190 
FROM KANO TO SOCCATOO. 
that I would go with them ; but I remained until the Gadado and 
the sultan departed ; and thus ended this harmless campaign, for 
at five in the morning both he and the Gadado set out, and at 
seven halted where we had suffered so much fatigue in getting 
through the swamps two days before. Here the south and eastern 
governors took leave of the sultan, and pursued the road we had 
come with them the other day, while I remained with the Soccatoo 
party. Our road lay once more along the banks of the lake. 
Numerous tracks of elephants, and other wild beasts, were every 
where seen. The face of the country, on the higher grounds, was 
but thinly wooded, and the trees low and stunted, except in the 
ruins of towns, where they usually grow to a large size, and very 
luxuriant in foliage. No traces whatever of inhabitants. The 
sun was excessively hot; and only for the plentiful supply of water 
the lake afforded, we certainly must have died of thirst. At 7 
A. M. halted at an old encampment of the sultan. 
I now, for the first time, learnt the cause of our rapid flight, 
which was the desertion of the Zurmie forces, and all the foot ; who 
had started on the first alarm, as they were all aware that the horse 
would not wait for them. I passed a number of the foot who were 
wounded, a very few of whom had been fortunate enough to pro- 
cure bullocks to ride on. The rest were poor slaves, and were 
obliged to walk. One poor fellow had been wounded in the night, 
attempting to get water, for they had been cut off from the supply 
of that necessary article. The night we attacked the town, his 
face had been laid open by a sword, and he had received a severe 
wound in the arm. His wounds were much swollen, as they were 
exposed both to the sun, and the cold of the night ; and only tied 
up with a bandage or slip from the inner bark of a tree, which did 
not cover one half, or a third of the wound. 
Wednesday, 18th.~ At 2 . 30 we left our encampment, and, 
