, 1888-12-29
Arab SIaVerS in
Uganda.

from the Rev. P6re Lourdpl, one Of the
Roman Catholic missionaries in Uganda,
gives "a very vivid picture of how the
slave traffic is carried on in Central Africa,
and how the Arab slaverS have been incit-
ing the weak-minded King of Uganda
against English and Germans alike. This
conduct may to some extent account for
the events which have led to the Joint aC-
ton of England and Germany in East
Africa. Moreover, P9re Lourdel is able to
give news from Emin Pasha up to April
last.
These Arab S%lavprS, the P4re states, re-
side for a part Of the year az the Court of
MwangA, to purchase the slaves which the
King causes to be- hunted and captured ti-
their in his own territories or in those Of
his nrighbour~. He often sends out ON
these Slavc-raid~ armies of several thou
sane men. AT too frequent Intervals the
missionaries, to THEN grlef, scethrSc> ictori-
cas- armies returning, driving before them
troops of slaves, often 5000 or 1000 at a
single time. The King selects those he
wants to keep for himself or to distribute
among his great chiefs, and sends the rest
TO the MOSlPm NIaVr.dealprS, who sweep
them all Oft, either to sell them on the
coast to the dealers who supply the Arab.
AN market or to dispose OF them in Upper
Egypt. Il is a profitable business, which
enrich s the Arah. ~SlaverS and at the same
time prOcureS tOI King MWauga all that he
requires for extending his territory, con.
firming his power. ard multiplying his
slaves and his victimS-namrly, arms and
powder. THESE Arabs are, of course, fear
ed and drteStcd 10y the natives among
whom they live, bur AZ the same time their
power over the weak MWanga is immense.
They constantly im>til INTO him suspicious
IN to the projects of Europeans and mis-
Si0narieS, and that with only too much sue.
cess. When, PGrr Lou,drl states, Mr..
Gordon, the successor of Mr.. Mackay in
the English mission, arrived, the Arabs
translated Il long letter to the King in
Arabic in which he was informed of
the resolution which The European
Powers had taken to "eat0 up all
the country of The blacks. The Germans
we've To lake the Whole region between the
ZaIzilAr coast and ~Unyanyemh6, the Eng
fish Uganda and all he neighbouring couu-
tIicS. Mr. Gordon, according to I6re LOur-
del, bltuGhI a present for Bishop palker, and
a letter stating that he had not come to
avcnge the death OF Bishop Harrington,
but TO instruct his people. Mwanga was
extremely Initiated, and told Mr.. Gordon
he would be regarded as a prisoner and a
hostage in case OF the reported design of
the Europeans. If the English attacked
UGANDA or aSSailtd Mwanga's ''merchan-
die" on the coast, Mr.. Gordon would be
killed. He sent a letter to Bishop Parker
demanding guns and powder as evidence
Of bis good will inside the letter he put
some ashes as IA declaration Of war. Turn
ing to his people, he cried, in a voice trem-
bling with rage, "DO You see how this
white insults me to my face Hoot him;
insult him !" And all the Court hurled
the greatest insults in the face of poor
Mr.. Gordon. The intentions ascribed by
Inc King to the whites make him fear a
war as imminent. "Buy guns and pow
der he tells all his people; and his chiefs
protest they will defend him to the last
drop of their blood, and that, though the
whites come from all quarters, they will
be exterminated. But the great danger
at Uganda and Central Africa is not from
the reported intentions or the whites, but
from the actual doingS of the Arabs. Ac-
%companied by all that is worst OH the
coast, they are at present t1ocking towards
Victoria Nyanza, and especially towards
Uganda. Pere LOurdel thinks there is
room for believing that these Arabs have
really some great design for conquest.
What is certain is that they do every thing
: y THAR pQySer to render the whites hated