indicum_.
78. _Xanthodes Graëllsii_, Feisth. Everywhere.
FAM. OPHIUSIDAE
79. _Leucanitis stolida_, F. Everywhere in damp meadows.
80. _Grammodes bifasciata_, Petag. As above. Common in places.
81. _G. algira_, L. As above.
(The five last-named species are the commonest _Heterocerae_.)
82. _Pseudophia tirrhaea_, Cr. In Southern Bornu.
[Footnote 487: Cf. p. 128 ff. of article by Aurivillius in _Archiv för
Zoologi_, vol. ii, No. 12, Stockholm, 1905. [For plates of butterflies
vid. Karl Kumm, _From Hausaland to Egypt_.]]
APPENDIX II
LIST OF THE BORNU KINGS
Below will be found a list of the kings of Bornu given to me by one
Mallam Kashim. This list was shown to the late Major McClintock, who
ordered the mallam to keep it until I returned from leave.
It differs considerably from Mr. Vischer’s list[488]—printed opposite
it—and it also differs from the list compiled by M. Landeroin and
printed in the _Documents scientifiques de la Mission Tilho_, vol. ii,
p. 348. Mallam Kashim asserts that the list he gave me was copied from
an old manuscript, but I do not think it has any special authenticity or
correctness.[489] It is interesting, however, for purposes of
comparison. Mr. Vischer’s list was compiled when he was a political
officer in Bornu in 1906, and is printed with his kind permission, and
by that of the government of Northern Nigeria. It is printed in the
_Notes on certain Emirates and Tribes_, edited by Major Burdon and
published by the N.N. Government, where also appears a table of
relationships of the Shehus, compiled by Mr. Vischer. Barth’s,
Nachtigal’s, and Landeroin’s lists appear in parallel columns in vol.
ii, p. 348 of _Documents scientifiques de la Mission Tilho_, and Mr. H.
R. Palmer’s list in the _Journal of the African Society_ for October,
1912.
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF THE RULERS OF BORNU
FROM SAEF BEN DHU YASAN, fourth century A.D. to SHEICH ABUBAKR GERBAI
BEN IBRAHIM BEN OMAR, present day.
Source of information: Barth’s and Nachtigal’s tables of Bornu rulers;
personal information. Compiled by Hanns Vischer, Geidam, December 12,
1907.
