54 
THE FRENCH SOUDAN. 
some thirty of these weapons—few enough. Nevertheless, in the hands 
of expert marksmen, they produced wonderful results. Thus when the 
Sofas advanced under cover, on the left hank of the Milo, in order to 
open fire on the garrisons of Sanankoro and of Kerouane, they believed 
themselves wholly sheltered from the reach and out of rauge of the 
French projectiles behind the huge timber trees, often hollow within^ 
The bullets of small calibre were capable of piercing through these 
natural obstacles, and many Sofas were killed by bullets passing 
through the trunks of the trees, to their great amazement and terror. 
This campaign of 1891-92, therefore, had its due effect; it prepared 
the ground for the ensuing campaign which, as will be seen presently, 
proved both brilliant and profitable, but which owed its success and 
results, in a great measure, to the profound demoralisation created by 
these preliminary operations, which penetrated through the ranks of 
Samory’s army. This is born witness to by officers who took part in 
these affairs, and who were well capable of judging of the value of the 
campaign. 
(To be continued.) 
