Mansa musa hajj: a personal journal
Niani,January,1324,Morning
Today is the day I will be traveling with Mansa Musa to Mecca. I was extremely surprised to see so many people waiting to leave. Its like one huge caravan. The noise was also ridiculous, 1,000's of people talking at one time can sound like screams to your ears. When I got up this morning I smelt a putrid smell. I walked outside only to rows and rows of camels. There must have 1,000 camels waiting to leave. Although I seem to be confident, the truth is I'm scared. As a Ferba I am to lead my province and when I'm not there, I'm scared something tragic will happen to my province. As one of Mansa Musa's Ferbas, I need to go to support him. It was smart for Mansa Musa to bring gold, but that much. There has to be like 24,000 pounds, no wonder he has 12,000 slaves and 1,000 camels. I wonder what he is going to do with all that gold. Maybe we will pass be a salt mine so we can trade. After all there is 60,000 people coming on the Hajj, so we need to store food.
Walata, February,1324, Morning
Walata is our last stop before entering the scorching Sahara. It will at least take 20 days to get through it. I'm so very lucky that we stopped at a oasis, after all I am several days behind everyone and need to store water. This was the part that I was afraid of. What happens to my province if I get killed, I have a lot to worry about. Maybe I will get some wheat and some spices so I can trade in Taghaza. I heard that they have many salt mines and traded quite a bit. I really need salt too, not just to bring home but to preserve my food. In total I have traveled 500 miles and my back is starting to hurt from riding a donkey all day. Its time to leave now, I must be going. I hope I make it through.
Walata is our last stop before entering the scorching Sahara. It will at least take 20 days to get through it. I'm so very lucky that we stopped at a oasis, after all I am several days behind everyone and need to store water. This was the part that I was afraid of. What happens to my province if I get killed, I have a lot to worry about. Maybe I will get some wheat and some spices so I can trade in Taghaza. I heard that they have many salt mines and traded quite a bit. I really need salt too, not just to bring home but to preserve my food. In total I have traveled 500 miles and my back is starting to hurt from riding a donkey all day. Its time to leave now, I must be going. I hope I make it through.
Taghaza, March, 1324, dusk
Going through the Sahara was harder than I thought, but at least I am finally at Taghaza. Taghaza has a LOT more salt than I have ever expected. Everything is made out of salt and it is hard to find water that is not salty. I can see why Taghaza trades a lot. They have nothing else but salt. I traded as much as I could with these poor people, but there is only so much I can give. This place doesn't even have trees. I'm actully quite glad we stopped here. I bet you Mansa Musa traveled here to trade and that is also why he brought so much gold. But I also know that there is a lack of water here and our people are getting angry, because they don't have water.
Going through the Sahara was harder than I thought, but at least I am finally at Taghaza. Taghaza has a LOT more salt than I have ever expected. Everything is made out of salt and it is hard to find water that is not salty. I can see why Taghaza trades a lot. They have nothing else but salt. I traded as much as I could with these poor people, but there is only so much I can give. This place doesn't even have trees. I'm actully quite glad we stopped here. I bet you Mansa Musa traveled here to trade and that is also why he brought so much gold. But I also know that there is a lack of water here and our people are getting angry, because they don't have water.
Tuwat Oasis, April, 1324, Evening
It has been 4 months since we left Mali. It has been a tough 4 months for the 60,000 people who joined Mansa Musa on his Hajj. We are all forgeting why we even came on the first place, but not me. Early morning today I overheard 6 pilgrims talking about the Qur'an, the muslim holy book. They were also talking about the duities a muslim must perform. Now I know why Mansa Musa would make such a tretorous journey and why he brought so much gold. He needs to make this journey to please God. The pilgrams also said that during the journey we had to act with kindness and fairness. This makes a lot of since because of the amount of guards. They are there to protect and brake up fights. Not only that but to please God he also needs to give to charity, privately. If he does this then he will get a reward from the lord. I knew why he needed to make this Hajj but not this much information. Maybe I will also give to the poor.
