132 CHIEFS & CITIES OF CENTEAL AFRICA 



the trees that shade the river-bank. They are simple 

 and homelike, and many have carefully cultivated 

 gardens, where lettuce, tomatoes, and even cabbage 

 are grown. The zinnia is the flower that is successful 

 beyond all others. 



The Commandant's is the one big house of the 

 place. There one room leads from another in almost 

 European luxury of accommodation. The tree-shaded 

 garden, broken by many beds of flowers, slopes down 

 to the Shari as does a riverside lawn in the Thames 

 valley. Perhaps it is too close to the water to be 

 very healthy, but it is the site where M. Gentil 

 landed on the first French expedition from the Congo, 

 down the Shari to Lake Chad, and under that tree 

 where he pitched his first camp. A sentiment there- 

 fore attaches to the spot, though since that day the 

 river has crept up the low banks, bringing increasing 

 dampness with its proximity. 



Ordinarily twenty-five white men live at Fort Lamy, 

 but when we came sixty were posted there, and room 

 was consequently scarce. Herr von Raben had kindly 

 suggested that we should remain at Kusseri, but as 

 there was a great deal to talk over with the French 

 it seemed simplest to be on the spot. A large, round 

 hut was placed at our disposal. Its outer wall was 

 surrounded by a zana shelter, six feet wide, within 

 which space our stores were stacked and we used 

 to sit. A tent outside provided further sleeping 

 accommodation. 



Our house stood in its own grounds, a domain of 

 thick sand. On three sides were roads, and on the 

 fourth the prison, whence came sharp cries of com- 

 mand and the sound of clanking chains. The pris- 



