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COME OVER AND HELP US. 
 Into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature."— St. Mark 16 : 1' 
 
lajr gmtm in gifrka; 
 
 OR, 
 
 PROGRESS OF THE PROT. EPIS. MISSION 
 
 CAPE PALMAS, WEST AFRICA. 
 
 BY MRS. ^iN-INTA. M!.' SCOTT. 
 
 " The beams that shine from Zion's hill 
 Shall lighten every land ; 
 The King who reigns in Salem's towers 
 Shall all the world command." 
 
 PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL SOCIETY FOR TnE PROMOTION OP EVAN- 
 
 GELICAL KNOWLEDGE. 
 
 11 BIBLTC HOUSE, A STOP. PLACE. 
 
 1858. 
 
ft 4 
 
 Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1S58, 
 
 By HUGH ROY SCOTT, 
 
 in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the 
 
 Southern District of New- York. 
 
 JonN A. Gray, Printer and Stereotypes, 
 
 16 & 13 Jacob St., Fire-Proof Buildings. 
 
CONTEN 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 PACK 
 
 Consecration of the first Bishop of the Cape Palmas Mission, in 
 1851 — Summary of the work accomplished previous to that 
 time — The Cavalla Home described 11 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Return of the Bishop to Africa — Enlargement of the Mission plan- 
 ned — Brief account of the African Colonies, and their early 
 connection with our Mission — Sierra Leone — Liberia — Present 
 and future prospects of the Colonies, 19 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Establishment of the first paper and printing-press — Return of Ku 
 Sia and Bldl Wah, (native pupils,) to the Mission — Departure 
 of Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Hening for the United States, and sickness 
 and death among the other Missionaries — First Confirmation 
 in the Mission — Consecration of St. Mark's, the first Colonial 
 Church — Enlargement of the Mission — Reopening of the 
 Taboo Station, under interesting circumstances — The Bishop's 
 Report for the year 1853, 33 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Habits of the Grebo People — Houses, furniture — Towns — Farms — 
 Bathing and anointing — Kroomen — Polygamy — Treatment 
 of wives and children — Hospitality — Appearance of the Peo- 
 ple — Their dress — Food and drink — Cheerfulness — Fondness 
 for fables — Boat songs — Produce — Division of families — Pro- 
 perty — Government — Short account of tho Grebo People, by 
 Bishop Payne — " Kwi iru," 45 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Superstitions of the People — Description of " Bldl Xylma," or 
 "Grand Devil" — Witchcraft and its origin — Their ideas of 
 
IV CONTENTS. 
 
 PAOB 
 
 death — Gidii, or sassa wood ordeal — Triumph of those who 
 escape death — Singular manner of pointing out a criminal — 
 Deydbo, or fetish men — How trained — Gree-grees, or idols, de- 
 scribed — Amusing superstitions — Secreting the sick — Descrip- 
 tion of the " Kivi" or devils — Transmigration of souls — Invo- 
 cation of the dead — Messages sent to the spirit world — De- 
 scription of the burial of a king — Their dread of death, 68 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Awakening in the heathen towns — Conversion of Byano, an aged 
 deyd, or demon man — Baptism of Hyano and Gidawudi, young 
 converts from heathenism — Account of the Christian supper 
 preceding each communion — Description of the Christian vil- 
 lage — History of Tuwa, an aged female convert — The Christ- 
 ian Church of five in the heathen town of Nyaro, 81 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Petty annoyances of Missionary life — The African study — Looking 
 a hobo hai — " Dashes " — Amusing visit to a native Governor 
 — Massacre of the crew of the ship Heroine — Rescue of 
 one of the number, now a member of the Mission, 95 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Ordination of native deacons — Ordination of Rev. G. "W. Gibson, a 
 colonist — Arrival of eight Missionaries — death of one of the 
 number — Tours into the interior, by one of the native dea- 
 cons — Scenery on the Cavalla river — Sinoe — Description of 
 Bassa Cove — Clay-Ashland — Death of the Missionary Phy- 
 sician, 113 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Ordination of Messrs Pinckney and Green, (Colonists) — Religious 
 interest at Cape Palmas — Sickness among the Colonists — