New Britain herald., 1930-09-20
MISSIONARY TELLS
 OF LIFE IN AFRICA
Thrilling Tales From the Dark Continent, by Mrs. H. C. Capen

ITdpnlC tdleS- or aQNenturlng Tn Africa are told by Mrs. H. c. Capen, who with her husband, Rev. H. c. Capen of this city, is in the medical missionary service in Africa. Mrs. Capen writes to her husbands par ents. Mir. and Mrs. H. C. Capen at 94 Hamilton street.
 Mrs. Capen's letter is as follows:
 Africa Inland Mission Sitein,
 "P. o. Kericho, Kenya Colony
 East Africa. Aug. Il, 1880. My Dear Friends:-
 T suppose many of you are won dering if we are still at Kijabe? We have been back at Litein two months and have already lost the weight gained there. Have had many interesting experiences of which I would like to tell you, but will not have time to write about all of them. The long heavy rains have caused much added expense to the people of Kenya, thes govern ment because of washaways, the settler and missionary in the reserve l because of increased expense to get supplies and also the car owner has suffered. Many had to leave their cars out in the mud for several days, others as ourselves, had to get new parts for the cars because of the dampness and inability to run the car. kijabe is 1000 feet high and | during the rains we seemed to be l living in the clouds and clouds of ! mist came over us. We had>a hard time to get our car in running con- dition. Tfrer rains had lessened greatly so started for Litein, June ! Sth. It took us week toEcome the 200 miles, resting two fdays with people we knew, as the trip was so strenuous. Thus had five days ac- tual travel. We were fortunate in to stay nights.
 The third night we stayed in a little hotel connected with the rail- way, in Lumbwa. This is a malaria district but there were mosquito nets in the room so we could rest well, which we appreciated as MT. Capen was taken sick upon our ar rival. l must not go too much into detail, will tell you of the last day of the trip from Kericho to Litein which in good weather is nice drive of 25 miles. Ordinarily we make the trip in an hour which is fine for kenya. We left Kericho at S:3e a. m. Had not gone far be- fore Mir Capen had to go back and hire six yoke of oxen to pull us through sea of mud. They lowed us for a mile and we drove on a little way, but again had to run and fetch the oxen. We would have turned back but on inquiry all said the path is fine beyond It was in places. then again were these im- times and worked hard breaking twigs to put under the wheels as there are practically no stones around here. How it got on my nerve! Stuck so many times and as the car top and an ordinary Hat is ii'-' NuiliNitlb pIolSSllOl HUH lllC sun l had to hold Paul's little red, felt hat over his head and be so careful. We have forgotten the number of times we were stuck but at 4 o'clock we were in deep again. We began to shovel, but of no useS Then some natives with four yoke of oxen came along. but they were unable to pull us out By this time it was o'clock and so decided to walk the remaining 10 miles. Had gone but 13 miles in Sk hours.
 We locked the car, took our rain- coats and lantern and a few of Paul's things, te had walked some four miles, it seemed that we would never get 2 glimpse of the mission, could only see African bush all around and the hills in the distalfcc Just as we were about to light the lantern what did, we hear but an approaching motor car It proved to be settler friend of ours and he took us Rome. The people gave us such welcome here that we forgot our tired and aching bodies. We thank the Lord for safe journey and for preventing any ill after ef- fleets.
 We are very happy to be back with our little son. He seems to like the natives, always has a smile for them The people like their babies but never teach them any thing and it is amusing to see them when Paul smiles and tries to talk. One after another says 'Uh, >uh, and following is a roar of laughter and they say Thank you child Paul is a good baby. does not demand unnecessary attention, so work goes on better because when things are dlscouraging and we are a little down hearted the little fellow soon makes us laugh and drives the gloom away.
 Not to tell you a little about the work. We are glad Miss Clark. an experienced missionary, is staying with us until the Andersons return She is living with US. I like to be about the house while baby is small, so mornings I try to train a couple Of girls to do the work of the house. Also do tbe medical work from the back porch while Mr.' Capen does the outside work. In the afternoon he stays near the house while I go to the scEcol. The past week how ever I have had so much medical work that I simply had to forget teaching.
 We have two girls in the house who are very i'll. One has serious heart trouble.- It is hard to know how to treat them because many of them have lived such awful lives This girl, around 12 years of age, | came here four months ago. Three | years ago she was bought by an old |