66 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
Chap. XL. 
mid in Khiirma, all were bent upon their destruction, 
while none but the Lasala or el Asala beyond Karka, 
and the Kanembii tribe of the Fugabii, were attached 
to them. All the tribes around call them only by the 
name Mmnemmne, or Menemene (" the Eaters"), 
which name, although it seems to have arisen in the 
real gluttony of these Arabs, might be referred appro- 
priately to their predatory habits. # 
In the course of these broils and petty intrigues 
the most respectable among them took to commerce, 
while others formed the design of returning; and 
when I left B6rnu in May, 1855, the rest of the little 
band had separated into two distinct camps, and 
the dissolution or ruin of their community was fast 
approaching. 
This was the horde with which, in order to carry 
out the objects of our mission to the utmost of our 
power, Mr. Overweg and I were obliged to associate our 
fate ; but, unfortunately, we were unprovided with 
that most essential article for exciting a more than 
common interest in ourselves personally, or the ob- 
jects of our mission, namely, valuable presents. 
While our people pitched our tents, Mr. Over- 
weg and I went to pay our compliments to Sheikh 
Ghet and 'Omdr, and to have a friendly talk with 
them before we proceeded to more serious business. 
They seemed to expect this compliment, having lain 
down in the shade of a tree at a short distance 
* The Tebu call them Erdi made, "the red enemies," or Yogode. 
