THE TSÁD.
My stay in the town was agreeably interrupted by an excursion to Ngórnu
and the shores of the lake.
_Thursday, April 24_:—Sheikh ʿOmár, with his whole court, left Kúkawa in
the night of the 23rd of April, in order to spend a day or two in Ngórnu,
where he had a tolerably good house; and, having been invited by the
vizier to go there, I also followed on the morning of the next day. This
road to Ngórnu, is strongly marked with that sameness and monotony which
characterize the neighbourhood of Kúkawa. At first nothing is seen but
the melancholy “káwo,” _Asclepias procera_ or _gigantea_; then “ngílle,”
low bushes of _Cucifera_, appear, and gradually trees begin to enliven
the landscape, first scattered here and there, further on forming a sort
of underwood. The path is broad and well-trodden, but consists mostly of
deep sandy soil. There are no villages on the side of the road, but a
good many at a little distance. In the rainy season some very large ponds
are formed by its side. Two miles and a half before the traveller reaches
Ngórnu—the trees cease again, being only seen in detached clusters at
a great distance, marking the sites of villages, while near the road
they give way to an immense fertile plain, where beans are cultivated,
besides grain. However, this also is covered at this season of the year
with the tiresome and endless _Asclepias_. Among the sites of former
towns on the east side of the road is that of New Bírni, which was built
by the Sultan Mohammed, when residing in Berberuwá, about the year 1820,
and destroyed by Háj Beshír in the year 1847, and does not now contain a
living soul. Further on is a group of kitchen-gardens belonging to some
grandees, and adorned with two or three most splendid tamarind-trees,
which in this monotonous landscape have a peculiar charm.
It was about one o’clock in the afternoon when I entered Ngórnu, the town
of “the blessing.” The heat being then very great, scarcely anybody was
to be seen in the streets; but the houses, or rather yards, were full
of people, tents having been pitched to accommodate so many visitors,
while fine horses looked forth everywhere over the low fences, saluting
us as we passed by. Scarcely a single clay house was to be seen, with
the exception of the house of the sheikh, which lies at the end of the
déndal; but nevertheless the town made the impression of comfort and
ease, and every yard was neatly-fenced with new “síggedí” mats, and well
shaded by kórna-trees, while the huts were large and spacious.
Having in vain presented myself at the house of the vizier, where the
people were all asleep, and wandered about the town for a good while,
I at length took up my quarters provisionally with some Arabs, till
the cool of the afternoon aroused the courtiers from their long midday
slumber, which they certainly may have needed, inasmuch as they had been
up at two o’clock in the morning. But even after I had the good fortune
to see Háj Beshír, I found it difficult to obtain quarters, and I was
obliged to pitch my tent in a courtyard.
Being tired of the crowd in the town, I mounted on horseback early next
morning in order to refresh myself with a sight of the lake, which
I supposed to be at no great distance, and indulged beforehand in
anticipations of the delightful view which I fondly imagined was soon
to greet my eye. We met a good many people and slaves going out to cut
grass for the horses; and leaving them to their work we kept on towards
the rising sun. But no lake was to be seen, and an endless grassy plain
without a single tree extended to the furthest horizon. At length, after
the grass had increased continually in freshness and luxuriance, we
reached a shallow swamp, the very indented border of which, sometimes
bending in, at others bending out, greatly obstructed our progress.
Having struggled for a length of time to get rid of this swamp, and
straining my eyes in vain to discover the glimmering of an open water in
the distance, I at length retraced my steps, consoling myself with the
thought that I had seen at least some slight indication of the presence
of the watery element, and which seemed indeed to be the only thing which
was at present to be seen here.
How different was this appearance of the country from that which it
exhibited in the winter from 1854 to 1855, when more than half of the
town of Ngórnu was destroyed by the water, and a deep open sea was formed
to the south of this place, in which the fertile plain as far as the
village of Kúkiya lay buried. This great change seems to have happened
in consequence of the lower strata of the ground, which consisted of
limestone, having given way in the preceding year, and the whole shore on
this side having sunk several feet; but even without such a remarkable
accident, the character of the Tsád is evidently that of an immense
lagoon, changing its border every month, and therefore incapable of being
mapped with accuracy. Indeed, when I saw to-day the nature of these
swampy lowlands surrounding the lake, or rather lagoon, I immediately
became aware that it would be quite impossible to survey its shores, even
if the state of the countries around should allow us to enter upon such
an undertaking. The only thing possible would be on one side to fix the
furthest limits reached at times by the inundation of the lagoon, and on
the other to determine the extent of the navigable waters.
