It was known by the villagers of Matump that the white missionaries were coming to their town to consider the location of a mission there. Consequently they had prepared a reception for us.
We were met at the river by the son of the chief, who speaks English. He escorted us to the chief's house, in front of which we met almost the entire population of the town, dancing to the music of a native drum.
BIBLE CLASS IN PREPARATION FOR BAPTISM AT MALAMULO MISSION, NYASALAND.
GERDIA MISSION, ON THE VICTORIA NYANZA.
The chief could not come out of his house to meet us, as he had not yet been crowned, so we went in to see him. Everything19was arranged with the chief and his people for us to establish our school there, and then we were escorted to the barry (city hall) to rest, while the dance was continued in our honor. The sad part of it all was that the dancers became intoxicated, and got English rum; for the traders have preceded the missionaries to the heathen people in Sierra Leone.
We hope for better times in this little town, for the people are all looking forward to the time when the missionary will be there to live, and to help them learn better things and better ways. Even the children seemed to forget their first dread of a white man, and came around us, trying to make us understand their strange tongue.
We, too, are anxious for the time when we can get out to our new station, for it is a real pleasure to do something for these people who are so anxious to learn.
