THE MENDI MISSION.
SUGGESTIONS, WITH EXTRACTS FROM JOURNAL.
REV. H. M. LADD.
Much of the mission work in Africa, at least upon the West Coast, has a basis in industrial work of some kind. Many causes have conspired to hinder this branch of civilizing work at the Mendi Mission. Without stopping to specify what these may have been, no one can doubt that the chief reason why the saw-mill at Avery has failed to be a source of income to the Association, is the difficulty of transporting the lumber to market. This mill, with a circular and an upright saw, with a good head of water during the larger part of the year, and with timber near at hand, is the only mill of the kind on the West Coast. There is a good demand for such lumber as the mill can produce, but the chief market is 120 miles distant. No one in Africa, however much he might want lumber, would be guilty of going 120 miles for it, nor even 120 rods, if he could help it. In former times the lumber was taken to the market in a large boat, propelled by oar and sail; but the climate and the worms have claimed that boat as their own. Here is a most potent agency, an attractive centre for goods. The mill might be producing thousands of feet of lumber a day, and yet if there were no way to carry this lumber to the point where it could be sold, its production would only become a burden. What is needed to insure the best success of the mill, and of all the industrial departments connected with it, is an easy and quick means of transportation. This would not only make the mill a really civilizing institution and a paying piece of property, but if a small steamer or tug-boat were thus in use, it would more than pay its own way in the regular trips it would make, and by the incidental services it could render to other mission stations where similar industrial work is carried on. There are promises enough to insure the successful running of such a steamer. It should be adapted to towing a lumber boat of large capacity to and from Freetown, and should also be adapted to carrying passengers up and down the rivers. It would accomplish more work in a given time than any other project yet proposed on this coast, would dispense with the small army of boatmen and fleet of boats now maintained, and would be the solution of the question in regard to the mill. But why keep up this mill? Why have an industrial department? Simply because the spiritual interests of the mission are involved in it and demand it. There must be a physical basis for any successful work upon the minds and hearts of the people in this part of Africa. This has been demonstrated in other missions than our own. The people need a place to tie to, and something to draw them to that place in order to receive any lasting good. They need to learn habits of industry along with the Gospel. They need to be lifted out of their barbarism by increasing their wants and showing them how to supply them.
These are a few of the considerations that make this industrial work a sort of entering wedge for the Gospel. The situation of things at the Avery Station is, however, such as to convince those who have considered the matter, that the keen edge of this entering wedge must be the sharp prow of a little steamer. There can be scarcely a doubt, that the facilities afforded by such a steamer would give a much needed impetus to the whole work of the Association upon the West Coast.
JOHN BROWN MEMORIAL STEAMER.
Here is now an opportunity to turn to account the latent forces that lie pent up within easy reach. But how shall the steamer preach its practical sermon unless it be sent? Some one must send it. Many hands make light work, especially when they contain the contributions of willing hearts. Why may not the many little rills, and springs, and even drops of love for the colored race, flow together and float this steamer? Why not send, as some one has suggested, old John Brown, of Harper’s Ferry, in a memorial steamer over to Africa, to carry forward in a higher sense the work of freedom which he began here, and which shall never end till his soul has ceased its marching on? About $10,000 are needed to furnish such a steamer as is required. Who will take the first $100 share in the steamer “John Brown” soon to leave for the coast of Africa?
ADVANCE TO THE INTERIOR.
If we may believe one-half of the glowing accounts which come to us regarding the high table-lands of the interior, one or two hundred miles back from the coast, the region is full of rich promises as the scene of future missionary operations. It is said that the land is rich, the country wonderfully beautiful and healthy, the population dense, and cattle and horses abundant. There are difficulties in the way of reaching this country, but they are not insurmountable. One of our missionaries (Mr. Williams), well fitted for the work, has pushed his way back into this region, and reports very strongly in its favor. He brought back a horse with him as corroborative evidence of his statements, and there can be no doubt that in this healthier upland region the natives are more intelligent, more industrious, and every way superior, while they are also ready to welcome any who come among them for purposes of peace. Our present stations upon the coast, three in number, furnish excellent starting points and bases of supply, and should be maintained largely as such. But it should be our aim to work back from the low, malarious coast into these healthier and more promising highlands just as soon as the proper men and the means can be found. Starting from the stations already established, it would seem to be a wise thing to locate a chain of stations within easy distances of each other, stretching back to the mountains. At these points the missionaries could reside two by two, with mutual helpfulness and support. The natives of this region talk the same general language as upon the coast. They are said to be remarkably fine singers, and are fond of music. They manufacture great quantities of cloth and various other articles of a superior quality. They are, however, reported to be the husbands of many wives, counting their honors by the number of their wives. The rivers that drain this region afford an imperfect approach to the country, but are available for considerable distances. Let the means and the men be found, and this healthier and more promising country can soon be captured for Christ. It is only a question of time. This push for the interior must soon be made, and a larger and better work must soon be inaugurated.
BRIEF EXTRACTS FROM THE JOURNAL.
