404 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. XXXIIT. 
the Babur or Babir, scattered in small hamlets over a 
mountainous basaltic district, with the exception of 
their principal seat Biyu*, which is called after the 
name, or probably rather the title, of their chief. 
This place is said to be as far from Kofa as Kiikawa 
is from the same place, and is reported to be of large 
size. The Babur have in certain respects preserved 
their independence, while in others, like the Margin, 
they have begun to yield to the overwhelming in- 
fluence of their Mohammedan neighbours. But the 
Marghi claim superiority over their kinsmen in point 
of personal courage ; for of their relationship there 
can be no doubt. 
When the sun began to decline, we pursued our 
march, in order to reach Lahaula, where we were 
to pass the night. The unsafe state of the country 
through which we were passing was well indicated by 
the circumstance that even the circumspect Ibrahhna 
mounted the poor mare given to him by Sheikh 'Omar, 
which he had spared till now. He moreover ex- 
changed his bow for a spear. A thick tempest was 
the west and south-west: more eastward there are Moda, Goram, 
Lugu, Chambela (the village I mentioned above), Gulob, Ju. 
* Mr. Overweg, in the unfinished journal of his excursion to 
Fika, a place interesting in other respects as well as on account of 
its date-grove, mentions four principal places of the Babir, viz. 
Kogo, or Koger, Fadem, Multa, and Gim. He also mentions, as 
the three most powerful chiefs in the country, Mai Mari re- 
siding in Fadem, Mai Doigi (who died some time ago) in lira, 
and Mai Ali, who resides in Koger. After all, Mai Mari seems 
to be the chief man, and Fadem to be identical with Biyu. 
