Malamulo Mission, Nyasaland
By A. E. Ellingworth
The vernacular school building is finished and limewashed, and it is well lighted and clean. It needs only the seats finished now, and we shall be ready to start in on another session. In future I expect to spend most of my time in the vernacular school to see that the beginners get a thorough grounding. When thoroughness is neglected here, the weakness is certain to show up when they are put out to teach in the villages. My wife will attend to the Anglo-vernacular school. I have made two trips to the out-schools recently, the first to those among the hills and the other to the Elephant Marshes, Chiromo District. Those on the plains are finding it difficult to get food; the children leave the villages in the morning to hunt for palm-trees, from which they get a sap to drink, and for roots, or anything they can find to satisfy hunger. The palm sap, if left to work, makes a very powerful intoxicant. Our teachers find it hard to get food; they have to go or send to the hills to buy it. Under these circumstances it is not surprising that some schools have a poor attendance; other schools are well attended and have well-organized Bible classes. On the last trip I took Simon into the schools, and pointing out the weaknesses, gave him hints as to how to strengthen and encourage the resident teacher. While at the villages we held meetings for the people and visited with them. Before leaving Simon I had a long talk with him about the plan of labor and the best line of instruction to give the people. Judging from his letters and the fact that he has not yet returned, he must be putting his heart into the work. I am anxious to get out and see what has been done and its effect upon the people. I think a great deal of Elder Hyatt's methods of evangelical work, and as opportunity offers, intend to put into practise the “little wagon” methods. We have had Mr. Moore, a Seventh-day Baptist, staying with us for a few days. His colleague, Mr. Wilcox, was also here two days. While over to meet Mr. Wilcox, I called on Mr. Cox, who has an estate near here. He is a brick and tile manufacturer at home, and is now experimenting with tiles here, and he was good enough to let me see the results of his experiments. I have made a start to see if we can not produce tiles also; I am not sure of it yet, but if we can, it will end the continual thatching which has to be done. We have nearly twenty acres of land ready for plowing when the rain comes. Brother Robinson is away visiting the schools around Blantyre; he also intends taking a run up to Mantandane. The mission house is now quite a comfortable place with its cement floors. I have to-day finished off the last room in our house also, so we are very comfortably situated. Miss Edie goes out to the villages every day except Sabbath. She is working hard; nothing daunts her.