result of which Commandant Dhanis decided to divide his forces in order to cut off the Arab communications as much as possible. He had fairly authentic information that Raschid and the other Arabs from Stanley Falls, who had been driven south by the Commandant Ponthier (in his campaign at Kirundu and on the Lowa River) before he joined us, were now reunited and marching from the north-east to join Rumaliza.

Every effort was to be made to turn the natives of the whole district to co-operate with us and to supply us with food, and thus starve out Rumaliza's forces. Many of the natives had informed us that certain of the tribes who had already joined Rumaliza were willing to come over to us to carry out this policy. Commandant Gillian and Captains Collignon and Rom were detached with a strong force of the new troops,