1. Saef Ben Dhu Yasan reigned 20 years
2. Ibrahim Ben Saef „ 16 „
3. Duku Ben Ibrahim „ 250 „
4. Fune Ben Duku „ 60 „
5. Aritso Ben Fune „ 50 „
6. Katori Ben Aritso „ 250 „
7. Adyoma Ben Katori „ 20 „
8. Bulu Ben Ayoma „ 16 „
9. Arki Ben Bulu „ 44 „
10. Shu Ben Arki „ 4 „
11. Abd El Djelil Ben Shu „ 4 „
12. Hume Ben Abd El Djelil „ from 1086-1097
13. Dunama Ben Hume „ „ 1098-1150
14. Biri Ben Dunama „ „ 1151-1176
15. Abd Allah Ben Bikoru „ „ 1177-1193
16. Abd el Djelil Ben Bikoru „ „ 1194-1220
17. Dunama Dibalami „ „ 1221-1259
18. Abd El Kedim Ben Dunama „ „ 1259-1288
19. Biri Ben Dunama „ „ 1288-1306
20. Nikale Ben Biri „ „ 1307-1326
21. Abd Allah Ben Kade „ „ 1326-1345
22. Selma Ben Abd Allah „ „ 1346-1349
23. Kure Gana Ben Abd Allah „ „ 1350
24. Kure Kura Ben Abd Allah „ „ 1351
25. Mohammed Ben Abd Allah „ „ 1352
26. Edris Ben Nikale „ „ 1353-1376
27. Daud Ben Nikale „ „ 1377-1386
28. Otman Ben Daud „ „ 1387-1390
29. Otman Ben Edris „ „ 1391-1392
30. Abubakr Liyatu Ben Daud „ „ 1392
31. Omar Ben Edris „ „ 1394-1398
32. Said „ „ 1399-1400
33. Kade Afno Ben Edris „ „ 1400-1432
35. Otman Kalnama Ben Daud „ „ 1432
36. Dunama ben Omar „ „ 1433-1434
37. Abd Allah Ben Omar „ „ 1435-1442
38. Ibrahim Ben Otman „ „ 1442-1450
39. Kade Ben Otman „ „ 1450-1451
40. Dunama Ben Biri „ „ 1451-1455
41. Mohammed „ „ 1455
42. Amer „ „ 1456
43. Mohammed Ben Kade „ „ ?
44. Rhadji „ „ 1456-1461
45. Otman Ben Kade „ „ 1461-1466
46. Omar Ben Abd Allah „ „ 1467-1471
47. Mohammed Ben Mohammed „ „ 1472-1504
49. Edris Ben Ali „ „ 1504-1526
50. Moh Ben Edris „ „ 1526-1545
51. Ali Ben Edris „ „ 1545
52. Dunama Ben Mohammed „ „ 1546-1563
53. Abd Allah Ben Dunama „ „ 1564-1570
54. Edris Ben Ali Aloma „ „ 1571-1603
55. Mohammed Ben Edris „ „ 1603-1618
56. Ibrahim Ben Edris „ „ 1618-1625
57. Hadj Omar Ben Edris „ „ 1625-1645
58. Ali Ben El Hadj Omar „ „ 1645-1685
59. Edris Ben Ali „ „ 1685-1704
60. Dunama Ben Ali „ „ 1704-1722
61. Hadj Hamdun Ben Dunama „ „ 1723-1736
62. Mohammed Ben El Hadj Hamdun „ „ 1737-1751
63. Dunama Gana Ben Mohammed „ „ 1752-1755
64. Ali Ben Hadj Dunama „ „ 1755-1793
65. Ahmed Ben Ali „ „ 1793-1810
66. Dunama Ben Ahmed „ „ 1810-1817
67. Ibrahim Ben Ahmed „ „ 1818-1846
68. Sheich Omar Ben El Kanemi „ „ 1846-1880
69. Abdurrahman Ben El Kanemi „ „ 1853-1854
70. Sheich Bukr Ben Omar „ „ 1880-1884
71. Sheich Ibrahim Ben Omar „ „ 1884-1885
72. Sheich Hashem Ben Omar „ „ 1885-1893
73. Sheich Kiari Ben Bukr „ „ 1893
74. Sheich Sanda Limanambe
Ben Bukr „ „ 1893
75. Rhabe the Usurper „ „ 1893-1900
76. Sheich Sanda Kwori
Ben Ibrahim „ „ 1900
77. Sheich Abubakr Gerbai
Ben Ibrahim Ben Omar
Ben El Kanemi
LIST OF BORNU KINGS
As given by Mallam Kashim (Maiduguri, October 12, 1912). _N.B._—V. =
Vischer.
