Northern Nigeria 



and carry him off to the fort, it would be a very 

 decisive move. Should an attacking force get 

 between me and the fort during my absence, my 

 white N.C.O. and garrison could hold them off, 

 while by falling suddenly on them in the dark 

 from the rear we should "give them fits." We 

 ran at top speed to the royal abode and into the 

 king's private huts, and I at once saw the alarm 

 was needless; his majesty, in a costume that 

 might have been pyjamas had he been a European, 

 was taking his rest surrounded by wives; they 

 got up in all directions like a large covey of 

 partridges. It turned out that a wedding-pro- 

 cession was in progress in the town, and on my 

 apologizing to the king for breaking in so suddenly, 

 he slipped on some robes and led me to a position 

 in the town whence we could observe the festivities 

 without being seen ourselves, while I sent my 

 men back to the fort with a note for my N.C.O. 

 Certainly, the ceremonies not only sounded but 

 looked more like a preparation for a fight than a 

 wedding. 



I returned to the river vid a place called 

 Boussa, and on the way had a nasty experience. 

 We camped one night after a hot day by a 

 beautiful shallow and rocky pool; the water was 

 very clear, and I could see the bottom every- 

 where excepting under some overhanging rocks. 

 Leaving my men cooking their food, I strolled 



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