398 A TROPICAL DEPENDENCY had entered into this compact when he and his father opened their first holy campaign. '' For you," he said to his father, **it is unavoidable that you should use the public money ; but I am young : I can learn a trade and support myself." This, according to one of his historians, he continued to do all his life ; but it is more probable that after his accession he yielded, like his father, to the pressure of necessity, and made use of the public funds.

He was, we are told, very good to the people, full of indulgence, calm and patient. He was an able administrator. When he wrote the treatises upon points of law, to which he devoted much of his time, the first thing that he did with them was to make them known to all his people, in order that the law might be generally observed. He inspected the Cadis, kept them in check, and annulled any unjust judgment. When, after his death, he was succeeded by his brother Atiku, the judges begged Atiku not to reverse their judgments as Bello had done ; but Atiku was of the same breed, and only replied: ''Judge with equity, and I will not reverse your judgments. Be on the side of right wherever you find it." The system of justice adopted by the Fulani was that already instituted by the Haussas. In their system of taxation the Fulani would seem, however, to have introduced innovations which must have been in many instances grievous to the Haussa people.

In appearance Bello was "red, tall, and bald, with a tufted beard." He wore the veil. His final illness lasted for some months. When it became grave, he sent for his son Ali, and warned him against trying to become Sultan after him. He refused to name a successor ; but desired that his successor should be elected according to the custom of the people. He died at hfty-eight years of age, and left many sons and daughters.