The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1906-02-07
SOLD AS SLAVES.
MANY MISSION GIRLS ARE THUS
TREATED EE THEIR PARENTS
An African Teacher Says the Old
Custom Condemns Many Wo-
men to Bondage.
men to Bondage.

Marriage customs in Africa have
little consideration for the native
qirls, who are in eff=ct as much the
objects OF barter and sale as ever they
we're in the days when ehe slave trad
ers were prevalent on the West Coast.
A letter just received from the Pres
byterian mission station at Lolodorf
shows how the marriage "palaVer'
interferes with the education OF the
girls in the schools est blished for
them bv the Presbyterian Board OF
Foreign Missions.
Miss Jane & Mackenzie writes the
letter and, after telling of-5he forma
tion OF the girls BOARDING sclool and
some details Of the days work OF the
scholars whom she DISORDERS as intel,
ligenr, clean little girls willing and
eager to learn, she writes:
"Veryshsppy were the little girls
and free for several weeks. Then we
fell ur d the curse Of the marriage
palaver. Ole girl, a house servant,
vas sold to a man owning several
YVES. When it came to delivery OF
Il goods the goods became animated
in dlssent-not indeed. that consent
oad been asked OF the goods. The
station backed the girl. News Of
5nis d fare, Of good Nsunba custom
penetrated to the ends OF the earth
and woke a thousand anxietles. The
social fabric was imperilled. Two OF
the little girls we're led away weep
i.g b: canny male relatives: this was
sad 10 see. NJ own little servant,
Makako, was ordered to her town by
her uncle. her father being tf In Bul,
where he is hunting goods with which
to buy a new wife upoE whose pur.
cs.ase be means to give Makako as
part payment. There you see the
Exit OF three Ii tie Ir juas.' The school
is depleted ard iilrepute.
Putting up over night In Ipose
where one OF the children uliVes. l
a.srd frJn her that :he townspeople
say Ct the school, NJ little girl may
marry who enters there. You are
cemiaded, doubtless, Of the legent ov-
er the gate to Dan5e's hell My sim
gle state is a natoer OF common mar
vel-iu does net. help US IN our pre-.
sent difficulty and may b. taken as
evider ce Of 8 cult from which young
N;umba maidenhccd must be protect
ed.
''Mfun, the little girl in question
rad her slate as a token OF her haV-
ing drunk at the wells OF learning. l.
burg In her hut as a diploma hangs
in a doctors cfdce-Hitnessing to her
poor little achievements. She slept
IN my hut and did me some service. l
paid my debt with needle and soma
thread. When next I 60 I shall take
ner some pate :es. Patches are dear
to little Afr can girls. Poor Amana,
when she was taken away went down
the path wipjpg her eyes on her bits
OF patchwork,
I'VE were sad when these children
were taken away. ANY work tor girls
In a polvgamous country is sac. Other
girls will cone. Some whose parents
are Christian or other wise enlighten.
ed we shall be able to keep: and some
eill 90. Yet not without benefit.
Something they will have learned OF
reading and writing, OF sewing and
washing, OF truth and the love OF
Ged.
The night before Mum left when
asked the children fJr what they
wish me to pray, she said: Tell Him
am afraid OF getting married. I5 Is
a comfort to know that our high
priest vas touched by the feeling CT
that piteous little infrmity.