138 
THE FRENCH SOUDAN. 
are obtained by the nomad tribes of the desert, entails to the captors. 
Such is the account of recent French progress in the Soudan of 
Western Africa, and it remains for us to watch what will be the next 
step taken by our neighbours in this region. A serious problem pre¬ 
sents itself to the French colonial administration on which we outsiders 
are, at all events, incompetent to give an opinion. However, the fore¬ 
going brief summary of the position of affairs in these regions will 
serve to inform our readers how active the French officers have been, 
and with what intelligence they have acquired their potent influence 
over the valley of the Niger. Indeed, it is not altogether flattering to 
our pride if we] contrast the manner in which the French have thus 
successfully contended with Mahommedan and fanatical populations on 
the banks of the Niger with our unsuccess and notable miscomprehen¬ 
sion of the somewhat similar situation on the banks of the Upper Nile. 
It is possible we may learn a lesson from this narrative of the French 
arms in French Soudan, a creditable record for any military European 
Power. 
The Disaster at Dougoi. 
Since the foregoing account has been printed, M. Maurice Lebon, the 
Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, has published the following 
telegraphic despatch from M. Albert Grodet at Kayes:— [No date 
quoted!] 
(< I beg to forward you, herewith, the following despatch which has 
just reached me from Captain Philippe, commanding the post at Tim- 
buctou:— 
‘'The column under Col. Bonnier arrived here on the 10th January. 
A portion of the column started, on the morning of the 12th, to make 
a reconnaissance in the direction of a Touareg encampment, under the 
command of Colonel Bonnier, with Commandant Hugueny, all the staff, 
the 5th company, and a detachment of the 11th. 
I was left in command of the post, as being the most senior captain. 
The column has been surprised whilst asleep in camp at Dougoi, at 
about two hours' march to the north of Gotedam (probably the ‘Goun- 
dam' of Fortin's map), which is three days' march from Timbuctou. 
The Touaregs, mounted and followed by men on foot, armed with 
lances and knives, entered on several sides, overthrowing the line of 
piled arms in front of the tirailleurs, who could not get at their rifles. 
Captain Nigotte, wounded in the head, was able to escape and rejoin 
a detachment, left a good many kilometres to the rear, guarding the 
cattle which had been captured, under the command of Sub-Lieutenant 
Sarda. He returned here on the 17th, carrying the news and bring¬ 
ing back a detachment of the 5th and 11th companies, and a number 
of tirailleurs who had fled; several of them were wounded, and three 
severely. 
We have been able since to recover some men. But we have been 
forced to limit considerably the reconnaissances and research, by the 
necessity of securing the place. 
The Touaregs soon came to prowl, in numerous parties, about the 
environs nearly approaching the town, forming a circle, appearing, then 
disappearing before our troops. 
