I have long been considering a project which I have not so far submitted to you, because I did not feel myself capable of fully carrying it out; but now I have profited from my contact with the French and wish to serve their cause as much as I can.

I want to tell you of a great voyage which I desire to undertake. That which I have already made with Captain Vincent into the country of Adrar has taught me many things that I did not know, and I believe qualifies me to bring back useful information about the lands through which I shall pass. I have seen how M. Vincent observed peoples, their customs, their commercial dealings, etc., etc.; I would also be able to make approximate calculations of directions and distances.

My journey would also have the equally useful purpose of educating myself, and bringing back the fruits of my observations to Senegal.

You know, M. le Directeur, how important it is in this country for any man who wishes to do either good or evil to possess authority; this authority is achieved by enjoying superiority over one's compatriots.

Al Haj 'Umar is an example of this. He was only an unknown inhabitant of Alwar who, having been expelled by his own people,

profited from the bit of Arabic he knew to undertake the pilgrimage to Mecca; it was this journey which allowed him subsequently to play such an important role. During his travels he perfected his Arabic, became learned in the Koran, and read a large number of good books. Having thus become the most learned of all his compatriots he was able on his return to set up as a Master and to interpret the Koran in his own way. If some noted marabout raises an objection he always silences him by saying, 'You have not seen what I have seen; I have visited the cradle of Islam for myself and read books unknown on the banks of the Senegal.' Sensible people who did not believe in Al Haj were overwhelmed by the dominant position which his own merits gave him; they were dragged along by the crowd of ignorant people who regarded him as a demi-god.

Thanks to this man's prestige the number of his adherents grew from day to day, to the point where he was able to raise an army which he used successfully against all idolatrous peoples, or moderate Muslims. He was only stopped when he chose to attack the French, who have always beaten him and have expelled him from all the country which he ruled.

It was Al Haj's preaching, into which he skillfully introduced verses from the Koran, which brought so many people to follow him. All he has achieved he has done with the sole help of his reputation as a pilgrim, for he has no other power. But you also know, M. le Directeur, that the circulars written in good Arabic, which the Governor distributed among the al-Hajjists, have turned many of them away from their master's cause. Just as Al Haj's power fell before the blows of the Governor, so too did his reputation as a learned man fall before the knowledge of the French.

Happily we too have on our side good marabouts whose merits are well known and who, unlike Al Haj, use their influence for good. People come to consult them before any new enterprise, and notably before crediting any of the many marvels of which white men tell them, such as the invention of the electric telegraph.

The Muslims have recently had great difficulty in believing that a Muslim held prisoner by Christians (Abd-el-Kader) is better

treated by them in his captivity than by his own subjects; or that the French have embraced the cause of the Great Sultan in a European war for the sole reason that he was unjustly oppressed. People have often written from afar to ask the reputed marabouts of Saint-Louis whether such things were possible.

Since such is the trust which the peoples of Senegal accord to merit, I think it would be most advantageous that some of the marabouts who are loyal to the French should achieve supremacy over those who still retain the old prejudices. As you know, the strongest marabouts are already those who serve French interests; but they would enjoy more influence still if they were not merely enabled to visit Paris and Algiers, but allowed to make the pilgrimage to Mecca, like Al Haj.

Such a pilgrimage might have very important results, because it would be known in the country that it was made under French patronage and that this patronage was as valuable as the best-established reputation as a good Muslim.

After the example which I would have given, there would be many others wishing to follow its.

I come then to ask you, M. le Directeur, to help me prepare myself to be the first to make this journey. I would like to set out from Saint-Louis for Morocco, thus completing the voyage of M. Vincent, so far as I may be able. From Morocco I might make for Algiers, and thence towards Mecca. Then I would return to Saint-Louis, bringing good books with me, even having put my own impressions in writing.

I would then feel my position strengthened and might even persuade others to undertake the same journey. . . . Soon we would see in Saint-Louis plenty of ardent Muslims who would also be good Frenchmen; and they would destroy the false theories of those who, while reluctantly suffering the yoke of the French, attack them on grounds of religion.

I beg you, M. le Directeur, to kindly give me your support and to submit my proposal to the Governor.

Letter from Bou-el-Moghdad to Flize, Directeur des Affaires Indigenes, 24 November 1860 (Archives of A.O.F. and Senegal, Dakar, i G 27)

I have long been considering a project which I have not so far submitted to you, because I did not feel myself capable of fully carrying it out; but now I have profited from my contact with the French and wish to serve their cause as much as I can.

I want to tell you of a great voyage which I desire to undertake. That which I have already made with Captain Vincent into the country of Adrar has taught me many things that I did not know, and I believe qualifies me to bring back useful information about the lands through which I shall pass. I have seen how M. Vincent observed peoples, their customs, their commercial dealings, etc., etc.; I would also be able to make approximate calculations of directions and distances.

My journey would also have the equally useful purpose of educating myself, and bringing back the fruits of my observations to Senegal.

You know, M. le Directeur, how important it is in this country for any man who wishes to do either good or evil to possess authority; this authority is achieved by enjoying superiority over one's compatriots.

Al Haj 'Umar is an example of this. He was only an unknown inhabitant of Alwar who, having been expelled by his own people, profited from the bit of Arabic he knew to undertake the pilgrimage to Mecca; it was this journey which allowed him subsequently to play such an important role. During his travels he perfected his Arabic, became learned in the Koran, and read a large number of good books. Having thus become the most learned of all his compatriots he was able on his return to set up as a Master and to interpret the Koran in his own way. If some noted marabout raises an objection he always silences him by saying, 'You have not seen what I have seen; I have visited the cradle of Islam for myself and read books unknown on the banks of the Senegal.' Sensible people who did not believe in Al Haj were overwhelmed by the dominant position which his own merits gave him; they were dragged along by the crowd of ignorant people who regarded him as a demi-god.

Thanks to this man's prestige the number of his adherents grew from day to day, to the point where he was able to raise an army which he used successfully against all idolatrous peoples, or moderate Muslims. He was only stopped when he chose to attack the French, who have always beaten him and have expelled him from all the country which he ruled.

It was Al Haj's preaching, into which he skillfully introduced verses from the Koran, which brought so many people to follow him. All he has achieved he has done with the sole help of his reputation as a pilgrim, for he has no other power. But you also know, M. le Directeur, that the circulars written in good Arabic, which the Governor distributed among the al-Hajjists, have turned many of them away from their master's cause. Just as Al Haj's power fell before the blows of the Governor, so too did his reputation as a learned man fall before the knowledge of the French.

Happily we too have on our side good marabouts whose merits are well known and who, unlike Al Haj, use their influence for good. People come to consult them before any new enterprise, and notably before crediting any of the many marvels of which white men tell them, such as the invention of the electric telegraph.

The Muslims have recently had great difficulty in believing that a Muslim held prisoner by Christians (Abd-el-Kader) is better treated by them in his captivity than by his own subjects; or that the French have embraced the cause of the Great Sultan in a European war for the sole reason that he was unjustly oppressed. People have often written from afar to ask the reputed marabouts of Saint-Louis whether such things were possible.

Since such is the trust which the peoples of Senegal accord to merit, I think it would be most advantageous that some of the marabouts who are loyal to the French should achieve supremacy over those who still retain the old prejudices. As you know, the strongest marabouts are already those who serve French interests; but they would enjoy more influence still if they were not merely enabled to visit Paris and Algiers, but allowed to make the pilgrimage to Mecca, like Al Haj.

Such a pilgrimage might have very important results, because it would be known in the country that it was made under French patronage and that this patronage was as valuable as the best-established reputation as a good Muslim.

After the example which I would have given, there would be many others wishing to follow its.

I come then to ask you, M. le Directeur, to help me prepare myself to be the first to make this journey. I would like to set out from Saint-Louis for Morocco, thus completing the voyage of M. Vincent, so far as I may be able. From Morocco I might make for Algiers, and thence towards Mecca. Then I would return to Saint-Louis, bringing good books with me, even having put my own impressions in writing.

I would then feel my position strengthened and might even persuade others to undertake the same journey. . . . Soon we would see in Saint-Louis plenty of ardent Muslims who would also be good Frenchmen; and they would destroy the false theories of those who, while reluctantly suffering the yoke of the French, attack them on grounds of religion.

I beg you, M. le Directeur, to kindly give me your support and to submit my proposal to the Governor.

Letter from Bou-el-Moghdad to Flize, Directeur des Affaires Indigenes, 24 November 1860 (Archives of A.O.F. and Senegal, Dakar, i G 27)