They charged into them, and in a very few seconds emptied the trenches. The flying soldiers, turning round and firing on the infuriated beasts, were quickly dispersed by one or two volleys from us. But for some hours afterwards we could see the cattle racing after terror-stricken wretches through the streets of the town. We should have done much better during the siege with smokeless powder. As it was, the Arab soldiers dropped down in the trenches at first sight of a puff of smoke, and could of course not be hit. Our marksmen made big grass fires behind them, and, firing in front of the thick smoke, bettered their chance of getting the shot home unperceived.

During the whole of this time, the Waginia, who are the water-people, and who do all the transport on the river, were constant visitors in our camp.