1. Sebu Aisami Yamanma V. 1
2. Ibrahim Sebumi V. 2
3. Mai Duku Brem V. 3
4. Mai Fune Dukumi V. 4
5. Mai Archo Funemi V. 5
6. Mai Kaduri Archomi V. 6
7. Mai Boiyoma Kadurimi
8. Mai Boiyo Bulumi
9. Mai Arigi Bulumi V. 9
10. Mai Jil Shomi V. 11
11. Mai Jil Rigimi
12. Mai Ume Jilumi V. 12
13. Mai Dunama Umemi V. 13
14. Mai Daudu Nigalemi
15. Mai Dalla Bikorumi V. 15
16. Mai Tselim Bikorumi
17. Mai Dalla Dunamami
18. Mai Kadde Aujami
19. Mai Dalla Aujami
20. Mai Arri Gaji Zainami
21. Mai Kadde Madallami
22. Mai Usuman Kaddemi
23. Mai Momadi Kaddemi
24. Mai Iderisa Ashami
25. Mai Deril Arilwa
26. Mai Ume Aisa Gana
27. Mai Biri Aminami
28. Mai Kore Afuno Dalla
29. Mai Kore Goguwa
30. Mai Kore Gawua
31. Mai Kore Kura Kesa Ngilleru
32. Mai Jil Kellemi
33. Mai Momadu Baranbatama
34. Mai Momadi Jumarama Umar Iderisami
35. Mai Dagumoma Dalla Umarmi
36. Mai Kagu Umarmi
37. Mai Momadu Godimi
38. Mai Momadu Palagema
39. Mai Momadu Maza Iderisimi
40. Mai Daudu Niyalemi V. 27
41. Mai Usumanu Daudumi V. 28
42. Mai Sebu Gana
43. Mai Yusufu Sebumi
44. Mai Tselim Auwami
45. Mai Daudu Nigalemi
46. Mai Tolomaramma Kashim Biri Dunamami
47. Mai Dalla Bikurumi Birimi
48. Mai Dunama Arrimi
49. Mai Momodu Dunamami
50. Mai Duna Aminami
51. Mai Panami Umar
52. Mai Arri
53. Mai Dalla Dunamami
54. Mai Arri Gaji
55. Mai Aisa Keri Ngumaramma (F) (regent for nephew No. 56)
56. Mai Iderisi Arrimi Aloma (buried in Lake Alo) V. 54
57. Mai Momadi Panami Baranbatama V. 55
58. Mai Brem Gumsumi V. 56
59. Mai Umar Pusami Dusumami V. 57
60. Mai Arri Umarmi V. 58
61. Mai Tolomaramma Kashim Biri Umarmi (ancestor of
Mallam Kashim, compiler of this list)
62. Mai Kime Mele Arrimi
63. Mai Dunama V. 60
64. Mai Aji Dunamami V. 61
65. Mai Momodu Ajimi V. 62
66. Mai Dunama V. 63
67. Mai Arri Dunamami V. 64
68. Mai Arri Panami
69. Mai Amadu Arrimi V. 65
70. Mai Dunama Lefiami (ancestor of Maina Gumsumi,
present representative of old dynasty and now
Ajia of Bussugua) V. 66
71. Mai Momadi Ngilleruma Gumsumi or Ngueleroma
72. Mai Ibram V. 67
73. Mai Arri Dalatumi (killed at Minarge by Shehu Umar)
74. Shehu Lamino
75. Shehu Umar
76. Shehu Abdurrahman
77. Shehu Umar
78. Shehu Bukar
79. Shehu Ibrahim
80. Shehu Ashimi
81. Shehu Kiari
82. Shehu Sanda Limannambe
83. Rabeh
84. Shehu Sanda Kura
85. Shehu Garbai
[Footnote 488: Though sometimes only in giving a man’s matronymic,
instead of his patronymic, e.g. No. 58 in Mallam Kashim’s list is
described as ‘the son of Gumsu’ and corresponds to No. 56 in Mr.
Vischer’s list ‘the son of Edris’.]
[Footnote 489: E.g. he introduces in No. 61 his own ancestor, who does
not appear in any other list. On the other hand he includes No. 71,
Nguéléroma, omitted in all other lists, except M. Landeroin’s, for
reasons mentioned in _Documents scientifiques de la Mission Tilho_, vol.
ii, p. 346; cf. Appendix IV of the present work.]
