THE BORDER-REGION OF THE SHÚWA.
_Saturday, Dec. 6._—At length, after a protracted stay, we left our
encampment at Díkowa, though still in complete uncertainty whether the
expedition was directed against Mándará or not; for as yet the chief
of that little country (which, through the adventures of Major Denham,
has obtained in Europe a greater share of attention than it really
deserves), relying upon the natural strength of his mountains, had not
yet made his submission. The rumours which we heard from thence were
of the most contradictory nature; and it seemed as if Abú Bakr, which
is the name of the present chief, had made up his mind to a determined
resistance, having retired into his mountain fastnesses, to the great
disappointment of the vizier, who repeatedly asked me and my companion,
with great anxiety, what was to be done, and how it was possible for the
cavalry to attack the enemy in his mountainous retreat: for, whatever
military strength the Kanúri may still possess, it is almost solely to
be looked for in their cavalry. The former excellence of the Kánembú
spearmen, resulting from their enthusiastic devotion to their leader, has
disappeared long ago, at least since the overthrow of the old dynasty;
and the vizier had to expect very little sympathy from this body, as most
of them were decidedly favourable to the interest of his adversary, ʿAbd
eʾ Rahmán. As far as I had been able to learn the nature of those rocky
mountains on my journey to Yóla, I could not but think that not only the
cavalry of Bórnu, but even the Kánembú spearmen, accustomed as they were
to the level plains of their country, would be incapable of climbing
those rocky cliffs.
The whole country was enveloped in a thick fog when we started in the
morning; so that the passage of the komádugu, with its steep banks,
caused a considerable crowding and pushing, which was far from agreeable.
When we had got safely over, we had to pass a thick forest, consisting of
“bíto” and “kindín,” or talha-trees; and on our left appeared the large
walled place of Áfagé, a considerable town, but not so large as Díkowa.
After only a short interval, we saw another town on our right, called
Kodége, the walls of which were in an advanced state of decay, but were
at present adorned with living battlements of male and female spectators.
Proceeding a short distance onward, we encamped at an early hour to
the westward of another walled town, called Zógoma. The whole of this
district, favoured as it is by nature, seems to have been once in a very
flourishing condition. It was, however, rather odd that we should have
encamped here, as the horses had to be led back to Áfagé for water.
I had scarcely pitched my tent, when that cruel minister of police,
Lamíno, a man whose character my friend Háj Edrís used significantly to
describe in the few words, “Kárgo díbbi, kíndi díbbi” (“Bad in heart,
and bad in deed”), brought into my presence a famous cut-throat of
the name of Barka-ngólo, whose neck was secured in a large machine
called “bégo,” consisting of two pieces of wood from four to five feet
in length, and very heavy, so that every movement was accompanied with
the greatest pain. Nevertheless my mischievous friend persuaded himself
that it would gratify me to see this miserable wretch fight with another
culprit secured in the same manner, by giving to each of them a long whip
of hippopotamus-hide, and forcing them by threats to flog each other. It
was a horrible sight; and I had great difficulty in convincing my cruel
friend that such a scene was far from being agreeable to me. In order
to get rid of him, I presented him with a quantity of cloves to give to
his beloved ʿAáisha, of whose culinary powers we had already had several
proofs. He was greatly pleased with my present; and with an amorous smile
he described to me how deeply he was in love with his darling, saying
that he loved her, and she loved him also: “and,” added he, in a very
sentimental way, “such a mutual love is the greatest bliss on earth.”
Europeans must not fancy that there is no such feeling among these
Africans as love, although it is not quite so ethereal as it sometimes
seems to be with us. Notwithstanding these amorous declarations, which
sounded very ridiculous coming from such a mass of flesh as he was, I was
glad when he was gone.
We were now approaching hostile territory, and in the evening a
“gangéma,” or proclamation accompanied by beat of drum, was made
throughout the whole encampment, to the effect that the train of camels
and pack-oxen, which previously had greatly hemmed in the cavalry, should
not start until after the former had moved on. Zógoma is the farthest
town of the Bórnu territory in this direction; and the following day we
encamped in a district of the name of Mása, close to a swamp, thickly
covered with water-plants, principally the _Pistia stratiotes_. Several
Shúwa villages were lying about at short distances from each other.
On the road we passed some cotton-plantations and stubble-fields. The
chief agricultural produce of Mása consisted of “sábade,” the sweet
sorghum or _Sorghum saccharatum_. This sort of grain I had not yet seen
in the course of my journey; but in Díkowa my friend Malá Ibrám had sent
me a large quantity of it, in order that I might indulge in this African
luxury. At that period I was surprised at the great length of these
stalks, some of which measured fourteen feet; but how astonished was I
afterwards, when, in the course of my travels in the luxuriant valleys of
Kebbi, I found specimens of twice that length! This evening the vizier
treated us with the marrow of the “sábade,” which, in snow-white pieces
of about eight inches in length, were neatly placed upon a straw cover
or “féfe,” such as are used in the country. While indulging in this
simple African dainty, our conversation, very naturally, turned upon the
cultivation as well as the preparation of sugar, which is one of those
articles of European industry that most excites the admiration of the
natives of this country. But when they learn in what a filthy manner it
is refined, they become horrified, and hesitate whether they shall say
farewell to this indulgence, or overcome the scruples and prejudices of
their creed.
