A LETTER FROM AFRICA

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 26, 1896

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 13.

A LETTER FROM AFRICA.

Miss Lena F. Clark, a graduate of Spelman Seminary, Atlanta, Ga., who recently went to the Kongo Free State, Africa, as a missionary, writes encouragingly to her friends at the seminary. We quote from the Spelman Messenger:—

You will see by this note that I have now reached my destination, tho a long time on the way. I am very glad to be through with my long journey. Just think, I left dear Spelman June 20, and only reached here October 29. The journey from Stanley Pool to Ikoko was very pleasant; the scenery along the river was very fine. I enjoyed sitting on the deck looking at the beautiful river, islands, hills, and forests. One morning we saw an elephant drinking of the water in the river. The captain stopped the steamer and fired at it, but it got away. Another time we saw a young “hippo” in the water. Monkeys were numerous. We reached Irebu on Sunday, October 27.

On Tuesday I left for Ikoko, in a canoe, in charge of Mr. Milne. When we reached the lake, we found a boat waiting us, which Mr. Clark had sent. While the men were rowing, one beat time with a stick and the men sang native melodies. It is the funniest thing in the world why they want that pounding going on all day long. It is enough to give one a headache to last for a day or so (if you are not used to it, of course), but it is so very strange how soon one gets accustomed to it. From Irebu we had a long channel to go through before we reached the lake. It is a beautiful lake when it is calm and you are on it in a small canoe; and it is also very beautiful when the waves are rolling, and the whole lake seems to rise higher and higher, and you are safe on land.

The station is very, very near the water of the lake. I wish you could see our girls swim. They are just like ducks. It is a great punishment to call a girl away from the water. They go into the water to bathe twice a day. There are twenty-four girls at the station; one is to be sent to Mrs. Gordon. Some of them are little girls who have been taken captives in war by the state. The boys and girls work before and after school hours. Some of the older boys are learning to do carpentry work, and some of the other boys do gardening. The girls also use hoes in the garden.

Yesterday Mr. Clark went to the state place and got a girl. The girl is just out of the bush. She had on a little string made of some kind of grass, I think. Her hair was uncombed, and she was as dirty as she could be. Poor child, she looked as if she did not know what was going to happen to her. Mr. Clark handed her to me for my personal girl. I like it very much, because then I can train her myself. But you ought to have seen her two hours after she came. Miss Milne sent a girl with her to the water to bathe her; she had her hair cut, and a dress put on her. The transformation was remarkable.

The people attend the services pretty regularly. Last Sunday there were over fifty women and young girls in the chapel, and a greater number of men. The work is encouraging here. The people were cannibals; but they are now very friendly to the missionaries.

The women paint themselves in red paint which they get from trees; the men also paint, but not as much as the women. If you chance to knock against them, you are sure of having a little share of it. The women smoke long pipes just like men. The Ikoko people grow a great deal of tobacco. They have to do a great amount of fishing, because they are compelled to sell so many rods’ worth to the state camp every week.

The natives are not able to pronounce English names, so, to get out of difficulty, they have given the missionaries native names, for example: Mrs. Clark is Monkasa; Miss Milne, Ncasi; Mr. Clark, Mpbee; Mr. Milne, Yoka; baby, Mpela; mine is Mondoma.

I am very happy in my work: I love it. I have my loving friends to direct me when I don’t know what to do; so that helps to make things easy.