Birds of the Gold Coast Colony S^c. 281 
breaks, at iutervals, the distant silence, while, close to the 
traveller, the hurried notes of a Babbling-Thrush (Cossypha 
verticalis) come from the cool depths of the forest-thicket. 
Where the sun is strongest, the beautiful metallic hues of a 
Sun-bird (Cinnyris), as it hovers round some tree in full 
blossom, often catch and please the eye. Then, towards 
evening, the discordant screech of the Grey Parrots grates 
upon the ear from time to time, as they journey with rapid 
flight, high above the tree-tops, to some favourite feeding- 
place. Away from such spots as these bird-life is scarce. 
As the Relief-Column wound its way onward, the deep 
silence was broken only by the brushing sound of the 
underwood against the khaki clothing of the men, or now 
and again by the mellow trill of a Babbling Bush-Thrush 
(^Cossypha) deep in the thicket, following the column as if 
it had a dread of being left alone in the stilly darkness. 
On the last day of the march, as the column crept nearer 
Kumassi, the silence became, if anything, more intense. 
Men spoke in whispers. By the shadow, the sun was setting 
somewhere to our left. Everything seemed peaceful. The 
Thrush was still pouring out its trill of pretty notes, and 
gave me intense pleasure. Hardly had a minute elapsed 
before the report of two dane-guns from the enemy's out- 
posts rolled towards us, and the forest that before was 
silent as the grave, now rang with the report of firearms. 
After a three hours' fight the Ashantis were driven into 
the forest, and our men, like a column of soldier-ants whose 
journey has been temporarily checked, once more assumed 
close order and crept into the beleaguered fort. 
In November 1900, I left Kumassi with a column of 
Haussas for Gambaga, the headquarters of the Northern 
Territories — a three weeks' trek. The transport from the 
coast is by carriers, who are always a worry and a nuisance. 
Fantees, Ashantis, and Wongaras are the natives generally 
employed, the last being by far the best and most useful. It 
is a very expensive method of conveyance, since by the 
time a load of 56 lbs. has reached Gambaga — a distance of 
about 500 miles — the cost comes to over fifty shillino-s. 
