580 
RELIGION AND MORALITY. 
The Banians seem to have no religion worthy of the name, 
and among Mohammedans, religion and morality are com- 
pletely disjoined. Different opinions have been expressed 
as to the success of Christian missionaries, and gentlemen 
who judge by the riff-raff that follow Indian camps, speak 
very unfavorably, from an impression that the drunkards 
who profess to be of “ Master’s caste and drink brandy,” 
are average specimens of Christian converts. But the 
comprehensive report of Colonel Ord, presented to Parlia- 
ment (1805), contains no such mistake. He states that 
while the presence of the squadron has had some share in 
suppressing the slave trade, the result is due mainly to the 
existence of the settlements. This is supported by the 
fact that, even in those least visited by men-of-war, it has 
been as effectually suppressed as in those which have been 
their most constant resort. The moral clement, which has 
proved beneficial all round the settlements, is mainly due 
to the teaching of missionaries. I would carefully avoid 
anything like boasting over the benevolent efforts of our 
countrymen, but here their good influences are totally un- 
known. No attempt has ever been made by the Moham- 
medans in East Africa to propagate their faith, and their 
trade intercourse has only made the natives more avari- 
cious than themselves. The fines levied on all traders are 
nearly prohibitive, and nothing is given in return. Mr. 
Stanley was mulcted of sixteen hundred yards of superior 
calico between the sea and Ujiji, and we made a detour of 
three hundred miles to avoid similar spoliation among 
people accustomed to Arabs. It has been said that Mos- 
lems would be better missionaries than Christians, because 
they would allow polygamy ; but nowhere have Christians 
been loaded with the contempt the Arabs have to endure, 
in addition to being plundered. To “ honga ” originally 
meant to make friends. It does so now in all the more 
central countries, and presents are exchanged at the cere- 
mony, the natives usually giving the largest amount ; but 
on routes much frequented by Arabs, it has come to mea» 
