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The Mohammedan Fulani, who had secured the sovereign 
power over the pagan blacks throughout northern Nigeria, 
had amply demonstrated their political sagacity and ability. 
If only they could be properly advised and the abuses of 
their rule corrected, their natural genius for administration 
would render their services of inestimable value, both to 
their country and to the British. Sir Frederick urged the 
Residents everywhere to “utilize their wonderful intelli- 
gence, for they are born rulers and incomparably above the 
negroid races in ability.” 
The next move was against the Emir of Yola, — four 
hundred miles up the Benué River, — the most notorious 
slave-raider on that branch of the Niger, where whole dis- 
tricts lay desolate from his depredations. He had refused 
to permit the Niger Company to trade within his territory, 
and finally compelled them in 1901 to take down their flag 
from the old hulk in the river which served as a trading 
post. In September of the same year, however, the High 
Commissioner sent an expedition of four hundred men 
against him, which took his capital, in spite of a spirited 
resistance, and set up a legal heir in his place. 
Meanwhile, the neighboring state of Bornu had become a 
scene of conflict and anarchy. Rabah, — one of the ablest 
lieutenants of Zubeir Pasha in the Sudan, — after the over- 
throw there of the slave-holding Sheiks led by Zubeir’s son, 
Suleiman, through the genius of Gessi Pasha, had formed a 
kingdom of his own on the Dar-Fur-Wadai border. In 
1891, he came into conflict with the French; and, after some 
reverses moved into Bornu, where he slew the reign- 
ing Sheik and made himself ruler. Rabah took up his 
residence at first in the chief town, — Kuka, — but later 
moved to Dikoa within the German sphere. While here, 
he again incurred the enmity of the French by attacking 
the expedition of M. Gentil, then on its way to connect the