Having returned to the town, I related to the vizier my unsuccessful
excursion in search of the Tsád, and he obligingly promised to send some
horsemen to conduct me along the shore as far as Káwa, whence I should
return to the capital.
_Saturday, April 26._—The sheikh, with his court, having left Ngórnu
before the dawn of day, on his return to Kúkawa, I sent back my camel,
with my two men also, by the direct road; and then having waited awhile
in vain for the promised escort, I went myself with Bu-Sád, to look after
it, but succeeded only in obtaining two horsemen, one of whom was the
Kashélla Kótoko, an amiable, quiet Kánemma chief, who ever afterwards
remained my friend, and the other a horseguard of the sheikh’s, of the
name of Sále. With these companions we set out on our excursion, going
north-east: for due east from the town, as I now learned, the lagoon was
at present at more than ten miles’ distance. The fine grassy plain seemed
to extend to a boundless distance, uninterrupted by a single tree, or
even a shrub; not a living creature was to be seen, and the sun began
already to throw a fiery veil over all around, making the vicinity of the
cooling element desirable. After a little more than half an hour’s ride
we reached swampy ground, and began to make our way through the water,
often up to our knees on horseback. We thus came to the margin of a fine
open sheet of water, encompassed with papyrus and tall reed, of from ten
to fourteen feet in height, of two different kinds, one called “méle,”
and the other “bóre,” or “bóle.” The méle has a white tender core, which
is eaten by the natives, but to me seemed insipid; the bóre has a head
like the common bulrush, and its stalk is triangular. The thicket was
interwoven by a climbing plant with yellow flowers, called “bórbuje”
by the natives, while on the surface of the water was a floating plant
called, very facetiously, by the natives, “fánna-billa-bágo” (the
homeless fánna). This creek was called “Ngíruwá.”
Then turning a little more to the north, and passing still through deep
water full of grass, and most fatiguing for the horses, while it seemed
most delightful to me, after my dry and dreary journey through this
continent, we reached another creek, called “Dímbebér.” Here I was so
fortunate as to see two small boats, or “mákara,” of the Búdduma, as they
are called by the Kanúri, or Yédiná, as they call themselves, the famous
pirates of the Tsád. They were small flat boats, made of the light and
narrow wood of the “fógo,” about twelve feet long, and managed by two men
each; as soon as the men saw us, they pushed their boats off from the
shore. They were evidently in search of human prey; and as we had seen
people from the neighbouring villages, who had come here to cut reeds to
thatch their huts anew for the rainy season, we went first to inform them
of the presence of these constant enemies of the inhabitants of these
fertile banks of the lagoon, that they might be on their guard; for they
could not see them, owing to the quantity of tall reeds with which the
banks and the neighbouring land was overgrown.
We then continued our watery march. The sun was by this time very
powerful; but a very gentle cooling breeze came over the lagoon, and made
the heat supportable. We had water enough to quench our thirst—indeed
more than we really wanted; for we might have often drunk with our mouth,
by stooping down a little, on horseback, so deeply were we immersed.
But the water was exceeding warm, and full of vegetable matter. It is
perfectly fresh, as fresh as water can be. It seems to have been merely
from prejudice that people in Europe have come to the conclusion that
this Central African basin must either have an outlet, or must be salt.
For I can positively assert that it has no outlet, and that its water is
perfectly fresh. Indeed I do not see from whence saltness of the water
should arise in a district in which there is no salt at all, and in
which the herbage is so destitute of this element, that the milk of the
cows and sheep fed on it is rather insipid, and somewhat unwholesome.
Certainly, in the holes around the lagoon, where the soil is strongly
impregnated with natron, and which are only for a short time of the year
in connection with the lake, the water, when in small quantity, must
savour of the peculiar quality of the soil; but when these holes are
full, the water in them likewise is fresh.
While we rode along these marshy, luxuriant plains, large herds of
“kelára” started up, bounding over the rushes, and sometimes swimming,
at others running, soon disappeared in the distance. This is a peculiar
kind of antelope, which I have nowhere seen but in the immediate vicinity
of the lake. In colour and size it resembles the roe, and has a white
belly. The kelára is by no means slender, but rather bulky, and extremely
fat; this, however, may not be a specific character, but merely the
consequence of the rich food which it enjoys here. It may be identical
with, or be a variety of the _Antilope Arabica_, and the Arabs, and those
of the natives who understand a little Arabic, call both by the same
name, “el áriyel.”
