Chap. XLV. 
ANOTHER ALARM. 
231 
endeavouring to escape from the hands of their greedy 
pursuers. 
It was a very hot day, the hottest we had on this 
expedition, the thermometer at half-past one in the 
afternoon indicating 100° in the cool shade of our fine 
fig-tree. 
The encampment was cheerful and pleasant; but 
in the evening a frightful alarm arose — the rumour 
being spread that the pagans were attacking the 
" ngaufate," — the great drum of the commander-in- 
chief keeping up a tremendous din, and all the people 
hurrying along in every direction. The alarm was 
so great that my companion gave up his tent, and 
retreated with his people to that of the vizier ; and 
I found myself obliged to allow my two servants 
to follow him also. As for myself, I remained where 
I was, for I felt little inclination to have my tent 
once more plundered, as had been the case on our 
expedition to Kanem. It soon proved to be nothing 
but a false alarm. 
In these predatory incursions, the rapacious 
Shuwa suffer the greatest loss, as it is they who 
always push on furthest, and run the greatest risk ; 
but, on the other hand, they also succeed in carry- 
ing off secretly a great deal of spoil to their native 
villages without its becoming subject to the general 
partition. None of them have firelocks, being only 
armed with missiles usually consisting of one large 
spear, or kasakka, and four small javelins, or ballem ; 
very few of them have shields. 
Q 4 
