Grand Forks herald., 1916-10-16
l TRIBES / RETURN
70 BARBAR|SM
INDARK AFRICA
War Turns Back March of
Civilization in the
Interior.
MISSIONARIES LIVES
IN GREAT DANGER
Wife of Seventh Day Ad-
vent Tells Stirring Story
i of Experiences.
MISSIONARIES LIVES
IN GREAT DANGER

washington, Oct. 16.-How the
march Of civilization in darkest Africa
has been turned backward by the war
IL graphically told in letters coming
from missionaries in the interior of
the dark continent to the Seventh Day
Adventist headquarters here.
FaGmentary news leaking out from
time to time has indicated now half a
century's work in the cause Of civiliza-
ton was swept away at one stroke
when the tribes, taking advantage Of
the warfare between British and Ger
mans. broke restraint and returned to
the rude customs Of barbarsm in
which they were found by Living
stone, Stanley and other explorers.
The most complete account Of con-
0dons received at missionary head
quarters 30 far has come from Mrs.
Minnie Toppenberg, the wife of Vail
demar p. Toppenberg who has charge
Of the Seventh Day Adventists station-
Cd on the eastern shore of the Vic
toria Nyanza. Her report came from
Ukerewe island which formerly was
part Of German East Africa.
Set Back to Middle Ages.
when the war began" she writes.
middle ages. We had none Of many
things we had to find substitutes for.
We used bananas, native grains and
nuhogo for -four, wild honey for sug-
ar, candles made Of tallow for light,
soap from wood ashes and lime.
Clothes were also unprocurable. so we
wore pants, ETC., made of goat and
eazelle skins, and made yarn Of cot
ton and knitted our stockings.
''Uproar among the natives was
Scared 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 after
the opening Of the war, the Masias, a
eegwe. our Oldest station came swarm
ing the country, robbing cattle, and
ut one time when they plundered in
psukuma by Kanadi one Of our work.
ers lost his life in defense of the peo-
pie for whom he faithfully worked.
He was stabbed from behind by a
Openly Disobey Orders.
EARLY last June, the English occu-
writing this, and in July they took
Muawza, the seat Of the provincial
commissioner of this province. in
which all our stations on the German
side are located. When the natives
heard Of this, they lost fear of the
SeImoH OlllClAis anu even openly us
obeyed orders, and it got worse when
all the officials as well as military
left 1kidzu, going south.
"Uproar started Immediately by the
natives in 1kidzu, killing the native
Epolice and watchmen left to guard
the station. They robbed the govern
ment property, and it was reported to
rs 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. I tried to send messengers to
them with words Of courage and in
structdon, but all returned with the
letters because of the war raging ev-
Eerywhere. The uproar spread quickly
from tribe to tribe, every day bringing
hew and startling reports.
Only Europeans Left.
my family and 1 were the only
Europeans left in the district as far
k0outh as the river Mbalageti, and we
had been warned by the government
Eo6cdals that an uproar was to be ex-
kpected: also in the last word we heard
kfom any Of our missionaries Mr..
tOhme wrote upon going south to
uprising, but that he did not know of
tAny safe place where he could advise
t119 to go. We could not very we'll, with
= fifteen months old baby. run around
30 the unknown with the soldiers, and
whereas we expected that the English
Every soon would show up, we decided
10 wait on our station until we should
|9et some evident Sign that we ought
10 leave.
I'VE did what we could to protect
ourselves, put in night watches, and
eor the rest committed ourselves to
Gods protection. Finally the uproar
pread to Busegwe also. A chief and
lis subchief with women and children
had ned from Niagand with their $50
head Of cattle, but Busegwe natives
urrounded them and robbed them of
III the cattle and killed one woman
md one child.
Came in War Paint
by this time the excitement was
earted, the natives painted themselves
or war. and wore spears, swords
bows and poisoned arrows. They rush