Proceeding onwards, we reached about noon another creek, which is used
occasionally by the Búdduma as a harbour, and is called “Ngúlbeá.” We,
however, found it empty, and only inhabited by ngurútus, or river-horses,
which, indeed, live here in great numbers, snorting about in every
direction, and by two species of crocodiles. In this quarter there are no
elephants, for the very simple reason that they have no place of retreat
during the night; for this immense animal (at least in Africa) appears
to be very sensible of the convenience of a soft couch in the sand, and
of the inconvenience of mosquitoes too; wherefore it prefers to lie down
on a spot a little elevated above the swampy ground, whither it resorts
for its daily food. On the banks of the northern part of the Tsád, on the
contrary, where a range of low sandhills and wood encompasses the lagoon,
we shall meet with immense herds of this animal.
Ngúlbeá was the easternmost point of our excursion; and turning
here a little west from north, we continued our march over drier
pasture-grounds, placed beyond the reach of the inundation, and, after
about three miles, reached the deeply indented and well-protected creek
called “Ngómarén.” Here I was most agreeably surprised by the sight of
eleven boats of the Yédiná. Large, indeed, they were considering the
shipbuilding of these islanders; but otherwise they looked very small
and awkward, and, resting quite flat on the water, strikingly reminded
me of theatrical exhibitions in which boats are introduced on the stage.
They were not more than about twenty feet long,[47] but seemed tolerably
broad; and one of them contained as many as eleven people, besides a
good quantity of natron and other things. They had a very low waist, but
rather a high and pointed prow. They are made of the narrow boards of the
fógo-tree, which are fastened together with ropes from the dúm-palm, the
holes being stopped with bast.
The Kánembú inhabitants of many neighbouring villages carry on trade with
the islanders almost uninterruptedly, while elsewhere the latter are
treated as most deadly enemies. Two parties of Kánembú happened to be
here with argúm or millet, which they exchange for the natron. They were
rather frightened when they saw us, the Búdduma being generally regarded
as enemies; but the sheikh and his counsellors are well aware of this
intercourse, and, wanting either the spirit or the power to reduce those
islanders to subjection, they must allow their own subjects, whom they
fail to protect against the continual inroads of the Búdduma, to deal
with the latter at their own discretion. It was my earnest wish to go on
board one of the boats, and to examine their make attentively; and, with
the assistance of Kashélla Kótoko, who was well known to the Búdduma, I
should perhaps have succeeded, if Bú-Sʿad, my Mohammedan companion, had
not behaved like a madman: indeed I could scarcely restrain him from
firing at these people, who had done us no harm. This was certainly
a mere outbreak of fanaticism. When the people in the boats saw my
servant’s excited behaviour, they left the shore, though numerous enough
to overpower us; and we then rode on to another creek called Méllelá,
whence we turned westwards and in about an hour, partly through water,
partly over a grassy plain, reached Maduwári.
Maduwári, at that time, was an empty sound for me—a name without a
meaning, just like the names of so many other places at which I had
touched on my wanderings; but it was a name about to become important in
the history of the expedition, to which many a serious remembrance was to
be attached. Maduwári was to contain another white man’s grave, and thus
to rank with Ngurútuwa.
When I first entered the place from the side of the lake, it made a
very agreeable impression upon me, as it showed evident signs of ease
and comfort, and, instead of being closely packed together, as most of
the towns and villages of the Kanúri are, it lay dispersed in eleven or
twelve separate clusters of huts, shaded by a rich profusion of kórna
and bíto-trees. I was conducted by my companion, Kashélla Kótoko, to
the house of Fúgo ʿAli. It was the house wherein Mr. Overweg, a year
and a half later, was to expire; while Fúgo ʿAli himself, the man who
first contracted friendship with me, then conducted my companion on his
interesting navigation round the islands of the lake, and who frequented
our house, was destined to fall a sacrifice in the revolution of 1854.
How different was my reception then, when I first went to his house on
this my first excursion to the lake, and when I revisited it with Mr.
Vogel in the beginning of 1855, when Fúgo ʿAli’s widow was sobbing at my
side, lamenting the ravages of time, the death of my companion, and that
of her own husband!
