During this time Emin’s circumstances had taken a turn for the better. He had received letters through Biri from the coast. A regular postal service was established and his dreary isolation was at an end. He also learned that Dr. Fischer, the experienced explorer, had undertaken an expedition for his rescue in 1886, but only got as far as the Victoria Nyanza, for the Wagandans would not allow him to go further. He returned to Germany and died shortly afterwards in consequence of his hardships. Next Emin received an official despatch in French from Cairo, from the Egyptian government, informing him that it was not impossible they might have to evacuate the Soudan. In case this occurred, Emin was given full permission to leave the Equatorial Provinces and for this purpose he was authorized to draw upon the English Consul General at Zanzibar. Emin was bitterly incensed at the cold business tone of the government. It had not a word of thanks or of recognition of all his cares, troubles, and struggles for three years, not a word of regret that he was compelled to labor so many years without any support, and often hungry and in need. And not a word of encouragement for the task imposed upon him of taking the Egyptians home. An empty title, that of Pasha, was all the reward for his exertions. They fancied in Egypt that all Emin needed to do was to pack up his effects and go by the coast to Zanzibar. It never occurred to them that the greatest obstacle in Emin’s way was his own Egyptian officers and soldiers. While at Khartoum he had repeatedly notified the government that it ought to change garrisons every two years, but it had never made any reply. The larger part of his people, who had never left the country, wanted to stay at home and live as their ancestors had lived. For the Egyptians the Equatorial Provinces had become a second home and more of a Paradise than they had ever found in their native land. They had married and founded families, they had bought or stolen slaves, they had cattle and goats. As they could not have these things in Egypt, why should they leave such a country? Gordon had to meet the same difficulties when he undertook the evacuation of the entire Soudan. He too knew that such a problem could not be solved.