The exploration of Tibesti, Erdi, Borkou, and Ennedi in 1912-1917

The author recounts a five-year French-funded mission across the Central Sahara and Lake Chad region (1912–1917) that combined geographical, hydrographical, geological and military observations to test whether the Chad basin connected to the Nile. The narrative follows routes from the Congo via the Ubangi and Shari to Lake Chad, describes field surveys of the Tibesti, Borkou, Ennedi and Erdi mountain groups, and details mapping work, natural-history evidence such as molluscs and crustaceans, encounters with local political and Senussi activity, logistical hardships, and the expedition’s cartographic and scientific findings.