The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1903-12-02

To special American and Australian
friends
Most cordial greeting This last
letter which ! shall. be able to write
until after | have passed thro the
dense woodlands of the Pigmies, is
being written by the " Mountains of
the Moon. A thousand miles into the
heart of Africa have safely come, aud
on Monday next, the Lord willing,
my course shall lie along the East side
of the Ruvenzori, or as referred to by
the ancients, the Mountains of the
Moon ; thence, around the North end
of Albert Edward Nyanza, across the
deceptive Semliki to Fort Mbenl i'll
the Congo Free State and ON the edge
of Dwarfland. There are three routes
from the Capital of Toro into the Pig
my Forest. The Southern, which |
have mentioned; the Northern by
Mbogo and Fort Bodo; and third
due West from Kabarole thro pass
of the Ruvenzori over eight thousand
feet above the sea- This letter is said
10 he now almost impossible, and in
the North there have been some re-
cent troubles with the savage tribes
men, There is another reason, how
ever, for my selecting the Southern
route. II will enable me to get CON
siderable information concerning Pro-
testant missions ON the Mountains of
the Moon.
Uganda missions. The story of
Christian missions in Uganda is one
of the most encouraging and thrilling
in the whole history of efforts to Chris
tiani2e heather and savage races.
Thirteen years age there were but II
few hundred Christians, if that many,
while now there are over a hundred
| thousand; and superstition, mutilation
of human bodies. and n multitude of
other evils have been displaced by
Christian customs and environment.
In the Protectorate of Uganda at the
present time the four great native
kings are protesting Christians, AS
are their prime ministers. The native
church il self supporting, but during
recent months n very serious and dis
concerning element has appeared. 1t
is that of the dreaded and dreadful
sleeping sickness. An expert. Col.
Bruce, has finally discovered that
sleeping sickness IL due to germ
called trypanasoma, inserted into the
blood by the tsetse fly. The best sta
tistics available indicate that already
over sixty thousand persons have died
of the disease When the victim has
been bitten, the trypanasoma may he
in the blood for some months without
expressing itself ON the, feelings of the
| person. Then there comes a slight
a tremor of the body with II hstless
ness and desire to sleep. As the pm
tient passes thro the various Stages lie
becomes mentally effected and dies.
| There is no cure for the disease II n
person gets sleeping sickness, IT in
yariably ends in death. Several white
people have been found with this try
panasoma in the blood In the Sesse
Islands, nh archipelago in Victoria Ny
ANA, whole villages have been wiped
ont, and in some instances whole is
lands depopulated. The spread of the
| disease has been exceedingly rapid
and fatal during the last three months.
| Native pastors have died; their CON
gregations have died; and the sleep
ing sickness is seriously interfering
with missionary work along the lake
shore.
1t is quite impossible for me to give
any very extended account in this let
ter of the great work of the Church of
England i'll Uganda, but later it shall
| be brought very clearly to your atten-
| ton. spent week at Mengo, the
| capital entertained Mt Bishops Count
by Bishop Tucker. A wonderful week
was that. On Sunday, by his invita-
ton, ] spoke in the great Cathedral
occupying lofty situation on the Hill
of Pence. The attendance was over
two Thousand, the service was assisted
| by an American organ, and almost the
entire congregation was dressed in
American cloth from South Carolina.
From Mexico | started with my car
avian overland to Kabarole, the capital
Of Toro, visiting mission stations en-
route and obtaining most interesting
and encouraging items. And now
we are abont to dive into the great
forest, and when safely thro it, down
the rapid Aruwimi to the Congo. OF
all this great journey around the
world most persons would consider
this the most dangerous part. | eX-
pect to pass safely thro. For journey
ing mercies thus far received from the
King of Glory am profoundly thank
ful. Will you continue TO pray that
this trip may be even still greater
success in the future than in the past.
/ am accommodating information Of vast
importance, and with the blessing Of
God shall use it by pen and lip in the
years to come. Ny next address is
Thos. Cook 4 Son, Ludgate Circus,
London. Please write me there di-
rectly you receive this letter.
And now with great confidence that
the Lord wall continue His blessing,
mail this last letter until | have
safely crossed thro the dense wood
lands of the Pigmies Most sincerely
yours on the Kings business,
WILLIAM EDGAR GEN.