A free priest, Charles has lived for two years in the oasis of Béni Abbès, at the gates of the Sahara, one thousand two hundred kilometers south-west of Algiers, near the military redoubt.
They helped him build the "
Fraternity
", or "
Kahoua
on land he was allowed to buy.
It is made up of an oratory, three cells, one of which serves as a sacristy, and where Father de Foucauld sleeps on the floor, as well as a guest room.
Every day that God makes, the poor come.
He welcomes them with warmth, cares for them, feeds them, comforts them but deplores the slowness with which his apostolate is received.
In all and for all, he has only two baptized persons, a three-and-a-half-year-old child whom he will soon entrust to the White Fathers, and an old half-caste woman, almost blind, whom he takes in.
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Despite his repeated requests at the Trappe of Staouëli and that of Notre-Dame-des-Neiges, no companion came to join him.
Its requirements no doubt frighten potential candidates: they must "
be prepared to starve and have their heads cut off
".
He also had to give up buying back slaves, because their owners complained to the Apostolic Prefect, Bishop Guérin, as well as to the authorities of the redoubt.
Charles pleaded in vain for the creation of two hospitals, one for civilians, the other reserved for the armed forces, as well as a school where nuns could come and instruct the children.
With the soldiers, who know that he was one of them, Charles has friendly relations.
A certain number of them come to hear mass and, in the evening, some take part in the vigils.
He found Commander Laperrine, who had served like him in the 4th African Chasseurs Regiment, and plans to leave with him for a campaign of "
taming
" in southern Algeria among the Tuareg populations.
But they had to postpone their departure when a harka of Moroccan Berabers attacked Taghit a hundred kilometers north of the oasis of Béni Abbès.
On September 2, 1903, a fight opposed the Berabers to a detachment of the Foreign Legion, which resulted, on the French side, in thirty-six dead and forty-nine wounded.
Twelve men were saved by Captain de Susbielle, who routed the attackers.
Charles immediately makes a request to the Arab Office to go and assist the wounded.
When he has obtained "
spurs, stirrups, horse and burnous
", he sets off.
On September 6, Foucauld's father was in Taghit.
He stays there day and night at the bedside of the wounded who demand his presence.
He will also go with Captain de Susbielle to the scene of the ambush to bless the common grave of the victims.
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FILE – Charles de Foucauld, a voice in the desert
On September 30, reassured about the fate of the wounded, Charles left for Béni Abbès where he immediately resumed his charitable activities with a population who called him the "
white marabout
", but showed no desire to be initiated into his religion. .
Commander Laperrine again offers to accompany him on his journey among the Tuaregs.
Charles, having obtained permission to go there from the Apostolic Prefect, joins a caravan escorted by about fifty soldiers.
Every morning he said mass in a tent.
Along the way, he takes notes as he did in Morocco, but without having to hide it.
On February 1, 1904, he was in Adrar, where Laperrine informed him of the situation in the desert.
Three tribes, the Iforas, the Taïtoqs and the Hoggars submitted to France.
The commander believes that it is now necessary to retain them by using a "
mixture of force used with justice, constant loyalty and great gentleness
".
He relies heavily on Charles' help.
Throughout their journey, Father de Foucauld was more and more seduced by the grandiose landscapes of the Hoggar and thought of founding a new mission there.
When Lieutenant Roussel took over from Commander Laperrine as head of the mission, Foucauld's father stayed with him.
He serves as an interpreter, ensures the medical service of the escort and the populations.
Many of them come to be treated by the Christian marabout.
He keeps telling them: “
We are all brothers.
They nod.
But Charles has few illusions.
Many are just pretending.
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