APPENDIX III
THE TUBBAS (OR SEFS) AND THE SOS
According to the _Documents scientifiques de la Mission Tilho_, ii. 352,
the dynasty of the Sefs are more generally known under the name of
Tubbas. ‘A young chief whose name has not been preserved but who was
later known as Tubba Lowel (the first who repented) left Hindi (India)
at the head of an army and went to the country of Cham (Syria), whose
inhabitants paid him tribute in order to avoid war. He then directed his
march to Bougdari or Goudeber (Baghdad?) then to Masr (Egypt) and
Medina, exacting tribute everywhere. From Medina he went to Yemen, where
he established himself without resistance. From there he went to besiege
Mecca, which had refused to submit to him. He was accompanied by 4,000
mallams (priests).’ To this legend M. l’officier interprète principal,
Hamet Ismael, appends a note that this legend appears to be a somewhat
garbled account of the history of the Tobbas or Shepherd Kings of Egypt
(Hyksos): cf. _L’Arabie_, par Noël des Vergers, p. 50 ff. ‘One day the
king reproached the mallams that their assistance did not enable him to
capture Mecca. The principal mallam replied that he ought to be content
with the empire of Persia, Bougdari, Egypt, Medina, and Yemen, and
should not attack the sacred city of the Kaaba, which was destined one
day to give birth to a prophet. The king then repented, abandoned the
siege, and declared that on the appearance of this prophet he would
become his first disciple. This repentance caused him to be called Tubba
Lowel (the first who repented), from the Arabic verb “itoub” = he
repents. Tubba Lowel returned to Yemen, and forty years later, when
Mohammed was preaching Islam, he embraced the new religion.
After the reign of Hussein, the sixth Caliph, the Mussulman Empire was
divided. One of the descendants of Tubba Lowel had the north and
afterwards Stambul (Constantinople); another, named Seibu Aïsami,
crossed the Nile and travelled towards the Sudan. This Seibu is perhaps
Barth’s Sef. Later the descendants of Seibu came to Kanem, then occupied
by the Bulala, and drove back the latter to Lake Fittri. Whether the
Tubbas came in from the north via Fezzan or from the east via Kordofan
is not known. Barth says they came from Borku, which is north-east of
Kanem, and that they were descended from the Libyan tribe of the Berdoa,
who, according to Nachtigal, occupied the oases of Kufra and Tou. Having
thus conquered Kanem, the Tubbas or Seibuas established their capital at
Birni Njime, thirty miles east of Mao, north-east of Chad. Towards the
end of the fifteenth century the Tubbas left Kanem in order to instal
themselves in Bornu. According to Barth and Nachtigal the Tubbas were
driven out of Kanem by the Bulala; according to our informants they left
there in order to conquer Bornu, a more fertile country than Kanem.’
There is also another version of the installation of the Tubbas in Bornu
(_Doc. sci._, ii. 356). After having abandoned Kanem, about four hundred
and fifty years ago, they came to Bornu, then occupied by the Sos, whose
chief Guma Kandira or Dala Gumami [cf. Benton, _Kanuri Readings_, p. 27]
(‘Kandira’ means in Kanuri ‘hunter, archer’) was living in straw huts at
Gambaru on the River Yo. Having obtained leave to sit down near him, the
Tubbas bought land in order to build their houses there. Amongst this
land was a garden planted with ‘kumo’, which means in Kanuri ‘the
calabash-gourd’. When their town or ‘birni’ was built, it was called
Birni Zerku Kumo, i.e. the town of the calabash-garden, ‘zerku’ meaning
in Kanuri ‘a garden’. [Probably the word spelt ‘zerkou’ by Landeroin
should be ‘ze̥rge̥’ = a dry watercourse, a natural place for a market-
garden.—P. A. B.] By inversion of syllables ‘zerku’ became ‘kuzer’,
hence Kuzer Kumo. Another derivation is suggested by Landeroin.
Nachtigal speaks of a group of three villages to the north of Mao, whose
chief bore the title of ‘Kumo’. Perhaps the Tubba chiefs, who bore in
Bornu the title of ‘Mai’ (= ‘king’ in Kanuri), may have formerly borne
that of Kumo, hence Kasr Kumo = the palace of the Kumo. [‘Kasr’ is an
Arabic word for a castle or citadel, sometimes used in Hausa, vid.
