MAFETING, BASUTOLAND, AFRICA.
A Church of England missionary, Rev. H. C. Sanderson, writes as follows concerning Mafeting to the Mission Field:— "This town is unique, I believe, as being at present the only one in Basutoland which is fast becoming Christian. So much so is this already the case that I have been repeatedly told that heathen, chancing to come and reside here, find themselves in so great a minority, have so few kindred spirits to associate with, that they either themselves become converted to Christianity or else are disposed to leave for other villages with greater heathen populations. Even casual visitors can hardly fail to be impressed with the Christian habits of this town, for daily after the ringing of their respective bells (often simultaneously) two long lines of people are to be seen traversing the main street—the one wending its way to church for matins or evensong, the other to a French Protestant mission-building for their morning prayers. And, as further illustrating the same feature, I may mention that native Christians from other parts of this mission, when visiting Mafeting and joining in the daily services, have invariably remarked to me afterwards that 'in Mafeting every day seems like a Sunday, for the congregation is always so large.' But the native church people in Mafeting are, not only strong numerically, they are also strong in Christian virtue. Taken singly, the congregation in Basutoland is as large as that in Mafeting, and, in proportion to its size, none is more exemplary. Of course I can only testify of what has come under my personal notice, and it is with deep thankfulness that I am able to record that during the last twelve months the number of persons coming under censure for offenses has been at the ratio of one per cent., a lower proportion than I have ever met with hitherto, either in other parts of this particular mission or elsewhere."