54 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
Chap. LIV. 
so great, that I did not enter into closer conversation 
with the governor, the darkness of the place not 
allowing me to distinguish his features. I had, 
however, a better opportunity of observing his almost 
European cast of countenance when I paid him an- 
other visit, in order to satisfy his curiosity by firing 
rny six-barrelled revolver before his eyes. On this 
occasion he did me the honour of putting on the white 
helali bernus which had constituted the chief attrac- 
tion of my present, and which he esteemed very highly, 
as most noble people do in this country, while the 
common chief values more highly a dress of showy 
colours. The white half-silk bernus looked very well, 
especially as he wore underneath it a red cloth kaftan. 
The real name of the governor is Koso, Miiniyoma 
being, as I have stated on a former occasion*, nothing 
but a general title, meaning the governor of Muniyo, 
which, in the old division of the vast empire of Bornu, 
formed part of the Yeri. In the present reduced 
state of the kingdom of Bornu, he was the most 
powerful and respectable of the governors, and, by 
his personal dignity had more the appearance of a 
prince than almost any other chief whom I saw in 
Negroland. Besides making himself respected by 
his intelligence and just conduct, he has succeeded 
in spreading a sort of mystery round his daily life, 
which enhanced his authority. The people assured 
me that nobody ever saw him eating. But, as far as 
I had an opportunity of observing, even his family 
* See Vol. II. p. 192. 
