1911. In his father's chateau, Henry de Monfreid is taken seriously ill. A young German woman, Armgart, a friend of the family, cares for him. When he has fully recovered, Monfried decides to embark on a new life. Leaving his two children in Armgart's care, he sets sail for Djibouti, then travels on to Dire Dawa in Ethiopia, where he works for a coffee exporter. Monsieur Joe, the export manager, introduces him to a house-boy named Ali, who encourages Monfried to buy a wife, Fatouma. Contemptuous of white settlers, Monfried gradually "goes native" while keeping up a regular correspondence with Armgart.