There is no doubt that the “sábade” would yield a rich produce of sugar;
but it is not necessary to have recourse to this expedient, as the
sugar-cane itself grows wild in several regions of Negroland, and we
shall actually find a small plantation of it, and boiling-houses, on a
small scale, carried on by a native in the neighbourhood of Sókoto. Our
conversation at these African _soirées_ with the vizier became sometimes
so learned, that even Ptolemy with his “_Mandros oros_” was quoted. But,
sad as it must seem to all who, like myself, delight in going back into
remote antiquity, this famous mountain, which at the first sight seems to
be an ancient memorial of the Mándará mountains of some seventeen hundred
years standing, appears to belong entirely to Western Africa. Our kind
host always found great delight in every kind of information; it was only
a pity he was wanting in manly energy to carry out his good projects.
_Monday, Dec. 8._—Woe to those regions through which an army takes its
march in these parts of the world, were it even their own country. We
passed this morning some very extensive cornfields, the crops of which
were of the most luxuriant growth; but notwithstanding the piteous
clamours, and even the threats of the slaves who were watching on
the highly raised platforms in order to keep away the birds from the
corn, the rich ears fell a prey to the hungry horsemen, for their own
sustenance and that of their animals. These raised platforms are here
called “górgo”; and the ropes which were fastened between them and the
trees were provided with small hollow gourds, “káre,” filled with stones,
which, when set in motion, were intended to frighten away the birds.
After a tolerable march, we took up our encampment near the straggling
hamlet Delhé, a locality touched at by Major Denham, on his unfortunate
expedition to Mándará, but placed by him much too far southward.
All the cottages in these Shúwa villages have a conical roof rising to a
great elevation, and tapering like a sugar-loaf,—the thatch being put on
in a very irregular way, and fastened with ropes, though it is pleasantly
and cheerfully adorned by the climbers of the “ságade” or “kubéwa,” a
species of the _Cucurbita melopepo_ (squash gourd), if not identical
with it, the fruit of which, when boiled, has a very pleasant taste, and
in some regions of Negroland, as far as Timbúktu, forms the principal
vegetable for seasoning food.
The long duration of the rainy season here, as well as in Ádamáwa,
renders sheds for the cattle necessary; and these consist of huts
constructed similarly to the dwellings of man, but more spacious, with
the exception that the walls consist merely of trunks of trees. The Shúwa
of this village, as well as those of a neighbouring one, which after the
name of a chief is called Háj Amaka, belong to the tribe of the Bulgówa,
or ʿAwisíya. The place where we encamped was full of brushwood; and it
took us a long time to pitch our tents. The variation of the temperature
was so great, that I caught a severe cold; it was therefore agreeable
to me that we remained here the following day: for while, during the
greatest heat, at two o’clock P.M., the thermometer in the ventilated
tent showed often from 93° to 96° Fahr., during the night it generally
fell to between 50° and 53°. The vizier was kind enough, when I did not
come to his _soirée_, to send one of his young slaves with a censer; but
I was so unfortunate as to excite the anger of the little tyrannical
messenger, who wanted me to imitate their own custom, which is, to place
the censer under their wide shirt, and, by drawing the opening close over
the head, to concentrate the fumes arising from the incense under their
shirt, and receive it into the face, while I, thinking this rather too
much, was satisfied with holding my face over it.
_Wednesday, Dec. 10._—We made a short march in advance, and transferred
our encampment to Díggera, through a country where wilderness and
cultivated ground alternated. Here we remained the five following
days; and I had sufficient leisure to regret that I was not better
provided with books. Anxious to employ my time usefully, I began,
with the assistance of two Mándará, or rather Wándalá slaves, to
write down a vocabulary of the language of that country, which by the
natives themselves is called “Ára-Wándalá,” as they call their country
“Khakh-Wándalá,” or “Khákh-Úndalá.”
The cold which we experienced during our stay here we considered very
severe—at least from an African point of view and feeling; for in Europe
it would have been thought very moderate. Fortunately our encampment
was more comfortable than it had been at Delhé, and presented features
of considerable interest; for here we saw the first complete example of
those shallow stagnant watercourses which are so highly characteristic
of the equatorial regions of this continent, and explain at the same
time the conflicting statements with regard to the direction of so many
watercourses in these regions. However, there are two different kinds
of these shallow waters: first, such as are in immediate connection
with larger rivers, and often run parallel to them, and which most
appropriately deserve to be called backwaters; and, secondly, those which
are quite independent, and form a small water-system by themselves. To
the latter kind seems to belong this swampy sheet of water, or “ngáljam,”
of Díggera, although I heard some Shúwa affirm that it extended to the
Tsád.
I first turned my steps eastward, where the encampment extended to the
very foot of the beautiful trees, which, forming a rich border of the
finest embroidery from the hand of nature, girt the water. Most of them
were either fig (sycamore) or tamarind-trees. The aspect of the scenery
was most interesting, and under almost every tamarind-tree a group of
people was encamped. The cavity where this sheet of water had collected
formed a very slight depression in the meadow-ground, it being almost
flat; the water, to all appearance, had already decreased considerably,
and only in a few places presented an open sheet, being in general
closely overgrown with rank grass and tall reeds. I followed it to a
considerable distance towards the north-north-west, till I was obliged by
the thick covert to retrace my steps, and then turned westward. The far
larger extension of the water during the rainy season was sufficiently
indicated by the luxuriant growth of trees. I crossed it at a spot where
it was not so extensive, and found the bottom of it extremely muddy,
which made the passage rather difficult, though the water was only
two and a half feet deep. The indented outlines of its shores greatly
distinguished it from those more complete and regular-shaped ngáljams,
which, in the course of time, I had an opportunity of visiting, not only
in those extensive plains between the river Bénuwé and Shári, but also
in the regions of the middle course of the so-called Niger; for, in the
quarters just mentioned, these shallow waters, or meadow-waters, often
stretch out, in a straight or regularly sweeping line, like artificial
canals, to an immense distance,—especially that most interesting sheet of
water three days west of Timbúktu, the “Áraf-n-áman,” or Rás el má.
