196 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. LVIII 
pleasant and animated, being adorned with a variety 
of trees, among which the banana is prominent. 
Having sent a messenger in advance, I soon ob- 
tained quarters in the house of El Khassa, the chief 
eunuch of the court; but they were extremely narrow 
and unpleasant, although I had a very good clay 
house for myself. 
Thus I had entered the residence of another very 
important Piillo chief, whose dominion extended 
several hundred miles over the country which I had 
to traverse, and whose friendship it was of the utmost 
importance for me to secure, as his provinces in- 
close both banks of the Niger, while the dominion of 
the sultan of Sokoto does not reach the principal 
branch at all. It was the more unfavourable that 
the present ruler of this very extensive kingdom 
should be a man without energy, and most inacces- 
sible to a European and a Christian. His name 
is Khalilu, and he is the son of c Abd Allahi*, the 
brother of the great Reformer 'Othman, to whom 
that remarkable man, at his death, gave the west- 
ern part of his vast domains, while he installed the 
celebrated Sultan Bello over the eastern portion. 
* 'Abd Allahi died 20th of Moharrem 1245 ; and Mohammed 
died 4th of Ramadhan 1250. The children of 'Abd Allahi were 
the following : Mohammed Wani, Khalilu, 'Abd el Kadiri Inne- 
hawa, Haliru or Hadhiru and 'Aliyu (masuyaki)*, 'Abd el Kadiri 
Ay, Hassan, 'Abd e' Rahmani, A'bu Bakr Maiguna, Is-hako, Mam- 
man Sambo (maiyaki).* 
* Maiyaki (pi. masuyaki) means commander-in-chief. 
