The German East Africa Mission
By L. R. Conradi
As the everlasting gospel is to enlighten the whole world, we can but naturally expect that its bright rays will illuminate the darkest corner of the Dark Continent, much of which is still sunken in heathenism and barbarism. In my last communication, I stated that our missionaries had decided to locate in the northwest corner of the country, near British East Africa. Since that time, I have received several letters from Brethren Ehlers and Enns, from which I quote as follows:— “As we did not find the chief official of that district in the seacoast town of Tanga, I left Brother Enns there in care of the baggage. I could travel sixty miles into the interior by rail, as the railroad is in operation that far. Then I ascended the Usambara Mountains to Wilhelmsthal, where I found the chief German official of the district. From all I could ascertain, I thought the Pare Mountain country tolerably well populated, with sufficient water. My journey there (a distance of about one hundred miles) was no easy task, as I made it on foot, and all alone, to avoid expense. The last fifteen miles I had to climb nearly four thousand feet. One day I made twenty-eight miles. “En route I came to a hut where a native family dwelt who had been converted to Catholicism. The negro had been beating his wife, and I heard such a cry from the hut that I went in to see what was the matter. I found that the woman had received a cut four inches long and three fourths of an inch deep, in the calf of her leg. I asked for water to wash away the blood, and linen with which to tie up the wound. There was not so much cloth to be found on the premises, so I took my pocket handkerchief for the purpose. When I returned, these people received me heartily. “I had opportunity to tell another negro of God, and I asked him whether he prayed, and, laying his hand upon his breast, he said, ‘Yes, sir.’” “Receiving the necessary information about the Pare Mountain district, I returned to Tanga, and Brother Enns and I then took our baggage to Korogwe, where we engaged twenty-eight carriers to take it inland. At 6 P. M. we departed, and by ten we had traveled about fifteen miles. We rested until 3 A. M., and then penetrated farther into the forest, which abounds with lions and leopards. At two o’clock the moon went down, so our situation was rather dangerous, and yet we marched ahead, assured that the God of Israel was our God. We had to lead the column, as the native places the utmost confidence in the guidance of a white man. In danger he will cast aside his gun or spear, and seek protection from the European. “By morning we arrived in Momba, after marching twenty-eight miles. Here we rested until night, and then we went on to Masinde, in three hours, where we rested the remainder of the night, and the next day until 4 P. M., when we departed for Kihuiro, knowing neither the direction of our path nor the distance to the place. After a few hours we were without water, and none was to be had until we should reach Kihuiro. After another hour’s travel, we lay down to rest, with a burning thirst. This, with the cry of the leopard and the shriek of the hyena, allowed us but little sleep. We therefore arose about two o’clock, and traveled four miles an hour for the next five hours, and in six hours more we came to a swamp. Although the water was bad, we were glad to be able to moisten our parched lips with it. Soon we reached Kihuiro, which is at the foot of the Pare Mountains. A crystal stream came down from the hills, and so happy were we to see it that we at once undressed, and jumped into the clear, running waters, to cool our feverish bodies. In the evening we went on again, taking a small mountain path that branches off from the main caravan route. As we wanted to move on, we were told that our guide did not know the way. We soon met the village chief, and he furnished us a good guide. “Our road went up and down hills, through the beds of the streams, and over terrible chasms, where the earth loosened under our feet and went shooting down into the depths below. Even our carriers had to pull their burdens of about sixty pounds up with ropes. At times it was so dark we could not see the man ahead. Our carriers wanted to camp, but we were very anxious to reach the point for which we had started. When we arrived at Momba, we were so tired we were glad to stop. The place where we halted was the worst we could have chosen. Brother Enns had hurt his knee on a stone, and this hindered his journey very much. “We were now fifteen hundred feet above the sea, so the nights were quite cold. Our bed was composed of stones, and the fly of our tent. Our surroundings were not very encouraging when we arose in the morning. We saw some corn and some bananas. As we advanced about one hundred yards farther, and turned a corner, we entered a most beautiful valley, where the corn and bananas were growing profusely; and we saw quite a number of native huts. We were very hungry, and so sent some of the natives to the neighboring village to buy food. While we waited, the chief of that section came down, with some of his old men, and they saluted us very nicely. We had already thought of buying this valley, and in the course of our conversation we asked the chief whether he wanted to sell it. His reply was, ‘Yes.’ As to the price, he said, ‘Thirty-five dollars.’ We assured him that we would consider the matter further, and on our way back give him a definite reply. Had we not stopped in that unfavorable place during the night, we would not have seen this valley. Then, too, it seemed providential that those whom we had sent to buy food should remain away so long, thus detaining us until the chief came. “But that we might investigate the matter still further, we proceeded to Kismani, a two days’ journey, where is the deserted government station, in the midst of the Pare Mountains. Here we sent a few carriers away, expecting that the other twenty-five would come with our baggage. Three days passed, and no carriers came. This was a time of great disappointment and earnest prayer. We decided to return, and said that if we should find the other carriers near the valley, which we thought so favorable, we would see in this the hand of God, showing that we should buy the valley. “We returned. Brother Enns’s leg was so bad he could scarcely go, so we hired natives to carry him; but they acted so awkwardly that he decided to walk as best he could. This, of course, again delayed us. Upon reaching the village, we inquired if any one had seen our carriers. One of the villagers said they were just beyond the other end of the village. And, sure enough, we found them with our luggage. This led us to think that God desired us to buy the nice valley near by, as we had so earnestly sought him about the matter. “We at once marched four hours up the mountain. No sooner had we pitched our tents, than it began to rain hard; and it did not stop for three days. “On the ninth of December we went to Wilhelmsthal, where the German government office is, and sealed the bargain for the land. “Shortly afterward, I was taken down with the fever, and a German farmer, Mr. Hedde, invited us to his home, where he kindly gave us charge of everything until he should return from a business tour to the coast. “One of the worst things we must put up with is the poor, dirty cooking of the natives. They never wash their cooking utensils, so it is next to impossible for a white man to exist unless he does his own cooking. “January 7 we were again able to return to the site we had chosen for our mission. “The Wapare (the people of the Pare Mountains) are a peaceable, simple tribe. No one has visited them in the mountains. Our present location is about four thousand feet above the sea-level, and thus far we have seen no mosquitoes, and it would seem that the place would be healthful.” Farther to the north, in Kismani, our brethren find that the German Lutherans have already begun missionary operations, working around Kilimanjaro Mountain. Our coming is none too soon. Their last letter was dated January 18, and at that time they were in good health, and were putting up some temporary buildings to shield them from the rainy season, which was fast approaching. As we shall have to build a permanent mission station, we felt the need of re-enforcing our work. And as a third man, we selected Brother A. Langholf, a German, who is a blacksmith by trade. He was a student in our Friedensau school, and has been treasurer of the Russian field for several years. Brother Wunderlich also offered himself, and was accepted. He is a man of17middle age, and has had many years’ experience in building, both as mason and as carpenter, in eastern Prussia. He has been our mechanic and engineer in Friedensau for some time. We have taken a good supply of tools, so we can put up our own buildings. These two brethren, with their wives, sailed from Hamburg, February 20, on the German East African line. They expect to reach Port Said, Egypt, March 13, where I hope to join them on the trip south. Meanwhile, I plan to visit our missions in Cairo, Jaffa, and Jerusalem. We are to arrive in Tanga, German East Africa, March 28, and proceed inland immediately. I intend to remain in German East Africa about five weeks, become fully acquainted with the situation, help with their buildings, and see what can be done for the further extension of the work. We are thankful that our brethren throughout the German Union Conference have taken a deep interest in this mission. The East and West German Conferences donated one thousand dollars of their surplus tithe toward this enterprise. We planned to pay as we go, and thus far the Lord has provided us with the necessary means. We are also thankful for the interest taken by some of our American brethren in this project, and hope it may increase, so that the message may be speedily carried to the uttermost parts of the earth, and even the darkest sections of Africa may be prepared for our soon-coming King.