The Lyttelton Times. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1887.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 8322, 9 November 1887, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1887.

News from H. M. Stanley has been received which tells us that, in August, he was getting near tho Albert Nyanza Lake, on his way to Emin Bey’s strongholds. The intrepid traveller would then have been some 300 miles from Lado, the capital of what was once known as the Equatorial Province of the Soudan, of which Emin Bey is Governor. Stanley has throughout this journey been on familiar ground. From Stanley Pool within a few hours of tbe Western Coast of the Great African Continent to the Uganda country on the northern shores of tho Victoria Nyanza Labe, not many days’ journey from the Indian Ocean, every tribe and every chief was known to the chief of the relief expedition, as also every route, every trader, and the resources of each district, with the characteristics of its inhabitants. Stanley knew, from personal experience, where he could find subsistence for his men, where he would have least to pay for it, where the chiefs were not extortionate in their ideas of the toll demanded by every African potentate for passage through his territory, and where his march would be opposed. In his famous journey in search of Livingstone, he had become familiar with the country about the Lakes Tanganyika and Bemha, aud along the various affluents of the Congo flowing northwards towards the equator. In his still more famous expedition across “ The Dark Continent,” he had circumnavigated the great inland sea of the Lake Victoria Nyanza, going into every bay of its thousand miles of coast line, and parleying or fighting with one or other of its chiefs. Mtesa, the Emperor of Uganda, had astonished him by his magnificence, power, and polish, had delighted his heart by giving in his adhesion to the Christian faith, and had assisted him. in an attempt to explore tho head waters of tho Nile. From Uganda ho had inarched through friendly tribes, having the Albert Nyanza on his right, and the Victoria on his left, through the Usui country, and on to Ujiji, on the great Tanganyika Lake. Having circumnavigated that inland sea, lie struck across tbe country of the Manyema, westward for ’.ho Congo river, which ho reached at Nyangwe, not far above Stanley Falls, some 300 miles from the Lake. T uenco he made his memorable river jr urney to the Western Coast in 187 j - Six years later he was once more at the Falls establishing posts, civilising the tribes, exploring, and preparing .the way for.the establishment, under

