64 FROM THE NIGER TO THE NILE 



Ibi from a hunting expedition soon after Jose had left there. 

 It was now determined to carry me back to Ibi, improvising 

 a hammock for the purpose out of my tent slung on two long 

 poles. The journey took two days, or rather nights with a 

 day's rest at Serikin Kudu in between, for we were obHged to 

 travel by night to avoid the heat. By this time weakness 

 had rendered me too torpid to feel the discomfort of the 

 journey, much less to take note of incidents by the way, 

 but I was told afterward that the natives of the villages we 

 passed showed very kind solicitude for my condition, always 

 first inquiring if I had been wounded by wild beasts ; nor did 

 their interest slacken when they heard I was the victim of a 

 more invisible foe. I was also told that I was busy shooting 

 lions the whole way. The day after our arrival at Ibi Dr. 

 ElHs came in, having started on hearing of my illness and 

 accomplishing the journey by forced marches. Under his 

 excellent care I made a rapid recovery, and as soon as con- 

 valescent went down to Lokoja for a change. There I 

 stayed a fortnight before starting on my trip to Bauchi. 

 With commendable caution Dr. Ellis ordered me to return 

 to England. I know his innate kindness and he will be 

 glad to hear that I have not since paid the price of my 

 disobedience. 



While at Ibi, I was able to superintend the transport 

 of the Expedition, procuring an escort of sixteen Hausa 

 soldiers and sixty carriers, and collecting stores to last six 

 weeks, with which my brother left for Wase where he was 

 to rejoin Talbot and conduct the survey into the Kerri-Kerri 

 country. Also there were the boats to start, under 

 the conduct of Jose, on their journey to Asharka on the 



