There is a rumour, received through German sources, and not
yet fully confirmed, that the British East Africa Com- pany has abandoned Uganda, and that Sir Gerald Portal has hoisted the British flag and proclaimed a Protectorate. The proceedings at the meeting of the Company, held in London on Monday, point to this solution, and the Times of June let published a telegram from its correspondent, dated Uganda, May 31st—just think of the dates and what they mean— announcing that Sir Gerald has taken the Soudanese troops into the service of" the Government," has placed Major Owen and Captain Portal at their bead, and intends to redistribute them in closer proximity to the capital. " Other questions are being proceeded with," and all is quiet. The significance of all this is that Sir Gerald Portal, who as Commissioner in Zanzibar has rights over Uganda under the Berlin arrange- ment, is exercising those rights, and bringing order out of chaos in the regular Indian fashion. Why on earth he should have the power to do it just because he dares, and because he seeks on the whole the people's advantage, nobody has ever explained, or will explain; but it has been done a hundred times in the wilder divisions of India, sometimes, as in Berm., with almost magical rapidity. We do not suppose Mr. Labouclaere will like the proceedings—indeed, he is already asking questions—but Providence and the Scotch vote will be too strong even for the Member for Northampton.
