Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1921-07-06

French administrators have earned
the gratitude OF the large and infuen-
tlal trading class In Africa by breaking
up brigandage and policing the cara
van routes. The MOSlems are all
grateful because OF the French policy.
which has insured privacy TO the
mosques and harems and has permit
ted them to continue their schools and
colleges, and In some cases has even
subsidized such institutions.
But though France has permitted
Moslem schools to be carried on, she
has not left all schooling TO the Mo
hammedans. Public schools have been
established in Senegal and elsewhere
i'm the West African possessions, In
which children of the various races,
tribes and religions are taught in
French. At present these schools reach
only n few thousand children in Sene-
gal. but the system is being extended
as rapidly as possible.
Excellent roads have been built by
the French in Senegal, connecting the
various towns and supplementing the
river and rail routes - the sea coast.
Dakar. which is situated under the
lee OF Cape Verde, the westernmost
point of land I'm Africa, is the best port
on the whole west coast, and almost
the only port on that coast ut which
ocean-gOing vessels can tie up along
side a quay protected from the surf.
AS a result. the commerce Of the port
is heavy, and the trade route to the
east starting there is used 10 distribute
and collect supplies TO and from ex-
tensive regions in the interior. Dakar
il the seat Of administration for all
French West Africa and has a larger
European population (abOut $1,000
than any other town In Senegal or the
nelghboring countries.
No Place for White Hen.
Senegal is not "white mans cOun-
try" Because Of its climatic cOndi-
tons IL is unhealthful for Europeans
and probably always will be. The
French recognize this and have made
no efforts to cOlonize the country. The
European population is made up almost
entirely of administrators of various
kinds, and traders. This situation has
made necessary the French plan OF
organizing the country largely on the
basis of native states under prOtec.
ton.
Although cattle-raising on the grassy
plains of the upper Senegal has long
been the chief industry. agriculture
has attained a place OF greater impOr-
lance in recent years. The principal
article OF export is the peanut. and
considerable amounts Of other OF
seeds, oils. hides. rubber. timber and
cocoa also are sent out Senegal ships
large quantities of kOla or cola nuts.
These are eaten by the natives
throughout western Africa, and even
in the more remote parts Of the conti-
nent. because of their stimulating
qualities.
Cotton grows wild and its prOduc-
ton might be made into an important
SenegaleSe industry but for the habits
Of the natives. They are unwilling TO
engage in the cultivation OF a crop
which requires considerable steady
work and a relatively long wait for
maturity. They prefer to raise such
crops as peanuts and millet which re-
quire little attention between planting
and harvest.
While there are few tribes OF ma
lives in the outlying portions Of Sene-
gal whose members practice fetish
worship. the great majority OF the in
habitants OF the country profess
MOhammedanism. This religion was
introduced both by the Berbers or
"MOOrs" from the north and by near
~ pure negroes who came from the
West about the Thirteenth century
and set up the powerful sultanate Of
Timbuctu. Ssme Of the tribes OF Sene-
gal are apparently staunch Moham-
medans. bat others are only nominal
followers or the Prophet, preserving
their superstitions and pagan prac-
tices much as nominal Christians con-
tinued TO hold TO such superstitions In
Europe during the Dark Ages.