196 THE EXPLORATION OF THE NIGER a marabout in his suite who knew how to write Arabic, he proved his confidence in Tierno by letting him indite it without hesitation, and the latter set about it at once. Here is a literal translation of his production : Letter from Madidu and his nephew Djamarata to the Sultan of the French, " The object of this letter is to inform you that we have come to an understanding with Commandant Hourst, known under the name of Abd el Kader, on the following points : — between us and him there shall be only good and peace ; your traders shall come to us by land and by water, assured that no one in our country will molest them in any way. You will bring no trouble into our possessions, nor interfere with our civil and religious traditions. Be it also known unto you, that so soon as your envoys are returned, and you will have proved our truth, you will see us come and go alone and in parties by land and by water. This is the exact truth without reserve and without exaggeration.

After you have given us the promises mentioned we shall be brothers ; greeting ! " Djamarata asked me in my turn to leave behind me a written statement of the verbal arrangement we had made.

This seemed only fair, and here is my reply : Letter from Commandant Hourst surnamed Abd el Kader to Madidu Amenokal of the Awellimideny and to Djamarata his nephew.

" This is to certify, that having been sent by the Sultan of the French to you to establish eternal peace between us, and to inaugurate commercial and friendly relations, and having received from him full powers to speak in his name,