The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-05-02
AN AFRICAN KING.
Emln Bey Has Become an Independent POtentats
1.-THE Spectator.I


1.-THE Spectatorl
Originally German Jew, devoted to science
and investigation, he has become in reality an
independent sovereign, and, having turned
Mussulman, he'rules the great region intrusted
to him with absolute authority. His 1900
black regulars have settled and married in the
land, and will never, he says return to Egypt
by their own consent He himself lives like
an Asiatic, which, no doubt, by blood he is !;
and he has formed negro army so well disci-
plined that it has defeated even the fanatic
soldiers sent from Khartoum. He has herds of
cattle and focks of sheep, his supplies of grain
are more than ample, and he is accommodating a
stock of ivory which, if the road to the north
ward ever opens may bring him great wealth,
in the European sense. He is, in truth, an
African sovereign, and as his authority consol-
idates itself, and that of the Mahdi dies away
under the blows it is sustaining from the west
ward, he may hope to stretch his dominion
from the Albert NyanZa northward to Khar-
toum. Having renowned Judaism and quilted
civilization for years, he can be little tempted
to quit that position and return to the less
varied life of an almost penniless student of
natural history in Berlin. There is no reason
to doubt his statement that he will never desert
his followers, and that if he leaves his kingdom
he will carry with him 5000 souls, thousands
of them women and children. To march south
ward with that cavalcade, through the awful
| forest of the Aruwhimi to the Congo, or east
ward to the Zanzibar coast, would be des-
perate attempt, nor is there anything to be ex-
pected from the settlement which, if he retreats,
he must form in some new region to draw him
from the banks of the Nile, where he is Prince
and whence he may in time communicate easily
with Germany by the Suakin route. European
journalists, in discussing such parsonage are
apt TO assume that cultivated European must
always be longing for Europe. and this was
clearly SANKEY'S own idea; but we doubt that
it is always the case. Almost all Europeans
detest the tropics but every now and then in
India in Cambodia, in China, and in tropical
America European is to be found whom moth
ing would indnce to return to the tanner life of
Europe, and who finds in the society of the
inferior races never ending charm. a natur-
alist has always occupation for his intellect,
power has attractions for ali strong minds, and
Emin Pasha though, if we may trust biog-
| raphy which has every sign of truth, he has
| joined the long list of renegades from higher
| to a lower faith-for though Judaism is not
| Christianity. it is a loltier faith than Islam
| may feel that in partly civilizing great At
rican kingdom he is doing great work. That
is the impression we derive from his own ac-
count in the latest letters published, and there
| is no reason why it should not be true. We are
not all alike or all convinced that fifty years Of
Europe is better than cycle of Cathay; and to
foand dynasty on the upper Nile may seem
TO Emin Pasha far more attractive work than
to lecture in university which has forgotten
him on tropical beasts and birds. Anyhow he
had, when Stanley left him, elected to stay
where be is, one of the most noteworthy figures
which even this age of separate personages has
produced. Savants are common enough, and
savants with love of exploration. but the ad-
venturer who obtains crown, or the power of
a crowned head over defined territory, is rare.