In Darkest Africa, Vol. 2; or, The Quest, Rescue, and Retreat of Emin, Governor of EquatoriaStanley, Henry M. (Henry Morton)
History
In Darkest Africa, Vol. 2; or, The Quest, Rescue, and Retreat of Emin, Governor of Equatoria
Stanley, Henry M. (Henry Morton)
Africa, Central -- Description and travel; Emin Pasha, 1840-1892
Soon after arriving in camp Yusuf Effendi, an Egyptian officer, died
from an indurated liver. This, I believe, was the sixth death among the
Egyptians. They had led such a fearful life of debauchery and licence in
their province that few of them had any stamina remaining, and they
broke down under what was only a moderate exercise to the Zanzibaris.
The effects of the water drank from the pits the day before commenced to
be manifested on reaching the camp--that is, in twenty-four hours. Over
thirty cases of ague had been developed among the Zanzibaris, two of the
European officers were prostrated, and I myself felt approaching
symptoms. The Pasha’s followers were reeling with sickness, and it was
reported that several were missing besides Manyuema.
On the 27th a halt was ordered. Lieutenant Stairs was sent back with his
company to endeavour to recover some of the lost people. Some passed him
on the road attempting to overtake the column. One woman belonging to
one of the Pasha’s followers was found speared through the body. He
arrived in time to save a Manyuema from sharing the same fate. These
utterly reckless people had acquired the art of evading the rear column
by throwing themselves into the grass and lying still until the officer
and his party had passed.
Altogether the sick cases had increased to 200. Egyptians, blacks of
Zanzibar, Soudan, and Manyuema were moaning and sorrowing over their
sufferings. The Pasha, Dr. Parke, and Mr. Jephson had also succumbed to
severe attacks.
On the 28th, led by one of the Wara-Sura prisoners, we made a short
march past the range of Kavandaré. The advance and main body of the
column filed through the pass unmolested, but the rear guard was
fiercely attacked, though the enemy turned to flight when the repeating
rifles began to respond in earnest, and this proved our last engagement
with Kabba Rega’s rovers called Wara-Sura.
[Sidenote: 1889.
June 29.
Chamlirikwa.]
We reached Chamlirikwa the next day, having meantime descended to the
level terrace at the foot of the eastern walls of the Albert Edward
basin, and on July 1st arrived at Kasunga-Nyanza in Eastern Unyampaka, a
place known to us in January, 1876, when I sent a body of Waganda to
search for canoes for the purpose of crossing the Lake then discovered.
Bulemo-Ruigi, the king, having heard our praises sounded by the
islanders of Kakuri, who had meanwhile crossed the Lake before us,
despatched messengers to place his country at our disposal with free
privileges of eating whatever gardens, fields, or plantations offered,
only asking that we would be good enough not to cut down banana stalks,
to which moderate request we willingly consented.
The Pasha on this day sent me his muster-roll for the beginning of the
month, which was as follows:--
44 officers, heads of families, and clerks.
90 married women and concubines.
107 children.
223 guards, soldiers, orderlies, and servants.
91 followers.
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555
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Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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