(A.) Towns in Jimbálla, the district S. of the river W. from the
district Kíso:—
Ayún, Kúfa, Sáre-feréng (the town mentioned p. 470), probably the seat
of government under the empire of Melle, Tési, Árkoja, Hóre-ayé, Dangal,
Bória, Ngorko or Goroñya, a considerable market place between Zánkara
and San-koré, and distant one and a half day’s journey S. from Dári,
Kúle-songho, Guddunga. The following places lie in the central region of
Jimbálla:—Tórobe, Gmoy, Gunki, Gúngare, Íchi al Hábe, Séri, Segúl, Bugo-
linchére, Gnórija.
It is a very remarkable fact, that three places to which the origin of
the Bámbara nation is referred, are said to be the oldest places in
Jimbálla, viz. Kanembúgu, Jéngenabúgu, and Tsorobúgu.
The following are the tribes of the Fúlbe in Jimbálla:—Fíttobe, Sangho,
Uralífoná, Búsurá, Kaya, Úro-Módi, Dugurábe, Tongábe in Séri, Zukkáre,
Toródi (probably settled in the locality called Tórobe) Nar-hau,
Yaffóli. There is besides a tribe of Fúlbe called Dóngo, mixed with
Rumá, settled in four places of Jimbálla, viz. Kurúm on the Máyo balléo,
Sébi, Wáki and Gong. In Sébi, the place mentioned p. 470, resides a
chief of the Rumá, who formerly commanded the whole communication along
the river, and with whom therefore Park had some business to settle—this
evidently being indicated by the words wrongly translated by Mr. Silame,
“that they might cross the way of the river.”
South of Jimbálla is the district Sákkeré, under the dominion of the
Fúlbe, but chiefly inhabited by Zoghorán. Chief place Dóko, one day from
Koisa, and not far from Úro-Búlo.
(B.) Zánkara the district S. of the river, enclosed between the latter
and the districts of Kíso and Jimbálla:—
Tomme, Chángará, Manjebúgo, Ánjau, Jebár, Báko, Bánikan, Jú, Jú-kárimá,
Wáki, Tondo, Jindigatta, Wabango, Kúgu, Bádi, Gom. The capital of this
province is Dári, or Dár e’ Salám, residence of the governor ʿAbd-
Alláhi, son of Sheikh Áhmed. S.E. from Dári is Gannáti, a considerable
market-place.
(C.) In Aússa (the province north of the river between Timbúktu and
Fermágha):—
Tomba, Mékore near Gúndam, Bankoríye, Jango, Akoire-n-éhe, Hammakoire,
Kamba-dumba, Ungurúnne, Nyafúnche, Hardánia or Béllaga, Gnóro, Baba-
danga, Báñaga, Tóndi-dáro, Gubbo, Dháhabi-koire, Síbo, Alwéli-koira,
Gombo, Tommi, Gaudel, Kurbal, Kattáwen, Fadhl-illáhi, Áttora, Núnu,
Nyódogu, Gaude, another Mékore near Kurbal, Kábara-tanda, Duwé-kiré near
Dongoy, Tásakál, Mánkalá-gungu between Dongoy and Kábara, Telfi, Koddi-
sabári; Sobónne, I think, is not the name of a place but of a section of
the Fúlbe settled here.
I also think this a fit place to insert some lists of towns lying along
various routes traversing the territories of Fermágha, the province to
which Yówaru belongs, and Bergu, the province bordering on the former
towards the S., although I cannot fully testify to the accuracy of the
order in which the towns are mentioned. I will here also add, that this
district Bergu, as it is called by some of the natives, the original
form of the name being probably Marka, and of which Yá-saláme is the
chief place, is a very flat country almost destitute of trees and
producing no crops, but on account of its ample supply of water
affording fine pasture grounds. Fermágha, on the contrary, is a well
timbered province. My informant is Dáúd, the brother of the Púllo chief
Mohammed ben ʿAbd-Alláhi, whom I have mentioned in my journal.
