The Republican journal., 1896-09-17
Letter from Southwest Africa.
missionary W. MacOmber to His Mother in ReIfas,

- ~O'nnCA " HIS MUl1eF In Belfast,
hlIABA, Congo RIVER, July 10. 1896.
hope you have not been overmuch con-
cerned, because you know the uncertainty
OF African mails, and YOU also would have
some word from New York if anything
serious had occurred. The truth is |
nave not been settled enough to write as
yet. wrote to you from Matadi when
we landed, near the LIST of June. The past
lew weeks have been the most eventful of
my lie. You will be surprised when YOU
learn where am and how | got here. /
wish you could get a good map of Congo
OF Central Africa and thus be able to fol-
low me in my meanderings.
10 state it briefly, am south of Stanley
Pool in direct line, near the Portuguese
boundary, and a few hours walk from the
In Rlssie river. You will observe that |
nave entered the new field and am farther
inland than ever before by nearly 800
miles We, four of us, walked from Mata-
dl, the landing place of the ocean steamer
to Ntumba the present terminus of the
Congo railroad, in seven days-nearlv 10
miles We had some novel experiences
winch cannot mention now, but hope to
write mp in the future. We are now about
three days from Ntumba
We were taken sick on the way and had
our first fever in lonely native town
We only had two mattresses to sleep on.
and the two missionaries who went ahead
of us had four patients at once | don't
care for such an experience again. | cot
Oft easy, however, without any drugging.
| took nothing but Guinine and had a wet
pack instead of severe sweating NV fever
was easily controlled. We have but little
with us, few changes of garments and
some barter goods to trade with natives.
We are stopping in native towns and feed
ing on chickens, eggs, yams plantains,
ETC., and have not slept on real bed for
over month. Bread is an unheard of
article. l am proving my calling by en-
during the hardships of a pioneer life
We hope to be settled soon, that is
when we secure a site, but it will be sew
eral weeks before we can have substan-
tial house, and that a native one made Of
larger size. l am now we'll and strong
have an excellent appetite and digestion,
and none of the difficulties [ had before.
In fact, | feel as well here as | ever did in
America and at times can scarcely realize
that it is Congo.
We are among a different people; their
dialect differs materially and will afford me
some very interesting work in the future.
We are expecting some boys from a saw
age people 100 miles away Estate captives)
taken in their battles in that country
There will be still another dialect to work
on These people have great liking for
the missionary and recognize us as their
friends. They do not seem to have such
superstition as on the North bank and we
believe it will be much easier to reach
them.
This country is hilly and sandy, with a
very few swamps, consequently malaria
will not be so prevalent. There are some
cattle few miles below us, the first
have known in Congo. We hope TO secure
some and add to our comfort by having
fresh milk and meat.
Later l have been on the road again,
making explorations for station site (
will have to close this letter suddenly as
the carriers are soon to leave
W. MAcoMBEE.