THE FRENCH SOUDAN. 
127 
I one troop of Spahis, and 300 transport coolies, was busily engaged in 
the Kouranko and in the Kissi country against the bands of Tenesso- 
Koba, of the younger Bilali, and of Amara, one of the sons of Samory. 
This column had left Babila on the 29tli January. After making 
some arduous marches through a mountainous country this column 
arrived before Fidaoua, a large village, fortified by means of stockades 
aud sanies or sagnes (vide ante), block-houses, as usual throughout 
these regions. The enemy, commanded by the son of Samory, had 
there constructed very formidable defences. Here again the Lebel 
rifles, in default of artillery, contributed largely to the demoralisation 
of the Sofas, who were killed by the small bore elongated projectiles 
easily penetrating the wooden planks of the stockades. Finally, the 
village was carried at the point of the bayonet, and the enemy suffered 
largely in killed and wounded, including many chiefs. The son of the 
Almamy was shot through the body, and only owed his safety to his 
faithful slaves who carried him off into the bush. The resistance was 
soon overcome and upwards of 11,000 prisoners were captured. 
These figures appear incredible, but it may be explained that these 
prisoners were the captives whom the Sofas used to exchange for arms 
and cattle. These unfortunate wretches were conducted into the peace- 
ful regions of the Soudan and set at liberty. At the present time 
they inhabit peaceful villages and engage in agriculture, under French 
rule and protection. 
On the 12th February, the section of the Foreign Legion was sent 
back to Kerouane, and the column kept on its way visiting and scouring 
the neighbouring country and driving out the scattered remnants of 
the Sofas. 
The delivered inhabitants everywhere came out to entreat the French 
to occupy their country and to rid them permanently of the presence 
of Samory’s soldiers. By the 6th March Captain Dargeles was able 
to re-enter Kerouane. 
The effect of this double hammering of the bands in the Kouranko 
and on the Kissi was to totally crumple up the columns of Bilali and 
Tenesso-Koba, and to reduce the masses of the enemy into little bands 
and scattered parties, who wandered fruitlessly in the territories be¬ 
tween the Mger to the south-west and north-west, and by the Milo to 
the east. Instinctively they, by degrees, ended in making for the 
Milo to cross the several practicable fords, and at last joined the bulk 
of Samory’s forces beyond that river. 
Indeed, as already recorded above, Colonel Combes had taken the 
precaution to guard by the posts of observation, established at Kenim- 
bourg, Marena, Mananfara, and Babila, the line of the Milo in such a 
way that these disunited detachments fell, one after the other, within 
the defensive zone of these posts and suffered accordingly. 
Thus, on the 7th May, it was foreseen that one troop, formed of the 
debris of several scattered bodies of Tenesso-Koba and Amarals men, 
intended to penetrate by night through a pass between the posts of 
Mananfara and Babyla. In consequence of the dispositions made by 
Lieutenant Helaverrerie and Doctor Duforey, in medical charge of the 
column, the Sofas were duly surprised and again completely defeated. 
17 
