304 THE RETURN FROM BATTLE. oh. xii. 



was conducted, Hooker had no difficulty, however, in at 

 once refusing the proffered accommodation, and the alterna- 

 tive course of pitching our tents within the enclosure, on 

 ground constantly trodden by cattle, was equally unin- 

 viting. Much to the trouble of our followers, the order 

 finally went forth that the tents should be pitched on some 

 moderately level ground outside the Jcasbah. 



Slowly and sulkily the order was obeyed, we meanwhile 

 sitting on our horses, while the night fell gloomily around 

 us. There was no real ground for the uneasiness which 

 our people undoubtedly felt, as night attacks are quite 

 foreign to the usages of the country ; but there was a 

 genuine feeling that the Mtouga people were greatly over- 

 matched in their struggle with the Haha tribes, three or 

 four times more numerous than themselves. In the ab- 

 sence of supper every ear was on the alert for the approach 

 of some one with tidings of the fray. At last, about 9 o'clock 

 two men appeared ; whether they had taken part in the 

 fight, or judiciously taken flight, did not clearly appear. 

 They claimed a victory for Mtouga, declaring that eighteen 

 men of Haha had been kiUed, and that many prisoners 

 had been taken, while acknowledging that the victors had 

 also suffered losses. Half an hour later the main body 

 approached, but it was soon evident that the return was 

 anything rather than a triumph. The night was too dark 

 to take account of the whole number that passed by our 

 camp, or to observe their countenances ; but the Governor 

 with a good many mounted soldiers, and a file of from twenty 

 to thirty prisoners tied together to bring up the rear, 

 passed close before our tent, and the dark outline of each 

 figure against the sky passed in long succession before us. 

 There was something weird and uncanny in the deep 

 silence of the nocturnal procession. The Grovernor, 

 wrapped up in a white haik, did not turn his head, or seem 

 to notice the strangers, and his followers copied his 

 demeanour. Not a sound was uttered until the' file of 

 prisoners passed by, when one man made a sudden rush 



