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Updated: June 12, 2025
The slopes of the rising ground were fairly steep except at a gap in the centre, where a deep ravine had been utilized by the makers of the road. It was an ideal spot for an ambuscade. Sheltering behind the cacti that abundantly covered the hill the Haussas could extend on a fairly broad front, and concentrate a heavy fire upon any enemy retiring along the path.
"Prone position independent firing," shouted the major, realising that it was a forlorn hope for a few men to charge. Until a sufficient number of bayonets was on the plateau a forward movement was out of the question. Coolly the Haussas threw themselves on the ground, taking advantage of every scrap of cover.
There were other roving forces still in the district, and against these the Haussas were to operate in conjunction with other detachments. "It's all right when we catch Fritz sitting," remarked Spofforth. "The trouble is that he strongly objects to be caught. We'll have to chase him from the Rovuma to Kilimanjaro and back before we square up this business."
The natural features of the face of the plateau made the ascent a difficult one. Often the Haussas had to climb upon their comrades' shoulders, and in return help them to surmount an awkward terrace; yet everything considered the triple line was well maintained, the blacks needing no encouragement from their white officers, who, perspiring freely in every pore, were well ahead of their men.
From all that has been written three facts are prominent: That at some time early in the Middle Ages, perhaps about the seventh century, there was a considerable infiltration of Arabian culture into the tribes living below the Sahara, something of which may to-day most easily be seen among such people as the Haussas in the Soudan and the Mandingoes along the West Coast; That, whatever influences came in from the outside, there developed in Africa an independent culture which must not be underestimated; and That, perhaps vastly more than has been supposed, this African culture had to do with early exploration and colonization in America.
Returning his field glasses and confidently snapping the lid of the case Wilmshurst gave the word to advance in open order. He had decided upon a position about two hundred yards short of the derelict aircraft, guessing that the still unsuspecting enemy would concentrate upon that objective, and thus form a compact and easy target for the Haussas' rifles.
As the distance decreased he could make out the man's features, quite distinctly, and could see him talking volubly with the German officers on either side. The Askaris were numerically far stronger than Wilmshurst's platoon, but the Haussas had a great advantage that of being the surprising force.
Thomson secured for his countrymen undisputed access to Lake Chad and the great country peopled by the warlike Haussas . Seeing that both France and Germany seek to restrict foreign trade in their colonies, while Great Britain gives free access to all merchants on equal terms, we may regard this brilliant success as a gain, not only for the United Kingdom, but for the commerce of the world.
The Haussas, too, were far from comfortable. Had they their wish they would have lighted a roaring fire, one of the most effective though not infallible means of keeping wild animals at bay. The fifty minutes' halt in the desolate bush terminated when the deep orange-hued orb of night rose above the distant sea.
A mile and a half of this sort of marching the Haussas were in single file and the platoon emerged into a wider track running obliquely across the path they had taken. Halting his men Wilmshurst, assisted by Sergeant Bela Moshi, examined the ground.
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