128 FROM THE NIGER TO THE NILE 



On January 21, 1904, the Sultan of Wadai attacked 

 Fittri, a Frencli post of forty men, but was repulsed. Since 

 then, Germain Othman, who commands a part of the Sultan's 

 forces, suffered a reverse in a night attack by the French 

 and lost 800 saddles and many horses. 



Wadai is still under the influence of Senoussi who has told 

 him to sit tight and have nothing to do with the white man. 

 This hostile feeUng is only shared by the "big men," all the 

 people would welcome at once the coming of the white man. 

 This Senoussi is nephew of the original Madhi Senoussi, and 

 wanders about the country with a small following of faithful 

 fanatics. At the time of which I write he was to the west of 

 Wadai. , 



Wadai owes its importance to the fact that Abeshe, the 

 capital, has long been a centre for richly laden caravans 

 coming from Tripoli, Kano, and the east. The number of 

 these is now decreasing yearly owing to the many acts 

 of pillage committed on them by the people of Wadai, 

 which the French at the present moment find it difficult to 

 check without concentrating a large force and marching upon 

 the capital. 



The occupation of the Shari region by the French has 

 curtailed the power of Wadai considerably and one of his 

 principal hunting-grounds for slaves is now closed, for the 

 Sultan of Baghirmi is no longer his vassal. Cattle-raiding 

 on the frontier, too, has almost ceased since the suffering 

 Arabs have retired farther inside the French posts. But 

 there is generally a yearly raid, or small attack at least, 

 which necessitates the French always keeping on the qui 

 vive. On the fall of Rabeh, Wadai trembled in his shoes 



