THE SHARI 195 



We were escorted to the " barrackee," a one-roomed 

 building, surrounded by a verandah, and reserved for 

 the use of German officers. 



A white sergfeant was in Gulfei at the time of our 

 visit, having come to collect the usual poll-tax ; but 

 though it was assessed on 30,000 inhabitants he had 

 only succeeded in raising it from 2000. The Jeggara, 

 despite his reputation for great wealth and the recog- 

 nised fact that he possessed a million sheep, immedi- 

 ately declared himself to be a poor man, ruler over a 

 pauper people. He acted up to his statement by giving 

 us a far smaller " dash " than was customary ; and also 

 by laying aside, as his principal gift to the Grand Duke 

 of Mecklenburg, from whom he was warned to expect 

 a visit, an aligata worth about 3s. 6d., and a parrot. 

 It was amusing, for in 1905 he had given to Lieu- 

 tenant Boyd Alexander richer gifts and a more kingly 

 welcome than had any other chief. 



The Jeggara used to be vassal to the Sultan of 

 Dikoa, and as such he fought for Rabeh ; but when 

 Rabeh was overthrown he accepted from the French 

 conquerors a present of guns, on the understanding that 

 he was to become their ally. A little later Gulfei was 

 occupied, together with the rest of the North Kame- 

 run, by the Germans ; and the Jeggara, unwilling 

 to move his city across the Shari to French territory, 

 kept the guns and remained where he was, on condition 

 that his new suzerains should release him from allegi- 

 ance to the Sultan of Dikoa. Therefore, though he 

 did his utmost to oppose the coming of the white man, 

 he was astute enough to gain guns from one nation 

 and dignity from the other, in return for a submission 

 that he could not well deny. 



