Ir would be difficult to discover in the annals of history any story more fraught with interest, more full of romance, or more wrapped up throughout its pages in ominous suspense and mystery, than the story of the Emin Pasha Relief Expedition. The scene of those thrilling events, which have been followed with world-wide attention and interest, was no other than the heart of that dark continent which has ever been remarkable for tales of some great wonder or some dark mystery. And this tale has not been given to the world to read straight through, but has appeared in parts, and been spread over three years. What wonder, then, that the last chapter was awaited with almost breathless excitement; and now that the volume is near completion, can we be surprised that the keen sight of critics is ready to scrutinize it closely, or that, on the other hand, many of its readers have almost forgotten the beginning of the book? It may perIt may perhaps be a wise and welcome thing if we attempt to reproduce in brief but careful outline the gist of the whole matter, so that both critics and careless readers may be able to put themselves in a fair position for judging the outcome of the history in the light of its entirety.

It is the quiet, patient work of one man, strangely isolated from the outside world and buried in the heart of Africa, that forms the preface to the story. For twelve years Dr. Emin lived and labored in the far-off Equatorial Province of the Sudan before he became known to the world. Then the report of the increasing difficul. ties and dangers of his position, and his need of help and support, was published in this country and so became known to the British public, and as soon as his wants were understood, it did not take long to rouse a wish to send him aid.

It will be well to recall what Emin's position had been up to this time. We read that he had spent twelve years in the Equatorial Province; from 1874 to 1878 he occupied the position of surgeon-inchief of the province; in 1878 he accepted the post of Governor from Gordon Pasha. The population under him, consisting of numerous and distinct tribes, had once experienced the beneficent rule of Gordon himself, but when the latter

became Governor-General of the whole Sudan, there followed several incompetent native Governors-

"Under whom the province rapidly deteriorated to a pitiable condition. Oppression, injustice, brutality, and downright robbery grew up like the upas-tree, and.. the people suffered greatly from the cruelty of their rulers. The officials, too, for the most part were disreputable men; the greater number of them were criminals, who had been banished from Egypt, and after undergoing their sentences, had been taken on into Government ble, and their acts of oppression were resented employ. These Egyptians were very unreliaby the natives, and tended to bring about con

tinual friction between the Administration

and the mass of the population. Added to all this, many of the stations themselves required rebuilding, and a block in the Nile prevented all supplies being sent to the Equatorial Province for the first two years of Emiu's rule. It is not to be wondered at, therefore, that the cares of government rested heavily upon him. Constant journeys had to be made; daily complaints arrived from all sides of difficulties between officials and native chiefs; and a continual round of stated duties filled up his time from sunrise to sunset. Many a man would have shrunk from undertaking the responsibility of inducing order out of such chaos. Not so Emin Effendi. Slowly but firmly, and with ever-increasing success, he became master of the situation, and by 1879 a wonderful change had taken place. Stations had been rebuilt, discontent was changed into loyal obedience, corruption had been put down, taxation was equalized, and Emin had already begun the task of clearing his province from the slave-dealers who infested it. This was a difficult and dangerous undertak

ing, for they had rooted themselves very firmly in the soil, and most of the officials in Emin's employ were in full sympathy with them.

to his province with native chiefs.

By the end of 1882 Emin Bey (for he received that title at the end of 1879) that, not only was his province in a state of had the satisfaction of being able to report peace and contentment, but that he had entirely banished the slave dealers from his borders. He had also added large districts by personal negotiation When in Lado, his capital, where was the chief hospital of the province, he used to go round the wards at 6 A.M. every morning and prescribe for the numerous patients. To all this must be added the cultivation of cotton, of indigo, of coffee and rice, the establishment of a regular weekly post through his dominions, the rebuilding of nearly all his stations, the construction of better and more permanent roads, the introduction of camels, and the transport of goods by oxen; and, last but not least, he was able in that year to show a net profit of £8,000; whereas, on his taking up the reins

When one remembers that these results were obtained by a man of science, a born naturalist, and no soldier, it is impossible not to feel surprise and admiration for the able and energetic way in which he devoted himself to the arduous task of a ruler under peculiar difficulties, only allowing himself for his scientific pursuits the hours of darkness and the necessary delays which occurred during his frequent official journeys. Such then was the state of the southernmost province of the Egyptian Sudan when the Mahdi's rebellion took place and the evacuation of the Sudan was decided on. Emin was unaware of the events which were taking place north of his territory, but he soon began to feel the results of them, for the Mahdi's hordes made their way to the south and he became involved in a desperate struggle in order to maintain the very existence of his province.isolochej ma

At this crisis three whole years elapsed without any news reaching the outside world from Emin, but at length, in October, 1888, a letter was received from him by Dr. Felkin, which revealed the dangers and difficulties of his position after repulsing the rebels. He was still holding his province, having however been compelled to evacuate the more distant stations and to withdraw the soldiers and their families, and he was hoping that the Egyptian Government would send them help. To his great surprise, however, no news came from the north.

