XVII 
HOME AGAIN 
Forty miles from Ogbomishaw on the road to 
the Niger is Illorin, the most interesting of all the 
towns in which the Yoruban language is spoken. 
Its population consists of two distinct races, the 
Foolahs and Yorubans, living in separate districts 
of the city which is a kingdom or principality in 
itself. The chief ruler is called “ Emir” and was 
chosen from the Foolahs only. While he ruled 
the Yorubans with moderation, he treated them 
as a conquered race and gave them no share in 
the government. The Emir at this time was not 
only a Foolah but, like most of his race, a bigoted 
Mussulman, and would not suffer any Christian 
missionary to settle in the town. No stranger 
could enter the city without special permission 
from the Emir and was in the hands of an officer 
as guide and keeper until he departed. At that 
time, the officer who performed this duty was 
named Nasamo and was quite famous on account 
of his intelligence, courtesy and dignity. But 
the most remarkable thing about him was that he 
had never had but one wife, and was then a 
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