THE GREAT MEN OF AFRICA.
[To THZ EDITOR OP THZ" EIPICTATOR."] STE,—In your interesting article on "The Great Men of Africa" (Spectator, October 29th), you say that Rabah "has no access to &supply of ammunition." Are you quite sure that that is the case? No doubt it is a fact that a native report vid. the Niger some time ago described Rabah as lacking ammunition, and as having been driven to arm a number of his men with bows and arrows. But all the news we have had of Rabah through Niger sources recently has been so bewilderingly contradictory in character that it would be unwise, perhaps, to give undue weight to this particular rumour. Admitting for the sake of argument that Rabah does not and cannot obtain gunpowder v14 the Binne, there are at least two sources from which he may conceivably renew his supplies,—viz., the Cameroona Hinterland and the Tripoli trade-routes. Rabah's advance posts scout as far south as Ngaundere, and German traders would not object to see the French hampered in their Chadward march just now. Pre- vious experiences have, unhappily, shown what usually happens under similar conditions of European rivalry. Failing the Cameroons, it would be strange indeed if Rabah, who partly controls the southern base of the Tripoli caravan roads, were enable to make arrangements with the merchants of Fezzan. He is rich enough to offer rewards well worth the striving for. In fact, there is good reason for believing that he has been receiving surreptitiously for some time past quick- firing rifles vid Benghasi and Murzuk. Whether Rabah eventually proves a really formidable foe to European pene- tration or not, depends perhaps more upon his relations with Senussiism than on anything else. On the whole, a good many indications would seem to point to the probability of Rabah making himself heard of to some purpose before very long to the south-east of the Chad, where he is almost certain to come into collision with the De Behagle, Bonnel de Mezieres, Bretonnet, and Foureau expeditions. He seems to hate and to dread the French more than any other Europeans, as witness the death-trap he laid for Crampel, and the strong presumption that he was privy to the recent assassination of Cazemajou at Zinder.—I am, Sir, &cc., Llangollen, North Wales, Oct. 30th. EDMUND D. MOREL.
[We do not attach much weight to the bows-and-arrows story, but we hold to our opinion that Rabeh has not sufficient means of procuring arms and ammunition to resist a Euro- pean Power in a long struggle. The Germans, who are them- selves advancing on Lake Tchad, will not allow him to be supplied from their posts. He may, of course, cut up one of the small French expeditions ; but it is more likely that he will avoid any collision with white men. The Cazemajou party was destroyed at Zinder, where Rabeh's influence probably does not reach ; and the reason for the attack given by the survivors was that a rumour had spread to the effect that they were marching to join Rabeh. M. Gentil had to remove a similar impression before he could gain entrance into Baghirmi. The religious question is interesting. Rabeh was originally a Senussi, and refused submission to the ]1:ahdi; but not long ago he changed sides and acknow- ledged the Khalifa. This record scarcely points to his head- a jehad.—ED. Spectator.]
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