Chapter XXV

RESIDENCE IN KANÓ—VIEW OF ITS INTERIOR—ITS HISTORY AND PRESENT
STATE—COMMERCE 286

My Situation in Kanó—Debts—Projects—The
Commissioner—Difficulties—Sickness—Interior of Kanó; Animated
Picture—The Quarters of the Conquered and the Ruling Race—The
“Serkí” and the Gháladíma—The Audience—Presents—Plan
of Kanó—Street Groups—Industry—View from Mount
Dalá—Acquaintances in Kanó—Meditated Departure—Historical
Sketch of Kanó—Growth of the Town—The Quarters of the
Town—Ground-plan of my House—Population—Commerce—Various
Kinds of Zénne—Export of Cloth—Grand Character
of Trade—Produce—The Guinea-fowl Shirt—Leather
Work—Kola-nut—Slaves—Natron, Salt, Ivory Trade—European Goods
in Kanó—The South-American Slave-traders—Small Quantity of
Calico—Silk—Woollen Cloth—Beads—Sugar—Firearms—Razors—Arab
Dresses—Copper—The Shells and the Dollar—Markets of
Kanó—Revenues—Administration—The Conquering Tribe.

CHAPTER XXVI.

STARTING FOR KÚKAWA—THE FRONTIER DISTRICT 310

Leaving Kanó quite by myself—My Trooper—Get off later—Domestic
Slavery—Gezáwa—My Runaway Servant ʿAbdallah—The
Sheríf and his Attendants—Mules in Negroland—Kúka
Mairuwá—Insecurity—Scarcity of Water—Natron Trade—Endurance
and Privations of the Traveller—Arrival at Gerki—Take
Leave of Háusa—Gúmmel—Housebuilding—Antidote—Market at
Gúmmel—Magnitude of Ilóri—Two Spanish Dollars—Depart from
Gúmmel—Benzári—The Rebel Chief Bokhári—His Exploits—The
Governor of Máshena—Letter-carrier’s Mistake—Curious
Talisman—Manga Warriors—Wuëlleri—Scarcity of Water again—Town
of Máshena—State of the Country—Cheerful, Out-of-the-way
Place—Álamáy—Búndi and the Gháladíma—The Kárda—Route from Kanó
to Álamáy by Way of Khadéja.

CHAPTER XXVII.

BORNU PROPER 333

Intercourse—Change of Life in Negroland—Region of
the Dúm-palm—The Kúri Ox—The River Wáni—Enter Bórnu
Proper—Zurríkuló—News of the Death of Mr. Richardson—Sandy
Downs—Déffowa—Industry—The Stray Camel—Town of Wadi—Good
Market and no Provisions—Hospitable Treatment—The Banks of the
Wáni—Locusts and Hawks—Ngurútuwa; Grave of Mr. Richardson—The
Tuarek again—Aláune—The Jungles of the Komádugu—Ruins of
Ghámbarú—A Forest Encampment—Nomadic Herdsmen—Abundance of
Milk—Ford of the Komádugu—Native Ferry-boats—Khér-Álla, the
Border-warfarer—Changing Guides—The Runaway Horse—A Domestic
Quarrel.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

ARRIVAL IN KÚKAWA 352

Peculiar Character of the Alluvial Plains of Bórnu—The
Attentive Woman—Entrance into Kúkawa—Servants of the
Mission—Debts of the Mission—Interview with the Vizier—Sheikh
ʿOmár—Mr. Richardson’s Property—Amicable Arrangements.

CHAPTER XXIX.

AUTHENTICITY AND GENERAL CHARACTER OF THE HISTORY OF BÓRNU 357

Documents—Beginning of written History—Pedigree of the Bórnu
Kings—Chronology—Harmony of Facts—The Séfuwa Dynasty—Ébn
Khaldún—Makrízí and Ébn Batúta—Surprising Accuracy of the
Chronicle of Bórnu—Statement of Leo Africanus—Berber Origin
of the Séfuwa—Form of Government—The Berber Race—The Queen
Mother—Indigenous Tribes—The Tedá or Tebu—The Soy—Epochs of
Bórnu History—Greatest Power—Decline of the Bórnu Empire—The
Kánemíyín.

CHAPTER XXX.

THE CAPITAL OF BÓRNU 369

My Friends—The Arab Áhmed bel Mejúb—The Púllo Íbrahím from
the Senegal—Dangerous Medical Practice—Áhmed the Traveller—My
Bórnu Friends—The Vizier el Háj Beshír; his Career; his
Domestic Establishment; his Leniency—Debts of the Mission
paid—The English House—Plague of Insects—Preparations for
a Journey—Character of Kúkawa—The Two Towns—The Great
Market—Business and Concourse—Defective Currency—Prices of
Provisions—Fruits—Camels—Horses—Want of Native Industry—Bórnu
Women—Promenade.

CHAPTER XXXI.

THE TSÁD 386

Character of the Road to Ngórnu—Ngórnu—Searching the
Tsád—Longer Excursion—Character of the Shores of the Tsád—The
Búdduma and their Boats—Fresh Water—Swampy Plains—Boats of the
Búdduma again—Maduwári—Dress of the Sugúrti—Account of the
Lake—Shores of the Creek—Sóyorum—Káwa—Return to Kúkawa—Servants
Dismissed—Mohammed Titíwi the Auspicious Messenger—Slave
Caravan—Announcement of Rainy Season—Ride to Gawánge—Mr.
Overweg’s Arrival—Meeting—Property restored—Mercantile
Intrigues—The Sheikh’s Relatives—Messengers from
Ádamáwa—Anticipated Importance of the Eastern Branch of the
Niger—Proposed Journey to Ádamáwa.

CHAPTER XXXII.

SETTING OUT ON MY JOURNEY TO ÁDAMÁWA—THE FLAT, SWAMPY GROUNDS
OF BÓRNU 401

Leaving Kúkawa—The Road Southwards—Inhospitality near the
Capital—Buying with a Shirt—The Winter Corn—The Shúwa
Arabs—Múngholo Gezáwa—Fair Arabs—Magá District—The Gámerghú
District—District of Ujé—Fine Country—Mábaní—Pilgrim
Traders, Banks of the Yáloë—First View of the Mountains—Fúgo
Mozári—Market of Ujé—Aláwo—Approach to Mándará.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

THE BORDER COUNTRY OF THE MARGHÍ 410

Question about Snowy Mountains—The Blacksmith—Shámo District—A
Storm—Molghoy—The Southern Molghoy—Large Kúrna-trees—Structure
of the Huts—Deviations from Negro Type—The Marghí, their
Attire and Language—Edible Wild Fruits—The Baobab—Beautiful
Scenery—Íssege—Spirit of the Natives—Degenerate Fúlbe—The
Lake—View of Mount Míndif—Wándalá Mountains—Route to Sugúr—The
Marghí Tribe—Scientific Dispute—Unsafe Wilderness—Unwholesome
Water—The Return of the Slave Girl—The Bábir Tribe—Laháula—The
Idol—Alarm—Abundance of Vegetable Butter—Serious March—The Báza
Tribe—The Dividing Range—Úba—The New Colony.