Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1896-12-09
Letter from South Africa.

from Miss III. d. Gllson, VINO has returned
to Southern Africa for the purpose of again
engaging IN active missionary work, a cause
to which she has devoted nearly her whole
life. Miss Gibson left Walpole last March,
sailing from New York the 2lst, and we
feel assured that the friends in Walpole
and elsewhere will read this letter, received
November 20, and published in part, with
interest:
In camp, nine miles from Chimoio, Sep
tember l, 1896, at noon, Tuesday
Dear friends Interested in Gazaland
Pilgrims:
We have just finished our breakfast of
potatoes, fried bacon, rice, bread and but
ter and coffee. The Walpole pickles were
opened and pronounced decided addition
to our simnle repast. Our camp was astir
this morning before o'clock and after a
cup of "boorie" and bread and butter, we
started for our six mile walk before break
fast At first our path lay through grass
higher than our heads. This grass is very
coarse; the fire had swept through it and
left it blackened and charred, and this
morning there was heavy dew. must
20 back to Chimoio and try to tell you the
story of the past few days We left Fon-
tagui Ia, 40 miles from Beira at Z A. NJ
saturday and hoped our train would make
he l Is miles to this place that week but al
dark we were at Eighty" still SO miles
from our destination. A great number Of
very rough men on their way to the coast
from Mashboualand had taken possession
Of the hotel there and we found it difficult
to secure any lodgings. Mrs. Bates and
with the three children and two Zulu girls,
Bella and Selma, slept in hut II feet in
,liamt ter; the only furniture was two beds
ind small table. Mr.. Bates slept on the
floor in the dining room, separated from
the bar-room by only thin partition
Judging from the sounds which came to
rur ears several rods away, he must have
Felt very near Pandemonium until nearly
midnight. Next morning, Sunday, we LETT
At 80 and reached Chimoio about II
o'clock. Mr.. Ballantyne, a Scotch farmer
who lives seven miles from Mt Selinda, hac
been waiting for us here nine days. find
him nobleman in disguise. He has been
helping the missionaries get their goods
from Chimoio. When he first came down
for us he had 30 carriers. The boys goi
id and were Disconnected ten bad refused
to wait the nine days and had started back
With loads for the other missionaries. When
the roll was called, it was found that five
BOYS had deserted. Early Monday morn
ing, the goods were unloaded and we had
to decide what were the actual necessities
of lite for the next few months and possibly
until next June. At Durham had bought
two tin trunks and repacked, planning to
cave my large trunks at Beira The rail
way people there consented as great
favor to take two tons to Chimoio. Ate,
leciding what was most needed we learned
that the amount was reckoned not by
weight but by ship measurement, 40 feet to
the ton. So | again repacked and re-
arranged.
| was to have five loads not weighing
more than GO pounds each and | decided
upon two tin trunks, tin flour bin fillec
With kindergarten material and dresses TO,
native girls, very large canvass bag filled
with blankets, pillows, waterproof, rubbers
and travelling rugs, etc. Also round til
box and my extension case strapped to-
gether. By the way have found that tin DO,
invaluable; it is my pantry and medicine
chest and carries my writing case. | have
in it spirit lamp, little tea kettle, tea bal
and bottle Of alcohol. l have had many
! good cup Of tea that has tided me ovel
hard places.
That Monday morning, an hour afte
Mrs. Bates and had done our final re
packing as we thought, MIR. Bates came tt
the hotel and said there was so much lug
| not bo Loft hobipI M
tried to accept the situation cheertully an,
again repacked our boxes. l greatly ad
mired the firm, patient way in which Mr.
Ballantyne distributed the boxes among tn
carriers for each desired the lightest load
but the 20 boys soon trotted oil apparent,
content, each one taking six days ration
of rice. This they tie up in cloth, max
ing round roll about IA inches long
they tie it in several places between thu
ends and wear it about their waists.
We started on our pilgrimage Nonda,
afternoon, August 81, walking about II
miles and making our first camp. We hav,
two tents; Mrs. Bates and sleep on cot
in one with the Zulu girls sleeping on tb
ground, or rather the dry grass with whicl
the boys carpet our tent every night. Mr.
Bates and the children occupy the othe
tent. Weare the first ladies who have eve
made the journey inland by this route.
Thursday. September 5. Tuesday w
made l / miles, starting Just as the sun wa
beginning to appear through the fog an,
mist Most of the way we have goo'
path and it is much easier than walking Oh
country roads at home.
MIR. Bates started off in the 'sMaxilas
which is canvass hammock tied on to
pole and the pole covered with zebra skin
Two boys carry at a time resting the pol,
on their shoulders. They put one dow
and change every five minutes, and as the,
are not accustomed to carrying loads tina
way do not like it. can not blame then
for Mrs. Bates is nearly as heavy as
When little Mary gets into the Maxia
they say it is ''Borsi'a," gift. l know
they bumped me unnecessarily against
good many trees and rocks.
Yesterday we again made / miles, Mrs
Bates and each walking eight miles w,
passed through large swarm of locustl
and afterwards found one of the smaller
boys sitting on the ground with two dishes
in front of him, one filled with the capturet
locusts. He was busily engaged in strip
ping off their wings and preparing for
feast when he could find time to roast them
He looked as pleased as a child with a DO,
of sweets. Mrs. Bates asked him it b,
preferred them to meat-with a surprised
look he replied, They are meat" w,
are passing through a well-watered coun