Of quite a different nature is the character of the famous Bahar el
Ghazál, which joins the Tsád on the north-eastern side, being a broad
sandy valley girt by a rich border of vegetation. This peculiar valley,
which it was not our destiny to become acquainted with by ocular
inspection, formed the subject of conversation with the vizier on Sunday
evening; and a disputation arose, of so scientific a character that it
might have silenced all those who scoff at the uncivilized state of the
population of these regions. To be sure, the two principal persons in
this conversation were Arabs; but their forefathers had been settled in
these regions for at least ten generations.
Here in Díggera, where we were only one good day’s march distant from
the capital of Mándará, our friends were obliged to come to a decision
upon the future destination of the expedition. After the news which had
arrived some days previously, that the petty chief of Mándará, whose
ancestor once completely defeated a countless host of the Bórnu people,
had decided upon making resistance, they had been very silent and
dejected, and were therefore extremely delighted when at length, to-day,
a servant of the obstinate vassal made his appearance with a present of
ten beautiful female slaves, and the offer of complete submission. So at
least we were told; but the affair seemed very doubtful, and a native
of Mándará, or, as they say, Ár-Wándalá, afterwards assured me that his
master, the powerful “Tuksé” of Khákh-Úndala, had been so far from making
his submission to the insolent “Móthaké” (by this name they call the
Bórnu people), that, on the contrary, he had treated them with contempt.
Which of the two assertions was correct I do not know; but it is probable
that the chief of Mándará thought it prudent to consent to some sort of
compromise—perhaps through the intermediation of ʿAbd eʾ Rahmán, the
sheikh’s brother.
Whatever may have been the case, the vizier informed us in the evening,
in a very cheerful manner, that the affair with Mándará had taken the
most favourable turn, and that in consequence the sheikh, with a small
part of the army, was to retrace his steps, while he himself, with
the far larger portion, was to undertake an expedition into the Músgu
country, and that we, of course, were to accompany him. Now we were well
aware that the object of this expedition was partly to make slaves,
and that, in our character as messengers of the British Government,
we ought to endeavour to keep aloof from anything connected with the
infamous subject of slavery; but as we could not hinder it if we kept
back, and as by accompanying the expedition we might prevent a deal
of mischief, and might likewise have a fair opportunity of convincing
ourselves whether what was related of the cruelty of the Mohammedans in
these expeditions was true or exaggerated, we decided upon accompanying
the vizier. At the same time it was of the utmost importance to visit
that very region which was the object of the expedition, as it was the
only way to decide upon the relation between the central basin of the
Tsád and the great western river, with its eastern branch, while there
was no possibility of visiting it by ourselves. We had already convinced
ourselves that the country of the Músgu is not, as Major Denham has
represented it, a mountainous, inaccessible tract; but we were puzzled
at the number of watercourses of which our informants had spoken, and
we could not have the least idea how fertile a country it was, and how
far remote its inhabitants were from that state of barbarism which
had been imputed to them. We therefore, although reluctantly, and not
without scruple, at length determined upon accompanying the expedition;
and I hope that every considerate person who takes into account all the
circumstances in which we were placed, will approve of our resolution.
_Wednesday, Dec. 17._—At length we proceeded onwards, entering new
regions never trodden by European foot. Our departure having been delayed
in the morning, owing to the separating of the army, we started rather
late, leaving the sheikh, with the rest of the “kebú,” behind. The
country at once presented a new and interesting feature. Already in Bórnu
a considerable proportion of our diet had consisted of native rice, and
we had been rather astonished at its black colour and bad quality. We had
heard that it grew wild in the southern provinces of the country; but we
had never yet seen it, and it was only this morning, after we had left
Díggera and had traversed extensive stubble-fields of millet intermixed
with beans, that we obtained a first view of a “shinkáfaram,” or wild
rice-field, in the midst of the forest. We were then no longer surprised
at the quality of the rice brought to the market in Kúkawa being so bad,
as we felt justified in presuming that the elephant would have sense
enough to take the best for himself, and leave the rest for the people.
As we proceeded we found the whole wilderness, although not thickly
wooded, full of pools of water and dense rice-fields.
The country to-day presented a truly tropical aspect; and our encampment,
lying near an extensive pond, or small lagoon, surrounded with a
luxuriant growth of rice and a dense border of spreading trees, was so
full of the footprints of the elephant, that scarcely a level spot of two
or three feet in diameter could be found. This was by no means pleasant,
in our present mode of living, as we were without a camp-stool, or
anything to sit or lie upon; for the argillaceous soil is so excessively
hard, that the borders of these holes produced by the unwieldy foot of
the elephant cause a great deal of pain to a person lying on the ground
with nothing but a mat or carpet. The most essential instrument on this
whole journey was the “láteram,” the digging-instrument (from “langin,”
“I dig”), consisting of a large piece of wood about three feet long,
with a heavy iron point; for without the láteram it would have been
impossible to fix the dáteram (from “dangin,” “I fasten, stop”), or the
pole to which the horses are fastened during the night. In general, every
horseman digs the hole in which the pole is fastened with his own spear;
but this soil was so hard that it was scarcely possible to make the
smallest hole in it. Of course, during the rainy season, it is just as
soft and muddy as it is hard in the dry season, and scarcely passable in
consequence.