The village pleased me so much that I took a long walk through it before
I sat down to rest; and after being treated most sumptuously with fowls
and a roasted sheep, I passed the evening very agreeably in conversation
with my black friends. The inhabitants of all these villages are
Kánembú,[48] belonging to the tribe of the Sugúrti, who in former times
were settled in Kánem, till by the wholesale devastation of that country
they were compelled to leave their homes and seek a retreat in these
regions. Here they have adopted the general dress of the Kanúri; and only
very few of them may at present be seen exhibiting their original native
costume, the greatest ornament of which is the headdress, while the body
itself, with the exception of a tight leathern apron, or “fúno,” is
left naked. This is a remarkable peculiarity of costume, which seems to
prevail among almost all barbarous tribes. The original headdress of the
Sugúrti, that is to say, of the head men of the tribe, consists of four
different articles: first, the “jóka,” or cap, rather stiff, and widening
at the top, where the second article, the “ariyábu” (aliyáfu), is tied
round it; from the midst of the folds of the ariyábu, just over the front
of the head, the “múllefu” stands forth, a piece of red cloth, stiffened,
as it seems, by a piece of leather from behind; and all round the crown
of the head a bristling crown of reeds rises with barbaric majesty to
a height of about eight inches. Round his neck he wears a tight string
of white beads or “kulúlu,” and hanging down upon the breast, several
small leather pockets, containing written charms or láya, while his
right arm is ornamented with three rings, one on the upper arm, called
“wíwi or bíbi,” one made of ivory, and called “chíla,” above the elbow,
and another, called “kúllo,” just above the wrist. The shields of the
Sugúrti, at least most of them, are broad at the top as well as at the
base, and besides his large spear or kasákka, he is always armed with
three or four javelins, “bállem.” But besides the Sugúrti there happened
to be just then present in the village some Búdduma, handsome, slender,
and intelligent people, their whole attire consisting in a leathern
apron and a string of white beads round the neck, which, together with
their white teeth, produces a beautiful contrast with the jet-black
skin. They gave me the first account of the islands of the lake, stating
that the open water, which in their language is called “Kalilémma,” or
rather Kálu kemé, begins one day’s voyage from Káya, the small harbour
of Maduwári, stretching in the direction of Sháwi, and that the water is
thenceforth from one to two fathoms deep. I invariably understood from
all the people with whom I spoke about this interesting lake, that the
open water, with its islands of elevated sandy downs, stretches from the
mouth of the Sháry towards the western shore, and that all the rest of
the lake consists of swampy meadow-lands, occasionally inundated. Indeed
Tsád, or Tsáde, is nothing else but another form for Sháry, Shárí, or
sárí. I shall have occasion to speak again about this point when briefly
reporting my unfortunate companion’s voyage on the lake.[49]
Having closed my day’s labour usefully and pleasantly, I lay down under
a sort of shed, but had much to suffer from mosquitoes, which, together
with fleas, are a great nuisance near the banks of the lagoon.
_Sunday, April 27._—Before sunrise we were again in the saddle,
accompanied by Fúgo or Púfo ʿAli, who had his double pair of small drums
with him, and looked well on his stately horse. It was a beautiful
morning, and I was delighted with the scene around. Clear and unbroken
were the lines of the horizon, the swampy plain extending on our right
towards the lake, and blending with it, so as to allow the mind that
delights in wandering over distant regions a boundless expanse to rove
in—an enjoyment not to be found in mountainous regions, be the mountains
ever so distant. For
“’Tis distance lends enchantment to the view.”
Thus we went on slowly northwards, while the sun rose over the patches
of water, which spread over the grassy plain; and on our left the
village displayed its snug yards and huts, neatly fenced and shaded
by spreading trees. We now left Maduwári, and after a little while
passed another village called Dógoji, when we came to a large hamlet
or “berí” of Kánembú cattle-breeders, who had the care of almost all
the cattle of the villages along the shores of the lake, which is very
credibly reported to amount together to eleven thousand head. The herd
here collected—numbering at least a thousand head, most of them of that
peculiar kind, called kúri, mentioned before—was placed in the midst,
while the men were encamped all around, armed with long spears and light
shields; at equal distances long poles were fixed in the ground, on which
the butter was hung up in skins or in “kórió,” vessels made of grass.
Here we had some delay, as Fúgo ʿAli, who was the inspector of all these
villages, had to make inquiries respecting three head of cattle belonging
to the vizier, which had been stolen during the night. On our left the
considerable village of Bínder, which is at least as large as Maduwári,
exhibited an interesting picture; and I had leisure to make a sketch.
Having here indulged in a copious draught of fresh milk, we resumed our
march, turning to the eastward; and having passed through deep water we
reached the creek “Kógorám,” surrounded by a dense belt of tall rushes
of various kinds. We were just about to leave this gulf, when we were
joined by Zíntelma, another Kánemma chief, who ever afterwards remained
attached to me and Mr. Overweg, with five horsemen. Our troop having thus
increased, we went on cheerfully to another creek called Tábirám, whence
we galloped towards Bolé, trying in vain to overtake a troop of kelára
(the antelope before mentioned), which rushed headlong into the water and
disappeared in the jungle. Before, however, we could get to this latter
place, we had to pass very deep water, which covered my saddle, though I
was mounted on a tall horse, and swamped altogether my poor Bú-Sʿad on
his pony; nothing but his head and his gun were to be seen for a time.
