1883.
Dec. 1.
Stanley
Falls.
to the natives. By this method we succeeded in getting
touch of the Wenya fishermen, who sent down a few
men in two canoes to speak to us. An hour’s, conversation
ended with an invitation to us to approach their
village.
Steaming round the point, the lower rapids of the
Falls came into view. We were unable to contend
against the current. We therefore tied up alongside
of the left hank, two miles below the village, until we
could come to an understanding with the assembled
Wenya chiefs respecting a settlement.
With cunning policy the Arabs in their descent of
the Falls, left the Wenya in undisturbed possession of
their islands. Even since 1878, after the return of
Tipper Tib to Nyangwe from escorting me to Yinya
Njara, they made their approaches slowly towards the
Falls. Thus they had obtained access to a large island
between the Falls, from which, by dint of the exhibition
of power coupled with an affectation of leniency—
oven friendship—towards those who were willing to
submit to their impositions, they had succeeded in at
last securing the co-operation of the Wenya fishermen.
By this means they could descend from Nyangwe to
the Upper Falls, and surrendering their canoes into
the hands of the Baswa tribe, they could march overland
to Asama Creek, while the Baswa fishermen,
through their intimate knowledge of the channels,
floated the . canoes safely down. Thence embarking,
the Arabs descended from the fifth cataract to the sixth,
while the Wane Rukura fishermen floated the canoes
safely past their cataract. Here the Arabs might 1883. _
safely embark for the seventh cataract of the Stanley Stanley
Falls, whereat the Wenya fishermen stood ready to
navigate them safely through the channels to the head
of the navigation leading to the Stanley Pool. On
their return with their forcibly acquired booty, a few
slaves which they were glad to be rid of sufficed to
pay the Wenya, Wane Rukura, and Baswa tribes for
their trouble of passing their flotilla up m safety to
the quiet river leading to Nyangwe.
Stanley Falls consists of seven distinct cataracts
extended along a curving stretch of fifty-six statute
miles in length.
At N. Lat. 0° 28' 30", E. Long. 25° 24', we find the
seventh cataract, which, with its smaller rapids, interrupts
navigation for two miles. Above this fall there
is a navigable, stretch of twenty-six miles, whence the
sixth cataract is reached. This latter cataract, on the
left side, presents an absolutely impassable fall; but
on the right it partakes of the character of rapids, which
at certain times of the year would offer few more
difficulties that vigorous rowing would not surmount.
From the sixth to the fifth cataract is another twenty-
two mile stretch of easily navigable water with a
gentle current. The fifth, fourth, third, second, and
first cataracts, are so close together that we. .only
reckon them by the number of distinct waterfalls.
Nine miles’ journey overland will enable us to pass
them all. But judging from the number of times that
the Baswa tribe have passed Arab canoe flotillas down