Thus far we are all well and of good courage, and the work goes onward. The last two Sabbaths we had about one hundred and fifty or more natives at our service. Brother Ehlers talked to them most of the time, and also translated for me, the best he could. They have no written dialect, and the spoken dialect is very deficient. I enjoy my stay here very much. It gives me a new experience to be at the front in dark Africa.
Last Wednesday we called on the chief in the village about ten miles south. It is at the entrance of the mountains on the great caravan route. We asked him whether he would assist us in putting up a school there. He was greatly pleased with the idea, being an enterprising man.
GOVERNMENT FARM AND NATIVE HUTS, KWAI, USAMBARA
(This range of mountains is thirty miles east of our station)
There are about two thousand people closely clustered together in eight villages; here they are more scattered.
We find plenty of building timber two to three miles from us, sufficient stone on the ground for the foundations, and clay and sand for sun-dried bricks. The main expense will be the labor, and for things we need to import, like window-glass, hinges, locks, etc. We are putting up a roomy stable, and have planned for the dwelling-house, kitchen, and schoolhouse. At present part of our party live in tents, the rest in a hut, and we have light banana huts for kitchen, stable, etc. We have had only two light showers thus far.
From Wednesday to Friday three of us with three carriers went down to our village, Kihuiro, to see about the school; then we went up the Sasseni valley, and next we reached the southern ridge at an altitude of eighteen hundred meters, where we had a glorious view north and south in the plains of British and German East Africa, and could see the distant mountain ranges. It gave us a good idea of the lay of our district.
I hope to go north yet this week about eight hours' march, to visit our neighbors of the Leipzig Mission. I expect to leave about April 26. I intend to make a short trip in Usambara with Brother Ehlers. Our post-office is at that place; also a number of mission stations are located there.
Thus far we have had but one misfortune. We lost our two Indian ponies, woodbugs getting into their ears, and then into their brains. The cattle must be very carefully guarded, and everything cleared up before they can roam about. Ants are numerous.
Our freight is still en route, and consequently we lack our beds, tools, etc. Banana leaves on the earth supply the place of the beds.
While the Lord is richly blessing in establishing the headquarters in Washington, do not forget dark Africa.
