THE MENDI MISSION.
Explorations into the Interior, etc.
REV. ALBERT P. MILLER, GOOD HOPE STATION.
I am traveling more or less to see the interior of this extensive country, going up certain rivers and visiting towns and villages on the way. I visited the Bargroo country last week, and hope to leave in the morning for Kaw-Mendi, to see what are the prospects of useful work for the Mission in that part of the country. Many of the old places formerly held by the Mission I shall try to visit before the rainy season proper sets in. We are getting things somewhat in shape, and hope to push into the interior as soon as practicable. Dodo is open to us; Cunkananny, also, on the very frontier, no mission station having ever been established nearer them than Avery. Bros. Anthony and White are to-night with us; will leave to-morrow for Avery. Bro. Anthony is well, and is getting on very well in his new field of labor. He takes right hold, and seems to be in dead earnest. Bro. White is also well. I find that we shall be obliged to get a large quantity of goods from some source or other with which to purchase logs, as two saws will soon be running in the mill, which will come in to help us. We are all very well save the doctor, who has been ill of late, but is now up. Pray for us.
The Industrial Work—General Impressions.
ELMORE L. ANTHONY, AVERY STATION.
I am well and all right. I had a slight pain in my head yesterday for the first time since I have been in the country, and that came from being in the sun too much. Everything seems to be going forward. I am doing the best that I can.
The mill has been repaired. The bottom logs were decayed; the ends of some of the posts were also decayed. There is considerable work to do yet. One of the saws started this week, and the other one will start soon. Bills for lumber are coming in. We can find sale for all the good lumber that we can saw. Logs are coming in; business seems to be opening. We had the shoot that leads the water from the vat or receptacle to the turbine wheel enlarged, which will, I think, give the water greater propelling power, and, of course, give the circular saw greater velocity. I am having the coffee farm cleaned, and will have the trees pruned next month, as I understand that is the time. I am doing just as you said.
The religious work seems to be improving, though I have not been here long enough to tell much about it. The industrial department is about all one man can attend to if he will do his duty. Brothers Jackson and White have the church and school. I help in the Sabbath-school. Having seen the condition of the people, I would say, if you had the money, send one hundred thousand missionaries to different parts of Africa at once, and have them establish missions and tributaries. This country is baptized in ignorance, vice, poverty and old customs. Humanity is entirely below description. There are hundreds, yes, thousands of persons here that have not a string of clothing to their names. All the natives do is to sow and reap; they know nothing about cultivation whatever. Now, why keep missionaries away, when Christ has said, “Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations”?