"If," he says, "the Egyptian Government still exists in the Sudan, we naturally expect them to send us help. If, however, the Sudan has been evacuated, I shall take the whole of the people toward the south. I shall then send all the Egyptian and Khartum officials via Uganda or Karagwe to Zanzibar, but shall remain myself with my black troops at Kabarega's until the Government inform me as to their wishes, and until I know that the people committed to my care are in safety.'

borne in mind, will, we think, make clear his line of conduct from this time onward.

In the next letter received from Emin in the beginning of May, 1887, but written in May, 1886, he refers to the idea of finding a way of retreat for his people (Egyptian) through Uganda, explaining at the same time the immense difficulties of such an undertaking. He then adds: "But the danger to us at the present moment is nearer home in our own land, where from day to day I am expecting an outbreak of the fires of rebellion which seem to be shining through the ashes which cover them." He goes on to speak of the haughty and arrogant behavior of the Egyptian officials and the oppression and incivility to which the Sudanese (negro) officers were subject, and says

"Up to the present time I have had to tem. porize with them, in order to prevent an outbreak of their slumbering passions, and I should be heartily glad could I but get rid of ing them to their homes via Uganda, or by these Egyptians in any way, either by sendany other available route. Whether, however, I shall succeed in my endeavors is, up to the present time, doubtful, notwithstanding that I have thrown in the whole of my personal influence with the Sudanese, and that I have promised to remain with them until a clear way out of our difficulties presents itself; thus I have managed to keep the peace. Please God, all may yet end well."

In a letter dated July 22, 1886, Emin says

"I am still waiting and hoping for help, and that from England, whose philanthropic spirit will, I hope, keep her true to her ancient traditions, notwithstanding the rise and fall of Governments. . . . One or two caravans are all that are necessary, and I believe they could easily reach me from the East coast direct or from the north-east corner of the Victoria Nyanza . . . and it must not be forgotten that if I knew that help was coming to me from that direction, I could easily push forward one or more stations toward the east, and thus stretch out a helping hand to any caravan coming to my relief.

"

In a letter published at the same time, but dated October 2, 1886, Emin says

"The reoccupation of these districts which have been temporarily given up, could be carried out with the greatest ease if we could only get a few caravans sent via Mombasa, Masai, Masala, Uakolio, and from thence either here or to Kabrega, it would be all that we want. The cardinal question at the present time is, in my opinion, not the reoccupation of the Sudan, and money and men sacrifice for deserts and sands, but that we should te

supported, and our country prevented from relapsing into barbarism and the slave-trade again. Into whosoever's hands this country falls, the northern Sudan-that is to say, Khartum, &c.-will naturally, after a time, give in its allegiance."

It is very evident from these quotations what Emin's difficulties and desires were when he appealed for help. That this appeal was not left unheeded is shown by the fact that in April, 1887, he was able

to write to Dr. Felkin

"You can imagine yourself, better than I can tell you, that the heartfelt sympathy which has been expressed for me and my people in England, and the many friends we appear to have made, have given me extreme pleasure, and have richly repaid me for many of the sorrows and hardships I have undergone.

I should like here again to mention that, if a relief expedition comes to us, I will on no account leave my people. We have passed through troublous times together, and I consider it would be a shameful act on my part

were I to desert my people. They are, notwithstanding all their hardships, brave and good, with the exception of the Egyptians. We have known each other many years, and I do not think it would be easy at present for a stranger to take up my work and to win at once the confidence of the people. It is, therefore, out of the question for me to leave; so I shall remain. All we would ask England to do is to bring about a better understanding with Uganda, and to provide us with a free and safe way to the coast. This is all we want. Evacuate our territory! certainly not."'*

We must now pass on to mention what were the projects entertained for Emin's relief, for within a few weeks several had been set on foot with the object of sending him help.

The first proposal was, we believe, made by the Geographical Society of Scotland. At any rate, on the 23rd of November, 1886, a letter was addressed by the directors of that Society to the Earl of Iddesleigh proposing a pacific relief expedition to be despatched by her Majesty's Government from Zanzibar, via the south end of the Victoria Lake to the south end of Lake Albert, and suggesting that an expedition of this character, passing as it would through unexplored districts, would contribute not a little to the geography of Africa.

On the 4th of December, 1886, the British and Foreign Anti slavery Society requested Lord Iddlesleigh to receive a

deputation to confer with him as to the best means to be taken for affording relief to Dr. Emin Bey and the Italian explorer Captain Casati.