A giraffe was caught to-day. I had been of opinion that this timorous
animal was not found in the thickly inhabited regions near the equator;
but I soon learned from experience that it is not at all rare in the
wildernesses which alternate with the densely populated regions of these
districts. The elephant, however, is the predominant animal of these
quarters; and the large market-place, Fátawel, which I have mentioned on
my journey to Ádamáwa, and the Logón town Jéna, or rather Jínna, seem to
be of considerable importance for their ivory-trade.
In the evening I had the misfortune to be stung by a scorpion, which had
got into my bernús. As I had not noticed the animal in the dark, and
thinking that it was nothing but one of the formidable black ants, the
bite of which is very painful, I neglected the wound at first, so that
the poison penetrated to the shoulder, and rendered my right arm useless
for two days.
_Thursday, Dec. 18._—Seeing that we were now entirely in the hands of the
vizier, my companion and I used to present ourselves at his tent every
morning, and to ride for some time near him. I, however, soon found it
pleasanter to keep more in the rear of the army, a little in advance of
his female slaves; and in the narrow paths in the midst of the forest,
where the crowding became very disagreeable, I used to keep behind his
led-horses. Of female slaves on horseback and led-horses the vizier had
with him the moderate number of eight of each kind, while the sheikh had
twelve; but this appeared to me a small number when I afterwards saw the
king of Bagírmi returning from the expedition with a string of forty-five
mounted female partners. These black damsels were all clothed in white
woollen bernúses, with their faces completely veiled, and were closely
watched. To-day we had a more complete specimen of that peculiar kind
of shallow water which I have mentioned above; and the army, while they
were winding around it on the fresh green meadow-lands, closely hemmed in
on their left by a grove of fine trees, presented a highly interesting
scene. From thence, passing through a thick covert, we entered the
beautiful open district of Wolóje, which comprises several hamlets. Here
I was amused at seeing the head man of a village successfully putting to
flight, with a large branch of a tree, a troop of pilfering horsemen. A
little beyond these hamlets the encampment was chosen, at some little
distance from a very extensive “ngáljam.”
Our conversation with the vizier in the evening again took a geographical
turn, owing to the presence of his spy or scout, who had just returned
from delivering his message to the Músgu prince Ádishén. The vizier was
as yet undecided in which direction to turn his steps; and we heard a
native chief, of the name of Puss, or Fuss, mentioned in a manner that
assured us our friends were afraid to attack him. Ádishén, the chief just
mentioned, was in a certain degree subject to the rulers of Bórnu; but
it seemed rather an ironical assertion that this prince would be pleased
with the arrival of the expedition. While describing his reception at
the court of the chief, the scout indulged in a lively description
of the customs prevalent among these people, whose chief had only
outwardly adopted Islám. His Majesty, he said, used to indulge in amorous
intercourse with his female slaves, of whom he had two hundred, before
the eyes of his people; an account which was rather confirmed by Kashélla
Belál, who had been his host several times. Belál, who was a very jovial
old fellow, also stated that this little prince was not jealous of the
favours bestowed by his female partners upon his guests; but, on the
contrary, that he himself voluntarily gave them up to them. Such a
degrading custom may indeed be followed by this petty chief, who has
betrayed his country in order that, by the influence of his more powerful
neighbours, he might rule over his countrymen; but we need not draw a
conclusion from him as to the customs of the whole tribe, although, of
course, they regard the relation of the sexes in a simpler point of view
than we do.
_Friday, Dec. 19._—The country through which we passed, on leaving our
encampment in the morning, was most charming, and of a most expansive
bound, and exactly suited for pastoral tribes like the Shúwa and Fúlbe;
but traces of cultivation also, and even of cotton-fields, were not
wanting: while further on, the dúm-bush appeared, and was after a while
succeeded by the tall fan-shaped dúm-palm itself. The country being open,
and without any obstruction whatever, the “kibú,” or army, marched in
an extended line of battle, “báta,” separated into groups of the most
varied description in attire and appearance: the heavy cavalry, clad in
thick wadded clothing, others in their coats of mail, with their tin
helmets glittering in the sun, and mounted on large heavy chargers, which
appeared almost oppressed by the weight of their riders and their own
warlike accoutrements; the light Shúwa horsemen, clad only in a loose
shirt, and mounted upon their weak unseemly nags; the self-conceited
slaves, decked out gaudily in red bernúses or silken dresses of various
colours; the Kánembú spearmen, almost naked, with their large wooden
shields, their half-torn aprons round their loins, their barbarous
head-dresses, and their bundles of spears; then, in the distance behind,
the continuous train of camels and pack-oxen: all the people full of
spirits, and in the expectation of rich booty, pressing onward to the
unknown regions towards the south-east.
It was an exalted feeling of unrestrained liberty which animated me
while, mounted on my noble charger, I rode silently along at the side
of this motley host, contemplating now the fine, beautiful country, now
the rich scenes of human life, which were illumined by a bright morning
sun. As yet no blood had been shed by this army, and neither misery,
devastation, nor the horrors of people torn from their homes, cried out
against it. Every one seemed to think only of sport and amusement. Now
and then a stir would be raised in the whole army when a gazelle started
forth from the thicket, endeavouring to escape from her pursuers, but
soon found herself hemmed in on every side, while Shúwa horsemen and
Kánembú spearmen, each endeavouring to possess himself of the prize,
cried out to his rivals in the pursuit, “Kólle, kólle!” (“Leave off,
leave off!”) as if the prey was already his own, while others animated
their companions by shouting out, “Góne, góne!” (“Chase, chase!”) the
sounds re-echoing from one troop to another; or when a fat Guinea-fowl,
“káji,” or a partridge, “kwíye,” roused from its secure covert, took
to its wings, but, trying to fly over those widely scattered troops of
hostile men, and frightened by their cries, was soon obliged to look
for a moment’s respite, and, after a vain struggle, fell a prey to its
pursuers, who often, while they laid hold of it, tore it actually into
pieces.
