Credits:

Jahnavi: Slides 1 and 4

Natalie: Slides 3 and 6

Pranathi: Slides 2 and 5

Niani, January, 1324, Morning

    It is early in the day and we have finally started the Hajj! I can't wait to leave! I feel so excited to finally see the wonders of Mecca! I've always wanted to go. My father told me it is a wonderful place, with an abundance of people. The staggering amount of people in the caravan is a shocking of 60,000 people. The grasslands are beautiful, with a rich green color, unlike the Sahara. The camels are getting tired though, their groans being echoed across the grasslands, carrying all that gold. The grasslands smell so bad, I really want to be done with this. I wonder how long it will take to get to Mecca.

Walata, February, 1324, Morning

    The water supply is running low. Mansa Musa is leading us to dry deserts of Taghaza next. How will we ever make it through with such a low water supply? Thank Allah for the fresh water in this oasis! Mansa Musa should rule forever. He is what Mali needs and I trust that what he does will be for the best. They say that the rainy season is coming soon, but I know that at this time of year, rainfall will be very low. The trade network in Walata is very impressive. Even the Berbers from the North and the Blacks from the South are meeting to exchange goods! How are they so willing to cross the deadly Sahara for trade?