Part 4

“I have been in a very intemperate place, but the Lord has helped me to do good work. Secured a good many signers to the pledge. I am thankful for this, and that I have been spared during the sickness.”

One who was converted last winter said: “I am thankful that I have been with Christians who have led me to the Lord. I don’t know how to tell my gratitude. I am just beginning to know what it is to be upright and truthful.”

“When I left here last summer to go to a new place, I felt that I needed God’s aid. I asked Him to be with me. He has kept me and made my work successful. I thank Him for it. I will continue to thank Him.”

“The _old mother_ thanks the Lord that she has been able to get here to hear the Bible read, and see the teachers back again.”

“I was teaching near Grenada. That was my P. O. The fever was on three sides of me. Some of my scholars had to leave school; but amidst it all God spared me, and I am thankful for it. There were some white young men came into my Sunday-school. At first I was afraid, but I spoke to them, and asked them if they would like some papers. They kept coming, and seemed just as much interested in what I said, and in getting the papers, as any of my pupils.”

“‘He leadeth me.’ I cannot begin to tell all the things for which I am thankful. Aside from the health of my own family, nothing rejoices me more than to see these faces. Our friends at the North cannot begin to realize the gloom that settled down over us here. It seemed as though we were breathing in death continually. I am thankful that God has spared us, and that I have had such a pleasant family during the summer.” To this effect spoke Brother Miner, who remained here during the summer with several of the young people to take care of the farm.

These are only fragments that were jotted down. An hour and a half was spent in this way. A few of our students had the fever, but we have not heard of one who died with it. This continues to be the cause of great thankfulness.

OUR TEMPERANCE MEETING,

a few nights later, was no less interesting. I noted down a few sentences, as one after another reported, which will show what kind of work has been done by our students during the summer. One young woman said, “When I first spoke to my scholars about temperance, they did not know what I meant. I would not allow any one to sign the pledge until I was sure he understood it. I read temperance stories, etc. I found one lady using snuff and toddy, who said she didn’t know as there was anything about _drink_ in the Bible. She thought the Lord would forgive such a little thing. A minister said he never saw drink to be such a bad thing. He would not sign the pledge, but I have since heard that he is going to try to establish a temperance rule in his church. I got 28 signers to the pledge.”

Mr. T. said: “I got 48 names to my pledges; most of them were young people, some of them children. I tried not to receive any unless they thoroughly understood it. I met some opposition from the old folks, but some of them signed. One young man fifteen miles away came in and signed. He was afterward taken sick, and the doctor prescribed toddies, but he stoutly refused them. I think many can be depended upon. There is no other such work being done in the county.”

Mr. H.: “My work was not so great as I think it should have been. The community was very wicked, most of the older ones hung back, 24 signed, most of them my scholars. I took my pledge to school every day, and to Sunday-school. I told them very plainly what is meant by signing the pledge, or more would have signed, I found the very small ones understood it as well as the older ones. Some are so poor they cannot get drink.”

H. T. T.: “I have not much of a report. Did not find one who believed in temperance. Went to the older ones first, but they were not willing to sign. I secured 12 signers. Might have had more, but did not take the small ones. One minister said he had looked at it a long time, and thought it would be well to present it to his people, but would not sign. Another minister _did_.”

There are ministers here as well as elsewhere who are willing to preach, on the Sabbath, a purer type of Christianity than they exemplify in their home life during the week.

C. J. T.: “I did not make an effort at first. I was invited to their “Loving Society.” I went with my Bible, pledge and statistical essay in hand. I put in _a good deal of vengeance_ and converted a good many right there. Got 25 names. At close of school I got some more; in all 47. We must keep this subject before them. A Baptist Convention was held there. I got three ministers to sign. Mr. Tanner labored with one minister who wrote out a resolution, and secured its passage in Convention, that their members should not drink.”

Miss C.: “I presented the subject to my Sunday-school. Had a meeting at night. Many of the parents came. I read about Daniel _purposing_ in his _heart_, and then sung ‘Dare to be a Daniel.’ The first one to sign was a man about fifty years old; 24 signed. The next Saturday I went ten miles into the country and spent the Sabbath. 26 signed there. One man, who had no children and was well off, but spending his money rapidly for drink, signed and is now saving his money. I went to Lake to help Mr. T. Many signed his pledge there. One little boy at Forest wanted to be a Daniel and signed. He was snake-bitten, whiskey was prescribed, but he refused to drink it even after he was told that that would not be breaking his pledge. He recovered. Most of my signers were among the older ones.”

Other reports were as interesting as these, but I am afraid I am writing too much now. I have taken these reports in the order in which they were given. After hearing from all our students, I may send you the number of signers to the pledge, secured during the summer by them.

