INTRODUCTION 



17 



I took records of the bugle calls in the garrison at Bauchi, 

 and, not thinking of the consequences that would naturally 

 follow, turned them on one still night in the house that I 



THE SOURCE OF THE NIGER 



occupied, with the effect that the whole garrison turned out 

 to the alarm. 



At last the approval of our scheme by the Colonial Office 

 was gained, and, backed up by the Intelligence Department, 

 we obtained the sanction of the War Office and were seconded 

 from our regiments without pay. The Colonial Office gave 

 us the magisterial powers of Assistant Residents while in the 

 Nigerian Protectorate, and a free passage into the country 

 for all our stores. 



So now everything was in readiness for a start and, 

 having sent on Jose by a previous boat to collect " boys " 

 at Cape Coast, where he subsequently joined us, bringing 



