TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
^05 
male his army had taken, were inhumanly but- 
chered. This affair took place in the spring of 
I8I7. 
Early in the following year Almamy, taking 
advantage of the absence of the Kartan army, 
laid siege to Toobab-en-Cane, having first fruit- 
lessly attempted to storm two of Samba's towns. 
So active were the besiegers, that the besieged 
found it impossible to obtain water from the river, 
although distant only thirty yards from the walls 
of the town, and so great was their want of that 
necessary article, that they dug wells within the 
walls upwards of forty feet deep. 
Samba, feeling that a much longer continuance 
in that state must become insupportable from the 
want of provisions, contrived means to despatch 
two horsemen by night to demand relief from 
Modiba, and, in eight days after, four hundred 
horse made their appearance on the opposite 
bank of the river. 
Almamy supposing the whole Kartan army 
had again made its appearance, did not think 
prudent to wait their nearer approach, raised 
the siege, and retreated to Lanel, a strong town 
of Samba's, commanded by his brother-in-law, 
who basely gave it up, allowing the enemy of the 
country to defend himself in it. 
When the Kartans had crossed the river, they 
advised Samba to attack Almamy without delay, 
