The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-02-26
JEWS IN THE INTERIOR 0F-
4{f AFRICA, IA5A

The Jewish Chronicle publishes, on the sub
ject of Jews in the interior of Africa, the fol-
lowing particulars, communicated by gen
teman who has been travelling in that cont
nent, and made a circuit OF 1900 miles through
the heart Of the great African wilderness. 81
have made many and dligent inquiries after
Jews Of the interior Of Africa; but have not
succeeded in obtaining much Information. All
that have learnt Is, that there are negroes in
nearly all the cities Of the interior, who prac-
tice the rite Of circumscision and who observe
the sabbath. Indeed, some of these negroes,
made slaves, came down with our caravan
But their religion seems entirely confined to
these two capital points Of the Jewish belief
and they have no other notions Of the law or
the prophets. They celebrate the Sabbath by
drinking and intoxication and are not more
moral in their habits than the other benighted
sons of Africa. lhave, since, made inquiries
of the Jews IN Misratah about these Judaising
negroes; and they confirm the intelligence
which have received from the merchantsoc
central Africa. sg1 sf h s.f
1t is probable that these negroes were early
ian era but have lapsed from their first love-
and pure morals; for you will recollect that
there were converts to Judaism IN Ethiopia or
Ably ssinia, and that the eunuch whom Philip
baptised was neither more nor less than q ne
gro convert to the law of Moses. Now, from
Abyssinla, and liz fact all Upper Egypt, there
are direct routes to Bornou and all Central Af-
rica, which have been opened for thousands
OF years--routes to the interior OF Africa,
which the Carthagenians, the Greeks and the
Romans, from the remotest times, availed
themselves Of, and whence they procured
slaves. There is, therefore, no sort Of diff
Guilty in accounting for converts to the law Of
Moses in Central Africa. But, please God,
intend hereafter to investigate this subject
completely. ..tfl,sr,a .fsf3 .-urE
With respect TO Jews in the Great Desert,
find that there is a number of families in Sout
the extreme south Of Algiers,l and in an
Arab country not open to Christians but you
are undoubtedly aware that the Arabs Of the
interior will tolerate Jews when they will not
tolerate Christians. Indeed, a .Tripoline Jew
went the year before last to Soudan, via Chad;
and he was neither called upon to make pres
ents nor did he suffer any particular annoyancs
from the Turricks Of Chad and Aheer. OF
course, he was man Of this country edu-
Gated in all the habits and customs Of .hs
Moors, dressed like one of them, and speaking
their language. They looked upon him as one
Of their own people, though Jew. The Jews
Of the Sahara are the brokers Of the towns
and villages, and aid the rabbis in money mat
ters aud commercial affairs generally. There
is nothing peculiarly interesting about them
Here, in Misratah, consisting Of number OF
villages Of some seventy thousand inhabitants,
there are only fifty families Of native Jews, oc-
cnpied as brokers, petty traders, and making
essences (atar). These poor people pay
poll-tax to the Turkish Government Of Tri-
poll Of 500 per annum. They have two syn
agogues, one rabbi and reader. Besides, in
all the mountains Of Tripoh there are Jews;
and in a district near, called Misolatah, there
are 100 families. had long conversation
with the Rabbi Of Misratah-from which
perceived that he was by no means an iynor-
ant man.