Note 132 — IBN BAṬÚṬAH’S JOURNEY.

The terms Faráriah فَرارية and Farári فراري, applied by Ibn Baṭúṭah to the chief officers of Málí, and which he translated Amírs, are respectively the collective and plural of Arabic form, from the word Fary, which in the Bambara language (a dialect of the Mandingo) signifies valour or courage. From this word comes Fariba, a valiant man (Dard, Dict. Wolofe et Bambara). The Mandingoes form personal nouns with the suffix ma: thus from fanko, power, comes fankama, a powerful man (M‘Brair’s Gram. of Mandingo, p. 6). Thus it is probable that from the word Fary is derived the titles Farba, Farma, or Farim, which the conquests of the Mandingo race have spread so widely through Guinea. But the Farims, or Lieutenants, are now superior to the Seratiks, or Kings, and the title of the latter was at one time secondary (see Note 119); so that sovereign titles in Guinea standing on the ruins of preceding titles, are so many monuments of revolution.