APPEXDICES 329 



regxdar system of Customs duty on all merchandise passing 

 through. 



He built the towns of Jof and Taj, each with a large zawia, 

 and in the course of a few years developed the oasis into an en- 

 tirely self-supporting centre of civilisation and the headquarters 

 of the confraternity, visited by large numbers of "Brethren" from 

 all parts of Africa. 



Nevertheless he had to acknowledge that, temporarily, the 

 north offered no further field of expansion for his teachings. Any 

 trial of strength with France, Turkey or Egypt could have but 

 one issue. Therefore he concentrated his energies on Borku, Wa- 

 dai, Kanem and the Western Sudan. He sent his ekhwan through- 

 out these districts with instructions to settle disputes between the 

 tribes, thus inducing them to acknowledge Senussi authority and 

 to bxiild zawias in such places as would control the wells and mar- 

 kets. Intending to follow in the wake of his disciples, he left 

 Kufara in August, 1899, after recei-ving a deputation from Ali 

 Dinar expressing the Sultan of Darfurs devotion to the Order. 

 After 63 days' travelling by slow stages, he reached Ghiru, from 

 where he directed the opposition to French penetration from Lake 

 Chad. 



This step was notable because it was in direct contravention 

 of the policy initiated by Sidi Ben Ali and previously adhered to 

 by the Mahdi. 



At no time a military power, the Senussi depended for their 

 wealth and influence on the stability of their mercantile organisa- 

 tion. 



The French were the first Europeans who seriously imperilled 

 their profitable trade in slaves and arms. The former merchandise 

 came from Constantinople and was disembarked at Tobruk or 

 Benghazi. 



Since its principal markets were between Darfur and Kanem 

 it was essential that France should not advance farther towards 

 Wadai. Tuareg rebels, flying north from French Nigeria, came 

 in touch with Sidi el Barrani at Kanem, were converted to the 

 Senussi tenets, and joined with Arabs from Kufara in fortifying 

 the zawia at Bir Allahi. 



The victorv of Zugiba on August 23, 1901, relieved the French 

 from further pressure from the south and they were able to es- 

 tablish themselves firmly at Massacori. An advance party, how- 

 ever, was attacked and defeated bv Tuaregs from Bir Allahi and 



