New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-09


at Waterloo Then, too, the ammunition OF the
expedition would certainly give out lons before
the thousands and tens of thousands of the Nasal
wore exhausted In the circumstances. Dr. Peters
believed that there was hut one feasible plan'
and that was very literally to carry the war into
Africa. With him to conceive was to execute
and when the Nasal attacked, after driving them
hack with a few voleys, he left Tiedemann IN
charge of the camp with part of the men, and
himself led the rest into the open, and in turn
attacked the savaaes Not only that, but he
charged upon and took Eljebet, their capital,
Numbered and then burned it, and drove off their
herds
Evidently the Nasal had no efficient leaders
and this was the main cause of their weakness.
The deadly fire of the repeating rifles. moreover,
them, and though the destruction
of their kraals and the loss of their cattle In
furiated them greatly, and though they followed
and hung about the lire Of march in clouds, after
the first severe combat they were unable to oppose
further effective resistance. The passage through
Masai-land was nevertheless most harassin9 ana
fatiguing labor. Perpetual vigilance by night and
day was necessary, and DR.. Peters neglected no
precaution. His camp could not be surprised
for he had a regular sentinel system. and he Wis
tied the sentres himself at short intervals. Inc
battles with the Nasal proved his salvauon'
moreover, for thenceforth his commsSariat was as
sured and the prestige of his column became such
that wherever lie went the natives bowed down
before him. The man who had defeated the most
formidable fighters in East Africa could have what
ever he wanted from inferior tribes. But Dr.
Peters owed something also to his intleXible rule
that no native insolence should be put up with.
Whenever he was treated insolcntly he punished
4 Al, l,a1
successfully the mere snow Of resolution being
enough for the natives, who construe all suomlS-
sion as proof of fear and weakness. and shrink
before determined front. After the Nasal had
been beaten, Dr. Peters had skirmishcs with sew
eral tribes, but for the most part few shots were
sufficient to scatter the assailants and make them
sue for peace The Leilsipa plateau proved to be
the conclusive battle-ground of the expedition,
and thence to the Baringc Lake and oil to the
Victoria Nyanza territory was comparatively easy
travelling
As he advanced toward Nyanza strange rumors
began to be encountered. II was asserted by
the natives that Emin Pacha had left the Equa-
torial Province and gone to the coast. DR.. Peters
refused TO believe this, and went on to the
English station of Kwa SunJcr Here he was hos
pitably received bv Ali Somal, in charge of the
station, and here, too, according TO his own show
ing he did an ineXcusable thing in reading GER
tain dispatches written to members OF their own
company by officers of the British East African
Company these dispatches having been sent to the
station to be transmitted farther. The fact that
Mr. Mackay's and other letters were laid before
him by 1.-THE acting official chief of the English
station mere subterfuge, since it is clear that
he took Unfair advantage of the ignorance OF
that official, who evidently had no idea OF the
nature of the relations between Dr. Peters and The
English company. 1t is plain enough that he him
self does not feel altogether easy this transac
ton though he tries to brazen il out weakly enough
The information thus received, however, was Of
value. for it put him in possession Of the existing
state of affairs in Uganda, where M'wanga son Of
lPTesa. had been driven from the throne by
Karcma. Now Mwanga, though he had formerly
prosecuted the Christians, had come to be their
sole dependence. for Karema was allied with the
Mahometan element. and his success meant the
prompt extinction of Christianity. 1t was mani
testify the policy of Germany to help the Chris
tians, and DIR. Peters resolved that If the reports
of Emn Pacha's departure were confirmed he
would respond TO M'wangas requests for aid to re-
cover his throne.
AT last lie received SANKEY'S letter which an
nounced the abandonment of the Equatorial
PROVINCE ana lilc WIlHuIdNdl VI I>ullu IdCild 10
the coast. At first this news fairly stunned him.
The main object of the expedition was thus a
failure. lie soon rallied, however and resolved
to go at once to Uganda and ASSIST Mwanga. He
was the more easily persuaded to this course
because he had learned that Jackson, the leader
OF an English expedition, had been repeatedly
solicited to help Muanga and had declined to do
So alleging an insufficient force, though he had a
thoueoOd rnuclxofe in his poluntp AooorIinO IN
Dr. Peters, who is, of course by no means an I'M
prejudiced witness, the English prestige in Uganda
persisted, and German influence came to prevail
at the court of M'wanga AS the final arrange
ment between England and Germany placed
Uganda in the sphere Of the former the labor Of
DR.. Peters seems to have bean thrown away. and
his treaties with MwaNga to have lost their
validity. He cannot, therefore, be blamed for
taking q somewhat acrid view Of things, or for
speaking with sharpness about the people who
superseded him and nullilcd all his diplomacy
At the court Of M'wanga, indeed, he encountered
opposition from what he calls /" the English party,
represented by the Prime Minister who, if, as
here alleged, he treated Dr. Peters insolenty, most
unquestionably received back as good as he gave
The Doctor, with all his good qualities, does APP
pear TO have had an ticking for degree OF
severity, both in speech and correspondence, which
in what are commonly called civilized communi-
ties lis apt to appear brutal Perhaps circum-
stances alter cases far that on the dark CONT
nent language is admissible which would not be
tolerated elsewhere; but the point is nice one
and not TO be determined with undue haste.
DR.. Peters made stay of some weeks with
M'wanga, and when not engaged in diplomacy
studied the people 1.-THE Amasuga and the coun-
try. lie sees ground for suspectng that Egypt, al
very early period had communication with
Uganda, and his arguments on this head will bG
tOuNd suggestive and interesting, though, OF
course, merely tentative. Eventually he agreed
10 assist Mwanga by putting down and forcing
tribute from certain rebelious tribes on the
shores of the Victoria Nyanza, and this mission
he was enabled TO carry out without any blood
shed and with little difficulty of any kind. Or
the great lake he became acquainted with many
of the members of the Catholic missions mostly
French and Geman). When, however, he declare.