AbouSaoodorderedhispeopletobringanumberofstraw-roofsfromhisstation，toformaprotectionfortheofficers。Themenquicklyhousedthemselvesintemporaryhuts，andthecattlewereplacedforthenightinaregularamphitheatreofrock，whichformedanexcellentposition。
On8thMarch，Ireviewedthetroops，andhavinggiventhenativeswarningofmyintention，Ihadasham-fightandattackoftheFatikomountain。Havingfiredseveralrocketsatasupposedenemy，thetroopsadvancedintwocompaniestothenorthandsouthextremitiesofthemountain，whichtheyscaledwithgreatactivity，andjoinedtheirforcesonthecleanplateauofgraniteonthesummitoftheridge。Theeffectwasverygood，andappearedtodelightthenatives，whohadassembledinconsiderablenumbers。Afterfiringseveralvolleys，thetroopsdescendedthehill，andmarchedback，withthebandplaying。
Themusicofourbandbeingproducedsimplybyaconsiderablenumberofbugles，drums，andcymbals，aidedbyalargemilitarybass-drum，mightnothavebeenthoughtfirst-rateinEurope，butinAfricaitwasirresistible。
Thenativesarepassionatelyfondofmusic；andIbelievethesafestwaytotravelinthosewildcountrieswouldbetoplaythecornet，ifpossiblewithoutceasing，whichwouldinsureasafepassage。ALondonorgan-grinderwouldmarchthroughCentralAfricafollowedbyanadmiringandenthusiasticcrowd，who，ifhistuneswerelively，wouldformadancingescortofthemostuntiringmaterial。
Asmytroopsreturnedtotheirquarters，withthebandplayingrathercheerfulairs，weobservedthewomenracingdownfromtheirvillages，andgatheringfromalldirectionstowardsthecommoncentre。Astheyapproachednearer，thecharmsofmusicwereoverpowering，and，haltingforaninstant，theyassumedwhattheyconsideredthemostgracefulattitudes，andthendanceduptotheband。