Chapter XIX Again with the Soudanese On the twelfth of May, 1891, Emin asked Dr. Stuhlmann whether he would accompany him to unknown regions or return to the coast. The scheme seemed so attractive that he declared he would not leave him and was all the more easily persuaded as the Pasha could only spare him a few men and Stuhlmann would have to traverse a highly insecure region almost destitute of subsistence. So they went northwards. The journey was slow and toilsome, for the packs were too heavy for the bearers and most of the people had to do double duty all day. Even yet Emin did not realize the difficulties. He was only occupied with the thought that he would see his former subjects again, whom he was forced by Stanley to leave. All this time the thought was uppermost in his heart what would become of these poor badly managed people, threatened north and south by fierce enemies and not united among themselves? Surely some dreadful fate would overtake them. At last came the day when the expedition actually entered the Soudan. It was hard for Emin to hide his excitement behind that demeanor of dignity and composure which he always maintained so as to keep the respect of his people. We cannot but think how eagerly their former governor listened to the story of matters in his province. It was sad enough! A part of the Soudanese under the leadership of Selim Bey had followed Stanley’s expedition, but as they did not overtake it they came back full of resentment against those who had left them to their fate. But their effort was not entirely unrewarded. One day a cow stumbled into a gully and in getting her out they found a number of chests which Stanley had deposited there, as he had not men enough to carry them, filled with powder and cartridges. That was really a Godsend in time of need. It was only the lack of munitions that made the situation of these poor people so doubtful, for they daily feared attacks from the Mahdists, in which case they would have been slaughtered like a defenceless herd. Now they could maintain themselves in the five southern stations of the Equatorial Provinces. The discord among themselves was so great that it sometimes led to bloodshed. Several officers had usurped authority and fought on opposite sides and some traitors had even gone over to the Mahdists to induce them to enter the country. Want prevailed everywhere. The herds of cattle had perished from a disease which at certain times in Africa attacks these animals as well as giraffes and gazelles. Provisions were dear and the people wore skins. There was no recognized general authority. Officers as well as soldiers promoted themselves, and sometimes so rapidly that, as at Kavalli, there were more officers than soldiers.