228 FROM THE NIGER TO THE NILE 



The losses of the enemy were very heavy, and the Magagi 

 of Keffi, the murderer of Captain Maloney, was among the 

 killed. On our side there were over sixty killed and 

 wounded, the latter including all the officers who took 

 part in the assault. 



Two miles from Burmi I arrived at Ashaka, a small 

 walled and entrenched town of the same type. Before 

 Burmi fell, it had been twice subjected to night attacks 

 from the chief mallam, which were successfully repulsed by 

 Major Barlow. There are pleasant palm-groves in the valley 

 below, and I saw a number of very fine Bornu cattle, but the 

 town wears a rather dirty and depressed appearance. I 

 had hoped to be in time to join my companions here, but was 

 told of their departure some weeks before by the old king 

 who was very kind and communicative. However, I was 

 glad to get some tidings of them and started next day to 

 follow the boats. 



Crossing the Gongola on October 9, I took the road that 

 has been described in the chapter on Gosling's journey with 

 the boats to Gaidam, and found myself at Gujba on the 11th. 

 This place is historical as the battlefield where Faderellah, 

 jj^the son of Rabeh, was defeated and killed by the French on 

 August 23, 1901. After twice defeating Garoba, the then 

 Sultan of Dikwa, who now is Shehu of Bornu, Faderellah 

 was chased by the French who surprised him at Agigin ; but 

 he succeeded in checking them and withdrew to Laraba, 

 eventually establishing himself at Birguma, where Major 

 McChntock visited him and arranged a treaty. However, 

 it seems that after McChntock left, and before the treaty 

 was ratified, Faderellah again attacked Dikwa, and the French 



