abandoned all their positions and fled to the eastward, with our irregular forces and auxiliaries following on their trail. The Commandant returned to Kasongo with his own guard and Ponthier's men, leaving all the rest with de Wouters at Mwana Mkwanga.

A light column was immediately organised by Captain de Wouters, with which he followed the retreating Arabs. For two hours' march the road was strewn with dead bodies, showing how precipitate had been the flight of the Arabs, and what destruction had been worked by the irregulars and other natives in their rear. De Wouters heard from the natives that the Arabs were entrenched not very far in front of him, so, leaving all natives and irregulars to follow in the rear (to avoid the inevitable recoil when face to face with the Arabs), he advanced with the regulars,