ACROSS THE SUDAN.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3392, 7 December 1911, Page 8

ACROSS THE SUDAN.

FRO i THE NICER TO THE NILE. THE ”ERIL OF MOHAMMEDANISMBefore an audience at the Wcll'ngte” Town Hall. Dr Karl Kumm, thc emi ent African mission organise* . Mid plorer, told in interesting la g«g t}ie story of his great maid * • , Sudan, from.the Alger to S ed by a route not previously tiaiciseo explorers. Dr A. K. Newman pri ded and briefly introduced Dr Kumn to hm audience. By way of turer gave an interesting lesume jr what may be described as the j mcdaii situation in Africa.

CRESCENT AND CROSS. The predominant religion m Me Sudan provinces was Mohammed, which was sweeping steadily southwaid to the Cape. Five hundred yea is< g , or thereabouts, the southern advane b of tho Crescent had been checked I fierce oppostion of the J. agan ‘ whose territories made a hue across Central Africa, and that opposition had continued until quite recently, . the advent of tlie white man had paved the wav for commercial intercourse between the contests, and the coming <> the Mohammedan religious tcacnci s. Phis wave of Mohammedanism was a serious menace to the future peace ot the African Continent, a most distui bing factor in the political situation, sinister characteristic of the .Mohammedan faith was the fierce and remorseless fanaticism which, it inspired, and _ m kindling of that smouldering fire mto a blaze was a possibility to be very seriously regarded in a continent whicii swarmed with the followers or tlie Crescent. To denationalise, to Europeanise those black races of Africa m the hope of countei acting the influence of Mohammedanism would be futile. 'There was only one way, lie believed, and that was to Christianise Africa. (Applause.) INTO THE UNKNOWN.

After a brief and interesting talk about the general scheme of mission work in the Sudan, and a reference to the first Missionary Conference winch had ever been held there—organised by him prior to setting out on liis exploring trip, Dr Kumm took liis hearers with him on a march across Africa from the Niger to the Nile, selecting a new route southward of that taken by the unfortunate British officer, Lieutenant Boyd-Alexandor, who was killed on his second trip across the continent. Owing to the shortness of the time, and the immense stretch of territory to be covered, the lecturer was unable to dwell at any great length upon an v conspicuous incidents of the journey, and had to content himself with a flying survey of the route, pointing his storv with lantern views of the peoples and" tilings he had encountered on the march. \he story of his adventures was like a tale from the Arabian Nights. He talked of ancient civilisations in tlie heart of the continent, of giant and pigmy races, of the eccentric "beak people of the Sudan, whose women were deformed, from early childhood till maturity by an artificial disfigurement of the lips.’ These were induced to grow outwards and saucer-shaped—-sometimes the protusion measured six inches—by the insertion ol a piece of wood shortly after birth, the .result being to endow a woman who would otherwise have been comely to look upon, with a permanentaspect of repugnant- ugliness. This barbaric custom had originally been introduced during an earlier period _of tribal warfare and slavery, it being thought that the disfigurement of the women would he their best protection from capture and slavery. AT THE LAST HOPE.

The most thrilling part of the story was the final struggle to Katka. with a following of 250, which included a large number of liberated slaves, who had been picked up after leaving the last French post en route to the Nile. From that post to Katka. where provisions could lie restocked, was estimated at I(5 days, but it was the rainy season, the grass was high progress was difficult, the rivers and creeks were swollen, and the journey to Katka lasted till the provisions were exhausted and days of starvation and dogged marching ill dumb despair had supervened. Katka was reached only to discover that human occupation had ceased 10 years before, and when the last hope fled, the elephant hunters, who had been lent to the expedition by a Senussi chief back in the hinterland, picked up a welcome “spoor’ ’which led to a human habitation and a British outpost. It was a thrilling narrative, followed with intense interest by the audience, and a hearty vote of thanks was accorded Dr Ivuniin when lie concluded.