The Newtown bee., 1903-06-26
WORK IN AFRICA.
A LETTER FROM MRS MYRTLE NIGER
 SOIL KNAPP.
Mairobi. March 25, 1903.

Dear Mrs -: Your letter came | a few days ago with enclosed money, collar and pictures. Thank you so much for each. It is indeed kind of | you to remember me away out in Africa. I am sure appreciate much | the kindness of the friends who do not forget to write me. I have just had a three weeks visit from Mrs Burt and boby from Mombasa. MT and Mrs Burt are Episcopal missionaries. She had not been we'll so came up here in the hills of Kikuyu to convalesce. The change did both herself and the baby good. They both looked better when they went than when they came. Next week go to Ngongo, 24 miles away, to.nurse friend. She lost her first baby last year two weeks after lost mine.
 Our box sent us from America in Mo- vember arrived last week. It was just a small one sent us by my husbands mother; or, she furnished most of-the things. I think our very best days here are the days when boxes from home arrive. This box contained basins, cooking spoons, egg beater and whole lot of little kitchen utensils. I have great weakness for things of that kind, and here they are doubly useful. We have had quite exciting times lately. One night over a week ago we heard the war cry and then re- peated rifle shots. A native came and told us all our cattle were stolen. At this bit of information we both got up, and my husband started out to see what the trouble was. He soon found the news of our cattle was false. It had been told to get us up. It seems the district officer had sent for a native to come to Nairobi on business and he refused, so soldiers were sent by night to take his cattle. As it happened, all the cattle in his immediate neigh borhood were being kept in his yard and the soldiers took the whole lot, not knowing which were his. In the fray two men were shot. This aroused all the bad spirit of the Wakikuyu. They raised the war cry, and called their warriors together. The soldiers would have to cross river some little dis tance away, where the road goes be- tween cliffs and is quite narrow. The natives concluded to go to this point and make war on the expedition, kill the soldiers and take their cattle back. MT Knapp realizing what it would mean to this whole district if they at- tackled any of that government ex- petition, went down to the river. Some soldiers were there waiting for the others to come with the cattle. He
 went and talked with them. Then in a few minutes the Wakikuyu warriors came rushing down on the other side of the river. There were 500 of them, armed with spears, shields and poison ed arrows. The soldiers begged MT Knapp not to cross the river among all the natives, telling him he would be killed. But he went and told them they killed the soldiers or made any trouble; then asked them to come home with him, wait until morning, then go to the district officer with their case. Wonderful to say, they listened to him and came back He said when they saw their cattle pass they sobbed like babies. Early next morning my husband wrote them a letter to the district officer. All their cattle were promptly returned. The next time MT Knapp went into the villages, the old chiefs said: "ThiS is our friend. Had he not come to us we in our anger would have attacked the soldiers and killed or put them to
 flight. This would have brought war on us. We should have suffered much.
 But this man came and told us better.
 We came with him and all is we'll. Our cattle are returned and we are safe'' Two days ago some of the representa- tive men of the district came, bringing big fat ram. They said it was gift to show their gratitude. So to-day we had nice leg of mutton for our dinner.
 March 29. Well, 1 must finish this letter, as l leave tomorrow on my nursing trip. To-day is Sunday. We have had our morning service. My
 husband spoke this morning. Quite a good sized congregation was out. We have our services under a big tree.
 How strange it seems to See a man here bring his family to church! A man came last Sunday bringing his eight wives and all his children. At 2.3O we are to have our own English service, which Dr Henderson takes. Then comes the evening service. It is very pleasant here now, a nice breeze blowing all the time. The rainy season will soon be here. MT Hurlburt, our