FROM KANO TO SOCCATOO. 
189 
Upon the whole, it was as poor a fight as can possibly be imagined; 
and, though the doctrine of predestination is professed by Ma- 
homedans, in no one instance have I seen them act as men believing 
such a doctrine. The feudal forces are most contemptible ; ever 
more ready to fight with one another than they are with the enemy 
of their king and country, and rarely acting in concert. During the 
night we w ere cut off from water by the inhabitants of Coonia, and 
a cry was raised that they had come out to attack us, when the 
whole of the forces of Zamfra, horse and foot, were tumbling over us 
in our quarter, pell-mell, who should get the soonest out of danger. 
I had not undressed, but had my horse saddled, and the camels 
loaded. My servants would have run too, but I made them stop 
and load the camels, when I sent them off w ith those of the Gadado, 
which now only remained. 
The flags of the Fellatas are white, like the French, and their 
staff is a branch of a palm. They are not borne by men of honour, 
but by their slaves. The sultan had six borne before him ; each of the 
governors had two. They also all dress in white tobes and trowsers, 
as an emblem of their purity in faith and intentions. 
Tuesday, 17th.— Morning clear, with a heavy dew. We were 
last night disturbed several times by reports of the enemy’s ap- 
proach ; and at one time so great w r as the confusion, that most of 
the people and animals of the camp were tumbling over each 
other, and rushing together to save what they could by flight. 
The forces of Zurmie, who w ere encamped nearest the town, fled 
through the general camp, upsetting every thing in their w 7 ay. My 
servants would have followed, but I declared, if they started with- 
out the baggage, I w 7 ould shoot them. This threat, and my seizing 
the rifle to put it in execution, had the desired effect. I ordered 
them, however, to load the camels, after which I allow ed them to 
go off, along with the camels of the Gadado. They begged hard 
