Evening star., 1926-11-21


tertained for many a day started back
to their native land yesterday.
During the three weeks they have
been in the National Capital they have
received thousands of visitors and
maintained through 1t all a remark
able degree of courtesy and good
humor. They came here as mission
aries. Each sought converts for q
somewhat different faith, but 1t was
the most friendly sort of rivalry, ana
they are going back the best or
friends. as they. were when they
arrived.
The two. 1t need hardly be said. are
James and Saidi, Tanganyikan natives
who accompanied. DR.. William NJ.
Mann and his collection Of wild AMI.
mails from East Africa. They have
made their headquarters at the zoo,
where they have attracted more at
tention than any Of the wild animals.
Number Of Converts Doubtful.
Whether they have made any con.
yerts among the heathen natives or
this queer land in which they found
themselves is somewhat doubtful-but
with such large crowds f1ocking to
see them they could not resist putting
in some appeals for the subjects clos
est to their hearts.
James. the smaller and more modest
Of the two, was by far the most per-
sistent in his missionary endeavors,
particularly among the numerous
colored contingents who came to see
him. The little negro, in q palm beacn
suit, wrist watch. given him IN MS
native land strapped on In dapper
style, has become a familiar picture
passing among the crowd. with
his beloved, tattered Christian prayer
book. in the Tangany1kaM language
and beautifully illustrated.
James is c. mission boy. His dgyo.
ton to his religion, according TO Dr.
Mann, who has watched him closely
since they left Africa, Is q beAnurul
thing. He never misses an opportu-
nifty to say a good word for 1t.
Used Sign Language.
James, in common with the mission
aries who first went among MS own
people, was unable to speak WORD OF
the language Of those he sought TO
convert and had to convey his sentl-
ments to them by sign preaching. lie
will go back to Africa more an admirer
than ever Of such men as David Liv-
ingstone, who brought the gospel into
the dark continent.
It was somewhat different with
Saidi. the M0slem. He had a bigger
field to work in but didn't seem to take
his faith quite so seriously as did
James. He contented himself with
wearing his red fez all the time and
explaining what 1t meant. Saidi was
better equipped than James. He had
picked up broken German while serv'
ing in the German army in the Tan
ganyika province during the World
War and quite frequently found per-
sons in his audiences with whom ne
could carry on a conversation.
Saidi and James are glad to 90 back.
They have, as a matter of fact, no al
tentative. They are wards Of the
British government and were allowed
to leave Africa only on DR.. Mann's
promise that they would be sent back
in a few weeks. They will be taken to
New York and put on freighter
which goes direct to Dar-Es.S .Salaam.
capital of their native colony.
For the first few days Of their visit
the two were handicapped in their ef-
forts to make friends by an unfortu.
nate rumor-how it started nobody
nibals. You can't be very cordial
with a fellow whose mouth is water
ing, you think, to eat you. Nothing
could have been further from the
truth. and the broad. good patured
smiles Of James and Saidi soon did
away with the rumor.
Aided Expedition Greatly.
Probably the most numerous among
their visitors were colored children.
These children came at first in fear
and trembling but it was not long be.
fore they were allowing the two Al.
ricans to pat them on their curly
heads and were trying to talk with
them.
The children Of Washington owe
something tangible to the two negroes
1t was largely due to their faithful.
ness and experience that some OF the
more valuable animals in the Smith.
sonian. .Chrysler collection were
brought the long distance from Dar-
Es-Salaam alive. Probably their
greatest sorrow will be in parting with
the two giraffes, whom they have
nursed like babies. The g1raffes &C.
tually smile when James and Saidi,
always together, come and stand in
front Of their cage.
It has been three weeks Of wonder
to the Africans. For the first time
they have gazed upon modern civiliza.