10 FROM THE NIGER TO THE NILE 



had been called out for service with the Kachella. But the 

 dogs had evidently not followed their masters, judging by 

 the full chorus of barking and howling that was sustained 

 without an interval the whole time we were within hearing. 



As we were now in a part of the country that had several 

 times previously come within the area of the Tubu raids, 

 I took the precaution of throwing out scouts for the rest of 

 the march. Also there was the chance of a Mobbur ambush 

 in the thick palm-groves that lined the road on the further 

 side of Pogwa. But no enemy was sighted, and another four 

 hours' marching brought us to within a few miles of Bulturi. 

 The dawn was now breaking, and away on the horizon the 

 world seemed waking to an alarum of drums. As we went on, 

 the drumming grew louder and presently one could distin- 

 guish the separate taps, that fell with a rhythm suggesting 

 words. It was the Tubus signalling to the beleaguered town. 

 I heard afterwards from the Kachella that the drumming 

 had been kept up all through the night and that the burden 

 of its message was, " Where are your big friends ? We are 

 coming to eat you up ! " 



As we approached the drumming ceased, and we got to 

 Bulturi about six o'clock. 



All through the continent the natives have a very perfect 

 system of signalling with drums, by w^hich means they rap^ 

 out messages from village to village, and it is quite wonderful 

 how swiftly and how far they are able to spread news. The 

 drumming is always done at night when sound travels 

 farther, and, as one lies awake on a still, clear night the ear is 

 often gently assailed by the low, musical roll from a drum 

 in the village near, and holds the interval with pleasant 



