Belgian Congo 49 ] MOHAMMEDANISM It seems hardly probable that Mohammedanism is destined to play an important part in the Congo. It owed its introduction to foreign aggression, and its spread was conditioned by political circumstances which have ceased to exist. There appears to be no evidence that any converts to Islam have been made among tribes exempt from Arab domination , or that any missionary enthusiasm has displayed itself among the arabized tribes. Entire freedom of worship and . of missionary effort is secured by the Berlin Act ; but, though Mohammedanism has the advantage over Christianity in that it sanctions polygamy, domestic slavery, and the exploitation of women as workers, it is handicapped by the fact that it is no longer a State religion, and that in its general teaching it is far above the animism of the Congolese negro. The Government of the Congo has made no effort to encourage Moham medanism since the definite abandonment of the policy, pursued till 1890, of permitting the Arabs to control the eastern Congo. Mohammedan law and native education receive only the same degree of recog nition as is accorded to pagan institutions; and opinion in Belgium 1 seems to be distinctly opposed to the idea that the improvement effected in civilization by Mohammedanism is such as to justify the encourage ment of its spread as a possible preliminary to the adoption of Christianity. On political grounds a Mohammedan revival would doubtless present formid able difficulties ; and Belgium is directly interested in any steps which may be taken to secure that the policy of the Power or Powers holding territory in East Africa shall not be such as to stimulate a Moham medan reaction against efforts to overthrow that faith where it is already established , such as were apparently meditated by Germany before the late war.

1 Masoin , ii . 119-24.

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