A Matabele Colporteur

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C.

FromReview and Herald, Harvest Ingathering Number

GOVERNOR OF LUCKNOW (INDIA) PRINTING OFFICE AND LORD OF THE MAIL MATTER OF THE POST OFFICE.

A Matabele Colporteur

EVIDENTLY the colporteur work has its place even among the kraals of the African interior. J. V. Wilson, of our Solusi Mission, Rhodesia, writes of the experience of Jim, one of the mission teachers, who went out as a pioneer colporteur among the kraals, or villages:—

“He sold all his books and traveled about one hundred miles. At one kraal an old native was so pleased with Jim’s work that he took Jim to the cattle kraal and showed him two nice young heifers, saying he could have them as soon as he sent some one to get them. The Lord surely helped Jim in his work.

“A license costing nearly fifty dollars is required for the colporteur work. When the young man learned that Brother Walston, superintendent of our mission, was willing to get him the license, he replied:—

“I received your letter, and was very glad to hear that the way is open for me. The letter seemed to come from Jesus. The work of selling books is very great, and I love it as I do my food. I want to canvass the whole of Matabeleland.”

“This suggestion of food reminds me of the fondness of the African for his meal porridge. I shall have to tell you what one of our native teachers asked me. We were talking about heaven, and he wanted to know if they would have their porridge there; he said it did not seem to him that he would want to live in heaven if he could not have it there.”