ABSTRACT
Bugeaud, eating crow for his disastrous Tafna Treaty, went before the Chamber and eloquently disavowed his limited occupation ideas, and received instructions to conquer the entire country. The dominant Moslem faith was full of sects; there were many zaouias founded in honor of notable saints, and a swarm of religious fraternities, such as the Kadria, Taibia, Chadelya, and others, whose members were controlled by their sheiks, but the country had no central religious authority. Since the French had not even glimpsed this social situation, it is small wonder that Algeria became a tragedy of errors. The young fanatic was too sharp for the stodgy general, and outdid him in the diplomatic game. It was not the last mistake in Algeria arising from ignorance of native language and religion. In the province of Oran the occupation was complicated by the subtle hostility of Morocco and of the Algerian tribes who were anxious to expel the Roumi.
