THE FRENCH SOUDAN. 
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colaya and Sambadougou, in the Kouranko country, in search of the 
Sofas under Bakary-Tourre, who were devastating the Kono country 
across the British frontier. Maritz's march was continued to Morabaya, 
across the stream of the Babbe, and along the watershed between the 
source of the Babbe and the Falico. He next reached Birimba, Tan- 
tafarra, and Walbabba, at the source of the Babbe. When he got 
down south as far as Foria and Tembi-Counda, at the head waters of 
the Niger, he was right in the angle of the frontier line, and here he 
halted on December 21st. Some stragglers from the bands of Sofas 
(which had been driven by the British out of Sedu on the 20th, from 
the east side of the Daro Peak, a conspicuous point of the Kong 
Mountains), in order to facilitate the escape of Bakary-Tourre, who 
had doubled back towards the Kouranko country, gave information to 
Maritz that the Sofas were encamped at Warina, west of Tembi- 
Counda, and north of Daro Mount, and a good opportunity for a surprise 
attack upon them was not to be lost, even if the Sofas were across the 
frontier, for now they were foes to the British as well as to the French. 
Maritz at once marched, and halted on the 22nd within a few miles of 
Warina, where the camp of the Sofas was indicated to him. After 
midnight he started again, and, with a full moon to assist his march, 
was able to deliver his attack on the camp at 4.30 a.m. on the morning 
of the 23rd. Ten of his men were killed, and he, himself mortally 
wounded, only discovered before he died that he had been attacking the 
British West India Regiment and the Sierra Leone Frontier Police, 
under Colonel Ellis. 
Colonel Ellis reports that on the 13th December he sent in duplicate, by 
different routes, notice of his operations against the Sofas on the frontier, 
to the French officer commanding in Kissi country (whose head-quarters 
would be at Kissidougou, some considerable distance from the scene of 
action). On the same date he advanced from Banguma, in the Bam- 
barra country, 140 miles from Bendu, and reached Kommendi, 39 
miles to the north-east, on the 14th. From hence a flying column, 
270 strong, left on the 17th, and proceeded across a wide stretch of 
country devastated by the Sofas, passing the ruins of two large villages. 
On the 18th the column crossed the mountain chain south of the Daro 
Peak ; and, on the following day, surprised the Sofas and drove them 
off, during which operation Lieutenant G-wynn, Royal Engineers, was 
wounded. The same evening Colonel Ellis camped at Yelladu, the 
most easterly position reached. From Yelladu the line of march was 
directed, north-west, to Sedu, out of which village the Sofas were 
driven, when Lieutenant Margesson and three privates were wounded. 
On the 21st the column re-crossed the mountains north of the peak, 
the Sofas fleeing before the advancing force, and the village of Warina 
(14 miles north-west of Sedu) was occupied, cleared, and put in a state 
of defence, with abattis, etc. During this day's work eight men of the 
West India Regiment were wounded. On the 22nd, the main road, 
communicating direct with Kommendi, was opened up and supplies of 
rum and tobacco brought up, although by some untoward error the 
rations of beef and bread were not forthcoming. 
At about 4.30 a.m. on the 23rd, Saturday morning, an alarm was 
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