168 
TRAVELS IN" AFRICA. Chap. XLIII. 
provision for his horse for one day ; for two he had 
bought a wooden bowl, or "bukuru;" and for six 
more a good supply of meat. Thus this insignifi- 
cant production of European industry became of 
the highest value to me ; and it obtained still more 
value and importance, in the course of my journey 
to Bagirmi, when it constituted my only wealth, 
and in consequence procured me the noble title of 
" needle-prince," " malaribra." 
We remained here the following day, as the army 
had to provide itself with corn, or rather Negro grain, 
as we were told that we should enter upon a wild un- 
cultivated tract, the border-region between the seats 
of the Mohammedans and those of the pagan tribes, 
which, as is generally the case in these parts of the 
world, has been reduced to desolation. 
Each of the surrounding villages had to send two 
ox-loads of grain, which, however, did not benefit the 
army in general, but fell entirely to the share of the 
friends and followers of Lamino, the remainder of 
this immense host being thrown upon their own re- 
sources. All the grain was carried on asses. It 
was in this encampment that the vizier made a 
present to Mr. Overweg of a small lion. He had 
given him, on a former occasion, a " summoli." 
This is a very ferocious cat, of rather rare occur- 
rence, which is said not only to attack gazelles, but 
young cattle or calves'. It was of a light brown 
colour, the hind part, however, being black, and had 
very pointed upright ears, " siimmo," a circumstance 
