XiV INTRODUCTION.

justly belonging to it having been debited to it by various Governors of the Sudan, sometimes with the object of freeing their special province from inconvenient debts, and sometimes in order to cook their own accounts, which were not always in a flourishing condition.

After Gordon Pasha left for the wider sphere of work, his place was at first filled by Colonels Prout and Mason, who, however, only held office for a few months, as they both had to retire on account of ill health. Then followed a succession of incompetent native Governors, under whose abominable rule the province rapidly deteriorated to a pitiable condition.

Oppression, injustice, brutality, and downright robbery grew like the Upas tree, and it was under these conditions that Emin Effendi was entrusted by Gordon Pasha with the reins of office.

Up to this time, Emin had been the surgeon-in-chief of the Equatorial Province; he had often travelled throughout its length and breadth in company with his chief, Gordon Pasha, from whom he had learnt much, and whose work he so much admired, as is clearly indicated in this book.* During this time he became intimately acquainted with native character, and was entrusted by Gordon Pasha with three very difficult diplomatic missions—two visits to Uganda and one to Unyoro. ‘This, however, was all the experience he had had when placed in power, and at first his difficulties were greatly increased by want of a definite rank, for, although * Gordon Pasha’s opinion of Emin may be gathered from his appointment of him to such a responsible post as Governor of the Equatorial Province, and I can bear testimony to the fact that he held him in high esteem, After my return from the Sudan, I had several conversations with Gordon Pasha about Emin, and he invariably expressed his high appreciation of his services as a Governor, and of his varied accomplishments. He remained in correspondence with Emin until communications with the Equatorial Province broke down, and during his residence in Palestine he wrote more than once inviting Emin to pay him a visit. These invitations were very welcome, and in a letter I received from Emin he expressed his great satisfaction that his former chief was still so much mterested in his work, and continued to entertain for him a deep personal regard.