ARTHINGTON MISSION.—A PARALLEL.
The enterprises of different nationalities operating in northeastern Africa are continually converging about Khartoum, which, during the past three years, has been transformed in appearance from an African to a semi-European city. Good houses and extensive stores have been constructed, and at present all supplies required by modern civilization are furnished.
The activity in this locality is indicated by some of the following circumstances: Recently Mr. Goodwin, engineer at Cairo, reported to the Egyptian government the necessity of prolonging the railroads of lower Egypt to the Egyptian Soudan. A Spanish association is planning an expedition from Korosko to the Albert Lake. Agents of the Italian Society of Commerce are on their way to Khartoum for mercantile purposes. The English government contemplate locating consuls south of the desert, both at Souakim and Khartoum. A special interest seems just now to be taken in the Galla country. Baron Müller, with a German expedition, is heading towards this locality. Piaggia is at Khartoum, from whence he purposes to penetrate the same region. There is also reason to believe that Count Pennazzi is already making his explorations in that country.
We are chiefly interested, however, in an enterprise which is parallel to our proposed Arthington Mission.
It appears that a Swedish missionary society, founded in 1856, was organized with a purpose to labor among the Gallas, reaching their country via Khartoum and the Blue Nile. The society seems to have been delayed and embarrassed in its operations, so much so that it decided in 1866 to locate its stations at Massaoua and its immediate neighborhood on the Red Sea. Here it gave instruction to some 200 children, boys and girls, at its three stations. Some of these children were pure heathen from the Galla tribes, and others belonged to the Abyssinian church.
In 1877 Galla merchants came from Jemma, south of Abyssinia, and anxiously requested that teachers be sent them. No Europeans at that time could enter the country. Consequently three native youths, who had been brought up at the mission schools and who burned with zeal to carry the gospel of Christ to their fellow countrymen, returned with the traders and established a mission for Abyssinian and Galla children at Godjam, and began to preach to the people, who seemed very willing to hear the glad tidings. Neither language nor climate could hinder these, as they do Europeans.
The Swedish Society, however, has recently resolved to return to its original purpose, and already one of its missionaries, Mr. Arrhenius, accompanied by Onesimus, an Abyssinian by birth, and another fellow laborer, are supposed to be on their way to Enarea, via Berber, Khartoum and the Blue Nile, to found a mission in Southern Abyssinia. Mr. Arrhenius purposed to leave for the Galla Country November, 1881, and it is not improbable that he may have fallen in with Messrs. Ladd and Snow, at Khartoum. By reference to the accompanying map it will be seen that Enarea lies in about the same latitude as the mouth of the Sobat, on the White Nile, being situated some 400 miles from it in an easterly direction. Both of these points lie in the territory designated by Mr. Arthington. At the latter, it will be remembered, we somewhat expect to locate our first mission station. The experience of this Swedish Society during its fifteen years of labor gives it a great advantage. Its students may not only prove of service among the Gallas, they may also aid us in our mission.
It is encouraging to note the activities among the different nationalities for the development of trade and internal improvements in that portion of the Nile Basin which we hope to occupy, but especially the fact that He who has affirmed that Ethiopia shall stretch out her hands unto God, is moving upon the hearts of Swedish, English and American Christians simultaneously to enter and occupy that country for Christ.