Vivi.
has been done that is possible on the Congo, and Europe should be the
theatre of operations now to secure the recognition of the Association by
the Powers.
“ I am obliged to express my surprise that in the letter announcing the
immediate departure from Europe of General Gordon for the Congo, no
instructions are furnished to me as to what his particular mission is to
be here. I t would be desirable in a matter of such importance to be told
whether he is to be Chief of the Expedition, Director-General, Administrator,
Special Commissioner, &o., &o. I have received only a few brief
words introducing a man already well known to me. Before turning
over the command to him, it would be well for me to know precisely how
to address him in clear and distinct phrase. Einally, the letter* I received
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LA VILLE d ’ANVEBS STEAMEB.
from himself makes it still more difficult forme to understand his mission.
I gather from him that he has some views hostile to the slave-trade in
the Soudan. A very laudable purpose, undoubtedly, but I am not told
* (Copy.)
“ B b tjs s e ls , 6th January, 1884.
“ My Deab Me . Stanley,—
“ His Majesty has asked me to go out and join you in
your work, which I have gladly assented to, and come from Lisbon on
5th February. I will serve willingly with and under you, and I hope you
will stay on, and we will, God helping, kill the slave-traders in their haunt,
whether we are to abandon the Congo, and be diverted from our work of 1884.
settling, extending, and consolidating along this river, to make raids APril 23‘
upon Soudanese slave-traders in the Nile basin, In short, the whole Yivi.
affair is very mysterious to me.
. “ As I have already intimated to the Committee in October, 1882,
January, July, August, 1883, and January. 1884, my intention of leaving
the Congo, according to the original understanding at Brussels in 1878,1
have arrived at Yivi, in the strong hope that I should find General
Gordon here; but I hear by this last mail that he has accepted a commission
under the British Government to go to the Soudan. I am compelled
to stay here then until I am relieved by a fit person,”
“ Y iv i, 11th May, 1884.
“ Colonel de Winton arrived here a few days ago, since which time he
has been occupied in acquiring the knowledge of the details necessary
for comprehending thoroughly the situation,
Jj Though it is better late than never, I cannot refrain from expressing
my keen regret that such a person as Col. de Winton was not sent fifteen
months ago to assist me.
“ I hope to be able to leave the Congo about the latter part of this
month, by which time Col. de Winton will have understood his .duties,
and grasped the situation. I t will be well to remember that Sir Francis
de Winton, as Chief of the Expedition, cannot leave the Lower Congo,
otherwise the troubles of Yivi will commence again. An occasional
residence at Leopoldville, and an inspection of the intermediate route,
will be all that is necessary. You may rely on Capt. Hanssens fulfilling
his mission well on the Upper Congo.”
“ Y iv i, June 2nd, 1884.
1 The new station at Yivi is advancing rapidly. Five houses have
been erected, and a banana plantation set out. The bridge is a great
success. A railway connects old Yivi with the new place, though to be
completed we ought to have about 500 yards more of rails,
“ The steamer Le Stanley is now six miles from here. The hauling
force numbers 269, of whom 10 per cent, will be daily ailing.”
for if we act together in the countries where they hunt, and make treaties
with the chiefs, we can prevent their raids and truly stop the slave-trade.
All the slavers are now engaged with Baker & Co., and so if we can (JD. V.)
push on we will find the field free.
“ No such efficacious means of cutting at root of slave-trade ever was
presented as that which God has, I trust, opened out to us through the
kind disinterestedness of His Majesty.
“ Yours sincerely, in haste,
“ (Signed) fl. G. Gobdon.”
Q 2