ROUTE TO LE'RE. 
607 
2nd. Bifara, an independent pagan place, in a large green 
valley or faddama, " choke V with a perennial rivulet, 
the mayo Kebbi, an eastern branch of the Benuwe. 
The place itself lies on the north side of the valley, 
while on its south side there is a mountain. 
3rd. Lere, a large pagan place of the Mbana, and residence 
of the powerful chief Gonshome, who is greatly 
feared, as well by the Fulbe as by the Kanuri. In 
the beginning of 1851, shortly before my journey to 
Yola, in consequence of an expedition on a large scale 
being undertaken against him, he had been obliged to 
acknowledge, in a certain degree, the supremacy of 
the Fulbe ; but soon after, he again shook off all sort 
of allegiance. The situation of the place seems very 
strong, by reason of its position in the swampy 
wooded valley, which, according to all information, 
must have an immense extent. The larger valley, 
which comes from the east, is here joined by a small 
watercourse, which is said to descend from Binder, 
and is identical, I think, with the mayo Sarendi. 
The Mbana form a numerous tribe, extending as 
far as Gider, in which direction Bizer, Jaberi, and 
Lam are three of their chief frontier-places. 
In going from Gewe to Lere, a person can also make 
stages in the following places : first night in Lafare, the 
village mentioned before, situated on the N.W. side of the 
mayo Kebbi, where he arrives between two and three o'clock 
p. m. ; second night Busa, a Pullo village on the north side 
of the mayo Kebbi, where he arrives about noon, having left 
in the morning the village of O'blo towards the north ; on the 
third, between two and three o'clock p. m,, he arrives at Lere. 
v. Ray to Lere, 
1st day. Livoro, the pagan settlement of this name, in sub- 
jection to Bubanjidda; the country level. Arrive 
about noon. 