* * * * *

AFRICA.

* * * * *

MENDI MISSION.

A Heathen Bundoo Dance and a Retreat.

BENJAMIN JAMES, M.D., GOOD HOPE STATION.

Dr. James, who accompanied his two children to Freetown, whence they returned to this country, in care of Mr. Snelson, on his way back to the mission, made a brief visit to Mr. Gomer and the Shengay Mission of the United Brethren. After speaking of the excellent religious and industrial work accomplished at that mission, he gives this account of a Bundoo women’s dance, which he chanced to see in that vicinity.

Have patience with me while I relate a curious sight that I accidentally witnessed at a town near the mission, showing the power for good exercised by this little band of Christian workers. About ten o’clock in the morning on Tuesday, the beating of a country drum was heard afar off. My boy Joseph said to me, “Let us go and see them cut rice by the beat of the drum,” to which I consented. We followed the sound of the drum until we came to the town of Debia, much larger than the one under the Christian charge of our mission, and governed by a female chief of the noted Caulker family. In a grove near this town, within which no male was allowed to enter, proceeded those sounds from mystic drums which attracted us to this place. Madam Caulker gave me a very cordial welcome; indeed, her dignified manners made me almost forget that she was the representative of a heathen clan. Edibles were set before me, although brought by a little naked girl; which circumstance was not calculated to improve a relish for the seemingly palatable food, yet I do assure you I devoured it greedily. Soon after eating, the drumming ceased from the forest; then came out a large number of women, with white cotton bands, two and a half inches wide, tied around their brows, led by an old woman with a white country cloth around her, and a white handkerchief tied, covering the frontal and occipital portions of her head. When they saw me they were amazed and appeared timid, but this perplexed condition of the organization was soon removed by the head-woman, who had been previously summoned into the presence of the chieftess. Soon the drums, which had attracted me, began to rumble out their peculiar sounds to dancing thumps, beaten by female drummers, arranged in dancing order, with their backs towards us, coming from where they were placed in this array. These same women, who appeared timid, bashful and reserved a little while before, sung, beat and stepped to time slowly, motioned with their hands to something apparently to me in the sky, and moved towards a place where they were soon to stand.

As they gently and elegantly wheeled in regular order into their respective places, three well-formed and comely girls, about nineteen, side by side, tossing their bodies right and left, to and fro, in a very graceful manner, danced together for nearly a quarter of an hour. After the triple dance there was a double one; this was succeeded by a single dance. These three girls were then withdrawn and other members of the order were selected to fill their places. Many feats of skill in dancing were performed by the first three. I noticed that when they danced their supple limbs were tossed in many enigmatical postures, which drew forth applause and great laughter from the bystanders, who understood them. After dancing for an hour before us, the leader of the mystic sisterhood ordered it discontinued, and they retired to a capacious bamboo-covered hut to partake of refreshments, which seemed to have been prepared and furnished by every village for miles around. Before taking my departure I inquired of the chieftess who these women were. She replied that they were the Bundoo women, who were about to remove their place of meeting to Carter, farther into the interior, because they were molested or hindered by the advance of Christianity, which is continually increasing about their old meeting bush. All must acknowledge this as a triumph for Christianity, and those who contribute to the support of the Shengay mission ought to rejoice that they have had the privilege of being instrumental in causing one of the greatest evils to Africa’s social and Christian advancement to move back into the forest, there to await the coming day of its inevitable dissolution, which, I trust, is not far off.

* * * * *

A Visit to the Interior.

REV. A. E. JACKSON, AVERY.

Avery is situated at the head of navigation on the Little Sherbro river, a beautiful site overlooking a vast scope of country. It is about forty-three miles from Good Hope, and quite accessible to any point where we may wish to push our work in future; and it is hoped that this station will be the centre from which many stations may be planted still further into the interior at no distant future. The Little Sherbro river, with its rippling stream, glides within a few hundred feet of Avery, and flows into the Big Bargroo river, and the Big Bargroo, with its tributaries, opens an avenue to any part of Africa accessible by water.

We have a very beautiful little chapel, and it is very well filled each Sabbath by persons from the surrounding villages as well as our own. For the most part, all appear attentive to what is said to them, and when questioned seem to have quite a clear idea. Through the blessing of Divine providence, three of the chiefs have come into my church, and I think that they are hopefully converted. They add very greatly to the interest of the church, because where the chiefs go their subjects will follow. By this means I am enabled to reach a great portion of the heathen element. I have now about thirty-six enrolled upon my church book, twenty-five of whom I have baptized. It is really remarkable to see how readily they take hold of the truths of Jesus. I am also glad to say, that in many of them one can see a marked improvement in their lives. They are a people that delight to engage in palavers or quarrels, and I mark a very great change in many of them in this respect. They seem to desire peace, and when a palaver comes up they frown upon it with seemingly sincere indignation. They are also beginning to see the wrong of polygamy. That of itself is one of the best signs of reform, for polygamy is one of the prevailing sins of this country. Mrs. Jackson has been holding meetings for the women, in which great interest was manifested. So the Lord has been greatly blessing both sexes.

