Interior Parts of Africa, 75* 



tempt to take reft. On the right hand, indeed, we had a 

 high hill ; but we could not turn off to that, as we were en- 

 deavouring to come into nearer co-operation with the main 

 army. Such of us as had horfes kept their feats the whole 

 night long, in order, at leaft, to get fome reft. At break of 

 day we proceeded over the river, and marched for the capi- 

 tal. When the hoftile army was within fight, it was ordered 

 that the baggage, under a guard of forty flaves an,d fifty foldiers, 

 fliould remain behind with me ; when the king took upon 

 him the command of the army, and puflied onward. In a few 

 hours the fight began with great cries and bellowing on both 

 fides, fo that even we ourfelves were frightened. Our army, 

 which had not refted for fome days, was feveral times re- 

 pulfed, yet conftantly preflTed forwards Till tovi^ards even- 

 ing the event of the battle was undecided, now one army and 

 now the other giving way : liowever, at laft, when the dark- 

 nefs came on, our army maintained its ground, while the 

 enemy retreated into the town. We took two hundred pri- 

 foners, and a number of trifling articles as fpoil. With this 

 a6lion the main brunt of the war was over, as in the whole 

 hoftile territory throughout there was no other fuch plain 

 where the two armies could draw up in front of each other, 

 but thickets, forefts, narrow valleys, and mountains, in alter- 

 nate viciflitude. I remarked that both armies were totally 

 miacquainted with tactics, and that with them every thing 

 depended on the courage and temerity of the men. Though 

 the battle lafted feveral hours, yet daring all that time our 

 people fired fcarcely twenty times, and the enemy probably 

 not oftener. In order to load their pieces the army every 

 time fell back, and then advanced again : there was likewife 

 a deficiency of powder. We refted for two whole days ; 

 when, no melTenger of peace coming from the enemy,., we 

 proceeded forwards. Now, however, we experienced a failure 

 of provifions; what we had brought with us being all con- 

 fumed, and there was nothing to be found in the enemy's 

 country. The king then made proclamation, that it would 

 not be advifable to go back to fetch provifiops ; but that, 

 whoever was dcfirous to eat, muft pufli on with him to con- 

 quer the capital. What the king did, that the army was 



K % obliged 



