revenues of the state. But Lamino’s authority kept increasing, and the
Sultan in alarm sought in secret to get rid of him. With this view he
summoned to his aid the Sultan of Baghirmi, Burgu Manda, who had been
formerly the vassal of Bornu, but had profited by the embarrassments
occasioned by the Fulani invasion to make himself independent of his
suzerain. Glad of an opportunity of proving his power to the Kanuri, he
assembled an army, crossed the Shari, and marched on Birnin Kabela.
Sheikh Lamino, informed almost immediately of the Baghirmi invasion,
decided to move against the enemy with all the forces of Bornu. Mai
Dunama could not avoid putting himself at the head of the army without
unmasking his designs, but he wrote to Burgu Manda to explain to him the
reasons of his apparent hostility. The Sultan of Baghirmi immediately
replied that he approved his conduct, but suggested that in future, to
avoid any misunderstanding, he and his adherents should always establish
their camp to the south of that of Sheikh Lamino. The Baghirmi could
thus be sure of concentrating their efforts on the army of the Sheikh
and of destroying it.
But the courier who carried this letter made a mistake. Instead of
giving it to Mai Dunama, he took it to Sheikh Lamino, who read it
without showing any disturbance, put it in his pocket and sent the man
away with a present.
Then, as the Baghirmi approached, the Sheikh’s camp was struck and re-
pitched some distance in advance, at Ngala; here Lamino and his Kanembu
established themselves to the south of Mai Dunama’s camp and waited.
Burgu Manda soon arrived. After viewing the dispositions made by the
opposing army, he thought that the Sultan of Bornu had safely received
his letter and had followed his advice. Accordingly he attacked the
north camp with all his forces, and after a desperate battle cut to
pieces the army of his friend, Mai Dunama. Before the latter could
recover from his astonishment and put a stop to the misunderstanding, he
was captured and slain by the Baghirmi troops (1817).
Meanwhile, Sheikh Lamino fled to Ngornu, hastily collected his most
valuable possessions and sent them off northwards, and after burning the
remainder, he fled towards Yo, on the River Wobe.
When Burgu Manda perceived his terrible mistake he was furious, and
hastened in pursuit of Lamino. The latter, however, had a good start and
the Sultan of Baghirmi could not overtake him. Burgu Manda was soon
afterwards compelled to return to his own country, and after sacking
Kukawa, where the Sheikh had another house, and ravaging everything as
he passed, he returned to his kingdom laden with booty.
SULTAN IBRAM AND SHEIKH LAMINO REIGN JOINTLY
At Birnin Kabela the nearest relatives of Mai Dunama and Nguéléroma
disputed among themselves as to who should succeed the Sultan thus
killed by mistake. The Sheikh, reassured by the departure of the
Baghirmi army, returned to Ngornu and again became master of the
situation. Ibram (Ibrahim ben Ahmed), younger brother of Mai Dunama,
wishing to assure himself of his protection, said to him: ‘My brother
gave you half the power and half the revenues of the kingdom; I will let
you have them all, if I can obtain the title of Mai.’
Lamino immediately accepted this offer. He called for the long silver
trumpets which were used to announce the accession of a Sultan, and
summoned to Ngornu the chiefs of the various tribes. In front of them
Ibram solemnly repeated the promise which he had just made to the
Sheikh, who immediately had a seal manufactured, on which was engraved
in Arabic—
Let God’s will be done.
God is sufficient for his servant.
Mohammed Al Amin.
Then addressing the assembled chiefs and notables from the various
tribes, he advised them to turn a deaf ear to the artful designs of the
courtiers and to obey him loyally. Then, at his order, the trumpets
proclaimed the accession of the new Sultan. Ibram was clothed in the
royal garments, and the procession set out for Birnin Kabela.
One of the first acts of sovereignty of the Sheikh was to permit the ex-
sultan Nguéléroma, exiled to Yamia, to once more approach the capital.
He installed him at Belangawa, north of Geidam on the River Wobe, where
he died some time afterwards.
Lamino also busied himself in organizing his household, which hitherto
had resembled the school of a famous ‘mallam’ rather than the dwelling
of a chief. His disciples were always coming and going, and allowed any
one who liked to penetrate into his presence. On his demand, forty
officials of the court of the Sultans of Bornu were sent to him; they
soon drove away the greater part of the students, and divided amongst
themselves the dignities of the new court.
