Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-11-29
N II GIRLS.


| MaS much Interested IN wad,us
the account IN Yesterdays paper OF
III" monument erected over the grave
of ReN. Aldtn Circuit hy native con,
NHrIS IN the Zulu mission 1t is a
beautiful tribute to Il life OF devoted
service, and Il touching memorial OF
native gratitude toward the servant
VI God who first brought them the
Eht OF the glorious gospel. other
mrn have rutrrrd Into the lahnrS OF
good old Father Circuit and his com.
mdcS, and today there are many
groups Of native Christians IN Natal,
numbering IN the aggregate upwards
OF 1000 souls, while reports from that
section EtNr constant accounts Of
progress III the work OF salvation and
civilization, | would like TO make pub
TIC one item OF intenSc and painful,
though hopeful interest A custom
rreNatiS among the heather XuluS OF
setting thrtr daughters tor cattle, u
comedy maiden sometimes netting her
iathrr ~ on more COWS, which are
paid h! Somc old couLrr who wants
w lNltNNN tlNl hlH oNNNilh VI ciNthI w
perhaps tenth wife, while the father
IN turn uses tho COWS 10 buy him.
self a new young wife, II Is manifest
that such u system dchnuches tho
uAton ruins the lite and happiness
ui ITS women, makes marriage I'M.
possible Ia It's Young men, aud though
the English colonial government Of
~, ,,,Ii M
evil 10y lcEislHtmg that no larger num-
TOR than to COWS shall be ever paid
luj 4 Nltr, slili tho eva goes ON I'M.
checked IN It's ahominatiun, except Ms
the gospel prevails.
\ knowledge of the opposition which
missionaries aud native Christians
make To this dreadful custom has
penetrated the hralhrn communities
lt last to an extent which causes tho
unfortunate girl upon learning
of the proposed sale OF herself To ran
away from her father, seek mls.
sionaly's home and ask piteously for
protection, or course, SHE Is followed
10y her father, oftcntimes 10y tho
mother 90, who beg, demand or
threaten, while the poor girl clings
Ia the missionary and pleads for her
honor. The colonial laws. forbid either
on the part OF the missionaries To
retain the girl or the lrnte father To
take her, aud M the runaway Is there
ruro the one 10 decide, she always
stays with the missile. friend.
II the father Is dead this duty of
selling the glri dcyOlvcs Ola tho elder
brother 80 that the girl has no ~
rnpe from thraldom and cruelty on tho
part of the father or brother Is the
rule rather than the exception. II
they cannot persuade or Brighten tho
girls protectors they drop the mat.
ter for the time, but watch. ,for weeks
for IN opportunity TO kIdnap her when
she passes from one house To another
or goes TO the spring for water, or
on some other errnnd, our mission.
AIRY friends send us thrilling Incidents
of these escnpndes. one girl, Selma
by name, on learning Of her fate, ran
from homo ana was pursued by her
father, with spear In one hand ana
club In the other. Az he could not
oycrtnke her he threw the spear, which
fcllcd her to the ground, when he
reached her and dubbed her. manning
her for HE. Notwithstanding all this
she made good her escape and was
shielded by mission friends. with
whom she has for several years re
manned and proved very efficient
helper.