Chapter XXVIII: Appendix: IX (2)

+-------------------------+---------+---------+-------------------------+ | Songhay. | A.D. | A.H. | Neighbouring Kingdoms. | +-------------------------+---------+---------+-------------------------+ | | | | | | | 300 | |The kingdom of Ghána, or | | | | |Ghánata, the central | | | | |portion of which | | | | |comprised the present | | | | |province of Bághena, | | | | |founded by Wakayamagha or| | | | |mangha (mangho = great? | | | | |Magha = Mohammed?) about | | | | |three centuries before | | | | |the Hejra; the ruling | | | | |family whites | | | | |(Leucæthiopes? Fúlbe?). | | | | |At the commencement of | | | | |the Hejra twenty-two | | | | |kings had ruled.[169] | | | | | | | | | | | |Zá Alayámin (Zá el |Begin. of|Beginning| | |Yemeni) comes to Kúkíá | 7th |of Hejra.| | |(El Bekrí’s Kúgha, Ca da | century.| | | |Mosto’s Cochia), a very | | | | |ancient place, and the | | | | |older residence of | | | | |Songhay, and founds the | | | | |eldest dynasty of the Zá.| | | | |The Libyan origin of this| | | | |dynasty, of which that of| | | | |the Sonní was a mere | | | | |continuation, is very | | | | |distinctly intimated by | | | | |Leo Africanus, in the | | | | |words “della stirpe di | | | | |Libya.”[171] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 679-80 | 60 |Already at this early | | | | |date an extensive | | | | |Mohammedan quarter | | | | |existed in Ghánata, | | | | |containing 12 | | | | |mosques.[170] There is | | | | |considerable doubt with | | | | |regard to the accuracy of| | | | |the date. | | | | | | | | | | | | | 837 | 222 |Death of Tilútan, chief | | | | |of the Limtúna, very | | | | |powerful in the desert; | | | | |he adopted Islám, and | | | | |converted the | | | | |neighbouring Negro | | | | |tribes. | | | | | | | | | | | |Gógó, an important | 893 |about 280| | |commercial place, where | | | | |Makhled Ébn Kaidád, with | | | | |the surname of Ábú Yezíd,| | | | |that great revolutionist | | | | |who brought so much | | | | |mischief over Northern | | | | |Africa, was born. His | | | | |father came often from | | | | |Tózer to this place for | | | | |trading purposes[172], | | | | |evidently by way of | | | | |Wárgelá, that most | | | | |ancient trading place on | | | | |the northern border of | | | | |the desert. We thus see | | | | |that _the commerce | | | | |between Northern Africa | | | | |and Negroland was | | | | |infinitely older_ than it| | | | |has ever been supposed. I| | | | |may here add, that I have| | | | |not the slightest doubt | | | | |that Wárgelá is meant by | | | | |the Bakalitis of Ptolemy | | | | |(lib. iv. c. 7, p. 305., | | | | |ed. Wilberg.), which he | | | | |describes from the side | | | | |of Egypt as lying beyond | | | | |Fezzán, although no Roman| | | | |ruins exist in Wárgelá. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 900 | 287 |Death of Ilettan, the | | | | |successor of Tilútan. | | | | | | | | | | | | | 918 | 306 |Temím, the successor of | | | | |Ilettan, slain by the | | | | |Zenágha or Senhája, after| | | | |which a division takes | | | | |place among the Berber | | | | |tribes established on the| | | | |border of the Desert and | | | | |Negroland. | | | | | | | | | | | |Kúkíá still the ordinary | 961 | 350 |Tin-Yerútán, king of, or | |residence of the king of | | |rather a Berber chief | |Songhay, who already at | | |having his residence in, | |that period becomes very | | |Aúdaghost, an important | |powerful. | | |trading colony of the | | | | |Zenágha, who appear at | | | | |that time to have | | | | |dominated over the whole | | | | |of the neighbouring part | | | | |of Negroland, including | | | | |Ghánata. In the very year| | | | |mentioned, this place, | | | | |which carried on at that | | | | |time a most flourishing | | | | |trade with Sijilmésa, was| | | | |visited by the Arab | | | | |geographer, Ébn | | | | |Haúkal.[173] Kúgha | | | | |(Kúkíá) was at that | | | | |period so powerful that | | | | |the king of Aúdaghost | | | | |thought it prudent to | | | | |make presents to the king| | | | |of that place (the king | | | | |of Songhay), in order to | | | | |prevent him from making | | | | |war upon him. | | | | |Nevertheless twenty-three| | | | |Negro kings are said to | | | | |have been tributary to | | | | |another king of | | | | |Aúdaghost, named Tinezwa,| | | | |in the fourth century of | | | | |the Hejra.—The site of | | | | |Aúdaghost is quite | | | | |evident from El Bekrí’s | | | | |excellent itinerary:—“You| | | | |march five days in the | | | | |sandhills of Warán, till | | | | |you come to the copious | | | | |well of the Bení Wáreth; | | | | |then further on the well | | | | |Warán; then a well | | | | |watered district of three| | | | |days.” At the same time | | | | |the abundance of gum | | | | |trees near Aúdaghost | | | | |proves distinctly that | | | | |the distance of fifteen | | | | |days intervening between | | | | |Aúdaghost, or Ghánata | | | | |(near Waláta), is to be | | | | |reckoned in a westerly | | | | |direction, and that | | | | |Aúdaghost therefore is to| | | | |be sought for in the | | | | |neighbourhood of Tejigja | | | | |and Kasr el Barka, and | | | | |not to the north-east of | | | | |Waláta. I shall say more | | | | |on this subject in | | | | |another place.—At that | | | | |time Aulíl was the great | | | | |place for salt. | | | | | | | | | | | | | 990 | 380 |Intercourse established | | | | |with Negroland, according| | | | |to the statement of | | | | |Leo.[174] | | | | | | | | | | | |Zá Kasí, the 15th prince | 1009 | 400 | | |of the dynasty of the Zá,| | | | |adopts Islám. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1034-5 | 426 |Ábú ʿAbd Allah, son of | | | | |Tifaut, surnamed Naresht,| | | | |again unites under his | | | | |sway all the Berber | | | | |tribes of the desert; | | | | |makes a pilgrimage; dies | | | | |429. | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1040-1 | 432 |Warjábi, the Mohammedan | | | | |apostle of Tekrúr, died. | | | | |Among others, the | | | | |inhabitants of Silla were| | | | |converted by him. | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1043-4 | 435 |Jinni is founded[175], | | | | |and soon becomes wealthy,| | | | |owing to the trade in | | | | |salt (from Tegháza) and | | | | |gold (from Bítu). | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1048-9 | 440 |ʿAbd Allah Ébn Yasín | | | | |begins to teach and to | | | | |reform. | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1052 | 445 |Aúdaghost, which had | | | | |become dependent upon | | | | |Ghánata, conquered and | | | | |ransacked by the | | | | |Merábetín, the disciples | | | | |of ʿAbd Allah Ebn Yasín, | | | | |in the same year as | | | | |Sijilmésa. | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1055-6 | 447 |Yahia Ébn ʿOmár, chief of| | | | |the Merábetín, dies, and | | | | |is succeeded by his | | | | |brother Ábú Bakr. The | | | | |king of Ghánata, | | | | |Tankámenín, son of the | | | | |sister of Besí, an | | | | |excellent king, evidently| | | | |dependent on Ábú Bakr. | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1061 | 453 |Ábu Bakr ben ʿOmár makes | | | | |an expedition on a grand | | | | |scale against the Negro | | | | |tribes. | | | | | | | | | | | | _Ábú ʿObaid Allah el Bekrí’s invaluable Account of Negroland._ | | | | | | | | | | | |Gógó[176], or Gágho (the | 1067 | 460 |The Senhája at this | |capital of Songhay), | | |period ruled over the | |consisting of two towns, | | |whole western part of the| |one the residence of the | | |desert, and spread Islám | |king and the quarter of | | |over the neighbouring | |the Mohammedans, the | | |parts of Negroland, | |other inhabited by | | |especially towards | |idolaters. | | |Ghánata. | | | | | | |The Mohammedan worship so| | |Further eastward, between| |predominant already, that| | |the southerly bend of the| |none but a Moslím could | | |Niger and the later town | |be king; nay, on the | | |of Ágades, were the | |accession of a new king | | |Seghmára, under the | |three royal emblems, | | |dominion of the | |consisting of a ring, a | | |Tademékka, who had a very| |sword, and a Kuran | | |large town (Tademékka), a| |(مصحٮ), which were said | | |great commercial centre, | |to have been handed down | | |nine days from Gógó, and | |from former times, having| | |forty from Ghadámes. | |been sent by an Emír el | | | | |Múmenín (evidently from | | |Between Tademékka and | |Egypt), were given to | | |Ghánata there was a | |him. Thus we see, that | | |commercial place of | |already at that early | | |importance called Tirekka| |period the king of | | |(see Vol. V. p. 150.). | |Songhay was a Ruler of | | |Sáma and Hómbori, | |the Faithful, and the | | |considerable seats of | |account of Áhmed Bábá, | | |power. | |who dates Islám in this | | | | |kingdom from the year | | | | |400, is confirmed in a | | | | |remarkable manner. El | | | | |Bekrí calls the then | | | | |ruling king Kandá, and he| | | | |is most probably | | | | |identical with the Zá | | | | |Bayuki or Bayarkoy Kaima | | | | |(of Áhmed Bábá), the | | | | |third successor of Zá | | | | |Kasí. | | | | | | | | | |Gógó already at that time| | | | |was an important market | | | | |place, chiefly for salt, | | | | |which was brought from | | | | |the Berber town Taútek, | | | | |six days beyond | | | | |Tademékka, which place | | | | |was nine days from Gógó. | | | | | | | | | |El Bekrí, besides Gógó, | | | | |gives a very interesting | | | | |account of Kúgha, but, | | | | |unfortunately, he | | | | |gives[177] no particulars| | | | |with regard to its | | | | |situation, except the | | | | |distance of fifteen days | | | | |from Ghánata, and | | | | |especially neglects to | | | | |determine its situation | | | | |with regard to Gógó; but | | | | |there is no doubt that it| | | | |was identical with the | | | | |Kúkíá of Áhmed Bábá, the | | | | |old capital, Ca da | | | | |Mosto’s Cochia.[178] | | | | | | | | | |This town, therefore, | | | | |which was lying at the | | | | |very outset of the | | | | |Egyptian caravan road, | | | | |already at that time was | | | | |inhabited exclusively by | | | | |Mohammedans, while all | | | | |around were idolaters. It| | | | |was the greatest market | | | | |for gold in all | | | | |Negroland, although the | | | | |quality of the gold | | | | |brought to Aúdaghost was | | | | |better than that exported| | | | |from Kúgha. Besides gold,| | | | |salt, wodʿa or shells | | | | |(from Persia?), copper | | | | |and euphorbium (فربيون?) | | | | |were the chief articles | | | | |of trade. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1076 | 469 |Ghánata conquered by the | | | | |Senhája, and great part | | | | |of the inhabitants, as | | | | |well as the neighbouring | | | | |districts of Negroland, | | | | |compelled by the | | | | |Merábetín to embrace the | | | | |Mohammedan faith. | | | | | | | | | | | |Towards the end of the | | |Ábú Bakr ben ʿOmár takes | |fifth century of the | | |up his residence in this | |Hejra, Timbúktu, or | | |part of Negroland. | |Túmbutu, founded by the | | | | |Ímóshagh (Tawárek), | | | | |especially the tribes of | | | | |the Ídenán and the | | | | |Imedídderen, after it had| | | | |been for a time their | | | | |occasional camping | | | | |ground, just as was the | | | | |case with Árawán. First | | | | |settlement at Bósebángo. | | | | |It was at first a small | | | | |market place for the | | | | |inhabitants of the | | | | |province of Rʿad. (?) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1087-8 | 480 |Ábú Bakr ben ʿOmár dies. | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1153 | 548 |El Edrísi’s account of | | | | |Negroland, composed at | | | | |this period, is not to be| | | | |relied on in general, | | | | |with the exception of a | | | | |few instances, where he | | | | |enters into particulars: | | | | |for instance, the | | | | |populous state of the | | | | |towns of Silla and Tekrúr| | | | |(Zágha), the latter being| | | | |more populous and | | | | |industrious; the salt | | | | |mines of Aulíl,—the only | | | | |ones known at that time | | | | |in Negroland! (p. 11.); | | | | |the rising of the | |Gógó, according to | | |Mandingo, or Wángara race| |Edrísi, powerful, and | | |(the Wákoré), a name then| |dominating over the | | |first appearing. Very | |neighbouring tracts; | | |doubtful appear the | |horses and camels; the | | |following data:—Tirki, or| |nobility well dressed, | | |Tirekka, belonging to | |having the face veiled; | | |Wángara; even Kúgha, a | |the common people wearing| | |dependence of Wángara, | |leathern frocks. The | | |while at the same time | |natives of Aújila already| | |Gógó—the real | |at that period carried on| | |Gógó[179]—is said to have| |a spirited trade with | | |been absolute and | |Gógó (Edrísí, vol. i. p. | | |independent. The great | |238.). | | |commercial importance of | | | | |Wárgelá is confirmed, the| | | | |inhabitants supplying | | | | |Gógó with dates, and | | | | |buying up the greater | | | | |part of the gold brought | | | | |there to market. Rice | | | | |cultivated on the Niger, | | | | |in the district of the | | | | |Merása. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Ghánata ruled by a | | | | |descendant of Ábú | | | | |Táleb[180], of the | | | | |Zenágha tribe, who paid | | | | |allegiance to the khalíf | | | | |in the East; but, if we | | | | |can believe Edrísi, he | | | | |had still a large empire.| | | | | | | | | | | | | 1203-4 | 600 |Ghánata having become | | | | |very weak, is conquered | | | | |by the Súsu, a tribe | | | | |related to the Wákoré. | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1203-4 | 600 |The tribe or dynasty of | | | | |the Árúsíyin becomes | | | | |powerful in the | | | | |neighbourhood of Waláta. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |The inhabitants of Jinni,| | | | |at least the ruling | | | | |portion, including the | | | | |king, adopt Islám. | | | | | | | | | | | |Timbúktu (erroneously) | 1213 | 610 |?Baramindána, first | |stated by Leo | | |Moslim king of Melle, | |Africanus[181] to have | | |styled king of Tekrúr by | |been founded by Mansa | | |Makrízi, makes the | |Slímán. This is evident | | |pilgrimage. | |confusion; the reason of | | | | |which is, that Mansa | | | | |Slímán, who reigned in | | | | |the middle of the | | | | |fourteenth century, | | | | |restored Timbúktu after | | | | |it had been plundered by | | | | |the people of Mósi. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1233-4 | 631-633 |With the death of Ébn | | | | |Ghanía the domination of | | | | |the great race of the | | | | |Senhája ends.[182] The | | | | |remains of this great | | | | |tribe in the southern | | | | |part of the desert (the | | | | |Limtúna and Messúfa) [the| | | | |latter as Meshedúf] are | | | | |gradually reduced to the | | | | |degraded condition of | | | | |tributaries. Islám | | | | |spreads east of the | | | | |Niger, and the name | | | | |Tekrúr appears in Kebbi, | | | | |probably in connection | | | | |with the town of Zágha | | | | |(see Appendix VI.). | | | | |_Bíru_, or _Waláta_, at | | | | |that time the great | | | | |emporium of Western | | | | |Negroland. | | | | | | | | | | | | |1235-1260| 633-658 |Mári Játah, king of | | | | |Melle, on the upper | | | | |Niger, conquers the Súsu,| | | | |who at that time were | | | | |masters of Ghánata. This | | | | |is evidently the period | | | | |of the beginning of the | | | | |great commercial | | | | |importance of Jinni, | | | | |which now became a most | | | | |powerful and wealthy | | | | |state, as a well- | | | | |frequented market of the | | | | |Serracolets or Wakoré, | | | | |Fúlbe, Jolof, Zenágha, | | | | |the inhabitants of | | | | |Western Tekrúr, and the | | | | |Udáya.[183] | | | | | | | | | | | | |1259-1276| 658-675 |Mansa Wáli, son of Mári | | | | |Játah, performs the | | | | |pilgrimage to Mekka in | | | | |the reign of Sultan | | | | |Bibars. | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1276 | 675 |Mansa Wáli, brother of | | | | |the latter. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Mansa Khalífa, succeeds | | | | |him; of insane mind; is | | | | |murdered by his people. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Mansa Ábú Bakr. | | | | | | | | | | | |Some authors, such as | 1310 | 710 |Sákúra, or rather | |Makrízi (Opuscl. Mscr. | | |Sábkara, a usurper, made | |fol. 129 r.), attribute | | |the pilgrimage to Mekka | |to this chief the | | |in the time of El Málík | |conquest of Gágho or | | |e’ Násir. | |Gógó, that is to say, | | | | |Songhay, by the Mellians;| | | | |but from the account of | | | | |Áhmed Bábá it is clear | | | | |that such was not the | | | | |case. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |1311-1331| 711-731 |Mansa Músa (properly | | | | |Kunkur Músa), the | | | | |greatest king of Melle, | | | | |succeeds this usurper, | | | | |develops the whole | | | | |military and political | | | | |power of that kingdom, | | | | |which, according to the | | | | |expressive terms of Áhmed| | | | |Bábá[184], the Songhay | | | | |historian, possessed “an | | | | |aggressive strength | | | | |without measure or | | | | |limit.” While thus | | | | |extending his dominion | | | | |over an immense portion | | | | |of Negroland, he kept on | | | | |the very best terms with | | | | |the Sultan Ábú ’l Hassan | | | | |of El Mághreb (Morocco). | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Mansa Músa subjected to | | | | |his dominion the four | | | | |large territories of the | | | | |Western part of | | | | |Negroland; first, | | | | |Bághena, formed out of | | | | |the remnants of the | | | | |kingdom of Ghánata, and | | | | |including the whole | | | | |inhabited country of | | | | |Tagánet and Áderér; | | | | |secondly, Zágha, or the | | | | |Western Tekrúr, together | | | | |with Silla; then | | | | |Timbúktu, at that time | | | | |still, as it seems, | | | | |independent of Gógó; and | | | | |finally Songhay, with its| | | | |capital Gógó. Jinni, | | | | |however, probably owing | | | | |to its nearly insular | | | | |character seems not to | | | | |have become subjected to | | | | |Melle even at this | | | | |period, although it was | | | | |engaged in continual | | | | |warfare. | | | | | | | | | | | |It is probably at the | 1326 | 726 |Mansa Músa makes a | |period of this | | |pilgrimage to Mekka, with| |pilgrimage, and not | | |a very numerous cortége, | |before, that both Songhay| | |resembling an army, and | |and Timbúktu became | | |with great riches, going | |dependent on Melle, | | |by way of Waláta and | |although the dependence | | |Tawát and returning by | |was even at this time | | |Gágho or Gógó. | |limited, the king of | | | | |Songhay having, as it | | |Melle Proper seems to | |seems, quietly made his | | |have had a double | |subjection on the | | |principle of government, | |approach of the host of | | |one political and the | |Melle. Músa built a | | |other national. In | |mosque and a mihráb | | |political respects Melle | |outside the then town | | |was divided into two | |(Mohammedan quarter?) of | | |provinces—a northerly and| |Gógó. | | |a southerly one, probably| | | | |divided by the Dhiúliba; | |Timbúktu also, as it | | |the governor of the | |would seem, surrendered | | |former being called | |without resistance[185], | | |Faraná (Farengh) Súra, | |and the king of Melle | | |the other | |built here a palace | | |Sangharzú-mʿa.[186] But | |(mʿa-dugu), and the great| | |in national respects | |mosque Jéngeré-bér, or | | |Melle formed three large | |Jámʿa el kebíra, with the| | |provinces, Kála, | |assistance of the same | | |Bennendúgu, and | |Ís-hák, a native of | | |Sabardúgu, each with | |Granáta (the “Granata vir| | |twelve chiefs or | |artificissimus” of Leo, | | |governors[187], and each | |although commonly called | | |represented at court by | |e’ Sáheli, as if he were | | |an inspector; the | |a native of Morocco), who| | |inspector of the province| |built his palace in | | |of Kála was called | |Melle. That space of the | | |Wafála-feréngh. Kála | |town of Timbúktu included| | |comprised evidently the | |between the two great | | |province next to Jinni | |mosques, Jéngeré-bér in | | |along the northern side | |the south-western, and | | |of the river, including | |San-koré in the northern | | |the towns of Sáre and | |quarter, was at that time| | |Sáme; and the town of | |open, and not inhabited. | | |Kála itself, which formed| |The mosque San-koré is | | |the residence of the | |generally stated to have | | |province, will be spoken | |been the oldest mosque in| | |of in the Appendix to | |Timbúktu, although Áhmed | | |Vol. V. Bennendúgu, also,| |Bábá, who only states | | |the country of the Benni,| |that it was built at the | | |known from other | |expense of a rich wife, | | |accounts, lay entirely on| |is not very explicit with| | |the S. side of the river,| |regard to this | | |and Sabardúgu beyond, in | |circumstance. | | |the direction of the | | | | |central portion of Melle.| |Although Timbúktu thus | | |The important district | |lost its independence, it| | |Bitu or Bido seems to | |reaped a great advantage | | |have been included in | |from becoming a portion | | |Melle Proper. | |of a powerful kingdom, | | | | |and being thus well | | | | |protected against any | | | | |violence offered on the | | | | |part of the neighbouring | | | | |Berber population; and in| | | | |consequence the town | | | | |increased rapidly, it | | | | |becoming soon a market | | | | |place of the first rank, | | | | |so that the most | | | | |respectable merchants | | | | |from Misr, Fezzán, | | | | |Ghadámes, Tawát, | | | | |Tafilélet, Darʿah, Fás, | | | | |Sús, and other places | | | | |gradually left Bíru or | | | | |Waláta, and migrated to | | | | |Timbúktu, although this | | | | |was more frequently the | | | | |case after the time of | | | | |Sonní ʿAlí. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |The town of Timbúktu | 1329 | ?730 | | |ransacked and destroyed | | | | |by fire and sword by the | | | | |king of Mósi, the | | | | |garrison of Melle making | | | | |their escape, and giving | | | | |up the town. The power of| | | | |Mósi, which up to this | | | | |time has always been the | | | | |successful champion of | | | | |paganism, is very | | | | |remarkable at such an | | | | |early period, but the | | | | |date is not quite certain| | | | |within a year or two. If | | | | |the date given be right, | | | | |it happened towards the | | | | |end of the reign of Mansa| | | | |Músa. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1331-5 | 732-736 |Mansa Mágha succeeds to | | | | |his father Mansa Músa, | | | | |and reigns four years. | | | | | | | | | | | |The Songhay prince, ʿAlí | | | | |Killun, or Kilnu, son of | | | | |Zá Yásebí, escapes in the| | | | |company of his brother | | | | |from the court of Melle, | | | | |where the princes had | | | | |served as pages, Songhay | | | | |owing allegiance to Melle| | | | |at that period. Having | | | | |safely reached his native| | | | |country, Songhay Proper, | | | | |with the capital Gógó, he| | | | |makes himself independent| | | | |in a certain degree from | | | | |Melle, by founding the | | | | |dynasty of the | | | | |Sonni.[188] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1335-6 | 736 |Mansa Slímán, a brother | | | | |of Músa and uncle of | | | | |Mágha, succeeds to the | | | | |throne of Melle, and | | | | |restores the strength of | | | | |the kingdom. | | | | | | | | | | | |Timbúktu having been | | 737 |Mansa Slímán again takes | |left, as it seems, to | | |possession of | |itself for seven years, | | |Timbúktu[189], and even | |relapses into a state of | | |obliges Songhay Proper to| |subjection or allegiance | | |acknowledge his | |to Melle, and remains in | | |supremacy. | |this condition for the | | | | |next 100 years. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 752 |A king of Tekrúr makes a | | | | |pilgrimage.[190] | | | | | | | | | | | |Travels of Ébn Batúta, | 1352-3 | 753-754 | | |who visits Waláta, the | | | | |frontier province of | | | | |Melle, and an important | | | | |trading-place, where at | | | | |that time the Masúfa | | | | |formed the higher class; | | | | |thence by way of | | | | |Karsekho, he went to | | | | |Melle, or Máli, the | | | | |capital of the great | | | | |empire, situated on a | | | | |northerly creek of the | | | | |Dhiúliba[191]; whence he | | | | |proceeded by land by way | | | | |of Mímah to Timbúktu. | | | | | | | | | |Timbúktu at that time was| | |The town of Tademékka, or| |inhabited mostly by | | |rather Súk, in the | |people of Mímah and by | | |territory of the | |Tawárek (Moláthemín), | | |Tademekket, had by this | |especially Masúfa, who | | |time evidently lost a | |had a headman of their | | |great deal of its | |own, while the Melle | | |importance. | |governor was Farba Músa. | | | | | | | | | |Ébn Batúta embarked in | | | | |Timbúktu, or rather | | | | |Kábara, and went along | | | | |the river to Gógó, | | | | |evidently at that time | | | | |the common highroad of | | | | |travellers. Gógó at that | | | | |period was in a certain | | | | |degree dependent on | | | | |Melle. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1359 | 760 |Mansa Ébn Slímán reigned | | | | |nine months. | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1360 | 761 |Mansa Játah, son of Mansa| | | | |Mágha, ascended the | | | | |throne. | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1360-1 | 762 |The same king sent an | | | | |embassy to Ábú el Hassan | | | | |of Morocco. | | | | | | | | | | | |The fact of Mari Játah | 1373 | 775 |Mansa Músa (II.), son of | |conquering Tekádda, at | | |the latter, a weak king, | |that time the commercial | | |the vizier Mári Játah | |entrepôt between Songhay | | |usurping the power and | |and Egypt, also mentioned| | |conquering Tekádda (the | |by Ébn Batúta, shows | | |trading place spoken of | |clearly that he was | | |on a former occasion, | |master of Songhay, and | | |Vol. I. p. 465.) for a | |exercised over it a | | |short time. | |certain degree of | | | | |supremacy. Timbúktu, as | | | | |Timbuch, appears in the | | | | |_Mappamondo Catalan_—the | | | | |first time that it | | | | |becomes known to | | | | |Europeans. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1387 | 789 |Mansa Mágha, brother of | | | | |the preceding king, | | | | |succeeds to the throne; | | | | |is killed after a reign | | | | |of about a year. | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1388 | 790 |Another usurper. | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1390 | 792 |Mahmúd, a descendant of | | | | |Mári Játah, the first | | | | |king. | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1431 | 835 |A king of Tekrúr makes a | | | | |pilgrimage, dies in the | | | | |town of Tór in the | | | | |peninsula of Sinai. | | | | | | | | | | | |Timbúktu conquered by the| 1433 | 837 |The empire of Melle | |Ímóshagh (probably not | | |begins gradually to | |the Masúfa, at that time | | |decline; the power being | |not yet blended with the | | |divided among three, or | |Arabs, and who had always| | |rather five, separate | |been powerful in that | | |parties, the governors of| |place) under Ákil (Eg | | |each of the three | |Malwal). The people of | | |national provinces and | |Melle had been so much | | |the two governors of the | |weakened by continual | | |political provinces; the | |inroads that they retired| | |Tawárek at the same time | |before the greater force,| | |spreading devastation | |and were driven out for | | |everywhere. | |ever. Ákil, however, did | | | | |not reside in the town, | | | | |preferring a nomadic | | | | |life; but he installed as| | | | |governor, or Túmbutu-koy,| | | | |Mohammed Násr, a Senháji | | | | |from Shingít, who had | | | | |also taken part in the | | | | |government of the town | | | | |under the rule of Melle. | | | | |This Mohammed Násr built | | | | |the mosque Yáhia in | | | | |Timbúktu, which was | | | | |called after his friend | | | | |the Weli Yáhia from | | | | |Tádelest. To the Túmbutu-| | | | |koy belonged the third | | | | |part of all taxes and of | | | | |the whole revenue of the | | | | |town. In the beginning | | | | |the rule of the Tawárek, | | | | |which according to the | | | | |distinct statement of | | | | |Áhmed Bábá never extended| | | | |beyond the river, was | | | | |mild; but gradually they | | | | |became overbearing, using| | | | |even violence towards the| | | | |wives of the inhabitants,| | | | |and offending ʿOmár, the | | | | |son and successor of | | | | |Mohammed Násr, by | | | | |cheating him of his | | | | |revenue. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1448 | 852 |The Portuguese Company | | | | |for opening the trade | | | | |along the coast of Africa| | | | |is established. | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1454 | 860 |Melle, in the account of | | | | |Aloise Ca da Mosto, still| | | | |a very powerful kingdom, | | | | |the most powerful in the | | | | |whole of Negroland, | | | | |including the whole of | | | | |the Gambia, and most | | | | |important for the | | | | |commerce of gold, the | | | | |trade in which divided | | | | |into three branches; one | | | | |proceeding from Melle | | | | |towards Kúkíá, and thence| | | | |to Egypt; the other from | | | | |Melle to Túmbutu, and | | | | |thence to Tawát; the | | | | |other likewise by way of | | | | |Túmbutu, but thence to | | | | |Wadán (Oden), which then | | | | |was a very important | | | | |place, not only for gold | | | | |but also for the slave | |Timbúktu, or Túmbutu, an | | |trade.[192] Timbúktu | |important entrepôt for | | |already at that time was | |the salt trade. | | |a very important entrepôt| | | | |for the salt, which all | | | | |came from the mines of | | | | |Tegháza. | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1460 | 865-6 |The town of Ágades, built| | | | |according to Marmol (see | | | | |Vol. I. p. 459.), and | | | | |nothing is more probable | | | | |than that this commercial| | | | |entrepôt was built about | | | | |this time, perhaps a few | | | | |years later, as it is | | | | |Sonni ʿAlí who is said to| | | | |have destroyed the very | | | | |important market-place of| | | | |Tademékka, which for many| | | | |centuries had carried on | | | | |the commerce between the | | | | |Niger and Egypt. | | | | | | | | | | | |Sonni ʿAlí, son of Sonni | 1464-5 | 869 | | |Mohammed Dʿaú, “the great| | | | |tyrant and famous | | | | |miscreant,” but a king of| | | | |the highest historical | | | | |importance for Negroland,| | | | |the sixteenth of the | | | | |Sonni, ascended the | | | | |throne in Gágho, and | | | | |changed the whole face of| | | | |this part of Africa by | | | | |prostrating the kingdom | | | | |of Melle. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Invited by ʿOmár, the | 1468-9 | 873 | | |Túmbutu-koy, Sonni ʿAlí | | | | |marches against Timbúktu,| | | | |which had never before | | | | |belonged to Songhay | | | | |Proper. While his | | | | |horsemen appear on the | | | | |south side of the river, | | | | |Ákil makes his escape | | | | |towards Bíru or Waláta. | | | | |Sonni ʿAlí then, instead | | | | |of attacking immediately | | | | |the town of Timbúktu, | | | | |went first to El Hódh, | | | | |the south-western | | | | |province of Waláta. | | | | |Having thence returned to| | | | |Timbúktu, from whence | | | | |ʿOmár also, the Túmbutu- | | | | |koy, had meanwhile fled | | | | |to Bíru[193], he | | | | |ransacked and plundered | | | | |the town, and made a | | | | |terrible havoc amongst | | | | |its inhabitants, even | | | | |surpassing that which | | | | |took place on the | | | | |occasion of the pagan | | | | |king of Móshi conquering | | | | |the town. Sonni ʿAlí | | | | |seems especially to have | | | | |exercised some cruelty | | | | |against the learned men. | | | | |But, notwithstanding, the| | | | |town seems soon to have | | | | |recovered from this blow,| | | | |for it was in the latter | | | | |part of this century that| | | | |it became more densely | | | | |inhabited than before. | | | | |But the reason was that, | | | | |in consequence of the | | | | |conquests of Sonni ʿAlí, | | | | |the Arab merchants from | | | | |the north broke off their| | | | |traffic with Ghánata or | | | | |Waláta (Bíru), and | | |Waláta or Bíru becomes | |instead began to visit | | |insignificant, all the | |the markets of Timbúktu | | |merchants emigrating to | |and Gógó. | | |Timbúktu and Gógó. | | | | | | |Sonni ʿAlí conquered | | | | |Bághena, that is, the | | | | |centre or original part | | | | |of the ancient kingdom of| | | | |Ghánata and the later | | | | |Waláta, but satisfied | | | | |himself with making the | | | | |chief of that country his| | | | |tributary. Sonni ʿAlí | | | | |then made Jinni likewise | | | | |tributary, which place | | | | |had not been conquered | | | | |even by the kings of | | | | |Melle, and he there | | | | |likewise caused an | | | | |immense bloodshed. Jinni | | | | |was at that time highly | | | | |flourishing through its | | | | |industry in native | | | | |cloth.[194] At a later | | | | |time the first Áskíá held| | | | |the king of Jinni as a | | | | |prisoner in his capital. | | | | |(Leo, l. vii. c. 3.) | | | | | | | | | |It must have been Sonni | | |In the South-Western part| |ʿAlí to whom João II. of | | |of the desert the | |Portugal, sent an | | |Berabísh and the Udáya | |embassy; and it was | | |struggling for the | |evidently that king who | | |predominance. The Zenágha| |allowed the Portuguese to| | |already in a degraded | |establish a factory in | | |position. | |Wadán, or Hóden, which | | | | |however they did not | | | | |preserve for a long time,| | | | |the place being too | | | | |barren, and at too | | | | |considerable a distance | | | | |from the coast. But | | | | |nevertheless, the | | | | |establishment of this | | | | |factory is a very | | | | |remarkable fact. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1471 | 876 |The coast of Guinea | | | | |explored by the | | | | |Portuguese. | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1481 | 886 |Alfonso V. dies; is | | | | |succeeded by the still | | | | |more energetic João II. | | | | |The Portuguese build | | | | |Elmina, the first | | | | |European establishment on| | | | |the coast of Guinea. | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1488 | 894 |The Jolof Prince, Bemoy, | | | | |came to Portugal, and | | | | |communicated so much | | | | |information with regard | | | | |to the nations of the | | | | |interior of Africa, | | | | |especially the Mósi, who,| | | | |according to him, had | | | | |much in common with | | | | |Christians, that he | | | | |excited the greatest | | | | |interest. It was supposed| | | | |that the king of Mósi was| | | | |the long sought Prester | | | | |John. Ogane is the native| | | | |royal title of the king | | | | |of Mósi. In consequence, | | | | |from this time forward, | | | | |numerous messengers were | | | | |sent into the interior by| | | | |the king João from | | | | |different quarters, and a| | | | |nearer alliance seems to | | | | |have been concluded with | | | | |the king of the | | | | |Mandingoes, although it | | | | |was well understood in | | | | |Portugal at that time | | | | |that the empire of the | | | | |Mellians had fallen to | | | | |ruin. | | | | | | | | | | | |Sonni ʿAlí was drowned in| 5th Nov.| 15th | | |a torrent on his return | 1492 | Mohar. | | |from an expedition | | 898 | | |against Gurma, after | | | | |having conquered the | | | | |Zoghorán[195] (not | | | | |Zaghwána) and the | | | | |_Fullán_. | | | | | | | | | |The power of the tribe of| | | | |the Fullán in those | | | | |quarters, in the south of| | | | |Songhay, at so early a | | | | |date is of the highest | | | | |interest; in the west | | | | |they are noticed at the | | | | |same period repeatedly by| | | | |De Barros.[196] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |The army of the deceased | | 2 Jumád,| | |king proceeded from | | 898 | | |Bʿanebi (Benʿaba? the | | | | |capital of Gurma, see | | | | |Appendix VI. p. 560.) to | | | | |Dangha, evidently the | | | | |place (Denga) touched at | | | | |by myself on my journey, | | | | |and here Ábú Bakr Dʿaú, | | | | |son of Sonni ʿAlí, | | | | |ascended the throne. But | | | | |Mohammed, son of Ábú | | | | |Bakr, a native of Songhay| | | | |(“Nigrita”—Leo) and | | | | |officer of Sonni, | | | | |collected his party and | | | | |marched against the new | | | | |king. But having attacked| | | | |him at Dangha, he was | | | | |beaten, when he escaped | | | | |to the neighbourhood of | | | | |Gágho, where he collected| | | | |again his army, and | | | | |vanquished the king in a | | | | |most sanguinary but | | | | |decisive battle. Sonni | | | | |Ábú Bakr Dʿaú fled to | | | | |Abar (Adar?), where he | | | | |died. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Mohammed ben Ábú Bakr, | | 14 Jum. | | |surnamed e’ Thúri, on | | II. 898 | | |ascending the throne with| | | | |the titles Emír el | | | | |Múmenín and Khalífa el | | | | |Moslemín, adopted as | | | | |royal title, Áskíá, or | | | | |Síkkia.[197] Thus the | | | | |dynasty of a foreign | | | | |family, Libyan, Coptic, | | | | |or Himyaritic, was | | | | |supplanted by a native | | | | |Songhay and African—(e | | | | |tornò el dominio nei | | | | |Negri)—although it leaned| | | | |more towards Islám and | | | | |Mohammedan learning than | | | | |the former one. For Áskíá| | | | |was a friend of the | | | | |learned, and followed | | | | |their advice. | | | | | | | | | |The first thing which | | | | |this great Songhay king | | | | |felt it incumbent to do | | | | |was to give his subjects | | | | |some repose, by reducing | | | | |his army and allowing | | | | |part of the people to | | | | |engage in pacific | | | | |pursuits, all the | | | | |inhabitants having been | | | | |employed by Sonni ʿAlí in| | | | |warlike purposes. | | | | | | | | | |Altogether it does not | | | | |appear exaggerated what | | | | |Áhmed Bábá says of this | | | | |distinguished king, that | | | | |“God made use of his | | | | |service in order to save | | | | |the true believers (in | | | | |Negroland) from their | | | | |sufferings and | | | | |calamities.” | | | | | | | | | |Immediately after his | | |The Songhay language | |accession to power, Áskíá| | |extends as far as Waláta | |sent for his brother | | |and Jinni. | |ʿOmár from Bíru or | | | | |Waláta, which place | | | | |already at this time had | | | | |so totally merged into a | | | | |Songhay province, that | | | | |the Songhay idiom, at | | | | |least in the higher | | | | |circles, where a | | | | |traveller like Leo was | | | | |likely to move about, had| | | | |become the common | | | | |language. “Questa gente,”| | | | |says Leo of the | | | | |inhabitants of Waláta, | | | | |“usa un certo linguaggio | | | | |detto Sungai.”[198] Áskíá| | | | |then made his brother, in| | | | |whom he had implicit | | | | |confidence, Túmbutu-koy | | | | |in the place of[199] Al | | | | |Mukhtár ben Mohammed | | | | |Násr. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |He then sent his other | 1494 | end of | | |brother, likewise called | | 899 | | |Omár, but with the | | | | |surname Kumzághu[200], | | | | |the feréng of Kúrmina who| | | | |conquered the important | | | | |town of Zágha, and made | | | | |war against “Bukr mʿa,” | | | | |(Burku-mʿa?), evidently a| | | | |Mandingo governor of the | | | | |empire of Melle. He also,| | | | |according to Leo, | | | | |imprisoned the ruler of | | | | |Jinni, whom Sonni ʿAlí | | | | |had allowed to reside in | | | | |his own capital, and kept| | | | |him during his lifetime a| | | | |prisoner in Gágho, ruling| | | | |Jinni by means of a | | | | |governor. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Having thus not only |20th Sep.| 901 |João II., the | |consolidated, but even | 1495 | |indefatigable king of | |extended, the empire, the| | Safer, |Portugal, died, whose | |first Áskíá undertook a | | 902 |spirit found no repose | |pilgrimage to Mekka, | | |but in promoting the | |which brought him into | | |welfare of his people, | |contact with the princes | | |and in distant | |and learned men of the | | |discoveries, especially | |East, and made him more | | |in Africa. As we learn | |famous than any other of | | |from an occasional hint | |his enterprises. The most| | |in De Barros[201], this | |distinguished men of all | | |king had already sent an | |the tribes under his | | |ambassador to the Mansa | |command accompanied him | | |of Melle. | |on his great journey, | | | | |especially the great Weli| | | | |Múr Sáleh Júr, a Wákoré, | | | | |native of the town of | | | | |Tutálna[202] in the | | | | |province of Tindírma, and| | | | |1500 armed men, 1000 on | | | | |foot and 500 on | | | | |horseback. He took with | | | | |him 300,000 mithkál, but | | | | |behaved so generously | | | | |that, according to Leo, | | | | |he was obliged to | | | | |contract a loan of | | | | |150,000 mithkál more. He | | | | |had an official | | | | |investiture performed by | | | | |the Sheríf el ʿAbási, as | | | | |Khalífa in Songhay, and | | | | |took the advice of the | | | | |most learned and pious | | | | |men, such as Jelál e’ | | | | |Soyúti. He also founded a| | | | |charitable institution in| | | | |Mekka for the people of | | | | |Tekrúr. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Háj Mohammed Áskíá | August | Dhú el | | |returned to Gágho. | 1497-8 | Hajja, | | | | | 903 | | | | | | | | | | | | |Háj Mohammed undertakes | 1498-9 | 904 | | |an expedition, or a | | | | |formal jihád, against | | | | |Nʿasi the sultan of Mósi,| | | | |having sent the Weli Múr | | | | |Sáleh Núr as an | | | | |ambassador to that king, | | | | |in order to induce him to| | | | |embrace Islám. But the | | | | |Mósi people having | | | | |consulted the souls of | | | | |their ancestors, and | | | | |refused to change their | | | | |native worship, Áskíá | | | | |devastated their country.| | | | |He came back from this | | | | |expedition in Ramadhán. | | | | |He (himself or ʿOthmán) | | | | |then conquered the |1499-1500| 905 | | |country of Bághena, the | | | | |ancient seat of the | | | | |empire of Ghánah, or | | | | |Ghánata, the king of | | | | |which had already been | | | | |made tributary by Sonni | | | | |ʿAlí, and slew the | | | | |Féllani (Púllo) chieftain| | | | |Damba-dumbi. We therefore| | | | |at this early period find| | | | |the Fúlbe very powerful, | | | | |as well in the south | | | | |(Gurma, see p. 596.) as | | | | |in the north-west; while | | | | |from De Barros we learn, | | | | |that their power in the | | | | |south-west was not less | | | | |great. The Songhay king | | | | |made an expedition | 1500 | 906 | | |against Abairu (?), and | | | | |deprived him of his | | | | |kingdom.[203] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Áskíá then sent his | 1501 | 907 | | |brother ʿOmár Kumzághu | | | | |against Melle, where the | | | | |Káíd Kám Fati Kalliyen | | | | |seems to have exercised | | | | |at the time supreme | | | | |power; but ʿOmár not | | | | |feeling himself strong | | | | |enough to take the town | | | | |of Zillen, or Zalna, | | | | |where the court of Melle | | | | |seems to have been, he | | | | |sent for the king | | | | |himself, encamping | | | | |meanwhile in a place | | | | |called Tánfaren, a little| | | | |to the east from Zillen. | | | | |Háj Mohammed Áskíá then | | | | |came in person, | | | | |vanquished the káíd, | | | | |destroyed the town, | | | | |together with the palace | | | | |of the king of Melle, and| | | | |sold the inhabitants into| | | | |slavery. | | | | | | | | | |According to Leo[204], | | | | |Áskíá made the whole of | | | | |Melle tributary, laying | | | | |such a heavy tribute upon| | | | |that ruler that he | | | | |entirely tied his hands. | | | | |Nevertheless the capital | | | | |of Melle still at that | | | | |time was a flourishing | | | | |place, and the largest | | | | |town in Negroland, | | | | |containing about 6000 | | | | |dwellings. Perhaps this | | | | |is the town called | | | | |Zillen, or Zalna, by | | | | |Áhmed Bábá. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |In the same year Háj | | |ʿAlí Ghajídéni, the | |Mohammed Áskíá sent an | | |powerful king of Bórnu | |expedition against Bargú,| | |(see Vol. II. p. 644), | |or, as it is more justly | | |about this time probably | |called, Barbú[205], the | | |undertook his expedition | |country enclosed between | | |to the south-western | |Gurma, Yóruba and the | | |frontier of his large | |great river. The | | |empire, beyond the Kwára,| |inhabitants of this | | |in order to protect it | |country being a very | | |against the encroachments| |warlike set of people, | | |of his powerful | |the struggle appears to | | |contemporary the Songhay | |have been very violent; | | |king. | |and although Áhmed Bábá | | | | |does not seem to intimate| | | | |the whole of the result, | | | | |yet it is clear, from the| | | | |fact that the Songhay | | | | |king was occupied with | | | | |Bargú for the next four | | | | |or five years, that he | | | | |met with great | | | | |resistance; this is also | | | | |clearly indicated by | | | | |traditions still extant | | | | |in that country, the name| | | | |Bargú being generally | | | | |derived from the Songhay | | | | |words five (go), horses | | | | |(beri); “five horses” | | | | |being the only remnant of| | | | |an army led into the | | | | |country by the Songhay | | | | |king. Such a state of | | | | |things is also clearly | | | | |indicated by another | | | | |document.[206] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |The Songhay king made an | 1506 | 912 | | |expedition against | | | | |Kelinbút. The following | | | | |years no expedition seems| | | | |to have been undertaken, | | | | |the Áskíá being busy with| | | | |the internal affairs of | | | | |his extensive empire | | | | |which extended from Kebbi| | | | |in the east as far as the| | | | |present country of | | | | |Kaarta, and from | | | | |Bennendúgu as far as | | | | |Tegháza. It appears that | | | | |he staid the greater part| | | | |of this period near | | | | |Timbúktu, where he was | | | | |evidently _when Leo | | | | |visited_ this part of | | | | |Africa, who thought | | | | |Timbúktu to be his usual | | | | |residence, but | | | | |nevertheless was fully | | | | |aware, although he did | | | | |not clearly express it, | | | | |that Gágho was his other | | | | |residence—“Questo signor | | | | |fu preso dal detto Izchia| | | | |e tenuto in _Gágo_ fino | | | | |alla morte,” l. vii. c. | | | | |3, at the end. The Áskíá | | | | |staid in Kábara, “the | | | | |well known harbour,” when| | | | |he heard of the learned | | | | |man, the fákih Mahmúd, | | | | |having come to Gágho, and| | | | |he immediately embarked | | | | |and went there by water; | | | | |for almost all the | | | | |intercourse between | | | | |Timbúktu and the whole | | | | |western quarter on the | | | | |one side, and the centre | | | | |of the Songhay empire | | | | |with its capital on the | | | | |other, was along the | | | | |river. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Háj Mohammed sends the | 1511 | 917 | | |Bʿakukurakoy ʿAlí Fulánu | | | | |and Belgha Mohammed Kirí | | | | |against Mʿa Futa[207] | | | | |Kaitál, the fereng of | | | | |Bághena, who had | | | | |revolted. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Háj Mohammed, always | 1512 | 918 | | |extending his empire | | | | |further westward, marched| | | | |against a powerful | | | | |chieftain, Allʿaín[208] | | | | |Almatní Tíndhar, and slew| | | | |him in Zárú. This is a | | | | |highly interesting | | | | |expedition, as the | | | | |results of it exercised a| | | | |powerful influence as far| | | | |as the coast, where the | | | | |enterprising Portuguese | | |The Portuguese in the | |were at that time | | |Senegal quite surprised | |establishing their power.| | |at the great flame of war| |For it happened just at | | |(incendio di guerra) | |the time that Kolli, | | |which at that time | |Allʿaín’s eldest son was | | |ravaged all the countries| |absent on an expedition, | | |from east to west.[209] | |and when he heard of the | | | | |fate of his father he | | | | |fled with his army to | | | | |Fúta, which at that time | | | | |belonged to the king of | | | | |Jolof, and endeavoured to| | | | |assume the sovereign | | | | |power, in which attempt | | | | |he succeeded, by the | | | | |slaughter of the king of | | | | |Jolof. The country of | | |Kolli founded a powerful | |Jolof thus became divided| | |Negro dynasty, and was | |between Kolli (Kolli | | |succeeded by his son | |Salti [Sáttigi?] Tíndhar)| | |Yuríma, to whom succeeded| |and Dúmala (Dámil, a | | |Kalábi (Kolli Labbe) | |common title, the Temala | | |Batára, a most excellent | |of the Portuguese), the | | |prince, celebrated on | |most powerful of the | | |account of his piety and | |governors of the former | | |justice; then followed | |king of Jolof. | | |Kata, son of Yuríma. | | | | | | | | | | | |At the end of this year, | 1513 | 919 |The Portuguese, under | |the Songhay king marched | | |D’Ataide, take possession| |against Kátsena, and | | |of Azemmúr. | |returned from thence in | | | | |the first Rebí of the | | | | |following year. This is | | | | |an extraordinary short | | | | |time for so distant an | | | | |expedition, even if he | | | | |had been residing in the | | | | |easternmost part of his | | | | |empire at the time when | | | | |he undertook it. | | | | |Nevertheless, if we can | | | | |believe Leo, the Áskíá | | | | |conquered not only | | | | |Kátsena but also Góber | | | | |(which already at that | | | | |time had a very large | | | | |capital and a good trade,| | | | |and considerable | | | | |industry, especially in | | | | |leather work), Zánfara, | | | | |Zegzeg, Kanó, and almost | | |The Háusa States become | |the whole of Háusa[210]; | | |important—Korórofa. | |but it would almost | | | | |appear to me as if Leo in| | | | |this case had confounded | | | | |Áskíá with Kanta, the | | | | |ruler of Kebbi. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1514 | 920 |The Portuguese occupy | | | | |Tednest. | | | | | | | | | | | |About the end of this | 1515 | 921 | | |year the Áskíá marched | | | | |against Al-ʿAdálet, the | | | | |king of Ágades, and | | | | |returned from thence the | | | | |following year, having | | | | |driven out, as we know | | | | |from other sources[211], | | | | |the Berber tribes, and | | | | |transplanted there a good| | | | |many of his own people, | | | | |although the Songhay | | | | |language may have been | | | | |spoken there before this | | | | |period. However, it is | | | | |evident from Leo’s | | | | |account[212], who seems | | | | |to know nothing of this | | | | |expedition, that the king| | | | |of Ágades paid tribute to| | | | |Áskíá already before this| | | | |time. At all events this | | | | |was the highest pitch of | | | | |power to which not only | | | | |Háj Mohammed himself, but| | | | |the Áskíás in general, | | | | |attained; for, on his | 1516 | 922 |Kanta founds an | |return from this | | |independent kingdom in | |expedition, Kanta, the | | |Kebbi. Starting from | |governor of Léka, in the | | |Birni-n-Duggul in the | |province of Kebbi, who | | |province of Kátsena, he | |owed him allegiance, and | | |took up his residence | |who had accompanied him | | |first in Gungu then in | |in this war, demanded his| | |Suráme, and finally in | |share in the booty, | | |Léka. | |which, probably, was very| | | | |great, and not being | | | | |satisfied rose against | | | | |him and vanquished him in| | | | |a great battle; after | | | | |which he made himself | | | | |independent of Songhay, | | | | |and was successful, | | | | |Áskíá, who marched | | | | |against him the following| 1517 | 923 |Kanta vindicates his | |year, being obliged to | | |independence of Songhay. | |retrace his steps without| | | | |having obtained the | | | | |slightest success. It is | | | | |therefore next to | | | | |impossible that Áskíá | | | | |achieved the conquest of | | | | |the Háusa provinces, as | | | | |described by Leo. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Háj Mohammed again | 1518 | 924 | | |visited the western part | | | | |of his empire, and on the| | | | |15th Ramadhán stayed in | | | | |Timbúktu. | | | | | | | | | |The name Songhay, not | | | | |mentioned by former | | | | |authors, becomes | | | | |conspicuous, being | | | | |employed as well by Leo | | | | |as by De Barros. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |The king resided again in| 1520 | 926 | | |Songhay Proper, and was | | | | |in Sankar, a place beyond| | | | |Kúkíá, when he learnt the| | | | |death of his beloved | | | | |brother, ʿOmár Kumzághu, | | | | |to whom he was so much | | | | |indebted for the | | | | |stability of his rule. He| | | | |then invested another | | | | |brother named Yáhia, with| | | | |the governor- or fereng- | | | | |ship of Kúrmina, which | | | | |certainly was the most | | | | |important province of the| | | | |empire. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Háj Mohammed lost another| 1521-2 | 928 | | |brother, ʿOmár the | | | | |Túmbutu-koy (see p. | | | | |598.); and thus having | | | | |been deprived of his most| | | | |faithful servants, and | | | | |having passed the prime | | | | |of life, became the | | | | |plaything of his | | | | |overbearing sons, the | | | | |intrigues taking a more | | | | |open turn after some | | | | |affair in Banku, or | 1524-5 | 931 | | |Bango, the character of | | | | |which is not quite clear.| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |At length affairs assumed| 1527-8 | 934 | | |such a serious character,| | | | |that the heir-apparent, | | | | |or Feréngmangha Háj Músa,| | | | |the eldest son of the | | | | |king, who had accompanied| | | | |him on his pilgrimage, | | | | |threatened to kill him; | | | | |so that the aged Mohammed| | | | |fled to Tindírma, and | | | | |placed himself under the | | | | |protection of his brother| | | | |Yáhia. The latter then | | | | |seems to have brought | | | | |about some understanding | | | | |among the members of the | | | | |royal family. For in the | | | | |following year we find | 1528-9 | 935 | | |the old king again in | | | | |Gágho, when Músa revolted| | | | |openly against his | | | | |father, and went with | | | | |some of his brothers to | | | | |Kúkíá. Yáhia, the feréng | | | | |of Kúrmina, being again | | | | |requested by his brother | | | | |to interfere between him | | | | |and his sons, came to | | | | |Gágho, and was sent by | | | | |the latter to Kúkíá, but | | | | |was openly attacked by | | | | |the mutinous children, | | | | |and murdered. Músa, then,| | | | |seeing that his father | | | | |was powerless, returned | | | | |to Gágho, and towards the| | | | |end of the year, on the | | | | |great holiday, forced him| | | | |to abdicate after a reign| | | | |of thirty-six years and | | | | |six months. Nevertheless,| | | | |he left him in his | | | | |palace, while he himself | | | | |stayed in his own house. | | | | |Háj Mohammed Áskíá, as | | | | |Áhmed Bábá says, was too | | | | |great (or too mild) to | | | | |rule a (turbulent) | | | | |country like Songhay. | | | | | | | | | |That the extent of the | | | | |empire, in its prime, was| | | | |not exaggerated by the | | | | |author of the history of | | | | |Songhay, is clear from | | | | |the account of Múláy | | | | |Áhmed’s expedition. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |_Áskíá Músa_ began his | 1529 | 935 | | |bloody and restless reign| | | | |by endeavouring to murder| | | | |all his brothers, and | | | | |pursued them to Kúrmina, | | | | |where they had taken | | | | |refuge under the | | | | |protection of the | | | | |governor of that | | | | |province, ʿOthmán Jubábu,| | | | |another son of Háj | | | | |Mohammed; but he forced | | | | |them all to decamp, | | | | |together with the | | | | |governor of the province | | | | |himself, as well as the | | | | |governor of Banku, or | | | | |Bango, and other great | | | | |men. The aged ʿAlí | | | | |Fulánu, who had | | | | |accompanied El Háj | | | | |Mohammed on his | | | | |pilgrimage, fled to | | | | |Kanó.[213] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Músa, having returned to | 1533 | 940 |ʿAbd el Kerím ben | |Gágho, continued the | | |Maghíli, from Bú ʿAlí, in| |attempt to murder his | | |Tawát, the great apostle | |remaining brothers, as | | |of Middle Negroland, | |far as he was able to lay| | |where he is stated to | |his hands on them, while | | |have transplanted the | |they on their part, | | |power formerly grafted | |endeavoured to rid | | |upon Songhay, is said to | |themselves of their | | |have died this year. If | |tormentor, so that he had| | |this be really the case, | |not a moment’s rest. | | |as it would seem to be, a| | | | |former passage in my work| | | | |about this distinguished | | | | |man (Vol. II. p. 76.) has| | | | |to be altered a little. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |At this period, the | | | | |Portuguese sent presents | | | | |to the king of Melle, who| | | | |was reduced to the | | | | |western provinces of his | | | | |empire, and therefore is | | | | |now styled Mandi Mansa, | | | | |and who then waged war | | | | |with Temalá (the Dámil, | | | | |rey dos Fullos; see | | | | |above). The Portuguese | | | | |endeavoured also to open | | | | |communication with the | | | | |king of Mósi (el rey dos | | | | |Moses), of whose power | | | | |they had received | | | | |reports, but from the | | | | |wrong side, namely, from | | | | |Benín. The king of Mósi | | | | |was then waging war with | | | | |the Mandi Mansa. | | | | | | | | | | | |In this sanguinary reign,| 1534 | 941 | | |it is cheering to find | | | | |that the Portuguese sent | | | | |an embassy, among the | | | | |other princes in the | | | | |interior, also to a | | | | |nephew of this Músa, king| | | | |of Songhay[214], from the| | | | |side of Mina, or Elmina, | | | | |their colony on the gold | | | | |coast. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Músa died. Mohammed | 1535-6 | 942 | | |Bánkoré, son of ʿOmár | | | | |Kumzághu, was made Áskíá | | | | |in a place called Mansur.| | | | |This cruel prince drove | | | | |the old Háj Mohammed from| | | | |the royal palace, where | | | | |even Músa had left him, | | | | |and imprisoned him in a | | | | |place called Kankáka. | | | | |Mohammed Bánkoré was a | | | | |warlike prince, but he | | | | |was not successful in his| | |The power of the kingdom | |career, nor was he a | | |of Kebbi more firmly | |favourite with the | | |established. But after | |people. He marched | | |the death of the first | |against Kanta, but was | | |Kanta, the founder of the| |totally routed at a place| | |dynasty, his two sons, | |called Wen-termása (a | | |Kanna and Himáddu, fight | |Berber name), and fled | | |for the royal power, when| |most ingloriously, having| | |Himáddu is said to have | |a very narrow escape | | |driven back the former | |through the waters of the| | |with the aid of the | |Niger. | | |Fúlbe. | | | | | | | | | | | |He then marched against | 1536 | 943 | | |Gurma, and sent Mári | | | | |Tamiza, the feréng of | | | | |Dendi, against the enemy.| | | | |But the latter having | | | | |laid in chains all the | | | | |leading men in the army, | | | | |deposed the king, 2nd Dhu| | | | |el Kʿada (12th April), | | | | |and installed Ismáʿaíl, a| | | | |son of Háj Mohammed, on | | | | |the throne as Áskíá. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Ismáʿaíl brought his aged| 1537 | 944 | | |father from Kankáka back | | | | |to Gágho, where he died | | | | |in the night preceding | | | | |the ʿAíd el Fotr, and was| | | | |buried in the great | | | | |mosque. In the same year | | | | |Ismáʿaíl went to | | | | |Dire.[215] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Áskíá Ismáʿaíl then | | 945 | | |marched against the | | | | |Bakabóki (the chief of | | | | |Bojjo?), in Gurma, and | | | | |killed and carried into | | | | |slavery a great many | | | | |people; so that a slave | | | | |in Gágho fetched not more| | | | |than 300 shells. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Áskíá Ismáʿaíl, a very | 1539 | 946 | | |energetic and much | | | | |respected king, | | | | |unfortunately reigned too| | | | |short a period, and died | | | | |after a reign of not more| | | | |than two years, nine | | | | |months, six days, in the | | | | |month of Rejeb (October | | | | |or November). | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |The army which had just | | | | |marched out upon an | | | | |expedition, made Is-hák, | | | | |another son of Háj | | | | |Mohammed, Áskíá, on the | | | | |16th Shʿabán. The new | | | | |king proved a very stern | | | | |master, the severest king| | | | |who ruled over Songhay; | | | | |but he made himself also | | | | |respected by his enemies,| | | | |even in the most distant | | | | |quarter. Thus, in the | | | | |third year of his reign, | 1542 | 949 | | |he marched against | | | | |Yaghaba (not Baghaba), | | | | |the most distant place of| | | | |the sultans of Banduk, or| | | | |Bennendúgu, on the | 1544 | 951 |About this time Mohammed,| |remotest south-westerly | | |the ruler of Bórnu, | |branch of the Niger; and | | |fought a celebrated and | |two years later he waged | | |sanguinary battle with | |war on the opposite side | | |the king of Kebbi, | |of his vast dominions | | |probably Tómo, who | |against Kukurkáb (Kokoy- | | |founded here a new and | |Kábi?)[216], in the | | |large capital, Birní-n- | |territory of Dendi. | | |Kebbi. (See Vol. II. p. | | | | |646.) | | | | | | | | | | | |In the course of this | 1545 | 952 | | |year Ís-hák sent his | | | | |brother Dáúd, the feréng | | | | |of Kúrmina, against | | | | |Melle. The Sultan (Mansa)| | | | |of Melle, who, having | | | | |been reduced to the | | | | |position of a tributary | | | | |chief by the great Háj | | | | |Mohammed, seems to have | | | | |conceived the hope of | | | | |making himself again | | | | |independent under his | | | | |successors, left his | | | | |palace and fled, and Dáúd| | | | |remained for seven days | | | | |in the capital defiling | | | | |the honour of the royal | | | | |palace in the grossest | | | | |manner. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |At the same time, this | 1549 | 956 | | |energetic Songhay king | | | | |showed his power to Múláy| | | | |Áhmed, the powerful ruler| | | | |of Morocco, who, looking | | | | |about for a fresh source | | | | |of strength, cast | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Dáúd having ascended the | | | | |throne in Kúkíá one day | | | | |before the death of Ís- | | | | |hák, returned to Gágho on| | | | |the 1st Rebí I. Dáúd was | | | | |a very peaceable king, | | | | |and undertook no | | | | |expedition at all. He | | | | |resided towards the end | 1553 | 960 |Sídi ʿOmár e’ Sheikh, the| |of his life a long time | | |great ancestor of the | |in Tindírma, the capital | | |family of El Bakáy, died | |of the province of | | |in the district Gídi or | |Kúrmina, where he had a | | |Igídi. | |palace and kept a large | | | | |establishment. Áskíá | | | | |Dáúd, who is said by the | | | | |Imám e’ Tekrúri, as cited| | | | |by De Slane[217], to have| | | | |imitated the example of | | | | |his father Háj Mohammed, | | | | |died after a reign of | | | | |nearly thirty-four | | | | |(lunar) years. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |El Háj, or El Háj | 1582 | 990 | | |Mohammed, then ascended | | | | |the throne, being the | | | | |eldest son of Dáúd, and | | | | |named after his | | | | |grandfather, whom he is | | | | |said to have equalled in | | | | |the qualities of bravery | | | | |and patient endurance, | | | | |although he remained far | | | | |behind in success, and | | | | |was plunged from the | | | | |beginning of his reign in| | | | |civil war, which began to| | | | |rage the very day of his | | | | |accession to the throne, | | | | |the Feréng Mohammed | | | | |Bánkoré preparing to | | | | |oppose him; but | | | | |fortunately the latter | | | | |was induced by the Fáki | | | | |Mohammed, the Kádhi of | | | | |Timbúktu, to give up his | | | | |pretensions, in order to | | | | |apply himself to study. | | | | |He was then arrested and | | | | |lodged in the state | | | | |prison in Kantú. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Then El Hádi, son of | 1584 | Safer. | | |Áskíá Dáúd, and brother | | 992 | | |of El Háj, whom, as the | | | | |most faithful, the king | | | | |had entrusted with the | | | | |government of Kúrmina, | | | | |revolted, left Tindírma, | | | | |and marched against the | | | | |capital, Gágho. He even | | | | |succeeded in entering the| | | | |town in the night before | | | | |the 4th Rebí-el-awel, | | | | |clad in a coat of mail, | | | | |and preceded by a | | | | |trumpet, drum, and other | | | | |insignia of royal power, | | | | |while the Áskíá, who at | | | | |the time was very weak | | | | |and sick, was seized with| | | | |fear of losing his | | | | |throne; but through the | | | | |aid of Híki, the governor| | | | |of the powerful province | | | | |of Dendi, the revolt was | | | | |overcome. El Hádi was | | | | |thrown into the state | | | | |prison at Kantú, and all | | | | |his adherents were | | | | |severely punished. | | | | | | | | | |While the empire was thus| | |Together with Móshi, the | |undermined by intestine | | |ruler of Búsa, on the | |civil wars, the great | | |Niger, is mentioned by | |enemy who was to crush it| | |Áhmed Bábá under this | |from without approached | | |reign as a powerful king.| |from the north; but this | | |The power of Kebbi, | |time the danger passed | | |therefore, probably had | |by. Múláy Hámed, or | | |begun to decline. | |Áhmed, in order to learn | | | | |the real state of affairs| | | | |in Tekrúr, and especially| | | | |in Songhay, whose power | | | | |could not fail to attract| | | | |his attention, sent an | | | | |embassy with costly | | | | |presents; but the Áskíá | | | | |received the messengers | | | | |kindly, and sent a more | | | | |valuable present in | | | | |return, among other | | | | |articles 80 eunuchs. But | | | | |shortly after the | | | | |departure of this | | | | |embassy, the rumour | | | | |spread of Múláy Hámed | | | | |having sent a large army;| | | | |and this report was soon | | | | |confirmed. The emperor of| | | | |Morocco sent a very | | | | |numerous host, said to be| | | | |20,000[218] strong, in | | | | |the direction of Wadán, | | | | |at that time the general | | | | |caravan road, with the | | | | |order to conquer all the | | | | |places along the river | | | | |(the Senegal and Niger, | | | | |probably, regarded | | | | |together)[219], and thus | | | | |to proceed towards | | | | |Timbúktu,—an order which | | | | |clearly shows the immense| | | | |extent of the Songhay | | | | |empire, even at that | | | | |time: and the Imám e’ | | | | |Tekrúri[220] distinctly | | | | |states that, even at the | | | | |time of its downfall, it | | | | |comprised a region of six| | | | |months in extent. But | | | | |this time also the danger| | | | |passed by; the numbers of| | | | |the army themselves | | | | |causing its ruin, in | | | | |consequence of hunger and| | | | |thirst. In order to take | | | | |at least a slight | | | | |revenge, the Sultan of | | | | |Morocco then sent an | | | | |officer with a small | | | | |troop of musketeers, to | | | | |take possession of the | | | | |salt-mines of Tegháza, | | | | |which at that time | | | | |supplied the whole of | | | | |Western Negroland with | | | | |that necessary | | | | |article[221], and thus to| | | | |deprive the inhabitants | | | | |of Songhay of it.[222] It| | | | |was in the month of | | | | |Shawál (September) that | | | | |the news reached Gágho | | | | |that all intercourse with| | | | |those salt-mines had been| | | | |cut off. It was then that| | | | |people went and dug salt | | | | |in Taödénni, and other | | | | |places.