The wide open country seemed to invite the traveller into the far
distance; but to-day our march was only of short duration, and before
eight o’clock in the morning a new encampment, upon a fresh spot,
was again springing up. This whole country is still included in the
extensive district of Wolóje; but the water, which was close to the side
of the encampment, has the peculiar name of Kodásalé. The whole of the
inhabitants of the district belong to the Shúwa tribe of the Bénesé. To
the east of Kodásalé lies the place Lawári, towards the west Súggemé,
beyond Úlba, and south-west of the latter Memé, and north-west Momó. All
these villages are inhabited by Shúwa and Kanúri in common; beyond is the
wilderness or karága.
I, too, had my little daily “nógona,” or divan, in which Kashélla
Bíllama, my friend from Ádamáwa, and Háj Edrís, formed my principal
courtiers, or “kokanáwa,” though occasionally other people attended. All
these people I kept attached to me by presents of a few needles, with
which they supplied their wants in the neighbouring villages. Bíllama
informed me to-day that for three needles he had bought sufficient
provision for his horse for one day; for two he had bought a wooden
bowl, or “búkuru”; and for six more a good supply of meat. Thus this
insignificant production of European industry became of the highest
value to me; and it obtained still more value and importance, in the
course of my journey to Bagírmi, when it constituted my only wealth,
and in consequence procured me the noble title of “needle-prince,”
(“malaríbra”). We remained here the following day, as the army had to
provide itself with corn, or rather Negro grain, as we were told that we
should enter upon a wild uncultivated tract, the border-region between
the seats of the Mohammedans and those of the pagan tribes, which, as
is generally the case in these parts of the world, has been reduced to
desolation.
Each of the surrounding villages had to send two ox-loads of grain,
which, however, did not benefit the army in general, but fell entirely
to the share of the friends and followers of Lamíno, the remainder of
this immense host being thrown upon their own resources. All the grain
was carried on asses. It was in this encampment that the vizier made a
present to Mr. Overweg of a small lion. He had given him, on a former
occasion, a “súmmoli.” This is a very ferocious cat, of rather rare
occurrence, which is said not only to attack gazelles, but young cattle
or calves. It was of a light brown colour, the hind part, however, being
black, and had very pointed, upright ears, “súmmo,” a circumstance from
which the name has been derived. The ears, moreover, are ornamented with
a black stripe. A great many curious stories are related by the people
with regard to the ferocity of this animal, and from what we ourselves
had an opportunity of observing, it seems to be a marvellous little
creature: for, though still very young and small, it was nevertheless
extremely fierce, and was quite master of the young lion. Both animals
were fed with boiled milk, of which they were very fond; but the
continual swinging motion which they had to endure on the back of the
camels in the heat of the day, caused their death very soon.
_Sunday, Dec. 21._—The crowding and thronging was excessive when we
started in order to pursue our march. The wilderness at first was
tolerably clear, being at times evidently a place of resort for numerous
herds of elephants, as the quantity of dung, and the uninterrupted
tracks of deep footprints, which gave to the soil the appearance of a
colossal chessboard, amply testified. After a march of about six miles
the wilderness became more thickly overgrown, and presented a fine forest
scenery; but, as is generally the case on such warlike expeditions,
there is no leisure to pay attention to special phenomena, especially
as the Bórnu horses are in general very wild and vicious, and in the
throng everybody was continually liable to come into collision with his
neighbour’s horse, which, perchance, might be a furious kicker.
The general character of this jungle was this. The ground was covered
with dúm-bush, which formed a thick brushwood, and here and there with
rank grass, while the forest in general consisted of middle-sized trees,
chiefly mimosas and kálgos, though there were other specimens, especially
the kókia-tree, which I had first seen on my journey from Gezáwa to
Kátsena, the trees of smaller size being separated into groups by large
spreading specimens of the vegetable kingdom, mostly of the ficus kind;
for monkey-bread-trees seemed to be wanting entirely, and altogether I
saw few specimens of this tree in the Músgu country. Very remarkable
nests of birds, suspended from the branches, were observed, not unlike a
purse, with a long narrow neck hanging down and forming the entrance; or
rather like a chemist’s retort suspended from the head, the shank being
several inches long, and the whole beautifully fabricated with the most
surprising skill. Of the skilful manufacturers of these fine dwellings
we did not obtain a sight; but probably it is a species of _loxia_. In
this thick covert, several young elephants were hunted down, and even the
giraffe seemed frequent.
The place which we chose for our encampment was adorned by numerous
fan-palms, which, although in general identical with the species
called _Chamærops humilis_, nevertheless by their height appeared to
be a distinct variety, and gave to the encampment a very picturesque
appearance. This forest was here so dense, that only the spot where the
vizier himself encamped together with his own followers was free from
brushwood, while all the other people were first obliged to clear the
ground with much trouble. This was the first day, since our setting
out, that we made a tolerable march. The whole manner in which the
expedition was conducted was an unmistakable proof of an effeminate
court, especially if we take into account the principle of carrying on
war in these countries, where only sudden inroads can insure any great
success. In the evening there arrived a small complimentary present from
Ádishén, the tributary Músgu chief, consisting of five horses and twenty
oxen. But while in this manner the more influential men in the army were
well supplied with food, the greater part were very badly off, and most
of them were reduced to the core of the dúm-bush or ngílle, which by the
Bórnu people is facetiously called “kúmbu bíllabe” (“the food of the
country town”). But a good sportsman might have obtained better food for
himself, and we even got a small ostrich egg from the vizier.
