184 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. XXVI. 
astonishment I now learned that it was a powerful 
talisman suspended in order to protect the town 
against the Fellata, as the Bornu people call the 
Fulbe, whose inroads were greatly feared. He likewise 
informed me that four years ago there was a desperate 
struggle for Taganama, when that town very nar- 
rowly escaped falling into the hands of those fana- 
tical invaders. He praised his master, whose name 
as I now learned was I'sa. The cheerful aspect of 
the town seemed fully to confirm his praises, and I 
expressed my hope that his watchfulness and energy 
might be a better safeguard to the inhabitants than 
that monstrous talisman, the dimensions of which 
were really frightful. 
1 was greatly pleased also to observe here the 
very first signs of preparing the ground for the ap- 
proaching season, the slaves being busy clearing the 
soil with a sort of strong rake provided with four 
long wooden teeth, called " kamga;" but this is very 
rarely done, and the preparatory labours of agricul- 
ture must differ more or less in different districts 
according to the peculiar nature of the ground. 
At length we saw the guides coming towards us. 
Instead of a horseman there were two archers on foot*, 
short muscular men, clad only with a leathern apron 
* The drawing given by Denham of a Manga warrior makes 
him look much taller than the Kanemma, while the Manga in 
genera], though more robust, is shorter than the former, though 
there are exceptions. The battle-axe also and other characteristic 
details are wanting. 