66

some

This

On the 8th of December, 1886, the Foreign Office announced that private persons in this country had offered to organize a relief expedition of a pacific character under the guidance of Mr. H. M. Stanley, and that her Majesty's Government had approved of the offer.” statement put an end for the moment to several other proposals which were made to send out relief expeditions; thus, the Italian Geographical Society was anxious to aid in an expedition, and Mr. Joseph Thomson offered his services to the Foreign Office and to the Royal Geographical Society to lead an expedition through the Masai country.

In looking through the files of newspapers appearing in December, 1886, it

seems that, even after the Government had accepted the proposal of the syndicate of gentlemen above referred to, it was doubtful whether Mr. Stanley would really take the leadership. It appears that, through Mr. J. F. Hutton, of Manchester, Stanley had offered to relinquish his lecturing tour in the United States and lead a Government expedition to Central Africa to relieve Emin. We have tried to ascertain what exactly took place, but without success. It is, however, certain that on the 13th of December Mr. Stanley received of the Belgians, commanding him to reurgent telegrams from his Majesty the King turn to Europe as soon as possible. This was in consequence of the Arab slavetraders having captured Stanley Falls Station on the Congo, and threatened to descend the river. At any rate, Mr. Stanley appears to have had no doubt as to why he was wanted, as he stated the day before he left America for Europe, on the 14th

of December.

"I have little doubt as to what I am wanted for. The probability is that some of the young officers on the Congo have been incautious and have incurred the enmity of some of the tribes who are moving down the river in a sort of insurrection. The chiefs of these tribes are friendly to me, and I shall have little diffi

culty in settling matters. The King of the Belgians knows this, and consequently wishes me to return as soon as possible.'

While Mr. Stanley was on his way to

718.

ing risked as to who the private individuals.

were who were providing the money for the relief expedition, but the secret was kept for some time. Opinions varied too as to the route to be taken by the expedition. As is usual in such cases, authorities differed. Mr. Joseph Thomson, who had been as far as the north-east corner of the Victoria Nyanza, through the Masai country, proposed to lead an expedition by that route, and stated that he believed that he could reach Emin within seven months from the time he commenced to prepare an expedition. A second route proposed was attributed to Mr. Stanley himself, who was definitely stated to have recommended the expedition proceeding from Zanzibar through Uganda, a country he had previously visited, to Wadelai. Dr. Felkin, who it appears had been in Emin Pasha's province himself, suggested a third route, from Zanzibar, skirting the Victoria Lake to the south, passing to the west of Karagwe, and then marching directly north to the south end of the Albert Nyanza. The only other available route which was advocated was via the Congo, and it was this which we know Mr. Stanley finally adopted. It was strongly opposed by many African authorities, however, on the ground that it would occupy a considerable time, and that the difficulties, both of the country to be traversed and the natives likely to be met with, were not calculated to permit an expedition to arrive in time to accomplish its object.

Mr. Stanley reached London toward the end of December, and preparations were immediately made to collect porters at Zanzibar, to which port the necessary out fit and ammunition were despatched with all speed. On the 15th of January Mr. Stanley arrived in Brussels for an interview with the king, and it is noticeable that from this time few references are to be found in the papers with regard to the troubles on the Congo. Also, that instructions were now telegraphed to the authorities on the Congo State to assemble part of its flotilla by the end of March at Leopoldville, as the relief expedition might take that route.

On the 13th of January, 1887, Mr. William Mackinnon, of Balnakill, enter tained Mr. Stanley to a private dinner in the Burlington Hotel. It was on this occasion that the important share Mr. Mackinnon was taking in the enterprise was

made known, and it was now too that Stanley gave utterance to his own ideas in regard to the journey up the Congo, should he decide to take that route.

Long ago," he said, "I had my eyes on grant permission to use it. I therefore set my the Congo, but I felt that the king would not charts in order to find a feasible route from the east coast, when suddenly the King of Belgium summoned me to Brussels. I wondered what it was all for. The king said to me,

Why not take the Congo route? You know it very well.' The king said what I would have proposed. He said, 'You will have plenty of steamers, and you will have your men fresh and sound, and then you will simthat route?' I replied, Certainly; that is the ply have a month's march. Cannot you take very route I wanted; but I restrained myself,' If we start on the 25th of February, we should do the five thousand miles between Zanzibar and the Congo in twenty days. Give us five days to go up the Congo and establish an entrenched camp. In a hundred and seventeen days we arrive at the southern end of Lake Albert; we launch our boat, taking forty minutes to screw it up; and in four days we come across probably one of Emin Pasha's steamers."

