Niani, 1324, Morning
Journal Entry : #1
Dear Journal,
Our caravan is to start off today with Mansa Musa. I move near the head of the caravan as I am waiting to leave. I am very scared as to what will happen the days ahead. There are a lot of people so we might not last long out there. We have a very staggering number of animals. We are carrying a lot of gold and are traveling over 4,000 miles. We have about 1,000 camels, but we only travel about 20-25 miles a day. I think we are overloaded in supplies, but still worried about if we come across a army how it will work out. The thing I am most worried about is back home, and what will happen when I am gone.
Journal Entry : #1
Dear Journal,
Our caravan is to start off today with Mansa Musa. I move near the head of the caravan as I am waiting to leave. I am very scared as to what will happen the days ahead. There are a lot of people so we might not last long out there. We have a very staggering number of animals. We are carrying a lot of gold and are traveling over 4,000 miles. We have about 1,000 camels, but we only travel about 20-25 miles a day. I think we are overloaded in supplies, but still worried about if we come across a army how it will work out. The thing I am most worried about is back home, and what will happen when I am gone.
Walata, 1324, Morning
Journal Entry : #2
Dear Journal,
The water in this oasis town is crazy. Our next place to go is Taghaza which is a waterless desert, so the water supply is critical. Hopefully, since the raining season just started it will rain so we can get some water that way as well. I am very impressed by the trade inside of this town. I saw the Sudan people trade with Berbers and exchange their goods. I think that from Walata to Taghaza will be quite a journey due to the hard 600 miles we just experienced. After Taghaza we have to go 1300 miles to Tuwat, than 2500 miles to Cairo. I think how will we make it to Cairo with over 3000 miles left to go. We made over 600 miles and I am exhausted.
Journal Entry : #2
Dear Journal,
The water in this oasis town is crazy. Our next place to go is Taghaza which is a waterless desert, so the water supply is critical. Hopefully, since the raining season just started it will rain so we can get some water that way as well. I am very impressed by the trade inside of this town. I saw the Sudan people trade with Berbers and exchange their goods. I think that from Walata to Taghaza will be quite a journey due to the hard 600 miles we just experienced. After Taghaza we have to go 1300 miles to Tuwat, than 2500 miles to Cairo. I think how will we make it to Cairo with over 3000 miles left to go. We made over 600 miles and I am exhausted.
Taghaza, 1324, Morning
Journal Entry : #3
Dear Journal,
We have finally made it to Taghaza. Ibn Battuta was recently at Taghaza because he was passing through it. He thinks the village has nothing good about it, while I like it quite a bit. The Sudan came to their land and took away the salt. They used the salt as currency to trade for other materials. The salt was traded at Niani for gold. Taghaza kind of like a death pit, so to say. It has basically nothing but sand with a salt mine. I figured that Mansa Musa traveled through Taghaza to trade some of his gold with salt to preserve the extra food that we had.
Journal Entry : #3
Dear Journal,
We have finally made it to Taghaza. Ibn Battuta was recently at Taghaza because he was passing through it. He thinks the village has nothing good about it, while I like it quite a bit. The Sudan came to their land and took away the salt. They used the salt as currency to trade for other materials. The salt was traded at Niani for gold. Taghaza kind of like a death pit, so to say. It has basically nothing but sand with a salt mine. I figured that Mansa Musa traveled through Taghaza to trade some of his gold with salt to preserve the extra food that we had.
Tuwat, 1324, Morning
Journal Entry : #4
Dear Journal,
As we arrive in Tuwat, we are very tired and hungry. I go in the city with some gold to find some food to buy. Eventually, after a couple streets I find some meat for me to go back and eat with the caravan. One of our slaves was bitten by a snake in his leg. The reason we go on the hajj is that you give generously to God, as Mansa Musa is a muslim. People on the hajj must obtain from obscene language, and angry disputes. Mansa Musa is going to offer the gold to God. People who give their wealth to the poor will be rewarded by their Lord. After a couple days the slave’s leg who was bit got infected and could not be healed.
Journal Entry : #4
Dear Journal,
As we arrive in Tuwat, we are very tired and hungry. I go in the city with some gold to find some food to buy. Eventually, after a couple streets I find some meat for me to go back and eat with the caravan. One of our slaves was bitten by a snake in his leg. The reason we go on the hajj is that you give generously to God, as Mansa Musa is a muslim. People on the hajj must obtain from obscene language, and angry disputes. Mansa Musa is going to offer the gold to God. People who give their wealth to the poor will be rewarded by their Lord. After a couple days the slave’s leg who was bit got infected and could not be healed.
Cairo, 1324, Afternoon
Journal Entry : #5
Dear Journal,
After over 1000 miles we arrive in Cairo. Mansa Musa treats his Cairo hosts with respect and floods them with gifts. Mansa Musa also didn’t want to mix anything he only wanted to focus on the journey. Great amounts of gold are given to Cairo and their people. I am very excited because everyone is so happy that they got gold even though it fell a lot in price. I am a bit worried of how much gold is being given because it might ruin the economy everywhere. Some things I am thinking about are, how much is gold going to be worth after its all given away. I wonder if the economy will end up much lower or higher, but I am guessing the economy will end up being lower due to the inflammation of gold not the lowering of it.
Journal Entry : #5
Dear Journal,
After over 1000 miles we arrive in Cairo. Mansa Musa treats his Cairo hosts with respect and floods them with gifts. Mansa Musa also didn’t want to mix anything he only wanted to focus on the journey. Great amounts of gold are given to Cairo and their people. I am very excited because everyone is so happy that they got gold even though it fell a lot in price. I am a bit worried of how much gold is being given because it might ruin the economy everywhere. Some things I am thinking about are, how much is gold going to be worth after its all given away. I wonder if the economy will end up much lower or higher, but I am guessing the economy will end up being lower due to the inflammation of gold not the lowering of it.
Mecca, 1324, Afternoon
Journal Entry : #6
Dear Journal,
Today we finally reached Mecca after a long hard trip. Mansa Musa looks like a very old man. He wears a crown and robe, while holding a golden ball and scepter. Mansa Musa is a negro lord and he is the richest and most noble king. Trade is the most important aspect of life in Mali. The europeans might want to come and steal gold, while taking slaves from Mali. I am very happy that we made it to Mecca safely and hope to return safely. We have only encountered about 3 bandit troops and they decided to stay away from us.
Journal Entry : #6
Dear Journal,
Today we finally reached Mecca after a long hard trip. Mansa Musa looks like a very old man. He wears a crown and robe, while holding a golden ball and scepter. Mansa Musa is a negro lord and he is the richest and most noble king. Trade is the most important aspect of life in Mali. The europeans might want to come and steal gold, while taking slaves from Mali. I am very happy that we made it to Mecca safely and hope to return safely. We have only encountered about 3 bandit troops and they decided to stay away from us.