The Damergou, that ruthless and monotonous pasture and millet-sown land, is dominated by the Touareg Imouzourag, who, in return for payment in kind, set themselves up as the protectors of the sedentary Hausa and Beri-Beri ; and by the Touareg Kel-Owey who, besides their intense caravaneering activities, willingly go in for acts of looting which provide them with captives and provisions. Neighbours and adversaries, they have contested one another's predominance in the country for a long time, the Imouzourag basing their claims on their « seniority », the Kel-Owey putting forward their economic and fighting powers. Alone, the status of the villager, that sedentary peasant, is firm but hardly to be envied : he is the harassed and raided one. The clash between the two Touareg groups becomes more violent when Moussa heading the Imouzourag decides that the Kel-Owey alone should not have entire control of the profitable Saharan trade. Using a minor conflict as a shield, the Kel-Owey give battle to the Imouzourag « before Moussa becomes too powerful », but they are defeated and will go in search of allies to get their own back. Asked for help by both antagonists, Foureau and Lamy promise it to the one who can provide the camels necessary for their advance on Lake Tchad. The Kel-Owey alone are in a position to furnish thèse mounts and the French proclaim them « our allies » resulting, at Tanamari, in the fall of Moussa's archers, brought about by the Kel-Owey, helped by skirmishers with firearms. Such an event could neither be forgotten nor forgiven by the Imouzourag who at Farak, barely a year later (July 1901), put a considerable Kel-Owey caravan to flight. But relentiessly tracked down by groups of French skirmishers, the Imouzourag led by Denda take flight, are exposed to serious supply difïiculties (they have, to the East, no one to « protect ») and are obliged to suffer, in their want and weariness, the consécration by the French of the Anastafidet (chief) Jatau of the Kel-Owey at the head of the Damergou. Yet the Saharan trade is jeopardized mainly due to the disappearance of its principal objective, slaves. Without any ambitions, right from the moment when lake Tchad was reached, the colonial authorities aspire only to maintaining order in an outcast and austère land. The most dynamic local element is thus in full decline and the newly-arrived European is limited to dull routine tasks : from then on, the region is to become bogged down in profound apathy.