Part 4

Shoving off (you must remember we travel in boats), we advanced slowly up the river, whose current had become quite strong. The day’s travel was very unsatisfactory, and our night’s rest more so; for the mosquitoes are so bad in this part of the country, that children and cows have been killed by them. This our men say. I am sure they were bad enough that night. Mrs. Miller seemed a perfect marvel to these savage people. We could scarcely go to bed, such as it was, for their looking in upon us, talking about Mrs. Miller. I was so black, and so much resembled other Africans, that I was not the centre of attraction. Still, our interpreter informed us that they complimented us as “Nyandingo te te”--very fine, or fine for true.

Morning was gladly hailed by all. Mosquitoes was the principal theme. Each one had battled, evidently, all night, not for place, but for life, against these pests. We moved off early, and shall ever remember the village and the night spent here. Its name is Trom. I am sure if I had been in a tomb that night, with something of the vault kind over me, my rest would have been more peaceful than in this dreary place. The people wherever we stopped kindly received the missionaries. We made better time from Trom to our next night’s resting-place. We entered the Kittam River, early leading off toward the Gallinas, a tribe that also speaks Mendi. Mendi is the predominant language of a very large extent of country. The lower part of the Big Boom River, which is called the Bullom, runs through a beautiful section of country. The Kittam also has very picturesque scenery. The people looked contented and happy; the country elevated and healthy. We travelled several miles down this river, and on visiting the king, the reception that was given us showed that he highly appreciated our visit. I am informed that no missionary had ever been here before. He promised the mission two children. After holding conference with the people he offered a place to plant a mission station in which to educate his children. He had them in his villages in abundance. I informed him that I would “look my head”--think over the matter. All were impressed with the beauty of this country, with the neatness of its villages and the good disposition of the people. The king’s daughter made so much fuss over Mrs. Miller, dressed so differently from herself, that she became quite uneasy. Large crowds came around and joined her in welcoming their strange friend. My color again made me more common and less noticeable. We had a good night’s rest in this place. We left Coranko and the Soboo chief and his people the next day, feeling happy in the thought that missionaries are wanted in this place, and that the Lord in his own good time will send them to it. “The harvest, truly, is plenteous, but the laborers are few.” The people stood on the shore while we sailed away. We met persons in our travels whom we knew in Bonthe, at Good Hope. They always did their best to make us happy. All I can say is, may the Soboo chief and people have, before a great while, some one to teach them the way to Christ, man’s only Redeemer.

Entering again the Big Boom en route to Mo-Tappan, we made good time, stopping at a few villages along the way. No missionary is in all this country. We stopped overnight with one Mr. Collier, who carries on trade near the river, in a place called Marketah, people’s market. It was Saturday night, and he was very busy closing accounts for the week. Our reception was a cordial one. We spent the Sabbath here and were much pleased to see what is doing for these benighted people. We had services at eleven o’clock, which the natives attended. It was interesting, and I feel that a good impression was made. Such meetings--I mean those consisting of reading of the Bible, commenting, etc.--are held regularly by Mr. Collier for the community. They surely can do a great deal in helping on the good cause. It were better and safer for trade, if religious instruction were in all this country. This part of the Big Boom is often visited by the horrors of war. Whole villages are sometimes laid low in one night, the inhabitants put to the sword or carried off into slavery. These wars are not waged because the aggressors have been in any way wronged by the attacked, but just for the sake of plunder. It is now something over a year since war visited this part of the Big Boom, but it has left its signs. Villages that were deserted are being rebuilt. Traders are resuming their business, and peace is gradually returning to all this region.

We left early Monday morning, having spent a pleasant Sabbath with our friends in Marketah. The current became stronger as we advanced toward the interior. The winds were adverse, so our progress was somewhat like the missionary work, slow. We had long since left mangroves, with their malarial swamps. That we were getting some distance from Sherbro was visible from the very appearance of things. The farther we advanced into the interior, the more uneasiness seemed to be depicted on the countenances of Africa’s enslaved children. Africa is her own greatest enemy. War and slavery curse her most, bring misery where happiness might reign. When you launch out of British jurisdiction, slaves are common. This traffic is carried on by the natives themselves, and the biggest man owns the largest number of slaves and has the greatest number of wives.

Polygamy is common, where men are able to support more than one wife; but you may rest assured that when means of support give out, the women are found giving out too.

