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| Imperialism |
Colonial Policy | [P|S|M] |
Reichstagsakten 1889/90, 7. Lp., Vol. 127, Attachment 44: Collection of Documents pertaining the Uprising in East Africa, No.13: Report of the Imperial Commissioner for East Africa
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Zanzibar, August 29th 1889
arrived Berlin September 25th 1889
While on the stations occupied by me the preliminary fortifications are constructed in stone and the districts allocated to the stations are pacified, after the arrival of the newly recruited Zulus I dispose over a force of 550 men.
Buschiri, soon after his recent defeat, has withdrawn to the interior with the intention to kidnap the English and French missionaries there, and by collecting ransom for them and by raiding caravans to collect wealth and
power. As long as the rebel leader has a prospect to succeed, so long he will exert influence along the coast. Three French missionaries established at different locations fled Bushiri and took refuge with Chief Kingo in
Mrogro along the caravan route Bagamoyo-Mpwapwa and are protected by the aforementioned chief.
As he did not succeed in winning Kingo over, Buschiri marched on to Mpwapwa; there he has murdered an employee at the station of the Deutsch-Ostafrikanische Gesellschaft, which I already had the honour to report to Your Excellency, while the other, Lt. Giese, escaped. The English missionaries in Mpwapwa have also managed to escape Buschiri, by taking refuge in Wagogo village.
Buschiri has stolen the cannon of the German station, a lot of ammunition and wares from the English mission and has established himself at Usagara, in order to plunder caravans.
The Waniamwesi caravan which arrived in Bagamoyo a few days ago, 1000 men strong, has been able to fight through; however, for smaller caravans the largest trade route of East Africa is blocked. Buschiri has become blood
brother to a Wahehe chief and attempted to have the Wahehe and Wahiti, tribes related to the Zulu who immigrated from the south some time ago, join him.
A caravan staying in Bagamoyo for almost a year, which has fought on our side and has lost 60 men in skirmishes, has sold her ivory and wants to return home. In order to open the most important trade route of East Africa, to annihilate or expel Buschiri, to return the French and English missionaries in safety to their stations, and to fulfill our moral obligation toward the Waniamwesi I have prepared my expedition toward Mpwapwa and only await the arms which arrive by mail tomorrow, then to depart on the 6th with 550 men, 25 officers and NCOs, 3 pieces of artillery, 100 armed carriers and the Waniamwesi caravan. My steps after Mpwapwa I will decide according to the conditions there and according to the reports from the coast, but I will not proceed further into the interior.
The costs of this expedition are not important; mainly they consist of the recruitment of 150 carriers. Yet I will recruit a part of the carriers from P.O.W.s.
In order to eventually take on the second part of my task, the reconquest of the south, the enlargement of my European personnel and the reinforcement of my force would be necessary; about the size of both reinforcements I will be able to report to Your Excellency after the completion of the first part of my task, in December.
signed Wissmann
His Excellency Prince von Bismarck
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Originaldokument
[S.100]
translation and English language table of contents: AG
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