Quite recently I had a pleasant tour in the Bargroo country. I was very agreeably surprised to see everything so favorable. In the first place, the people were as hospitable as one could wish, and far more so than one could have expected in a heathen land. I am persuaded to believe that the tribes further in the interior are much more docile and far more industrious and a finer class of people than those living on the coast. I visited eight of their towns, and, with very few exceptions, their villages were as clean and neat as any I ever saw. Their houses were made of mud and sticks and covered with bamboo, but all seemed to have been done in taste. Some of their villages were laid out in a perfect system. One that especially attracted my attention for its neatness, and the systematic plan on which it was laid out was Do-do. It has a population of about fifteen hundred persons. It is a very beautiful town, situated on a peninsula, with a fine view of a large extent of country. It is densely populated and the houses are built close together. Three tall lines of barricade enclose the entire town, with only three large gates through which persons can enter. I chanced to stop there all night. I found the chief a very hospitable man. He entertained me as best he could, and gave me my supper and a bed to sleep on. Next morning he sent me my breakfast, which consisted of a goat, chicken and some eggs. On going to the door I found three men ready to slay and dress the goat. The interpreter of the chief accompanied these gifts. He said that the king did not know how to cook English fashion, and therefore he would advise that I have it cooked in the English way. This being rather more of a breakfast than I could consume, I only had the chicken and eggs cooked. I had the goat made fast and carried him home to my wife, who I knew would be delighted to have him for a pet.

After I had eaten, the king came to see how I enjoyed my breakfast. After talking a while he told me that he would be glad to have a missionary station planted at or near his town, so that he could send his children to school that they might learn about God’s law. He then took me around the town and showed me the barricade. Then he took me on the outside of the barricade and pointed out to me a very beautiful spot of ground, which he would give for a mission station. I could only thank him for his hospitality toward the mission and his seeming love for the work.

On Sunday I preached in a very large village, and I really believe that every man, woman and child was present, and it seemed as if they were completely spellbound during the entire service. It inspires one to put forth greater efforts when he chances to penetrate into the interior and there see the difference between these tribes and those living on the coast. They are not so corrupt in habits from association with the low class of traders. One thing very remarkable about this people is that they are not at all hostile toward the light-skinned man nor the dark-skinned man, but will soon learn to put implicit confidence in either, and more especially if he speak to them about Jesus Christ. They, from some source or other, have learned that there is a Saviour. Even those who have never seen or heard a missionary themselves seem to be thoroughly informed as to the objects of this mission.

I am impressed more and more each day that the many years’ work of our missions in Africa has been a great success. Not only blossoms but fruits are already seen in the immediate vicinity of the mission, and far into the interior there has been a silent influence for good that we knew not of. The labors of the dark days of our missions were not in vain, but are now being crowned with the glorious fruits of righteousness, which will only be a brighter crown for those who have fallen asleep at their post of duty.

* * * * *

THE INDIANS.

* * * * *

SCHOOL AND CHURCH WORK AT DUNGINESS.

REV. MYRON EELLS, S’KOKOMISH, WASHINGTON TERRITORY.

We have an excellent young man at Dunginess as school-teacher. Although I never met him until he took charge of the school, I learned that his reputation was good where he had previously taught, and he has taken hold of the work among the Indians wisely and earnestly, and also satisfactorily to the Agent and the Indians. He has earned an excellent reputation among the whites in the neighborhood, and has grown in their estimation as a conscientious Christian since he first went there about nine months since. Last summer he was married to a lady whose heart is in the work, and who assists him as she is able. Her health, however, does not admit of her doing as much as she wishes to do.

In addition to his day-school for the children, he has lately begun an evening school, three evenings in the week, for half a dozen of the older Indians who wish to learn. These older Indians are accustomed to talk English, more or less, some of them quite well, and hence find it easier to learn than wild Indians would. He holds services regularly with them on the Sabbath, and on Thursday evening a prayer meeting has been sustained since last May; the only one in the county.

