The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-07-19

49, PAo - IN No
for their full share in the council OF
the viceroy. A delegation recently de-
handed five seats in that council from
as many provinces, to be elected ex-
clusively by Mohammedan voters, n
additional MohammedanS to be elected
by property owners, as wei as one to
be nominated by the viceroy of Belu-
chistan. It has already been decided
to give them a big representation, n
from now on they will ask for more
and more of the Offices. SO far the
Hindoos have been getting more than
their share, and the Mohammedans
feel it. They think they have been
pounded by both the British and peo-
pie of other religions without reason.
In a recent speech one of them com
pared their position as like that of the
oad in the schoolboy's fable. Said the
man to the boy: why are you throw
ing stones at it, it's only a toad?'
Yes was the reply Of the boy, and
III larn it to be a toad
The orator claimed that the other
sects were trying to 'larn' the Mo-
hammedans to be a toad. He claimed
that this has been their action for
ears, and concluded b saying that the
MOhammedan toad, like that Of
Shakespeare, might yet ave a pre-
cious jewel in its heel" and it should
be properly treated.
Educating tie NOhamnledans.
The Hindoos of Indian have practi-
cally monopolized the schools. They
are greedy for education, and espe-
cially so as a step to government Of
flee. They are quick to learn and they
the greater part of the five
million students in the government
schools. The Mohammedans are nat
urally illiterate. 1t is a principle of
their religion that there is nothing
good outside the Koran, and in the
past the only incentive for them to
learn has been that they might read
their Bibles. According to the best
estimates about, about 80 per cent Of
the Mohammedans of Tripoli, Algeria
and Egypt cannot read and write. The
Bedouins are all illiterate. The Per-
slams are almost as bad, and here in
India SO per Ger of the Mohamme-
dams cannot read. That is there are
only four persons in every hundred
among them who can read and write,
and that under the English govern
ment in a semi-civilized country.
The MohaInmedans have been dis
cuSslng their situation since the ia
pan-RusSian war. They feel that it is
their own fault that they have not a
greater share in the government. The
desire tor education is spreading.
Cheap translations Of the sacred
books are being circulated, and asso-
Citations for the Improvement and ele-
walton of the Mohammedans are be
ing formed The more progressive
are now sending their boys to govern
ment schools, and many are p~atroniz-
ing the Mohanmedan College at Ali
garh. This institution is ituated
about Seventy-eight miles from here
in one of the old cities of India 1t
was started thirty-fve years ago as a
small school, but it is now an up-to-
date modern college, giving a degree
of Of arts. 1t has a staff of
English University graduates as teach
erS, but its trustees are MOhammedans
and many Of the professors are of that
religion, In addition to the ordinary
studies, it pays especial attention to
Sanscrit, Arabic and Persian, and the
students are carefully instructed IN
the Mohamnedan religion. The Ko-
ran Is read IN the chapel, and prayers
are enforced, the boys bowling toward
Mecca as they go through devotions.
The Aligarh students are devoted to
modern athletics. They have a cricket
team, which is one of the best in In
dia, and they strain and tug at foot
bal and run upon the track. The col
1eSe is independent Of the government,
and it is largely supported by the con
tributions of Mohammedans.
In addition to this school there
are minor institutions in some of the
Mohanmedan cities, and the mission.
aries are enrolling more and more
Mohammedans in their schools from
year to year. This is especially so
with the Y. NJ. c.. A., which has
boarding clubs and hotels in which
MOhammedans and Hindoos eat to-
gether. This means much in a caste
country like India. The missionaries
tell me it is more difficult to convert
the Mohammedans han the Hindoos.
The Mohammedans are the stronger
They are better fed and bette,
bred. They do not believe in child
marriage and they encourage the re-
marriage Of widows The most of
them live in cities and eat meat. The |
majority Of the Hindoos live in the
n subslst upon vegetables and
have barely enough to keep soul and
body together. The Mohammedans
hate h Hindoos and would start a
religious war against them at anv time
If the British should leave.
HHlia'S RicceSt Nosouo