156 FROM THE NIGER TO THE NILE 



beat as fast as if some gay striped or spotted beast had fallen 

 to mj gun. 



After the morning ramble I would start about ten o'clock 

 for camp again, and had I been lucky, with perhaps five or 

 six choice birds in my pockets, each wrapped up separately 

 in paper. Then when I had finished my mid-day " chop," 

 there was the work of skinning and making up to be done, 

 after first recording the measurements and the colour of the 

 soft parts, together with any notes of interest I had been able 

 to make on the habits of each. By the time I had finished 

 my cup of tea, I was again ready to start on another bird 

 quest. Then as the shadows lengthened I would take my way 

 to some forest pool or backwater of the river, there to sit 

 and watch the birds come down to feed and drink ; for in 

 the evening they always gather to the water-side. In the 

 morning there is enough dew on the leaves to supply their 

 wants as they roam through the woods. 



The woodland country that we were now passing on the 

 left bank was not like any I had before seen in Africa. It was 

 not the stunted growth of the hinterland nor dense enough 

 for true tropical forests ; rather, it reminded me of our 

 English woods, with well grown trees, pretty glades and open 

 green sward that were the haunts of all kinds of game and 

 birds. 



Mandjaffa was the capital of the Baghirmi kingdom till 

 Rabeh destroyed it in 1893. After a gallant defence of 

 several months Gaourand the Sultan was compelled by heavy 

 losses and famine to retire to Chekkina on the road to Fittri 

 which is now his capital. The extent of the old ruined walls 

 shows that Mandjaffa must have been a large town before 



