The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1902-01-25

time ago. Howa is nineteen
years old and is said to be as beautiful
as dream Of the Arabian Nights. She
has inherited her fathers remarkable
military genius and Is a mighty captain
among her people, leading armies, drill
ing troops and fighting with dash and
bravery which carries all before her.
Where Howa leads her dusky troops fol-
low to the death. She is as wise in coun-
ell as she is brave and sagacious in the
field, and has filed Central Africa with
her renown already.
The kingdom Of Bornu lies In the very
heart Of Africa, south of the great des-
ert Of Sahara. Its capital is Kuka, a
comparatively modern city, which rises
from the shores of Lake Chad, white
and shining on its hillsides. Kuka is a
great mart Of commerce, for it Is 1.-The
meeting place of numerous caravan
routes which come from the east, the
south and the north, so that all Central
and Northern Africa meet in the market
place of the city. Few white men have
seen the city, but those who have de-
scribe it as populous and well built. and
displaying many evidences of wealth and
luxury. From Kuka the sultan of Bornu
rules all the native states in the region
round about. Rabah who founded the
present empire and whose daughter is
now distinguishing herself In battle, was
an African Napoleon. an adventurer
from Wandai, the native kingdom to the
east OF BOrnu. Having raised himself
to the supreme rule of his native coun-
try, Rabah set out on career Of con-
quest and fell upon the decaying State
of Bornu. Bornu had existed since the
ninth century as a powerful nation, but
owing to the weakness OF its rulers. was:
then in a state of decay. Rabah came
like a whirlwind from the desert and
after a few fierce battles was master Of
the ancient kingdom. ,... ,.t."
he tn
and to annex the country of the native
rulers whose domains lay adjacent to his
kanem, kingdom to the north of Lake
Chad, he overran, and then, sweeping
across that strip of territory which the
Germans claim as a part Of the Kane
runs, he attacked the kingdom of Bagir-
mi and added that to his domains. But
In doing this Rabah got into trouble with
the French, who claimed some sort of a
protectorate over Bagirmi. A French ex-
petition, sent out to aid the Bagirnis,
was annihilated by Rabah, and he boldly
defled the power Of France. A punitive
expedition was sent out by the Franch,
which, after a few skirmishes with the
Bornu troops, met Rabah in battle near
the borders Of Lake Chad and defeated
him with great slaughter. Rabah him
self was killed and his head set on a pole
on the ramparts of the lntrenched camp
where he had made his last stand.
ILdUdA . ARMY llIOucIN IlllCS dllu d
few pieces of artillery which had been
brought to him by the caravans across
the great desert from the ports OF North
Africa. But the most picturesque thing
about the army Of the sultan was the
cavalry, which was clothed in armor OF
the time Of the crusaders. Some of the
suits were veritable crusaders armor,
dating back to the time Of Salad1n and
Richard the Lion Hearted. The other
suits Of armor were modelled upon the old
ones, and the appearance Of the horse
men when they went forth to war thus
attired was picturesque pageant such
as has not been seen by white men since
s'Godfrey led his red cross knights and
mad Orlando hacked and slew, These
old suits of arnlor had been handed down
frons generation to generation In Arab
families whose ancestors had them as
spoils Of war in the time Of the crusades,
and when the Arabs went to Africa the
suits Of armor went with them. The ar
4isans Of Kuka are cunning artisans IN