Africa.
Extract from a letter received by the London Missionary Society:
—“Food continues cheap and plentiful; the market is a great blessing—it fluctuates frequently, but the cause can generally be seen; a recent rise in prices was caused by the sudden arrival of several caravans of ivory from Manyuema. We are doing a little better with the garden just now. One of our new men formerly worked in an Arab’s garden, and under his advice and care we have onions now coming up, and some of the seeds from Cape Colony are showing signs of life. We have a good plot of sweet potatoes. The vegetable called nyumbo—mentioned by Livingstone as being very wholesome—is now procurable in the market; we find them very good and much like potatoes; in shape and size they are like good-sized long radishes with blunt tails; in colour and texture like English potatoes, but stringy outside. Good beef is not procurable. Fish, fowls, and goat’s flesh are plentiful; also eggs and butter.
“Having a good supply of sugar we have tried preserving, and succeeded very well with lemon marmalade and jam of bananas and guavas. Mr. Hutley has acquired the art of bread-making, and we occasionally have an excellent loaf. We both find the maize meal wholesome; it is capable of being made into a variety of puddings. If I were asked of what I am in want in the shape of food, I would say, first, cabbages; second, rhubarb: and lo, only to-day, Mr. Hutley tells me that some Savoy cabbage seeds are showing signs of life! So we may yet, with care, obtain several of the English vegetables, which beat anything in this country, with all its luxuriance.
“Wheat planting begins in a few days, at which we shall also have a try. I think it probable we shall be able to procure ‘whole-wheat meal’ from Unyanyembe in the season at a reasonable price. Men who know the roads in the forest go to Unyanyembe in eight days; this seems to us very near.”
THE FREEDMEN.
REV. JOS. E. ROY, D. D.,
FIELD SUPERINTENDENT, ATLANTA, GA.