Northern Nigeria 



We had a day or two at Lokoja, getting 

 everything ready, and were about to start when 

 another wire came to say that we weren't 

 required after all. This was, of course, the same 

 trouble that was to come to a head a year later, 

 when the Waffs, under their old chief, Sir James 

 Willcocks, covered themselves with glory. 



Our leave had now been broken into, and we 

 were thus enabled to start it again with a clean 

 sheet ; and as we were by now beginning to feel 

 the effects of our hardships and campaigning in a 

 not too salubrious climate, we were glad to take 

 ship and return home. 



We brought along some West African ostriches, 

 which Abadie had secured up-country, got them 

 on board in large crates, had a run constructed 

 for them on deck, and Abadie had the satisfaction 

 eventually of presenting them alive and well to 

 the Zoo. These were, I believe, the first of their 

 kind ever brought home. 



The relief of getting into decent air at the 

 Canary Islands only the " coaster " knows. 



231 