But it was worth while to reach the spot which we thus attained at the
widest creek of the lake as yet seen by me,—a fine open sheet of water,
the surface of which, agitated by a light east wind, threw its waves upon
the shore. All around was one forest of reeds of every description, while
the water itself was covered with water-plants, chiefly the water-lily
or _Nymphæa lotus_. Numberless flocks of waterfowl of every description
played about. The creek has an angular form; and its recess, which makes
a deep indentation from E. 30 N. to W. 30 S., is named Nghélle.
Having made our way through the water and rushes, and at length got again
on firm ground, we made a momentary halt to consider what next to do.
Háj Beshír had taught me to hope that it would be possible to reach on
horseback the island Sóyurum, which extends a long way into the lake,
and whence I might have an extensive view over the Kálu kemé and many
of the islands; but my companions were unanimously of opinion that the
depth of the water to be crossed for many miles exceeded the height of my
horse; and although I was quite ready to expose myself to more wetting,
in order to see a greater portion of this most interesting feature of
Central Africa, I nevertheless did not think it worth while to ride a
whole day through deep water, particularly as in so doing I should not
be able to keep my chronometer and my compass dry; for these were now
the most precious things which I had on earth, and could not be replaced
and repaired so easily as gun and pistols. But moreover my horse, which
had never been accustomed to fatigue, and had not been well fed, had
become quite lame, and seemed scarcely able to carry me back to Kúkawa. I
therefore gave up the idea of visiting the island, which in some years,
when the lake does not rise to a great height, may be reached with little
inconvenience,[50] and followed my companions towards the large village
of Káwa.
Passing over fields planted with cotton and beans, but without native
corn, which is not raised here at all, we reached Káwa after an hour’s
ride, while we passed on our left a small swamp. Káwa is a large
straggling village, which seems to enjoy some political pre-eminence
above the other places hereabouts, and on this account is placed in
a somewhat hostile position to the independent inhabitants of the
islands, with which the Kánembú in general keep up a sort of peaceful
intercourse. What to me seemed the most interesting objects were
the splendid trees adorning the place. The sycamore under which our
party was desired to rest in the house of Fúgo ʿAli’s sister was most
magnificent, and afforded the most agreeable resting-place possible,
the space overshadowed by the crown of the tree being enclosed with a
separate fence, as the “fágé,” or place of meeting. Here we were feasted
with a kind of “boló-boló,” or water mixed with pounded argúm or dukhn,
sour milk, and meat, and then continued our march to Kúkawa, where we
arrived just as the vizier was mounting on horseback to go to the sheikh.
Galloping up to him, we paid him our respects; and he expressed himself
well pleased with me. My companions told him that we had been swimming
about in the lake for the last two days, and that I had written down
everything. The whole cavalcade, consisting of eight horsemen, then
accompanied me to my house, where I gave them a treat.
I returned just in time from my excursion; for the next day the caravan
for Fezzán encamped outside the town, and I had to send off two of my men
with it. One of them was the carpenter Ibrahím, a handsome young man,
but utterly unfit for work, of whom I was extremely glad to get rid; the
other was Mohammed el Gatróni, my faithful servant from Múrzuk, whom I
dismissed with heartfelt sorrow. He had had a very small salary; and I
therefore promised to give him four Spanish dollars a month, and to mount
him on horseback; but it was all in vain; he was anxious to see his wife
and children again, after which he promised to come back. I, therefore,
like the generals of ancient Rome, gave him leave of absence—“pueris
procreandis daret operam.”
On the other side, it was well worth a sacrifice to send a trustworthy
man to Fezzán. The expedition had lost its director, who alone was
authorized to act in the name of the Government which had sent us out;
we had no means whatever, but considerable debts, and without immediate
aid by fresh supplies, the surviving members could do no better than to
return home as soon as possible. Moreover, there were Mr. Richardson’s
private things to be forwarded, and particularly his journal, which, from
the beginning of the journey down to the very last days of his life, he
had kept with great care,—more fortunate he, and more provident in this
respect than my other companion, who laughed at me when, during moments
of leisure, I finished the notes which I had briefly written down during
the march, and who contended that nothing could be done in this respect
till after a happy return home. I therefore provided Mohammed, upon
whose discretion and fidelity I could entirely rely, with a camel, and
entrusted to him all Mr. Richardson’s things and my parcel of letters,
which he was to forward by the courier, who is generally sent on by the
caravan after its arrival in the Tébu country.
