Other reports were as interesting as these, but I am afraid I am writing too much now. I have taken these reports in the order in which they were given. After hearing from all our students, I may send you the number of signers to the pledge, secured during the summer by them.
AFRICA.
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.