British Central Africa
By THOMAS H. BRANCH
PLAINFIELD MISSION STATION, CHOLO.—The work is still moving on, and I am sure with some degree of success; I feel confident that the Lord is blessing the seed sown in his name. There are many signs that the word preached is taking effect for good, as the people are becoming diligent students of the Bible. The eight o'clock prayer-meetings are of interest, also the Sabbath preaching services, and the Sabbath-school, in which all take part. The day-school is in good condition, with an enrolment of about thirty-five or forty pupils, fifteen of whom live at the station, and quite a good many come from the villages. In the different parts of the work we are doing what we can, asking our dear Saviour each day for more wisdom and strength to do the work in his name. At the Sabbath morning services, when a text of Scripture is mentioned, those who are so fortunate as to have a Bible will turn and read it with great earnestness, which is encouraging to the worker. The mission crops are promising. The chimanga I think will yield abundantly. The cotton is still very tender, but promises a good harvest. The rainy season is over, and we are having the hot sunshine again. I am now busy with all the workmen, cutting away the high grass from around the station, which if left standing until the terrible forest fires, is destructive to the mission buildings.15 There are many wild beasts here. The lions come quite near the mission. Their dreadful roaring strikes terror to the heart. A leopard came into the yard of the schoolboys in the daytime. There are many snakes. A large boa-constrictor swallowed a goat belonging to one of the native boys, and they let the snake lie until the third day, when it was helpless, then they killed it. First of all they called in their friends to take part in a sort of festival, after which they divided the dead goat, and sold it among themselves. They gave me the skin of the snake, which is sixteen feet in length. These people are a little reluctant about killing this kind of snake, as heretofore they worshiped it as one of their gods. But since many of them are learning concerning the true God, they are turning their minds away from it. We desire an interest in the prayers of God's children, in behalf of this people. We are all well, and of good courage in the work of Him who said, “Go . . . and teach all nations, . . . and, lo, I am with you alway.” We desire to remain faithful in the giving of the message to perishing souls.