FOULAHS or FOOLAHS, a people in Africa, inhabiting a country on the confines of the great desert (see SAHARA in this Suppl.) along the parallel of nine degrees north. They partake much of the negro form and complexion; but have neither the jetty colour, thick lips, nor crisped hair of the negroes. They have also a language distinct from the Mandingas, which is the prevailing one in this quarter. The Foulahs occupy, at least as sovereigns, several provinces or kingdoms, interspersed throughout the tract comprehended between the mountainous border of the country of Sierra Leona on the west, and that of Tombuctoo on the east; as also a large tract on the lower part of the Senegal river; and these provinces are insulated from each other in a very remarkable manner. Their religion is Mahomedanism; but with a great mixture of Paganism, and with less intolerance than is practised by the Moors.
The principal of the Foulah states is that within Sierra Leona; and of which Teemboo is the capital. The next in order appears to be that bordering on the south of the Senegal river, and on the Jaloffs; this is properly named Siratik. Others of less note are Bondou, with Foota-Torra adjacent to it, lying between the rivers Gambia and Falemé; Foola-doo and Brooko along the upper part of the Senegal river; Waffela beyond the upper part of the Niger; and Massina lower
down on the same river, and joining to Tombuctoo on the west.
The kingdom of the Foulahs, situated between the upper part of the Gambia river and the coast of Sierra Leona, and along the Rio Grande, is governed by a Mahometan sovereign; but the bulk of the people appear to be Pagans. From the circumstances of their long hair, their lips, and comparatively light colour, Major Rennel is decidedly of opinion, that the Foulahs are the Leucæthiops of Ptolemy and Pliny. The former, as he observes, places the Leucæthiops in the situation occupied by the Foulahs; and by the name which he gave them, he evidently meant to describe a people less black than the generality of the Ethiopians. Hence it may be gathered, that this nation had been traded with, and that some notices respecting it had been communicated to Ptolemy. It may also be remarked, that the navigation of Hanno terminated on this coast; and as this was also the term of Ptolemy's knowledge, it may justly be suspected, that this part of the coast was described from Carthaginian materials.
Those who have perused the Journal of Messrs Watt and Winterbottom through the Foulah country in 1794, and recollect how flattering a picture they give of the urbanity and hospitality of the Foulahs, will be gratified on finding that this nation was known and distinguished from the rest of the Ethiopians at a remote period of antiquity.
The contrast between the Moorish and Negro characters is as great as that between the nature of their respective countries, or between their form and complexion. The Moors appear to possess the vices of the Arabs without their virtues; and to avail themselves of an intolerant religion, to oppress strangers: whilst the Negroes, and especially the Mandingas, unable to comprehend a doctrine that substitutes opinion or belief for the social duties, are content to remain in their humble state of ignorance. The hospitality shewn by these good people to Mr Park, a destitute and forlorn stranger, raises them very high in the scale of humanity: and I know of no fitter title, says Mr Rennel, to confer on them than that of the Hindoois of Africa; at the same time, by no means intending to degrade the Mahomedans of India by a comparison with the African Moors.—See Major Rennel's Geographical Illustrations of Mr Park's Journeys, and of North Africa at large, printed for the African Association.