Chap. XLIV. PLUCKY PAGANS. 
223 
to look after my own safety ; for already the greater 
part of the Shxiwa had returned to the western shore, 
and threatened to leave us alone, and it did not 
seem very agreeable to be taken in the rear by the 
pagans, and perhaps even to be cut off by the boats. 
I therefore returned to the western shore, where the 
army was scattered about, not knowing what to do, 
being rather disinclined to retrace their steps with- 
out having enriched themselves with booty of some 
kind. 
Following then the course of the river, I witnessed 
an interesting and animated scene, — a dozen coura- 
geous natives occupying a small elevated island, with 
steep banks, separated from the shore by a narrow but 
deep channel, setting at defiance a countless host of 
enemies, many of whom were armed with firearms. 
But African muskets are not exactly like Minie rifles, 
and a musketeer very often misses his aim at a dis- 
tance of thirty or forty yards. It was astonishing to 
see that none of this small band of heroes was wounded, 
notwithstanding the repeated firing of a number 
of Kanuri people. Either the balls missed their aim 
entirely, or else, striking upon the shields of these 
poor pagans, which consisted of nothing but wicker- 
work, were unable to pierce this slight defence ; for 
not only was the powder of a bad quality, making a 
great deal of noise without possessing any strength, 
but even the balls were of extremely light weight, 
consisting of pewter, as is generally the case here. 
