Lutete's force who had lost their way, and had, to their great surprise, struck the Lualaba just in front of the town. A volley or two, fired at them from the opposite river bank, sent them flying in our direction as fast as their legs could carry them. This precipitance was within an ace of costing them dearly, and, had they not been in open order, we should certainly have shelled them before finding out who they were.

On and by this knoll we camped, the highest part of which was only a few inches above the surrounding swamp; and daily for five or six weeks some part of our force waded through the swamp, in the latter days having to swim part of the way to the bank of the Lualaba. Opposite the main part of the town of Nyangwe was an island about three-quarters of a mile long, and strongly fortified by the Arabs.