The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1921-08-19
Mountaineers of Senegal.

prepared by the National Geographic So
ciety. Washington. d. c.
Senegal, brought into prominence
because Of the thousands of Senegal
csc who. as soldiers and laborers, as
sisted the French in the World war, is
the gateway and main trade route TO
Frances West African possessions.
In that country and i'm the regions
inland to the east, Recommendation
holds almost undlsputed sway; and
from there, some observers declare,
there Is likelihood that this religion
will sweep southwark until the great
majority Of African natives will be-
come MoSlems in name at least.
On its west, or Atlantic coast, Sene-
gal may be said TO mark the beginning
of the real Africa-the hot, moist
dark continent" peopled with negroes.
For northern Africa Is TO II large ex-
tent desert, and is the land of Arab
and Berber or Moor" As one steams
down the Atlantic coast Of Africa.
leaving the last of the perennial
streams of Morocco he skirts forbid
ding desert coast without n permanent
stream for 1,S00 miles. The first large
stream encountered is the Senegal,
emptying into the sea through a sys-
tenn of lakes and lagOOns, navigable
during the rainy season for 600 miles
inland. This was naturally one of the
best trade routes into the interior of
northwestern Africa, and by the con
StructiOn of a railroad from the rivers
rapids TO a point 49, miles farther IN
land II has been made still better.
Real Control by France Is Recent.
The foothold of France in Senegal
dates from the days of Richelieu. In
1886 Fort st. Louis was established as
n trading post ut the mouth of the
Senegal river France could point TO
little more than the maintenance of
coast stations in this region. however,
until relatively recent times. 1t was
not until near the middle of the Nine
teenth century that there was anything
like an aggressive effort To consolidate
Senegal under French control. How
great the progress has been since that
time is indicated by the fact that there
are now four Self-gover!ng municipal
cOmmunes In Senegal, and they jointly
send deputy to the French chamber
in Paris.
The portion of Sene..,l which may
be regarded aS having progr 'sSed far
toward becoming. like Algeria. II part
Of France. is small, embracing less
than Loco square miles atd having
population of only few hundred
thousands. The remainder OF Senegal,
with an area of more than 10000
square miles. consists of native states
under French projection and under
the supervision of resident agents.
Situated between desert Africa and
moist tropical Africa, Senegal is not
unnaturally region of mixed races.
~ one advances from the north. Tie
Senegal river marks the first encouu-
Ter with predominantly negro tribes.
as II marks the end of the desert and
lis fringe of Semi-deSert. ON the north
side of the river dwell people ~ Bcr-
Der or Moorish" Stock-Swarthy.
Straight-hairel. straightforward. To
the south OF the river the tribes vary
much in appearance. but practically
al are negroe:-black or dark choco-
'ate colOred. with broad flat noses and
kinky hair clos, To the coast are the
members of the WOlof tribe. who are
Usually regarded as typically Senegal
CSC They are said To De the blacklist
reeroes known. Even their lips are
black The people Of this tribe are
particularly loyal To the French and
have served IN large numbers as sol
jicrS.
Wise Methods al Administration.
T. administering senegal. - indeed
30 administering all her African pos
sessions. France has depended on tact
rather than OF force. Her officials no;
o.ly recognize native chiefs. but also
treat them Wit consideration. The
greatest of the rulers are presented
with valuable gifts which emphasize
he wealth and power ~ France, anu
some a. the leaders are taken "a Paris
as sGe..s 80 the government The