This day’s travel brought us to Baikal, a strongly barricaded town. We did not go inside, but the music and noise within showed plainly that Ham’s sons and daughters here were having a good time in a country dance.

MO-TAPPAN, SALEM HILL, LAWANA.

We rested overnight, but early next morning pushed on for Mo-Tappan, the extreme interior Mission station held by the American Missionary Association. We stopped at villages along our journey, where signs of late wars are still apparent. Each man is armed with either sword or cutlass. I am told that they keep these near them in time of peace to fight with, but in time of war they wrap them up in mats, give them to their wives, and ask their feet to save them by flight. The Mendi people are treacherous and cruel in war, and not at all brave. I hope the time may soon come when all this region will enjoy peace and righteousness in God.

This country is elevated, with beautiful bills stretching away into the distance. We enjoyed the fine scenery. About ten o’clock we reached Salem Hill. The massive walls built here by the former missionaries are still standing, but the place is so covered with shrubbery and vines that it is with great difficulty that access to it is obtained. The Hill and scenery are splendid, but this foundation, of no use to any one, made us feel sad, everything around looked so forlorn. The large village that once stood near has disappeared, as so many African villages and towns have done. Along toward night we reached Lawana, where we remained overnight. Here, though several years’ labor was given to this place, no sign of past missionary work is visible. The place was captured in war; the inhabitants, all but a few who were ransomed, were put to death or sold into slavery. Our resting place here was not large, nor was it very comfortable. The chief was not seen until our return from Mo-Tappan. He evidently feared us, because the portions of country where wars are numerous are often or sometimes visited by the English to ask the people to keep quiet.

We left early next morning for Mo-Tappan, arriving there about 9 o’clock. The place is now a regular canebreak. The tomb of the late Mr. Brooks is the only thing that reminded us that the white man had been here. Our stay was short. No one at all lives here now. It was broken up by war.

“We now retraced our steps for home, stopping at Lawana. We then saw the chief, who gave us a cordial welcome. Three children were brought home by us to be trained for future workers. The current carried us down quite rapidly. We stopped at but few places on our return; our Mission is well known in all this country, and it will be easy for us again to gain footing in former places held by the American Missionary Association. Large outlays are altogether unnecessary; plain houses, on cheap plans, are things for a country so subject to changes from war.

The real Mendi people are here, and I hope that the banner of Christ will soon again in triumph wave over the strongholds once held by our Mission. Pray that we may be guided in attempting to extend our work, and that everything may be done to His honor and glory.

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THE CHINESE.

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“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.

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FALSE BRETHREN.

We have had new griefs of late. In days past, when reproach and opposition came mainly from those whose anti-Chinese rage was simply an expression of an anti-Christian spirit, it was comparatively easy to endure it. And even when those professing godliness have cringed before ungodly prejudices, and shut the door of the house of God upon the Chinese Sunday-school, and received, if at all, with left-handed welcomes to the church on earth Chinese who gave every token of having been accepted by Christ to the kingdom of Heaven, we remembered with comfort the “sure foundation” which has “this seal; the Lord knoweth them that are His.” In all these experiences, and even when the violence of lawless hoodlumism for the time almost emptied our school-rooms, and the intensity of anti-Chinese feeling on the part of Americans was provoking an equally intense anti-American feeling on the part of the Chinese, so that we found it difficult to bring them within reach of Gospel influences, we had this to console us, that our Chinese brethren themselves, almost without exception, seemed to be “steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” It is true, some who were received to our Association of Christian Chinese were found, before the six or eight months of their probation had expired, not to be sincere, and were consequently never baptized; but of those who had been received to the church, I was accustomed to say that thus far not one, so far as we knew, had brought any reproach upon the name of Christ.

This was a glad surprise to me. I had read Paul’s letters to the churches of Corinth and of Galatia, and the messages of Jesus to the seven churches of Asia, and was well aware that the disappointments which attended apostolic missions occurred often enough to-day in heathen lands to make our missionaries there rejoice with trembling over those apparently born of God; but, till recently, no such disappointment had been visited upon us. There were occasional backslidings, a temporary recession of interest, which started fears and called us to earnest prayer; but, in general, I could say, that I knew of no group of American Christians in whose steadfastness and zeal a pastor could take more delight than we could in our Chinese brethren. And this is still true; perhaps more evidently true than before, in view of the course which they have pursued towards some “false brethren.”

