450 A TROPICAL DEPENDENCY Council was in favour of the appointment of a new emir, and the favoured candidate — Atahiru — was, after some hesitation, selected. The High Commissioner agreed to nominate him, and appointed the following day for a formal meeting to explain to him, and to the Council of Notables, the future system upon which the government of the country would be carried on.

Accordingly, on the 21st of March, the Council, headed by the Waziri, and having with them the Sultan elect, assembled in the British camp, and the High Commissioner read to them a statement which was very carefully translated phrase by phrase by a competent interpreter, checked by the same Resident, Major Burdon, whose name has been already mentioned in connection with Nupe, and whose knowledge of the Haussa language enabled him to guard against misrepresentation of the meaning of the document. As the speech laid down the policy to be pursued by the British Administration, I give the essential passages of it in the words used by the High Commissioner. After a preamble alluding to the treaties of alliance made between Sokoto and Great Britain, and recording the circumstances which had led to war, much against the desire of the British Government, the High Commissioner continued : — " The old treaties are dead — you have killed them. Now these are the words which I, the High Commissioner, have to say for the future. The Fulani in old times, under Dan Fodio, conquered this country. They took the right to rule over it, to levy taxes, to depose kings, and to create kings. They in turn have by defeat lost their rule, which has come into the hands of the British. All these things which I have said the Fulani by conquest took the right to do now pass to the British. Every sultan and emir, and the principal officers of State, will be appointed by the High Commissioner throughout all this country. The High Com-