It was a great pity that we had purposely avoided the more frequented
and general road, which passes by several settlements of the Fúlbe or
Felláta, in order not to give any trouble to the latter; for no doubt
that tract would have been far more interesting, as well from a natural
point of view, as with regard to the political state of the country, as
it would have given us the clearest insight into the way in which that
enterprising and restless people is pushing on every day more and more,
and strangling, as it were, the little kingdom of Mándará.
_Monday, Dec. 22._—Dense forest continued to prevail during the
first five miles of our march. It then cleared, and was succeeded by
considerable fields of wild rice, most of which was burnt down; for,
as I have repeatedly had occasion to mention, all these wildernesses
of Central Africa are set on fire after the rainy season. The whole
ground in this district was one uninterrupted succession of holes made
by the foot of the elephant, which obstructed the march of the army very
considerably, and was the reason of several horses being lamed. Sálah, a
younger brother of the vizier, a very intelligent man, broke his arm. A
herd of six elephants was in the neighbourhood, and after a great deal
of confusion, one animal, which got between the horsemen, was killed. It
is no wonder that these regions are so frequented by them, as they find
here plenty of the choicest food. The jungles of wild rice were only
interrupted for a short time by a tract covered with dúm-bush. Water was
plentiful, every now and then a considerable pond appearing, girt by
beautiful trees, and at present enlivened by groups of horsemen, who were
watering their animals.
After a march of about fifteen miles we encamped close to a larger sheet
of water, which was full of fish of the species called “bégeli,” and
enabled us to give to our food that day more variety, the forest, as well
as the water, contributing its share; for, besides the fish, we had roast
hare and elephant’s flesh, which was very palatable, and much like pork.
_Tuesday, Dec. 23._—Three heavy strokes upon the drum, at the dawn of
day, set our motley host once more in motion. It was an important day,
and many of the principal people had exchanged their common dress for a
more splendid attire. We entered the Músgu country, and at the same time
came into contact with fragments of that nation, who, having spread from
the far west over the one-half of Africa, are restlessly pushing forward
and overwhelming the pagan tribes in the interior. These are the Fúlbe
or Felláta, the most interesting of all African tribes, who, having been
driven from Bórnu, have here laid the foundation of a new empire.
Twice on our march we were obliged to make a halt: the first time owing
to the arrival of Ádishén, the Músgu chief, with a troop of naked
horsemen mounted on a breed of small, unseemly, but strong ponies,
without saddles and bridles, and presenting altogether a most barbarous
and savage spectacle. The second halt was caused by the appearance of a
Púllo or Felláta chief, with two hundred horsemen of his nation, who, by
their shirts and shawls, their saddles and bridles, certainly claimed
a higher degree of civilization, but who, nevertheless, were far from
exhibiting a grand appearance. This chief was an officer of Khúrsu, the
ruler of the town or principality of Fétte or Pétte, which we had left
at a short distance to the west. He came to join this expedition, the
object of which was to weaken the Músgu tribes, who, behind their natural
defences of rivers and swamps, had hitherto been able to maintain their
independence. Of course, on this occasion the policy of these Fúlbe
chiefs went hand in hand with that of the Bórnu people, although it is
not a little remarkable, and serves to show the slight political unity
existing between the integral parts of these empires, that while the
governor of Ádamáwa was at present on a hostile footing with the ruler of
Bórnu, one of his vassals was allowed to enter into an alliance with the
latter.
After these interruptions we pursued our march, and reached, about half
an hour before noon, the northernmost of the Músgu villages, which is
called Gábari, surrounded by rich fields of native grain; but everything
presented a sad appearance of pillage and desolation. None of the
inhabitants were to be seen; for, although subjects of Ádishén, who
enjoyed the friendship and protection of the rulers of Bórnu, they had
thought it more prudent to take care of their own safety by flight than
to trust themselves to the discretion of the undisciplined army of their
friends and protectors. The preceding evening the order had been issued
through the encampment that all the property in the villages of Ádishén
should be respected, and nothing touched, from a cow to a fowl, grain
only excepted, which was declared to be at the disposal of everybody.
It was rather remarkable that the greatest part of the crops were still
standing, although we had been lingering so long on our road, and had
given sufficient time for the people to secure them for themselves. All
the grain consisted of the red species of holcus, called by the Bórnu
people “ngáberi kemé,” which grows here to the exclusion of the white
species and that of millet. All the people of the army were busy in
threshing the grain which they had just gathered at the expense of their
friends, and loading their horses with it. Even the fine nutritive grass
from the borders of the swamp, which, woven into long festoons, the
natives had stored up in the trees as a provision against the dry season,
was carried off, and, notwithstanding the express order to the contrary,
many a goat, fowl, and even articles of furniture which had been left
behind by the natives, fell a prey to the greedy host.
