WHO IS EMIN PASHA ?

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1992, 9 November 1888, Page 3

WHO IS EMIN PASHA ?

To many it will be a surprise, Bays the I " Quiver," to hear that Emm Pasha is not, after all a native Egyptian, or Copt, or a negro princelct, but a German surgeon of very delicate phynique, with shy, sensitive manners, and a gentle and peculiarly modest bearing. Eduard Schnitzer (he adopted the name of Emm, "the faithful one," on joining the Egyptian service) was born at the pretty little town of Oppein, m the Prussian province of Silesia, on March 28, 1840. He was the son of Ludwig Schnitzer and Pauline his wife. The family were all Protestants and occupied a good position amongst the merchant classes of the district, which is famous for its industrial activity. In 1842 the Schnitzers removed from Oppein to Neisse, where Emm's friends still resido. After a course of study at the Gymnasium (or public school) of Neisse, young Sehoitzer was sent to attend the lectures of the medical professors at the famous University of Breslau. He completed his medical education m the hospitals and surgical classes at Berlin, and graduated m 1864. As a boy he had developed a decided taste for the study of natural history and books of travel ; and his friends were not at all surprised to find that he had made up his mind, on taking his degree, to proceed to Turkey ; with a view of obtaining employment under the Government of the Sultan. He was appointed on his arrival m Syiia, to the post of surgeon on the stuff of Ismail Hakki Pasha, and served for some time m Antivari and at Scutari; but on the death of the Pasha, m 1873, Schnitzerwent to Constantinople and resigned his commission, and returned home to Neisse, where he occupied his leisure for some months m the further pursuit of his favorite study of natural history. In 1876 he reached what proved to be the turning point of his career. Wearied by the inactivity of his life at Neisse, he made his way to Cairo, and offered his services to the Egyptian Government. Taking the cognomen of Emm, and with the rank of Effendi, he became an offioer of the Khedive and was ordered to join the ■taff of the Governor-General of the Soudan, with his headquarters at Khartoum. From Khartoum Emm was sent to act as chief medical officer of the Equatorial Province, the southernmost limit of Egyptian conquestjon the Nile, of which region General Gordon was then Governor. The hero of Khartoum was able at once to see the value of the young German doctor, and to appreciate those peculiar gifts of character and intellect which distinguished him and rendered him worthy of his confidence and esteem. Gordon found him invaluable as a diplomatist, and sent him from time to time on tours of inspection through the more remote and unsettled districts of the province. He also employed him on several important missions to the neighboring tribes and kinglets, and selected him as his second m command when he himself visited Usanda, the White Nile, and the populous shores of the Albert Nyanza. In 1877 Emm carried out a successful mission to Kabrega, the troublesome king of Unyoro ; and 1879 he went again to Uganda to arrange the termg of a new treaty jof amity and friendship with Mtesu; the great semi-Arab potentate of Uganda. It is laid that Emm was the only white man whom Mtega wag really afraid of offeodiug.