[223] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |While the danger was | 1586 | 994 |The salt-mines of Tegháza| |gathering from without, a| | |shut, and those of | |new intestine war broke | | |Taödénni opened, on this | |out, which does not | | |occasion.[224] | |appear to testify to the | | | | |great courage and energy | | | | |for which Áhmed Bábá | | | | |praises this Áskíá. | | | | | | | | | |For in the last month of | | | | |this year, the brothers | | | | |of El Háj Áskíá revolted,| | | | |and brought Mohammed | | | | |Bána, another of the | | | | |numerous sons of Dáúd, | | | | |with them from Kará | | | | |(كَرَى?) to Gágho, and, | | | | |deposing El Háj, | | | | |installed the former in | | | | |his place as Áskíá, on | | | | |the 4th Moharrem. El Háj,| 1587 | 995 | | |probably, notwithstanding| | | | |his original bravery and | | | | |energy, was suffering | | | | |from disease all the time| | | | |of his reign. He died (a | | | | |natural death apparently)| | | | |a few days after his | | | | |deposition, having | | | | |reigned four years and | | | | |five months. | | | | | | | | | |Immediately after the | | | | |accession of Mohammed | | | | |Bána to the throne, a new| | | | |conspiracy was formed, | | | | |issuing from the state | | | | |prisoners in Kantú, | | | | |especially the two | | | | |pretenders, El Hádi and | | | | |Mohammed Bánkoré, and | | | | |aiming at the | | | | |installation of Núh, | | | | |another son of Dáúd, the | | | | |Farma of Bantal; but the | | | | |rebellion was | | | | |successfully suppressed, | | | | |most of the conspirators | | | | |killed, and Núh, together| | | | |with his brother | | | | |Mústapha, whom El Háj had| | | | |designated as his | | | | |successor (Feréngmangha),| | | | |laid in chains, and | | | | |imprisoned in the | | | | |province of Dendi. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |The Balmʿa, Mohammed e’ | 1588 | 976 | | |Sádik, son of Áskíá Dáúd,| | | | |having punished the | | | | |oppressive governor of | | | | |Kábara, and vanquished | | | | |his own brother Sáleh, | | | | |the Feréng of Kúrmina (24| | | | |Rebí II.), and being | | | | |joined by the troops of | | | | |the latter, and by many | | | | |other bodies of the great| | | | |army of the West, the | | | | |Feréng of Bághena, Mansa,| | | | |the Hómborikoy, and | | | | |others, left Kábara on | | | | |the 1st Jumáda. Áskíá | | | | |Mohammed Bána marched out| | | | |of Gágho on the 12th, in | | | | |order to meet the rebel, | | | | |but died the same day, | | | | |either from the effects | | | | |of wrath, or in | | | | |consequence of the heat | | | | |of the weather and his | | | | |own corpulency. He | | | | |reigned one year, four | | | | |months, and eight days. | | | | | | | | | |The day following the | | | | |death of Mohammed Bána, | | | | |the army having reentered| | | | |the town of Gágho, Ís- | | | | |hák, another son of Dáúd,| | | | |ascended the throne as | | | | |Áskíá. But the Pretender,| | | | |having been raised by his| | | | |troops on his way to | | | | |Gágho, to the dignity of | | | | |Áskíá, pursued his march,| | | | |while Áskíá Ís-hák left | | | | |his capital, when both | | | | |armies met at a place | | | | |called Kamba-Kíri, | | | | |evidently only four | | | | |days’[225] march from | | | | |Gágho, where, after a | | | | |violent struggle which | | | | |lasted the whole day, the| | | | |army of the Pretender was| | | | |beaten, and he escaped | | | | |towards Timbúktu. Great | | | | |was the disappointment of| | | | |the inhabitants of this | | | | |town. They had celebrated| | | | |the accession to power of| | | | |their favourite, Mohammed| | | | |e’ Sádik, with the | | | | |greatest manifestations | | | | |of joy, and had even | | | | |imprisoned, on the 21st, | | | | |at his request, the | | | | |messenger who had | | | | |announced the accession | | | | |of Ís-hák. On the 28th, | | | | |there arrived the | | | | |favourite as a fugitive, | | | | |who brought them the | | | | |account of the | | | | |unfortunate battle, and, | | | | |having plunged them into | | | | |deep sorrow, continued | | | | |his flight, in company | | | | |with the Hómborikoy, the | | | | |Barakoy, by way of | | | | |Tindírma, across the | | | | |river to the other side. | | | | |He was, however, | | | | |overtaken, and confined | | | | |in the state prison at | | | | |Kantú, where he was | | | | |killed, together with the| | | | |Barakoy; as were also the| | | | |Túmbutu-koy and the | | | | |Ímóshaghenkoy. Of course | | | | |the inhabitants of | | | | |Timbúktu, having so | | | | |openly favoured the | | | | |proceedings of the | | | | |Pretender, were severely | | | | |punished, and a new | | | | |Túmbutukoy, Al Hasan, the| | | | |last during the Songhay | | | | |period, and a new | | | | |Ímóshaghenkoy, were | | | | |installed. Áskíá Ís-hák | | | | |likewise installed new | | | | |governors of Banku, Bal, | | | | |and Kúrmina, and | | | | |confirmed others in their| | | | |provinces. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Having recovered from the| 1588-9 | 997 | | |severe shock inflicted | | | | |upon the empire by this | | | | |rebellion, Áskíá Ís-hák | | | | |undertook an expedition | | | | |against Namandúgu, | | | | |evidently the place | | | | |touched at by myself on | | | | |my road to Timbúktu, | | | | |inhabited by pagans of | | | | |the Gurma tribe, and the | | | | |following year he | | | | |undertook an expedition | | 998-999 | | |against some other part | | | | |of Gurma[226],—namely | | | | |Tínfiri. Having thus had | | | | |some respite, and | | | | |consolidated his empire, | | | | |he planned an expedition | | | | |against Kala, the | | | | |province to the north of | | | | |Jinni, which it would | | | | |seem had been subjected | | | | |to the former Áskíá; but | | | | |when about to undertake | | | | |this expedition into the | | | | |furthest parts of his | | | | |empire, he heard of the | | | | |arrival[227] of the | | | | |Mahalla of the Bashá | | | | |Jódar, a valiant eunuch | | | | |of Múláy Hámed, the | | | | |emperor of Morocco, with | | | | |an army of 3600 | | | | |musketeers, in 174 | | | | |divisions of 20 each | | | | |besides the | | | | |officers[228]; and he met| | | | |him on the battle-field | | | | |on the 18th Jumád II., | | | | |but fled before him. | | | | | | | | | |Jódar remained only | | | | |seventeen days in Gágho, | | | | |when the Khatíb Mahmúd | | | | |behaved in a very hostile| | | | |manner towards the | | | | |strangers. On visiting | | | | |the palace of the Áskíá, | | | | |in the presence of | | | | |witnesses, he found it | | | | |not equal to his | | | | |expectation, and accepted| | | | |the conditions of Ís-hák,| | | | |who offered to give him | | | | |1000 slaves and 100,000 | | | | |mithkál of gold, if he | | | | |gave up the conquered | | | | |country. The Bashá, | | | | |although he was not | | | | |authorized to agree upon | | | | |these conditions himself,| | | | |consented to write an | | | | |account of them to his | | | | |liege lord, and return | | | | |meanwhile to Timbúktu. He| | | | |therefore wrote to Múláy | | | | |Hámed, in conjunction | | | | |with the Káíd Áhmed ben | | | | |el Haddád, adding at the | | | | |same time, in order to | | | | |show his master that the | | | | |conquered country was not| | | | |worth a great deal, that | | | | |the dwelling of the | | | | |Sheikh El Harám (a very | | | | |inferior personage) in | | | | |Morocco excelled by far | | | | |the palace of the Áskíá. | | | | |But the ambitious Múláy | | | | |Hámed, the friend of | | | | |Philip II., who, in | | | | |following the example of | | | | |his friend the mighty | | | | |prince of Europe, | | | | |contemplated the conquest| | | | |of new regions, was | | | | |filled with wrath at the | | | | |receipt of the despatches| | | | |of his officer Jódar, | | | | |deposed him on the spot, | | | | |and sent the Bashá Mahmúd| | | | |ben Zarkúb, accompanied | | | | |by 80 musketeers, with | | | | |instructions to undertake| | | | |the command of the army, | | | | |and drive Áskíá Ís-hák | | | | |out of Sudán. | | | | | | | | | |Meanwhile Jódar having | | | | |arrived at Móse- or Bóse-| | | | |Bango (the same creek of | | | | |the great river where I | | | | |was encamped for some | | | | |time) on the last day of | | | | |Jumáda II., remained | | | | |encamped for thirty-five | | | | |days, from the 1st Rejeb | | | | |till the 6th Shʿabán, | | | | |outside the town of | | | | |Timbúktu[229], when the | | | | |term fixed for the return| | | | |of his courier from | | | | |Morocco having elapsed, | | | | |he well saw that all was | | | | |not right, and that his | | | | |master was not content | | | | |with his proceedings. He | | | | |therefore entered the | | | | |town with his soldiers, | | | | |chose for himself the | | | | |quarter of the | | | | |Ghadámsíyín, between the | | | | |gate leading to Kábara | | | | |and the market, as the | | | | |most densely inhabited | | | | |quarter, and as | | | | |containing the largest | | | | |houses, for the purpose | | | | |of erecting there a | | | | |kasbah, driving the | | | | |inhabitants out of their | | | | |dwellings by force. It | | | | |also seems, from another | | | | |passage of Áhmed Bábá, | | | | |that the Rumá shut all | | | | |the gates of the town | | | | |with the exception of the| | | | |gate leading to Kábara, | | | | |the consequence of which | | | | |was that all the people, | | | | |in order to enter the | | | | |town or to go out of it, | | | | |had to pass through or | | | | |under the kasbah, so that| | | | |the whole traffic and all| | | | |the intercourse could | | | | |easily be overawed by a | | | | |limited garrison. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |On Friday, the 26th | | | | |Shawál, the new Bashá | | | | |Mahmúd arrived in | | | | |Timbúktu, accompanied by | | | | |the two káíd’s, ʿAbd el | | | | |ʿAálí and Ham Baraka, and| | | | |deposed Jódar, | | | | |reproaching him bitterly | | | | |for not having pursued | | | | |the king Ís-hák; but | | | | |Jódar excused himself by | | | | |pleading that he had no | | | | |boats at his disposition.| | | | |The first thing therefore| | | | |which the Bashá Mahmúd | | | | |had to do was to procure | | | | |boats, the inspector of | | | | |the harbour having fled | | | | |with the whole fleet in | | | | |the direction of Banku, | | | | |or Bengu. It was on this | | | | |occasion that all the | | | | |trees in the town were | | | | |cut down. | | | | | | | | | |On the 20th Dhú ’l Káda, | | | | |the Bashá Mahmúd left | | | | |Timbúktu with the whole | | | | |of his army, taking the | | | | |ex-bashá Jódar with him, | | | | |and installing in the | | | | |government of the town | | | | |the káíd El Mustapha and | | | | |the emír Ham from Wádí | | | | |Darʿa. Having kept the | | | | |great festival near the | | | | |town in a place called | | | | |Síhank (?), he marched | | | | |against Ís-hák, who | | | | |approached with his army | | | | |to make a last struggle | | | | |for his kingdom and the | | | | |independence of his | | | | |country. But although the| | | | |Áskíá seems to have been | | | | |not totally devoid of | | | | |energy, he could not | | | | |contend against that | | | | |terrible weapon which | | | | |spread devastation from a| | | | |great distance, for the | | | | |Songhay do not seem to | | | | |have possessed a single | | | | |musket; and it is not | | | | |impossible that the | | | | |Moroccains had some small| | | | |field pieces[230], while | | | | |the Songhay did not even | | | | |know how to use the one | | | | |small cannon which the | 1591 | 999 | | |Portuguese had once made | | | | |them a present of, and | | | | |which the Bashá | | | | |afterwards found in | | | | |Gágho. The consequence | | | | |was, that in the battle | | | | |which ensued on Monday | | | | |the 25th Dhú-el Hijje, | | | | |Ís-hák and the Songhay | | | | |were beaten, and the king| | | | |fled on the road to | | | | |Dendi, making a short | | | | |stay in Kira-Kurma, and | | | | |leaving behind him some | | | | |officers, whom he ordered| | | | |to make a stand in | | | | |certain stations, | | | | |especially the Balmʿa | | | | |Mohammed Kágho, who had | | | | |been wounded by a ball, | | | | |and the Barakoy Buttu. To| | | | |the latter he gave orders| | | | |at the same time to make | | | | |forays against the | | | | |_Fullán_, a fact of the | | | | |highest importance, and | | | | |which, combined with | | | | |another fact, which I | | | | |shall soon bring forward,| | | | |shows how this remarkable| | |The Fúlbe or Fullán begin| |tribe, which we have seen| | |to play a prominent part | |stirring in these regions| | |in the history of this | |already several years | | |region. | |previously, as soon as | | | | |they saw the established | | | | |government endangered, | | | | |broke out in order to | | | | |make use of circumstances| | | | |for establishing | | | | |themselves firmly in the | | | | |country. | | | | | | | | | |Áskíá Ís-hák wanted the | | | | |Bara-koy to imprison the | | | | |royal princes who were in| | | | |his company at the time, | | | | |in order to prevent their| | | | |joining the enemy, but | | | | |they escaped; and he also| | | | |endeavoured, in vain, to | | | | |cause a diversion in his | | | | |rear, by raising a revolt| | | | |in Timbúktu, but his | | | | |messenger was killed. The| | | | |Bashá Mahmúd ben Zarkúb | | | | |pursued the king, and did| | | | |not halt till he reached | | | | |Kúkíá, having, with him, | | | | |according to Áhmed Bábá, | | | | |174 divisions of | | | | |musketeers, each of | | | | |twenty men[231]; so that,| | | | |if the ranks were all | | | | |filled, he had 3480 men, | | | | |or, including the | | | | |officers, about 3600; and| | | | |these being all armed | | | | |with matchlocks, there | | | | |was certainly no army in | | | | |Negroland able to resist | | | | |them.