The Raymer enterprise., 1921-06-23

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(prsparsd BY the National Geographic =.
eisty. Warrington D. CO.
Senegal. brought into prominence
because Of the thousands Of Senegal.
ese 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 In the regions
inland to the east. Mohammedanlsm
holds almost undIsputed sway; and
from there, some observers declare,
there is likelihood that this religion
will sweep s0uthward 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 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 permanent
stream for 1900 miles. The FIRST large
stream encountered d the Senegal,
emptying into the sea through q sys-
TEN 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-
structlon Of a railroad from the rivers
rapids to q point 4S6 miles farther In.
land. II has been made still better.
Real Control BY France 10 Recent.
The foothold Of France In Senegal
dates from the days Of Richelieu. In
1855 Fort st. Louis was established as
Z trading post at 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 ID indicated by the fact that there
are now four self-governing municipal
communes In Senegal, and they Jointly
send a deputy to the French chamber
IN Paris.
The portion Of Senegal which may
be regarded 40 having progressed far
toward becoming, like Algeria, a part
Of France Is small, embracing less
than 1000 square miles and 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 protection and under
the supervision Of resident agents.
Situated between desert Africa and
moist tropical Africa, Senegal Is not
unnaturally a region Of mixed races.
Al one advances from the north, the
Senegal river marks the first encoun.
ter With predominantly negro tribes,
az It marks the end Of the desert and
Ito fringe Of semi-desert. On the north
side Of the river dwell people Of Ber.
Der or Moorish" stock-swarthy,
stralght-haired, straight-nosed. To
the south OF the river the tribes vary
much In appearance, but practically
al are negroes black or dark choco-
late colored, with broad fat noses and
kinky hair. Close to the coast are the
members Of the Wolof tribe, who are
usually regarded q typically Senegal
ese. They are said to be the blacklist
negroes known. Even their lips are
black. The people Of this tribe are
particularly loyal to the French and
have served In large numbers a. SOL
diers.
Wlss Mstheds o. Administrator.
In administering Senegal, o. indeed
In administering I'll her African pos
ssssions. France has depended On tact
eathsr than q force. Her o6lcials not
only recognise native ehisfs, but also
nsat thsm with conddsration. The
greatest Of ths rulers an presented
With valuable gifts. which emphaSse
ths wealth a1d power & France, and
ooms of IL lealess ~ tnbea u Paris
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