The Cecil Whig., 1885-06-13
The river ran very near the palace where
Ali was lodged.
lie INDIAN OCEAN EXPEDITION.

pect." Doubtless the Government was
waiting for Gordon to move southwark
to the lakes to cooperate with me. Cor
don did not move. In the meantime the
supply of coal was nearly exhausted
and McKillop became alarmed for the
safety of his ships. He decided to send
the despatch boat Tantah to Zanzibar,
AID wrote the Sultan very polite letter
asking for the privilege of purchasing
coal. Much to our surprise, the Tantah
returned in a few days laden with 200
tons and literally crammed to overflow
with pneapples, cocoanuts, mangoes.
oranges, lemons and lines, sufficient to
feast our whole command for week.
The Sultan wrote:
u send you the coal you ask for to
take you out Of my country forever, YOU
AID your sailors aud soldiers, ard say
this also TO the commandant at Juba. |
am the brother of Ismail. Why should
he treat me thus? Go, and peace be with
you. BARGAsH BIN SAID,
In the first days of January perempto-
r. orders were received to abandon the
country and return to Egypt. 1t was
then only we learned of the catastrophe
to the expedition first under Ahrend,up
and subsequently under Ratib Pacha in
Abyssinia. The fatal error lad been
made of confiding the command to Ratib
rather than to that experienced and gal
liant American soldier, w. w. Loring.
Had it been done, Ismail might still have
been upon the throne of Egypt, for the
failure in Abyssiria and the Indian Ocean
expedition contributed much to complete
the ruin of the Khedive. Gen. Gordon,
then governor-general of the Equatorial
provinces, inspired and planned the ex-
petition, as may be seen by tho follow
ing memorandum addressed me at Lardc,
my headquarters, and which l found on
my return from the Mann MAN expedi-
tion. 1t is dated Lardo, February, 1875:
| My DEAR LONG: Experience has shown
that communication between Gondocora
|
Steamers cannot make more than three
| trips between Gondocora and Khartoum
per annum. Wood is not plentiful, and
will soon be scarce in vicinity of river.
Price Of coal puts it out of question. A
route from Mombas Bay Qndian OCEAN,
to advanced Egyptian posts is 200 to 400
miles. Once opened, firm hold would
be es' ablished On the rich and promising
land South Of Gondocoro. North of Con-
docoro as far as Khartoum the country
consists of wretched marshes, never like
ly from pernicious climate to be OF any
value. Inhabitants of the central dis
trict much more Intelligent ard civilized
and likely to prove valuable subjects to
II. H., who has already considered the
question. It would entail small cost,
viz, a steamer to Mambas Bay, with
small, well-assorted quantity of stores
and 200 black soldiers taken from bateau
destined for those parts. Zanzibar being
near could supply any petty wants, and 1
should work toward the sea. Profound
secrecy til! complete realization of project
for political reasons should II. II. ap-
prove. Wish the expedition to be con-
sidered as belonging to my maAmoWr
(governmenD. l have written II. H.
warmly recommending you as the proper
officer TO command the expedition.
G. G.. GORDON.
HOW GEN. GORDON WROTE TO \ FRIEND.
1t will be interesting to cite the follow
ing unpublished letter sent me immedi.
ately before my return down the Nile.
1t runs thus:
LARDo, 3th March, 1875.
f My DEAR LONG: Delayed by the get
/ ting aground continually of the Khedive,
l was overtaken by Telataween at Bohr
Between this and Bohr, however, found
Gessi had sent up the Sophia with let
, ters Ga great waste, for she might have
towed up boats). She also was aground
l took Watson out of the Telataween anG
put him in the Sophia, which descended
in company with Khedive, and l sent OF
p the Talataween (the khcdiVe is slow
, draws too much water, and is about the
worst and most uncom Portable vessel
, ever was inl.
: Your decoration and firman has comt
with letters also for you. Inquire a
: office. Russell went to Cairo about e5(
: l gave him for his passage home, bother
ed Stanton for an appointment to sucf
an extent that Stanton asked Khedive tt
send him back to me, which Khedive die
5 and gave him an advance of e15O, O
which my friend Russell had e5 when h,
: got to Sanbat. He therefore has received
$40 passage out of Cairo; 600 pay il
Khartoum; e25 subsistence to Cairo; 60;
Il passage to England; $50 advance OF
!, pay; e535 in year. Now what to d.
: with this useless fellow whom l do no
Il like at all If sent him to Sanbat hat
Marco there, and Marco was and is wortl
V fifty Russels. If sent him to Bohr, o
: Rol or Moroka to reside what would h.
Il do except bother the poor Mudirs. |
would not be fair to send him to Chip
pendale to bore him Iinant is ordered
back by Khcdive). SO had either t.
leave him to bore Gessi and Raouf; o
I two, to bore me: or three, to send him t.
. Fashoda to spy the slave trade. So
L sent him to Fashoda. There he can d
Il no harm, and he cannot spend money a
IL be would If sent to Khartoum, and h
3 certainly, by his mere presence, will b
Il a check on Gusef Bey. gave him 81
y month for his subsistence. Ibrahir
: Eff incurred my wrath at Sanbat, an
Z down lie went to khartoum for good; S
y your prophecy was true.
could not get up to Nassr on accoun
y of the state of river. l am much please,
q with Marco. You will see c. and p
: appointments are only exploratory expe
" ditions and are not bit for the slav
n trade evidence, vide Stones letter to me
II Wat-el-Mek murdered a sheikh at FAT
: ba. He will be either hung or imprsone
u for life. Gormu Mudir of Duffle and til
: Mudir of Fatko lose their places for no
70 reporting this to me.
II My own movements are to 60 to Rego
II tomorrow, the 10th, with my stores, an
= then arrange for my voyage up country
y Iezpect to spend rainy season at Lahore