r deliverance. As I have
mentioned, I have seen floods before, but never one on so grand a scale
as this, which was truly African in its magnitude and character.

As if Providence were now resolved to visit us with marked favour, just
at the moment when the waters began visibly to decrease, and patches of
land to appear here and there, the escort sent by Sultan En-Noor came
riding over the neighbouring heights. Our people discovered them, and
shouted, "See, the Kailouees! the Kailouees!"

The waters rose above the general surface of the wady full two feet and
a-half. Had this deluge come during the night we should scarcely have
saved ourselves; or, at any rate, the greater part of our property and
our camels must have perished. The power of such a body of water rushing
along is tremendous. A great number of houses of Tintaghoda were carried
away, and the inhabitants declared that they never remembered such an
occurrence to have happened before. I can well believe them, otherwise
the site of the town would have been changed for higher ground. Trees
numberless were uprooted, and brought down by the mighty current, which
must have considerably altered the appearance of the valley. We could
already see that the earth was ploughed up in all directions; and when
the inundation was at its height, serious fears were entertained lest
the island on which we stood should itself be swept from under our feet.

When the waters had subsided a little the nephew of En-Noor came to us
from the town, to see our situation. He then went to meet the Maharees
which had arrived from his uncle, and soon sent to tell us that all was
right, that this party came purposely to afford us protection, and that
it included the sons of En-Noor, their nephews, and a son-in-law,
besides many household servants; in all, thirty-one men mounted, and the
rest on foot.

In the evening we moved out of the valley, and encamped on the high
ground. The rain continued to incommode us. The things of the Germans
were all wet--I managed to keep mine dry; but our sense of security now
kept up our spirits.

Towards the evening the whole male population came out of the town to
see the ravages of water, and learn how we fared. There might be fifty
persons, men and boys. These marabouts pretend that when they first saw
the escort of En-Noor, they thought it was an enemy come to attack us
whilst isolated by the floods of rain.

They said there were some hundred bandits