Between Yówaru and Yá-saláme, along the western road, are said to lie
the following places, beginning with the former: Bánghita, a village of
learned men, or mʿallemín, Sáredína, Dógo, the place touched at in going
from Yówaru to Niyakóngo, by way of Shay, Urúnde, Gogórla, Launyánde,
Launérde, Meré-únuma, Urungíye (1st day)—(Urungíye in the dry season is
at half a day’s distance from the river; it is still reckoned by some as
belonging to Másina);—Tanna, Kánguru, having crossed between these two
villages a small creek, Heráwa, Bandáre, Chúki, Kalaségi, Gachi- (or
Gasi-) lúmo, Nanka, Kárangérre, Surángo, Kúru (2nd day); Módi Masanáre,
Kunába, Júre, Ikáre, Búrburankóbe, Nyóji, Diggesíre, Yá-saláme, a
considerable town inhabited by Aswánek and Fúlbe (3rd day).
Between Yówaru and Yá-saláme, along the western road by Urungíye. After
having passed Urungíye: Alamáye, Ucha-malángo, Ukánnu, Jowengéña, a
village called Almáme, another called Fíttobe, Doroy, Sáre-yáru,
Diggesíre, Yá-saláme.
Between Yá-saláme and Saredína, a journey of three days: Kóra, Túguri,
Jappéje, Sendekúbi, a hamlet inhabited by slaves of the Fúlbe and Jáka,
Sende-kórrobe, Chúbe, Bú-deráje, Gánda, Gauye, Nomárde, Saredína. This
road probably passes at no great distance W. of Tenéngu.
Between Yá-saláme and Konári, a journey of three days: Burtupédde,
Geléji, Dóko, not the one mentioned above, Jónyori (1st day); Kóle,
Wandebúte, Kollekómbe, Salsálbe (2nd day); Únguremáji, Konári.
Between Basikúnnu and Yá-saláme: Kussumáre, Jáfera, Jerri-Jáfera, a
village inhabited by slaves (1st day, short march); Bínyamús, a place
inhabited by Arabs, Terebékko, Sorbára, Kóllima, Túgguri (2nd day);
Túre-sangha, a place at present inhabited by Arabs (formerly by Songhay?
túri = Mohammedan Máleki?), Kójole, Páche, Batáwa, a place inhabited by
hárratín, Káre (residence of?) Búgoné, chief of the Bowár, Búburankóbe,
Um-muswéle, Yá-saláme.
Between Basikúnnu and Yówaru, a journey of five and a half days:
Barkánne or Barkánnu (1st day); another road goes by Jéppata; Shám, Lére
(2nd day); Nimmer, a creek called by the Arabs, “el má hammer,” “the red
water,” where you pass the heat, Dogoméra, Nyenche, Báya (3rd day);
Karúnna, Gungu, Saléngurú, Chíllunga, Gasi-lúmo (leaving Gasi-Jerma
towards the N. (4th day); Kalasége, Chúki (5th day); Yówaru.
Between Ikánnu, a town lying one day W. of Urungíye and the town of
Gúndam: Séda, Bundúre, Sabére-lóde, Tánuma, Jamwéli, Tómoró (both of
these villages inhabited by Songhay and Aswánek conjointly), Surángo,
Jábatá, Lére, Gasi-Jerma, Nósi, Káti, Kábara, situated to the east of a
large pond or dhaye, Kokónta, a Songhay village, Katʿawó, Sumpi, Tákají,
Nyódogó, Hóro, Téle, Gundó or Gúndam.
N.—_Route from Timbúktu to Sansándi by way of Basikúnnu, from the
information of Shékho Weled Ámmer Waláti._
2nd day. Gúndam, having passed by Kábara (not necessary, but most people
do so); Tásakant, or Tásakalt, another village or ádabay, a village
called Duwékiré, and Dunge, a village inhabited by Rumá.
