Birds of the Gold Coast Colony S^c. 281 



breaks, at intervals, the distant silence, while, close to the 

 traveller, the hurried notes of a Babbling-Thrush {Cossypha 

 verticalis) come from the cool depths of the forest-thicket. 

 Where the sun is strongest, the beautiful metallic hues of a 

 Sun-bird (Cinnyris), as it hovers round some tree in full 

 blossom, often catch and please the eye. Then, towards 

 evening, the discordant screech of the Grey Parrots grates 

 upon the ear from time to time, as they journey with rapid 

 flight, high above the tree-tops, to some favourite feeding- 

 place. Away from such spots as these bird-life is scarce. 



As the Relief-Column wound its way onward, the deep 

 silence was broken only by the brushing sound of the 

 underwood against the khaki clothing of the men, or now 

 and again by the mellow trill of a Babbling Bush-Thrush 

 (Cossypha) deep in the thicket, following the column as if 

 it had a dread of being left alone in the stilly darkness. 

 On the last day of the march, as the column crept nearer 

 Kumassi, the silence became, if anything, more intense. 

 Men spoke in whispers. By the shadow, the sun was setting 

 somewhere to our left. Everything seemed peaceful. The 

 Thrush was still pouring out its trill of pretty notes, and 

 gave me intense pleasure. Hardly had a minute elapsed 

 before the report of two dane-guns from the enemy's out- 

 posts rolled towards us, and the forest that before was 

 silent as the grave, now rang with the report of firearms. 



After a three hours' fight the Ashantis were driven into 

 the forest, and our men, like a column of soldier-ants whose 

 journey has been temporarily checked, once more assumed 

 close order and crept into the beleaguered fort. 



In November 1900, I left Kumassi with a column of 

 Haussas for Gambaga, the headquarters of the Northern 

 Territories — a three weeks' trek. The transport from the 

 coast is by carriers, who are always a worry and a nuisance. 

 Fantees, Ashantis, and Wongaras are the natives generally 

 employed, the last being by far the best and most useful. It 

 is a very expensive method of conveyance, since by the 

 time a load of 56 lbs. has reached Gambaga — a distance of 

 about 500 miles — the cost comes to over fifty shillin"-s. 



