CHAPTER XV MANSA MUSA Mansa Musa, who completed the conquest of his predecessor Sakora, was a prince whom all historians combine to praise, celebrating his justice, piety, and enlightenment. He was the friend of white men, and entertained pleasant relations with the kings of Morocco and the Barbary coast,, at whose courts, as has been mentioned, the Arab civilisation of Spain had already in great part taken refuge. He exchanged presents with them, and kept himself well informed of the political developments of their kingdoms.

He made a celebrated pilgrimage to Mecca in the year 1324, of which the details, preserved by more than one contemporary witness, furnish an interesting illustration of the condition of his country and the state preserved by its monarchs. The caravan consisted on this occasion, we are told, of no less than sixty thousand persons, a considerable portion of whom constituted a military escort. The baggage of the caravan was carried generally by camels, but twelve thousand young slaves formed the personal retinue of Mansa Musa. All these were dressed in tunics of brocade or Persian silk. When he rode, five hundred of them marched before him, each carrying a staff of pure gold, which weighed sixty-two ounces. The remainder carried the royal baggage.

The caravan was accompanied by all essential luxuries, including good cooks, who prepared elaborate repasts, not only for the king, but for the king's friends, at every halting-place. To defray the expenses of the journey, 122