the auspices of the International Association, of the Congo State. Tho choice of route for the relief of Emin Bey is easily understood under these circumstances. Few men would have been able to perform the exploits of travel which have made Stanley’s name honoured throughout Equatorial Africa. No other could have taken an expedition through from the West with the same success. Leaving the Congo above tbe falls, he has probably directed his land journey, now reduced to 600 miles, through the Manyema country, and moving by the Lakes Tanganyika, Alexandra, and Muta Nyige, he has now reached the Albert Nyanza, from which the White Nile debouches. Why he has chosen that road rather than the line round by Uganda is not clear; except that it is shorter, and that having a strong expedition he can, if necessary, force a passage through Kabba Rega’s country to Emin Bey’s outposts, as Baker did in 1872, as he has toldl us in his story of Ismailia, when he was founding the Equatorial Province. Emin Bey, the news of whose relief may now be looked for any day, went up tbe Nile in 1878 to Lado to take up the government of that province. Lado is on the opposite side of the river to Gondokoro (built by Sir Samuel Baker), in latitude sdeg north. Emin was the third governor, Sir Samuel Baker having been the first, and General Gordon the second. The district between Lado and Kordofan was under Lupton Bey. Up to 1883 things seem to have gone smoothly enough, and after that there was a silence of something like four years. At last a batch of letters was received by a correspondent of the Bey living at Wolverhampton, who lost no time in making their contents public. These brought tidings to January, 1885. They have been supplemented by a few scraps of intelligence, that has since penetrated to the outer world. The letters give the most interesting details of vicissitudes and dangers, courageous devotion, unexhausted patience, and wonderful resource. In 1883 the Governor of the Equatorial Province had almost come to the conclusion that he had been abandoned by the Egyptian Government. No steamer ever came from Khartoum, eight hundred miles distant down the great river; no messages penetrated from the outer world ; all was blank. There was in that year a great revolt of negroes, which the Bey succeeded in putting down by rapid movements and decisive methods. Then the slavetraders made an attempt to gain the upper hand, but the Soudanese soldiery stood firm, and a few rapid marches and a little more energy disposed of them. The events of these campaigns are described in the plainest, most calm language. There are no heroics, no words “ like Austerlitz battles,” as Carlyle says, no fire and slaughter, no affectation of Cesarean brevity. The simple narrative is interspersed with enthusiastic allusions to science; it tells us how, in the midst of toil and trouble, the observations aud collections illustrative of the fauna , flora, and geology of the wonderful country about him aro carried on with unabated vigour by this wonderful man. There are lamentations that he who was never a soldier should be compelled to plan these great expeditions, and to set so many squadrons in the field. There is the firmest spirit, the greatest patience, the strongest determination to do his duty faithfully by the people committed to his care. In 1884 the shadow of the Mahdi falls across the the pages of the story. A force is sent against the Equatorial Province, Lupton Bey is captured with his troops, a summons is sent to Emin to surrender, and repair to Kordofan under pain of death. Emin sends people to treat, and while they are away he collects provisions, recruits his scanty force, and makes every disposition for a desperate defence. Sword in hand he must be taken, or not at all. Later in the year a rumour reaches him that Goi’dou Pasha, beloved by all in that country, has arrived at Khartoum with the Sheriff of Mecca and an immense army to fight the Mahdi. “ God grant that it may be true,” writes the patient, intrepid Governor. lu December, the Province having been, with some success, incited to revolt, the Mahdi’s General, one “ Emir Keremellar,” makes his long-threatened campaign of attack. There is a series of battles, in which the attacking force is so severely mauled by the lion at bay, that they cannot bo brought up again for some*little time. After the opening of 1885, when tho redcoats are going up towards Khartoum, when Gordon is holding out like a Paladin of old, when tho redcoats are marching back again, and Gordon is lying dead in the city he had defended so long and so well, no word of these things reaches the Governor of the Equa* torial Province. All he hears is the message of the insolent Keremellar once more summoning him to surrender. The Mahdi’s Commander has got together some fresh troops, and is once more advancing. “ Only a miracle can save us,” calmly writes the intrepid Bey, and and that is the last glimpse we have of him. It is the glimpse of a grand figure, great in the midst of desolation. But it is not tbe last news we have. The letters have ceased. But word has reached the outside world that the last battle which the Bey was expecting, as we saw his resolute face has proved tho last indeed, for ha gave tho enemy such a shaking that they have left him in peace ever since. Another message has come, purporting to be to the effect that the Bey has declared that when reached by Stanley ho will not return with him. When he wrote before that last fight that nothing but a miracle could save him, Ire had added “ I send at once as many as possible of my people to the south, for tho route to Mtesa is still in existence. If I escape I will follow with my soldiers. But I can hardly expect to escape. It is shameful of our Government to have abandoned us.” Those were the words of a man who certainly was ready to come out of the country. But when he used them he thought his position untenable. Since then tho position has improved. He has proved that he is stronger than anything that can be brought against him without reinforcements from

Khartoum or Kordofan. But between these places and Lado is a network of rivers choked for the most part against navigation by the reeds and dense vegetation of the "Sudd,” cut through with so much energy by Baker on his first expedition in 1871, and neglected ever since. The power, moreover, of the ruler at Khartoum is no longer consolidated or widespreading. It is possible that, feeling himself master in the Equatorial Province, Emin Bey may be contemplating the founding of a civilised regime in the midst of Equatorial Africa. He has seen what great benefits settled government has conferred on the people. He may, like the self-deny-ing hero that he is, elect to make that government permanent. But without communication with the outer world that would be impossible. Two things give Emin Bey the ascendant for the present—his high personal character, and a supply of amnlunition. The first he will always have, but the second has been dwindling, and when the last cartridge is gone the flood of barbarism will overwhelm him. As Stanley brings a supply with him, all danger will be over when they meet. What will happen after that it is hard to say. One thing is certain. When he meets Stanley, Emin Bey will have a counsellor every bit as keen for the civilisation of the African races as he is himself, and one in every way qualified by experience, shrewdness, and courage, as well as by the philanthropic bent of an ardent mind, to give him the best advice procurable in the whole world. If the result of the counsel is the determination of Emin Bey to stay where he is, in compliance with a sublime sense of duty, Stanley is the very man to arrange for European help to keep open the communications, and to supervise the taking of the necessary steps.