Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1921-07-07
Mountaineer. Of Senegal.
Prepared by tho National Geographic So
cietY. WaahinRton ID. Cl

Prepared by tho National Geographic So
ciety. Warrington. D. C.I
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.
LII that country and in the regions
inland to the east, Mohammedanlsm
holds almost undisputed sway; and
from there, some observers declare,
there is lIlleli.. God that this religion
will sweep southwark. until the great
majority of African natives will be-
conc 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
'darls 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 a permanent
stream for 1900 miles. The first large
stream encountered is the Senegal,
elnptying into the sea through sys-.
fem Of lakes and lagoons. navigable
during the rainy season for GOO miles
inland. This was naturally one of the
best trade routes into the interior of
northwestern Africa, and by the con-
structi0n of railroad from the rivers.
rapids to a point 4S5 miles farther In.
land, 1t has been made still better.
Real Control by France 10 Recent.
The foothold of France In Senegal
dates from the days of RichelieN In
1896 Fort st. Louis was established as
q 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. It 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-governlng municipal
communes In Senegal, and they jointly
send deputy to the French chamber
In Paris.
The portion Of Senegal which may
he regarded. as having progressed far
toward becoming, like Algeria, part
Of France, Is small, embracing less
than 1000 square miles and having q
population of only few hundred
thousands. The remainder of Senegal,
with an area of more than 10000
square miles, consists of native states
the supervision Of resident agents.
Situated between desert Africa and
moist tropical Africa, Senegal is not
unnaturally region of mixed races.
Az one advances from the north, the
Senegal river marks the first encoun-
ter with predominantly negro tribes,
as 1t marks the end of the desert and
Its fringe of semi-uesert. 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
all are negroes or dark choco-
late colored, with broad fiat noses and
finky hair. Close to the coast are the
members Of the Wolof tribe. who are
usually regarded as typically Senegal.
csc. 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 as sol
diers.
Wise Methods OF Administration
In administering Senegal, Us indeed
In administering all her African pos
sessions, France has depended on tao
rather than on force. Her officials no
only recognize native chiefs. but ais
treat them with consideration. TIL
greatest Of the rulers are presente'
with valuable gifts. which elnphnsiz
Z the wealth and power Of France. am
some o. the lenders are taken 10 Par
p % guests u the government. III