The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-03-31
THE MISSION FIELD.

BISHOP TAYLoR-In planting mis-
sions In Africa Bishop Taylor reports progress
which should inspire devout thanksgiving and
tervent prayers to God fol still larger blessings
We long much to give our readers his graphic
account of his 800 miles walk in getting some
of his missionaries to Nhanguepepo, Pungo
Adongo and Malange, the farthest station In
land as yet occupied. But our space excludes
! it now.
OF his whole band of missionaries he has
posted some to different points occupying some
SIX stations besides Mesamedes made over to
the Friends. The Bishops patience, genial
temper, persistent purpose and ever abounding
faith and Christian love seem to triumph over
all obstacles; and doubtless avail much to keep
OF African fevers. OF his own health he
writes:
" have had no touch of African fever that
am aware of, but have suffered here from
want OF fruit, as do every spring in the United
States, between the time of exhausting the old
crop and the bringing in of the new Fruit
ought to be plentiful here at all times but it is
not cultivated to any great extent and scarcely
at all inland where | have been for months. So
from indigestion and constipation mot at all
peculiar to my African experience) and the
wear and tear of mind and muscle to which l
nave been subjected for so many months I have
become mere skelton of what you saw me
having lost fifty one pounds of my former self
Still can fulfill the proverb A poor dog for
long chase. L expect to start next week on
a tramp of one hundred and thirty miles
believe 1t is conceded that l am the best walker
IN our crowd | generally lead but have a lot
OF good men who follow and keep up In this
country every body who makes any pretensions
10 respectablllty Is carried by two men, with
alterations OF four more in what is known here
as topoiya. We cannot afford that I set the
example and all my men follow it, of walking"
-BIsHoP HANNINGToN.-Le from
this intrepid missionary traveller have been re-
celved, dated August 10, at which time he was
some distance north of Mt. Kilama Marc. 1t
will be remembered that he is seeking new
route from the coast to Victoria Nyanza, and at
the time of writing he was about halfway on
his journey. He reports excellent health in
spite OF many difficulties and trials, and that he
has been carried safely through all his expert
ences.
P. S.-Snce the above was written. dis
patch has b, en- sent from London saying that
native king in the interior has seIzed Bisbon
Harrington, and will pro0ably put him to
death. There is much reason to fear that the
dispatch Is true for the Bishop was well aware
that he was to pass through a region full of
perils.
EXPLORATIONS EAST OF THE TRANS.
WALL Af1q1le for December reports Jour
ney OF the Swiss missionaries in the Transvaal
from Spelonken to Delagoa Bay. NM Berthoud
and Thomas left Spelonken on the twentv
eighth OF May last, accompanied by eight Mag
wanda Christians, taking with them a wagon
drawn by oxen. After two and a halt davs
they reached the Ohfant River, and on the fifth
OF June the Tabi River: On the eleventh of
June they passed a region ruled by a Basuto
chlettaln. On the sixteenth of June they crossed
the Olifant River and passed through number
OF Magwamba villages where exactly the same
Language was spoken as at Spelonken On the
yprtt mint D, e IT,, A.
OF Magoud. From this place they passed bv
land to Lorenzo MARQUEE On their return the
two missionaries separated for the purpose of
making better exploration of the region, and
going by the more direct southern route NJ
Thomas went to Lydenburg by way of Seco-
coenls kraal. M. Berthoud expresses the hope
that he will be able to prepare soon complete
map of the region between the Transvaal, the
Llmpopo, and Delagoa Bay. In this connec-
ton 1t Is interesting to learn that the Geographi-
cal Society of Lisbon has received from an en-
glneer plans for railroad between Lorenzo
Marquee and Pretoria This engineer NJ. Joa-
quinn, gives an interesting description of the
region traversed, and of certain important towns
on the way, founded by the Beers and where
many elements of civilization are to be found
-Raratonga was the island in the
South Seas in which Williams performed the
extraordinary feat of building missionary ship
of seventy or eighty tons. The inhabitants are
now all nominal Christians and their queen, on
recent visit to New Zealand laid the founda-
ton oi a new Cong egauonal church at Devon
port.
The reply Of the lady who when
asked Why ls it that people lose their interest
In church going now a-days p responded Be
cause they have lost their principle, is great
deal more than a witty play upon words The
loss OF reverence for God for his holy Word for
bis sacred Sabbath naturally leads to entire in
difference to attendance upon bis sanctuary.
And when a person, unaccustomed to attend
church, begins to think seriously from any
cause, Of his relations to God and his prospects
for the eternal werld it is as natural for him to
seek the church It is to seek the physician
ia rteIa j o..