center of culture
as flourished at the University of Sankore in former years,
Abderrahman Sadi, still imbued with the desire to impart knowledge,
devoted no little of his time to giving lectures and holding
conferences. His most important undertaking, however, was his great
historical work embracing all the countries of the Niger. For such a
stupendous task he had adequate preparation not only by his former
training but by his experience as a traveller, his services as a
public functionary, his social contact and his access to documents
which are no longer extant. The following is the preface:

"Praise be to God whom the weight of a pearl upon the earth does
not escape. May prayer and salvation be with the Master of the
first and last, our Lord Mohammed. We know that our ancestors
took pleasure in mentioning the companions of the Prophet and the
saints, the sheiks and eminent kings of their country, with their
lives, their edifices, and the great events of their reigns. They
have told us all that they have seen, or heard, of the times
extending behind us.

"As for the present time, no one is to be found to take an
interest in these things or follow the path traced by their
ancestors. Witnessing the decline of this science (history), so
precious on account of the instruction it offers to mankind, I
have implored the assistance of God in writing down all that I
have read, seen, or heard concerning the kings of the Sudan and
the Songhoi people, and in relating their history and the events
connected with their expeditions of war. I shall speak of
Timbuctoo and of its foundation, of the princes who have wielded
the power of that city, I shall mention the learned and pious men
who dwelt therein, and I shall continue this history to the close
of the dominion of the sultans of Morocco."[198]

While it is not our purpose to sketch here the history of this empire,
some knowledge of it will give a better appreciation of this great
work. As an historical document the Tarik e Soudan is the only source
from which we get an idea as to the origin of the Songhoi. The natives
of this country inform the traveller that they came from the east. The
Tarik e Soudan says: "The first king of the Songhoi was called
Dialliaman," meaning, "He has come from Yemen." Dialliaman quitted
Yemen in company with his brother. They travelled through the co