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September 8: Started this morning, and about one p.m., anchored off the town of Zhibù. The arrival of the ship at Gandiko had been heard of, so that there was no cause of alarm, and we immediately sent a message to inform the sariki that we would shortly pay him a visit.
The town is about a mile from the river, situated on a rising ground, commanding a fine view of the Binue and the country around, and appears to be of greater extent than Idda in Igara, compact and thickly populated. After about a quarter of an hour's detention in the street, we were invited in by the sariki's messenger, and passing three entrances of conical roofs, at some distance one from the other, we came to a fourth, where the king was sitting, ready to receive us. He told us that his name is Bohari, but he is generally known by the name of Zumbade, and is the head, or king of the Zhibù district. He is by birth a Djuku, or Kororofa, as are also Ama, of Gandiko, and Garike, of Gankera; he seems to be about forty years of age, and is rather of a surly countenance. After the usual salutation, Dr. Baikie told him the objects of his visit; namely, to enquire after Dr. Barth, and to propose opening trade with them. No intelligence of Dr. Barth had reached them; of trade they were highly delighted to hear, and requested at once that the ship should proceed no further; but they were told that we must proceed onward to make enquiry after the white man, if possible, at least as far as Hamaruwa.
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- Journal of an Expedition up the Niger and Tshadda RiversUndertaken by Macgregor Laird, Esq. in Connection with the British Government, in 1854, pp. 85 - 126Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2010First published in: 1855