Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 2.djvu/418

 840 NORTH-WEST AFEICA. At first sight the religious organisation of such a large section of the Mussul- man population might seem to constitute a real danger for the French supremacy. A number of writers even regard these institutions as so many societies of con- spirators banded together both by a common faith and hatred of their rulers. At night in the Moorish coffee-houses, after the story-tolling and recitation of poetry is concludc<l, the khwans are said to draw near, and to utter in bated breath the prophecies foretelling the approaching advent of the Mul-el-Sad, or " Lord of the Hour." They speak of the day when the Mussulman soil shall be cleansed from the presence of the detested Rumi, and mutually excite each other to hatred of the foreigner. Doubtless gatherings of this sort are of frequent occurrence ; but the religious brotherhoods lack the unity necessary to give consistency to these conspiracies. Certainly the various orders profess the purest orthodoxy, differing little from each other except in their formulas, genuflexions, and other outward observances. It is also true that the members of each association are mutually connected by the strictest obligations of the confraternities. But the various groups are still far from considering themselves as united in a compact body. Each order is itself split up into distinct sections, with nothing in common except the spiritual rule, and differing from each other in the conflicting interests of their several sheikhs and mkaddcms. Like the marabuts, most of the latter have chiefly at heart the accumulation of wealth and increase of their personal influence. They seek to stand well with the constituted authorities, and will even occasionally favour Christians with letters of protection and diplomas of "honorary associates," entitling them to the support of the community like ordinary members. Insurrections are seldom caused by religious motives, nor have the orders ever plunged bodily into a " holy war." All the khwans seera to bear in mind the Sufi principle forbidding them " to risk death in undertakings above their strength." " Fear the French ! The fear of the French is the fear of God ! " said a religious sheikh to his disciples in the Khenga oasis. Thus, however great their hatred of the invader, they have lost the warlike spirit necessary to contend with him. Compelled to absolute submission towards their chiefs, " as towards God himself," bound to dismiss from their mind " all argument good or bad, lest meditation lead them into error," their sole ambition being to impart to their limbs, their voice, and expression,, the mechanical forms of the ritual, the khwans become gradually transformed to helpless imbeciles incapable of will or understanding. In reciting certain prayers the face has to be turned to the right shoulder while uttering hi, then to the left saying hu, then bent down with a ha. The omission of these mutterings and attitudes renders the prayer inefficacious. The history of Algeria shows that insurrectionary movements have never acquired any real importance amongst these degraded devotees, but only amongst the manly tribes which have preserved the full consciousness of their political life.