The Donaldsonville chief., 1912-02-03

as in Europe, it is considered more d1stln-
guished not to be an agriculturist. The MO-
hammedan coast population do grow some
vegetables and fruit, but as for the principal
food, which is rice, they depend on the people
of the interior. On their excursions they nave
always money with them and they never FOR
get to make a show OF III
sThe Mohamme dams alasas dress In q better
way than the heather, and they very cuHningiy
array themselves In clothes which excite the
coyetousness and desire Of their heathen
neighbors, who are very fond OF buying new
articles They like to perfume themselves ana
constantly speak with contempt about eating
nork and OF other customs Of the people OF the
interior. in short, they know how to behave
as people Of higher rank and quality than the
simple pagans.
"Through all these means the Mohammedan
traders arouse the people of the interior to i'm
tate their customs, and all these things are
profitable to propagation Of Islam
From Aslatic Russia come similar surpris-
mp tidings OF Moslem entertainments in the
feId of pagan conversion. "A Christian work
or in that territory tells how, at the beginning
Of the nineteenth century, the Apostle OF the
Alta,' reverend Father Maeary, crossed the
n1ains south Of Tobolsk In Siberia to reach
the Altai, and perceived the state of the mil
lions of heather Kirghis living there. He asked
the Russian government to allow him to begin
missionary work among the Kirghis but ne
was told that these people We're too savage
as vet to become converts to Christianity.
Not long after that Mohammedan mission
aries entered the field, worked with great zeal
and perseverance, and won over all the Kirghis
tribes to the faith of Islam.
AS result Of this setback, the writer states
.'tne Christian missionary has now to fight, not
the weak and beggarly elements Of an animis-
oliciap htrf iyciu 1nap
granite fortress of Islam"
Regarding the general situation in Siberia
the same missionary says:
"Moslem propaganda is gaining in strength
and Mohammedan influence Is growing, while
Christian influence, as represented by the Rus
sian church. is weaker. The unlucky war with
Japan and the proclamation Of liberty of con-
science have done their work. Forty thou
sand baptized Christians, formerly Mohamme-
dams and heathens, have returned to pagan
ism and Islam. islam especially comes out OF
this crisis strengthened and more aggressive
than ever before"
In China there are millions OF Moham-
medans, but, according to Christian testimony
they are not markedly aggressive In propagat
ing the doctrines OF the prophet The same
seems true Of Turkey and Persia
In conclusion, attention should be called te
a phase of the Mohammedan situation, whict
As espeCAa4iy lIOm the Iact tnaE IL ii
near to home viz: the activity OF Moslen
proselytizers In this western hemisphere
In several OF the West Indian Islands ami
the Guiana territory Of South America ther,
are thousands OF East Indian Mohammedans
In British Guiana there are $4,000; in Dutcl
Guiana, $500; In Central America and tn
West Indies. 10000
Such small fraction OF the population
might well be omitted In our survey" stat
the editors OF islam and Missions" were
not that undoubted testimony comes In regar
to the activity of Islam. especially In Britts
Guiana and the West Indies
Ii the results of a centurys missionary e
fort IN British Guiana are to be preserved th
Christian church must make more dete
mined effort to combat the influence OF th
East Indian The struggle of the future
British Guiana will be between Christ and M
hamme