There were two respectable men with the caravan, Háj Hassan, a man
belonging to the family of el Kánemi, and in whose company Mr. Vogel
afterwards travelled from Fezzán to Bórnu, and Mohammed Titíwi. On the
2nd of May, therefore, I went to pay a visit to these men, but found
only Titíwi, to whom I recommended my servant. He promised to render
him all needful assistance. I had but little intercourse with this man,
yet this little occurred on important occasions, and so his name has
become a pleasant remembrance to me. I first met him when sending off
the literary remains of my unfortunate companion. I at the same time
ventured to introduce myself to Her Majesty’s Government, and to try if
it would so far rely upon me, a foreigner, as to entrust me with the
further direction of the expedition, and to ask for means; it was then
Titíwi again who brought me the most honourable despatches from the
British Government, authorizing me to carry out the expedition just as
it had been intended, and at the same time means for doing so. It was
Titíwi, who on the day when I was leaving Kúkawa on my long adventurous
journey to Timbúktu, came to my house to wish me success in my arduous
undertaking; and it was Titíwi again, who, on the 2nd of August, 1855,
came to the consul’s house, in Tripoli, to congratulate me on my
successful return from the interior.
He was an intelligent man, and being informed that I was about to
undertake a journey to Ádamáwa, the dangers of which he well knew, he
expressed his astonishment that I should make the attempt with a weak
horse, such as I was then riding. My horse, though it had recovered a
little from its lameness, and was getting strength from a course of
dumplings made of the husk of Negro corn mixed with natron, which it had
to swallow every morning and evening, was anything but a good charger;
and having previously determined to look about for a better horse, I was
only confirmed in my intention by the observation of the experienced
merchant.
This was one of the largest slave caravans which departed during my stay
in Bórnu; for, if I am not mistaken, there were seven hundred and fifty
slaves in the possession of the merchants who went with it. Slaves are as
yet the principal export from Bórnu, and will be so till the slave-trade
on the north coast is abolished.
Overweg had not yet arrived, although we had received information
that he was on his way directly from Zínder, having given up his
intention of visiting Kanó. Before I set out on my journey to Ádamáwa,
it was essential that I should confer with him about many things, and
particularly as to what he himself should first undertake, but the rainy
season was fast approaching even here, while in Ádamáwa it had set in
long ago, and it seemed necessary that I should not delay any longer.
In the afternoon of the 5th of May, we had the first unmistakable token
of the rainy season—a few heavy claps of thunder followed by rain. But
I did not tarry; the very same day I bought in the market all that was
necessary for my journey, and the next day succeeded in purchasing a
very handsome and strong grey horse, “keri bul,” for twelve hundred and
seventy rotls, equal at that moment to two-and-thirty Austrian dollars,
while I sold my weak horse which the sheikh had given me for nine hundred
rotls, or twenty-two dollars and a half.
Having also bought an Arab saddle, I felt myself quite a match for
anybody, and hearing in the afternoon that the sheikh had gone to
Gawánge, a place two miles and a half east from the town towards the
lake, I mounted my new steed, and setting off at a gallop, posted
myself before the palace just when ʿOmár was about to come out with the
flourishing of the trumpets, sounding the Háusa word “gashí, gashí,”
“Here he is, here he is.” The sheikh was very handsomely dressed in
a fine white bernús over another of light blue colour, and very well
mounted on a fine black horse “fir kéra.” He was accompanied by several
of his and the vizier’s courtiers, and about two hundred horsemen, who
were partly riding by his side, partly galloping on in advance and
returning again to the rear, while sixty slaves, wearing red jackets over
their shirts, and armed with matchlocks, ran in front of and behind his
horse. The vizier, who saw me first, saluted me very kindly, and sent
Hámza Weled el Góni to take me to the sheikh, who made a halt, and asked
me very graciously how I was going on, and how my excursion to the lake
had amused me. Having then taken notice of my sprightly horse, the vizier
called my servant, and expressed his regret, that the horse which they
had presented to me had not proved good, saying that I ought to have
informed them, when they would have given me a better one. I promised to
do so another time, and did not forget the warning.
_Wednesday, May 7._—Mr. Overweg arrived. The way in which he was
announced to me was so singular as to merit description. It was about an
hour before noon, and I was busy collecting some interesting information
from my friend Ibrahím el Futáwi about Tagánet, when suddenly the little
Maʿadi arrived. This lad, a liberated slave, had been Mr. Richardson’s
servant, and is frequently mentioned in that gentleman’s journal. As he
had been among those of my companion’s people who, to my great regret,
had left Kúkawa the day before I arrived without having their claims
settled, I was very glad when he came back, but could not learn from him
how it happened that he returned; when, after some chat, he told me,
incidentally, that the tabíb (Mr. Overweg) was also come, and was waiting
for me in Kálilwá. Of course it was the latter who, meeting the lad on
the road, had brought him back, and had sent him now expressly to inform
me of his arrival. This dull but good-natured lad, who was afterwards
severely wounded in the service of the mission, is now Mr. Vogel’s chief
servant.
