West African Sudan by D. C. BABCOCK

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 26, 1915

West African Sudan

By D. C. BABCOCK

D. C. BABCOCK

It is now a little more than one year since we began work for the Master among the seventeen millions in the densely populated territory of Nigeria. To some extent the war has checked the progress of our efforts, yet we have witnessed the providence of God going out before us in a marked manner.

One very interesting experience came to us when three native Yoruba men called on us one morning, with a letter from a native village more than one hundred miles distant, written in their own language, imploring us to come to their town and give them the message for these times. The letter was a real plea for help, and was signed by the leading men of the town.

Some time before this interest was created, the balogun (war captain) became much interested in visiting our mission. He carried the good news back to his native town, and in a short time a good interest was awakened, and the call for help sent out.

Calls are coming from other towns, asking us to come and help them. The king of a very large town sent me word through the clerk of the court that he wished to see me about opening our work in his town.

We are planning for our central mission to be located near Ilorin, a Mohammedan city of fifty thousand population.

On my first trip out into the country from Ilorin, the government provided me with a native guide, a Mohammedan, attired in religious costume, riding a high-spirited horse, and carrying a lance, or spear, eight or nine feet long. He brought with him a fine horse for me to ride. I soon discovered it was not an old plow horse I was mounting.

My guide took the lead, and with his lance drove the people from the street, crying, “A white man is coming!” They removed their sandals, prostrated themselves on the ground, and cried, “Zacha! zacha!” (Great man! great man!)

We were soon out of the city and galloping over the beautiful prairies. We reached a level plateau, and our horses were leisurely walking along, when suddenly my guide’s horse dashed away at such a speed that before I was aware of it, he was quite a distance from me. My horse soon caught the same spirit, and without any warning whatever I was in the race, and found myself trying to gather up the reins with one hand and hold my helmet on with the other. I was soon up by the side of my guide, and the only way we could express to each other our appreciation of the experience was by a hearty laugh. We understood each other perfectly.

After a few hours’ ride we arrived at Shav, where I shall begin work. The natives of this place are a very friendly and kind people, and have given us a hearty welcome. The location health-wise is all we could hope for in this part of West Africa. We are on quite an elevation, and can view the country for many miles in all directions. Looking south, we can see the blue outlines of the Ila hills, fully forty miles away.

The only disturbance we have had in our new home is caused by the occasional visit in the night of the large spotted hyena, found in northern Nigeria. As the shades of night gather round us, we keep our small boys close to our mud hut.

We look for great things from the Lord in this part of the Dark Continent.

Ilorin, Nigeria.