APPROACH TO A PAGAN TOWN.
A maze of impenetrable cactus. ([See page 248.])
A PAGAN HOMESTEAD.
Built against a rock to prevent rear attacks. ([See page 251.])
The confusion produced is easily imagined. From the side walls of cactus through which the Hausas could not break, even with the weight of their horses, the Pagans sent showers of poisoned arrows, galloping on ponies from point to point as the situation required.
Nearer to the town the cactus sides compress to almost touch your elbows as you sit in the saddle; and, making it still more difficult for hostile horsemen who had managed to get so far to either go on quickly or to retreat, the pathway slopes into trench-form, sufficiently deep to reach to a horse’s knees and with so little width that the animal cannot stand with the forelegs side-by-side and therefore must keep moving. An enemy forced to fight in such quarters would be helpless.
No wonder those Pagans of the Plateau maintained their towns inviolate against the raiding Moslem tribes.
Having passed through the cactus maze we are entering the town. The first house differs from the others further on, not only in size, but in use. It is about 15 feet in diameter and is the only place of business in the town. It belongs to the blacksmith. The spade-hoe, spear points, broad swords and knives, the jointed bar which is placed on the nose and under the chin of a horse, a small bell that hangs from the pony’s neck, these are the manufactures. All are of iron. The metal is obtained by smelting ironstone, but customers must bring their own charcoal, so scarce is fuel. Payment is by accha, the native grain.