504 LETTERS TO DR. FELKIN. 



us will not be lost sight of, nor the importance of crushing 

 the slave-trade and of keeping my people free. One or two 

 caravans are all that is necessary, and I believe they could easily 

 reach me from the east coast direct, or from the north-east 

 corner of the Victoria Nyanza. There remains, too, the route 

 through Usoga and the Lango district. I am of opinion, how- 

 ever, that a good present would smooth all difficulties there ; 

 and it must not be forgotten that if I knew that help was 

 coming to me from that direction, I could easily push forward 

 one or more stations towards the east, and thus stretch out a 

 helping hand to any caravan coming to my relief. 



Wadelai, October 2, 1886. 



Dear Friend, — Your letter dated May 10, 1885, arrived, 

 together with one from Miss Felkin, dated September 25, 1885, 

 and I do not know how to thank you enough for still bearing 

 me in remembrance at a time when all my other friends 

 appear to have thought me dead. Your letters were the first 

 lines I received from Europe after three years and a half of 

 absolute isolation. May the Almighty reward you abundantly 

 for all the joy which your lines of affection gave me ! . . . 



How much the deaths of Gordon and of my old friend 

 Hansal have grieved me I need hardly tell you. What will 

 have become of Hansal's poor children, I wonder ? . . . 



We have heard a report that Dr. Fischer has arrived at the 

 north-east corner of the Victoria Nyanza, and that Kabr^ga 

 has sent some people to him to try and guide him to us. . . . 



Now that the way to Uganda is at last open, owing to the 

 kindness of Mr. Mackay,* I hope that correspondence will 



* Mr. A. M. Mackay went out with the first Church Missionary Society 

 expedition to Uganda in 1 87 5. After much illness and many hardships, he 

 reached his destination in 1878. He has remained at his post with wonderful 

 tenacity until quite recently, having held his own against Moslem intrigue, the 

 suspicion and ill-treatment of both Mtesa and Mwanga, and the vicissitudes of the 

 climate. It was due to his influence and self-denying efforts that Emin Pasha 

 was at last enabled to enter once more into communication with Europe. He 

 also sent some supplies, and was the means of obtaining Mvvdnga's consent for 

 Dr. Junker to pass through Uganda to Zanzibar, and for the caravan of goods 

 purchased by Dr. Junker to be sent to Emin. Emin again and again expresses 

 the gratitude he feels to Mr. Mackay for all the risks he ran in aiding him. — 

 It. W. E. 



