HISTORICAL SKETCH OF WA'da'Y. 
529 
east of the capital of the kingdom of Bagirmi, which at that 
time, however, does not seem to have existed ; for Bidderi 
was one of the places in that region where people belonging 
to the widely-spread nation of. the Fulbe had settled from 
early times, and among them a family which, by means of 
undisputed sanctity and learning, had begun to exercise a 
considerable influence in the introduction of Islamism, upon a 
wide circumference of the surrounding provinces ; and the 
head of this family, whose name was Mohammed, is said to 
have inspired l Abd el Kerim, the grandson of Woda, as well 
as his companions Amalek, chief of the Marfa, settled in 
Hoggene, Mumin the Masalati, Dedebam the A'bu-Shari- 
baye, and Wuwel-Banan the Jellabi, with the idea of over- 
throwing the pagan dominion of the Tynjur, and of founding 
in its stead a new kingdom based on Islamism. 
Having returned to his country, and spread his ideas of 
independence, 'Abd el Kerim, after some years, rose against 
his liege lord, Daud, and making Madaba, a mountainous 
place situated about ten miles to the north of the later town 
of War a, his residence, succeeded, after a desperate struggle, 
in laying the foundation of the kingdom of Waday, as he 
called the country, in honour of his grandfather. He is said 
to have died after a lon<j reign, leaving as his successor his 
son Khamt, whom we may call Khamt the First. This is 
the king who founded Wara, and made this place, which is 
defended by natural ramparts (a circumstance which gave 
rise to its name, meaning " the town encircled by hills ") his 
residence. He, too, is said to have reigned several years, and 
was succeeded by his eldest son, Kharif, who was not so 
fortunate as his father and grandfather, but, in the third year 
of his reign, was killed by the warlike tribe of the Tama, 
whom he endeavoured to subjugate. 
The successor of Kharif was Yakub 'Arus, his younger 
brother, who felt himself strong enough to undertake an expedi- 
tion into the interior of Dar Fur, where, on account of the 
advanced age of its king, Musa, the son and successor of 
VOL, III. M M 
