434 
THE FRENCH SOUDAN. 
retreating before the French, leaving nothing behind him but ruin and 
desolation, like the track of a hurricane, and never attempting to make 
a stand. His object was to tire out the Europeans, trusting to fatigue 
and fever to do the rest, and on tins occasion he must have thought 
that he had succeeded, for after this last engagement the force returned 
to Tenetou, where a fortified post was constructed and a garrison left, 
rather to the surprise of the men and officers who were so close on the 
track of Samory; but the fact was that Colonel Bonnier had other 
more important and ambitious objects in view. The senior com¬ 
mandant hurried back to Bammako, on the Niger, by the 17th 
December, and it now became known to the troops that the occupation 
of Timbuctou had been decided on. 
Two divisions were formed; one to proceed by water, down the 
stream, under the immediate command of Colonel Bonnier; and the 
second to proceed overland, under Colonel Joffre of the Engineers. 
The first division consisted of the 2nd company and 11th company 
tirailleurs, six De Bange mountain guns of 80 mm (3T5-inch) 18-prs., 
and all the staff, in lighters, prepared for the occasion. No animals 
could be taken, and the horses of the staff were sent with the land 
column. The second division was composed of the 10th and 12th 
companies, 1 a squadron of Spahis, some irregular horse, two mountain 
guns, with all the horses, mules, and baggage animals. 
The first division left Segou on the 26th December, expecting, as 
Colonel Bonnier had been led to suppose, a welcome reception from the 
townspeople of Timbuctou. 
Meantime Lieutenant Boiteux, commanding the small flotilla, the 
Mage and the Niger , statioued at Mopti, determined to be the first to 
enter Timbuctou and obtain the credit of taking possession of the 
capital of the Sahara for the Navy. Although Colonel Bonnier had 
given strict orders to Lieutenant Boiteux not to leave his station at 
Mopti, this officer proceeded to Kabara, where he landed with a few 
s< Laptots ” and took formal possession of that place after dispersing 
with a round or two of shell the few groups of mounted Touaregs who 
made a slight show of resistance. He next entered Timbuctou and 
hoisted the French colours in that open town, where the principal 
merchants had been expecting the arrival of the French. 
Unfortunately, his young subaltern, Leon Aube, who was sent with 
a small party to receive the submission of the various villages in the 
neighbourhood, was surrounded and cut off by a number of Touaregs 
in the vicinity of Kabara. The whole detachment of 15 Laptots, one 
European master’s mate, and M. Aube were all slain. 
When Colonel BonnieFs force arrived at Mopti, the Commander 
learnt with surprise and indignation of the unauthorised advance of 
the gun-boats and of the disaster at Kabara. He lost no time in 
embarking the 5th company of tirailleurs, stationed at Mopti, in all the 
available boats, and proceeded with all his staff on to Kabara, taking 
the 5th and 11th companies with him; but leaving the artillery, 2nd 
company, and convoy of supplies to follow more slowly in boats very 
1 Only half the 12th company. 
