The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1884-03-27
Ell Mehdi's Horde.
The vast territory of the Soudan b
copied by hories of Arabs Of various

tribes, whose number is computed to
be between thirty and forty millions.
The Arab-and in this nomenclature.
besides the natives of Arabia proper. all
the inhabitants of the northern and half
of the eastern portion of Africa are to
be comprehended-is a singular race.
Wild and ferocious, like the savages OF
the far west, the Arabs are endowed
with keener intellect and highly
nervous temperament, characteristic
which has impressed itself upon the
Spanish nation by reason of contact.
Unlike, however, the aborigines of
Auerica, who are stolid, content with
hunting aud the qualification of their
natural wants, the Arabs are ever rest
less and aggressive, and grey upon IL cir
fellow-beings. Although very dark in
complexion, they are not negroes; their
hair is coarse but smooth.
Their habitations are principally on
the borders of the streams, and, in the
interior countries they sink wells, where
practicable, and cluster around them,
forming villages and towns, their houses
consisting of mud walls and thatched,
conical roofs.
Living in state of nature, their
wants are but few, consequently they
are not forced to extra exertion to
supply them. They live on the simplest
diet. Their staple food is darru millet,
which they pulverize and make into
bread. Very little animal food is used
by them. Dates and camels' milk con-
stitute the luxury indulged in by the
well to do among them. Their agri-
culture is therefore confined to the
raising of millet and few other fari-
naceous articles. such as beans, baekla,
or lupens, etc., in the most primitive
manner.
In the matter of raiment they are,
owing to the nature of the climate, in a
state of almost complete nudity, only a
scarf being wound lightly around their
loins. Their other occupations consist
in collecting ostrich feathers, tusks of
elephants, senna, and gum arabic; the
latter is Indigenous to the country, and
is extracted from the acacia arGbica. a
small tree which forms vast forests in
the hottest regions of Africa. All these
sink, however, into insignificance com.
pared with the profits in slaves. in
selling which they are mainly engaged.
Egypt and Arabia provide markets
for the disposal OF their productions, as
! well as for the procurement of their
wants, which consists of coffee, tobacco,
arms and ammunition, cotton cloth and
knieknacks. The former is reached by
the Nile, and the latter by the way OF
| Suakim, a seaport on the Red Sea. As
| the last is difficult of access, owing to
the necessary land journey, the Nile is
preferred.
They live in state of barbaric inde-
pendence, under the control of petty
chiefs called sheiks, who have assumed
supremacy over their representative
communities by virtue of their religi-
GUS character and extra sanctity.
The introduction of Mohammedanisn
among the children of the desert did moi
contribute toward their moral and
social advancement. Indeed, wherever
Mohammedanism made its appearance
4 it has exercised a most pernicious in
fiuence over its votaries, more particu
larly among the Arabs. 1t killed al
traces of civilization among the ancient
Egyptians, for which they were justly
celebrated and to which the Greeks
owed their progress.
But this religion suited Arab, procli
vities to a nicely; it was simple in..cree6
and ministered to their brutal passions
Divine unity and belief in MohammeG
as the true apostle of God were the only
essential requirements. 1t encouraged
polygamy and promised seventy-twt
houris in the life to come. 1t moreove
preached aggression and aggrandize
ment, made it virtue to war agains
unbelievers, and upheld the enslave
ment of captives. 1t not only legalizeG
their wonted vocation, but opened ,
regular market for the disposal o
their chattels wherever Islamism pre-
vailed.
The peculiar construction of societ,
among the Mohammedans is such as tx
render slave service Indispensable
Every household naturally require
domestic service, both for personal at
tendance and menial duties. But seclu
sion being one of the requirements O
the Koran, Mohammedan women ar
precluded from entering into such serv
ice, because they would thereby come
into contact with the male portion of ,
family, which, according to their relig
Gus idea of propriety, is unlawful. A
) to men who are not near relatives
they are strictly excluded from tn
} harems, or the apartments of women
, Hence Circassians are employed fo
} personal attendance, and the blacks fo
menial service.
Slaves being staple commodit
: among the Mussulmans, Mohammedan
ism greatly tended to stimulate th
ardor of the Arabs of Soudan to extr
exertion, and the consequence has bee
that the negroes of Central Africa hav
been the sufferers. Frequent incul
sions are made into their territories an
hordes are captured, who are eithe
l employed to till the ground for th
t benefit of their captors or sold int
} slavery, both men and women.
3 Such was the character and conditio
of Soudan prior to Mehemed Ali's cor
: quest of Egypt, and it has not under
f gone much change since.--M Y. HeraIt