136 CHIEFS & CITIES OF CENTRAL AFRICA 



entire military force. Fifteen Senegalais, that was 

 all ; but their record is superb. They are not smart 

 in appearance, and in barracks they are sometimes un- 

 disciplined, but on the field they are beyond all praise. 

 Their love once given to a white officer is his for 

 always, and no Senegalais has ever been known to 

 desert while his master remained alive. Their wives 

 were with them, and, without parade, this little band 

 marched quietly out from the big square into the narrow 

 streets of the town, and so on their road to Abechir. 



Commandant Maillard did not go with them, for an 

 impressive ceremony still lay before him. The Sherlf 

 of Fort Lamy, his chief Mallam beside him, and some 

 sixty headmen, came to wish the Commandant God- 

 speed. As the title Sherif denotes, the chief lays 

 claim to be a descendant of the Prophet. He is an 

 old man now and has seen much trouble, for the 

 redoubtable Rabeh harried his kingdom, and he is 

 grateful to the French for the security they have 

 brought his country. 



The exiled Sultan of Fort Archambault was there 

 also, though his feelings can hardly have been as 

 loyal, for he had given trouble in his country, and 

 was banished to Fort Lamy, where he now lives as 

 a prisoner of state. 



They stood together in a long row facing the Com- 

 mandant. The Mallam had folded his hands within his 

 cap, and his lips never ceased from moving in silent 

 prayer. Presently he prayed aloud, and the whole 

 company joined with him. The familiar word " Amen " 

 recurred again and again, but it was the only one we 

 could understand. 



As the Sherif joined his hands in prayer his cap fell 



