[In the Heart of Africa by Samuel White Baker]@TWC D-Link bookIn the Heart of Africa CHAPTER III 22/23
I do not attempt to enter upon a theological treatise, therefore it is unnecessary to allude specially to these particular points.
The sudden and desolating arrival of a flight of locusts, the plague, or any other unforeseen calamity, is attributed to the anger of God, and is believed to be an infliction of punishment upon the people thus visited, precisely as the plagues of Egypt were specially inflicted upon Pharaoh and the Egyptians. Should the present history of the country be written by an Arab scribe, the style of the description would be purely that of the Old Testament; and the various calamities or the good fortunes that have in the course of nature befallen both the tribes and individuals would be recounted either as special visitations of divine wrath or blessings for good deeds performed.
If in a dream a particular course of action is suggested, the Arab believes that God has spoken and directed him.
The Arab scribe or historian would describe the event as the "voice of the Lord" ("kallam el Allah"), having spoken unto the person; or, that God appeared to him in a dream and "said," etc.
Thus much allowance would be necessary on the part of a European reader for the figurative ideas and expressions of the people.
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