260 
TRAVELS IN AFEICA. Chap. XXIX. 
was killed in the battle at Ngala (written "Ghala" 
in Arabic, but called " An gala " by the members of 
the former expedition).* 
If we now count together the years attributed 
to each reign, proceeding in a backward order, and 
beginning with the end of the year h. 1233, we ob- 
tain, in an inverse order, the following chronological 
* I have here to correct an error made by Mr. Blau, the trans- 
lator of the chronicle, who, owing to a mere slip of the pen in 
the document, has been induced to insert between the reign of 
the 50th, or according to him (as he does not count the usurper 
Said) the 49th king, Mohammed son of Edris, and the 51st, f Ali 
son of Zineb, another king also named Mohammed, with a reign 
likewise of 19 years. But to every one who reads the chronicle 
with attention, and is aware of its negligent character, it must 
be evident that in the article in question it is only by mistake 
that Mohammed, when mentioned the second time, is called the 
son of Dunama instead of Edris. There is certainly some diffi- 
culty in the passage in question, with regard to the circumstance 
that this prince is said to have resided 19 (years?) at Lade ; but 
it is easily to be explained when we remember that even at the 
present day there is such a place in the neighbourhood of old Blrni. 
(Denham and Clapperton's Travels, vol. i. pp. 150. 152.); another 
place of the same name was situated a few days N.E. from Gham- 
baru on the road to Kanem. But be this as it may, the historical 
introduction of Imam A'hmed to his account of the reign of Edris 
A'aishami Alawoma, where he passes in review the proceed- 
ings of this king's predecessors with regard to Kanem, leaves 
not the least doubt about the line of succession — As for the 
length of the reign of Edris ben 'All, the 54th king, there was, 
as I have mentioned above, a mistake in the copy from which the 
translation was made, giving 53 years instead of 33 ; but these 
20 years just compensate for the 20 years of the homonymous 
king Edris ben 'AH, which, just on account of the homonymy, 
have been left out by mistake, adding the 20 years due to him to 
the reign of the elder king of the same name. 
