The Afro-American., 1893-04-29
FRESH FROM AFRICA.
IUKUNGU MISSION, "A. b. NJ. UNION,
Congo Independent State,
February 27. 1898

~AAO~A~UAAN@A9
Dear Brother:-Please accept my very
best wishes for the papers which were sent
To me. 4 think Mrs Timbers sent them
but AS editor Of the valuable little sheet
the AFRO-AMERIcAN, I thank you.
sent Az account Of my vayage to Mrs.
Timbers and hope you have heard Of my
safe arrival at Matadi. Matadi is situated
ait the head Of navigation on the Lower
Congo. Our party remained down country
hree weeks sightseeing, resting and wait
ing for carriers. Before leaving. for our
station ''up country" we visited Tundua
and Mpalabala. The former is a station
just above the Devils Cauldron" Of the
river and a half hours row from Matadi
The missionaries have school, conduct
services and seem to be building up the
cause there One thing I noticed there
seemed To be such Christian love existing
between the natives and the missionaries.
we took the train to Mpalabala on the Goth
of January and enjoyed part Of the trip,
but AT some points where the track runs on
the cage Of the river bank it was too excit-
ing to be enjoyable. For two or three
miles NE were on the bank Of the Congo
looking down upon the mighty waters from
fifty to seventy-fve feet below us Then
n
us and follow the Mpozi whose banks are
still higher The road is laid SO near the
margin that upon looking down you can
not see the water. The Mpozi is an arm Of
the treacher Congo and just where they
meet stands a little island On the island
is a large rock with tree rising from its
summit This, with the sweeping waters
of both streams form most beautiful /
scene There is very short bend in the
road, between two towering rocks. Be
meath the bridge runs a clear stream from
which the natives carry their water This
place is known as the Leopold Ravine
Farther TIP the road is a native town
Matadi Mapemb, which name means white
stonesn The Belgians at this station
heard Of our coming and had nice dinner
reapy for US. The dinner consisted of
chicken, rice and some Of the native food.
The native food is SO wholesome when pre-
pared by THE missionaries that | prefer it
to our own. After spending three days
We returned to Matadi, thank
ing the Lord that we returned without any
accident Every one says that the Congo
railway is one Of the greatest pieces Of en-
he ever saw. | fear that many
Lives shall be lost by means Of the sudden
curves
January 27th we engaged carriers and
started for Lukunga. A station two hum
dred and twenty miles from the mouth Of
tile Congo. For the first time after leaving
home 1 Was feeling quite unwell and
dreaded getting into my hammock But
nome. Hammocks vary in length-mine is
about two and half yards long. It is
made of thick tenting cloth This swung
o Pole few feet longer formed my coach
or A journey Of one hundred and ten miles,
)ur first stop was at the Mpozi river which
Te crossed in canoes. Leaving there we \
yent to Mpalabala, spent the night with E
Lr. Cadmen, the missionary in charge, and 4
eft bright and early the next day The
1ongo valley is full Of beauties; first Of all,
he mountainous hills are very attractive,
nt not as much SO as the tree-covered
alley which rum between them. The
bird day we cal2ped at a place known by \
ne name of IA Hundred Thieves" There f
W. 0nn h1n1rs1 vaIIavc a. +I,;o ~ which a