It is a bright sunny April day as Si Mohamed, a government agent of Eaux et Forets (water and forests department), drives his office car into the brand new Afriquia gas station in Berrechid. When Allal, the gas station attendant, has filled the gas tank, Si Mohamed asks for a facture (receipt) to submit for reimbursement. Allal rummages briefly through his leather money bag and carefully extracts a pad of blank factures and a blackened rubber stamp with the station's name and address. With a deep breath he exhales on the rubber stamp, moistening it slightly, and then presses it with deliberation into the facture paper. This small rubber stamp, like tens of thousands all over Morocco, serves as the guarantor of official literacy in Morocco. Allal, who cannot read or write, then hands the stamped paper to Si Mohamed, who fills in the date, the amount of gas, and the price.