and started on the 24th of December for Bena Guia, on the main road to Kabambari. The same day Captain de Wouters and other officers, with two hundred and fifty regulars and four hundred irregulars, departed to establish themselves at Bena Kaluuga, an hour to the south-eastward and about three thousand yards from the main fort of Rumaliza.

The Commandant and I meanwhile held Bena Musua, on the main road to Kasongo, which was the intermediate position between the other two. We had been joined by Mr. Mohun, the United States commercial agent, who had arrived the day before our departure from Kasongo. He had also taken part in the march by Captain Chaltin on Riba Riba, eight months before, and had very kindly taken charge of some supplies for us which he brought through from Lusambo to Kasongo. Our position was now as