214 A BOA-CONSTRICTOR KILLED.

phants had passed, and one had been killed close to our camp ; there was no mistake about it, as we saw the remains of its skeleton quite fresh.

The next day's march took us to Sogada, and we encamped on the same spot we had chosen in going south. It was a long day's journey, and some of the men lagged behind with their camels, and lost themselves again. We made one halt before reaching Haikota, choosing Fahncoob again as a campingground.

On our way we came across the trail of a snake, which we followed; and, after tracking it for some time, we discovered a boa-constrictor, ten feet long, curled up under a /'///<7r-bush, which we shot with a revolver. We preserved the skin. It was the only one we ever came upon, though we not infrequently saw their marks on the ground, and sometimes traced them a long way.

On March 27 we were back at Haikota again, for the third time. We heard full particulars of the raid made by the people of that place on the Base at Sarcelle ; and I give them as they were given to me by some of the Beni-Amers that we had with us, and who represented themselves as being present at the time. I fully believe the main details of the story. Those who told us about it considered that they had behaved in a perfectly humane and natural manner, and never doubted for a moment but that we should think so too.

Sarcelle is a large village, and, like most Base villages, built on a hill. As soon as the Beni-Amers made their appearance, the inhabitants retreated into a cave in the mountain, which their enemies immediately surrounded. After standing a siege of four or five days, five Base men emerged from the cave, as they were getting pressed for food and water ; and these men were no sooner §een, than they were killed by spears. The