THE SURVEY CONTINUED 109 



phrased it, " had too big bellies." Some of the Emirs and 

 chiefs have quite grand palaces, the architecture of which, 

 especially of the entrance gates, reminds one, to a certain 

 extent, of that of Ancient Egypt, though Fulani buildings 

 are only made of wood and mud, or in some rare cases of 

 sun-dried bricks. 



After anxious inquiries, it turned out that there was a 

 hill a little further on, called Kalam, which seemed to me to 

 be that of which I was in search. We went on accordingly 

 and camped at its foot. 



All this time nothing had been heard of Alexander, but 

 at last news came that a white man was not far off, on the 

 other side of the Gongola. A messenger was at once sent, 

 who returned with a note from him to say that he would 

 join me next morning. This he did, and from the top of 

 Mount Kalam along the horizon, about thirty-five to forty 

 miles off, we saw some curious peaks in the direction which 

 we wanted to follow. After a day's rest Alexander went off 

 again with the greater part of the carriers to recross the 

 Gongola, which is here narrower than at Golo, but very swift 

 and deep. That night he stopped at Zoni, and then went on 

 to Alia, where, after having finished my observations, we 

 met again on August 10. 



During the time he had been away from me, he had made 

 a long march to Darasso and then on to Kalam, with another 

 large supply of much needed food. While lunching at Aha, 

 a Kanuri girl, who was very pretty, rushed up and implored 

 help. She had been captured by Eabeh, and sent by him 

 as a slave, like many others to a tribe of their enemies. This 

 Rabeh was, of course, the famous freebooter, who from a 



