16() PARTICULARS RESPECTING FOUTATORO. 
still excite the king to make war upon the Poulas, their most 
cruel enemies, since the Deliankés have not abandoned 
Paganism. 
In this revolution the Poulas only changed one tyrant 
for another. Abdoul, who retained for ten years the sovereign 
power, which had been temporarily conferred on him, made 
no other use of it than to tyrannise over his country ; but 
his address and energy maintained order ; at his death the 
government received a democratic form, 
Foutatoro is now a sort of theocratic oligarchy, in which 
the people possess considerable influence. Aldondou, El- 
Iman-Sire, Sambaiéné, Boumandouet, El-Iman-Rindiao, 
Erdosambadédé, and Dembanaiel, are the chiefs of the 
country ; they are probably descendants from the ancient 
chiefs of the Poula tribes when they were a wandering people. 
Each of them is proprietor of a portion of the country, and 
they jointly exercise the sovereign authority. The first 
two always enjoy a kind of pre-eminence over the others, 
for their two voices form a majority in the council ; but to 
give their decrees greater weight with the people, they 
create an Almamy, (Iman) whom they select from among 
the common Marabouts. All the acts of government are 
performed in his name, but this Almamy cannot take any 
step without consulting his council. When they are dis- 
satisfied with this chief, they retire during the night to an 
elevated spot, and after a long deliberation the Almamy is 
