Stanley's Costly Outfit.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 195, 19 March 1887, Page 3

Stanley's Costly Outfit.

The expedition which Mr Stanley is about to lead into Africa is by far the largeet and moßt expensive that ever set out on a peaceful mission in the Dark Continent. Travelling in savage countries is always very costly. It has been estimated that the average expenses incurred by exploring parties in Africa is over £8 a mile. It cost tho English and Algerian missionary societies over £1,000 apiece for every missionary they landed on the snores of Victoria Nyanza. Stanley's trip across the continent is said t > have cost about £12,000. Dr Bolub, who i 3 now working hia way from South Africa to tho Great Lakes, took with him an outfit that cost £5,000. The money expended by most important expeditions has varied from £2,00t0£8,000. An explorer's force of porters and other native assistants varies from about forty to 250 souls. Mr Stanley's present expedition will include about 1,000 persons, and hia travelling outfit and trade goods have cost something over £20,000. It must be remembered that he is not only trying to adequately supply the needs of his large party, but that he is also carrying much clothing, ammunition and other f-uppliea to the eeveral hundred persons who are numbered in the little retinue of Emm Pacha. An exhibition was given in England tho other day of the performance of a Maxim gun. It was a part of the military outfit of the Stanley expedition, and the explorer and many prominent men watched the peiformance of the weapon with much satisfaction as it poured forth a storm of about 600 bullets a minute. Here is an expedition that is bound on a mission of humanity, and wishes ill to no man. It unfortunately happens, however, that at no time since Burton and Speke penetrated to the Great Lakes in 1858 have times been so troublous in Central Africa as they are now, In Uganda and the region around it, where Stanley said eleven years ago that he travelled as securely as in Europe, the powerful despot M'wanga has within the past two years killed many thousands of people. It is said that in one cam paign last year he killed 10,000 soldiers of hi 3 northern neighbour, the King of Unyoro. He is the avowed enemy of the whites, ono of whom he has murdered, two he has enslaved, and the others who were in his power he has expelled from his country. If Stanley is not able by peaceable means to open the road to Wadelai, if he cannot buy the favour of (:he ruler of Uganda, he must defend the lives of his party, and by force, if needs be, fulfil the mission he is sent to perform. It is right that he be. supplied with the best appliances of military art. It is believed that the man who has not been excelled by any. African explorer in the tact and forbearance he has displayed Jfo'his dealings with the natives mpy be trusted to use these <appli- - ances only if necessity compels their use." Among the Europeans who will acconipany ? Mr Stanley is one who is specially qualified' to handle the Maxim gun,