River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-10-03
WAR In THE DESERT
WHERE TRIBES MINGLE IN
FIERCE CONFLICT.
Traveller Describes Scenes of Carnage
That Accompanied the Conveying
of Caravan Across the Vast
Waste of Arid Land.

Lieut. Boyd Alexander describes an
incident of travel in Africa: Previous
to my work on Lake Chad l had the
fortune to witness a Tubu raid upon
the Mecca caravan. At that time the
Yo districts were in a most unsettled
state; natives went about fully armed
and only travelled by night for fear OF
the Tubus, who were on the warpath
These people are the nomad robbers
of the Sahara and lead a camp life.
Armed with long spears and mounted
on small, quick ponies and camels,
they cover long distances, concen-
trating suddenly when a raid is con-
templated, afterward to scatter and as
quickly disappear. Many of the law
less Mobbur are their worthy allies,
acting as spies and sharing a portion
of the spoils. While the last great
Mecca caravan was travelling through
this country, escorted by the kachella
of 70 and his horsemen, it was heav-
lily ambushed near Bulturi, two-days,
march from Yo. The Mobburs opened
the attack by flights of poisoned ar
rows, while the Tubu horsemen
charged on the TANKS, cutting off num-
bers Of the flocks of the caravan,
which spread over two miles OF road
and numbered 700 people and nearly
1000 cattle.
with the loss of II men and 30
horses killed, the kachella, who had
eight spear wounds, with his 100 horse
men, kept the enemy at bay and un-
der the protection of darkness brought
the harassed caravan into Bulturi,
where for five days the Tubus hem
med it in. On the fourth day the
kachella managed to get runner
through to me, and begged me tC
come and rescue him. Accordingly.
with all the arrow men and horsemen
[ could muster at 70, / reached Bull
turf in time to relieve him. At day
break we moved out of town, prepared
to fight our way back to 70. 1t was
splendid to see the kachella, man
over six feet in height, mount his
horse and receive the homage of his
warriors. First came troops of ar
row men, who silently advanced and
shook their bows at him; then the
horsemen, clad in cloaks Ornamented
with patches of color, upon horses
dressed in thick arrow-proof coats,
came on in line and raising their
spears above their heads formed
round him.
For nearly two days running fight
ensued and the caravan toiled pain
fully along, enveloped in the dust OF
charging horsemen. 1t was a pictur-
esque sight. Whole families were
there, driving their focks and carry
ing with them all their worldly be-
Lodgings and their children, perched
on the backs of bullocks and camels.
Among the pilgrimage there travelled
pale-faced Fulanis, Husas from Soko-
to. handsome, dark-skinned people
from Melle and Timbuktu and many
mallams or priests, turbaned and
and clothed in white, walked, calm
and needless of the danger, incessant-
ly telling their beads. When close to
Yo the Tubus cleared off and the
kachella's warriors concentrated and
advanced past me in a long line to-
ward the town and then the women
and children crowded round the king,
asking the news. All night long the
hours were broken by the wall OF
women calling upon their dead men
| to return.