New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-09-01
SIR SAMUEL BAKERS EXPEDITION.

reference I'd Jne aspiring 'hai"NVO' VI "io
Khedive of Egypt, evidences OF which are
constantly coming to light. We have one
dating from the year 1871, which, II 1t qua MOI
then attract much attention, Is now calculated
to do 30 from a knowledge of the magnitude
of the interests affected. The trade III
African slaves, which depended for its supply
on the extensive territory situated between the
borders of Egypt and the country about Aan-
zibar. which is unexplOred except by the slave
hunters, afforded the Khedive an opportunity
for promoting his territorial interests and &C
curing at the same time a reputation for
philanthropic inclinations. Without the In
fiuence of more civilized nations, the slave
hunters of the Nile would not merely have
been left to their infamous practices, but the
Egyptian Government itself would have super
intended the hunting Of slaves, as it did in the
days of tho Khedives predecessors.
Among the explorers of the Nile regions
who have helped to form the sentiment OF
civilized countries against the save-hunters
of the Nile, is Sir Samuel Baker, an English
traveller, who has contributed no lncon-
siderable amount of influence. The Khedive,
who coveted the territory south of the
Soudan, conceived the idea of conciiating the
Anti-Slavery advocates at the same time
that he was promoting his scheme of terri
torial ACKNOWLEDGMENT. Sir Samuel Baker was
made pasha, granted salary OF
$4,000, and commissioned to suppress the
slave .rade and conquer and annex to Egypt
territory at his discretion. To assist him i'll
his expedition be was given an army of LOO
men, and the further promise was made that
he should be reimbursed for all the expenses
which he might incur. After surrounding
numerous obstacles and escaping formidable
dangers, he is now on his way to the Egyptian
capital to report the result of his expedition.
From a statement which Sir Samuel Baker
has made of his labOrs we find that his devo-
ton to the interests of his employer was not
exceled by his attachment TO the humani-
tartan cause which he had espoused On the
contrary, so greatly is he elated with the con-
temptation of what he has accomplished, that
he thus expressed himself: :" can only thank
"God most sincerely that we have overcome
" all opposition, and succeeded IN the main
"Objects Of the expeditiOn-the suppression
" of the slave-trade, and the annexation OF
the Central Nile basin to Egypt" If, Of the
two distinct purposes which he thus undertook
to carry out, he has been so successful, as he
asserts, in regard to the first he is deserving
of unlimited commentator. His story can
be told in few words. Most of the slavers
were under the command of scoundrel
named Aboo Saood, who had instigated Kabba
Rega, the chief of UnyorO, to oppose the
expedition. On the journey to Unyoro, Baker
induced the native chiefs through whose terri
tory he passed to submit to the khedlves
Government, although it does not appear that
they were implicated in the slave traffic.
Their country was occupied by portions of his
troops, and he pursued his march Having
arrived at Masindi, Kabba Rega's capital, that
chief professed allegiance to the Sultan, and
Baker formally took possession of the coun-
try, and the captured slaves were liberated.
Owing to the treacherOus conduct of that
chef a conflict of seven days subsequently
ensued, after which the forces of Kabba R6ga
were defeated and their chief was deDosed. Other
engagements followed with the slavers, who had
urged Baker to hostility, and they were put
to flight, although of the band composed of
1 1900 men, only 43 were taken prisoners, and
no exceedingly large number was killed. All
of the stores of the slavers fell into the hands.
of the expeditiOnary forces, and the camp of
the slavers was entirely destroyed.
Sir Samuel Baker then regarded his work as
accomplished, and began to retrace his steps.
Ii will be premature at present to express any
decided opinion respecting the success OF his
mission. This will depend largely on the
capacity Of the Khediye's Government to gar
rison the conquered territory, and his own
disposition to prevent a renewal of the slave
trade. Of the two undertakings, we are dis
posed to regard the annexation of territory as
more certain of q permanent solution. 1t may
be that in this prospect we are to place our
hope of a termination of the slave trade. In
regard to question of minor Importance con-
nected with the expedition, we do not partake
of Sir Samuel Bakers exuberant anticipa-
tons. HIS statement that the Albert Nyanza
is one sheet of water including the Tanganyika
Lake is directly opposed to the theory of Dr.
Livingstone. The latter has personally ex-
plored the region to the northern extremity of
Tanganyika Lake, while Baker, who went no
further toward the south than the equator,
over hundred miles north of the region
visited by DR.. Livingstone, depends entirely
on the stories of natives for his statement.
The untrustworthy character of such testimony
is too well known to require any demonStra-
ton.
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