3rd. Téle, a creek or rijl, with many villages.
4th. Térijít, a village on a creek of the river.
5th. Katʿawó, another village inhabited originally by Tawárek.
6th. Kábara, or to distinguish it from the other village of the same
name, Kábara Tanda, inhabited by Songhay.
7th. Janga, a place inhabited by Aswánek.
8th. Lére.
9th. Barkánni, a well, frequented by Arabs; a long day’s march.
10th. Basikúnnu, a middle-sized place or ksar, inhabited by Arabs,
especially the Welád ʿAlúsh, a very warlike tribe, mustering about 700
armed people; but the chief part of the inhabitants consists of the
slaves of the latter. Basikúnnu lies in the district called Eríggi, and
is distant nine or ten days from Kasambára.
14th. Kíri, a well not far from the town of Kála, which informant
intended to avoid; the direct road passing close along the western side
of the wall of that town.
15th. Saradóbi, a deserted place.
16th. Falambúgu, a place inhabited by Bámbara.
17th. Swéra, a considerable place.
18th. Sansándi.
O.—_Route from Sansándí to Timbúktu, deviating a little from the general
track for fear of the Fullán. Informant, Sídi Áhmed el Mazúki el
Bágheni._
1st day. Asér (probably identical with Swéra, the latter being the
diminutive form), a village inhabited by Bámbara. You arrive a little
after sunset, having started from Sansándi in the afternoon.
2nd. A place with a dhaye or tank. Pass the heat of the day in a
deserted place, leaving Karadúgu a little to the E. This whole country
is pillaged and laid waste by continual forays owing to the feud between
the Benáber or Bámbara and the Fullán.
3rd. Akór, a deserted place or ksar.
4th. Encamp in a spot in the wilderness, having passed the heat of the
day in a place called by the Arabs Akúmbu jemel; leave the considerable
place Kála, inhabited by Bámbara, to the W.
5th. Encamp in the wilderness.
6th. Sáre-bála, a place formerly inhabited by the Welád ʿAlúsh and the
Idélebó, but at present deserted.
7th. Gello, a village in the neighbourhood of a large “dhaye,” or pond,
two days from Yówaru, at present inhabited by the Teghdaust.
8th. Bír el Háj ʿOmár, a well with an occasional encampment of the
Zuwaye. The road, which in the first part of the journey was almost from
S. to N., here turns more to the east.
9th. Lére, a village, or ksar, of the Welád Zayem, an Arab tribe
dependent on the Fullán. A branch of the river skirts its east and south
side. Even in the dry season, immense sheets of water are here
collected, as is the case with the whole of Fermágha. The latter, which
comprises this whole tract of country, is a larger province, and better
inhabited than Aússa.
10th. Gasi e’ Sáheli, or Gasi-Jerma, distant one and a half day’s march
to the north from the more important place, Gasi-Ghúma or Gasi-Lúmo, the
great market-place of the “killa,” or coarse coloured stuff of mixed
cotton and wool, and the second place of the province of Fermágha, next
to Yówaru. Gasi-Ghúma lies on the backwaters of the river, running
parallel with the main branch between Lake Débu and Gúndam, and joining
the river near Salga, while a branch runs from here to Gasi-Jerma, and
thence to Lére. Gasi-Jerma has no great commercial activity, but a good
supply of corn; shells are not current. It is inhabited by Songhay and
Zoghorán, and is distant five days from Basikúnnu, towards the east.
11th. Sunfi, a place inhabited by Songhay, and belonging to Aússa. You
pass the heat of the day in the ksar Nyeddúgu.
12th. No place.
13th. A village, or ksar, on a branch of the river. You pass the heat of
the day near the dhaye Hór, and then keep along this sheet of water,
which is a branch of the Rás el má, and, according to my informant,
extends as far as Gasi-Ghúma.
14th. Gúndam.
N.B.—Perhaps one station has been left out, viz. Télé.
17th. Timbúktu.