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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 11, 1906

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 83, No. 41.

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West Africa

By David C. Babcock

FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE.—Our boys are making a road up to our house, from the main way, so that we can get up and down more conveniently. The reason for building so far from the road was to be at an elevation. When we were erecting the stone work of the house, I saw more than one hundred native Africans—men, women, and children—in a desperate fight, just in front of our Elder building, and if I had not been on a high elevation, I do not know just what I would have done.
You can scarcely imagine the disposition of these heathen people until you have had some experience with them. A few days ago two of our own boys came rushing up to our bedroom, all ready for a fight. I told them they must not come up in that way to get me to settle their difficulties, but to go down and I would come at once. I went down as quickly as possible, but before I could reach the bottom of the stairway, I heard pounding and beating such as I never heard before. When I got outside, they were clinched like tigers. The Lord gave me strength, and I soon had them out at arm’s length, and held them until they agreed to stop. In just a few minutes they were as good friends as ever.
Such experiences are not very encouraging, but we can not stop because the way looks dark. I believe that we can soon have a good school of these Mendi boys, and I have great hopes of seeing much good accomplished through them. We are planning to start a school in the basement of the mission house by the first of next January.
Until about the first of November I will do what house-to-house work I can, and then begin a tent effort in the city. We can have about seven months of good weather for tent work, and I am sure that a strong effort will result in much good for the work here. I hope that the Board can see their way clear to send me some good help by that time. I am going to ask you to send a tent. I will endeavor to get everything fitted up about our property before tent season begins, so that we shall be free to carry on aggressive work. There is a demand for our books, as well as for meetings. I was out to-day and sold books to the amount of $7.32.
D. C. BABCOCK.