Chap. XLI. PREPARATIONS FOR ATTACK. 
91 
Our people had begun to make themselves com- 
fortable in this fine valley for passing the heat of the 
day, when suddenly orders were given for continuing 
our march. The country now became more hilly. 
Having passed en route a hollow provided with wells 
and called Agho, once one of the most famous places 
of Kanem, we made, after noon, a short halt in the 
•flat dell called Nundul, in which are several khat- 
tatir, or draw-wells, and stubble-fields, in order to pro- 
vide ourselves with water, and also to water our horses. 
There was a great bustle and confusion, everybody 
wanting to get first to the wells, and proceed with 
the principal troop, as we were now approaching a 
hostile territory. My she-camel, which was a very 
fine little animal, but rather too heavily laden for 
such an expedition, was among the last that arrived; 
and, starting after the others, was soon left behind 
the whole troop ; and I endeavoured in vain to bring 
her up. 
The country here was more level than it had been 
in the latter part of our route ; and we left on our 
right only one vale, which is called Mainasa. For- 
tunately for me, the whole host made a longer halt 
at two o'clock in the afternoon, in one long line, in 
order to exhort the little band to valour, and to 
give them some instructions in case of a conflict 
with the enemy. No quarter was to be given, and any 
one of them who should lose his horse or camel was 
to be indemnified for the loss. But a great deal was 
proclaimed besides, which, as I was at the very end of 
