The king, M'tese, had written me a letter expressing great friendship,
and declaring that when the news of Kabba Rega's treachery had reached
him, he had sent an army under General Congow, to be placed at my
disposal.
This army was now quartered at Mashudi, (two days' march from
Rionga's island, on the road to Masindi) waiting for my orders. M'tese
begged me to visit him as soon as possible, as he only had one desire,
i.e. "to see my face," and that he "did not wish for presents."
This was a model African potentate; at the same time I could not
possibly visit him, as my term of service would expire upon the 1st of
April.
I was much disappointed at this impossibility, as M'tese can do more for
Central Africa than any other potentate. He behaved well to Speke and
Grant, and he had been very true to me.
On 11th February, fresh envoys arrived from M'tese, including my old
friend Waysooah, who was as usual dressed very carefully in Indian
costume, with a handsomely-worked cotton robe.
M'tese had written me another letter in Arabic, begging me to send him
one of my soldiers as my representative, if I could not come personally.
The road was now declared to be practically open between Fatiko and
Zanzibar by means of M'tese's friendship.
This excellent man, who was now a Mohammedan, and kept an Arab
secretary, had already sent to Ujiji in search of Livingstone, according
to my request, and his messengers had returned with the news, "that he
had been at Ujiji, and had crossed the lake to the west; since which,
nothing had been heard of him."
M'tese's people were still in search of Livingstone. Ujiji was declared
to be on the "M'wootan N'zige," i. e. the Albert N'yanza.
I give this information exactly as I received it.
I now wrote a letter to Dr. Livingstone, of which the following is a
copy: -
"FORT FATIKO.
("N. lat. 3 degrees 1 minute; E. long. 32 degrees 36 minutes,)
"February 13th, 1875.
"MY DEAR LIVINGSTONE,
"M'tese, the king of Uganda, has been searching for you, according to my
instructions sent to him in June 1872.
"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.