Robinson’s _Hausa Dictionary_, under the form ‘kasru’ to mean ‘a
palace’.][490] The Tubbas constructed their first capital at Gambaru,
but finding that it was apt to be flooded by the river during the rains
and was unsuited for the operations of their cavalry, they removed a few
miles south to Kasr Kumo. Gambaru became the residence of the Queen
Mother and her court.
In the course of time the So king got into debt to the Tubbas and
finally fled to escape his creditors. The following legend is told to
explain how the Tubbas got rid of the remaining Sos. The Tubbas were
accustomed to stain their hands and nails with a tincture of henna. The
Sos had tried to imitate them, but they were ignorant both of henna and
how to use it. The Tubbas had jealously guarded their secret, but at
last they agreed to reveal it on condition that all the Sos in the
country were present. Accordingly on the appointed day they killed an ox
and made the credulous Sos dip their hands in its blood. Their hands
were then enveloped in green leaves, as the Tubbas were accustomed to do
themselves, and the leaves bound round with thongs of raw hide. These
thongs were not to be removed for three days. At the end of this period
the thongs had shrunk so much that it was impossible to remove them
without cutting them. The Tubbas then fell upon the unfortunate Sos,
only one of whom escaped. This happened in the year 1452 of our era.
The Sos mentioned above were, according to the natives, the
autochthonous inhabitants of Bornu. They lived chiefly by hunting and
professed no religion. History has not preserved the names of their
chiefs, but legend paints them as of gigantic stature and of such
strength that when a So killed an elephant, he could carry it home on
his shoulder [cf. Benton, _Kanuri Readings_, p. 9]; their bracelets
would have been too big for our thighs and their axe-heads were as big
as a man’s body of the present day. But nothing in the country recalls
this extraordinary strength,—no weapon, utensil or dwelling which can
justify their reputation. [Since these words were written by M.
Landeroin some implements have been discovered bearing on this point.
During the excavations for the wall of the Maiduguri leper-camp at the
end of 1911 three implements were turned up, which the Shehu at once
pronounced to be So arrow and spear-heads or hoes. They are shaped like
a very blunt arrow-head, and the biggest measures 14 in. by 8 in. at its
greatest length and breadth, and weighs 4 lb. 12 oz. They are perhaps So
hoes, and are certainly infinitely heavier than those used at the
present day. They have been deposited in the Zungeru museum. No other
remains were found.—P. A. B.] Another argument against the Sos being
giants is that their descendants the Beddes, Ngizims, Kotokos, &c., are
no taller and no stronger than individuals of other races inhabiting the
country. [But according to Miss Macleod, _Chiefs and Cities of Central
Africa_, p. 196, few Kotokos are under 6 ft., and some are as tall as 6
ft. 7 in.]
[Footnote 490: Whichever derivation is accepted, it is perhaps not too
fanciful to quote as parallels the Biblical phrase ‘a lodge in a garden
of cucumbers’, or again the first words of the famous passage describing
the accession of Queen Victoria—‘In a palace in a garden . . .’ If this
sounds too poetical, the alliterative translation ‘Castle Calabash’ is
easily remembered.]
APPENDIX IV
SHEHU LAMINO AND HIS SUCCESSORS
The following is a translation of pp. 358-76 of vol. ii of the
_Documents scientifiques de la Mission Tilho_, published in 1911, which
modify considerably Barth’s estimate of Shehu Lamino and his successors.
The information was obtained orally by M. Landeroin, ‘officier
interprète’ of the French Boundary Commission. He remarks on p. 346:
‘It is even probable that Barth, as well as Nachtigal, could not get
impartial information regarding the period of the rise of Mohammed El
Amin (more often called Sheikh Lamino), founder of the Kanemi dynasty.