On Wednesday, March 23d, we sighted the point of Sierra Leone by early dawn. The country as approached from the sea is beautiful. The serrated Lion Mountains slope to the water’s edge, covered with a luxuriance of tropical vegetation. The city of Freetown at a little distance appears comparatively well built. The public buildings are large and attract immediate attention, the streets are wide and regularly laid out; and the whole external aspect strikes one as much finer than what is naturally expected on this coast; but a nearer view suggests the truth of the old saying that “Familiarity breeds contempt.” The stay here was short, but into the time was crowded a variety of strange and novel experiences. From this point the mission boat “Olive Branch” carried us to Good Hope Station, on Sherbro Island, where we landed late in the evening of March 30th. This trip of about one hundred and twenty miles occupied three days and two nights, and was, perhaps, the most trying part of our journey. We experienced several severe tornadoes on the way, and suffered from the intense glare of the sun, now nearly vertical, and the difficulty of procuring proper food. Having reached the mission house, we at once made ourselves as much at home as possible. Thursday, March 31st, we were all up at an early hour, and went out before the intense heat of the day to inspect the grounds and buildings. The fine property of the mission had evidently suffered in many ways from neglect. All the buildings stood in need of repairs, and a large portion of the grounds, including the little cemetery where Barnabas Root is buried, was overgrown with bush. The spiritual condition of the church and station seemed also to bear some resemblance to its outward condition. It was not hopeless, but somewhat depressed. The grounds in the immediate vicinity of the mission house gave evidence, however, that the missionaries had neither forgotten to exercise their taste, nor been wasteful of the small force and slender means at their command. So, also, the spiritual condition of the station presented some encouraging features. The warm reception which Mr. Kemp and his wife received on every side gave some reason to hope that the church would yet nourish under his judicious care.
MISSION HOME, MENDI MISSION.
Friday, April 1st, was emphatically a day of calls. It had been quickly noised abroad that the new missionaries from America had arrived, and many availed themselves of the first opportunity to bid them welcome to Africa. Possibly a little curiosity was mingled with their politeness, but we did not care to analyze too closely, and were glad to see them all. The people we met were generally fine looking, of a rich, brown color, and not burdened by any superfluity of clothing. They talked a broken English, which was almost as difficult to understand as a new language.
To say that Sunday, April 3d, was a warm day would convey but a slight idea of the truth. When the thermometer indicates over 90° in America we are apt to call it rather warm; but a new adjective is needed to characterize African heat at 90°, for it is something so entirely different from the summer broils of other countries. No wonder that this is an unhealthy climate. The land is low, the water stagnant, the air moist, vegetation thick, and the heat intense. In the morning I preached in the mission church to an attentive audience on “The light that shineth in a dark place,” and was present at a service in the Mendi language at the school-house in the afternoon. The prayer meeting in the evening was well attended and full of interest.
On Monday, April 4th, we went in the “Olive Branch” to Avery Station, on the Mahna River, a branch of the Bargroo, forty miles inland. The trip took all of one night, the boatmen rowing and keeping time to their oars with a weird, monotonous singing all the way.
The inspection of the station at Avery consumed the early morning hours of Tuesday. We visited the mill, the boat houses, the coffee farm, the cassada fields, the rice houses, the boy’s department, the store, the church and school-room, and last, but not least, the “faki,” or native village, situated on the mission grounds, and under the control of the missionary. The situation of the mission house is a fine one, but the adjacent country is wilder than at Good Hope. The house stands on a high promontory, and commands a very picturesque view both up and down the river. This river abounds in fish and alligators, while the banks are alive with monkeys.
I was up at three A. M. on the 7th to help receive Mr. Kemp, who arrived from Good Hope Station at that hour. Later we visited the school together, examined the pupils in their various branches, and gave them a little talk, which they seemed to enjoy. Some of them were honored by such names as Wm. E. Gladstone and M. E. Strieby. Their appearance and behavior were very gratifying. The prayer meeting in the evening was fully attended, and indicated a marked degree of earnestness, the leader having some difficulty to bring it to a close. If hand-shaking is a means of grace, we enjoyed special privileges at the end of this meeting.
I found oysters growing on trees (April 8th), and plucked a large branch. Bread and butter also grow on trees in this strange land. I had occasion to turn doctor to-day, and prescribed some fearful doses, right and left, with marked results, due probably to faith.
After the ordination exercises at Good Hope (April 10th), a number of the ministerial brethren of the council went in a boat-load to attend service at the out-station of Debia, and although a severe tornado threatened to break up the meeting, we enjoyed an interesting and precious season together. The work at this point is full of encouragement, but greater facilities are needed to carry it on.
The painful news has just been received through Rev. O. H. White, D.D., of London, of the death of Rev. Kelly M. Kemp at Good Hope Station, Mendi Mission. Thus one more bright name has been added to the long list of missionary heroes and martyrs whose dust hallows the soil of Africa. No particulars have been received, and we cannot speak confidently as to the cause of his death. Those who have read the recent accounts of his ordination and reception at Good Hope need not be reminded of the high hopes that were entertained in regard to the work upon which he had but just entered with so much zeal. Mr. Kemp’s earnest consecration and varied experience and sweet Christian character had not only endeared him to all who knew him, but had given rich promise also of great good to the people among whom he had counted it all joy to labor.