'The UNOCCUPIED MISSION FIELDS of AFRICA AND ASIA BY SAMUEL M. ZWEMER, F.R.G.S. !ECRiTAR.Y STUDENT VO:Ll7IfTEIR. MOVHliHT1 MISSIONAR.Y TO ARABIA NEW YORK STUDENT VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS THE KH.UilAR PASS (LOOKING INTO .l!-'GH1,1'ISTIIN) This is the main gateway into the domains of the Amir. The white budding m the valley is the Ali-1iesjid, beyo[ld which no miss)onary has enr gone. (Photograph by Hon, M. Waldgreve, published. by permission.) Frontispiece STUDENT Copyright, J9n, by WHO DARE, ENDURE AND SUFFER ON THE VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS BORDERMARCHES OF THE KINGDOM, ALL RJGBTS RESERVED AND ENTER THE UNOCCUPIED TERRITORY OF THE KING PREFACE THE purpose of this book is to give a survey of the ''The night lies dark upon the earth and we have light; extent and condition of the wholly unoccupied mission So many have to grope their way, and we have sight; One path is theirs and ours-of sin and care, fields in Africa and Asia including Malaysia, from the But we are borne afong, and they their burden bear, standpoint of Protestant missions, and to consider the Footsore� heart-weary, faint they on the way, questions that bear on their occupation. Mute in their sorrow, while we kneel and pray; The continent of South America has not been included Glad are tb:ey of a stone on wh:idr. fu Cl!S't, for two reasons : the missionary problem there is so While w pillowed on the Father's breast. e lie largely bound up with the condition of the Roman Catho- uFather, Why is it that these millions roam, lic Church and has therefore such special character that And guess that that is Home, and urge their way it requires specific treatment ; and the continent as a whole Is it en()ugh to keep the door ajar, with its unoccupied sections and large neglected non- In hope that some mny see the gleam afar, Christian population has already received attention in And guess that that is Home, and urge their way To reaclt it, haply, somehow and some day? mission study text-books. To include South America May not I go, and lend them of my light? would, moreover, have been impracticable In the compass May not mine eyes be unto them for sight? of one volume for use in study classes. May not the brother-love Thy love portray? The unoccupied fields of the world are a new subject And new1 of Home make Home less far away?" for consideration and the data for an al�er accurate -Rev. R. Wright Hay. and all-embracing survey are not yet complete. The entire world-area has not yet been wholly covered by the tracks of the explorer, much less by the triangulations of the surveyor or the tours of missionaries; nor has any kind of census been taken in many of the great unoccupied fields of the world. As long, therefore, as geography and ethnography can only give estimates and probabilities, a missionary survey also can only deal with approximate figures. Where statistics are used, they are vii Vl viii PIIEl'ACE PREFACE IX taken in nearly every case from the "Statesman's Year- The Church is bound to remedy this lamentable condition Book" ( 1910), or where this failed, conservative esti- with the least possible delay. Some of these unoccupied mates were made from recent books of travel and the fields are open to the Gospel, such as Mongolia and many letters of correspondents. For the rest, the bibliogra- regions of Africa. In certain fields there are difficulties phy gives the sources of information and indicates lines of access to be overcome. Both in Africa and Asia of further study. As far as possible all the references and there are large regions belonging to the French Empire authorities are recent. The book deals with present con- in which there are no Christian missions. There are ditions. It tells of things as they are to-day. other fields where political difficulties seem at present Its argument can be briefly expressed as follows: at to prevent occupation, such as Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, and the beginning of the twentieth century of the Christian Afghanistan. But the closed doors are few compared era and after more than a century of Protestant world- with the open doors unentered. It is the neglected op- wide missions, there are still a score of wholly unoccupied portunities that are the reproach of the Church. A large fields (Chapter I) and many sections of fields (II), where proportion of the unoccupied fields are to be found within the obstacles and barriers seem well-nigh insuperable the Mohammedan world, not only in Northern Africa and (III), but where the moral degradation and spiritual in Westem Asia, but also in China. Indeed, by far the d�stitution of the peoples (IV and V) and the strategy greater part of the Mohammedan world is practically involved in the occupation of these fields (VI) call for unoccupied." heroic, persevering, pioneer