Chap. LXXII. POLICY OF THE FU^LBE. 
81 
following, I returned with Sidi-Mohammed to the 
tents. 
Honourably as I was treated on these different oc- 
casions in consequence of the great exertions of my 
protector, yet the Fullan had obtained, through- 
out the whole atfair, a slight advantage in po- 
litical superiority, and they followed it up without 
hesitation and delay, by levying a tax of 2000 
shells upon each full-grown person, under the pre- 
text that they did not say their Friday prayers 
in the great mosque as they were ordered to do. 
This is one of the means by which the conquering 
tribe was endeavouring to subdue the national spirit 
of the native population, by making them celebrate 
the great weekly prayer in the mosque which had 
originally been built by the Mandingo conqueror 
Mansa Miisa, and which they themselves had made 
the centre of their establishment in the town. Even 
in previous times it had always been the centre of 
the Mohammedan quarter. They were supported 
in this endeavour by the precepts of Isldm, ac- 
cording to which a Moslim, even if he says his 
ordinary prayers at home, is obliged, when staying 
in the town and not prevented by disease, to say his 
Friday prayers in the Jdma. 
When the Fullan conquered the place, they 
purposely increased the ruin of the old native 
mosque of San-kore, which is situated in the north- 
ern quarter, and afterwards prevented its being 
repaired, till by the exertions of the Sheikh El 
VOL. V. G 
