312 A TROPICAL DEPENDENCY rocks of Almena not mentioned, so far as I have been able to ascertain, by any other writer, these must have been the rocks already alluded to once or twice, in the province of Zaria, where in very ancient days a colossal statue is said to have been carved. The spot is interesting, because it marks the farthest extension of the conquest of the Moors in Haussaland.

Mahmoud camped at the foot of the rocks, which were strongly held by pagan troops. He determined, much against the advice of Askia Suleiman, to whom the country was well known, to endeavour to storm the position by a night attack. Suleiman represented that nothing short of certain death could result. Mahmoud listened to no advice. Death lay behind him as well as in front. He selected a storming party of his best men, and in the early hours of the morning made the attempt. The result was as Askia Suleiman had predicted — Mahmoud himself was among the first to fall, pierced by many arrows. In the attempt to rescue his body his men were put to flight. The pagans cut off his head and sent it to Askia Nouh, who in his turn sent it to Kanta, the King of Kebbi, and it was exposed on the end of a stake in the market-place of Lika for a very long time. Suleiman the Askia rallied the Moorish troops and effected a hurried retreat, ultimately succeeding in joining Djouder, under whose orders the troops remained until the arrival of Mansour from Morocco.

In 1595 the combined Moorish troops, under the command of Djouder Pasha, made one final and successful attempt to deal with what remained of the Songhay Empire, and in a great battle which took place between them and Askia Nouh in the Bend of the Niger in June of that year, the Songhay army was hopelessly defeated and put to flight, leaving the population at the mercy of the Moors. The people were carried into captivity, and placed by the Moors under the jurisdiction of Askia Suleiman.