The Only
Foundation That We Can Discover For The Assertions Referred To, And
For Others Of More Recent Date, Is
The fact that in a remote corner
of North-Western Africa the Fulahs, and Mandingoes, and some others
in Northern
Africa, as mentioned by Dr. Barth, have made conquests of
territory; but even they care so very little for the extension of
their faith, that after the conquest no pains whatever are taken to
indoctrinate the adults of the tribe. This is in exact accordance
with the impression we have received from our intercourse with
Mohammedans and Christians. The followers of Christ alone are
anxious to propagate their faith. A quasi philanthropist would
certainly never need to recommend the followers of Islam, whom we
have met, to restrain their benevolence by preaching that "Charity
should begin at home."
Though Selele and his companions were bound to their masters by
domestic ties, the only new idea they had imbibed from Mohammedanism
was, that it would be wrong to eat meat killed by other people. They
thought it would be "unlucky." Just as the inhabitants of Kolobeng,
before being taught the requirements of Christianity, refrained from
hoeing their gardens on Sundays, lest they should reap an unlucky
crop. So far as we could learn, no efforts had been made to convert
the natives, though these two Arabs, and about a dozen half-castes,
had been in the country for many years; and judging from our
experience with a dozen Mohammedans in our employ at high wages for
sixteen months, the Africans would be the better men in proportion as
they retained their native faith.
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