The spectacle of this pillage was the more saddening, as the village
not only presented an appearance of comfort, but exhibited in a certain
degree the industry of its inhabitants. In general each courtyard
contained a group of from three to six huts, according to the number
of wives of the owner. The walls of the dwellings, without a single
exception, were built of clay, which in the courtyards of the richer
people even formed the building material of the fences. The roofs of
the cottages were thatched with great care, and at least as well as in
any house or village in Bórnu, and far superior to the thatching of the
Shúwa. The roofs even exhibited traces of various styles, and perhaps
a certain gradation in the scale of society. Almost every courtyard
enclosed a shed, besides the huts, and one granary built of clay, and
from twelve to fifteen feet high, with an arched roof, likewise of clay,
there being an opening at the top which was protected by a small cover
of thatching, as the accompanying woodcut shows. The way in which the
natives had stored up their supply of hay for the dry season was very
remarkable, the rank grass being woven into festoons of about fifteen
feet in length, and hung up in the kórna-trees which adorned the fields.
[Illustration]
Having roved about at my leisure, I pursued my march, and, emerging from
the cornfields, entered upon open meadow-grounds, partly under water,
which spread out to a considerable extent, and which, with their fresh
green turf, formed a beautiful contrast to the tall yellow crops which
I had just left behind. Ascending a little, we kept straight towards a
group of splendid trees which adorned the fields in front of another
village. The village was called Kórom, and belonged to a chief under the
authority of Ádishén, while Kadé, the residence of the latter, was only
at a short distance. In these fields the vizier had dismounted and chosen
the place for the encampment; and it was with a sad, sympathetic feeling
that I witnessed the lopping of the rich branches of the fine trees,
which were without doubt, the most splendid specimens of the karáge-tree
which I had seen in Negroland, not excepting those in the Marghí country.
The largest among them measured not less than eighty feet in height,
and the diameter of their crown could scarcely be less; but the foliage
of this tree is by no means so dense and so regularly shaped as that of
the fig or tamarind-tree. None of these fine trees, which had adorned
the landscape, escaped destruction, in order to provide fences for the
larger tents; but the few monkey-bread-trees which here appeared, owing
to the scanty foliage with which their gigantic branches were decked
out, escaped unhurt. Here we remained the two following days, and the
encampment became very confined, the more so as the ground was rather
uneven. The delay could scarcely be defended in a strategical point of
view, as it could not but serve to put all the neighbouring chiefs, who
were hostile to Ádishén, on their guard against any sudden inroad. But
it was well that they did so, as by a sudden inroad the poor persecuted
natives might have been totally annihilated.
In order to employ my leisure hours, I looked about for information
respecting the country we had just entered, and was fortunate enough to
collect some valuable data.
The Músgu, or Músekú, are a division of the great nation of the Mása,
which comprises the Kótoko, or Mákari, the people of Logón, or Lógone,
the Mándará, or Úr Wándalá, with the Gámerghú, and the large tribe of
the Bátta, and probably even that of the Mbána. Of these tribes the most
intimately related to the Músgu are the people of Logón, who, as we shall
soon have occasion to show, are nothing but a section which has quite
recently separated from the parent stock, and constituted itself as a
distinct community, owing to its higher state of civilization. Amongst
the various divisions of the Kótoko, Ngála and Klésem seem to be most
nearly related to the Músgu.
However insignificant the tribe of the Músgu may appear in the eyes
of the European, the dialects of the various communities into which
it is split, owing to the hostile manner in which they are opposed to
one another, and their entire want of friendly intercourse, differ so
much that, as I was assured the people of Lúggoy have great difficulty
in understanding those of Wúliya and Démmo. Unfortunately I had no
opportunity of collecting specimens of the other dialects besides that
spoken by the people of Lúggoy. Their principal “sáfi,” or fetish,
consists in a long spear-like pole, similar to that of the Marghí;
but nevertheless there seems to be a considerable difference in their
superstitious worship, for, while with the Marghí the pole appears to
be rather a symbol than an image of the deity, and the real worship is
attached to the sacred locality, with the Músgu tribes I did not see a
single specimen of a sacred grove. The Músgu call their fetish “kefé.”
In the afternoon I attended some time at the vizier’s, and here made the
acquaintance of an interesting and adventurous old man of the name of
Mʿallem Jémme, or Jýmma, who took the principal part in the conversation.
The history of this man is highly characteristic, as showing what a
large field is open to the ambition of enterprising Mohammedans in the
pagan states to the south. Threatened with capital punishment by the
old sheikh, that is to say, Mohammed el Amín el Kánemi, on account of
his disobedience, this Shúwa chieftain had fled to the pagans, and had
there succeeded in establishing gradually, by his own energy and mental
superiority, a small principality; but at present, for some reason or
other, he had been expelled and had recourse to the vizier of Bórnu
for assistance to recover his former power. His great knowledge of the
country and the different tribes which inhabited it, made him a welcome
guest; but as for himself, he did not succeed in his ambitious projects.
In reference to my expedition to Ádamáwa, I have already made use of the
authority of this man, in giving an account of the route which connects
the southernmost point on our expedition to Músgu with the places fixed
by me along the river Bénuwé.
The mʿallem was not very communicative; and unfortunately I had no
handsome present to make him, or else I might have learned from him
an immense deal with regard to the geography and character of these
countries, which I have no doubt, not long hence, will become of
considerable importance to Europeans. For while these regions, situated
between the rivers Bénuwé and Shári, seem to be extremely rich and
fertile, and capable—on account of the uniform level of their unbroken
plains—of the highest state of cultivation, they are the most accessible
on account of the extensive water-communication, which, rendered
available by the application of a very small degree of art and industry,
will open an easy access into the heart of Central Africa. Of course,
after the rainy season, when all these countless watercourses, which
intersect the country in every direction, and, without any apparent
inclination, inundate the country, the climate in the plains cannot be
very healthy; but isolated mountains and hills are scattered by the hand
of nature through these luxuriant plains, capable of affording more
healthy localities for settlements.