One may guess in fact that, owing to fear of the Sheikh, no one would
have dared to say, even in a whisper, what they thought of their
sovereign, for informers were held in much honour at the court of Bornu,
and the gossips would soon have been denounced and executed. Barth and
Nachtigal were generally escorted and guided by the spies of Shehu Umar,
and they could hardly become intimate with anybody but his favourites
and friends. All the information furnished to them was faithfully
reported to the Shehu, who would not have failed to deal severely with
those who dared to criticize his own acts or those of his father. This
is doubtless why Barth was able to write, all in good faith, that Sheikh
Mohammed El Amin was “a pious and God-fearing man”, whereas, on the
contrary he was greedy and ambitious.
To-day the Kanemi dynasty exercise no more than the shadow of power; any
one, therefore, can tell fearlessly what he knows and express an opinion
on those who have held the reins of power. This is why the unpublished
information which we have collected will show the reigns of the last
Sultans of Bornu under a new light.’
The justice of M. Landeroin’s observations can hardly be disputed, and a
knowledge of the present representatives of the Kanemi dynasty inclines
one to accept his version of events rather than Barth’s. Nguéléroma does
not appear in Barth’s and Nachtigal’s lists, or in that compiled by Mr.
Vischer in 1906. The Bornu Provincial Office copy of the latter has a
note inserted in pencil by M. Landeroin himself regarding Nguéléroma.
Translated from _Documents scientifiques de la Mission Tilho_ (1911),
vol. ii, pp. 358-76.[491]
STRUGGLE AGAINST THE FULANI
Mai Ali was succeeded by his son Ahmed (Mai Amadu). During the latter’s
reign, Othman dan Fodio, who had just founded a Fulani empire in the
Hausa states, sent one of his lieutenants, Goni Mukhtar, to attack
Bornu. Mai Amadu, having become blind, had handed over the reins of
power to his son, Mai Dunama. The latter was unable to repulse Goni
Mukhtar, who captured Gazerregomo (Kazer Koumo) and installed himself
there. Dunama fled to Maguié, one day’s march to the east of
Gazerregomo, where he met Sheikh Lamino (Mohammed El Lamin El Kanemi), a
native of Kanem. Mai Dunama gave him handsome presents and said to him:
‘You are a learned and pious “mallam”, pray to God for me that He may
restore me my kingdom.’ This Sheikh Lamino was the son of Sheikh Langa
of the Kanembu tribe and of an Arab woman from Zouïla in the
Tripolitaine. After studying, like his father, with the Koiyams of
Gazerregomo, he accompanied his father on a pilgrimage to Mecca. His
father died at Medina, and Sheikh Lamino returned to Kanem. In answer to
Mai Dunama’s request, Lamino wrote three letters to Goni Mukhtar
pointing out to him that he was waging an unjust war against Mussulmans,
and suggesting that he should abandon Gazerregomo. At the same time he
begged the Sultan of Bornu’s vassals, among others the chiefs of Nguru,
Wacha, and Miria, to come and join him. No reply having been received to
the three letters, Sheikh Lamino said to Mai Dunama: ‘Return to your
capital, God will restore it to you.’ Full of confidence, the Tubba
Sultan marched against Goni Mukhtar and was victorious; the Fulani chief
was killed in the battle inside the town itself, which he had occupied
for forty days.
Mai Dunama reinstalled himself at Gazerregomo, but a year later was
attacked by the Fulani chief Mallam Ali, surnamed Zaki (the lion), and
again routed. Putting his faith in the invocations of Sheikh Lamino,
Dunama hastened to recall him from Kanem, gave him 100 camels, 100 oxen,
100 slaves, 100 horses, 1,000 dollars, 1,000 goats, 1,000 sheep, and
1,000 gowns, and begged him to pray to God anew that his empire might be
a second time restored to him.
Sheikh Lamino and his disciples prayed continuously for seven days, at
the end of which Dunama marched against his enemies. Mallam Zaki,
vanquished in his turn, had to fly and took refuge at Katagum, after
having been master of Gazerregomo for six months. These events happened
about 1808 or 1809.
