The Columbus journal., 1909-08-25

: NZZHH3z2H EHSII2H NOISE
gan to make camp. Soon the tent was
up. the canvas stretched over the
goods. and the kitchen established
under tree. Some days later q grass
shack was built. which was used for
weeks as a dining-room and a draw.
.ing-room. also sleeping place for one
of the party. Later site for the
temporary house was chosen. Poles
we're brought from the bush and grass
was cut to build large bungalow. 80
feet long. with wide veranda. The
floors are Of clay. beaten hard in the
native way. The only imported arti-
cles used in the building are the small
| windows, the doors and nails. When
| the grass bungalow was finished, q
| church, also used as q schoolroom.
vas built in the same way, and the
missionaries we're settled until the
friends at home help us to build per-
manently.
1t IS our purpose to cultivate broom
corn. wheat. oats. rice and other &C.
reals. Already we have all the ma.
chinery for making brooms; the
| broom corn grows as well as in the
| states. We have put in nearly 1000
cuttings of the basket willow, as it is
our purpose to develop the industry
of basket making, at which the native
is an adept.
Some time ago We visited Maranki's
reserve and obtained the consent of
the king to open mission in his land
The site chosen was on the side OF
Mount Makomwe. near the kings
kraal. 40 miles from the nearest white
settlement and midway between the
Sabi and Odzi rivers Here was 4
heather people, almost strangers TO
the visits of the white man. The peo-
pie were nearly naked. and very dirty
They oiled their bodies more than
they washed them. They drank beer:
they sang meaningless heather songs
and played only as drunken heather
can play. Their huts were SO low
that they were obliged to crawl into
them on hands and knees. They did
not want our learning or religion.
They were afraid of the white man
who had come to live among them.
At first all were curious to see the
missionary and his goods. but they
soon became more interested. Then
they began to think it was nice to
have missionary near them. for he
healed their sores: he gave them med
tain nd hn lot 1e
strange foods, which they said were
sweet. Their amusement was great
when told that it was possible to
write words on paper which another
could read. or. as they said, make pa
per talk A day school was begun
with three Christian boys. who came
with the missionary, and from time
to time others joined with them. The
sick and lame gather in the veranda
of the mission house for treatment.
TAe missionary has from five to fif-
teen calls a day. and is able to help
many suffering ones
This work is still conducted by the
missionary who began it. The land
has been cleared and planted with
fruit trees, which are now bearing.
The first building (2Ox36. of poles and
mud. with veranda all round it,
was built for a dwelling for the mis-
sionary, but for over a year it had
to be used for church. school and dis
pensary as we'll Then money was
sent for church. This also is of
poles and mud and has been in con-
slant use for church and school since
it was completed. Later the medical
visited the mission and
built. with the aid of the boys, an ad-
dispensary. with four rooms.
Other buildings include q boys DORM
itory. four huts for Christian families.
a trading hut. guest hut and build
ings for sheep and goats In that
heather land there is now day
school. with an enrolment of nearly
one hundred. an average Sabbath con-
of nearly one hundred. - |
full members. 40 probationers. a Sab |
bath school. class meetings. midweek |
prayer meeting. two native teachers.
many doing Christian work in the ma
tive villages. preaching on Sunday to !
the heather and preparing themselves |
for usefulness. The change wrought |
Is almost incredible. Many now wear
clothes. Christian men have taken
Christian women for wives.