184 CHIEFS & CITIES OF CENTRAL AFRICA 



had some. In fact, we were very much ashamed of 

 the carefully concocted emetic that we carried with 

 us to force on our unwilling companion, should we find 

 he had been exposed to any risk. 



We started that very afternoon, and Captain Lucas 

 rode out with us, and held out the hope that we 

 might see him again in Fort Lamy before many days 

 had elapsed. Our ride was a short one — only eight 

 miles — to the village of Bageri. It was dark when 

 we got there, and no one came to greet us ; so we 

 made our way through the quiet streets unremarked, 

 advancing towards a bright fire, the flames of which 

 leapt high into the air. We thought that it must 

 be our camp ; but when we got there we heard sounds 

 of chanting, and found a school of little boys gathered 

 round it in a circle, one of whom would continually 

 jump up to add twigs or straw to the flames, while 

 the others continued their lesson. A mallam was 

 squatting by them ; a prayer board, on which some 

 verses of the Koran were written, was in his hand, 

 and he intoned them for the children to repeat. It 

 was a picturesque scene, and we stood and watched 

 for some time unnoticed ; then a man rose from 

 the background and walked quickly away. As he 

 went fresh fuel was added to the fire, and, by the 

 light of the leaping flame, I recognised an agent of 

 the Sultan's — one with whom we had had dealings, 

 and whom we knew to be in the confidence of his 

 royal master. We took care to have the boxes 

 placed close round our tents that night, and the 

 thought of our acquaintance and his rapid dis- 

 appearance troubled us no more. 



The next day we had a long ride to Abugher, once 