The last Sabbath I spent with them, I baptized two of the older Indians and received them into our church--the first-fruits of our work there. I have been tolerably well satisfied for a year that they were suitable candidates for church membership, but preferred to wait until our teacher could become thoroughly acquainted with them, as I thought that he could form a more intelligent opinion after almost daily intercourse with them, than I could by semi-annual visits. But we agree in our conclusion.

Last Sabbath we had the privilege of receiving another of our school-boys into our church here. He is one of our older pupils, an elder brother of one already a member.

The report of our Sabbath-school for this place, read on Christmas, showed that three Indian girls had been present every Sabbath on which there was school during the year, it having been necessarily omitted on three Sabbaths, and on every one of these Sabbaths they had recited at least six verses of the Scripture lesson, and without making a single mistake. This is better than has ever been done before in the history of the school, only one having been perfect last year. The average attendance during the year has been fifty-seven.

* * * * *

THE CHINESE.

* * * * *

CALIFORNIA CHINESE MISSION.

Auxiliary to the American Missionary Association.

PRESIDENT: Rev. J. K. McLean, D. D. VICE-PRESIDENTS: Rev. A. L. Stone, D. D., Thomas C. Wedderspoon, Esq., Rev. T. K. Noble, Hon. F. F. Low, Rev. I. E. Dwinell, D. D., Hon. Samuel Cross, Rev. S. H. Willey, D. D., Edward P. Flint, Esq., Rev. J. W. Hough, D. D., Jacob S. Taber, Esq.

DIRECTORS: Rev. George Mooar, D. D., Hon. E. D. Sawyer, Rev. E. P. Baker, James M. Haven, Esq., Rev. Joseph Rowell, Rev. John Kimball, E. P. Sanford. Esq.

SECRETARY: Rev. W. C. Pond. TREASURER: E. Palache, Esq.

* * * * *

OUR CHINESE HELPERS.

REV. WM. C. POND, SAN FRANCISCO.

I am trying to contrive how, while keeping within our limited means, to increase our force of Chinese helpers. I am sure that with reference to immediate results, these who know by experience the darkness of heathenism, who have themselves trodden the path out of that darkness into the light of Christ, are better fitted to lead others along the same path than we could possibly be, even though we had their language at our tongue’s end. But it is not easy to provide for these helpers the things needed for their best efficiency. They ought to be entirely supported by us, so as to give their whole time to study and to Christian work; and they need special teachers, since they cannot be taught in school-hours. First of all, they ought to study the Bible, and learn how to interpret it; but should add to this, constant attention to our language, and to the rudiments of geography, astronomy, and history. I have ventured thus far to appoint only five: Wong Sam and Chung Ying for schools in this city, Jee Gam for Oakland, Lee Haim for Sacramento, and Hong Sing for Petaluma. Besides these, there are many volunteer helpers who, in the schools, in the Association, in the Bible and prayer meetings, “instant in season and out of season,” bear their testimony, and do whatever work they can; for most of our Chinese Christians, I rejoice to say it, are witnesses and workers for their Lord.

Readers of the MISSIONARY have heard from Jee Gam and Wong Sam several times heretofore. Hong Sing is the one last added to our list;--for five years a Christian, and during most of that time the leader among the pupils in our Bethany school, and my interpreter when I spoke to them. He understands English well; talks it quite easily and intelligibly; but when he comes to write it, like most of our brethren, he gets it twisted badly. The idioms of his native tongue are very unlike ours. He went to Petaluma, expecting, for the most part, to support himself as a house-servant, accepting, however, low wages in consideration of having time for missionary work; but he found that the house-work crowded the Lord’s work so hard that he seemed to be accomplishing little, and was almost discouraged. He wrote, a month ago, as follows: “I write a few words to let you know that I have a place and been working a few days; but not a steady work, because that man was sick; so I take his place till he get well. It is pretty hard to get a place. And I tell you about the school. It is very small. Evening I be present at 8 o’clock and explain to them. After school close I take fifteen minutes for Bible lesson. I try to explain to them as I can. I thought I come back to San Francisco, but I will wait a little longer, as much our people here [many of our people are here], but most all like gambling. I do not know what is the matter, they wont come. I heard somebody say, because they have been learning for awhile, and not understand the words what it meant; so they don’t come any more. I hope soon to have time to go out to ask come again. I am very sorry and expends [since you expend] so much for the school. It seems to be sow, having no reap [seed-sowing, but no harvest]. Yet ‘my sheep hear my voice.’ We must try to do the best way.” He concluded that the best way was to abandon everything else and give himself to mission work, asking only--since we could afford nothing more--that we pay the cost of his board; and it is on that basis he is working now.

From one of the letters of Lee Haim, from Sacramento, I give the following extract: “Now I will tell you the

TRIALS OF WONG THONG