New-York tribune., 1900-01-14
MISSIONARIES IN AFRICA.
THE HARDsHIPs OF THEIR LIVES MUCH
INCREASED BY THE WAR.
LETTER FROM MRS. RRIpaMAN FULL OF M

A LETTER FROM MRS BRIDGMAN FULL OF M
TEREsT1NG FACTS ABOUT THE NATIVES
AND THEIR MANNER OF LIVING.
The war in South Africa has increased the hard
ships OF the missionaries there, for many are To-
Gated in places where, although they do not par
ticipate in the warfare they are affected by the
conflict which surrounds them. and the interests
of Christian institutions seriously involved
Extensive work has been carried on in the Trans
vaaI by the English Weseyans and Berlin society.
In the Orange Free State and in Cape Colony
numerous British and German missionary societies
laboring and in Basutoland the Evangelical
Missionary Society of Paris has met with great
success. Excepting Johannesburg, the work or
the American Board of Foreign Missions is con-
fined to Natal its stations being near the coast
while the English Wesleyan Society, the society
for the Propagation of the Gospel and the Swedish
missions have stations in sections of the colony
where battles have recently taken place
The missionaries in South Africa were offered the
opportunity to leave their posts when war was
declared but all refused to avail themselves OF
the chance to seek safety from the perlls wnlch
surround them
The Zulus are branch of the Bantu or Katfir
race distinct from the Hottentot, but of kin to all
the other tribes south of the Congo. They d1ner
from the negroes proper, though In color and halr
they resemble them. They are well formed tal
and show fine muscular development Natal $50
called because 1t discovered on Christmas Day.
was after many years Of struggle declared a
British colony in 1S43, and placed under the
charge of English lieutenant governor. Inc
Zuus who refused to submit to this rule retreateu
to ZuIuland, north of the Tugela River where
Cetewayo reigned until his deIeat anu cap'ui0 "
the British in 1879.
At Johannesburg Zulu mission has peeh carry
ing on a most successful work. The Enghsn pop
uation is dominant and the Enghsh lansuase
spoken but the population includes Jews, Dutch
Afrikanders, Germans, Holanders, FRENCH lno-
ians Chinese, Parsees Syrians and numerically
the largest class of all, the South African natWe'
In connection with the mines the Aulus as
rule do only such work as can be oone aoo's
ground having an unconquerable objection 10 gong
under ground
In their own kraals or villages. the Zulu homes
are made up of a series Of huts like huge peehNes'
placed in circles the cattle pen being IN the centre
The huts are about ten feet in diameter and hVe
feet high The single hole through which entrance
must he made serves for door, window and chin
ney No tables chairs or beds are to De seen,
only a few mats, pots and blankets The men ana
women sleep on the ground. The usual clothlng OF
the wild natives consists Of slight covering maze
of skins and sometimes ornaments of beads, skins
and necklaces Of lions teeth or claws. The women
wear an apron or skin tied about the waist The
menial work. such a digging, carrying burdens and
cutting wood is all done by the women.
A Zulu's wealth is rated by his cattle and his
wives He exchanges from ten to twenty for
wife and sells his own daughters for cattle. His
wives, of whom he has many as he can get, are
simply slaves The chief faith of the Zulus is in
witchcraft goblins to be feared and appeased, and
in ancestral spirits to be worshipped. They use
charms and exorcsms; the witch doctor, who is
supposed to discern evil spirits, has great power
the people.
The mission of the American Board-the first
among the Zulus-was begun in 1885, when the peo-
pie savage, without any sign Of civilization,
their language unwritten and unknown. Natal may
be called civilized. except in sections. Houses
have taken the place of kraals. Polygamy is
frowned upon, and the zulus have discovered that
a plough is worth than six wives"
NEWS FROM MRS. BRIDGMAN.
Mr.. and Mrs. Frederick B. Bridgman were as
signed to Infume Station, In South Africa in Au-
gust. They report that the kraals still ex-