Uganda Matters. 201 to proceed to the Nile and there to establish posts in the interest of the Congo Free State. The exact route of this party is not known ; they appear to have gone first towards the Nile in the direction of Regaf, but hearing Fight at the Dervishes had reoccupied that spot and were close at andl -hand in force, they retreated to Makaraka and Wandi. Here they were overtaken and had a severe fight with the Dervishes, losing Fadl el Mania (killed—some say taken prisoner and executed) and about half their number, together with a large quantity of material of all sorts. After this defeat, which took place in January, 1394. 1894, the remaining 200 struck out for the Nile, and reached it about Muggi and Lahore, but, finding little food, drifted towards Wadelai, and arrived there early in February.

To refer now to Uganda for a moment. Colonel Colvile was appointed Chief Commissioner in 1893, and arrived there on the 16th November of that year. One of his first acts was to declare war against Defeat of Kabarega, King of Unyoro, who had for some time been Kabare8a * perpetually harassing Uganda, and on the second day of 1894 he occupied his capital. On the 2nd February Major Owen, was despatched with a small party by boat to Wadelai, and on the 4th he arrived there, meeting at first with a hostile reception from the banks. He landed, however, hoisted the British flag, enlisted 50 natives (Luri) to protect it, and learnt from the natives that no white man had reached the place since Emin Pasha left it in 1888. The garrison had gone, he was informed, in Owen at April, 1893, to join the Dervishes. Hearing next day Wadelai -reports that a large body of " Dervishes " was approaching from the north, he retired, and arrived at Kibiro on the 11th.

From subsequent events it appears that these " Dervishes " were none other than the remaining 200 of Fadl el Mania Bey's men, and had Owen remained another day, he would have been able, no doubt, to bring them back with him into British territory. As it was, this event was only postponed for a short time, for Captain Thruston, who was sent to reconnoitre the western shores of the Albert Nyanza in March, found on the 23rd of that month the two Sudanese companies at Mahaji Sghir. To this spot they had drifted from Wadelai, not finding enough supplies at the latter place.