Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-11-18
MISSIONARIES IN
AFRICA Write OF
EFFECTSOF var
Civilization Turned Backward
as Result of Great Conflict,
One Letter Says
IBy Associated Pressl

WASHINGTON, ID. C., Oct. To-
How the march OF civilization in
Darkest Africa has been turned back
Fard by the war Is graphically told
In letters coming rom missionaries
in the interior of the dark continent
TO the Seventh Day Adventist head
quarters here.
Fragmentary news leaking out
from time to time has indicated how
half century's work in the cause of
civilization was swept away at one
stroke when the tribes, taking advan-
tage Of the warfare between British
and Germans, broke restraint and re-
turned 10 the rude customs of barbar-
ism In which they were found by Liv-
ingstone. Stanley and other explorers
The most complete account of CON
ditions received at missionary head
quarters so far has come from Mrs.
Minnie Toppenberg, tie wife of Val
demar g ToPpeIberg, who has charge
OF the medical missionary operations
OF the Seventh Day Adventists sta
toned on the eastern shore OF the
Victoria NyanZa. Her report came
from USerewe island, which formerly
was part OF German East Africa.
.Naen the var began she writes,
at stroke we were set back to the
middle ages We had none OF many
thing We had to find substitutes for.
VIC Used bananas, native grains and
nhc2o for flour, wild honey for sug-
IA, candles made of tallow for light,
soap IRON wood ashes and lime.
Clothes we're also unprocurable, so we
wore pants, etc, maze of goat and
gazelle skins, and made yarn OF cot
ton ann knitted our stockings.
"Uproar among the natives was
feared by the government people at
the beginning of the war and we were
instructed to inform the natives by
our stations that there was no war
between Europeans and natives, only
soldier against soldier. Not long aft
er the opening of the war the Hasias,
a fierce and warlike tribe east Of
Busegwe, our oldest station, came
sWaTnling the country, robbing cat
tic, and at one time when they plum
dered In Usukuma by kanadi one of
our workers lost his life in defense of
the people for whom he faithfully
worked. He was stabbed from behind
By spear.
Early last June the English occu-
pied Ukerewe island, where am writ
ing this, and in July they took Muaw.
"a, tho seat of the provincial commits
sioner OF this province, in which all
cur stations on the German side are
located When the natives heard of
this they lost fear of the German Of
Iicials and even openly disobeyyed or
ders, and II got worse when all the Of
ficials as well as military left Ikidzu,
going south. Uproar started immedi-
ately oy the natives in Ikidzu, killing
the native police and watchmen left
TO guard the station. They robbed
the government property, and 1T was
reported to us that the Christians who
had been left behind by DR.. Vasenius
to watch mission property had been
driven away, some killed and their
huts burned. l tried to send messen-
gers TO them with words of courage
and instruction, but all returned with
the letters because of the war raging
everywhere. The uproar spread
quickly from tribe to tribe, every day
bringing new and startling reports.
" MY; family and l were the only
Europeans left in the district as far
south as the river Mbalageti, and we
had been warned by the government
officials that an uproar was to be ex-
pected: also in the last word we heard
from any of our missionaries Mr..
Ohme wrote upon going south to meet
his company that he feared an up
rising, but that he did not know of
any safe place where he could advise
us to 20. We could not very we'll, with
a fifteen months old baby, run around
in the unknown with the soldiers, and
whereas we expected that the English
very soon woulo show UP, we decided
to wait in our station until we should
get some evident sign that we ought
to leave.
-"Since coming here We have re-
ceiyed news of how the natives have
not only robbed one station after an
other, but how they have destroyed /
the buildings and everything in them.
We had hoped to be able to stay here
until the English officials came to |
bring order and law into the. coun-
try. and then go back to our station at
Busegwe. where we shall, of course,
find all our things gone and the house
damaged. The chief official here
thinks. however. that we will likely |
he called to MuawZa, where all Euro |
peans are sent who come from the
rkrman colony. | suppose this place
~ vet not considered without danger
from attack"
NO MEETING SUNDAY OF |