Animals on the Zambezi by S. M. Konigmacher

Pacific Press Publishing Association

FromSigns of the Times, Harvest Ingathering Number

Animals on the Zambezi

By S. M. Konigmacher

ONE very hot day, as I was climbing the mountain on my way from the Zambezi River to our school, I came to a native garden by the dry bed of a stream. It was high noon, and the sun was cruelly hot. There was no water near. The natives were living some distance from the garden, so I sat down in the shade of a fine large tree. The grass along this little stream bed was very tall. As I sat resting, I heard a rustling in the grass. I waited to see what was coming toward me. I was not afraid, for the country was too dry for much game, and I knew that lions follow the game.

I sat perfectly still. In a few moments, a little deer came out of the grass.

When it saw me, it did not know what to do. The lovely little creature first looked one way and then the other. It did not know whether to trust me or not. Perhaps I had a rifle. It wanted to go on to the stream for a drink; but it decided not to take any more chances with such a strange object, and away it bounded over the grass. Oh, how it did leap! I have often seen them scurry off through the brush as I was passing, but this is the first time one has come close and had a good look at me before deciding what to do.

AN AMERICAN MISSIONARY GIRL WHO SPEAKS THE CHINESE LANGUAGE AS WELL AS THE NATIVES

Down near the river, I saw three wild boars. Twice a crocodile put up its head close by, and surveyed us as we were walking along the bank. In the evening, a hippopotamus played near where we were sitting. Several times, we saw a number of baboons. One was carrying its baby on its back as it walked away. We saw the huge track of a mother elephant, and just beside it the small footprints of the baby. Though we sleep out in the open many times, God protects us.

Near the Zambezi River, Africa.

ONE boy at our mission school in Sierra Leone, West Africa, found it hard to acquire book learning. He kept failing in his examinations. But as he was faithful, and handy with tools, I tried to encourage him to remain in the workshop. His eyes filled with tears as he answered, "But, sir, I want to go up country, to teach the gospel to my people."