le and
burned; and news came that the Munga horse were reconnoitring all round
them, and had murdered some men proceeding to join the sheikh.

One of the means the people had taken to defend themselves against the
invaders, had been to dig deep holes, at the bottom of which
sharp-pointed stakes were fixed, the pits being then carefully covered
over with branches and grass, so as completely to conceal them. Similar
pitfalls are used in many parts of Africa for entrapping the giraffe and
other wild animals.

The major's servant, Columbus, and his mule not making their appearance,
he was searching for him, when he found that the animal had fallen into
one of these pits, the black having by a violent exertion of strength
saved himself. The poor mule was found sticking on four stakes, with
her knees dreadfully torn by struggling. She was, however, got out
alive.

Escaping from various dangers, they joined the sheikh on the banks of a
large piece of water called Dummasak. Hearing that a caravan had
arrived at Kouka from Fezzan, they were anxious to return to the
capital. They sent word to the sheikh, but their communication was not
delivered, and, before they could see him, he and his troops had moved
off. They were, however, on their way to Kouka, when Omar Gana overtook
them, entreating them to return to the sheikh, who, angry at their
having gone, had struck him from his horse, and directed him to bring
them to the army without delay. They had nothing to do but to obey.

Many of the spots they passed presented much picturesque beauty. In
several places were groups of naked warriors resting under the trees on
the borders of the lake, with their shields on their arms, while
hundreds of others were in the water, spearing fish, which were cooked
by their companions on shore. The margin was crowded with horses,
drinking or feeding, and men bathing, while, in the centre, hippopotami
were constantly throwing up their black muzzles, spouting water.

The march of the Bornou army now commenced; but little order was
preserved before coming near the enemy, everyone appearing to know that
at a certain point an assembly was to take place. The sheikh took the
lead, and close after him came the Sultan of Bornou; who always attended
him on these occasions, though he never fought. The sheikh was preceded
by five flags with extracts of the Koran on them, and attended by about
a hundred of his chiefs and favourite slaves. A n