This court was soon more brilliant than that of the nominal sultan
Ibram. The latter, in fact, only received annually from the Sheikh 1,000
dollars (about 5,000 francs), 1,000 gowns, 1,000 cloths, 100 camels, 100
horses, 100 oxen, 100 donkeys, 100 goats, and 100 sheep, whose total
value was less than 50,000 francs, which was very little to cover the
cost of maintaining his entourage. The courtiers therefore gradually
deserted him and went to live at the court of the Sheikh.
It is said that the latter, in order to affirm his authority, went out
one day from his apartments holding in each hand a gown, which he gave
as insignia of office to two slaves who were watching at his gate. The
one on the right was nominated Kachella of the Kubri Kanembu (the
Sheikh’s own tribe), and the one on the left Kachella of the Sugurti,
the best warriors of Bornu, who fought on foot, armed with the spear,
the bow, and the shield of ‘ambach’ wood.
At the same time he rebuilt his palace at Kukawa, which had been
pillaged and polluted by the Sultan of Baghirmi, and put himself in
communication with the Fulani Sultan of Sokoto, Mohammed Bello, the
Sarikin Mussulmi. To the latter he wrote as follows: ‘We profess the
same religion, and it is not fitting that our subjects should make war
on each other. Between our two kingdoms are the pagan Bedde tribes, on
whom it is permissible to levy contributions; let us respect this limit;
what lies to the west of their country shall be ours, what lies to the
east shall be yours; as for Munio, Damagaram, and Daura, they will
continue to be vassals of the Sultan of Bornu, who in return will
surrender to you all his pretensions to Gober and Katsena.’
Mohammed Bello replied that he accepted Lamino’s propositions, but the
two Mussulman chiefs would not, or could not, abide by their word, and
the Fulani incursions into Bornu continued as before.
EXPEDITION AGAINST BAGHIRMI
Sheikh Lamino never forgot a grievance and, when he could, repaid
twofold any evil that had been done him. As soon, therefore, as he had
reorganized and reinforced his army, his first expedition was directed
against the Baghirmi in order to avenge the intervention of Burgu Manda
against him some years before. So as to deceive the enemy, instead of
marching to the south of the Lake, where the Shari constitutes a
formidable obstacle, he marched round Chad to the north, and thus
arrived in Kanem without alarming his adversaries. A rapid march brought
him to Massenya before the Sultan of Baghirmi could assemble his
contingents, and it was then Burgu Manda’s turn to take to flight. He
fled for refuge to the Sara country, whilst Sheikh Lamino razed the
ramparts of his capital and destroyed his palace, the site of which was,
according to our informants, systematically polluted for a week by the
Bornu army. Then Lamino, having gained considerable booty and seen his
enemy fly before him, satisfied with his vengeance, crossed the Shari
and re-entered Bornu.
EXPEDITION AGAINST KANO
Every year in the autumn the Sheikh undertook some new expedition.
Tempted by the hope of a rich booty, he directed his army against Kano,
the wealthy commercial capital of the Central Sudan. Having arrived at
Gorko, a little distance from the town, he learnt that a strong Fulani
army, commanded by Yakubu, governor of Bauchi, was marching against him.
Lamino immediately sounded the retreat, but was overtaken by Yakubu at
Fake. Thanks to their fire-arms, the Kanuri repulsed the first attack of
their adversaries, who were only armed with spears and bows; then in
their turn they took the offensive, but without success. The two
parties, having each gained a slight advantage, then returned each to
their own country claiming for themselves a victory.
In the following autumn, Lamino renewed his attempt and was more
fortunate, for, if he did not succeed in penetrating into Kano, he was
able undisturbed to obtain possession of numerous villages, such as
Kanawa, Rimi, &c. As booty and not glory was always his object, he
returned to Bornu as soon as he considered his plunder sufficient.[493]
EXPEDITION AGAINST KATAGUM
The following year it was the turn of Katagum to be disturbed; but the
town, well defended, could not be taken in spite of a two months’ siege.
The Bornu army had to content itself with sacking all the surrounding
hamlets, and before retreating, it destroyed, out of spite, all the
growing crops. A great dearth resulted for this little country.
EXPEDITION AGAINST HADEIJA
A year later Sheikh Lamino laid siege to Hadeija. He pitched his camp on
the banks of the river, and summoned his vassals to aid him in his
enterprise, for the town resisted vigorously. Munio, Damagaram, Machena,
and Nguru obeyed; Tumbi dan Hawa, Sarikin Gummel, alone refused to join
them. An envoy from the Sheikh was sent to press him, but he replied:
‘If the Sheikh and his army can do without water for two days, let them
come here.’
