The Ordway new era., 1915-10-08

have been raising the Mace.
DOMAIN cry to the Moravian
missionaries among their race
in Nicaraguan territory. Thanks prin-
cipally to the selfdcnial offerings OF
the Bluefields Moravian Sunday
schools, 1t became possible in the
spring of last year for two of us to
visit every Miskito village OF impor-
tance in this neglected and dark part
of Honduras, writes Rev. Theodore
Reinke in the Christian Herald.
Bidding farewell to civilization at
the little town OF Puerto Cabo Gracias
a Dios, at the northeast corner or
Nicaragua. about thirty or thirty-hve
miles of beach were traversed the hrst
day. Two days were spent in an IN
dian village at False Cape, where there
is a small. waited. leaf-thatched meet
ing house, and where there are num-
Der of Christians and candidates. all
under the care of the missionary sta
toned at Cabo Gracias a Dios. we
told these people our errand and called
for volunteers to accompany US. Aft
er several palavers, two men ana
three women were found willing to
20. On their advice we adopted tne
plan of visiting the inland villages on
our way west and touching at the
coast villages on the return.
All this country is fiat and scarcely
above sea level. A group Of villages
cluster about the mouth OF the karuta
river, which empties into the Cario-
bean at False cape. From here 1t is
more than a days travel up river 10
the next group OF villages. called Laka.
We encamped the first night in III
tie banana clearing. where the owner
of our immense dugout canoe had
matched shed. On landing, iew
little monkeys were spied. and great
was the delight among the natives
when one was shot, for their flesh IS
nrized. In a short time the tare shed
was magically transformed. While the
women were busy baking and peeiing
green bananas. and boiling conee
around the fire, the rest were bringing
in the great banana leaves for beds on
the ground. Each member OF the party
had his own square cloth mosquito bar,
which affords some privacy in additlon
to protection from bloodthirsty IN
sects. These little shelters were
Quickly hung in a row, and a minia-
ture white city was the result Inc
effect was quite striking in the hsht
Of the pitch pine torches. which nared
ft.ully as We read from the Miskito
Testament stories from the life OF
Jesus.
Live on Little Islands.
The Iaka villages are widely scat
tered. To reach the first village OF but
I'VE houses. we had to tramp for two
hours AID at last wade almost knee
deep in mud and water The people
elect to live on little islands in tho
midst Of these fats on account of their
cattle; but in the dry season the water
is 50 low that all their food supply,
nrircipaIly bananas, has to be carried
bv ponies or women from the river
side.
Our hosts showed US q great deal Of
Kindness We we're given the freedom
of the largest house and were provided
with bananas. casava- eggs, fowl. and
cocoanuts- As far as we could dis.
cover. hzSS Rtop.S nAu never Souie
In contact with the Gospel; but they
we're glad to listen. and not only re.
csived Us Hospitality. but furnished us
with horses and guides. and did all
they could to help US Oh our way, with
no thought OF remuneration. They
rere far removed from traders as well
as missionaries The housewives were
more Industrious than their more civ
iii-ed sisters farther south. A crude
native loom stood against tho wall,
and samples Of heavy cloth. or
canvas. made from cotton which hero
grows on plants the size OF trees,
re-e II evidence. Hammocks made
Of cord spua from the inner bark
o. tie naAoe tree were plentiful,
The ar of tanning leather and max.
lag ncocasias is also known,
A .exrzrd village was made the ncSt
stopping place, An honest old man
who Was our hos: besged us to appeal
TO tie English King for redress asains,