CHAPTER XXVI.

WE START HOMEWARD FOR ZANZIBAR.

False reports of strangers at Mazamboni’s--Some of the Pasha’s ivory--Osman Latif Effendi gives me his opinions on the Wadelai officers--My boy Sali as spy in the camp--Capt. Casati’s views of Emin’s departure from his province--Lieut. Stairs makes the first move homeward--Weights of my officers at various places--Ruwenzori visible--The little girl reared by Casati--I act as mediator between Mohammed Effendi, his wife, and Emin--Bilal and Serour--Attempts to steal rifles from the Zanzibari’s huts--We hear of disorder and distress at Wadelai and Mswa--Two propositions made to Emin Pasha--Signal for general muster under arms sounded--Emin’s Arabs are driven to muster by the Zanzibaris--Address to the Egyptians and Soudanese--Lieut. Stairs brings the Pasha’s servants into the square--Serour and three others, being the principal conspirators, placed under guard--Muster of Emin Pasha’s followers--Osman Latif Effendi and his mother--Casati and Emin not on speaking terms--Preparing for the march--Fight with clubs between the Nubian, Omar, and the Zanzibaris--My judgments on the combatants--We leave Kavalli for Zanzibar--The number of our column--Halt in Mazamboni’s territory--I am taken ill with inflammation of the stomach--Dr. Parke’s skilful nursing--I plan in my mind the homeward march--Frequent reports to me of plots in the camp--Lieut. Stairs and forty men capture Rehan and twenty-two deserters who left with our rifles--At a holding of the court it is agreed to hang Rehan--Illness of Surgeon Parke and Mr. Jephson--A packet of letters intended for Wadelai falls into my hands, and from which we learn of an important plot concocted by Emin’s officers--Conversation with Emin Pasha about the same--Shukri Agha arrives in our camp with two followers--Lieut. Stairs buries some ammunition--We continue our march and camp at Bunyambiri--Mazamboni’s services and hospitality--Three soldiers appear with letters from Selim Bey--Their contents--Conversation with the soldiers--They take a letter to Selim Bey from Emin--Ali Effendi and his servants accompany the soldiers back to Selim Bey 182