The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-15
EXPLORATION IN AFRICA.
Colonel GordOn's Expedition
Marching in the Desert.
The Gloomy CaValcade Hailed Old
Dealer Arrested.


IlBerba, Tropical Africa Jan. 1a), correspondence
OF London Times.l
onward we march through the desert and ind
that we are near the spot wheraa few years ago a
whole battalion OF infantry persisted through Its
colonel not following the guides advice ana not
hating at the proper watering places. The result
was the men found themselves tortured with the
pangs OF thirst and without anything to drink In
their water SKINS The scene that followed was
fearful. The soldiers lett the ranks, disobeying
the commands OF their officers, and ran here and
there over the desert, attracted by the mirage,
which, giving the appearance OF lakes and crystal
streams TO the burnt ground Immediately before
the poor fellows enticed them still further on to-
ward destruction. Only five or six eventually
escaped and arrived at their destination with the
colonel Of the battalion through whose obstinacy
this fearful tragedy had occurred. He was tried
by court martial and sentenced to be banished to
che Blue Nile-a very light sentence, considering
the hundreds OF lives sacrificed to his folly.
Our guide, who as q rule was not at all In
clined to make any long marches, here hurried US
on: for there were no wells, he said, to be met
with for iorty-elghr honrs, and the water our
camels carried was being rapidly evaporated by
the heat. He also proposed that we should con-
tinue our march throughout the night, so to
reach Berba the more quickly.
CHE SETTING SUN SHINING ON A SLAVE CARAVAN.
The sun had long set when Mr.. Marcopoli and
Mr.. Russell, who were riding some distance ahead
OF the party heard the sounds OF an approaching
caravan. Very strange; said the former, What
can 1t have lett Berpa late 1or?'' Arabs, as
rule, DO not like like travelling by night when
there Is no moon. Presently Il lew dark outlines
OF camels doomed in sight through the dusky at.
mosphere, and we came lace to face with some
wei-dressed Arab merchants, behind whom
marched. In little bands OF Jour and i've. number
oil Toys amt girls, whose ages averaged about
ten 10 sixteen years. linen some mure came IL,
ZONE OF them carrying two and three young girls;
long WHIPS ana swarthy Nublans, armed With
spears closed the cavaicide. "LGttLns q tetGOna''
o r. ts wn saw my e0mpion to ns
1--WE are ell pilgrims, and are on our wny to Jedda,
w Suakln," was tue answer gwen in an under.
tone 10 Mr.. MarcopOltS Interrogation. The latter
continued his pain Tor two or three minutes, APP
parentiy buried IN deep thought. Suddenly he
exclaimed They are not pilgrims. Boys and
girls 40 not go to Mecca. 1t Is slave caravan.
Now, what is to be doaeY We are only ten hours
from Berba. Shall we hasten on and inform the
Governor that. IN spite OF the stringent orders
gwen BY the KGedive and the endeavos of colonel
Gordoni the Interior the slave traders are laugh
Or shall we return and ..E.F
MI, TAKE TEE SLAVE TRADERS OURSELVES"
me Aforementioned course or action was thought
to be the best one; and, hastily loading our re.
lvolvers. we turned our isded beasts and trorted
came up with 1t, ana Mr.. Marcopoli, accosting the
enief merchant told him that MS statement about
Tor they were slaves, aud lhat in the name OF His
Highness the Khedive ne (Mr. MarcopolD arrested
authority to dstain me S' was the reply OF the man
addressed. wno now seemed thoroughly fright.
the Sovernmens said trader e riding No 10 the
aide Of the leader Of the Caravan. "ll they are
sasd out h1a where are your "ssa
believe they are robbers" shouted another.
onr soGers are close Sy a Mr.
with the main body OF our pArty.) "Wel,o said
the cniei merchant. alter muttering somethin: in
ease Will accompany YOU anu II you really have
soldiers WY tnsn you cen return for the re.
dealers not escape with the slaves II we leave
themP" inquired. mo-" said Mr.. Marcos poll;
and, at all events, we have the chief merchant as
We soon fell in with our caravan. and desired
ARREST THE MERCHANT.
1t appeared, however. that they were old &C.
Quaintances; Tor, after salutlng each other, they
even by our pOlygloJ Italian friend. 100 and
bring the resi- OF this mans caravan here" was
the order next given, land take him with YOU but
do not let the fellow escape on any account; upon
your heads be w."
dlers came back and said that the merchant had
escaped, favored by the darkness. ale has
Gribed you 30 let him CO." was our answer. and
search or the slave dealer and his party But the
night was very dark. and alter aoOut an hours
irultess search we had to give up tue attempt.
"Never mind" said MarcOpoli, .the man Will
never be aOie TO eflace the tracks OF himself ana
party ana an Arab guide can distinguish the
prints OF MS own camel from u hundred others
We viii make forced march tomorrow TO Beroa
and ask the Governor to SEND some soldiers
mounted on drOmedaries In pursuit They Will
pyertaGe the caravan before II arrives at the next
wells; and, Ii the soldiers are not to be bought
over by bribe as our fellows have beef we sail
see the whole party brought back to Berba before
We leave Tor khartOum.n
A GOVERNORS OPINION OF THE SLAVE TRAFFIC..
The Governor, who received us very Hospitality,
could at first hardly be induced TO believe MI.
MAJ
caravan "Qute impossible" he SAID; 'yucn q
Thing could not happen within the limits OF my
authority" "But ~ has happened" Moderated
his informant, land they nave already twenty
iour hours start Senu out some soldiers on
HIomeaares nineaiately ana tell tue onicer II ne
noes NOT bring the caravan BACK that you know
the reason why he has not done sO-namelv. that
ne mas accepted bride from the merchants. It Is
zoo pad when not only Europeans but hundreds Of
your own countryIen, under Colonel Gordon, are
sacrihclng their lives to put down the slave trade
on the white Nile that the dealers should, IN spite
VI the VIceroy's rigorous orders, carry on their
trade almost under your nose"
rus last remark apparently quite convinced the
Governor, VINO said soldiers should Instantly be
uespatcned. and yesterday, to our great sarisfac.
Drought back TO Berba. We went to see them in
me afternoon, and II any enc WAC disbeieves In
Judge Tor himself he would have been speedily un.
deceived. Twenty boys, with eighteen women
mar markod Vim me 81 ' Of ,s9
she hoorodtch, wnicn had been reIentlessy applied
~ the merchants when the poor WORKOUT victims
saDu-wese living witnesses OF
THE BRuTAIIiIEs WHICH BAD BEEN ENACTED.
Some had their CHEEKS Scared with the knife to
brand them as tue property Of a particular
owner We are informed by the officer In charge
that when the wretched captves found That they
we're Tres ana their masters prisoners III the
hands Of the soldiers, some OF theIn showing their
torn ieet and 1ayed aides 20 the captured rns0as,
cursed them or all the crueliies tney had perpe.
rated and could with difficulty be restrained by
the guard from rel altatIng on their former pcrse
eutors "Ihe retaliation will come soon enough,
Tor All the slave dealers VIII be shot," SAID on old
Arab captain, IN reply to my inquiry IA TO what
punishment awaited them.
'THE yiCEE0Y's Orders
are very strict III this particular" nope That in
the instance just mentioned they viii not be a.
lowed To remain dead letter and tue merchants
De permitted, alter n lew weeks inpris0nment, 10
retnfn 10 their oI vocation with more experience