350 THE NATIVE MANUSCRIPTS iv.d6.liii.

Thev are a branch of Thaki'f and numerous. In the Sudan they live like [nomad] Arabs.

LIV Among them was a powerful man called 'Ali ibn Gubara, and there is a story of him and the kings of the Arabs. It is said that Abu

Ya'akub, one of the Arab Sultans, sent him to the king of el Takrur with a letter written as follows, " In the name of God the Com-

passionate and Merciful, this from Abu Ya'akub to the Sultan of el Takrur. If you want to preserve your self-respect and maintain your honour, submit to me: otherwise I will most surely equip^ against you an army like locusts in swarm, who will lay waste your lands and loot your goods and take captive your sons and make an end of your women. So when you read this letter, you will have a correct idea of my dominion, and if you desire relief from ill and survival from annihilation, then subject yourself to me as I order

you. LV When this letter reached the king of el Takrur he told his

servant to beat him [sc. 'Ali ibn Gubara] and impale his companions. This was done; and that very night the Sultan heard [sc. one] say

" If you slay this man, [sc. he will be avenged] "; and his vizier said to him " It is not the custom of kings to kill envoys nor punish them," so he ordered him to be released.

LVI Then, after releasing him, he mounted him on a horse and

said to him "Go, tell yon Sultan that when Gog and Magog have obeyed him I will obey him: his wits are wandering: does he order me to obey him before I order him to do anything at all } He is one of

those that carves the mountains with his fingernails." And when this message reached the king of the Arabs he turned to his troops

and said "Is there any one of you I can send to deal with him }" And 'Ali ibn Gubara said " I have a prior right in this matter over all."

LVII Then [the king] equipped a force, to go with him, of 3000 cavalry and 2000 riflemen and 1000 bowmen and 1000 swordsmen using the short Moorish sword, and the expedition started.

LVIII And when they reached the land of el Takrur, the two

armies met, and God gave the victory [to 'Ali] and he returned in joy and happiness [from the field of battle] ; and God the Almighty made him ruler of el Takrur, and to this day the Sultans of el Takrur are his descendants.

LIX Chapter mentioning the wonders of that land and its chief places.

Berber is an immense village. It has had many rulers, including the giant dynasty of which each king began his reign as a true believer

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