As soon as I fully understood the purport of this important message,
I ordered my horse to be saddled, and mounted. The sun was extremely
powerful, just about noon, shortly before the setting in of the rainy
season, and as I had forgotten, in the hurry and excitement, to wind a
turban round my cap, I very nearly suffered a sunstroke. A traveller
cannot be too careful of his head in these countries.
I found Overweg in the shade of a nebek-tree near Kálilwá. He looked
greatly fatigued and much worse than when I left him, four months ago,
at Tasáwa: indeed, as he told me, he had been very sickly in Zínder—so
sickly, that he had been much afraid lest he should soon follow Mr.
Richardson to the grave. Perhaps the news which he just then heard
of our companion’s death made him more uneasy about his own illness.
However, we were glad to meet again alive, and expressed our hopes to
be able to do a good deal for the exploration of these countries. He
had had an opportunity of witnessing, during his stay in Góber and
Marádi, the interesting struggle going on between this noblest part of
the Háusa nation and the Fúlbe, who threaten their political as well as
religious independence; and he was deeply impressed with the charming
scenes of unrestrained cheerful life which he had witnessed in those
pagan communities; while I, for my part, could assure him that my
reception in Bórnu seemed to guarantee success, although, under existing
circumstances, there seemed to be very little hope that we should ever
be able to make a journey all round the Tsád; but I thought that, with
the assistance of those people in Bínder and Maduwári whom I had just
visited, and who appeared to be on friendly terms with the islanders, it
might be possible to explore the navigable part of the lagoon in the boat.
Mr. Overweg was, in some respects, very badly off, having no clothes with
him except those which he actually wore, all his luggage being still in
Kanó, though he had sent two men to fetch it. I was therefore obliged to
lend him my own things, and he took up his quarters in another part of
our house, though it was rather small for our joint establishment. The
vizier was very glad of his arrival, and, in fulfilment of his engagement
to deliver all the things left by Mr. Richardson as soon as Mr. Overweg
should arrive, he sent all the half-empty boxes of our late companion
in the evening of the next day; even the gun and pistols, and the other
things which had been sold, were returned, with the single exception of
Mr. Richardson’s watch, which, as the sheikh was very fond of it, and
kept it near him night and day, I thought it prudent to spare him the
mortification of returning.
Mr. Overweg and I, having then made a selection from the articles that
remained to us, presented to the vizier, on the morning of the 9th,
those destined for him, and in the afternoon we presented the sheikh
with his share. These presents could not now be expected to please by
their novelty, or to awaken a feeling of gratitude in the receivers, who
had long been in possession of them; but although made to understand by
Mr. Richardson’s interpreters that he alone had been authorized by the
British Government, Mr. Overweg and I not being empowered to interfere,
and that consequently they might regard themselves as legitimate
possessors of our deceased companion’s property, they must yet have
entertained some doubt about the equity of their claim; and as soon as
I arrived, and began to act with firmness, they grew ashamed of having
listened to intriguing servants. In short, though we had put them to
shame, they esteemed us all the better for our firmness, and received
their presents in a very gracious manner.
We now spoke also about the treaty, the negotiation of which, we said,
had been specially entrusted to our companion, but now, by his death,
had devolved on us. Both of them assured us of their ardent desire to
open commercial intercourse with the English, but at the same time they
did not conceal that their principal object in so doing was to obtain
firearms. They also expressed their desire that two of their people might
return with us to England, in order to see the country and its industry,
which we told them we were convinced would be most agreeable to the
British Government. Our conversation was so unrestrained and friendly,
that the sheikh himself took the opportunity of excusing himself for
having appropriated Mr. Richardson’s watch. But the following narrative
will show how European travellers, endeavouring to open these countries
to European intercourse, have to struggle against the intrigues of the
Arabs; who are well aware that as soon as the Europeans, or rather the
English, get access to Negroland, not only their slave-trade, but even
their whole commerce, as they now carry it on, will be annihilated.
We had scarcely re-entered our house when, the rumour spreading through
the Arab quarter of the manner in which we had been received, and of
the matters talked of, el Khodr, a native of Dar-Fúr, and the foremost
of the native traders, went to the sheikh with the news that seven
large vessels of the English had suddenly arrived at Nupe, and that the
natives were greatly afraid of them. This announcement was soon found to
be false, but nevertheless it served its purpose, to cool a little the
friendly and benevolent feeling which had been manifested towards us.