At the advice of Sheikh Lamino, Mai Dunama abandoned his capital,
polluted by the Fulani, and founded Birnin Kabela, five days’ march to
the south-east.[492] To Sheikh Lamino he said: ‘Your prayers are always
efficacious; each time that you have invoked God in my favour, He has
heard you; I wish you therefore to remain near me in case the Fulani
come again to attack me.’
The Sheikh agreed, but only on condition of being allowed to settle
amongst the Kanembus who lived near Ngornu, eight or nine miles to the
east of Birnin Kabela. The Sultan accordingly gave him authority over
all the Kanembus of the district.
INTRIGUES OF SHEIKH LAMINO
The Sheikh was intriguing and ambitious. Some time afterwards, in accord
with the courtiers, he had Mai Dunama deposed and imprisoned at Dikoa,
according to some, at Ngornu, according to others. He was replaced by
his paternal uncle, Mohammed Nguéléroma, younger brother of the
preceding Sultan, Mai Amadu the Blind.
_Mohammed Nguéléroma_ reigned for three or four years, but he soon fell
out with Sheikh Lamino, who did not find him sufficiently generous
towards himself. New intrigues were then started to restore Dunama,
still a prisoner, to power. The Sheikh, having gained over by his
presents a certain number of Nguéléroma’s courtiers, had the ex-Sultan
brought before him by them, and asked him: ‘What would you give me if I
had the kingdom restored to you?’ Dunama replied: ‘If you have the power
restored to me, you shall have half the revenues of the kingdom.’
Satisfied with this answer, Sheikh Lamino kept Dunama in his house, and
the next day asked Nguéléroma to send him the principal officers of his
court.
The Sultan sent them to him at once, accompanied by his son and his son-
in-law. When they arrived at the gate of Lamino’s house, the latter had
them introduced one after the other, with the exception of the son and
the son-in-law, into a room in which had previously been placed a divan
to serve as a throne and some garments of royalty. Then Dunama entered,
took his place on the divan, and repeated before the assembled
functionaries the promise which he had made the evening before. ‘If
Lamino has the power restored to me, he shall have the half of the
revenues of the kingdom’.
Those of the courtiers who had not been made privy to the plot were
violently angry, but as they were in a minority, they had to restrain
themselves. Already they were afraid of the Sheikh, who, supported by
the Kanembu, was powerful enough to overawe them. Lamino immediately
invested Dunama with the garments of royalty, and then had the son and
son-in-law of Nguéléroma introduced into the chamber. At the same time
he bade the trumpets sound to announce the accession, and gave orders
for the public to be admitted. All could then see Mai Dunama seated on
the throne, and Sheikh Lamino presented him to them as the new sovereign
of Bornu.
On hearing the trumpets sound to announce the accession of Mai Dunama,
the horse-boy of Nguéléroma’s son leaped on his master’s horse and
galloped with loose rein to apprise the Sultan. He found the latter
occupied in reading the Koran. Nguéléroma, having learnt the news,
showed no signs of disturbance, but asked the horse-boy if the weather
seemed overcast. The latter replied that there were no clouds. Then the
Sultan shut his book, put it in a bag which he hung round his neck, and
left the town on foot by the north gate.
SECOND REIGN OF MAI DUNAMA
Meanwhile Sheikh Lamino and the courtiers were bringing Mai Dunama to
Birnin Kabela, which they entered by the south gate. Nguéléroma, hearing
the trumpets, stopped in the bush. Mai Dunama had search made for him,
and he was found without difficulty. Brought before his nephew, the
latter, without reproaching him for having formerly dethroned him,
assigned as a residence a village called Yamia, situated to the south of
Munio, and allowed him to take with him his four legitimate wives and
forty concubines. Nguéléroma only accepted the four wives, and escorted
by forty faithful horsemen, soon reached his new residence.