288 BIMANA. 



information respecting their country), who left their native place on a 

 pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina, without a para of money, as being men 

 of sense and candour, and by no means inferior to Europeans. Abdallah 

 had a broad, flat nose, and an uneven complexion, perhaps from small- 

 pox, one of the scourges of the Negro race : Hassan was black, but less 

 so than some Negroes, his nose was less broad, and his lips were less 

 turned out. He was of middle stature ; of spare habit, and his beard was 

 short and scanty. 



Throughout Soudan are scattered hordes of Felatahs, a race different, 

 in many respects, from genuine Negroes : they live in the forests and 

 desert places, in small tribes, feeding flocks, and dwelling in temporary 

 huts. Most have embraced the Moslem faith ; but some are still Pagans. 

 According to Professor Vater, from a comparison of the vocabulary of 

 African languages, arranged by Dr. Seetzen, they are a branch of the great 

 Foulah race. Soccatoo, when visited by Clapperton, was the residence 

 of the Felatah Sultan, Mohammed Bello, whose power was very con- 

 siderable. It is to this lamented traveller, who collected, in his last 

 unfortunate journey, much information respecting the Felatahs, that we 

 owe the best information. From their own account, it would appear 

 that they originally emigrated from Malli, under which term they include 

 the Foulah states in Senegambia, Foota-Torro, Foota-Bonda, and Foota- 

 Diallo. They dispersed themselves in hordes, wandering with their cattle 

 over the Soudan country, and many embraced Islamism, and became devo- 

 tees, performing pilgrimages to Mecca. In the course of time, a Felatah 

 Sheik, named Othman, or Danfodio, who had acquired the learning of the 

 Arabs in the north of Africa, succeeded in persuading his countrymen that 

 he was a prophet. At the head of his followers, he issued out from the 

 woods of Tadela, and built a town in the Guber country ; but, being 

 expelled by the natives of the province, he returned to the Tadela, or 

 Ader district, and founded Soccatoo : here the tribes of his race flocked 

 to his standard, and his victorious progress may be compared to that of 

 Mahomet. He appointed chiefs ; gave them white flags ; raised the 

 war-cry, Allah Akbar, and bade them conquer in the name of God and his 

 prophet, who had given the lands of the Caffres to be theirs. Thus, 

 inspired by religious enthusiasm, they overran Guber, Houssa, and the 

 adjacent states, conquered a great part of Bornou and Yarriba, and rose 

 at once to power and distinction, becoming the terror of the nations of 

 Soudan. Danfodio governed with great skill and policy ; but, in the latter 

 part of his life, became religiously insane. After his death, in 1816, some 

 of the states revolted ; but the present chief, Mohammed Bello, has 

 succeeded in reducing a great part of the country under his dominion. 

 Lander gives us a similar account of the progress of the Felatahs ; but 

 observes, that the tribes dispersed over Borgho, who speak the same 



