510 
TRAVELS IX AFRICA. Chap. XXXVI. 
single settlements, which are of various descriptions, 
comprising not only large towns, where a numerous 
host of these intruders, and a powerful chief, reside, 
but also more private settlements, such as country 
seats of governors, "ribado" or "ribago;" seats of 
mere petty chiefs, or " joro farm villages, or " uro ;" 
slave villages, or " riimde." But the Fulbe are con- 
tinually advancing, as they have not to do with one 
strong enemy, but with a number of small tribes 
without any bond of union. It remains to be seen 
whether it be their destiny to colonize this fine 
country for themselves, or in the course of time to be 
disturbed by the intrusion of Europeans. It is diffi- 
cult to decide how a Christian government is to deal 
with these countries, where none but Mohammedans 
maintain any sort of govern men t 0 It cannot be 
denied that they alone here succeed in giving to 
distant regions a certain bond of unity, and in 
making the land more accessible to trade and inter- 
course. 
The most numerous among the native tribes, as I 
have already stated above, are the Batta, whose 
prince, Kokomi, was previous to the conquest of the 
Fulbe the most powerful chief in the country. They 
are divided into several great families, speaking also 
various dialects, which in some cases differ from each 
other very widely, and are closely related to the 
Margin.* Many of the names of their districts serve 
* They are settled in the following places: — Song;Demsa, 
comprising Demsa-Poha and Demsa-Mesu, which most picturesque 
