FROM KANO TO SOCCATOO. 
187 
up “ per order.” They certainly cut not a bad figure at a distance, 
as their helmets were ornamented with black and white ostrich 
feathers, and the sides of the helmets with pieces of tin, which 
glittered in the sun, their long quilted cloaks of gaudy colours 
reaching over part of the horses’ tails, and hanging over the flanks. 
On the neck, even the horse’s armour was notched, or vandyked, to 
look like a mane ; on his forehead and over his nose was a brass or 
tin plate, as also a semicircular piece on each side. The rider was 
armed with a large spear; and he had to be assisted to mount his 
horse, as his quilted cloak was too heavy ; it required two men to 
lift him on ; and there were six of them belonging to each governor, 
and six to the sultan. I at first thought the foot would take 
advantage of going under cover of these unwieldy machines; but 
no, they went alone, as fast as the poor horses could bear them, 
which was but a slow pace. They had one musket in Coonia, and 
it did wonderful execution, for it brought down the van of the 
quilted men, who fell from his horse like a sack of corn thrown 
from a horse’s back at a miller’s door ; but both horse and man were 
brought off by two or three footmen. He had got two balls through 
his breast ; one went through his body and both sides of the tobe; 
the other went through and lodged in the quilted armour opposite 
the shoulders. 
The cry of “ Allahu Akber,” or, “ God is great,” was resounded 
through the whole army every quarter of an hour at least (this is 
the war-cry of the Fellatas); but neither this, nor “ Shields to the 
wall,” nor “ Why don’t the Gadado’s people go up,” had any 
effect, except to produce a scuffle among themselves, when the 
chiefs would have to ride up and part their followers, who, instead 
of fighting against the enemy, were more likely to fight with one 
another. There were three Arabs ofGhadamis in the army, armed 
at all points. Hameda, the sultan’s merchant, was one. He was 
mounted on a fine black Tuarick horse, armed with a spear and 
b b 2 
