404 A TROPICAL DEPENDENCY like parasites upon the country. Fulani tax-collectors oppressed the native peasantry of every village. To show any sign of wealth was to invite the rapacity of those higher in the social scale. The Fulani conquerors claimed sovereign rights in land. Whole districts were given as feoffs to favourite retainers, who, living about the court in the enjoyments of office, collected taxes for the emir and for themselves from their feoffs through the agency of certain officials. These officials became practically their private servants, and of course shared the spoil. Agriculture groaned under the exactions that were laid upon it.

In nearly all the country districts the peasantry had remained pagan. To raid pagan countries for slaves was lawful according to the Koran. In the earlier years of their rule the Fulani used this permission to carry out raids against the pagan centres of the southern districts. Gradually, however, rebellion had Its effect. As their power weakened, and was confined within narrower limits In the southern emirates, they were forced to abandon the process of distant raiding. They began to raid and sell their own peasantry, and thus completed the desolation of the country by a process which resembled the fabulous devouring of Its own body by a snake.

It is not to be wondered at that revolt succeeded to revolt, and that Fulani power was more and more confined In the southern states to the limits of Its own walled towns. Mutually defiant strongholds arose over the country. In the mountainous districts the wilder tribes of the pagans. Including still some who preserve the habits of cannibals, found for themselves natural fortresses, in which they defended as they could the liberty which was their sole possession.

Yet through all the degradation of earlier Fulani ideals it Is to be understood that In the Fulani emirates there was still to be found something of the nobler traditions of ancient thought. Individual rulers were still merciful and just. Abuse of power had not wholly