XIX 
WORSHIPPING THE DEAD PRINCE 
The conduct of the Bashorun on the battlefield 
had been so wanting in courage that the women 
of Ejahyay began to make songs about him. To 
prevent a breach between him and the Bashorun, 
Areh ordered these songs to cease. 
After waiting long enough to dispose of their 
prisoners the enemy again appeared perceptibly 
increased in numbers, and advanced to attack the 
Egbar camp, but Areh frightened them by an¬ 
other flank movement and they fell back to the 
old battle ground. We were thus spared the 
sight of a battle right in front of our door. We 
could easily see the Egbars as they lay in the 
trenches of the camp waiting the approaching 
Ebaddans, and would have witnessed all the in¬ 
cidents connected with the assault. 
For a week the two armies skirmished, each 
trying to induce the other to begin the attack; 
then Ogumulla, becoming impatient, took an 
oath that he would enter Ejahyay on a certain 
day. On the morning of that day he offered up 
a great sacrifice, the smoke of which ascended 
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