DENHAM AND CLAPPERTON. 161 



delay the attack till a resolute band of Kanemboo spearmen 

 should arrive and lead the way. The lowing, however, of 

 the numerous herds, and the bleating of the flocks on the 

 green islands which lay before them, excited in the troops 

 a degree of hunger as well as of military ardour that was 

 quite irrepressible. They called out, " What ! be so near 

 them and not eat them 1 No, no, let us on ; this night these 

 flocks and women shall be ours !" Barca Gana suffered 

 himself to be hurried away, and plunged in among the fore- 

 most. Soon, however, the troops began to sink into the 

 holes or stick in the mud ; their guns and powder were 

 wetted, and became useless ; while the enemy, who knew 

 every step, and could ride through the water as quickly as 

 on land, at once charged the invaders in front, and sent 

 round a detachment to take them in the rear. The assault 

 was accordingly soon changed into a disgraceful flight, in 

 which those who had been the most loud in urging to this 

 rash onset set the example. Barca Gana, who had boasted 

 himself invulnerable, was deeply wounded through his coat- 

 of-mail and four cotton tohes, and was with difficulty rescued 

 by his chiefs out of the hands of five La Sala horsemen 

 who had vowed his death. The army returned to their 

 quarters in disappointment and dismay, and with a severe 

 loss. During the whole night the Dugganah women were 

 heard bewailing their husbands who had fallen, in dirges 

 composed for the occasion, and with plaintive notes, which 

 could not be listened to without the deepest sympathy. 

 Major Denham was deterred by this disaster from making 

 any farther attempt to penetrate to the eastern shores of 

 the Tchad. 



The Biddoomahs are another tribe who inhabit extensive 

 and ragged islands in the interior of the lake, amid its deep 

 waters, which they navigate with nearly a thousand large 

 boats. They neither cultivate the ground nor rear flocks 

 or herds, while their manners appeared to our traveller the 

 rudest and most savage even of Africans, those of the Mus- 

 gow always excepted. They are said to have adopted as a 

 religious creed, that God, having withheld from them com 

 and cattle, which the nations around enjoy, has given in 

 Aheir stead strength and courage, to be employed in taking 

 these good things from all in whose possession they may 

 be found. To this belief they act up in the most devout 

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