The New York herald., 1872-05-24
A CAMPAIGN OF TWO WEEKS.
Is Baker Pacha's African Annexation
Attempt Failure!
HOW TIE VlCEROY FEELS ABOUT IT.
Sir Samuel's Contract with the Egyptian
Government Up.
END OF THE SLAVE TRADE IN EGYPT.
KHARTOUM, JUNCTION OF THEl
BLUE AND WHITE NILES, AFRICA,
Eah 10 1870

KHARToUM, JUNCTION OF THE)
BLUE AND WHITE NILES AFRICA,
Feb. 13, 1872
Sir Samuel Bakers expedition to the sources OF
the Nile is the most important enterprise In the
history OF modern Africa. 1t means the civilization
Of Ethiopia and the gift Of new and fruitful con-
thent to all mankind. Regarding his undertaking
In this light, l came from Cairo to the Soudan
anxious to learn his situation, for in lower Egypt
the elephant hunter Of Ceylon and the dscovercr OF
the Albert Nyanza had been reported slaughtered
by his own command. As ! have written in former
letter to the HERALD, he is safe, having arrived at
GondokOrO with 500 men, two steamers and sixty
boats, containing his provisions and supplies. or
Sir Samuel have taken great pains to inquire here
where he is well known and where he has many
valued friends and few enemies. lie began his
career as bold hunter and traveller In India,
where he was an officer in the Indian army and the
most famous shot on the peninsula. The ring OF
his rifle has been heard in many an elephant
Jungle, and he can boast as among his captured
game larger and wilder animals than even the most
mendacious traveller has ever dared to claim. lie
was engaged for some time In Turkey and Hungary
with railroad matters, believe, after which he
came to Africa and entered upon his celebrated trip
up theAtbara River, where he learned Arabic and
became schooled to the seventies Of the African
climate. His second expedition revealed to the
world the sister basin to the Victoria Nyanza,
which he has so well described In his own volumes.
Returning to Egypt, he was offered command of the
present expedition, which indeed was of his own
conception and organization, and for over two
years he has been moving his men and supplies
through the deadly malaria of the White Nile.
LADY BAKER.
II Sir Samuel Bakers character and perseverance
were not so absolutely grand, would be called
upon to depreciae his character, when it is re-
liz,
tudes that heroic woman, Lady Baker, has accom-
panied him and cheered him. No woman OF modern
times has been exposed to the same dangers; has
assisted in such valuable geographical discoveries,
and has behaved with such masculine courage.
Among the savagery of the Atbara she lived a tent
life, exposed to the twin enemies, wild beasts and
wild men, elephants and lions infuriated by the
sword hunters OF Abyssinia, and the Bari negroes,
who threatened them night by night. On
the Upper Nile she nursed her dying husband, laid
low with fever, and by turns commanded the
men In the expedition, either by kindly
persuasion determined Of the
revolver. To escape the base purposes Of the
savages about the Nyanza, she preferred to die by
poison, and having escaped this end, she returned
to suffer from a terrible equatorial sun stroke.
Yet despite such an experience Lady Baker has re-
turned to Africa to again visit country Of which
two wordy volumes, by Mr.. and Mrs. Piethgrick,
has made marshy cemetery. She has as much
beauty as courage. OF Hungarian origin, she pos
sesses the handsome traits OF her fair country
women and an English love for adventure and field
sports. She is now about thirty years OF age demi-
blonde, has regular features and a soft expression
OF countenance. She does not find aniability in
compatible with rigorous rule. SIT Samuel Is about
forty-fve years OF age. lie Is the prototype Of
Admiral Porter. lie was named Pacha by the
present Sultan for his successful African expora-
tions.
DEPARTURE FROM KHARToUM.
In February 1870, Sir Samuel and lady left Khar-
toum with their large squadron, accompanied by
his nephew and Mr.. Hgginbottom, chief engineer,
ind six other engineers. He arrived near the
mouth OF the Lobat in March, where he was COM
PEELED to remain until November, 1870. lie built q
station and provided his troops with quarters; but
many OF his troops died, the largest number being
Egyptian. But few Of the black soldiers perished,
because they were recruited from the contiguous
countries Baker found great difficulty as he en-
tered the
DoHR- -EL-GHARGAL.
This Is part OF the Nile overgrown with
reeds for $50 niles. The river is densely clogged
this whole distance. and Is stagnant and malarlal
In order TO prope boat it Is necessary to cut away
the reeds with axes and drag the bark ahead
with ropes. These swamps are flied with birds
beasts and reptiles and the vegetation multiplics
with discouraging rapidity.
IMPORTATION REGARDING THE EXPEDITION.
All the Information have received from the ex-
pedition has been obtained from two officers and
one man, who have Just come down from Condo
koro. They say that Baker was three months in
dragging his steamer through these reeds, and that
II took 1000 men to get 1t into the clear Nile. Many
soldiers died on the way from fever Achmed
Efend, q captain who called to see me by dlrec.
ton OF the Governor-Gencral, looked very badly,
and had returned quite exhausted. major also
called, and exhibited his legs bearing marks OF the
Guinea worm. This plague comes from bad water
taken into the system. The water Of the White
Nile is undrinkabe. When
THE EXPEDITION ARRIVED AT GoNDoKoRo
Then tried to push on to the lakes, but the Bari
would not do his porteragc The reader should re-
member that there are neither donkeys nor camels
IN this country, and that all baggage Is borne on
lhe backs OF the natives. The Bari is O savage
HiDe, frequently outraged by the traders and
nehce IKE "the poor Indlann Is dislnclined to be-
heVe inc white. Baker summoned the negro chiefs
oi the Bari nation to his camp and demanded nor.
ters' Inc chiefs promised TO supply the men; but
When they LEFT Sir samuel's command they were
treacherous to their compact. They had promised
him cattle and supplies, but straghtway they
moved everything beyond his reach. A few miles
from Gondokoro warlike section Of this tribe was
sheltered in q rocky fastness.
FIGHT WITH THE NATIVES.
BAKER Pacha determined to pay the savages o