MR STANLEY IN AFRICA.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2517, 30 January 1877, Page 3

MR STANLEY IN AFRICA.

A memorial has been addressed to Lord Derby on behalf of the Gommittes of the Aborigines'. Protection and Anti-Slavery r Sqcietie3 with .respect to the proceedings 'of Mr. Stanley, the African traveller, at 'B'ambirehlsland, onLakeVictoriaNyanza. It appears that when Mr Stanley arrived at Bambireh the natives dragged his boat ashore and assumed an attitude so hostile that he'apprehended serious consequences J^ to himself and to his party. He has described the attacks he and his men made upon the natives. On one occasion, twice in succession, he himself succeeded in dropping men determined on launching the canoes, and, seeing a sub-chief, he took deliberate aim with his elephant rifle at him, and killed him and two others who happened to be standing a few paces behind him. On getting. out of a cove they say two canoes loaded with men coming out in pursuit from another small inlet. They permitted them to approach withiu 100 yards, and then used an elephant .rifle with explosive balls. Four shots killed five men and sank the canoes. When the savages counted their losses, they found M dead and wounded with ball and buckshot. He afterwards determined to make war on Bambireh, and accordingly he organised a force of 2SO men, 60 musketeers with 230 spearman, who were placed in a fleet of 18 canoes. The result of the attack was that 42 were counted on the field, lying dead, and over 100 were seen to retire wounded, while on Mr Stanley's side only two men suffered contusions from stones slung at them. To the memorialists Lord Derby has sent the following reply i—" Foreign Office, October 21,1876.—Sir,—The Earl cf Derby has received and has given his careful consideration to the memorial fronisthe Anti-Slavery and Aborigines' Protection Societies, which was enclosed in your letter of the 28th ult., relative to the proceedings of Mr Stanley in the interior of Africa. His Lordship has read, with great regret, reports of the circumstances

which seem to have taken place in connection with that traveller's explorations, and which have created such a painful impression in this country. It is, however, impossible for his Lordship to take any direct action in the matter, inasmuch as, Mr Stanley not being a British subject, Her Majesty's Government have no authority over him ; but his Lordship cannot but hope, looking to the character which Mr Stanley has won in this country by his expedition in search of Dr. Livingstone, that he may eventually be able to afford some explanation or justification of his proceedings, which is not apparent from the reports which have been as yet received. lam to add that Mr Stanley has no authority to hoist the British flag, and that Lord Derby will cause Her Majesty's Consuls on the East Coast of Africa to be instructed to intimate this to him, if any opportunity of communicating with him should be open to them. In the meanwhile his Lord?hip will forward copies of this correspondence to the United States' Minister in London, in order that he may be aware of the feeling which the reports of Mr Stanley's proceedings have aroused.—l am, sir, &c, T. V. Listek. Mr F. W. Chesson. Secretary of the Aborigines' Protection Society.' 1 i