Travels and discoveries in North and Central Africa, Vol. 3 (of 5) : $b being a journal of an expedition undertaken under the auspices of H.B.M.'s Government, in the years 1849-1855Barth, Heinrich
History
Travels and discoveries in North and Central Africa, Vol. 3 (of 5) : $b being a journal of an expedition undertaken under the auspices of H.B.M.'s Government, in the years 1849-1855
Barth, Heinrich
Africa, Central -- Description and travel; Africa, North -- Description and travel
The former capital of Kánem, as has been seen, was Njímí, or Njímiye, a
place whose approximate situation will be pointed out hereafter; the
present capital, if we may still employ this title in such a country as
Kánem is at the present time, is Máwó[64], or rather Mʿawó, a place
which already in the time of Edrís Alawóma was of great importance.
This town, which it was our ardent desire to visit, and which we most
probably should have reached if the Welád Slimán had undertaken that
expedition, on which we accompanied them, with the whole of their little
troop, instead of allowing half of it to go to Kúkawa, seems to be
situated about 20 miles S.S.E. from Hénderi Síggesi, and is at present
only thinly inhabited, its population probably not exceeding 3000 or
4000, though the circuit of the town is said to be still of considerable
magnitude. It is surrounded with a wall, and is adorned with a great
many date-trees. It is the residence of a khalífa, whose power is of the
most precarious and uncertain condition, as its existence depends
entirely on the relative supremacy of either Wádáy or Bórnu. The
consequence is, that there are generally two khalífas—one actually in
power, and the other watching to expel him at the first opportunity,
with the assistance of one of the patronising powers—Mohammed Sáleh, the
father of the celebrated king of Wádáy ʿAbd el Kerím Sabún, having
succeeded to the pretensions which the Bulála, the princes of the
provinces of Fittrí and Kúka (then swallowed by the empire of Wádáy),
possessed by conquest over the kingdom of Kánem.
But, to return to Mʿawó, there is a market held in the town every
Wednesday; but, on account of the very insecure state of the country, it
cannot possibly be now of any great importance. The inhabitants seem to
belong to a peculiar race; for the Tedá Gurʿaán call them by the name of
Beránema, the origin and meaning of which I was not able to make out
with certainty, but which may seem to have some connection with the name
Bórnu, although it can scarcely have any relation to the name Beráuni,
given to the Tedá themselves by the Kél-owí and other foreigners.
Between Mʿawó and Hénderi Síggesi there appear to be several favoured
valleys, where the date-tree grows in more or less abundance. The most
famous are the large valley called Kárafu, or Kárfu, a few miles from
Mʿawó, under the authority of Keghámma Gúrde, who succeeded to Keghámma
Síntal; on the west side of Kárfu, at a short distance from it, Yégi;
and not far from it the valley Badánga, stated to be very rich in date-
trees, and Kédalá, belonging to the chief Chéfandé[65]; then the valleys
Hamáji (belonging to Fúgo?), Gáltará, and Mápal.
The valley of Mápal is said to form the limit of the date-tree in that
direction. On the west side of Mʿawó is likewise an inhabited place
called Kajídi, but without date-trees.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account