There are hardly mentions of colonialism, only where it fits. And that's the point, it seems: nobody bothered to look, apparently convinced in one way or another that the people were illiterate. So, it's an interesting and large set of documents.

The remark I found most interesting was that it wasn't taught at school, but that people seem to have taught it among themselves. The article doesn't mention any other form of teaching, but it might have something to do with the earlier Muslim colonization/proselytizing and the subsequent spread of the Quran.