On One Occasion, A Number Of Their Men Had As Usual Gone Off To Forage, And Were Employed In Digging Sweet Potatoes, When They Were Suddenly Attacked By The Natives Concealed In The High Grass, And Eleven Men Were Speared; Five Of My Troops, And Six Of The Irregulars.

Fortunately some of these men had fired their muskets before they died, and the reports alarmed the remainder of the party, who were in a small village.

There was not a native to be seen, but the drums and horns were sounding, and as the Victoria Nile was close at hand, they considered it would be advisable to cross the river before the natives should attack them in force.

It was necessary to release Suleiman, who was secured in a sheba. This man had been committed to the charge of Mohammed. Before Mohammed cut the raw hide strip which secured the forked pole, he made Suleiman swear by the prophet not to escape, but that he would deliver himself up to Major Abdullah at Fatiko.

The party, now reduced to twenty-five men, immediately started. Upon arrival at the banks of the river, they happened to come suddenly upon a native, whom they seized.

They soon observed a canoe on the other side of the river, in which were two men. They now made an arrangement for the capture of the canoe, which was to them a case of life or death.

The prisoner was dressed in the usual flowing robe of bark-cloth.

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