November 29, 1889.] 



SCIENCE 



2>73^ 



and the Pacha and I were made prisoners. The Pacha is a com- 

 plete prisoner, but I am allowed to go about the station ; but my 

 movements are watched. The rebellion has been gotten up by 

 some half-dozert Egyptians (officers and clerks) ; and gradually 

 others joined, some through inclination, but most through fear. 

 The soldiers, with the exception of those at Lahore, have never 

 taken part in it, but have quietly given in to their officers.' 



" Jephson continued, 'When the Pacha and I were on our way 

 to Regaf, two men — one an officer, Abdul Voal Effendi, and the 

 other a clerk — went about and told the people they had seen you, 

 and that you were only an adveturer, and had not come from 

 Egypt ; that the letters you brought from the Khedive and Nubar 

 were forgeries ; that it was untrue Khartum had fallen ; and that 

 the Pacha and you had made a plot to take them, their wives, and 

 their children out of the country, and hand them over as slaves to 

 the English. Such words, in an ignorant, fanatical country like 

 this, acted like fire among the people, and the result was a general 

 rebellion, and we were made prisoners. The rebels then collected 

 the officers from the different stations, and held a large meeting 

 here to determine what measures they should take ; and all those 

 who did not join the movement were so insulted and abused that 

 they were obliged, for their own safety, to acquiesce in what was 

 done. 



" ' The Pacha was deposed, and those officers suspected of be- 

 ing friendly to him were removed from their posts, and those 

 friendly to the rebels were put in their place. It was decided to 

 take the Pacha as a prisoner to Regaf, and some of the worst 

 rebels were even in for putting him in irons ; but the officers were 

 afraid to put their plans into execution, as the soldiers said they 

 never would permit any one to lay a hand on him. Plans were 

 also made to entrap you when you returned, and strip you of all 

 you had. Things were in this condition when we were startled by 

 the news that the Mahdi's people had arrived at Lado with three 

 steamers and nine sandals and nuggers, and had established them- 

 selves on the site of the old station. Omar Sali, their general, sent 

 up three peacock dervishes with a letter to the Pacha, demanding 

 the instant surrender of the country. The rebel officers seized 

 them, and put them into prison, and decided on war. After a few 

 days the Mahdists attacked and captured Regaf, killing five officers 

 and numbers of soldiers, and taking many women and children 

 prisoners ; and all the stores and ammunition in the station were 

 lost. The result of this was a general stampede of the people from 

 the stations of Biddon, Kirri, and Muggi, who fled with their women 

 and children to Lahore, abandoning almost every thing. At Kirri 

 the ammunition was abandoned, and was seized by natives. The 

 Pacha reckons that the Mahdists number about one thousand five 

 hundred. The officers and a large number of soldiers have re- 

 turned to Muggi, and intend to make a stand against the Mah- 

 dists. 



" ' Our position here is extremely unpleasant, for since the re- 

 bellion all is chaos and confusion. There is no head, and half a 

 dozen conflicting orders are given every day, and no one obeys. 

 The rebel officers are wholly unable to control the soldiers. The 

 Boris have joined the Mahdists. If they come down here with a 

 rush, nothing can save us. The officers are all frightened at what 

 has taken place, and are anxiously awaiting your arrival, and de- 

 sire to leave the country with you ; for they are now really per- 

 suaded that Khartum has fallen, and that you have come from the 

 Khedive. We are like rats in a trap. They will neither let us act 

 nor retire ; and I fear, unless you come very soon, you will be too 

 late, and our fate will be like that of the rest of the garrisons of 

 the Sudan. Had this rebellion not happened, the Pacha could 

 have kept the Mahdists in check some time, but now he is power- 

 less to act. 



" ' I would suggest, on your arrival at Kavallis, that you write a 

 letter in Arabic to Shukri Aga, chief of the Mswa Station, telling 

 him of your arrival, and telling him that you wished to see the 

 Pacha and myself. Write also to the Pacha or myself, telling us 

 what number of men you have with you. It would, perhaps, be 

 better to write me, as a letter to him might be confiscated. Neither 

 the Pacha nor myself thinks there is the slightest danger now of 

 any attempt to capture you, for the people are now fully persuaded 

 that you are come from Egypt, and they look to you to get them 



out of their difficulties. Still it would be well for you to make your 

 camp strong. If we are not able to get out of the country, please 

 remember me to my friends,' etc. 



