New-York tribune., 1907-06-09

,bfne-s 20 well or i'll with him. "If God Wills
Is the phrase which makes the humblest
f5lower Of the Prophet follow his bent
with violence and cunning and also endure op-
rression and defeat with a calmness incom-
r-chensible TO the European I'm sha Allah is
the cIeverest motto ever invented for who
have 70 hew lheir fortunes out Of an un-
certain world Many diplomat has probably
regretted that its plant fatalism is deharred
from Western business transactions. If only
the motto could be generally followed, Tppoo Tib.
King Of the Congo, would have many emulators
rluaer Northern skies And those who would let
mons fataIsm do their dirty work. could
scarcely learn the trick better than from Tfppoo
Tih Many are the Mahometans who have
carned greater glory by less consistent prac-
tiCe OF In sha Allah" for few men can see
their power and wealth fade away without get
ting angry at the order OF things. Tppoo Tfb,
though not absolutely unique in this respect is
nevertheless conspicuous for his philosophic
cain. Caumniators say he sold out TO the
white infdeIs as soon as he their victory in
Central Africa was inevitable But the shrerd
old savedriver and tribal monarch cannot be
perturbed by the ISLANDERS Of men too ignorant
70 know that the Prophet has warned his fol-
lowers to yield with good grace to the inevi-
tahIe- II the Prophet has spoken thus was It
not th@ duty OF the Congo cheftain to become
the white mans aIly7 II was a good business
proposition. TO be sure: but then that was only
because Allah has wiIled that those who obey
him shall prosper
The story OF TIppoo Tfb IS a double one. Civ
f1z II one narrative the ethics and diplomacy OF
consistent Nahometan and also the African
side Of the exploitation Of East Central Africa
Perhaps II would be more accurate to say that
r1t the African. but the Arab side of the Euro
T5an invasion is here recounted; for DR.. Rrode's
book is a translation Of the tales old Tipppo Tib
Pus-5 10 tel him in after days at Zanzibar How
ever much the retired slave driver may have
wished tell about the tribes he "traficked"
with he could not do so; for the memory Of
man is Ealting. and some of the anecdotes in the
confessions happened nearly half century
before the telling. Then, too, a candid
slave driver must save his face now and then;
and his own hints. properly patched together
make Cne entertain mild doubts about some Of
TIE Arabs charges against the blacks. But. as
the Africans stories of oppression and exter-
rnfuatfon VIII never be told in all their horror.
Tirpoo Tbs account Of the havoc wrought by
the white mans lust for ivory and the Arabs
E-eo5 FOR slaves is a welcome and fascinating
substitute.
The African monarch was admirably fitted by
bi-ta and education for his career; half Negro,
trading expeditions in the days before the white
mans gun and the white mans law had begun
q change the face OF the land. At nineteen the
youth went his own search for slaves and
r. ~. and succeeded from the start. II is a
sl-lnge story that he has given US through Dr.
T-gde, a story which may never again be
-tched in the history Of this rapidly civilizing
world Paying tribute 10 petty kings for the
right Of way, buying stockades full Of elephants
t-szs for bag Of beads and brass rods, being
. attacked by bandits and the fever, carrying of
hole villages OF blacks on any convenient pre-
{texts. alternately revellng at the trading posts
and suffering cruel hardshps in pestiferous
JungIes-that Tippoo Tbs life
Add 20 this the fact that, in all his fifty years
Of wandering across the hottest belt Of the Dark
Continent, the chieftain only once failed TO go
foot, and you may imagine what manner Of
man II was who made It possible for Cameron,
Stanley and Wissman, the three most intrepid
explorers. to open up Central Africa to the
world. Tppoo TTb guide and friend to all
three occasionally also their philosopher when
ever it became necessary to do things unpIeas-
ant the squeanish European mind
The trader had little Of the story teIlers in
stinct in him. If may judge from DR.. Brode's
book Anecdote succeeds anecdote SO closely
that there is almost unbroken opportunity for
giving the listener thrills but rarely do the
thrills come This Is not surprising, though,
for fine words are strange to the man Of action.