into a duck whenever he wanted to cross a river. This man was afterwards caught in our camp and shot as a spy. Every native, and even some of our own regulars, firmly believed he had passed the sentry changed into the form of some animal, and told us it would be useless to try and kill him. He was, however, given ample warning, and we demonstrated that his witchcraft was not proof against lead. In preparation for the reported attack on the 11th we put up some rests for the rifles, and placed them in a position to command the chief roads round the camp.

Our men, who were mostly Hausas, were such appallingly bad shots, that, left to themselves, they would not have been likely to hit a man at thirty yards. Letters from Commandant Dhanis reached us on the 11th, saying that he hoped to arrive on the 14th with about ten