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.
LATEST NEWS FROM REV. H. M. LADD.
Berber, on the Nile, Dec. 31, 1881.—“We arrived in Berber, safe and sound, day before yesterday, the 29th, being sixteen days from Korosko. We were nine days to Aboo Hamed, making forced marches of twelve and thirteen hours, and averaging, to that place, thirty-three miles a day. At Aboo Hamed we rested one day, and from that place to Berber averaged twenty-one miles a day. I have only time for a few lines now, as we go on board our dahabuyeh for Khartoum to-night. The Atmoor desert is a trying one, and nobody had better undertake it who has not a large amount of pluck and endurance. We, however, are in perfect health and good spirits. On our arrival we found all the merchant boats engaged. There was here only one dahabuyeh belonging to the Governor. We went to him and asked for it. He refused. We fell back on our orders from Cairo. He changed his mind, and said we might take it if we could get an order for it from Khartoum. We telegraphed to Raouf Pasha, Governor-General of Soudan. This morning the order came by telegram, and also a telegram of welcome to the Soudan. The Reis has reported to us. The dahabuyeh now lies in front of our tents, subject to our orders and ready to sail. In a few minutes we go on board, and hope to reach Khartoum by the 5th. I will try to send my journal from there, and bring it up to date. We are highly pleased with Berber and the people we find here. Everything so far has gone well. We are pressing forward just as fast as is possible.”
Map of Mission in Eastern Africa.