EXPEDITION AGAINST GUMMEL
Lamino accepted the challenge. He crossed the uninhabited and waterless
zone, which for forty miles separated Hadeija from Malawa, to the east
of Dungass, not without losing numerous men and horses from thirst.
After resting three days, he sent a messenger to the Sultan of Gummel to
announce his arrival. Dan Hawa, panic-stricken, tried to obtain pardon
by sending him two ambassadors, Liman Bergoma[494] and Mallam Shetima
Kinguimi, accompanied by twenty young virgins, twenty young boys, twenty
camels loaded with presents, and 100 oxen. The Sheikh gave the embassy a
very unfriendly reception. ‘You have given evil counsel to dan Hawa,’
said he; ‘you deserve to die, but I pardon you in memory of the father
of Shetima Kinguimi, for as a young man I studied under his directions.’
Then, refusing the presents which they brought, he sent them back,
saying: ‘Let your master come in person.’
Dan Hawa, little reassured by the reception accorded to his envoys,
preferred to dispatch another ambassador to the Sheikh, one Shetima
Allah Rhama, with much more valuable gifts.
Lamino then appeared to be softened, and accepted the presents on
condition that the Sarikin Gummel came himself to ask his pardon. To
give him confidence, he said in Hausa to the envoy: ‘En ka kawo shi, ka
tashi da shi agaba nan,’ i.e. ‘if you bring him, you shall arise at the
same time as he in my presence.’
Dan Hawa was then reassured, and accompanied by Shetima dan Allah, he
repaired in person to the camp of the Sheikh. The latter made them sit
down in front of him, and when the Sarikin Gummel had expressed his
repentance, Lamino said to them: ‘Give each other your hands and get
up.’ They obeyed. ‘Now sit down again.’ They did so. Then addressing
Shetima, he said: ‘I promised you that if you brought me dan Hawa, you
should arise with him in my presence; I have kept my promise.’
He then handed over the Sarikin Gummel to the Galadima of Nguru. Now the
latter, who claimed hegemony over all the vassals of Bornu from the
north to the west, had long hated dan Hawa, who had always defied him,
so without delay he put him to death.
On learning of this summary execution, which had not been ordered by
him, Lamino was, or pretended to be, violently angry, and inflicted on
the Galadima a considerable fine.
He nominated as Sarikin Gummel, dan Tenoma, younger brother of dan Hawa,
and at the request of the new chief, decided that he should not have to
obey the Galadima of Nguru, but only Yerima Umar, his own son. He then
returned to Bornu.
EXPEDITION AGAINST NGURU
The Galadima of Nguru had been profoundly humiliated, and had sworn to
revenge himself. He soon assumed an independent attitude towards the
Sheikh, at the same time advising the other vassal states to imitate
him, but only Kosso, ex-sultan of Munio, joined him with a strong force
of Mangas.
It was therefore against Wari—a place which no longer exists, but which
was situated about thirty miles north-east of Kachellari—the capital of
Nguru, that Lamino directed his autumn expedition of the following year.
It is asserted that he camped opposite this town for a year and a half
without being able to take it, or even to secure any marked success
against the bands of horsemen that from time to time sallied out from
the walls. He then appealed to all his vassals, and when his troops were
sufficiently numerous, completely surrounded the fortifications. The
Galadima Umar, feeling that all was lost, made a desperate sortie,
succeeded in penetrating the besiegers’ lines and fled to Hadeija. On
the following day Kosso also made good his escape.
The inhabitants, thus deprived of their leaders, asked for peace. Lamino
demanded from them 100 slaves, 100 horses, 100 camels, and 100 oxen,
which were immediately delivered to him. He then ordered the destruction
of the ramparts. The inhabitants refused to consent, and hostilities
recommenced. After some time they made new proposals for peace, which
was offered on the same conditions as before. When these were fulfilled,
the Sheikh demanded the demolition of the fortifications. The
inhabitants again refused. There were fresh hostilities and fresh
successes on the part of the Sheikh. At last the inhabitants again asked
for peace, paid the tribute imposed on them, and then scattered.
Wari was delivered up to pillage, and then Lamino marched on Hadeija,
where the Galadima Umar had taken refuge. Thereupon the latter fled to
Sokoto and was replaced as Galadima of Nguru by his younger brother
Dunama.[495] The victorious Bornu army returned home and the Sheikh
allowed it two years’ repose.
A little later, Lamino, always excessively prone to suspicion, took
umbrage at the popularity acquired by a ‘Sufi’ mallam, whose school was
much frequented and who lived at Yale, to the north-east of Dikoa. He
repaired in person to Yale, where he learnt that the mallam was a Koiyam
of the Kullumfardo family, and quite devoid of ambition. At this
juncture the mallam became blind and the Sheikh, almost at the same
time, was attacked by a malady of the ear, from which he was destined
never to recover.