effort on wise lines (VII) In view of this last statement no apology is necessary with the sure promise of ultimate success (VIII). for the fact that the problem of Islam occupies a consider- The careful investigations of the present condition of able part of the discussion in Chapters IV and VI. the whole non-Christian world carried on in connection One other reason might be given for the timeliness of with the World Missionary Conference held at Edin- this presentation. There is just now on the part of some burgh, 1910, by its Commission I, together with the a strange criticism of the Gospel to the effect that it emphasis now being placed upon the practical interpre- lacks virility and is weak and flabby for the rough and tation of the Watchword of the Student Volunteer Move- tumble struggle of every-day life; that it docs not appeal ment by missionary leaders and organizations, surely sufficiently to the heroic or the fighting spirit which is emphasize the timeliness of this attempted survey. so much needed in our day. Surely no one can study tbe To quote from the findings of Commission I of the social conditions in the unoccupied fields of the world Edinburgh Conference: and the almost insuperable obstacles which face those "The unoccupied fields of the world have a claim of who try to better these conditions without realizing that peculiar weight and urgency upon the attention and mis- in the warfare of Christian missions against the forces sionary effort of the Church. In this twentieth century of darkness and degradation there is abundant oppor- of Christian history there should be no unoccupied fields. tunity for the highest heroism, and the call to occupy X PREFACE these fields is to the strongest manhood of the Church. Here is "the moral equivalent of war" which thoughtful men say we need in an age of luxury and self-indulgence. If the unoccupied fields of the world are to be occupied for Jesus Christ and by Him, those who have surrendered their lives to His service and are willing to dare and endure must enter these fields. The book has therefore CONTENTS its special message to student volunteers. SAMUEL M. ZWEMEL !l:BJ: BIWIT or TWO CONTDIBIITS On board S. S. Konig Albert, Once the whole world unoccupied-Paul's ambition-Carey's September 15, 1910 missionary program-The situation to-day-Two-fold division of the unoccupied fields-Greater and smaller areas-The heart of two continents-Central Asia and Central Africa-The roof of the world-The character of the people-The variety of races and of environment-In Central Asia-The character of the Afghan-The Arab-The Tibetan-Men and women-The Pagan races of Africa-Afghanistan-Baluchistan-Cliinese Turkistan-Its resources-Routes of travel-Russia in Ccn... tral Asia-Its large cities-Commerce-Railways-Si\cria- Mongolia-Tibet-Nepal and Bhutan-Frem:h Indo-O>ina- Area and population-Arabia-Its neglected prov:inces--.Alrica- The Senegal District-Northern Nigeria-Sornaliland and Abys- sinia-Summary of the situation-Lines on Gordon's St&tue �-· CllAPTD. II SMALLE:a AJI.EA.S AND UNREACHED .IUU.lON& Malaysia-Banka and Billiton-The Malay States-Western Sumatra-The Barbary States-Aggregate populations un- touched-Uncultivated section s in unoccupied fields-Their importance-Certain difficulties in dealing with these areas- Mission comity-Concentration or diffusion-Japan an example -Distribution of forces in Japan-Neglected districi-Table- Unoccupied fields in India-Their location-United Prcvmces- Central India-Bhopal Agency-Conditions in Bqal-Tablo "i xii CONTENTS CONTENTS xiii -Siodh-China and its evangelization-Gro wth of one mission- Famine and plague-Social evils-Ignorance and 1uperstition- The unfinished task in China-Cities without missionaries- Instances of the latter in Persia and Afghanistan-The Amirs Honan Province-The Edinburgh Conference report on China charm-Amulets and their use-Moslem superstition-Native - The Moslems of China-Prayer for the unocc upied fields. quackery in Kordofan-Witch doctors-Treatment of the sick- Page 33 Crude surgery-Afghan dentistry-The treatment of criminals; CHAPTER III cruel punishment and tortures-Cannibalism in Malaysia and in Africa-Instances of cruelty in Afghanistan-Prison life-Pun- WHY STILL UN"occtrl'IED ishment in Tibet-Disposal of the dead-The scavengers of Lhasa -T he Buddhist Sheol-Moral degradatiot>-The condition of Lack of vision and faith-Lack of men-External hindrances and women and children in Afghanistan ; in Central Asia-The cry difficulties-The remaining obstacles naturally great-Physical, of the children of Kashgar-T he pilgrim cities centres of immor- political and religious barriers-Livingstone's saying-Unex� ality- Temporary marriages at Mecca-The condition of woman· p1ored sections of Africa- Central Borneo-Arabia-The largest hood in non.Christian world-Dr.