average man could. Caravans in Africa usually march in single file, the paths through the country being seldom more than ten inches wide. Our formation was generally headed by a strong advance-guard of soldiers, who were not allowed to carry anything but their rifles and ammunition; after them came the loads with the guard, then the women, and lastly a strong rear-guard. The white officers, each with a good bodyguard, were distributed along the whole line, which was sometimes two or three miles in length.

The officer in command of the advance guard halted the head of the caravan for perhaps twenty minutes after passing even so small an obstacle as a fallen tree. All auxiliary forces and camp followers were sent on in front of the caravan, and if overtaken had to withdraw from the road, since they were not allowed to