Chap. XLIV. SINGULAR WATER-COMBAT. 
213 
perior numbers of the Kanembu. got the upper hand, 
and the corpses of three of the Miisgu were seen 
swimming on the surface of the water. But the 
fourth and last appeared to be invincible, and the 
Kanembu, who had lost two of their companions, 
gave him up in despair. 
After this inglorious victory we pursued our march 
homewards, keeping a little more to the north than 
when we came. This part of the country exhibited 
the same fertile and pleasant character as that we 
had seen before. It was densely inhabited and well 
cultivated, even tobacco being grown to a great ex- 
tent. As for the villages themselves, they afforded 
the same appearance of comfort and cheerfulness which 
we had observed in the others. But all these abodes 
of human happiness were destroyed by fire. 
After having accomplished these great deeds, we 
returned to our encampment. Here we remained 
during the two following days, while the most im- 
portant business was transacted. This was the par- 
tition of the slaves who had been taken during the 
expedition ; and the proceeding was accompanied by 
the most heartrending scenes, caused by the number 
of young children, and even infants, who were to be 
distributed, many of these poor creatures being mer- 
cilessly torn away from their mothers, never to see 
them again. There were scarcely any full-grown 
men. 
More interesting to me than this horrible affair 
was the sending of a messenger to Kiikawa ; and it 
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