When de Wouters had time to review the position, he found that de Heusch's company and all the irregulars and auxiliary troops had disappeared, the white man's fall having had such an effect on their morale. Only civilised troops can stand the strain of a leader's fall. As the regular troops had themselves to carry the dead and wounded — and they were numerous — de Wouters decided to beat a retreat. No sooner, however, was the movement understood by the enemy than they took the offensive, and it was only with the greatest difficulty, and by a series of attacks and retreats, that he succeeded in burying the dead and in getting the wounded, together with the guns and ammunition taken in the early part of the engagement, safely out of action.

During one of the Arab charges, Sefu (Tippu Tib's son, and the