BRITISH CENTRAL AFRICA

Gorrespondence respecting OperationB against Slave -traders in British Central AMoa.

Commissùmer Johnston to the Marquess ofSalisbury.

The Re8idency,Zomba, NovemberlS, 1898.

My Lord,

I hâve the pleasure lo inform your Lordship that the expédition against the slave- trading ChiefZarafi has been connpletely successful.

A force of about 65 Sikhs and 230 negro soldiers and 26 irregulars, commanded by Major C. A. Edwards, and accompanied by myself and Mr. J. V\ Cunningham, the Secretary to the Administration, leflt Zomba on the 23rd October to proceed, via Chikala, overland to Mangoche Mountain, on whicU Zarafi's capital is situated. The military officers commanding sections of this expédition were Captain the Honourable W. E. Cavendish, Lieutenant H. Coape-Smith, Lieutenant G. de Herries Smith, Sergeant-Major Devoy, and Dr. Poole. There were aiso Iwo ofiicers who volunteered their services and wereaccepted, viz., Major L. J. Bradshaw (35th Sikhs) and Mr. VValter Gordon-Cumming, who had also gone wilh us on the expédition against Matipwiri.

The expédition was admirably organized by Major Edwards, and the value of this organization was scverely tested by a long rapid march of 78 miles, some SO of which were through the enemy's country. Ail the transport had to be done by negro porters. Thèse