[232] Seeing that a | | | | |numerous undisciplined | | | | |army against a well | | | | |disciplined and compact | | | | |band, armed with such a | | | | |destructive weapon, was | | | | |only a burthen, the | | | | |Songhay king seems to | | | | |have thought that a band | | | | |of choice men, even if | | | | |small in numbers, was | | | | |preferable, and he | | | | |therefore sent Híki | | | | |Serkía, an officer of | | | | |acknowledged bravery, | | | | |with a body of 1200 of | | | | |the best horsemen of his | | | | |army, who had never fled | | | | |before an enemy, to | | | | |attack the Bashá. But the| | | | |fate of Songhay was | | | | |decided; treachery and | | | | |disunion still further | | | | |impaired the power which,| | | | |even if well kept | | | | |together, would still | | | | |have had great difficulty| | | | |in resisting such an | | | | |enemy. When therefore | | | | |that very body of cavalry| | | | |rendered homage to the | | | | |Balmʿa Mohammed Kágho, in| 1591-2 | 1000 |The tribe of the Erhámena| |the beginning of the last| | |becomes powerful in the | |year of the tenth century| | |west. | |of the Hejra, and made | | | | |him Áskíá, Ís-hák seeing | | |The Zoghorán or Jawámbe | |that all was lost, (from | | |conquer great portions | |Dendi, where he staid at | | |of the former Songhay | |the time?) took the | | |country. | |direction of Kebbi.[233] | | | | |He was, however, obliged | | | | |to retrace his steps, as | | | | |the Kanta, the ruler of | | | | |that kingdom, which at | | | | |that period was still | | | | |enjoying very great | | | | |power,—afraid probably of| | | | |drawing upon himself the | | | | |revenge of the dreaded | | | | |foreign foe, who with the| | | | |thunder of his musketry | | | | |was disturbing the repose| | | | |of Negroland; or, moved | | | | |by that ancient hatred | | | | |which, since the | | | | |expedition to Ágades, | | | | |existed between the | | | | |Songhay and the | | | | |inhabitants of | | | | |Kebbi,—refused him | | | | |admission into his | | | | |dominions. Ís-hák | | | | |therefore crossed the | | | | |river, and went to | | | | |Téra[234], where his last| | | | |friends took leave of | | | | |him. Even the inhabitants| | | | |of this very place, who | | | | |have preserved their | | | | |independence till the | | | | |present day, were not | | | | |able, or were not | | | | |inclined, to defend their| | | | |liege lord. “There they | | | | |separated, and bade each | | | | |other farewell. The king | | | | |wept, and they (the | | | | |courtiers) wept, and it | | | | |was the last time that | | | | |they saw each other.” | | | | |There was certainly a | | | | |strong reason for weeping| | | | |over the fate of Songhay.| | | | |That splendid empire, | | | | |which a few years back | | | | |had extended from the | | | | |middle of Háusa as far as| | | | |the ocean, and from Mósi | | | | |as far as Tawát, was | | | | |gone, its king an exile | | | | |and fugitive from his | | | | |native land, deserted by | | | | |his friends and nearest | | | | |relations, had to seek | | | | |refuge with his very | | | | |enemies. Driven back from| | | | |the Mohammedans in Kebbi,| | | | |he now turned towards the| | | | |pagans of Gurma, and | | | | |those very inhabitants of| | | | |Tínfiri upon whom he had | | | | |made war two years | | | | |before; and, indeed, the | | | | |pagans were more merciful| | | | |than the Mohammedans, and| | | | |forgot their recent wrong| | | | |sooner than the latter | | | | |their old one; but | | | | |probably the ex-king | | | | |excited their fear; and, | | | | |after having resided | | | | |there some time, he was | | | | |slain, together with his | | | | |son and all his | | | | |followers, in the month | | | | |of Jumáda the second. | | | | | | | | | |Meanwhile there seemed to| | | | |be still a slight | | | | |prospect for the | | | | |pretender Mohammed Kágho | | | | |to save at least part of | | | | |the empire, as all that | | | | |remained of wealth and | | | | |authority in Songhay | | | | |gathered round him to do | | | | |him homage; but even now | | | | |the ancient family | | | | |discord prevailed; and | | | | |while he strengthened | | | | |himself by some of his | | | | |brothers, whom he | | | | |liberated from prison, | | | | |especially Núh, the | | | | |former governor of | | | | |Bantal, others among his | | | | |brothers, sons of Dáúd, | | | | |fled to the enemy, and, | | | | |being well received, | | | | |dragged after them a | | | | |great many of the most | | | | |influential men of the | | | | |army. After this, | | | | |Mohammed Kágho was | | | | |induced by treachery to | | | | |throw himself upon the | | | | |mercy of the Bashá, from | | | | |whom he received the | | | | |assurance that he had | | | | |nothing to fear; but he | | | | |was laid in chains, and | | | | |soon after executed. | | | | | | | | | |The Bashá Mahmúd, | | | | |although he evidently | | | | |governed the country with| | | | |a strong hand, | | | | |nevertheless, in the | | | | |beginning at least, | | | | |thought it more prudent | | | | |to keep up a certain | | | | |national form, and | | | | |conferred the dignity of | | | | |Áskíá upon the Barakoy | | | | |Bultu; but the latter | | | | |soon found it better to | | | | |provide for his own | | | | |safety by a speedy | | | | |flight, and the Bashá | | | | |then gave the hollow | | | | |title of Áskíá to Slímán | | | | |ben Áskíá Dáúd, who had | | | | |been the first to put | | | | |himself under his | | | | |protection. | | | | | | | | | |The Bashá then went to | | | | |pursue Núh, formerly | | | | |governor of Bantal, who, | | | | |having been liberated | | | | |from his prison by | | | | |Mohammed Kágho, returned | | | | |to Dendi, that outlying | | | | |and important province of| | | | |Songhay, as soon as he | | | | |saw his protector fail, | | | | |and declared himself | | | | |Áskíá in Dendi; but even | | | | |beyond the Niger he | | | | |seemed not to be safe; | | | | |such was the remarkable | | | | |vigour of this small | | | | |Moroccain army, and the | | | | |energy of its leader, | | | | |under the auspices of | | | | |that aspiring genius | | | | |Múláy Hámed. On the | | | | |frontier of Dendi, the | | | | |Moroccain musketeers, | | | | |within hearing of the | | | | |subjects of Kanta, fought| | | | |a battle with this last | | | | |germ of Songhay | | | | |independence, and | | | | |vanquished Áskíá Núh even| | | | |there; and the Bashá | | | | |pursued the fugitive | | | | |prince without relaxation| | | | |from place to place for | | | | |full two years, fighting | | | | |repeated battles with | | | | |him. Nay, he even built a| | | | |fortress or kasbah in | | | | |Kalna (?[235]), and | | | | |placed there a garrison | | | | |of 200 musketeers under | | | | |the Káíd ʿOmár, as if he | | | | |intended to hold | | | | |possession for ever of | | | | |this distant province for| | | | |his master in Morocco. | | | | |This is a highly | | | | |interesting fact. But a | | | | |small spark of native | | | | |independence nevertheless| | | | |remained behind in this | | | | |province, from whence the| | | | |Moroccains, after the | | | | |first energetic impulse | | | | |was gone, were forced to | | | | |fall back. | | | | | | | | | |While the Bashá himself | | | | |was thus waging | | | | |relentless war against | | | | |the nucleus and the | | | | |eastern part of the | | | | |Songhay empire, the | | | | |conquest and destruction | | | | |of national independence | | | | |was going on no less in | | | | |the west. The great | | | | |centre of national | | | | |feeling and of | | | | |independent spirit in | | | | |that quarter was | | | | |Timbúktu, a town almost | | | | |enjoying the rank of a | | | | |separate capital, on | | | | |account of the greater | | | | |amount of Mohammedan | | | | |learning therein | | | | |concentrated. It was on | | | | |account of this feeling | | | | |of independence, | | | | |probably, that the | | | | |inhabitants would not | | | | |bear the encroachments of| | | | |the Káíd el Mústapha upon| | | | |their liberty, especially| | | | |as he wanted to fill from| | | | |his own choice, after the| | | | |death of Yáhia, the place| | | | |of the Túmbutu-koy, or | | | | |Túmbutu-mangha, as he is | | | | |here called, the office | | | | |of the native governor. | | | | |Thus a bloody tumult | | | | |arose in the town, when | | | | |the Tárki chief Ausamba | | | | |came to the assistance of| | | | |the distressed Káíd, | | | | |probably from motives of | | | | |plunder; and thus the | | | | |whole town was consumed | | | | |by flames, it being a | | | | |dreadful day for the | | | | |inhabitants. Nay, the | | | | |enraged Káíd, who had now| | | | |got the upper hand, | | | | |wanted to slaughter them | | | | |all; but the Káíd Mámi | | | | |succeeded in | | | | |reestablishing peace | | | | |between the inhabitants | | | | |and El Mústapha; and | | | | |quiet and comfort began | | | | |to return; so that even | | | | |those who had emigrated | | | | |again returned to their | | | | |native homes. Even the | | | | |inspector of the harbour,| | | | |who had retired to the | | | | |province of Banku, or | | | | |Bengu, came back with the| | | | |fleet. The communication | | | | |therefore with Jinni and | | | | |the region on the upper | | | | |course of the river was | | | | |reopened. | | | | | | | | | |Having then made a | | | | |successful expedition | | | | |against the Zoghorán, who| | | | |devastated the districts | | | | |of Bara and Dirma, and | | | | |inflicted upon them a | | | | |most severe punishment, | | | | |the Káíd Mámi went | | | | |himself to Jinni, which | | |The Bámbara appear as a | |had suffered a great deal| | |conquering race. | |from the devastating | | | | |incursions of the pagan | | | | |Bámbara, and took up his | | | | |residence for a time in | | | | |the palace of the | | | | |Jinnikoy. Having then | | | | |installed ʿAbd-Allah ben | | | | |ʿOthmán as governor of | | | | |Jinni, and arranged | | | | |matters in that distant | | | | |place, he returned to | | | | |Timbúktu. Samba Lámido | | | | |(“lámido” means | | | | |“governor”), evidently a | | | | |Púllo, in Danka, or | | | | |Denga, devastated many of| | | | |the places on the Rás el | | | | |má, and committed great | | | | |havoc and bloodshed. | | | | | | | | | |Thus the Moroccains had | | | | |conquered almost the | | | | |whole of this extensive | | | | |empire, from Dendi as far| | | | |as, and even beyond, | | | | |Jinni; for they even took| | | | |possession of part of | | | | |Bághena, and conquered | | | | |the whole province of | | | | |Hómbori, or, as it is | | | | |called from its rocky | | | | |character, Tóndi or El | | | | |Hajri, to the south of | | | | |the river. Nay, they even| | | | |conquered part of Tombo, | | | | |the strong native kingdom| | | | |inclosed between Hómbori,| | | | |Mósi, Jinni, and | | | | |Jimballa. They had their | | | | |chief garrisons in Jinni,| | | | |Timbúktu, Bámba, which on| | | | |this account received the| | | | |name Kasbah, in Gágho, | | | | |and Kalna in Dendi; and | | | | |their chief strength | | | | |consisted in | | | | |intermarrying with the | | | | |natives, and thus | | | | |producing a distinct | | | | |class of people, who, as | | | | |Ermá, or Rumá, are | | | | |distinguished to this | | | | |very day; while the | | | | |peculiar dialect of | | | | |Songhay, which they | | | | |speak, has been produced | | | | |lately as a distinct | | | | |language by M. | | | | |Raffenel.[236] But these | | | | |half-castes soon found | | | | |all their interest in | | | | |their new abode, and | | | | |cared little for Morocco;| | | | |so that the advantage | | | | |which the latter country | | | | |drew from this conquest | | | | |was only of a very | | | | |transitory character. | | | | |Certainly, there was some| | | | |sort of order | | | | |established; but there | | | | |was no new organization, | | | | |as it seems; the old | | | | |forms being preserved, | | | | |and soon becoming effete.