Chap. XXIX. BERBER ORIGIN OF SE'fuWA. 
269 
nection existing between the ruling family of B6rnu 
and the Himyaritic or Kushitic stock ; but I doubt its 
immediate descent from the royal Himyaritic family. 
But be this as it may, I think that Leo Africanus, 
who is a very good authority for general relations, is 
right in stating that the kings of Bornu originated 
from the Libyan tribe of the Bardoa, a tribe also men- 
tioned by Makrizi as Berdba. That there is an ethno- 
logical connection between the names Bernu or Bornu, 
B6rgu, Berdba, Berdama, Berauni, Berber, can scarcely 
be doubted ; but to many the Berdba might seem to 
have nearer relation with the Tedd or Tebu than with 
the real Berber or Mazigh. Sultan Bello certainly, 
in the introduction to his history of the conquests of 
the Fiilbe, expressly says that the Bornu dynasty was 
of Berber origin ; and it is on this account that the 
Hausa people call every Bornu man " ba-Berberche,"* 
and the Bornu nation " Berbere." This view of the 
subject is confirmed by the distinct statement of Ma- 
krizi f, who says that that was the common tradition 
of the people at his time — " it is said that they are 
descended from the Berbers," — and moreover in 
another passage J informs us that the king of Kanem 
was a nomade, or wanderer ; although it seems that 
this statement refers properly to the Bulala dynasty. 
Before the time of Selma, or Selmama, the son of 
* This " ba " is evidently the indefinite article a, corre- 
sponding to the Berber " va." Compare what I have said in 
Vol. I. about " ba-Ture." 
j See the second passage referred to in the note, p. 265. 
X Makrizi, Hamaker, p. 206,, Jl^ j» 
