A FIGHT WITH THE TUBUS 11 



expectancy till the answering echo comes, muffled by 

 distance, from a village sometimes two miles away. 



Inside the town an extraordinary sight presented itself ;; 

 women and children, pilgrims, priests and soldiers ; horses,. 



I'AKT OF THE CARAVAN IN BUI.TUlil 



cattle and sheep, in some places grouped, in others scattered,, 

 standing up and lying down, made up a scene of the greatest 

 confusion, reminding one of a panic in a child's " Noah's 

 Ark." All through the open spaces which were surrounded 

 by roughly formed zarebas of thorn-bush against attack of 

 wild beasts at night, and in the compounds round the huts 

 families were camping in groups among tethered oxen and 

 donkeys, and heaps of bundles containing all their worldly 

 goods, while their sheep and goats were huddled together 

 in rudely constructed pens. 



As soon as we gained the confines of the town the Kachella 

 rode forward with the mallams and horsemen. All were 

 most earnest in their welcome to us and their expressions of 



