THE BAGIRIMI 149 



ago, some of whom remained in Bagirimi, while 

 others went on to Bornu, and others again to Fika ; 

 but though it is certain that many words in the 

 Bagirimi and Bornuese languages remain the same, 

 this is not the true story of their origin. For the 

 Sultan, father of his people, tells how five men of great 

 stature and prowess came out from the East, stop- 

 ping nowhere until they reached a fair mountain city. 

 Here they paused, and the citizens greeted them with 

 great acclaim, and begged that they would remain and 

 rule over them. So it was : the five strangers dwelt 

 there, and held lordship over the people ; and they 

 took to themselves Fulani wives, who bore them chil- 

 dren of rare endowments. Thus was the Bagirimi race 

 founded. To this day Melfi, the mountain city, is 

 honoured above other cities ; and each year the Sultan 

 sends some kingly gift in homage to the birthplace 

 of his race. 



There are few pure-blooded Bagirimi now, for they 

 have intermarried with other tribes, and the popula- 

 tion is mixed. It includes Fulani and Bornuese, and 

 very many Arabs and Pagans. With them the advent 

 of the French is very popular, for they have been 

 ground down by their Bagirimi over - lords, have 

 suffered heavy exactions and gross injustice. 



When in 1909 "the Great Chief," as Gauaronga 

 is called by the natives, journeyed to Fort Lamy to 

 salute the French Commandant, he travelled for five 

 days through his own dominions. During this time 

 he would call at the neighbouring towns and suggest 

 to a chief that the office could not remain his did 

 he not prove his loyalty by substantial gifts to the 

 royal exchequer. Or, where a vacancy had occurred, 