It has been 4 months since we left Mali. It has been a tough 4 months for the 60,000 people who joined Mansa Musa on his Hajj. We are all forgeting why we even came on the first place, but not me. Early morning today I overheard 6 pilgrims talking about the Qur'an, the muslim holy book. They were also talking about the duities a muslim must perform. Now I know why Mansa Musa would make such a tretorous journey and why he brought so much gold. He needs to make this journey to please God. The pilgrams also said that during the journey we had to act with kindness and fairness. This makes a lot of since because of the amount of guards. They are there to protect and brake up fights. Not only that but to please God he also needs to give to charity, privately. If he does this then he will get a reward from the lord. I knew why he needed to make this Hajj but not this much information. Maybe I will also give to the poor.
Cario, July, 1324, Afternoon
Cario is a beautiful city with lots of buzz and excitment. There are markets every where with beautiful things. The culture is stunning too. I have heard that Mansa Musa will not be meeting the sultan. If I were him I would pay my respect to the sultan and act in great honor, but I guess Mansa Musa does not think the same as me. Instead of meeting the sultan he is giving out TONS of gold to the people of Cario. I understand why he wants to give, but that much? Also if you want to please god don't you have to donate privatly? Giving that much gold can destroy a kingdoms economy and probably ruin it forever. Does Mansa Musa know this? If he knew this than he is doing this on purpose, but I don't think he has a grudge against Cario. I think he is just being extremely genourous to the people of Cario. I should have a word with him so he can understand my worries. Afterall I wouldn't want this lovely kingdom to fail in economy.
Cario is a beautiful city with lots of buzz and excitment. There are markets every where with beautiful things. The culture is stunning too. I have heard that Mansa Musa will not be meeting the sultan. If I were him I would pay my respect to the sultan and act in great honor, but I guess Mansa Musa does not think the same as me. Instead of meeting the sultan he is giving out TONS of gold to the people of Cario. I understand why he wants to give, but that much? Also if you want to please god don't you have to donate privatly? Giving that much gold can destroy a kingdoms economy and probably ruin it forever. Does Mansa Musa know this? If he knew this than he is doing this on purpose, but I don't think he has a grudge against Cario. I think he is just being extremely genourous to the people of Cario. I should have a word with him so he can understand my worries. Afterall I wouldn't want this lovely kingdom to fail in economy.
Niani, October, 1375, Evening
I can't believe it has been 50 year since that journey with Mansa Musa and 60,000 people. I found this journal while cleaning out my cabinet for my grandson. I can't say the Hajj was totally worth it, but it was an experience that I will never forget. Some things did not come in place during the Hajj. People died and things were stolen, but what do you expect from such a long journey. When I finally got to Mecca, I questioned myself, asking was it worth it and what do I do now. After visiting Mecca, I went home to my province. A lot of things changed when I got back. There was more Muslim inspiration than ever. I guess Mansa Musa got really inspired from Mecca. I have to admit it was a inspirational city with lots of beauty, I even got really inspired. I went on that journey to support Mansa Musa and keep everything in check but I think a part of me wanted to go for the adventure and I got that. I have also gained a lot more knowledge then I would have ever expected from the Hajj.
I can't believe it has been 50 year since that journey with Mansa Musa and 60,000 people. I found this journal while cleaning out my cabinet for my grandson. I can't say the Hajj was totally worth it, but it was an experience that I will never forget. Some things did not come in place during the Hajj. People died and things were stolen, but what do you expect from such a long journey. When I finally got to Mecca, I questioned myself, asking was it worth it and what do I do now. After visiting Mecca, I went home to my province. A lot of things changed when I got back. There was more Muslim inspiration than ever. I guess Mansa Musa got really inspired from Mecca. I have to admit it was a inspirational city with lots of beauty, I even got really inspired. I went on that journey to support Mansa Musa and keep everything in check but I think a part of me wanted to go for the adventure and I got that. I have also gained a lot more knowledge then I would have ever expected from the Hajj.