124 
THE FRENCH SOUDAN. 
Colonel Combes no longer hesitated to return up the Milo, and by 
the 24th January he had reached and established himself at the ford 
of Babila, 40 kilometres to the north of Kerouane, in a position which 
commanded the routes both from the east and south. 
The following day, 25th January, a flying column was formed which, 
under the orders of Captain Dargelos, could operate in the Kouranko 
and the Kissi valleys, to the south-west of Kerouane, in order to meet and 
drive back to the east any bands which ravaged that country. Orders 
were at the same time given to Captain Briquelot to act so as to drive 
back towards the valleys of the Milo and the Dion the bands of Bilali 
and of Tenesso-Koba, in such a manner as to throw them back if pos¬ 
sible on the principal column. These operations succeeded in a 
marvellous manner, as will be related. 
The above arrangements being complete and the regular supply of 
commissariat stores provided for and ensured, the Colonel no longer 
encumbered himself with the artillery which had followed so far with 
great difficulty and only retarded the rate of his marching. The bat¬ 
tery, therefore, was left behind to arm the posts of Mananfara and 
Babila, constructed on the Milo, at the passages generally utilised by 
the bands of Sofas in their coming and going, from east to west and 
vice versa . A lightly equipped column, but carrying all the supplies 
necessary for sustaining a continued campaign, was then formed to 
march upon Gueleba and the Nafana country, hitherto almost unex¬ 
plored and in relation to which only the most vague information was 
obtainable. This column included 103 mounted Europeans, men and 
officers, four companies of native tirailleurs, a squadron and a half of 
Spahis cavalry, and 800 porters, carrying on their heads burdens of 
from 22 to 25 kilogrammes, equivalent to 30 days* provisions for the 
Europeans and six days* supplies for the native African troops and 
bearers. 
Leaving the Babila ford on the 4th February, this column took its 
way rapidly to the east, where it surprised at Gueleba, the principal 
bands of the Almamy, particularly that of the chief N*Golo, who 
suffered considerable losses, and Colonel Combes thus obtained posses¬ 
sion of large stores of provisions which were calculated to feed his 
native followers as wrnll as troops for a long time. 
The bands of Samory always retreated fighting, they disputed the 
passes, the fords, marigots, and rivers; burning as they fled all the 
villages on the way with their stores of provisions, driving before them 
like flocks of cattle the unfortunate inhabitants terrified by the cold¬ 
blooded cruelty of the Almamy. The French column, which marched 
early and late, often covered a distance of from 40 to 45 kilometres, 
through a country full of natural obstacles, thereby overtaking the 
Sofas, who were thus surprised time after time whilst in the act of 
throwing up defences, palisades, entanglements of creepers, etc., at 
different points in the road, obstacles which, thanks to the rapidity of 
the French pursuit, were only just commenced and never advanced to 
completion. 
In consequence of this energetic system of harassing the retreat of 
the enemy, which was kept up with wonderful perseverance and devo- 
