356 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. LXIII. 
Bambara is called Hudari by the Tawarek or Imo- 
shagh, and Sukurara by the people of the kingdom of 
Bambara, the Bamanon, or as they are called by the 
inhabitants of Timbuktu, Benaber. Why the name 
Bambara has attached to this place in particular I 
cannot say, but probably the reason was, that the 
people of Bambara, who some seventy years ago 
conquered all this country to the south of the river, 
retained dominion of this town for a longer time than 
of any other place in the neighbourhood. There is 
no doubt that the Fulbe, or Fullan, as well as the 
Songhay and Arabs, call the place only by the latter 
name. 
I had to stay in Bambara several days, not at all for 
my own comfort, as I continually ran the risk of 
being recognised and identified, having been known as a 
Christian at the short distance of a few days' journey 
from here. Nothing but the scanty intercourse which 
is kept up in this region made such a sudden change 
of character possible, for as yet I had nobody to protect 
me. But my friend El Walati, whose relation with the 
inhabitants of this place was of a peculiar character, 
derived the sole benefit from our stay. He had 
married here, four years previously, a rich wife, and 
had absconded with all her property : besides having 
seriously offended the powerful Tarki chief Somki. 
Having thus made himself so obnoxious to them, he 
would not have been able to enter the place again, if 
he had not found an opportunity of enriching himself 
at my expense and enjoying the protection of my 
