South Africa by W. H. ANDERSON

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 13, 1908

South Africa

By W. H. ANDERSON

W. H. ANDERSON

The night of November 25 my wife was taken with blackwater fever. For two hours she continued to shake in a chill, although we put all the blankets on the bed, and bags of hot water around her. Her whole body then turned yellow. Taking my English medical book, I carefully carried out the instructions for treatment. Fortunately, I had all the remedies called for. The next day I wired to the doctor at Kaloma, asking for advice. He wired back, and advised me to do just what I had been doing for her.

The third day she was very weak. I had no hopes for her recovery. I did everything I could for her, and she revived, and then slept. On Friday I made a mashila, and carried her to the nearest point on the railway, about two and one-half miles distant. Sabbath morning I had her in the hospital at Livingstone. The nurse told me that she thought she was dying when I carried her in and laid her on the bed. During the day she revived, and during the week she grew a little stronger. The next week, on the advice of the doctor, I started for the coast with her. As she was too weak to make the whole journey, I took her to Brother Willson’s place in Kimberley, and left her there. The doctor says that if she does not have a relapse, she has a chance to recover. If she has a relapse, she can not live two days. He has ordered her home as soon as she is able to travel.

As help for this mission, we need a man who can acquire the native language. A man who does not know the language and can not sit down and have heart-to-heart talks with the native can never understand him.

The work here is growing far beyond my power to look after it. I succeeded in getting the two out-stations, and have them going. The last time I visited one of them, there were fully five hundred natives at the Sabbath services in the kraals. I have just heard from the other, and they report an attendance of forty-eight at the Sabbath-school which I organized when there last. We have given them plows and oxen, and they are now busy planting their crops. I will visit them again soon. I have made

application for three more stations, and hope to open them as soon as the rains are over. The teachers are here, and we must get them to work.

We are now busy with the planting. We have about sixty acres plowed, and two plows are going all the time. As I had to be away during my wife’s illness, the planting is delayed; but we hope to finish it by the end of the year. Our older trees have made a remarkable growth since I was away. We shall have an abundance of lemons this year, also guavas. I will plant the pineapple plants soon. Everything else is progressing nicely. I have just planted fifteen bushels of potatoes. These are always high here. I received $2.50 a bushel for all I raised last year. I am now selling new potatoes at the same price.

The cattle are doing well. Our entire herd numbers nearly one hundred. The grass is good, and the cows are fat. We now sell about twenty pounds of butter a week, and receive thirty-five cents a pound for it.

Our workers will now have comfortable homes, and should have good health. We have plenty of cattle, fruit, and vegetables, so we can live well.

Pemba, N. W. Rhodesia.