Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-14


compilations of African geography pub
lished in England. Not through ME. how
ever. | am no mora responsible for this
than the man in the mcon--if there Is
one. Stanley wrote and printed much
unkind criticism Of other African ex-
plorers besides Col. L.Ong-even of myself
and my own opinions. 1t was Stanley's
way
Believe me- there is no desire in Eng
lish geographical circles to be unfair to
sire in my own mind. If Col. Long thinks
he has received insufficient justice at our
or highlands. I shall be delighted TO
assist him. A good opportunity offers
we celebrate the flftieth anniversary OF
Spekes discovery Of the Nile sources.
This would he a most appropriate occa-
sion on which to establish the right place
in Nile exploration Of Col Chaille-Long;
and if he will permit me to be his advo-
references / will endeavor to see that
justice is done to him on this side of the
Atlantic.
Any communication to that effect should
reach me before October H. as after that
date I am going abroad for a short time.
I am. your obedient servant.
II. Fl. JOHNSTON.
Franklin A. Wagner, esq, Councillor at
Law. New York.
Offer Is Accepted.
A representative OF The Star called upon
Col. Chail!eLong to learn what answer
he had made to the letter of his sue
cessor in Uganda. And Col. Chaille-Long
replied that promptly on reading Sir Har-
ry Johnston's letter he had accepted his
overtures
Il wrote Sir Harry" said the colonel,
that 1 should have mauvaise grace did
I not welcome his courteous expressions
of good will, on his part, and that OF his
geographical circles. I accepted with cor
my cause at the fiftieth anniversary in
honor Of Spekes discovery of the Vic
toria NyanZa, and agree with him that
the occasion would be most appropriate
on which to establish my place in Nile
exploration. I sent him copies OF Cor
don's letter. published in the bulletins of
the American Geographical Society of
New York as corroborative documents.
IL expressed surprise at the hostile at
titude of the geographical circles in Eng
land toward me maintained during these
many years. 1 had complained to my
most intimate friends. the late Sir Bartle
Frere. Sir Samuel Baker and Sir Richard
Burton. and the latter with the knowl-
edge Of Col. Grants letter in the London
Times of January 30, 1876, protesting
against the annexation of Uganda by
Egypt wrote me from Trieste, October
Is. 1879: Push Alcock about changing
decency. There are courtesies among ex-
plorers. or there ought to be-
I'm another. sent me TO Corea, dated
November 4. 1888. Burton said:
You will have no chance of public
recognition for your great part of the
work in the solution of the Nile source
problem. You have' Grant against you,
who hates his idol to be touched by a
Society will be interested in anything you
do about Corea. but they will not have
Africa stirred up.
with reference to Sir Harry's statement
that Sir Henry Stanley. who did not write
kindly of me- might have been responsible
for deprecia tons which had crept into
compila tons Of African geography pub
iished In England, I thought that it was
possible.
"As for the statement that Sir Harry
makes that he has given a brief but not
| unfair description OF my achievements in
the region OF the equatorial Nile, it is a
palpable error, demonstrated by the fact
of the telegram addressed in September.
1876. to the Egyptian government, by Gen.
Gordon, which I communicated to the
American Geographical Society. as will
be seen by reference to the journal OF
that society. vol. III. 1876. p. SOB:
"'Signor Piaggia corroborates the dis
covery Of Lake Ibrahim by Long. The
lake has fifty miles in width and a great
branch which goes out to the north is
| either the Assua or the sanbat-Gordon-
Besides it is susceptible Of proof that
Piaggia never visited the Nile referred to
| until 1875. I discovered the lake in 1874.
Sir Harry's remark about the definite
discovery Of Lake kioga (which is Lake
Ibrahim) is an error which he will doubt
less recognize when his attention Is di-
rected to the declaration of the council
OF the r. G. S. dated July I. 1881. which
attributed to me the priority Of the dis
covery of Lake Ibrahim in 1874.
"ln my letter, too lengthy for reproduc-
ton in extenso. took Sir Harry into my
confidence to fmpart the motive which led
to my Involuntary service with Gordon,
which has apparently been very much
misunderstood in England. say invol-
untary, because Ismail khedive, surnam-
ed The Magnificent was in 1874 at the
apogee of. his power and magniticence.
Cairo was superb. and Italian opera and
French comedy added to a thousand other
| attractions. FL Kahirah. the City of the
Victorious. in the language of the man
of Mosul. was the pearl of the orient
and 'Misr's soil was gold, the women en-
from my memoirs which l am preparing
for publica ton:
Commissioned by Khedive.
AT am. February 20. 1874. was re-
ceived at Abdn palace in private audi
ence by Ismail khedive, who said: You
have been chosen by me as Col. Gordon's
these to guard the interests of the Egyp-
tan government. A British expedition is
being organized in London, under COM
mand Of pseudo American named STAN
ley. ostensibly to succor DIR. Livingstone:
i'm reality to plant the British flag in
Uganda. Go to Gondocoro, but lose no
time in making your way to Uganda, an
ticipate the British expedition, make a
treaty with the King OF Uganda, and
Egypt will owe you debt of everlasting
gratitude. Go. and success attend you.
lnchallah!
MY mission, accomplished under priva-
ton and suffering which have been char
acterized as unique in the history of ex-
ploration.' was success. 1 anticipated
Stanleys we'll provided and overfed ex-
petition by nine months. l executed the
treaty with King Mtesa annexing Ugan-
da to Egypt, navigated the unknown Nile
returning. discovered a lake and thus
completed the discovery of Spoke. I was
promoted and decorated on Gordons rec
ommendation. and honored by mention in
general orders to the army. In Cairo /
was accorded the honors Of a triumph.
My successor. Stanley. never forgave my
success. Stanley. however. managed to
.,uxia s,t,