Major Barttelot's last report, dated Yambuya Camp, June, 1888, and
addressed to the President of the Emin Pasha, Relief Expedition, published on Thursday, throws a con- siderable amount of light upon the circumstances which led up to his murder. The report, which extends in diary form from May 8th to June 10th, dwells upon Tippoo Tib's lack of heartiness in helping the expedition, and general faithlessness, —though we should imagine that when he objected to loads running up to 60 lb. per man, he at least had a good excuse for his procrastinations. When Major Barttelot at last started, it was with 430 men of the Manyema tribe, furnished by Tippoo Tib, and commanded by an Arab named Muni- Somai. The white officers, besides Major Barttelot, were Mr. Jameson and Mr. Bonny, and the force possessed 128 rifles and 35,580 rounds of ammunition. The plan intended to be followed was first to search for Stanley along the route taken by.him, and then, failing any discovery of his whereabouts, to go on to Emin. at Wadelai, and induce him, if possible, to come away and to join in the search for Stanley. Till more is known as to the details of Major Barttelot's death, it would be unwise to say whether the arrangements made by him and notified in his report were, as is alleged, such as would almost certainly lead to mutiny. We must, however, allude to the letter of Mr. Graham Wilmot-Brooke, in the Times of Thursday, which states that the white men round Stanley Falls have been countenancing the most hideous atrocities on the part of the Manyemas, who are described as slave-hunting cannibals. It would not be fair, however, to accept these statements as conclusive, especially as the writer hints that Englishmen have taken part in cannibal feasts. That is too credulous. Englishmen do not eat negroes, even when wrecked.
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