"Well, I shall send the steamer down to-morrow with the Khedive's letter, and you would oblige me greatly if you would allow one of your officers to go and show himself to the troops at Dufflé. Let him speak to the men himself, and say that he has come from the representative of the Government, who has been specially sent by the Khedive to bring them out, and perhaps when they have seen him, and talked with your Soudanese, they will be willing to depart with us. If the people go, I go; if they stay, I stay." "Now supposing you resolve to stay, what of the Egyptians?" "Oh, those I shall have to ask you to take charge of." "Now will you be good enough to ask Captain Casati if we are to have the pleasure of his company to the coast, for we have been instructed to lend him every assistance in our power?" Captain Casati answered through Emin Pasha. "If the Governor Emin goes, I go; if he stays, I stay." "Well, I see, Pasha, that in the event of your staying your responsibilities will be great, for you involve Captain Casati in your own fate." (A laugh), and the sentence was translated to Casati, and the gallant Captain at once replied. "Oh, I absolve Emin Pasha from all responsibility connected with me, for I am governed by my own choice entirely." "May I suggest then, Pasha, if you elect to remain here, that you make your will?" "Will! What for?" "To dispose of your pay of course, which must by this time be considerable. Eight years I believe you said? Or perhaps you meditate leaving it to Nubar Pasha?" "I give Nubar Pasha my love. Pho! There can be only about two thousand and odd pounds due. What is such a sum to a man about to be shelved? I am now forty-eight and one of my eyes is utterly gone. When I get to Egypt they will give me some fine words and bow me out. And all I have to do is to seek out some corner of Cairo or Stamboul for a final resting-place. A fine prospect truly!" In the afternoon Emin Pasha came again to my tent, and during our conversation he said that he had resolved to leave Africa--"if his people were willing; if not, he would stay with them." I learned also that the Egyptians were only too willing to leave for their mother-land, and that there were about sixty-five of them. That the first battalion of Regulars numbered a little over 650, and that the second battalion amounted to nearly 800. That he had about 750 Remington rifles, and that the rest were armed with percussion muskets. _May 2nd._--The _Khedive_ steamer left this morning for the northward, first to Mswa Station, thence to Tunguru, fourteen and a half hours' steaming from hence; two days later she will sail for Wadelai, the third day for Dufflé. She carries letters from the Pasha to bring up sixty or seventy soldiers, a Major, and as many carriers as can be mustered. She will probably be fourteen days absent. In the meantime we await here her return.