Almost at the same time Bohari, the Sultan of Hadeija, attacked Nguru
and raided the district of Selleri (Zagarari). Lamino was ill and unable
to take the field in person, but his son, Yerima Umar (later Shehu
Umar), took command of a strong expedition with which he advanced
rapidly into the invaded territory. Bohari had no alternative between a
difficult retreat and immediate submission, and having collected
considerable presents he repaired in person to Umar, did homage to him,
and was allowed to return to Hadeija.
Sheikh Lamino died soon afterwards, in 1835, leaving Bornu flourishing,
his family aggrandized, and the nominal sultan, Ibram, without the
slightest power. His son, Yerima Umar, then took the title of Sheikh (or
Shehu) and succeeded him without opposition as _de facto_ sovereign of
the kingdom.
FIRST REIGN OF SHEHU UMAR (1835-53)
One of the first acts of the new Shehu was to cut down by half the
meagre subsidy which his father had paid to the sultan Ibram. The latter
protested, but in vain, for the following year the subsidy was still
further reduced, and the third year he received almost nothing. Mallam
Amadu Gonimi, relying on the friendship shown him by the late Sheikh,
thrice made friendly representations to Umar, reminding him that it is
the part of a good son to act in all circumstances as his father had
acted, and requesting in consequence that he should allow Sultan Ibram
the same subsidies as he had been accustomed to receive from Sheikh
Lamino. Shehu Umar remained silent, but on the third occasion he
replied: ‘A son inherits his father’s property, not his character.’
Then Ibram, spurred by necessity, wrote to the Sultan of Wadai, Sherif
by name, begging him to come to his aid and rid Bornu of the Shehu and
his family. The army of Wadai was set in motion, but unfortunately Ibram
had confided the secret to one of his daughters, who in her turn
communicated it to her lover, a young relative of the Shehu. As soon as
he received the warning, the Sultan and seven of his advisers were
seized and thrown into prison. The Shehu then departed with his army to
arrest the invasion. The encounter took place on the banks of the Shari
at Kusseri (1846) and the Bornu army was completely routed. Umar, much
chagrined, returned in haste to Kukawa and had the Sultan and his
advisers, who had summoned the enemy into Bornu, immediately executed.
He then fled towards the north-west, taking refuge in the marshy country
of Bera, near Zigagué, on the banks of the River Wobe.
Meanwhile, the Sultan of Wadai continued his march on Kukawa, and
learning of the execution of Sultan Ibram, whom he had come to deliver,
proposed to replace him by Ali, son of the latter, a boy of seventeen.
But a Wadai man, called Ibrahim, settled at Kukawa, pleaded the cause of
Shehu Umar so well that the Sultan of Wadai dispatched the following
message:
‘If you consent to pay me $1,000, I will return to Wadai with my whole
army; otherwise I shall leave a strong guard with the young sultan to
protect him.’
‘Where can I get $1,000?’ replied the Shehu, for at this period silver
was rare in the country, and $1,000 constituted a very important sum.
But an Arab trader who happened to be in the country saw his opportunity
to make a big profit. He brought $600 to the Shehu, on condition that he
was repaid this sum in young girls, at the rate of $7 a head.[496] Then
Umar, having collected all the ornaments of his harem, was able to make
up the balance of $400, and sent the whole sum demanded. Sherif then
returned to Wadai, leaving the young sultan, Ali, under the sole guard
of the Kanembu and Sugurti.
Meanwhile, Durman (Abdurrahman, younger brother of the Shehu) happened
to be with an army in the north-west of Bornu, marching towards Zinder.
Ibrahim, sultan of this country, came to meet him with conciliatory
intentions and peace was concluded. Durman, recalled by his brother with
the idea of attacking the young sultan and regaining the reins of power,
then returned towards the River Wobe. On his arrival, however, Umar, who
was a bit of a poltroon, had changed his mind and suggested that they
should fly to Fezzan, their mother’s country.[497]
The younger brother replied: ‘As you seem but a womanish creature, go to
Fezzan if you like. I intend remaining in Bornu.’
Umar was thus shamed into fighting. The encounter took place at
Minargué, on the banks of the River Wobe. Barth calls the place Minarem.
Umar undertook to hold in check the cavalry of Ali, who were reputed to
be not very brave and only moderate horsemen, whilst the more valiant
Durman joined battle with the Kanembu and Sugurti infantry and put them
to rout. The young sultan was killed and Shehu Umar was able to re-enter
Kukawa as sole master henceforward of Bornu.
