Chap. XXIX. CHRONOLOGY. 
259 
tervened exactly 121 years. And indeed we see from 
the Imam's account, that most people thought this was 
the real length of the period, and not 122 years ; so 
well were the educated inhabitants of Bornu at that 
time acquainted with the history of their country. 
Perhaps "also Imam A'hmed wishes here to refute 
Masfarma, the historian of Edris A'aishami, who ad- 
hered to the general opinion. 
Unfortunately, the length of the several reigns is 
our only guide with regard to the chronology of 
this history, as neither the chronicle nor even Imam 
A'hmed specifies particular years with reference to 
any of the events which they mention. This is indeed 
a very great defect, not so apparent in the dry chro- 
nicle as in the account of the learned priest ; and it 
seems almost inconceivable, as he is very particular, 
not only with regard to seasons, but even to months 
and days, mentioning with great exactness on what 
day of the month his master did so and so, and even 
disputing, in this respect, slight variations of opinion. 
If he had only given us the date of a single year, we 
should be much better off as to the chronology of the 
history of Bornu. As it is, if w T e put out of account 
other chronological data which we are fortunately in 
possession of, in order to reduce to chronology the 
events mentioned by the chronicle, we can only reckon 
backwards the number of years attributed by it to the 
reign of each successive king, commencing from the 
death of Sultan Diinama, who in the year a.h. 1233 
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