214 FROM THE NIGER TO THE NILE 



state to return my call. He rode at the head of about forty 

 horsemen consisting of his guard and a mounted band with 

 long trumpets and drums, and pipes called alligatas, of a 

 sweet and low tone remarkably Hke bagpipes. The band 

 played music that suggested a pa3an of victory mingled with 

 a dirge. It was very beautiful to hear, and haunted the 

 memory with the deep sad wail of the pipes rising and fall- 

 ing on the roll of the drums and the blare of the long brass 

 trumpets. 



The Emir is supposed to be secretly inimical to British 

 supremacy ; which is very natural in him, seeing that he is 

 by nature a fighter and ruler, who once had unhmited power 

 and the lives of thousands of slaves in his hands, but now 

 is shorn by us of his strength and obhged to rule side by side 

 with weaker potentates, whom he despises and would have 

 eaten up long ago, if it had not been for the muzzle we have 

 put upon him. 



There is a British garrison stationed about a mile from 

 the town consisting of a company of the West African Frontier 

 Force, with the officer commanding and two N.C.O.s. There 

 is a Resident and also a doctor. This serves as a wholesome 

 restraint upon the Emir, who otherwise is not interfered 

 with more than is necessary, being allowed to administer 

 justice himself and control his own prisons. 



I stayed in Bauchi two days, during which I was busy 

 labelHng my birds, sending home my second box of skins 

 from here by Sergeant Belverstone, R.F.A., who was returning 

 on leave and very kindly offered to take it under his charge. 

 My next objective was Ashaka on the River Gongola, 

 which had been chosen as a base for the survey column. 



