XiV INTRODUCTION.

justly belonging to it having been debited to it by various

Governors of the Sudan, sometimes with the object of free- ing their special province from inconvenient debts, and some-

times 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 succes-

sion 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 resi- dence 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.