266 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
Chap. XXIX. 
and thence to Tekadda*, in speaking about the copper 
found in the mines near this town, relates that the 
bars made of it were exported to Gober and Ragha 
(or rather Raghay), and also to Bornu, and then adds 
the interesting fact that the name of the ruling king 
of the latter country was Edris. 
Now, if we follow implicitly the dates of the chroni- 
cle, Edris ben Ibrahim (Nikale) ascended the throne 
in that very year (753) when, according to this pre- 
cious and unimpeachable testimony of the illustrious 
and intelligent traveller, he actually occupied the 
throne. 
The very remarkable and really surprising harmony 
here shown to exist between the chronicle and the 
dates which have come to our knowledge from other 
sources, will, I hope, give to any unprejudiced mind 
some degree of confidence in the authenticity of that 
document, and will make him aware of its superiority 
over the information of a man like Leo Africanus, or 
rather Hasen Ebn Mohammed el Wasas, who, though 
he undoubtedly has, and will always have, the merit 
of having given to Europe a clear general view of 
the political and linguistic groups of Central Africa, 
yet, on account of the manner in which his report 
was drawn up (merely from memory, after the lapse 
* See Vol. I. p. 464. I will here only mention that the forty 
days' journey stated by E'bn Batuta to intervene between Tekadda 
and Bornu are to be counted, as it seems, to Njimiye, the old capital 
of Kanem ; Birni, or rather Ghasreggomo, at least, not being 
founded at that time. 
