Pioneering among New Guinea Heathen Tribes
By Benny Tavodi
WHEN Brother Carr and Brother Lawson returned from an inland trip in July, I was appointed to visit some of the tribes they had seen, and also enter fresh territory. Three days from Bisiatabu brought us to Efogi, where we found a large feast in progress, and where I spent three days, and found it a good opportunity to preach, as it would have taken weeks to reach all those people in their own villages. Some were much interested in what was told them, while others were too busy with the festivities to pay much attention. One day further brought us to Kagi, where a goodly number gathered to hear the gospel. Both at Kagi and at Efogi are people who want to keep the Sabbath, but they so quickly lose count of the days of the week, that within a few weeks confusion comes in. Seragina is a day past Kagi, and here good attention was given to the preaching. Much surprise was expressed when the resurrection was mentioned, as this was the first time they had heard of the Christian's hope. Four lads from Seragina carried the swags containing bedding, food, tent, trade, etc., to Hagari and Bapari, a day's journey apart, and the Bapari people were much surprised to find that we had come to preach to them, as they had never heard before of God or Christ or the gospel. They paid good attention to the meetings held on Friday and Sabbath, and the chief topic of conversation while we were there was easily detected. The Bapari lads accompanied me to Kotoi. Many were away from this village. It was a grand sight, early in the morning, to see Mount Victoria, 13,000 feet high, towering away above into the clouds, and we felt the cold as the wind came down from the mountain. We were sorry to find that none at Kotoi understood Motuan, the Port Moresby language; but as I freely used my arms and legs to gesticulate, they were able to grasp at least some of what I said. Leaving Kotoi, Naori and Ilibane were visited; but although these were once flourishing tribes, disease had so reduced them that at the latter place only five men remained, with neither wives nor families. Some of the villages visited were two and three days apart, but what I felt most of all was my not being able to make myself understood clearly, not knowing the different languages. The promise of God is very precious to us which says, "Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you." We are not disheartened, but long for the Holy Spirit which has been promised us. BENNY TAVODI.