MILITARY OCCUPATION 435 No further opposition was encountered in Bornu. A company was left at Gujba, and Colonel Morland, with the rest of his force, proceeded to Maidugeri. Here it was found that the report of a French expedition into British territory was correct. On the death of Rabbeh in 1900 Fad-el-Allah, his son, had defied the French, who, after some fighting, had retired across the boundary to their headquarters at Dikwa, in what is now German territory. They were again attacked by Fad-el-Allah, and they had then pursued him as far as Gujba in British territory, defeated, and killed him. They had raised levies and caravans for this raid in British territory. A great number of prisoners and much loot were taken at Gujba, and the prisoners were made to carry the loot and baggage. In return for delivering the lawful Sultan of Bornu from Fad-el-Allah the French imposed upon the Sultan a war indemnity of $71,000, in addition to $9000 already paid by his elder brother, who had been deported to the east side of Chad. The sum was to be collected by tribute from the villages, and till it could be collected the Sultan was kept prisoner by the French at Dikwa. The already impoverished country, desolated by war and counter-war, was ground to the lowest depths by this imposition.

The Sultan of Bornu was informed in his internment at Dikwa that the British Government would recognise him as sovereign if he liked to return, and in the meantime the collection of French tribute was stopped. The Sultan, or Shehu (as the Sultans of Bornu are called), readily accepted British proposals, and returned to occupy his throne under British protection, accepting the usual conditions. A garrison was placed at Maidugeri, and Residents appointed to Bornu. By this action an area of some 60,000 square miles was brought under administrative control. On the return of the expedition some unruly pagan tribes of the Yola province were subdued, and prevented from harassing peaceful traders upon the trade routes.