About three months ago I visited Sacramento, in order to make new arrangements for the accommodation of our Mission there. The room which we had occupied free of rent for many years being no longer at our service, I was enabled to rent, at a comparatively low rate, a Mission house so well located, so roomy, and so well adapted to our peculiar work, that I came away gratefully realizing that the Master himself had gone before me, and believing that He was about to lead us into a larger and better work there than we had ever done before. The added expense, however, caused me to withdraw temporarily the paid helper, and to trust to the volunteer aid which our Chinese brethren promised to give. Among these volunteers, the one who seemed at once most able and most willing was Wong Wing. He spoke English well; seemed to be a natural leader; and while exhibiting some traits which made one stand somewhat in doubt, yet, on the whole, was trusted both by his Chinese brethren and their American friends. But he proved to be a Judas. He carried the bag and was a thief. Having possessed himself of several hundred dollars from the hard earnings of his brethren, he attempted to decamp, but has been brought back, and is now awaiting a trial which cannot but consign him to State’s Prison. The concern of our brethren, however, seems to be less for their own losses than for the dishonor brought upon the cause of Christ. “How shall we preach in the street any more,” they say, “unless we continue to let all men see that while we pity Wong Wing, we hate his evil deeds?” And they have spared neither pains nor expense in bringing him to justice, as, indeed, by the rules of their Association they were bound to do.

In San Francisco we have had one case even sadder than this, which has made our hearts ache through and through, and two or three cases which, without bringing overt reproach, yet involved excision from the church. And at the same time with all these griefs came dissensions among the brethren in Oakland, which spread widely, and for a while threatened great disaster. These, however, have been allayed, and, indeed, so overruled that the work, on the whole, has been helped rather than hindered through them.

I suppose it would be neither needful nor wise for me to go further into details, even if the space at my command admitted of it; but it seemed to be the dictate even of honesty, since, like Paul, I have ventured to “boast” over the character of our Chinese believers, that I should not conceal these humbling facts. Yet I still will “boast” that never did I witness in any church more prompt, wise and effective Christian discipline than these events have called forth in our Association of Christian Chinese; and God will, sooner or later, overrule it all for good.

BETHANY SCHOOL.

I append some clippings from the last monthly report of the school taught in the lecture-room of Bethany church, San Francisco. After speaking of the great pleasure she finds in the work in general, Miss Worley says: “The last month has been one of great anxiety to me. Some who had attended the school for a long time, and were still attending, had been trying to send others away. In some cases, by using threats, they had succeeded. Months ago I was requested by two scholars to expel one pupil for this offense, but I wanted to try him a little longer. But

‘One sickly sheep affects the flock And poisons all the rest.’

In this instance only a few were thus affected. Some were too faithful to be moved by threats. At length the issue came in this way: This scholar became aware that one of the pupils was about to join the Association. He set his heathen relatives upon him, and they threatened to kill him. To keep him away from the school, they got possession, one day, of the key of the ‘Bethany Home’ and locked him in. He, finding the door locked, and no chance of its being opened till after the close of the school, went out the back way and climbed over the fence (a close board fence about twenty feet high, erected to protect the rear of the house from hoodlumism). He now thought he would get to school all right. He was mistaken, for, stationed in the corridor between the church and the lecture-room were these Chinese who had locked him in. As he passed them they struck him across his eye and hand. I found it necessary then to expel them; yet I feel that they cannot forget what they have learned, and I live in hope that bread cast upon the waters ‘will be found after many days.’

“I am glad to say that this good and faithful scholar (for such he is) who was hurt, gave his name at the next meeting as a candidate for membership in the Association. The only obstacle in the way of another scholar is the fear of his parents in China. He has not yet learned by _heart_ that ‘he that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me.’

“Since that night, and the expulsion of those persecutors, I seem to be constantly adding fresh names to my roll. Working scholars are leaving no stone unturned to increase our numbers. I feel thankful for such scholars. Friends kindly help me in the work, but what I most need is a Chinese helper. I trust that at no distant time I may have one. The scholars who are able are willing to explain, but they need all the little time they have for study. I find the most studious pupils make the sincere Christians.”

To which appeal for a Chinese helper the superintendent adds his own _Amen_. But we cannot have one without more means than now we have at our command.

CHILDREN’S PAGE.

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CHILDREN’S INFLUENCE.

MISS MARY BAILEY, VERMONT.

