And as for Da'am, he was from the sons of those regions. They greeted him with peace and he returned to his home. He went to his first dwelling and began to serve the servants. The people were angry with him, and the gossips came to him with their brothers, Muhammad Sa'di and Abd al-Mughith, saying: "We have heard that you are involved in this matter. And you, Abd al-Mughith, you are the one who oppresses people and burdens them. O Commander Ahmad, leave this country and return to Timbuktu." Then he ordered them to return to their homes and intended to stay there until the end of the sacred month. On the same day, the Bashawats came to Kairouan to see their companions and relatives there. They heard about him. All the people were oppressed. They attributed this to what happened to them. They said to him: "This is the ruin of the country." When they returned to him that evening, they said to him: "We are determined to leave tomorrow." He excused himself, saying that it was not possible until the messengers he had sent to the sultans of this region returned. They said to him: "We must leave, because this country is not suitable for you. If you do not want it, then the Sultan and his army are sufficient." So he decided and divided the provisions for the boats for the expedition. When he descended into the settlement, he invited Da'am and 'Ami. They sent...