In this chapter we have read about one of the wisest tribes of the
dark-skinned African people. The Arabs in the north came to Africa
long ago from their own home in Asia, and the Europeans in the south
came from their home in Europe. Both these races had learnt by
themselves a great deal more than the African race has done. This is
partly because their homes were not so hot, and so they had to think
hard to get enough food and to keep warm. It is partly due, too, to
the way in which for hundreds of years the people of Europe and Asia
have been able to read and write, and have met and learnt from one
another. The Africans never found out how to write, and so could only
learn from each other by listening, never by reading. They were shut
off from the rest of the world until one hundred years ago, and all
they knew they had found out for themselves. But among the Africans
some learnt more than others, and the Baganda are a tribe who used
their minds as well as their bodies in becoming strong. So by
thinking and learning they grew wise as well as powerful, and now
Europeans and Indians have come to their country they are able to
learn all these other races can teach them, which is far more than any
one race could find out alone.
V
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THE PEOPLE OF THE CONGO