and many other things show the tendency of the government policy."

Dr. Kumm, who represents the Sudan United Mission which works in Northern Nigeria, reports the case of a large tribe recently conquered, the chief of which is now a Moslem worshipping at a mosque recently erected. The case will be the same with other tribes reduced to subjec tion by the British government. He expected that the Munchis, one of the very finest of African tribes, would be subdued within a year, and so forced to open its doors to Islam. He adds: "Not one of these tribes would have let a Mohammedan trader or missionary into their countries before British arms conquered them." The United Sudan Mission, by its hospitals, orphanages and schools is beginning an excellent work and none too soon.

In Sierra Leone the advance is steady. The C. M. S. Gazette for October, 1910, thus reports the progress in the Mendi country, about one hundred miles south of Sierra Leone: "The introduction of Mohammedanism into this land is of recent date. Many a native town once innocent of the influence of the prophet now owns a mosque or two. The propagandism is not conducted by any special order of priests set apart for the purpose, but every Mussulman is an active missionary. Some half a dozen of them, more or less, meeting in a town, where they intend to reside for any length of time, soon run up a mosque and begin work. They first approach the chief of the town and obtain his consent to their intended act, and perhaps his promise to become an adherent. They teach him their prayers in Arabic, or as much as he can, or cares to, commit to memory. They put him through the forms and ceremonies used in praying, forbid him the

I W. R. S. Miller in the Annual Report of the United Sudan Mission, p. 62.

Annual Report of the United Sudan Mission, p. 16.

use of alcoholic beverages-a restriction as often observed as not-and, lo! the man is a convert. Little or no further trouble is taken to instruct him in the tenets of the religion, nor does he need to forsake any of those habits and practices he was addicted to when a heathen.

"There is still time to meet the evil if only prompt measures are taken. The hold of Mohammedanism on the minds of the people in Mendiland is at present slight, and a vigorous, well-sustained push onwards on the part of Christians would, without much trouble, roll back the tide; but if allowed time, the sway of the prophet will increase."

The Governor of Nyassa is reported to have said: "Twenty years ago, when I first knew Nyassaland, Mohammedanism was almost non-existent except at one or two spots, where it had been brought in by the Arabs. Since then, it has spread greatly, particularly during the last eight or ten years. The Yaos are the tribe who have taken to Moslem teaching mostly. On the other hand, among the tribes to the west of Lake Nyassa, there is hardly any Mohammedanism. Here the Scotch missionaries have a strong hold on the people, who have taken up Christianity with great enthusiasm.

"The spread of Mohammedanism to Nyassaland has been from the east coast of Africa (not from the Sudan), and is due largely to the Arabs from Zanzibar. The movement has grown of itself; there has been nothing in the shape of a propaganda. propaganda. All through Yaoland --that is to say, from Lake Nyassa to the East Coastthere is in almost every village a mosque and a Moslem teacher.

"The Protectorate Government has taken up an impartial line, and has taken no side in religious differences. There is no fear of any danger as long as this attitude of impartiality is observed. Neither do I think that this

Mohammedan movement is likely to spread south of the Zambezi owing to strong European influences there."

This statement shows how important it is that Christianity should be first in the field.

In Rhodesia there is no organized Moslem propaganda, but amongst workers for the mines who come from the lake regions there are a few Moslems.

In South Africa Islam has not been at all aggressive. South of the Zambezi the Moslem question is not yet an acute one.

The conclusion clearly is that there is a loud call to the Church to support vigorously missions in Africa, which are endeavouring to forestall the operations of Islam among the pagan races. Never before has the crisis been so acute. The Moslem advance in Africa is so extensive, so constant, and so rapid that the speedy evangelization of the pagan people there is the most urgent work upon which the Church is now invited to enter. If it is not done without delay, large parts of Africa will be almost irretrievably lost, for her teeming millions will have entered into the fold of Islam.

PROF. CARL MEINHOFF, LL. D., HAMBURG

W

HILE Islam is steadily retreating from the European continent, and as steadily declining in power and influence, this is not the case as regards the contact of Islam with African paganism. According to the unanimous opinion of experts, the Mohammedan religion is by no means dying out, but is making considerable, and even ominous progress in Africa.

How is this possible?

Würtz has laid special emphasis on the fact that the pacification of heathen countries and the suppression of the slave trade have been favourable to the spread of Islam. Since the Mohammedan intruders are no longer allowed to raid and enslave the heathen, it is no longer to their interest that the latter should remain heathen, and accordingly they are content to extend their influence and their power by way of peaceable trading expeditions. At the same time their tacit opposition to European civilization is all in their favour. The state of peace and security, which the African has gained through the establishment of European government, is accompanied by the feeling that he is being ruled by strange and frequently very uncomfortable people. As the recollection of former sufferings fades out of his memory, this

1 Compare F. Würtz: "Die Mohammedanische Gefahr in Westafrika"; Basler, "Missionsstudien," p. 21; Verlag, "Der Basler Missionsbuchhandlg."