3-074-947 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Stanley's Emin Pasha Relief Expedition: Arabs raiding a native village on the Aruwimi, opposite the Yambuya Camp, 1890. 'A fatal river, the Aruwimi, for Stanley pioneers...the advantage of the rifle is, of course, tremendous, and can only have one result...the Stanley camp had actually to be spectators of the attack and raiding of a native village, opposite their own quarters. The Illustration...is no mere fancy sketch, but a picture of the latter days of the camp, and an example of many a similar scene described by Stanley in the various histories of his African travels. The sudden sound of the warlike drums of the surprised natives came booming across the water, followed by the fierce rattle of the Arab musketry. Dark figures and light were soon mixed together in the fray...from hut to hut the flames of ruin began to spread; and in the lurid light women and children were marched forth to the slave-hunters' stockade...And all this the English officers and comrades of Mr. Stanley had the humiliation to witness without daring to interfere: not from any fear of losing their lives in the defence of the weaker - a death which has been courted by thousands of Englishmen on land and sea - but for reasons of policy'. From a sketch by Herbert Ward. From "Illustrated London News", 1890.