THE HAUSSA STATES 237 lost to us, an account of the Haussa States, in which some truth may be assumed to mingle with the presentment of facts coloured to suit the Fulani point of view. From these and a few other records, combined with oral tradition and the slight notices of contemporary Arabs at different periods of the history of Haussa and Bornu, it is possible to frame a general outline of the history of the two countries.

Little trustworthy detail as to the customs, laws, industry, literature, administration, or religion, which would have enabled us to construct a complete picture for ourselves of these long-existing civilisations, has been preserved.

More material will, however, doubtless come to light from year to year as the country is opened up, and, in fact, from each province contributions to history are already beginning to be made. This is especially the case in regard to pagan history, which may prove to be scarcely less interesting, in some districts, than Mohammedan history. Although lying in geographical juxtaposition between the parallels of 9" and 14° N. latitude, and now united within the limits of the British Protectorate, Bornu and Haussaland are two very distinct countries inhabited by people of wholly different race, having their own traditions and their distinct history. Except when, as a consequence of border wars, there has been a temporary overlapping of the frontier, they have always possessed their distinct territories. The Bornuese people are of Berber extraction, and though to European eyes actually black, count themselves among the white or red races of the Soudan. Compared with the history of Haussaland their history is modern. The Haussa is wholly black, but not negroid in type. He has not the smooth hair of the Songhay, but in other respects he has frequently a cast of countenance scarcely less Aryan in type, and in his peculiar and strongly marked characteristics he is universally recognised as ranking among the most interesting of the peoples of the Soudan. His known history, though never brilliant, has been persistent. Many times conquered, he has nevertheless continued to preserve a clearly defined