FROM GULFEI TO FORT LAMY 137 



the Kotokos, who are excellent builders, they have erected 

 good houses and stores, surrounding them on the sides away 

 from the river bank with a strong castellated wall in which 

 there is an imposing gateway with a tower that overlooks 

 the road to Dikwa. Nothing that would lend a touch of 

 smartness to the building has been forgotten and a red-painted 

 letter-box surmounted by the German Eagle hangs on the 

 wall by the gateway. 



On June 15 we said good-bye to our friends at Fort Lamy, 

 carrying away with us many happy recollections of their 

 hospitality and kindness. They all came down to the river 

 to see us start. There was a good breeze blowing, and with 

 hoisted sails we flew out from the bank up the straight river. 

 After we had put more than half a mile behind us and Fort 

 Lamy was passing from view, we could still see the little band 

 of gallant Frenchmen with hands to their eyes, gazing after us. 



As the reader will remember — before I started on my 

 voyage from Kaddai, Gosling left with the transport of oxen 

 carrying all our luggage round the south side of the Lake to 

 Fort Lamy, there to await our arrival. 



I have made the following summary from his diary of 

 the journey. 



Starting at 10 a.m. on February 13, with a transport of 

 fifty-eight oxen, he accompUshed the waterless march of 

 sixteen miles to Kowa by sunset the same day. He describes 

 his start as being bereft of all pleasure, owing to the loss of 

 "Rabeh," the bush-kitten. Early the next morning it was 

 discovered that my brother's horse " Mandara " had been 

 stolen by one of the " boys " who also took Gosling's saddle, 

 but both were eventually recovered. Gosling at once 