| | | | |On the whole, we cannot | | | | |but admire the | | | | |correctness of the | | | | |following passage of Bábá| | | | |Áhmed, who says: “Thus | | | | |this Mahalla, at that | | | | |period, found in Sudán | | | | |(Songhay) one of those | | | | |countries of the earth | | | | |which are most favoured | | | | |with comfort, plenty, | | | | |peace, and prosperity | | | | |everywhere; such was the | | | | |working of the government| | | | |of the Emír el Múmenín, | | | | |Áskíá el Háj Mohammed ben| | | | |Ábú Bakr, in consequence | | | | |of his justice and the | | | | |power of his royal | | | | |command, which took full | | | | |and peremptory effect, | | | | |not only in his capital, | | | | |but in all the districts | | | | |of his whole empire, from| | | | |the province of Dendi to | | | | |the frontiers of Morocco,| | | | |and from the territory of| | | | |Bennendúgu (to the south | | | | |of Jinni) as far as | | | | |Tegháza and Tawát. But in| | | | |a moment all was changed,| | | | |and peaceful repose was | | | | |succeeded by a constant | | | | |state of fear, comfort | | | | |and security by trouble | | | | |and suffering; ruin and | | | | |misfortune took the place| | | | |of prosperity, and people| | | | |began everywhere to fight| | | | |against each other, and | | | | |property and life became | | | | |exposed to constant | | | | |danger; and this ruin | | | | |began, spread, increased,| | | | |and at length prevailed | | | | |throughout the whole | | | | |region.” | | | | | | | | | |Thus wrote old Bábá | | |The kingdoms of Asianti | |Áhmed, who had himself | | |and Dahóme begin to | |lost everything in | | |become powerful. | |consequence of that | | | | |paramount calamity which | | | | |had befallen his native | | | | |land, and who had been | | | | |carried a prisoner to the| | | | |country of the conqueror,| | | | |till, owing to the | | | | |unbounded respect which | | | | |the enemy himself felt | | | | |for the learning and | | | | |sanctity of the prisoner,| | | | |he was released, and | | | | |allowed to return to | | | | |Songhay, where he seems | | | | |to have finished his | | | | |days, by endeavouring to | | | | |console himself, for the | | | | |loss of all that was dear| | | | |to him, with science, and| | | | |in writing the history of| | | | |his unfortunate native | | | | |country. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Múláy Hámed el Mansúr, | 1603 | 1012 | | |the conqueror of Songhay,| | | | |died. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |_Zédán_, his youngest son| 1607 | 1016 | | |is proclaimed sultan; but| | | | |has to sustain a long | | | | |struggle against his | | | | |brothers ʿAbd-Alla and | | | | |Sheikh; and after an | | | | |unfortunate battle on the| | | | |8th December, is driven | | | | |beyond the limits of | | | | |Morocco, when _Sheikh_ is| | | | |recognised for a limited | | | | |period. | | | | | | | | | |All these changes could | | | | |not fail to exercise an | | | | |immediate influence upon | | | | |the government of | | | | |Songhay, which had now | | | | |become a province of | | | | |Morocco.[237] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Múláy Zédán died. | 1630 | 1040 | | | | | | | | | | | | |Múláy ʿAbd el Melek | | | | |succeeds him: is | | | | |assassinated. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Múláy Wálid succeeds him.| 1635 | 1045-6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1637 | 1048 |The French make a | | | | |settlement on the | | | | |Senegal. | | | | | | | | | | | |The history of Songhay, | 1640 | 1050 |The Tademékket are driven| |composed by Áhmed Bábá. | | |out of their former seats| | | | |and deprived of their | |Great inundation in | | |supremacy by the | |Timbúktu, in consequence | | |Awelímmid or Áwelímmiden | |of the high level | | |(the Lamta), who formerly| |attained by the river. | | |had been settled in Igídi| | | | |with the Welád Delém, | | | | |with whom they were | | | | |allied. Karidénne, the | | | | |son of Shwásh and of a | | | | |wife from the tribe of | | | | |the Tademékket, murdered | | | | |the chief of the latter | | | | |tribe, and drove them out| | | | |of Áderár, when they went| | | | |westward and implored the| | | | |protection of the Bashá, | | | | |who assigned them new | | | | |seats round about the | | | | |backwaters between | | | | |Timbúktu and Gúndam. | | | | | | | | | | | |Múláy Áhmed Sheikh | 1647 | 1057 | | |succeeds to Múláy Wálid; | | | | |but is soon after killed | | | | |in a revolt. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Króm el Háji usurps the | 1654-5 | 1065 | | |throne: is soon after | | | | |assassinated. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Múláy Mohammed, son of | 1664 | 1075-8 | | |Múláy ʿAlí, the founder | | | | |of the Filáli dynasty, | | | | |dethroned by his brother | | | | |E’ Rashíd: E’ Rashíd | | | | |takes possession of the | | | | |town of Morocco. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Sídi ʿAlí, governor of | 1667 | 1078-9 |About this period the | |Sús, takes refuge in | | |Welád Bille, in Tishít, | |Songhay[238]—a proof that| | |possessed great power. | |the garrison stationed | | | | |there had made themselves| | | | |quite independent of | | | | |Morocco at that time, | | | | |notwithstanding the | | | | |energetic rule of E’ | | | | |Rashíd, who died | 1672 | 1083 | | | | | | | | | | | | |Múláy Ismáʿaíl succeeds | 1672 | 1083 |Hennún, the son of | |him, but without being | | |Bóhedal, chief of the | |able to establish his | | |Welád Mebárek, received | |power over all parts of | | |the investiture as ruler | |the empire. It is very | | |of Bághena from Ismáʿaíl.| |remarkable, that this | | | | |king formed a standing | | | | |army of Negroes, | | | | |especially Songhay, whom | | | | |he married to Moroccain | | | | |women, in order to rule | | | | |his own subjects; just in| | | | |the same manner as a body| | | | |of Moroccain soldiers | | | | |intermarrying with Negro | | | | |women dominated Songhay. | | | | |These were the “ʿabíd | | | | |mtʿa Sídi Bokhári.”[239] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Múláy Áhmed, the nephew | 1680 | 1091 | | |of Múláy Ismáʿaíl, | | | | |governor of Darʿa and | | | | |Sús, undertook an | | | | |expedition into Súdán, | | | | |with a large body of | | | | |troops, and although he | | | | |lost 1500 men in crossing| | |About this time Sóba, the| |the desert, brought back | | |mighty king of Góber, | |a rich spoil in gold and | | |residing in Mághale, one | |slaves, principally from | | |day W. of Chéberi, makes | |a place called _Tagaret_,| | |warlike expeditions | |which it is not easy to | | |beyond the Kwára. | |identify, especially as | | | | |it is said that he found | | | | |there a king of Súdán. It| | | | |is probably a place in | | | | |Taga_n_et, most likely | | | | |Tejígja. There is no | | | | |mention of a garrison | | | | |dependent upon Morocco. | | | | |In this same year | | | | |Timbúktu is said to have | | | | |been conquered by the | | | | |Mandingoes (Bámbara?). | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Múláy Áhmed el Dhéhebi | Mar. 22,| 1140-1 | | |succeeds to the aged | 1727 | | | |Ismáʿaíl. Although his | | | | |reign lasted only two | | | | |years, and he was | | | | |constantly engaged in | | | | |civil war, he is said to | | | | |have made an expedition | | | | |into Súdán, from whence | | | | |he brought back great | | | | |treasures.[240] But this | | | | |is evidently a confused | | | | |statement, and probably | | | | |refers to the deeds of | | | | |his elder namesake, Múláy| | | | |Áhmed el Dhéhebi. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Múláy ʿAbd-Alla succeeds | 1729 | 1142-3 | | |to the throne. Constant | | | | |civil war in the | | | | |beginning of his reign. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1740 | 1153 |About this time the Kél- | | | | |owí take possession of | | | | |Áír or Ásben. | | | | | | | | | | | |Sídi Mohammed built Swéra| 1757 | 1171-2 |Babári, powerful king in | |or Mogadór. | | |Góber. | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1770 | 1184 |ʿAbd el Káder produces a | | | | |religious revolution in | | | | |Fúta, combined, perhaps, | | | | |with a reaction of the | | | | |Wolof against the | | | | |conquerors[241], or | | | | |rather of the race of the| | | | |Toróde,—the Wolof | | | | |intermixed with the | | | | |Fúlbe—against the element| |About this time Gógo, | | |Málinké and Púllo. | |which had hitherto been | | |Sáttigi Sambalámu, the | |ruled by the Rumá, was | | |last of the Sóltana | |conquered by the Tawárek | | |Deniankóbe. The order of | |tribe of the Awelímmiden.| | |the succession is as | |Probably in consequence | | |follows:— | |of this event, Ágades, | | | | |having been deprived of | | | Chéro Solimán Bal, | |its commercial resources,| | | | |begins to decline. | | | Almáme ʿAbdu, | | | | | | | | | | Almáme Mukhtár, | | | | | | | | | | Almáme Bú-bakr, | | | | | | | | | | Almáme Shíray, | | | | | | | | | | Almáme Yúsuf, | | | | | | | | | | Almáme Birán, | | | | | | | | | | Almáme Hammád, | | | | | | | | | | Almáme Makhmúdo, | | | | | | | | | | Almáme Mohammed | | | | | el Amín, son of | | | | | Mohammed Birán. | | | | | | | | | | | |The chief Káwa, who rules| 1780 | 1195 |Venture collects his | |seventy years over the | | |information from two | |Awelímmiden, establishes | | |Moroccain merchants. | |a powerful dominion on | | |Tombo very powerful. | |the north bank of the | | |Marka, the Aswánek, in | |Niger (Áusa). | | |Bághena. Kawár, the | | | | |Fúlbe, in Másina. | | | | | | | | | | | |Timbúktu, according to | 1787 | 1202-3 |About this period falls | |the very doubtful | | |the quarrel between the | |statement of | | |Sheikh El Mukhtár el | |Shabíni[242], under the | | |kebír and the Welád | |supremacy of Háusa. If | | |Bille, the former | |this were true, it would | | |overthrowing the latter | |be a very important fact;| | |with the assistance of | |but it is evidently a | | |the Méshedúf and the Áhel| |mistake, Áusa being | | |Zenághi. | |meant. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Timbúktu, under the | 1803-4 | 1218 |El Mukhtár opens | |sovereignty of Mansong, | | |friendship with ʿOthmán | |at that time king of | | |dan Fódie, the Jihádi, | |Bámbara [very | | |who this year entered | |questionable].[243] | | |into open hostility | |Professor Ritter[244] | | |against Bawa, the king of| |supposes the Moors to | | |Góber, and brought about | |have been ejected at that| | |that immense revolution | |time, so that Timbúktu | | |in the whole centre of | |became an independent | | |Negroland. | |Negro town. | | | | | | | |About this period a great| | | | |struggle between the | | | | |Awelímmiden and the | | | | |Tademékket. | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1804 | 1219 |The Fúlbe make Gandó, in | | | | |Kebbi, the seat of their | | | | |operations. | | | | | | | | | | | |Mungo Park navigates the | 1805-6 | 1220-1 |The Rumá, still powerful | |Niger. | | |between Sébi and | | | | |Timbúktu, dominate the | | | | |passage of the Niger. | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1811 | 1226 |Sídi Mukhtár dies. | | | | | | | | | | | |Mohammed or Áhmed Lebbo | 1816 | 1232-3 |Great and sanguinary | |brings the religious | | |battle between the | |banner from Gandó: and | | |Songhay, Rumá, and | |gradually acquires the | | |Berabísh on the one side,| |supremacy in Másina over | | |and the Awelímmiden on | |the native chiefs. | | |the other, near the | | | | |island Kúrkozay. | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1817 | 1233 |Sheikh ʿOthmán dan Fódie | | | | |before his death divides | | | | |his extensive dominions | | | | |between his brother ʿAbd-| | | | |Alláhi and his son Bello,| | | | |the former receiving all | | | | |the western provinces | | | | |along the Niger, with | | | | |Gandó as his capital, the| | | | |latter the south-easterly| | | | |provinces, with Sókoto. | | | | | | | | | | | |Lebbo commences | 1820 | 1236-7 |Constant war between | |hostilities with Mohammed| | |Másina and Bámbara. | |Galáijo, the chief of | | | | |Konári, vanquishes him, | | | | |and forces him to retreat| | | | |eastward. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |The Fúlbe of Másina | 1826 | 1242-3 | | |occupy Timbúktu in the | | | | |beginning of the year. | | | | | | | | | |Major Laing left ʿEn- | | | | |Sálah on the 10th of | | | | |January; was attacked, | | | | |and almost slain, in Wádi| | | | |Ahennet, on the 27th (?) | | | | |by a party of Tawárek; | | | | |was received very kindly | | | | |by Sídi Mohammed, the son| | | | |of Sídi Mukhtár, in the | | | | |hillet e’ Sheikh Sídi | | | | |Mukhtár, in Ázawád. Sídi | | | | |Mohammed died in | | | | |consequence of a | | | | |contagious fever. Laing | | | | |left this place about | | | | |August 12th; arrived at | | | | |Timbúktu, August 18th; | | | | |being ordered out of the | | | | |town by the Fúlbe, he | | | | |left that place on | | | | |September 22nd, under the| | | | |protection of Áhmed Weled| | | | |ʿAbéda; and was murdered | | | | |by him and Hámed Weled | | | | |Habíb, probably on the | | | | |24th. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |The Sheikh El Mukhtár, | 1827 | 1243 |ʿAbd-Alláhi, the ruler of| |the son and successor of | | |Gandó, dies. Is succeeded| |Sídi Mohammed, settles in| | |by his son Mohammed Wáni.| |Timbúktu. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Caillié stays in Timbúktu| 1828 | 1244 | | |from the 20th April till | | | | |the 3rd May. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |The Fúlbe enter Timbúktu | 1831 | 1247 | | |with a stronger force. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1836 | 1250 |Khalílu succeeds to the | | | | |empire of Gandó. | | | | | | | | | | | |The Tawárek conquer the | 1844 | 1260 | | |Fúlbe. | | | | | | | | | |The Fúlbe, under ʿAbd- | | | | |Alláhi, make a great | | | | |expedition along the | | | | |Niger as far as Burrum. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Lebbo dies. His son | 1846 | 1262 | | |Áhmedu succeeds him. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Sheikh El Mukhtár dies in| 1848 | 1264 | | |the month Rebí el áwel; | | | | |El Bakáy succeeds him. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1851 | 1268-9 |The Kél-gerés kill e’ | | | | |Nábegha, the chief of the| | | | |Awelímmiden, at | | | | |Tintaláít. | | | | | | | | | | | |The young Áhmedu succeeds| 1852-3 | 1269 | | |his father Áhmedu. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |The Fúlbe make a great | 1855 | 1272-3 |The Igwádaren opposed to | |expedition against | | |the Awelímmiden. | |Timbúktu. | | | | +-------------------------+---------+---------+-------------------------+