sanga, Va-lomotwa, 
 etc. ; each district will have its local chief, and the head 
 over the whole will be the white man. Already the people 
 liave returned in great numbers to their hoeing and planting. 
 The Va-sanga are delighted, and p'^j last see hope ahead. 
 We are building our fort out of Msidi's own Boma, and the 
 door of his big hut is now my table, off which this evening 
 we eat our Christmas dinner. ... I will work hard 
 to keep powder out, and let the country get full breath- 
 ing. . . . There are no skulls visible at Bunkeya now.'' 
 
 On Dec. 29th Capt. Stairs wrote : — "We are progress- 
 ing favourably with our fort, but the want of food is taking 
 it out of our men. I elected Mukanduvantu t^)-day as 
 
— :J6 
 
 successor to the late chief. Likuku has not come in, nor 
 Cikako. Mulawanyania has come and got the t)ag fiom 
 me, and several others the same." * 
 
 1 The rtorrowful iiowh of the death of Capt. Stairs would not Ik* 
 known for hohh^ time in (iarenj^anze. Kl>. •' • 
 
 It appears therefore, that he died from malarial fever on 
 the 9th June 1S92 at Chindc^ (m the Zambesi, thus ended 
 his short but brilliant career. Stairs was possessed of an 
 amiable, and cheerful disposition, was most energetic, and 
 [)ainstaking in anything he undertook to do, and looked 
 upon ditHculties as only to be overcome. 
 
 It is always dithcult to gauge the value of men, but the 
 name of Stairs was l)etter known than that of any graduate, 
 and we have just cause to feel proud that he was one of 
 our number, he tog(3ther with Mackay and Robinson, had 
 all given promise of future distinction had they lived, the 
 three were so closely ccmnected in their lives, and in their 
 deaths, that it seems litting we have decided to place their 
 ruiines togethei* on one memorial brass. They all reflected 
 honour on their old College, and well upheld its good motto 
 " Truth, Duty, Valour ". May we who remain strive to 
 be as faithful. 
 
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