124 FROM THE NIGER TO THE NILE 



gigantic mud jars, or granaries, each ample enough to hold 

 several tons. The sun was just setting and his long beams 

 traced a path of light across the wide river and onward 

 over the plain till they struck the steep side of Haja-el- 

 Hamis, kindling it to flame where it stood like a solitary pyre 

 in the bush. Below me in the narrow streets women passed 

 with calabashes of food for their masters' evening meals, and 

 under the big, spreading fig-tree in the corner of the square, a 

 group of boys and girls were singing to the clapping of hands 

 songs that told of the deaths of Rabeh and the big French- 

 man, Major Lamy. 



The history of Jaggra's rule is interesting. He declared 

 for Rabeh and on the downfall of the latter in 1900, the 

 French recognised him as the chief of Gulfei. Gentil, by 

 way of sealing the compact presented him with a large number 

 of guns including many breech-loaders which he had taken 

 from Rabeh. This, however, availed the French but little, 

 for on the subsequent occupation of his country by the 

 Germans, the wily Jaggra, who naturally did not wish to 

 shift his town and people to the other side of the river, refused 

 the overtures of the French but stuck to his guns. Up to 

 this time he had had to get off his horse in the presence of 

 the Sultan of Dikwa, his liege lord, but Jaggra was proud 

 and, having now grown strong enough to assert himself, 

 appealed to the Germans who supported his autonomy, 

 making him Sultan of Gulfei. 



Jose suffered from an attack of fever at this time, so I 

 remained a day at Gulfei and spent the time finishing my 

 map of Lake Chad. 