This, then, was the sanguine view Mr. Stanley took of the probable speed of the Congo route, but few besides himself seem to have imagined that such a view could be justified, or that anything like the speed suggested would be realized by going that way. Indeed, many African authorities were against the plan and strongly opposed it, and there was, even at this time, still a hope that one of the East coast routes would be chosen after all, for Mr. Stanley said that he would not definitely decide until he had seen Dr. Junker in Cairo. will be remembered that Dr. Junker had just emerged from the heart of Africa, where he had spent seven years; he had, too, just come from Emin Pasha's province, so that it was of course important to ascertain his views about the relief expedition.

It

On January 27th Mr. Stanley reached Cairo and had a long interview with Dr. Junker, whose ideas were given as follows: He insisted, above all things, on the absolute necessity of promptitude, if the expedition was to be of any avail whatever in fulfilling its object. When he left the interior for the coast, Emin Pasha had only enough ammunition to carry him through to the end of 1886, though he hoped, provided his little force was not molested by the native tribes, to husband

In

his stock for a few months longer. July last, he said, Emin still held, in addition to Wadelai, nine fortified posts upon the Upper Nile, extending from that place to Lado and Fatiko, and he had still steamers plying upon the Albert Nyanza. There was under his command a force of 10 Egyptian and 15 negro officers, and 1,500 negro soldiers, and he had also with him about 20 Coptic clerks, and “ many white women and children." He had begun to fear, however, that the excellent spirit which, under great privations and trials, had hitherto animated his troops, would give way in prospect of the utter failure of supplies; already they had been reduced to clothing themselves in skins. The small quantity of supplies which Dr. Junker was able to send from Uganda, provided they had the good fortune of reaching Wadelai, could only, he believed, stave off the crisis for a short time. Emin Pasha and his troops might indeed be already regarded as existing almost upon the sufferance of the surrounding tribes; and, in Dr. Junker's opinion, if help did not reach them within four months, it would come too late.

Notwithstanding all this, Mr Stanley quickly came to two rather startling decisions I. To take the Congo route; II. To secure the assistance of Tippoo Tib. Now that the undertaking is over, one cannot help seeing that grave consequences have resulted from these two important steps-steps which were then very generally considered to be cardinal mistakes.

We will here recall Stanley's ideas expressed at this time in regard to the object of his enterprise. In a letter written from Cairo he says:

"It is the relief of Emin Pasha that is the

object of the expedition-said relief consisting

of ammunition in sufficient quantity to enable him to withdraw from his dangerous position in Central Africa in safety, or to hold his own, if he decides to do so, for such length of time as he may see fit. The expedition is non-military-that is to say, its purpose is not to fight, destroy, or waste. Its purpose is to save, to relieve distress, to carry comfort. Emin Pasha may be a good man, a brave officer, a gallant fellow, deserving of a strong effort of relief; but I decline to believe, and I have not been abie to gather from any one in England an impression, that his life, or the lives of the few hundreds under him, would averbalance the lives of thousands of natives and the devastation of immense tracts of coun

tries which an expedition strictly military would naturally cause. The expedition is a

One cannot help devoutly wishing that these expectations had been realized, and it is not without regret that we must now briefly follow Stanley's track as he proceeds to carry out his enterprise. One word first, however, about Stanley's view of his mission. His thorough and determined way of doing the deed that was to carry relief and help, in the face of untold hardships and difficulties, excites our sincere admiration, but, at the same time, we cannot help wondering whether Stanley had realized exactly what were Emin's needs. It is evident that his personal needs were very small compared with his desires and hopes for his people and for the future of his province; and we think that if Stanley had set before him the object, not only of rescuing and relieving, but also of strengthening the hands, consolidating the position, and helping to firmly establish the authority, of Emin's rule, which the latter feared would be undermined if circumstances did not very soon improve, if these had been his aims -which in fact were Emin's needs-there would have been a mutual sympathy and common aim between the two men when they met, which, despite the long delays, might well have brought about a different result to the expedition and a much brighter outlook for the future enlightenment and happiness of Central Africa.

On February the 3rd, 1887, Stanley left Cairo, and on the 6th he embarked on board the British India Company's steamer Navarino, bound direct for Zanzibar, taking with him 61 trained Sudanese soldiers who had volunteered from the Egyptian army; and, on the 25th of February, the expedition sailed on board the Madura for the Congo. It is interesting to note the strength of the expedition. It consisted of 9 European officers, 61 Sudanese, 13 Somalis, 3 interpreters, 620 Zanzibaris, Tippoo Tib and 90 of his people, making a total of 797 persons. total of 797 persons. After a rapid journey round the Cape they arrived at the mouth of the Congo on the 18th of March, gaining three days on the estimated time.