CHAPTER V 



THE SURVEY CONTINUED TO ASHAKA 

 (Writien by Mr. P. A. Talbot) 



On June 18 news came from Gosling that Boyd Alexander 

 was much better ; and that he and Claud Alexander were soon 

 leaving Ibi and hoped to reach the Murchison range about 

 the 22nd. By this time I was quite fit again and set out on 

 the 20th for the neighbourhood of Mount Madong. When 

 close to Giddan Galadima on the borders of the Montoil 

 country, the inhabitants never waited for us but ran away. 

 To show the low state of civilisation of these people, the 

 women on our approach threw down their babies with the 

 intention no doubt of stopping the advance by staying 

 our appetites. At night fires were lit to communicate our 

 arrival from one village to another. I sent out messengers 

 to say we were friendly, and not an expedition that was 

 coming to burn and destroy their country, but they only 

 replied : " We do not trust you." 



In the village the corporal in charge of the escort found a 

 man tied to a log. This turned out to be a prisoner of the 

 chief, who had been secured in this way to keep him safe for 

 eating on the morrow. 



The native huts are well made, with conical roofs ; they 

 are very small and the doorways are just big enough to 

 pass through. There is one hut for their goats, another for 



