The Jasper news., 1907-10-17
WAR IN THE DESERT
WHERE TRIBES MINeLE IN
FIERCE CONFLICT.
Traveler 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 had the
fortune to witness Tubu raid upon
the Mecca caravan. At that time the
Yo1 districts were in 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 camp life.
Armed with long spears and mounted
on small, quick ponies and camels,
they. cover long distances, concen-
tratfng 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 portion
of the spoils. While the last great
Mecca caravan was travelling through
this country, escorted by the kachella
Of Yo and his 'horsemen, 1t was heav-
/ lily ambushed near Bulturi,. a two.days'
march from 10. The Mobburs opened
the attack by flights of poisoned ar
rowsp while, the Tubu horsemen
charged onsthe tanks, cutting on num-
bers e;of the focks Of the caravan,
FwiicH spread, oyers two, miles sdf road
and numbered TOO people and nearly
'|,d,00QScattle. sm -
h. with ths adss of Ia meE pnd 80
horses killed, the kachella, who had
,ketghtsspear: Wounds, witt. bis 100 horse.
men, kept ehe enemy Ats bay and un.
der the protection of darkness brought
the narassed carsyana jate. Bultpri
where for Ave days the Tubus hem
med II in. On the fourth day the
4 kacheila managed to sget a sr,mner
through to me, and begged me to
Z come land rescue. him. Accordingly
4 with all the arrow men and horsemer
4 could muster at Yo, / reached Bull
! turi Ia time to relieve him. At day
,brealsewe moved out of town, prepared
to fight our way back. to Yo. 1t wa.
splendid to see the kachella, mar
over six feet in height, mount hi!
horse and receive the homage of hi
) warriors. First came troops of ar
row men, who silently advanced ant
shook their bows at him; then thu
horsemen. clad in cloaks ornamentet
with patches of color, upon horses
dressed in thick arrow-proof coats
came on in line and raising thei
> spears above their heads forme
round him.
"For nearly two days running figh
ensued and the caravan toiled pair
| fully along, enveloped In the dust
{ charging horsemen. 1t was pictul
| esque sight. Whole families wer'
3 there, driving their focks and carry
( ing with them all their worldly be
t longings and their children, perche
t on the backs OF bullocks and cameli
( Among the pilgrimage there travele
pale-faced Fulanis, Husas from Sokt
Z to, handsome, dark-skinned peopl
n from nellie and Timbuktu and man
q mallanIs or priests, turbaned an
r and clothed in white, walked, cali
|. and needless of the danger, incessan
v ly telling their beads. When close
!. Yo the Tubus cleared off and tn
It kachella's warriors concentrated an
y advanced past me in long line II
8, ward the town and then the wome
. and children crowded round the KIM
Al asking the news. All night long tn
: hours were broken by the. wall
! women calling upon their dead me