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.