The following day we went to pitch the large double tent, which we had
given to the sheikh, on the open area before his palace in the eastern
town; and having fully succeeded in arranging it, although a few pieces
were wanting, it was left the whole day in its place, and made a great
impression upon the people. At first it seemed rather awkward to the
natives, whose tents, even if of large size, are mere bell-tents; but in
the course of time it pleased the sheikh so much, that when I finally
left the country, he begged me to entreat the British Government to send
him another one like it.
We also paid our respects to the principal of the sheikh’s brothers, as
well as to his eldest son. Having obtained permission, we visited ʿAbd eʾ
Rahmán, the brother and rival of the sheikh, as we could not prudently
be wanting in civility to a person who might soon get the upper hand. We
presented him with a fine white heláli bernús, and sundry small things;
he received us very graciously, and laughed and chatted a good deal with
us on the first as well as on a second visit, when I was obliged to show
him the pictures in Denham’s and Clapperton’s work, and the drawing I
had myself made of his friend, the Kánemma chief, Ámsakay, of which he
had heard; but his manners did not please us very much. His countenance
had a very wild expression, and he manifested little intelligence or
princely demeanour, wrangling and playing the whole day with his slaves.
Besides, we were obliged to be cautious in our dealings with him; for we
had scarcely made his acquaintance, when he sent us a secret message,
begging for poison, with which he most probably wished to rid himself
of his deadly enemy the vizier. Quite a different man was Yúsuf, the
sheikh’s second brother, with whom, during my last stay in Kúkawa, in
the beginning of 1855, I became intimately acquainted. He was a learned
and very religious man, always reading, and with a very acute sense of
justice; but he was not a man of business. As for Bú-Bakr, the eldest
son of ʿOmár, who now unfortunately seems to have the best claim to the
succession, he was a child, devoid of intelligence or noble feelings.
Twice was I obliged to have recourse to his father to make him pay me for
some articles which he had bought of me.
The much-desired moment of my departure for Ádamáwa drew nearer and
nearer. The delay of my starting on this undertaking, occasioned by the
late arrival of Mr. Overweg, had been attended with the great advantage
that, meanwhile, some messengers of the governor of that country had
arrived, in whose company, as they were returning immediately, I was
able to undertake the journey with a much better prospect of success.
The subject of their message was, that Kashélla ʿAlí Ladán, on his late
predatory incursion into the Marghí country, had enslaved and carried
away inhabitants of several places to which the governor of Ádamáwa
laid claim, and it was more in order to establish his right, than from
any real concern in the fate of these unfortunate creatures, that he
was pleased to lay great stress upon the case. Indeed, as the sequel
shows, his letter must have contained some rather harsh or threatening
expressions, to which the ruler of Bórnu was not inclined to give way,
though he yielded[51] to the justice of the specific claim. At first
these messengers from Ádamáwa were to be my only companions besides
my own servants, and on the 21st of May I was officially placed under
their protection in the house of the sheikh by several of the first
courtiers or kokanáwa, among whom were the old Ibrahím Wadáy, the friend
and companion of Mohammed el Kánemi in his first heroical proceedings,
Shítima Náser, Hámza, and Kashélla ʿAli, and the messengers promised to
see me safe to their country, and to provide for my safe return.
Íbrahíma, the head man of these messengers, who were all of rather
inferior rank, was not such a man as I wished for; but fortunately there
was among them another person named Mohámmedu, who, although himself a
Púllo by descent, had more of the social character of the Háusa race, and
was ready to gratify my desire for information. He proved most useful in
introducing me into the new country which I was to explore, and would
have been of immense service to me if I had been allowed to make any stay
there.
After much delay, and having twice taken official leave of the sheikh
in full state, I had at length the pleasure of seeing our little band
ready for starting in the afternoon of Thursday, the 29th May, 1851.
Rather more, I think, with a view to his own interest, than from any
apprehension on my account, the sheikh informed me, in the last interview
which I had with him, that he would send an officer along with me.
This move puzzled me from the beginning, and caused me some misgiving;
and there is not the least doubt, as the sequel will show, that to the
company of this officer it must be attributed that I was sent back by
Mohammed Láwl, the governor of Ádamáwa, without being allowed to stay
any time in the country; but, for truth’s sake, I must admit that if I
had not been accompanied by this man, it is doubtful whether I should
have been able to overcome the very great difficulties and dangers which
obstruct this road.