Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 3.djvu/349



The bulk of the populations inhabiting the Joliba and its affluents belong to the Mandingan race. The Kurankos about its sources, akin to those on the west slope of the Loma mountains, are grouped in a large number of petty independent states, each with its own king, council of elders, fetishmen, special usages and local feuds. Their Kissi neighbours, of a more peaceful disposition, have contracted friendly alliances with all the peoples between the Senegambian coast and the Kong mountains. Farther north the Sangaras, formerly constituting little autonomous republics, have been compelled to recognise the authority of Samory.

In the region watered by the eastern affluents of the Joliba, the most numerous

nation appears to be that of the Wassulus, in whose country the villages are so closely packed that, as the natives say, "the king's word is passed on from voice to voice" to the limits of the state. Although regarded by Caillié as of Fulah stock, the Wassulus have many features in common with the Bambaras, and the current speech is Mandingan. The Sarakolés, who are great traders, are also very numerous in this district, where the towns are inhabited by Mohammedans and the country by pagan Wassulus. Although of peaceful disposition, and like true Fulahs engaged chiefly in stock-breeding, the Wassulus can fight bravely for their national independence, and are said to have hitherto held their own against the attacks of Samory.

North of the Wassulus the chief nation on the Niger and neighbouring lands