"A postscript, dated Nov. 24, says, ' Shortly after I had written 

 you, the soldiers were led by their officers to attempt to retake 

 Regaf ; but the Mahdists defended it, and killed six officers and a 

 large number of soldiers. Among the officers killed were some of 

 the Pacha's worst enemies. The soldiers in all the stations were 

 so panic-stricken and angry at what happened, that they declared 

 they would not attempt to fight unless the Pacha was set at liberty. 

 So the rebel officers were obliged to free him, and sent him to 

 Wadelai, where he is free to do as he pleases ; but at present he 

 has not resumed authority in the country. He is, I believe, by no 

 means anxious to do so. We hope in a few days to be at Tunguru 

 Station, on the lake, two days by steamer from Nsabe ; and I trust 

 when we hear of your arrival that the Pacha himself will be able 

 to come down with me to see you. We hear that the Mahdists- 

 sent steamers down to Khartum for re-enforcements. If so, they 

 cannot be up here for another six weeks. If they come up here 

 with re-enforcements, it will be all up with us ; for the soldiers wilt 

 never stand against them, and it will be a mere walk-over. Every 

 one is anxiously looking for your arrival, for the coming of the 

 Mahdists has completely cowed them. We may just manage to 

 get out if you do not come later than the end of December, but it 

 is entirely impossible to foresee what will happen.' " 



"Jephson, in a second postscript, dated Dec. 18, says, ' Mogo, 

 the messenger, not having started, I send a second postscript. We 

 were not at Tunguru on Nov. 25. The Mahdists surrounded 

 Duffie Station, and besieged it for four days. The soldiers, of 

 whom there were about five hundred, managed to repulse them,, 

 and they retired to Regaf, their headquarters. They have sent 

 down to Khartum for re-enforcements, and doubtless will attack 

 again when strengthened. In our flight from Wadelai the officers 

 requested me to destroy our boats ; and the advances, therefore, 

 broke it up. Duffie is being renovated as fast as possible. The 

 Pacha is unable to move hand or foot, as there is still a very strong 

 party against him, and the officers are no longer in immediate fear 

 of the Mahdists. Do not on any account come down to us at my 

 former camp on the lake near Kavallis Island, but make your camp 

 at KavaUis, on the plateau above. Send a letter directly you 

 arrive there, and as soon as we hear of your arrival we will come- 

 to you. I will not disguise facts from you, that you will have a 

 difficult and dangerous work before you in dealing with the Pacha's 

 people. I trust you will arrive before the Mahdists are re-enforced , 

 or your case will be desperate.' " 



Stanley answered, " I have read your letter half a dozen times 

 over, but fail to grasp the situation thoroughly, because in some- 

 important details one letter contradicts the other. In one you say- 

 the Pacha is a close prisoner, while you are allowed a certain 

 amount of liberty ; in the other you say you will come to me as 

 soon as you hear of our arrival here, and 'I trust,' you say, ' that 

 the Pacha will be able to accompany me.' Being prisoners, I fail 

 to see how you could leave Tunguru at all. All this is not very 

 clear to us, who are fresh from the bush. If the Pacha can come,, 

 send a courier, on your arrival at our old camp on the lake below 

 here, to announce the fact, and I will send a strong detachment ta 

 escort him up to the plateau ; even to carry him, if he needs it. I 

 feel too exhausted, after my thirteen hundred miles of travel since 

 I parted from you last May, to go down to the lake again. The 

 Pacha must have some pity for me. Don't be alarmed or uneasy 

 on our account. Nothing hostile can approach us within twelve miles- 

 without my knowing it. I am in the thickest of a friendly popula- 

 tion ; and if I sound a war-note, within four hours I can have two 

 thousand warriors to assist me to repel any force disposed to vio- 

 lence; and if it is to be a war, why, then, I am ready for the cun- 

 ningest Arab alive. I want to help the Pacha somehow, but he 

 must also help me and credit me." 



" On Jan. 16 I received with this batch of letters two notes from- 

 the Pacha himself, confirming the above, but not a word from' 

 either Jephson or the Pacha, indicating the Pacha's purpose. Did 

 he still waver, or was he at last resolved ? With any other man 

 than the Pacha or Gordon, one would imagine, that being a pris- 

 oner, and a fierce enemy hourly expecting to give the coup mortal 



