Fulahs,

Fulahs, also FULBE, FÉLLANI, FELLÁTA, and PEULHS, a people of the Soudan, extending from Senegal in the west to Darfur in the east, and from Timbuktu and Hausa in the north to Joruba and Adamawa in the south. Their ethnographic relations are not yet definitively settled, some allying them with the Soudan negroes, some with the Nuba of the Nile region, others regarding them as an isolated race. We first read of them about the beginning of the 14th century in Ahmed Bábá's History of Soudan. After that century large bands of them left their home on the confines of Senegambia—i.e. Futa-Jallon—and, proceeding eastwards, spread themselves over the greater portion of the Soudan. There appear to be two distinct branches, a dark-skinned division, having its centre in Bornu and Adamawa, and an olive-skinned division, occurring chiefly in Sokoto. All are strong and well-built, with long hair and regular Caucasian features. They are very intelligent, have a frank, free bearing, are trustworthy, possess considerable self-respect and decision of character, and are devoutly religious. They probably number 7 to 8 millions altogether. The Fulahs are a conquering race, not a homogeneous nation; and have founded several kingdoms throughout central and southern Soudan, as those of Sokoto, Gando, Massina, and Adamawa. The numerous tribes belonging to their stock are generally divided into four groups or families—the Jel, the B'áá, the Só, and the Berí. Most of them became converted to Mohammedan- ism about the middle of the 18th century; in 1802, under the Imám Othman, they commenced a religious war on the surrounding pagans, which terminated in the establishment of the great Fulah empire of Sokoto. The Fulahs are an industrious people: they practise agriculture, rear cattle, and carry on trade; they also work iron and silver, manufacture with great neatness articles in wood and leather, and weave various durable fabrics. They have mosques and schools in almost all their towns. See Crozals, Les Peulhs (Paris, 1883).