Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 3.djvu/186

 among which are numerous Senegambian hajis. The Toucouleurs are specially distinguished by their Mohammedan fanaticism. Their intelligence, energy, and ambition also render them formidable rivals of their Negro neighbours, and even of the French settlers. Living on the left bank of the main stream over against, the Moors who occupy the north side, they have often obstructed the navigation, and had they not been divided amongst themselves the Europeans could never have conquered the Senegal basin. Till quite recently the French columns had great difficulty in penetrating into the Toucouleur territory; but in 1885, after long diplomatic negotiations, the Government was allowed to complete the telegraph system between Gorée on the Atlantic and Bamaku on the Mger by connecting the eastern and western sections across the hitherto hostile district from Saldé to Bakel. In Kaarta, also, north of Bakhoy and Baulé, the way is again barred to the French by the Toucouleur conquerors of that region. But notwithstanding their independent and fanatical spirit, their love of labour and enterprise render them a useful element in the Senegal basin. They emigrate freely in search of fortune, and whole colonies of Toucouleur peasantry have established themselves on the banks of the Gambia.

In the presence of all these different races, who are still in the same period of historic development and social organisation as the Europe of mediaeval times, the modern epoch with its new ideas and advanced institutions is represented by the few whites who are settled at Saint-Louis, Gorée, and Dakar on the coast, and who visit the riverain stations or make exploring journeys into the interior. Yet even this handful of Frenchmen does not thoroughly represent all the organic elements of European society, for it comprises none but traders, soldiers, and officials, with a few artisans amongst the military conscripts. Although the oldest of the French possessions, Senegal has the least claim to its title of "colony." Hither no Europeans have ever come freely to settle down in the country as artisans or labourers, and even in most prosperous years not more than seven Hundred or eight hundred men have ever arrived of their own accord. Women are so rare that their presence is looked upon as a proof of heroism. This, of course, is due to the dangerous character of the climate, which, speaking broadly, is fatal to Europeans of weak constitution and to all who do not pay the strictest attention to diet and sanitary precautions. To the numerous local endemics are occasionally added violent epidemics, such as cholera and especially yellow fever, which latter has broken out six times since 1830, usually carrying off over one-half of the French residents in the coast towns.

Although certain partial experiments have succeeded, as, for instance, the construction of the railway from Dakar to Saint-Louis by European navvies, we must still repeat with Bérenger-Féraud that "the acclimatisation of the French in Senegal is a chimera." Until some infallible specifics are discovered against miasma and yellow fever, and health resorts established on the Futa-Jallon uplands, Euro-