Two years later, desirous of strengthening his authority over his
western vassals, he proceeded to Zinder, whose sultan, Ibrahim, had
disregarded his orders. Ibrahim took to flight, but his brother Tenimu
repaired to the Shehu and got himself enthroned by him as Sultan of
Zinder. A mosque was built to commemorate this event and the Shehu
returned to Kukawa.
Five years later grave dissensions arose between him and his brother
Durman. The latter reproached him warmly with the affection which he
showed for one of his counsellors, Haj Beshir, whom he consulted on
every occasion and whose advice he followed in preference to that of his
brother. Old men, who were living at the time and whose memories are
still very clear, have informed us that the mutual affection of the
Shehu and his counsellor was greater than that of two brothers and
recalled that of husband and wife. Durman was much annoyed and told his
brother one day in the course of a violent quarrel that he had ‘the
spirit of a sheep’. He then fled.
Umar and his favourite, Haj Beshir, set off in pursuit, but when they
had nearly overtaken him, some of the Shehu’s other brothers, who had
followed the army, wrote to Durman in secret that they would not fight
against him. Durman immediately faced about and by a bold stroke
penetrated the camp and reached the very outskirts of the Shehu’s own
tents, in front of which he himself discharged several shots.
Umar and his favourite, stricken with panic, leaped on their horses and,
almost unaccompanied, fled to Kukawa without stopping. Haj Beshir
immediately collected all the wealth that he could carry away and
hastened to take refuge at Gulfei on the banks of the Shari, leaving the
Shehu at Kukawa to await events.
Meanwhile, Durman had been proclaimed Shehu by the army of Umar and re-
entered Kukawa at its head. Umar, relegated to the position of a simple
prince of the blood, had to leave the palace and was installed in his
brother’s private house.
REIGN OF DURMAN (ABDURRAHMAN), 1853-4
Durman had hardly been installed, when he charged his brother, Abba
Bukar Kura, to inform Haj Beshir, of whom he was a friend, that if he
would return at once to Kukawa he would grant him a pardon. At the
instance of his friend and after a long hesitation, Haj Beshir consented
to return. But as soon as he arrived Durman had him imprisoned, and
shortly afterwards, in spite of the prayers of his brother, incensed at
his ill faith, had him impaled.[498] This did not prevent him swearing
the same evening in the presence of all the courtiers that he had never
given the order for the execution of the unhappy man, but only that he
should be put in bonds.
Durman reigned a bare two years: his harsh character rendered him
unpopular with the courtiers, whilst he alienated the army by an
unsuccessful expedition against the Musgu, a people in the south of the
empire who refused to pay tribute. The malcontents resolved to replace
him as soon as he returned to Kukawa by Shehu Umar, whose accommodating
temper appeared all the more attractive since the autocratic character
of Durman kept constantly increasing.
But Durman was warned of the plot by one of his slaves, Mustapha Mutube.
He immediately assembled the courtiers and said to them: ‘I know that
you are plotting against me. If you want to replace me, do it at once;
don’t wait till I have returned to my palace.’
The courtiers exclaimed: ‘It is false! you have been deceived!’
Durman called the slave: ‘Who told you that a plot was being hatched
against me?’
‘It was Arri Fugumani, the chief of the slaves.’
Arri Fugumani, when questioned, said: ‘I was joking with Mustapha
Mutube; the whole thing is nothing but a jest, for which I ask pardon.’
Durman pardoned him, saying: ‘From henceforward let no one else come and
tell me lies.’
Two months passed, the army had returned to Kukawa, and the courtiers
began to conspire afresh.
Arri Fugumani said to Mustapha Mutube: ‘Yesterday’s lie may become to-
morrow’s truth. You would do well to inform the sultan.’ But Mustapha,
fearing to be again contradicted, dared not say anything.
The next morning all the courtiers assembled in the western town (Bela
Potebe) in front of Umar’s house, and the latter’s son, Yerima Bukar,
brought him the sultan’s drum and standard, the emblems of power. Then
forming in procession they advanced towards the eastern town (Bela
Gedibe), where the palace of Durman was situated. The latter, hearing
the sound of the trumpets and the cries of the mob, emerged in haste,
and with a few faithful followers engaged his adversaries in unequal
combat on the open space, called Gumsigine, between the eastern and the
western towns. Durman had his horse killed under him. He was immediately
brought the horse of one of his slaves, but he refused it, saying: ‘I
cannot mount a slave’s horse.’