Story of the Uganda Expedition.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1424, 15 June 1899, Page 15

Story of the Uganda Expedition.

THE DEATH OF CAPTAIN KIRK-

PATRICK

Reuter's Agency is enabled to give, for the first time, a detailed account of the Central African expedition under Colonel Macdonald and its results. Although the original instructions given the officers are still kept secret, and it cannot therefore be publicly known to what extent the Soudanese rebellion in- Uganda altered his plans, Reuter's Agency is authorised to state that tiie expedition has been successful. Tn brief, it may be said that despite the enormous difficulties encountered, Colonel Macdonald and the officers associated with him have entered into friendly relations with the tribes of a tract of country bigger than the whole of the Uganda Protectorate. They have explored and maped this country, which they report to be on the whole a healthy, high-grass plateau, with mountains 7000 to 10,000 feet in height, inhabited by people who arc now for the most part friendly and intelligent. It is pointed out that in view of the known unhealthiness of the Nile Valley, this extensive high healthy country to the north of Uganda may prove of considerable value in connection with any trans-African railway scheme. Colonel Macdonald succeeded in eolcleting an immense amount of very valuable data regarding this hitherto unknown country and people. In Latuka, owing co tho depredations of locusts, no food was obtainable, and the column was forced to return to Savo for supplies. On reaching Gule, it was found that Captain Kirkpatrick had been doing a lot of surveying work, and that he and his force were all well, and had experienced no difficulties with the natives. Subsequently the Guio depot was left in charge of a friendly chief, and the whole party returned to Baka-ra to buy food. The work of selling their cattle for food necessitated a halt, and it was during one of these stoppages that Captain Kirkpatrick, with 70 rifles, was despatched to explore on the boarders of Karamojo, with orders to return in four days to the main column Captain Kirkpatrick readied th.o border in two days, finding the native people through whose country he was travelling') quite friendly. In fact large numbers folowed him as escort and as guides. Cn. the third day he gave orders to strike camp with a view to rejoining Colonel Macdonald, and while this was being done he, with seven of his peole and friendly natives started off to climb a mountain six miles distant. He had to go up a difficult pass, and while resting at a point five miles up the defile the hitherto friendly Nakwai, without a moment’s warning, set upon the little party, and before they had time even to grasp a rifle stabbed Captain Kirkpatrick and five of his men to death. Simultaneously with this massacre the Nakwai treacherously attacked Captain Kirkpatrick’s main camp, wounding a native officer, and billing two men. The camp was quickly zarebaed. A pai iy was sent out to bring in Captain Kirkpatrick’s body, and word was sent to Colonel Macdonald —-.cho with his column was 30 miles distant—of what had occurred. A fierce attack was then made upon the camp by the Nakwai, who were eventually beaten ofL In the meantime Colonel Macdonald's

force, travelling with all speed, arrived on the scene. On the following day a stiff fight, ensued, in which the Nakwai were completely defeated with heavy loss and their villages and granaries burned. Tiie conflict- occurred in a position which the natives regarded as impregnable, and which presented great difficult ices. The scene of the fight was a very narrow defile, only wide enough lor two persons to go abreast, flanked with mountains 2000 feet high, the hills and rocks at their oass being covered with dense undergrowth. On reaching the entrance to the pass tiie British found a large body of spearman range in line and concealed amid the grass'. Twice they charged and were beaten off on each occasion. Colonel Macdonald seeing that- it was useless to attempt to pass by this entrance, ordered his men to ascend the high ground, and by this means they drove the enemy from the pass. While this operation was in progress the natives hurled enormous stones upon the little force. There wero practically two battles, in which the natives occassionally approached withinfive yards of the British. Owing to the nature of the country the machine gun was useless. Finally, the Nakwai were beaten off with heavy loss. Captain Kirkpatrick was buried in his own camp, but it is hoped that his remans will eventually be removed to Kampala. and interred beside those who lost their lives at Lubwa-s.

In addition to its political work, already referred to, the expedition will have valuable geographical results. A lake twelve miles long was discovered, as well as several important- mountains and mountain ranges.

The most interesting people met with were the natives of Karamojo, a very friendly tribe, who dominate the whole country in that region.