conquered race.[1] Four of Mohammed Askia’s sons succeeded him, and each was born of a mother from a newly vanquished territory.
The social and administrative reforms instituted by this old-world African have a strangely modern sound. His vast empire was held in contentment and control. Barth, the German traveler before referred to, says, “He governed the subject tribes with justice and equity, causing well-being and comfort to spring up everywhere.” He concerned himself with the principles of taxation, especially the land tax and the tribute to be paid by conquered people; he developed trade, especially along the waterway of the Niger; he introduced reforms in the markets, and had weights and measures standardized and inspected; he adjusted custom duties; he improved the system of banking and of credit; he made laws for the suppression of immorality; owing to the lax state of morals, he obliged women to wear the veil in public; he is said even to have tried to introduce better manners.
The Askia, who had been born and educated on an island in the Niger, was able to maintain friendship on equal terms with the most cultured men whom the civilization of Egypt had
- ↑ For another instance of this practice, see Mohlomi, p. 75.
