CHAPTER XXXIII THE SOUDAN UNDER THE MOORS The events which recalled Mahmoud Zergoun to the west were of a serious character. The whole country was in disorder. Shortly after the army had marched eastward, in September of 1591, riots had broken out at Timbuctoo, and had continued until the last days of December. The Moors, having some difficulty in holding their own, had called in the help of the Tuaregs of the desert, already employed in ravaging the fertile territory of the Ras-el-Ma, and, with the help of these allies, had put the town to fire and sword. Nevertheless, on the withdrawal of the Tuaregs, the Moors were again driven to take refuge in the fortress which had been built for them by Djouder Pasha. They succeeded in conveying intelligence to Mahmoud of their position, and he detached from his army a force of 324 soldiers under one of his best young generals, who, marching to the relief of the imprisoned garrison, struck terror into Timbuctoo. The town submitted, and took an oath of fidelity to the Sultan of Morocco. After this, peace was for a short time established in Timbuctoo. The roads were opened, and the military forces of the Moors were directed against the Zaghrani and other rebels who were pillaging the surrounding country. Jenn6 also made its submission, and took the oath of allegiance to the Sultan of Morocco. But the riots were hardly at an end in Timbuctoo before similar disturbances broke out in Jenn6. The Moorish Cadi of the town was taken prisoner, and sent in chains to a distant stronghold in the pagan country to the south. The rioters, whose 306