362 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. XXXII. 
Adansonia digitata, is one of the commonest trees of 
Negroland ; but all the numerous specimens which 
I had hitherto seen of this colossal tree were leafless, 
forming rather gloomy and unpleasant objects : here, 
however, I saw it for the first time adorned with 
leaves ; and though the foliage seemed to bear no pro- 
portion to the colossal size of the boughs, yet the 
tree had a much more cheerful aspect. We took up 
our quarters for the night in Uj^ Maidiiguri, a large 
and comfortable-looking place, such as I had not yet 
met with since I left Kiikawa ; but the yard, which was 
assigned to us by the slaves of Mestrema, was in the 
very worst state, and I was obliged to pitch my tent. 
However, we were hospitably treated, and fowls and 
a sheep, as well as birri, were brought to us. 
We had now reached one of the finest districts of 
Bornu, which is collectively called Uje, but which 
really comprises a great many places of considerable 
size. This was once the chief province of the Ga- 
merghu, a tribe often mentioned in the history of 
Edris Alaw6ma*, and who, as their language shows, are 
closely related to the Wandala or, as they are gene- 
rally called, Mandara.f This tribe has at present 
lost all national independence, while its brethren in 
* See chronological tables. 
f The Mandara people, or rather Ur-wandala, call the Gamer- 
ghu. Muks-amalguwa, which I think is a nickname, the word mukse 
meaning woman ; but the latter part of the name, Amalguwa, may 
be the original form of Gamergtm. I had no opportunity of asking 
the people themselves about their original name. 
