Nyassaland, Africa by MRS. RUTH KONIGMACHER

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. · Jun 27, 1912

Nyassaland, Africa

By MRS. RUTH KONIGMACHER

AFTER spending a year at Cholo, we left Sunday, March 31, to return to our former station at Neno. We traveled all day Sunday in a one-seated top buggy, drawn and pushed by eight men, usually three at a time, one leading and the others pushing. We stayed at Blantyre till Tuesday morning, and then proceeded in the same conveyance twenty-five miles farther, to the Shire River. The roads were very bad, so we had to go slowly. My husband walked fully half the way, and reached the river some time before baby and I. Brother C. Robinson went from Cholo to the river on a bicycle.

After resting a little and having something to eat, baby and I left the river about 10 P. M., and traveled twenty-five miles more in the night, arriving at the Mantandane Mission at 3:30 A. M. This was making splendid time, as there are mountains to climb. However, I had eight fresh strong men for the pull up the hills.

Brother Robinson and my husband slept at the river, and took the donkeys from there on, arriving at 5 P. M. on Wednesday night. They helped me to settle the house, and then the following Monday left for Portuguese territory. They have gone to look out a site for our new mission in this great land. They will probably be away three or four weeks, and may possibly be obliged to go to Tete, the Portuguese headquarters for these parts. We are not in Portuguese East Africa, but Portuguese Central Africa, or Portuguese Angoni Land. I forgot to give them some of their cooking utensils, and sent a runner after them. He found them very near the governor's station. I have had no further news from them.

The day after my husband left, the district resident sent me word that he was passing through our place on the following Thursday, and would like to stop to dinner. My husband and Mr. Robinson stopped at his place at Neno on their way here and had a good dinner, so I invited him to come.

We opened seven out-schools and the station schools, but the other school buildings need repairs before we can use them. Most of the teachers have returned, though some from Cholo have not come back.

The South African Union Conference, I believe, has no money for the Portuguese work this year. At Malamulo we tore down an old but very good building and rebuilt, furnishing new doors and windows, for Brother G. A. Ellingworth and his wife. Miss Edie will occupy one room until a small cottage can be built for her. There are two brick buildings, the bricks of which can be used for her cottage.

Were we to go to Portugal, we could learn the language, we are told, in four months, whereas here it will take us a year. So the country will be without missionaries until we are able to pass the examination at Tete. There are no Portuguese-speaking people within seventy-five miles of us, and we are not allowed, according to their laws, to live in their country without knowing their language.

Some time ago Mr. Konigmacher broke his arm. The doctor, it seems, did not set it properly, and it became stiff. On our way here he had another accident, injuring the left arm at the shoulder-joint. So he had one stiff arm, and the other he could not lift out from the shoulder, and in this way he started on a donkey for a month's trip.

We thoroughly enjoy our work. It is good to know that we can hold up the gospel light in this dark field. Pray for us and the work here.

Blantyre.