N. Z. TOWN by N. Z. Town

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 1, 1902

N. Z. TOWN

By N. Z. Town

Uruguay

NUEVA PALMIRA.—I have just returned to this place from a trip to Nueva Helvetia. I left Nueva Palmira in company with two brethren, about three weeks ago, with horse and buggy. The first night we stayed with a man who keeps the Sabbath, about nine miles out. The next day we arrived at the house of a sister, twenty-seven miles farther on. Here we passed the Sabbath. We had a good meeting. On Monday morning the brethren took me to a place about six miles away, where the stage passed. I took the stage there at noon, and about sundown arrived at the terminus of that route, fifteen miles farther on. The next morning at daybreak I took another stage for Rosario, about forty-five miles distant, where I arrived about 5 P. M. The next morning I took the train to Helvetia. Thursday I traveled about sixty miles by team, visiting the brethren. I spent two Sabbaths there. The last Sabbath we ordained an elder and a deacon, as the former ones had both died. In this service, as well as in the celebration of the ordinances, the Lord's call came near. There are some devoted, earnest members in this company. I received about $170, gold, in tithe and offerings.

On the twenty-second I took a train for Colonia, expecting to get a boat the next day to Carmelo, a place about twelve miles from Nueva Palmira; but on arriving in Colonia I found that, on account of the bubonic plague in Buenos Ayres, the Uruguayan ports had been closed to all boats from the other side; so I could get no boat. A coachman in Colonia wanted fifteen dollars in gold to take me to Carmelo, a distance of sixty miles. While contemplating what to do, I learned of a man who had come from Conchillas, a small town thirty-six miles on the way, and that he would be glad for a passenger to take back the next day. He came to my room to see me, and I arranged with him to take me for $2.50. I had to stay overnight in Conchillas. The next day I went by stage to Carmelo for $1.50. I should have taken a stage from Carmelo to Nueva Palmira the next day, but on account of the quarantine the stage did not arrive, so I had to stay overnight, reaching home the next day.

I have described this little trip in detail, that you may see how we have to travel sometimes in South America. They drive six or seven horses on the stage, four abreast, with two or three leaders.