378 Seven Years in the Soudan.

thousand spearmen. This force, divided into three columns, was to unite at a fixed place and make a trench.

"The first column, on meeting with the Atots, halted to give the other two time to make a flank movement. The Atots, finding the enemy behind them, turned aside, allowing the column of attack to advance without much resistance. During their retreat the Atots found themselves between two fires and were punished severely. They were pursued from one place to another for a whole month, and lost more than three thousand bullocks. At last, decimated and tired out, they came to implore for peace, saying that they had been badly advised by their Kojur (magician), who paid for this unfortunate war with his life. They now submit to all our demands, and guard the roads from the imprudent people ayIio attempt to commit new aggressions.

" During this expedition there was no bread for a whole month, and my Besingers had nothing to eat but meat, so that a thousand bullocks were consumed. The remaining two thousand I sent to Bahr-el-Ghazal, to propagate the race which had quite disappeared after the raids of Suleiman and his Arab robbers.

" I intended to make an excursion to Delgauna, when I began to feel acute pain in my left ankle. Supposing that I had sprained it I paid no attention, but the pain increased and changed its position, feeling like needle-pricks in the sole of my foot, which was very much swollen, so that I Avas obliged to go to bed. The pain brought on strong fever, and I was at last convinced that I was attacke'd by the guineaworm. T had always heard that one got it by walking in mud or water, but, in spite of every precaution, it was impossible to avoid marching in the water, because my horse sank too deep, so that I was obliged to do almost all the marching on foot. After thirty-three days of suffering and sleeplessness,