Chapter One: The Daoudia Tribes Several important events occurred in December 1896, and then in January and February of 1897, in Ortmesht and Tentebolo, near the lakes of Tenda and Ga. Caravans and herds passing through were attacked, affecting the settled population. Since the commander of the Tentebolo region was tasked with ensuring the safety of his area, he resumed patrols along the wells line. It is impossible to imagine the fervor that this problem stirred up in this part of Sudan. An intelligence officer, in pursuit of a detachment of the Oulad Allouch tribe, chased them. In a moment of enthusiasm and forgetting the orders given, he reached Basklou, which he occupied without firing a single shot. This was Lieutenant WIRTH (early 1899). In conclusion, to give this problem its true character, it should be added that the commander of Sekono resigned from his command of the district as soon as this news reached him. Difficulties in transmitting orders and the vast distances involved prevented the occupation of Basklou for three months without any danger to its small garrison. As the desert was at the mercy of the Oulad Allouch, they advanced to the outskirts of Nthala. As an act of revenge, they looted the villages of Tendaroubeh and Kouta in Tekouei, which were under French protection. When the commander of the coastal region was transferred to Basklou by order, Sekou's resignation was imposed on Sheikh Ben Sidi, with the commitment to return the looted goods. In return, the French were to evacuate Basklou. Negotiations continued, as usual, very slowly. In the end, and after patience ran out, the French commander left Basklou after the town was burned. He was accompanied by a group of the El Hah El Hussein people, who were under the protection of the Oulad Allouch, but had declared their submission and requested to establish a village for themselves in Nthala under direct French protection. If the governor was unwilling to "occupy" Basklou, it was because he was preoccupied with the east and southeast, and therefore unable to undertake an operation from which he could not foresee an outcome. This incident showed the great capability of these coastal tribes against their disciplined adversaries and their long-range strategy. However, in addition, as we have said, the authorities deemed it unnecessary to militarily occupy the coastal trading posts because trade would be diverted from them. Due to the conviction of the correctness of this principle, which seems, however, more than questionable, and also to fulfill promises made, the order was finally given to evacuate Basklou. However, as it was necessary to protect the state, the governor formed a commission tasked with finding a suitable location for a military post between Neri and Ras El Ma. The area of Bouknoudz was chosen on the wells line, but events intervened.