146 CHIEFS & CITIES OF CENTRAL AFRICA 



for his dallyings with the French, to which they 

 attributed all their misfortunes. His position became 

 more and more insecure, till he could only count on 

 the personal loyalty of a few eunuchs and slaves. 



At last, however, in the summer of 1899, Bretonnet 

 arrived from France in command of an advance force. 

 It consisted of 5 Europeans, 44 Senegalese regulars, 

 and 2 Arabs ; ^ but, small though the numbers were, 

 they inspired confidence in the Bagirimi, who again 

 gathered round their sovereign, and Gauaronga, keen 

 to avenge his losses, once more raised the standard of 

 defiance. Babeh immediately advanced upon Kouno, 

 for he knew that his ultimate security depended upon 

 the instant extermination of the white man. 



The allies retreated to the most favourable position 

 they could find in the Togbau hills, but, though the 

 Bagirimi at first fought bravely, they were powerless 

 to withstand the force of Babeh's onslaught. They 

 broke and fled, and in the confusion of the rout 

 Gauaronga, who had received two wounds, made good 

 his escape together with the remnant of his men. 

 As for the small French force it was utterly exter- 

 minated. The sole survivors were three Senegalese, 

 who, early in the battle, had been too severely 

 wounded to fight to the death like their comrades. 



This disaster cured the Bagirimi of any further 

 wish to revolt against Babeh's overmastering power, 

 and when, in the autumn of 1899, Gentil arrived with 

 a small force, the Bagirimi stirred neither hand nor 

 foot to help in his attempt to reduce Babeh to sub- 

 mission. The action consequently was indecisive. 



Meanwhile, however, two other French expeditions 



^ ' La Chute de I'Empire de Kabah,' par M. Gentil. 



