"Well, the aspect of our work is ominous. It is not my fault, and what we have to do is simple enough. We have given our promise to strive our level best. It is no time for regret, but to struggle and "steer right onward." Every article of our verbal bond, having accepted this responsibility, we must perform, and it is the manner of this performance that I now propose to relate.
I shall not delay the narration to give descriptions of the route overland to the Pool, or of the Upper Congo and its banks, as these have been sufficiently treated of in 'Through the Dark Continent,' and 'The Congo and the Founding of its Free State'; and I now propose to be very brief with the incidents of our journey to Yambuya, at the head of navigation on the Aruwimi."
----- [F] Seyyid Barghash died six months later.
Details of the journey to Stanley Pool--The Soudanese and the Somalis--Meeting with Mr. Herbert Ward--Camp at Congo la Lemba--Kindly entertained by Mr. and Mrs. Richards--Letters from up river--Letters to the Rev. Mr. Bentley and others for assistance--Arrival at Mwembi--Necessity of enforcing discipline--March to Vombo--Incident at Lukungu Station--The Zanzibaris--Incident between Jephson and Salim at the Inkissi River--A series of complaints--The Rev. Mr. Bentley and the steamer _Peace_--We reach Makoko's village--Leopoldville--Difficulties regarding the use of the Mission steamers--Monsieur Liebrichts sees Mr. Billington--Visit to Mr. Swinburne at Kinshassa--Orders to and duties of the officers.
On the 21st of March the Expedition debarked at the landing-place of the Portuguese trading-house of Senor Joda Ferrier d'Abren, situate at Mataddi, at a distance of 108 miles from the Atlantic. As fast as the steamers were discharged of their passengers and cargo they cast off to return to the seaport of Banana, or the river port below.
About noon the Portuguese gunboat _Kacongo_ hove in sight. She brought Major Barttelot, Mr. Jephson, and a number of Soudanese and Zanzibaris; and soon after the state steamer _Heron_ brought up the remainder of the cargo left on board the _Madura_.
We set up the tents, stored the immense quantity of rice, biscuits, millet, salt, hay, etc., and bestirred ourselves like men with unlimited work before us. Every officer distinguished himself--the Zanzibaris showed by their celerity that they were glad to be on shore.