192 A TROPICAL DEPENDENCY he undertook a war, formally invested with all the characteristics of a " Holy War," against the Sultan of Mossi, whose paganism it was resolved no longer to tolerate within the empire. The circumstances of this war, and the devotion of Mossi to his idols, are related with some detail, and serve to dispose of the Portuguese rumour that Mossi was a Christian after the manner of Egypt. The result of the war was a complete conquest on the part of Askia, and the acceptance of Islam by the conquered people. This, it is expressly stated, was the only '' Holy War " of Askia's reign. He conquered all that remained unconquered of the West as far as the Atlantic Ocean, and reasserted his authority to the utmost limits of the salt mines of Tegazza and the old north-western frontiers of the Mellestine. Immediately after subduing Mossi, he subdued the Fulani of the south-west. In 1501 he entrusted his brother with the command of an army destined for the overthrow of Melle, but the campaign proving unsuccessful, he himself took the field in the following year, and, having completely defeated the armies of Melle, sacked the capital and carried the family of the reigning prince into captivity. Amongst the captives was a girl of the name of Miriam, who became the mother of his son and subsequent successor, Ismail.

It is mentioned that after this campaign there was no more fighting for three years, and Askia remained for some time in Melle studying the country, and devoting his attention to the amelioration of its condition, and to its reorganisation upon a new political footing. His system would seem to have been, as was the universal custom in the confines of the Soudan, to allow the country to remain quasi-independent — that is, governed by its own rulers under the suzerainty of Songhay, to whom tribute was paid and obedience in certain respects was given. A Melle- Koi is spoken of from this time forward up to the period of the overthrow of the country by the Moors. But Askia's measures of reorganisation, whatever they may have been, can hardly have satisfied himself.