The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1903-10-16

about 1000 natives, including several
subordinate kingdoms. He is only a
poor degraded savage, but he has great
influence and authority, which he may
use for or against the establishment OF
Kingdom. am here because
my medical work at tho mission cannot
be fully organized till the bishop ar
rives, which will be in about month.
You would have been amused could
you have seen my caravan the morn
ing We left the mission. l rode don
key and had six "boys"-all native
men are called "boys''-to carry my
blankets, food, ETC., and my money,
which in this case was salt. At noon
We stopped by . river and ate our din
ner in native style, then the "boys"
carried me across on their heads, and
we continued our journey. At 4 p. m.
we reached Atassa's kraal. Our arriv-
al created quite q sensation, and near
~ the whole town came to see the
show. We were greeted by about
dozen leading men-chiefs-and were
received with considerable ceremony.
They seated themselves on the ground
before us and sat and looked at US In
silence. Their only dress was about a
yard of muslin or an old piece OF blan-
kst After about ten minutes Quaker
meeting the approach Of the Mtassa
was announced cby.1 the clapping OF
hands OF the people. He came with
slow and majestic tread and took a
seat-a stone-in front of the chiefs.
After another period OF silence he ill.,
quired, througt:an interpreter, who
| was and why had come. After l
had INTRODUCED myself as a missionary,
and had assured him that l knew how
to read and was willing to teach the
children, and also that 1 was great
medicine man and had brought
"maniaga mushonga," much medicine,
for his sick people, he consented to
have me remain and gave me very
cordial reception.
And 50 at last the dream of past
years is reality; 1 am beyond the pale
of Christian civilization, away from
all other white men, alone in the heart
of hsathenism. How does it impress
me? Well sometimes my spirit is de-
pressed with the weight of degrada-
tion and sin about me. At other
times my soul il almost enraptured as
I think Of the holy privilege Of being
an ambassador for Christ among such
people. II you could be here with me
and see what I see from day to day,
you would realize, as i never before
did, how much our beautiful Chris
tianity does for the people under it's
influence, even fol- those who do moth
ing for it. l have sometimes heard it
said "the heather are we'll enough off
without the gospel" Writing from
darkest heathenism my answer to such
statements il only pity for the ignor-
ance Of them who say such things or
contempt for the spirit which is will
ing to appropriate all the blessing OF
Christianity to itself and allow the
poor heather to wallow in the mire
and filth of heathenism.
There is no Sabbath here. no Bible,
no prayer, no songs Of praise. have
failed to discover any belief in God
or good spirit. The people all believe
IN devil or evil spirit, and offer sacri-
fees Of native beer, foul stuff enough,
to him. Surely this is an instance in
which the devil gets his own. Think
OF the diflculty of presenting the pure
and exalted doctrine Of our adorable
Saviour to such a people. Truly our
task would be formidable were it not
tor the promise, "Lo, I am with you
always" God means to conquer here
as we'll rs in the homeland. The
heather, as well rs civilized nations,
are the heritage of Christ, and God is
deeply in earnest about taking the in
heritance OF his Son. While the church
at home rejoices in it's privileges and
blessings l pray that it may not with
hold its best pity and love, it's SYM
patty and prayers and offerings from
the heather world. May the loving
Father watch over you and yours and
richly bless you and make you bless
ing. Yours in Christian fellowship,
-[Samuel Quincy.