Again in the heart of Africa
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.
[Illustration: _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.[7] A noble
plan indeed!