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〃He also forwarded my letters to be given to you when met with。
〃His envoys have now visited me at Fatiko； with the report that M'tese's
messengers heard of you as having formerly been at Ujiji； but that you
had left that station and crossed the Tanganyika to the west。
〃Nothing more is known of you。
〃I have sent a soldier with the envoys who convey this letter； he will
remain with M'tese。 This soldier （Selim） was one of Speke's men； who
travelled from Zanzibar to Cairo。
〃M'tese will take the greatest care of you。 He has behaved very well to
the government。
〃Since I wrote to you in June； Kabba Rega treacherously attacked me with
many thousand men。
〃I thrashed him thoroughly； and I have set up Rionga； the old enemy of
his family； who is now sheik of the government。
〃M'tese sent Congow with several thousand men to assist the troops。
〃I trust； my dear Livingstone； that this letter may reach you。 Do not
come down the lake。 It is now well known that the Tanganyika is the
Albert N'yanza； both known as the great lake M'wootan N'zige。
〃A steamer will； I trust； be on the lake this year。
〃Ever yours most sincerely；
〃SAM。 W。 BAKER。〃
On 13th February； after a few days' pleasant sojourn at Fatiko； M'tese's
envoys returned to Uganda； accompanied by my representative； Selim； who；
although a private； was a very intelligent Suachli； he had formerly
accompanied Speke from Zanzibar。 I gave Selim instructions to impress
upon M'tese the necessity of assisting Livingstone without a moment's
delay。
It is interesting to remember； now that the great traveller is dead；
that the arrangements I had made for his assistance would have secured
his safety； and would have enabled him to pursue his geographical
investigations northward； without the slightest risk or difficulty；
beyond the bodily fatigue which is inseparable from African travel。
My letter was not only delivered by M'tese's orders into the hands of
Lieutenant Cameron； R。N。 at Unyamyembi； but M'tese actually sent me his
reply through the weary distance to Gondokoro！ This reply was received
by my successor； Colonel Gordon； and was forwarded to the Khedive； as a
proof of the effect of the expedition under my command； in opening
through postal communication in the heart of Africa。 People who are
unacquainted with the difficulties of Africa cannot sufficiently
appreciate this grand result。 The intelligent king； M'tese； should
receive a present from our government； as a reward for having exerted
himself to assist an English consul in distress。 The small sum of 200
pound Sterling； judiciously expended； would procure trifles that would
be treasures to M'tese； and would do more to open up Central Africa to
travellers than any other means。
I fear this may be forgotten； and that M'tese will be neglected after
this truly philanthropic effort to relieve an English traveller and
CONSUL when in difficulty。
I wrote a letter thanking M'tese for all that he had done； and assuring
him that our country would be grateful to him for any assistance that he
might render Livingstone。 At the same time that I thanked him for his
aid to myself； I begged he would recall his army from Unyoro； as my
troops； although few； were strong； and that； having already defeated
Kabba Rega； I required no assistance。
I sent General Congow a present of a sword； and a few articles to
M'tese； in return for a specimen of beautifully…dressed skins； sewn
together as neatly as the work of a French glover。。。
The time wore on in considerable anxiety concerning the party that I had
sent to Gondokoro under Wat…el…Mek for reinforcements。
I had allowed them forty…two days for their return to Fatiko with the
cattle and troops； but no intelligence had been received of their
movements from the week they had started。 Fortunately the abundance of
game in the neighbourhood had supplied the troops with meat。
At length； after ninety…three days' absence； news was brought that
Wat…el…Mek and the troops were close at hand。 Shooli had arrived at
daybreak to say that a native had seen them on the previous evening on
the north side of Shooa hill； about seven miles from Fatiko。
At 2。30 P。M。； on 8th March； we distinguished the white uniforms
ascending the plateau at the north end of the Fatiko plain； and shortly
after； the main body emerged from among the rocks and foliage； and
formed on the level ground。 I at once distinguished with the telescope
the lieutenant…colonel； Tayib Agha； upon his well…known powerful white
horse。
My troops in full uniform went out to meet the reinforcements； which
quickly marched up and formed on the level turf outside the fort upon
the north side。
I rode out and inspected the troops。
NOT ONE HEAD OF CATTLE HAD ARRIVED！
The lieutenant…colonel； Tayib Agha； had made a sad mess of his command
during the march。 He had quarrelled with Wat…el…Mek； and simply because
some of the native carriers had absconded in a portion of the Bari
country named Moogi； he had set fire to the villages in revenge！ This
was in a country； where I had established peace。
The Baris had attacked the troops； and had not only killed twenty…eight
of our men； but had stripped the bodies； and possessed themselves of
clothes； arms； and ammunition。 They had also captured the cattle。
Although Tayib Agha had about 280 men； he actually retreated and dared
not attack the natives to recover either the bodies of his men or their
muskets！ （The lieutenant who commanded the unfortunate detachment was
killed while defending himself bravely to the last。 In addition to the
twenty…eight soldiers； two Bari interpreters were also killed； making a
total loss of thirty。）
I at once determined to leave Major Abdullah as commandant at Fatiko；
and to take Tayib Agha back to Gondokoro； as he was not fit for an
independent command。
The immense delay in sending up the reinforcements had been occasioned
by the long voyage from Khartoum。
When Wat…el…Mek had reached Gondokoro； the troops HAD NOT ARRIVED from
Khartoum； therefore he was obliged to wait。
When at length they did arrive； they had been THIRTEEN MONTHS on the
voyage to Gondokoro； and had passed the rainy season with the
slave…traders in the camp of Kutchuk Ali on the Bahr Giraffe； this river
they reported as navigable； owing to my canals； which had continued
open。
It was the old story of delay and indolence； unless I was personally
present to force them forward。
I had now 620 men； therefore I reinforced Rionga and the various
stations。 I thus garrisoned strongly Fatiko； Fabbo； and Paniadolithe
stockade opposite Rionga's island； in N。 lat。 2 degrees 6'。
The country of Unyoro was now completely in the grasp of Ali Genninar
and Rionga。 Unyoro extends to the south of the equator on the shores of
the Albert N'yanza； where Kabba Rega was supposed to be hiding。
On 14th March I drew out the following orders for Major Abdullah； who
would remain as commandant of Fatiko：
〃1。 Observe the rules at present existing respecting sentries。
〃2。 Observe the rules at present existing for cleanliness of camp。
〃3。 Plant negheel grass on ramparts during the rainy season。
〃4。 Cle