THE FOULAS. 291 



Yet their religion has made no progress ; and they do 

 not attempt to convert the blacks. Their towns 

 resemble those of the Europeans; they dwell apart 

 from the natives, and above them. 



The Mahometans who entered the Niger regions, 

 were not only the Arab merchants, but also the Berbers 

 of the desert, who, driven by war, or instigated by ambi- 

 tion, poured into the Soudan by tribes, seized lands 

 and Avomen, and formed mulatto nationalities. Of 

 these the Foulas are the most famous. They were 

 originally natives of Northern Africa; having inter- 

 married during many generations with the natives, they 

 have often the appearance of pure negroes ; but they 

 always call themselves white men, however black their 

 skins may seem to be. In the last century they were 

 dispersed in small and puny tribes. Some wandered 

 as gipsies, selling wooden bowls ; others were roaming 

 shepherd clans, paying tribute to the native kings, 

 and suffering much ill-treatment. In other parts they 

 lived a bandit life. Sometimes, but rarely, they re- 

 sided in towns which they had conquered, pursued 

 commerce, and tilled the soil. Yet in war they were 

 far superior to the negroes : if only they could be 

 united, the most powerful kingdoms would be unable 

 to withstand them. And, finally, their day arrived. 

 A man of their own race returned from Mecca, a pil- 

 grim and a prophet, gathered them like wolves 

 beneath his standard, and poured them forth on the 

 Soudan. 



The pilgrimage to Mecca is incumbent only on 

 those who can afford it ; but hundreds of devout ne- 

 groes every year put on their shrouds and beg their 

 way across the Continent to Massowah. There tak- 

 ing out a few grains of gold dust cunningly concealed 



