  On the twenty-sixth of April, 1890, Emin left the coast in company with Lieutenant Langheld and Dr. Stuhlmann, a young Hamburg scholar, who assisted the Pasha in his scientific investigations. A hundred soldiers and four hundred armed bearers were with the expedition, which was directing its course for the great Victoria Nyanza. The object of the expedition was kept absolutely secret and the preparations were made very quietly so that the English should not frustrate the German plans. The principal features of the plan for the journey were arranged by Major Wissmann. The line of the northern frontier was fixed as extending on the coast from Wanga to Kilima Ndschan, and across Victoria Nyanza through Buddu to the north to the Albert Lake. North of this line the English territory begins and an agreement bound the Germans not to cross it. At the outset the march, so long as it led through the coast region, was everywhere a difficult one, for the floods of the rainy season made the roads almost impassable and the fording of the swollen streams was dangerous to life. Shortly fever broke out, which is more dangerous in the open country than in the woodier regions. MAJOR WISSMAN On the nineteenth of June they met the expedition of Dr. Peters and Herr von Piedemann, who had started the year previously for Uganda, to supply Emin with munitions, but had been prevented from getting there by the prevailing disorders. Great was their surprise at finding Emin, whom they were seeking to rescue, leaving the coast fresh and active, with the intention of penetrating the interior as far at least as he had been before. Dr. Peters shared Emin’s opinion that the Germans should occupy Tabora, but Major Wissmann had strictly forbidden this as he feared that the undertaking was too great for Emin’s small force and a disaster would injure German prestige among the Arabs. It seemed, however, as if Emin were in the hands of destiny. He had issued his orders to march directly to the Victoria Nyanza, but it was impossible for him to secure the necessary number of porters. At last, as he succeeded in getting eighty-six Waramboans who lived in the neighborhood of Tabora and were going in that direction, he determined to go there. Everything went as he wished. Arriving at Kigwa, he was met by a deputation of Arabs who invited him to Tabora. They came from the Waramboans, whose chief had been killed in a battle with the Wangomans, and who implored the help of the Germans. They were on good terms with the colony. They had rendered good service to Wissmann in his encounters with Arab revolters and naturally believed they ought to have help in return. So by dealing with them in a peaceful way, as well as by his familiarity with their habits and his skill in handling them, he succeeded (August 1, 1890) in making an agreement with them, the principal points of which were as follows: “All Arabs must subject themselves to the German government, with all their relatives and possessions, and hoist the German flag as a sign of their loyalty. They will be allowed to select their own governor, who shall be approved by the German government and be paid by it. The property rights of the Arabs and the practice of their religion shall be recognized by it. The governor shall maintain order and furnish German expeditions with supplies. Slave trading is strictly forbidden.” Thus Emin rendered great service to his government without loss of life and at a nominal cost. Then came a message from the French missionaries at the south end of Victoria Lake announcing threatening movements on the part of the natives which obliged him to go there with his entire forces. Arriving at Bussisi the danger seemed to be over, but the missionaries directed his attention to the strong Arab colony of Massansa, which was the headquarters of the slave trade. Peaceful negotiations were useless. A battle was fought, the village was stormed and rich spoils of ivory, arms, and slaves captured. Unfortunately four Arabs who were taken and sent by Emin to the coast for trial were murdered by the Wagandians as they were crossing the lake. That was a fatal event for Emin. The Arabs, with whom he had had such friendly relations, blamed Emin for the murder, claiming that he must have known the Wagandians were the deadly enemies of the poor prisoners. They swore eternal hatred and revenge, and they kept their oath only too well. Emin finally decided to go to the west coast of the lake and establish a strong German station for trading purposes. After mature consideration he decided upon Bukoba, on the northern frontier, for the people there were friendly and supplies were abundant. On the sixteenth of November his force was at Bukoba, and aided by the natives Emin began the building of the station. The rainy season was a great hindrance. Emin not only succeeded, but was fortunate enough to earn the gratitude of the natives, for just at this time the Wagandians made one of their customary plundering raids and were punished by him. At this time reports came from various quarters that the Maturki had arrived north of the Albert Edward Lake. The thought immediately occurred to him: “These are my people from the Equatorial Provinces. I must see them.” All other plans, all disobedience, all open hostility, all troubles were forgotten, for the Maturki had always been the governor’s truest friends. It seemed to him at that moment that they were dear children waiting for their father to take them home. All Dr. Stuhlmann’s protests were useless. In addition to this Emin received a message of disapproval from the coast, blaming him for his arbitrary proceedings at Tabora, also stating that Wissmann was not pleased with his going to the west shore when the south shore had been settled upon as the field of operations. This mistaken view of his purposes was unendurable to Emin, who for years had been guided entirely by his own judgment in all his operations. He did not wish to return to the coast until he had accomplished something important. As it was certain that the Soudanese would never appear on the Albert Lake he determined to carry out a scheme he had long planned in secret. He would go north, gather his people, and take them to German territory, or, still better, go west and crossing the continent make a union with Cameron. |
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