take up a position to the eastward of de Wouters. As will be seen from the accompanying sketch-map, the Arabs were in an awkward position — the Commandant Dhanis cutting off their retreat, de Wouters and de Heusch on each side of their advanced fort in front, the Lualaba, a mile wide, to the westward, and almost inaccessible and arid mountains to the eastward. The whole plain, in the neighbourhood of de Wouters and de Heusch, and from there to Kasongo, was cultivated — immense fields of rice, plantains, and cassada being ripe and ready for food, so that our forces had plenty to eat; whereas the Arabs could only draw their supplies from the narrow strip between their forts and the Lualaba.

Nearly all the skirmishes during the following ten days took place in this district, and innumerable Arab foraging parties