138 FROM THE NIGER TO THE NILE 



that I was going to pay a visit to the village and fetch back 

 my sheep. The headman at once stepped forward and said 

 that as there might be trouble they wished to come too. I 

 armed them therefore with the spears, swords and clubs 

 which I had been collecting as curios ; my gun-boy was made 

 happy with my rifle, and a horse-boy with my shot-gun. 

 Then, together with the three soldiers, about twenty-five 

 in all, we started out by a circuitous way to the village. I 

 had purposely waited till now in hopes that the Marragi 

 would by this time have given me up for the day, withdrawn 

 any ambush placed for me, and retired to their village. 

 For this reason I had only mentioned my intentions just 

 before starting, so that no rumour of them could possibly 

 have got abroad. Before setting out the men were informed 

 that I hoped if possible to recover the sheep without blood- 

 shed, and very strict orders were given that not a blow was 

 to be struck unless we were first attacked. 



After about an hour's march we appeared suddenly before 

 the village. The Marragi, though taken by surprise for the 

 moment, had evidently prepared for us earlier in the day. 

 All their women and children had been sent away and they 

 had gathered allies from neighbouring villages. There were 

 at least 150 of them, but our sudden appearance and their 

 ignorance of our numbers, which they could not estimate 

 owing to the millet which stretched right up to the houses, 

 made nearly half of them take to the bush at once. The 

 rest received us with a volley of poisoned arrows, which were 

 too hastily aimed to do any damage, and, after a scuffle, they 

 were driven out of the village by our party. 



Some of the bravest of the enemy now formed up behind 



