FOUNDING THE PROTECTORATE 
1 37 
ioo men. I bethought myself of the German steamer the Wissmann, which was 
fortunately at that moment lying off Fort Johnston. I had an interview with 
her Commander, Captain Berndt, and relying on him as a man of honour, 
communicated my plans to him, and asked whether I could hire the German 
steamer to carry them out. He at once assented and proposed terms which 
were generous financially as they provided merely for the working expenses of 
the steamer. I may say here that my plans were kept absolutely secret by 
Captain Berndt, and that no hint reached the Arabs as to our intentions. 
Major Edwards and I made a hasty journey to Zomba for final preparations 
and the expedition left Fort Johnston on the 24th of November, 1895. On the 
way to the north end of the lake Major Edwards fell ill, so that when we landed 
at Karonga I was temporarily deprived of the services of my commander-in¬ 
chief, who for a few days was obliged to lie up. But his plans had been so well 
DEEP BAY STATION 
laid that they were carried out without a hitch by Lieut. Coape-Smith, who 
succeeded him temporarily in the command. Major Bradshaw was also an 
invalid, but fortunately both he and Major Edwards recovered in time to take 
part in the final assault on Mlozi’s stockade. Our plan of campaign was this: 1 
Mlozi’s stockaded town was situated about eleven miles inland from Karonga, 
the station of the African Lakes Company on the shore of Lake Nyasa. About 
six miles inland from Karonga were the stockades of Msalemu and Kopakopa 
which guarded the ford of the River Rukuru. Mlozi’s town was in the plain 
near the south bank of the River Rukuru. It was overlooked by a ridge of hills 
to the south which ran transversely to the course of the river. The Arab road 
from Kopakopa’s stockade to Mlozi’s ran through a pass in these hills, and this 
low range on the side of the pass nearest the river terminated in a rather high 
house-shaped hill which it was possible to climb to the summit, and where guns 
could be planted. Our idea was to send out about 300 men and a number of 
1 In drawing up this plan at Zomba Major Edwards and I were greatly helped by the notes and 
maps of Mlozi's stockade which had been made for us by Dr. Kerr Cross and Major Trollope. 