Owing to the presence of the adventurer just mentioned, the conversation
that evening was very animated, till at length the courtiers, or
“kokanáwa,” withdrew behind the curtains of the vizier’s tent, in order
to take a little refreshment. I then took my leave; but I had only gone
a short distance when I was called back, being informed that it would no
doubt be interesting to me to witness an audience of Ádishén, the Músgu
chief, who was just about to pay his respects to the commander-in-chief.
I therefore returned to the vizier’s tent, where the courtiers had again
taken their post, according to their rank and station, on each side of
their leader.
After a short time the Músgu chief arrived, accompanied by his three
brothers, mounted, as is their custom, upon horses without saddle or
bridle. Great numbers of people had collected in front of the tent,
and saluted him with scoffs and importunities; but the pagan chief did
not allow himself to be put out of countenance by the insolence of the
slaves, but preserved his princely dignity. At length the curtains of
the spacious tent were drawn back, and in came the native prince. He was
of a short stout figure, and rather mild, but not very prepossessing
features, and apparently between fifty and sixty years of age. He wore a
black tobe, but no trousers, and was bare-headed. Kneeling on the ground,
and clapping his hands, while he repeated the complimentary words, “Alla
ngúbberu degá!” (“God give you long life”), according to the custom
of the “katí gótsin,” he took up sand and sprinkled it upon his head;
but as soon as he had gone through this form of abject submission, he
assumed his character as a native chief. Thus, at once he complained of
his western neighbours, the Fúlbe or Felláta, or, as the Músgu people
call them, Chógchogo; for they, he said, had anticipated the vizier of
Bórnu, carrying off cattle and other things from his territory. The
Bórnu chief assured him that for the future he should not be exposed
to such injustice, but that he was entirely under the protection of
Bórnu. He then made a sign, and some parcels were opened, and Ádishén
was officially installed as a vassal and officer of Bórnu. First, he was
dressed in an elephant-shirt—the large black shirt from Núfe,—over which
a rich silk tobe was thrown, and over all an Egyptian shawl, while the
self-conceited courtiers, in their proud consciousness of a higher state
of civilization, treated him with contempt and scorn. My cheerful old
friend Kashélla Belál, who had decked him out in this finery, paid him
the usual compliments, exclaiming “Ngúbberu degá maína, ngúbberu degá
maína,” maína being the title of the governor of a province.
Thus this petty pagan chief had become, in an official style, a kind of
officer of Bórnu, and in this manner was alone capable of preserving
his unenviable existence, at what sacrifices we shall soon see. The
Músgu nation is situated so unfavourably, surrounded by enemies on all
sides, that, even if they were linked together by the strictest unity,
they would scarcely be able to preserve their independence. How, then,
should they be able to withstand their enemies, separated as they are
into numerous petty dominions, and having no further object than to
enslave and pillage their neighbours and kinsmen? Nothing but the number
of swampy watercourses which intersect the country in all directions,
and during the greater part of the year render it impassable for hostile
armies, while even during the remaining part the principal rivers afford
natural lines of defence, behind which the inhabitants may seek refuge,
can explain how the country is so well peopled as it is, although the
intervening tracts have been already laid waste.
Towards the north there are the Kanúri, powerful by their numerous
cavalry and the advantage of firearms; towards the west and south-west
the restless Fúlbe continually advancing; towards the north-east the
people of Logón, originally their near kinsmen, but at present opposed
to them by difference of religion; towards the east, the wild Bágrimma
people, proud of their supposed pre-eminence in religion, and eager for
the profits of the slave-trade. All these people hunting them down from
every quarter, and carrying away yearly hundreds, nay even thousands of
slaves, must in the course of time exterminate this unfortunate tribe.
To-day was Christmas-day; and my companion and I, in conformity with
a custom of our native town, tried in vain to procure some fish for a
more luxurious entertainment in the evening. The meat of giraffes, which
formed the greatest of our African luxuries, was not to be obtained; and
as for elephant’s flesh, which we _were_ able to get, although we both
liked it, we had too sadly experienced its bad effect upon the weak state
of our bowels to try it again. Hence, in order to celebrate the evening,
we were reduced to coffee and milk, with which we regaled ourselves. We
remained here the following day, under the pretext that the Fúlbe, who
had joined us, had not yet had an audience; but although the effeminate
courtiers were averse to any great exertion, the bulk of the army, who
had neither pay, nor were allowed to plunder in order to obtain their
necessary supplies, were not very well pleased with this delay, and
caused a great uproar while marching in battle-order before the tents of
their chiefs, and giving vent to their feelings by shaking and beating
their shields. On former expeditions the light troops of the Shúwa and
Kánembú had always been allowed to march some distance in advance of the
army in order to supply their wants; but on this occasion a strict order
had been issued that no one should go in advance.
In the afternoon Mr. Overweg went to pay a visit to Ádishén at his
residence in Kadé, which was about half-an-hour’s march distant towards
the south. He returned in the evening with a present of a goat, but did
not seem to be greatly pleased with his excursion; and it could scarcely
be otherwise, for while these pagans, who were obliged to disown all
national feeling, could scarcely show themselves in their true character,
and unreserved in their national manners, in the presence of such an
army, it could not but lower us in the eyes of our companions to have too
many dealings with these pagans, as they were apt to confound us with
them. To be regarded as a “kerdi” my companion cared little about: but I
was not much inclined to be identified as such, and it could certainly
reflect no honour on the character of our mission.