TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
39 
crown, which Abdoolghader on his side prepared 
to defend ; for which purpose the latter marched 
with a large army to give Ba Demba battle and 
decide the affair. The latter, aware of his own 
inferiority in point of number, retreated ; but, 
being pursued and overtaken by his enemies, 
was killed, together with one of his sons. In 
an affair which then took place on the banks of , 
the Tingussoo river, his second son would have 
shared the same fate, had he not been protected 
by Abdoolghader, who considered himself se- 
cured in his possession of the crown, by the 
death of the father, and he has reigned unmo- 
lested to the present time. 
The Foolahs, according to their own account, 
have had possession of Foota Jallo for about 
sixty years. The government is of a mixed 
kind, partaking more of the nature of a republic 
than a monarchy, and is composed of the states 
of Teembo, Laby, and Teembee, with their 
dependencies. Almamy, although he has the 
chief power, cannot decide upon any thing of 
importance to the country without the consent 
of those chiefs, each of whom has a voice in 
the cabinet. 
The religion is Mahomedan, and so strict is 
their observance of its ceremonies that they pray 
regularly five times every day, and should any 
one be prevented by unavoidable engagements 
