Riba the town had been burnt and deserted by the natives. Miserera and Boina Loisi, the Arab governors, had left the town with their forces some time previously, and at the very moment were engaged in fighting us at Nyangwe. Chaltin returned to Basoko, as smallpox had broken out in his caravan. He arrived at Stanley Falls on the 18th of May, where Captain Tobback and Lieutenant Van Lint had for five days been resisting the attacks of the Arabs under Raschid, the rebel governor and State officer of Stanley Falls.

On the landing of the troops from Basoko at Stanley Falls, the Arabs decamped, leaving the town, with all its riches, at the mercy of the State troops. After this everything remained quiet till the 25th of June 1893, when Commandant Ponthier arrived at the Falls from Europe. He immediately collected all the troops