WOMEN
In the dark continent, as in
1. Temporary unions How should the European conduct
himself in
Health Precautions A woman chosen in these
conditions is generally healthy; while black prostitutes, not being submitted
to medical inspection, are almost always infected. Many black women, especially
Fulas, are relatively faithful, whatever may have
been said about them; whether out of self-esteem or honesty they do not deceive
the European whom they have agreed to marry temporarily.
Respect A marriage contracted with an influential
chief's daughter may serve to tighten the bonds of sympathy which bind the
Negro to the European and to facilitate the administration of the country.
Among certain peoples, the Baoulé for example, the
women, who are all-powerful, come readily to us, and will be one of our
strongest instruments of pacification. It should be remembered that most of the
treaties signed with great Negro chiefs have been ratified by a white man's
marriage with one of their daughters.
Discipline The European who has no native wife is not well regarded by
soldiers, servants and married natives placed under his orders, who are always
afraid that he will abuse his position. The Negroes are very jealous of their
wives and examples may be cited of Europeans who have met their death through
having, in a moment of aberration or oblivion, sought to possess married negresses.
Hygiene The European who has a native wife, if she is not too unintelligent,
finally becomes a little attached to her; she diverts him, cares for him,
dispels boredom and sometimes prevents him from indulging in alcoholism or
sexual debauchery, which are unfortunately so common in hot countries.
Instruction Finally, a union with a native woman is one of the surest ways
to learn the native language quickly, to penetrate to the heart of secret
customs, to learn the songs and legends of these peoples (which are often very
pretty) - in a word, to understand the black soul. For all these reasons such
unions have long been accepted within the colonial moral code.
After deciding to take a wife, one conforms to the custom of the country in
which one finds oneself. The parents or masters of the young lady are asked for
her hand. The amount of bride-price payable is settled with them, and when
agreement is reached the woman is taken away without further formality. This
act must always be brought to the notice of the local Commandant.
The love feasts and festivities usual in Negro marriages are not appropriate
when Europeans are involved.
On returning to
Certainly, from the point of view of strict morality these unions are to be
condemned; but one must take account of the differences of civilisation
and environment of the country and of the conditions of life in which one finds
oneself in the colonies and apply to these temporary unions the formula we used
about polygamy: a necessary evil.
Of course, if these unions should lead to the birth of children, the father
(if he is sure of the fact) will have to concern himself with their future. Two
establishments subsidised by the State are intended
to receive and bring up mulatto boys and girls, one at Kita, one at Dinguiray. Here for a modest sum, children of Europeans are
brought up and taught-manual trades, according to their aptitudes.
The whole problem of adapting our races to these climates lies there; it is
by creating mulatto races that we most easily Gallicise
2. Permanent Unions When at last colonists decide to settle in
Initial cross-breeding between Europeans and Negroes, later successively
attenuated by unions of whites and mulattoes, seems to us the essential
condition of acclimatisation. These new stocks may be
beautiful, strong and intelligent. We believe that if relations with us have
made an unfavourable impression the fault lies partly
in the undeserved contempt which Europeans have shown them, partly in the
feelings of mistrust towards them on the part of the Negroes. Hybrid
individuals, isolated between two human groups, slighted by one and disowned by
the other, they have had to become inflexible to defend themselves; we are
responsible for their state of mind, and must do all we can to correct it.
Those who dogmatically effect to despise Negroes or mulattoes reveal their own
conceit and unintelligence: to deny the perfectability
of a living soul is to deny life itself, since human intelligence is only a
supreme example of the adaptation of living things to their environment in
order to improve their way of life.
Source . Dr. Barot, Guide
Pratique de l'Europeen dans l'Afrique Occidentale (1902)