SONGHAY UNDER ASKIA THE GREAT 193 for we read of further campaigns, or perhaps more properly punitive expeditions, against Melle, which recurred with sufficient frequency to be described by some historians as a "twelve years' war," before Melle was finally subdued.

After Melle came Borgu, and here again a captive was taken who became the mother of another of the sons of the great Askia. These marriages or connections which resulted in the birth of princes, recognised as royal, are worthy of mention, as they represent a custom of the Soudan, where, amongst terms of peace, the demand of a wife for the conqueror from the royal family of the conquered almost invariably appears. They also indicate a gentle method by which the amalgamation of conquered provinces was made secure. There was no province of the empire from whom the future Emperor or Caliph of the Soudan might not be taken. Askia the Great lived, as will be seen, to an unusual old age. There reigned after him in succession four of his sons. The mother of the eldest of these, Askia Moussa, was taken from the household of the Hombori Koi, a conquest made in the Bend of the Niger while Mohammed was still minister of Sonni Ali. The mother of the second of his successors, Askia Ismail, was the Wankori girl first mentioned, very probably Fulani by birth, who was taken from Melle. The mother of the third, Askia Ishak, was from Tendirma, also the result of a conquest of the western province. The mother of the fourth, Askia Daouad, came from Sana, and was the daughter of the subject King or Koi of that province. Other marriages, although they did not give successors to the throne, gave personages of high importance and influence in the political administration of the country.

Viceroys, governors, generals, admirals, inspectors, cadis, and officials whose functions it is not now easy to determine but whose titles were so eagerly sought as to show them to have been accompanied by considerable emoluments and power, were frequently selected N