The Yale expositor., 1909-08-27
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Some time ago / felt led to take a
pioneer journey into new African
region. So, with Mrs. Wodehouse and
others, we started on journey Of
nearly five hundred miles, camping in
our little tents at night writes Robert
Wodehouse, In Christian World. Our
camp was made secure from the wild
beasts, lions, hyenas, tigers, etc, by
cutting down trees and piling them
around us; large fires were kept burn
ing all through the night TO brighten
the animals away. We met with vari-
Gus Incidents; one night four lions
were roaring round us till the break
of day, but our heavenly Father threw
his protecting care around us, so that
no one was hurt; another night our
boys heard something just outside the
Enclosure and, filed with panic, be-
gan to scream and run toward our
tents, crying: "Shumba! Shumba!"
(Lion! Lion)
Victoria is very beautiful in some
parts, and in others sublimely grand.
To this country we had come, not for
our own pleasure, not in search of dia-
monds and gold, but to look for sites
where we might plant mission sta
lions and thus extend the work I'm
connection with our own church and
advance the interests of Gods king.
dom. We were in search of kraals
and people. There was great curios-
ity, for no missionary had ever been
seen in this part of the country and
they had never heard the Gospel; the
name of Jesus was a new name to
them. Mrs. Wodehouse was a con-
tinual sourse of interest and curios-
ity; the women and children would
crowd around and express their won
der that she was white; some would
come near enough to touch her hand
to see IL the color were real or would
rub off; they would examine her hair,
ETC., keeping up running comment
and exploding now and then with
laughter Our cooking and food ar
rangements were a source of great
amusement Sometimes, when we APP
preached a kraal unawares, the little
children would run away with fright
in all directions. crying: You've
mbuya! You've mbuya!" (Oh, grand
mother
We visited many chiefs and in
dumas, and stayed for a few days at
some of their big kraals, holding serv-
ices at night around big camp fire.
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day in their fields.
The Ndanga district alone has some
10000 people. without a single mis-
sionary. Then at Gutu's there are go
900 people.
In the year 1902 the first pioneer
missionary trip was taken in the dis
trict where we now have the flourish
ing Mutambara Industrial mission.
Accompanied by my daughter, Mrs.
Carson, we passed over mountains
and through forests and rivers, camp
ing out at night under some big tree
or huge rock. Occasionally we oc-
cupied a Kaffir hut, which is usually
full of vermin. The ants come up
out of the ground underneath us in
myriads, and the rats and reaches
from the roof above us. We visited
several kings, preaching the word at
every kraal, and were well received.
We visited Chief Mutambara at that
time, who received us within his cir
cular kraal most graciously. He put
one of his royal huts at our disposal,
welcomed us to his reserve, and asked
that a missionary might be sent to
his people.
Six months ago, Rev. A. l.. Buch-
walter and his wife were available
for this great field. They reached
Mutambaras on the 9th of April of
this year. The OK team which brought
them to welcoming tree, unloaded all
into the tall grass which grows so lux
uriously in Rhodesia. and trekked
away. After morning coffee, all be-
gan to make camp. Soon the tent was
up, the canvas stretched over the
goods, and the kitchen established
under a tree. Some days later a grass
shack was built, which was used for
weeks as a dining-room and a draw
ing-room, also a sleeping place for one
of the party. Later a site for the
temporary house was chosen. Poles
were brought from the bush and grass
was cut to build a large bungalow, so
feet long, with wide veranda. The
floors are of clay. beaten hard in the
native way. The only imported arti-
cles ussd In the building are the small