The unevangelized region of Africa to which I would call your earnest attention, and invite you to accept as a field for missionary labors (to be conducted with all energy in the Spirit—very judiciously fixing your positions for holding forth the word of Life so as to command the whole area, and diffuse throughout it the light of the Gospel—you and a great multitude of true believers continually standing on the watch-tower of the church and fervently praying, “Thy kingdom come!”) is situated and extends from the 10th parallel of north latitude to the point southwards where the 40th meridian crosses or cuts the river Jub (or Godschob), west to east from the right (east) bank of the White Nile to the said 40th meridian, and from the parallel of longitude of that point on the Jub southwards west and east from the White Nile to the right (west) bank of the Jub, down to the 3rd parallel of north latitude, and from the 3rd parallel of north latitude down to the 1st parallel of north latitude, west and east from the 35th meridian to the Jub. We thus avoid Somali Land, which is not at present eligible as a mission field. The territory south of the parallel 1 degree north latitude, it is hoped, some other society will evangelize. West of the 35th meridian, from 3 degrees north latitude and southwards, appears suitable for the Church Missionary Society of England, in connection with the Victoria Nyanza district.
The general object of this method of arrangement is to assign the whole of Africa, so far as not Mohammedanized, to different sections of the Christian church, that they may see that their several areas are evangelized. You would thus have a great and highly promising field for missionary labor, the most important and interesting people of which are: 1. The decayed Christian Remnants (remnants of the ancient Abyssinian church), Wolawo and Cambay, Muger and Gurague, and the places Euarea, Kaffa, Susa, Tuffti, Kullu and Doko. 2. The great and wide-spread Gallas tribes. 3. Dinkas. 4. The inhabitants of the Berri country. 5. The Latookas. 6. Fatiko and the Madi country.
The great interest and importance of the Christian Remnants and of the Gallas tribes is well known. The Berri people it is especially desirable should be early instructed in Christian truth. They are situated not very far to the east of Gondokoro, outside of the traders’ route. They have never been reported, I believe, but as a fine people comparatively, and are mentioned in Werne’s work, published many years ago.
The Latookas will appear interesting when we peruse Sir Samuel Baker’s account of them, and see “The Albert Nyanza,” 1866, vol. 1, pages 204-6, in which he writes: “One of the principal channels, if not the main stream of the river Sobat, is only 4 days’ march, or fifty miles, east of Latooka, and is known to the natives as the Chol.” See also, for accuracy of the places, Sir Samuel Baker’s “Ismailia,” the map. The east bank of that stream (the Chol) is occupied by the Gallas. The Gallas (in their attack on the Latookas) were invariably mounted on mules, &c., “the cavalry of the Akkara,” &c. In a note to me, dated August, 1878, Sir Samuel Baker says: “The Berri country has never been visited by Europeans; although it is not far from Gondokoro, it lies out of the way of traders’ routes. It would be comprised between north latitude 5 degrees 20 minutes and 6 degrees 50 minutes, and commences in east longitude about one degree east of Gondokoro, which is absolutely correct on the maps.” “Fatiko is a small district situated in 8 degrees north latitude, in the Madi country. You will find all places laid down with extreme accuracy in the maps in my last work, ‘Ismailia.’”
The linguistic aids for the evangelization of some of the tribes or populations—say Gallas, Dinkas, Christian Remnants, People of Euarea, Kaffa, Susa, &c.—already exist, I believe, in considerable degree.
The proffered gift, then, if accepted by you, should be regarded as a nucleus to which the Church of Christ around you shall pour its offerings, and I think that two thousand pounds of the amount should be specially applied towards the purchase and perpetual maintenance of two river steamers, one to navigate the Sobat and command the mission to the Dinkas—to such of the Gallas tribes as are their neighbors on the east, between them and Euarea—to the Gallas tribes on the Chol branch of the Sobat (east or right bank), and to the Latookas west or south-west (of the Chol), if accessible from that river; and the other steamer to navigate the Godschob (called the Jub at its mouth) and command the missions to the Christian Remnants, Wolawo, &c., and to the Gallas, who are to be found in large numbers in the country west of, and up to, the right or west bank of the Godschob. And it is understood that the people of the Berri country shall claim a place amongst your earliest evangelistic efforts. Fatiko, with the Madi country and Lake Samburu and population, are included in the area, but need not claim a first place in your labors. Possibly the Gallas on the upper course or waters of the Ozi—if geographers are right as to the position of the source of this river—may be reached from the Jub (Godschob) or from the Sobat. Your staff of missionaries for this work, so full of promise of great results, should be a well-chosen band, some of them men skilled in some of the arts, say two in the use of scientific instruments, and they should be most thoughtfully and prayerfully selected.
I ask that two or three of your very best and ablest men—men of large hearts, of enterprise and great faith, with several of the best maps before you—will study the description of the area I have delineated, and if it is not in any point perfectly clear, that you will at once ask for the missing details.
I really desire a thorough and permanent occupation of the field.
Yours most truly, in the Lord Jesus Christ,
(Signed)