STANLEY AND EMIN PASHA.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2590, 16 February 1889, Page 2 (Supplement)

STANLEY AND EMIN PASHA.

Important Despatch.

A dkspatcii has reached Zanzibar from one of the special messengers seut two months ago into the interior in the hope of meeting with and obtaining news of Mr Stanley or Emin Pasha, from one of the caravans coming to the coast from the regions of the great lakes. The messenger announces that at Kimana, a place on the direct route from the interior to the coast, lie fell in with some traders habitually frequenting the districts west of the Albert Nyanza. The traders, who were Arabs, and came from Wadelai, had left Mahagi, on the north-west shore of the Albert Nyanza, at the end of last April. They positively affirmed that the meeting of Mr Stanley with Emin Pasha took place at Wadelai about the 20th of January. On arriving at Wadelai Mr Stanley had with him three hundred and thirty men and plenty of stores. He himself and his men were extremely exhausted, and had endured great privations. The delay of the expedition in traversing the Aruwhimi country was due to the difficulties of the route and to the large detour made by Mr Stanley towards the north-east to avoid the swamps and the attacks of hostile tribes.

The two white officers who accompanied Mr Stanley wore in good health. At the time of the arrival of the explorer Emin Pasha was in the main in a good position, although some of his Egyptian soldiers were grumbling, .and a certain number of his soldiers had deserted. The Kings of Uganda and Unjoro were still hostile to Eiuin Pasha, who in the previous November had had to repel some incursions from predatory bands coming from tho east, The general health of the Pasha was good, but ho had been suffering from his eyes for some two months. A fortnight after Mr Stanley's Emin Pasha had received by way of Lado a messago from tho Mahdi, in which the Khalifa in pompous terms annouueed his intention of subduing 1 to his authority the entiro country as far as the Great Lakes. The Mahdi promised Emin Pasha his life and good treatment if he would deliver into the hands of a lieutenant, whom the Khalifa would shortly send at the head of faithful troops, the town of Wadelai and the territory which he occupied.

Tho Pasha and Mr Stanley had not replied to this summons of the Mahdi, and had sent back his envoy, telling him that Emin Bey had been entrusted with the care of Wadelai and the Equatorial Province, ond before evacuating these territories he must wait for the Mahdi to prove the legitimacy of his claim to their possession. Mr Stanley, immediately on his arrival, had, acting in concert with Emin Pasha, applied himself to restoring order among the troops, and in distributing stores and ammunition. As soon as he met Mr Stanley, Emin Pasha declared to him that he did not wish to leavo Wadelai with him, and that the entire route to the east coast was, moreover, most dangerous on accountof the incessant agitation among the tribe and the hostility of M'Wangu. Towards the middle of April news had reached Wadelai that a considerable force of Mahdist troop was approaching towards the Great Lake region and Wadelai. Emin Pasha had given orders for his advanced posts at Dufile 'and between that place and Lado to fall back upon Wadelai, and Mr Stanley had sent messengers to tho Kings of Uganda and Unjoro. About tho end of April, when the traders left Wadelai, Mr Stanley showed much anxiety at not receiving new* of his rear-guard on tho Aruwhimi, and was making arrangements to send a strong detachment to search for thorn along tho routo which ho himself had followed. He also strongly urged Emin Pasha to regain the coast, and to leaye Wadelai with him. When the traders themselves loft Wadelai and Mahagi for the southwest of Victoria Nyanza, Mr Stanley had already despatched several couriers with news for Europe, announcing his safe arrival, and giving particulars of his journey. One of the men despatched by the explorer was chosen from among the couriers sent to Wadelai by the foreign consuls at Zanzibar to apprise Emin Pasha of the departure of the Relief Expedition, who had remained at Wadelai ever since. This man was sent to the east coast, while another man was dispatched in tho direction of tho Aruwhimi.