Children’s influence is too much overlooked in the Mission work. Parents, Sabbath-school teachers, and missionary agents do not take the pains they might to create in them a missionary spirit.

As soon as they “can speak and go alone” they should be “bent” into missionary workers. They _can_ be taught to take as much interest in the condition of the Freedmen, Chinese and Indians, as in “Mother Hubbard,” “Jack and the Bean Stalk,” etc. Especially when they are called upon to give their pennies should it be explained to them for what purposes their moneys are solicited.

A little mite of a girl came to me and asked for a penny. “What would you do with a penny?” said I. “Carry it to Sunday-school.” “What do you carry it to Sunday-school for?” “To put it into the conniption box.” “What do you put it into the ‘conniption box’ for?” “For the man.” “What does the man do with it?” “He put it into his pocket!”

After that, when missionary papers came, I read them through to her. By glancing ahead I saw what the facts were, then I would read them in words she could understand. She was so charmed with that kind of reading she would take a toy book out of my hand and hunt up a missionary paper to be read to her instead.

When she saw me glancing along she would exclaim, “Don’t let your eyes zig-zag over the page; read every word!”

The Freedmen interested her very much. She said one morning, “I prayed for the colored people last night; I told Jesus they suffered.” At another time I read about a colored student who was anxious to become a minister, and she “told the Lord that he wanted to be a minister.”

Last Sabbath a missionary preached a very interesting sermon at our church, in the interests of the Freedmen. I hoped he would speak a few words to the children, but he did not.

I asked a little girl of nine years, who thinks she would like to be a missionary, how she liked the sermon? She replied that she could not understand it. I told her that he said the Catholics were sending more teachers among the colored people than we were, and they were fast becoming their converts.

She quickly replied, “Then we shall be slaves; we had better look out!”

If all children under religious instruction were engaged to do all they could in the cause of Missions, what an additional power would their praying and gleanings be against the enemies of Christian liberty.

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RECEIPTS

FOR JULY, 1879.

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MAINE, $158.27.

Castine. Mrs. Lucy S. Adams, to const. MRS. DOROTHY L. STEVENS, L. M. $30.00 Dennysville. Mrs. Samuel Eastman 5.00 Eastport. Cong. Sab. Sch. $5; Rev. G. A. P. 50c. 5.50 Kennebunkport. Second Cong. Ch., $8.25; First Cong. Ch., $7.02 15.27 North Waterford. “A. J. H.” 2.00 Portland. State St. Cong. Ch. 75.00 York. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 25.50

NEW HAMPSHIRE, $450.38.

Amherst. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 10.68 Antrim. “Friends,” by Imla Wright 105.00 Bennington. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 22.01 Brentwood. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 2.00 Concord. South Cong. Ch. and Soc. 54.33 Greenville. E. G. Heald 5.00 Keene. First Cong. Sch., $65.40; E. R., $1 66.40 Manchester. C. B. Southworth, to const. MINNIE P. SOUTHWORTH, L. M. 50.00 Marlborough. Freedmen’s Ladies’ Aid Soc. 7.00 Milford. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 11.94 Nashua. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 19.97 New Market. T. H. Wiswall 10.00 North Hampton. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 21.02 Northwood Centre. Cong. Soc. 16.23 Pembroke. Mrs. Mary W. Thompson 5.00 Temple. Cong. Sab. Sch. 17.00 Winchester. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 25.80 Windham. “A Friend” (thank offering) 1.00

VERMONT, $248.32.

Cambridge. B. R. Holmes, Rev. E. Wheelock, S. M. Safford, J. G. Morse, and O. W. Reynolds, $5 ea.; J. W. T. and M. J. M. $1 ea. 27.00 East Hardwick. Mrs. L. W. J. and Mrs. L. H. P. 1.00 East Berkshire. S. J. B. 50c.; “A Friend.” 25c. 0.75 Enosburg. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 18.56 Fair Haven. Cong. Sab. Sch. _for Student, Atlanta U._ 30.00 Hartland. Union Coll. 2.45 Manchester. Cong. Ch. to const. Dea. S. G. CONE, L. M. 74.51 Milton. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 18.05 Underhill. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 9.10 Wallingford. Cong. Ch. and Soc. $32; “E. A. H.” $2 34.00 West Brattleborough. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 10.15 West Milton. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 9.81 Windham. Cong. Ch. 9.10 Woodstock. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 3.84

MASSACHUSETTS, $2,265.03.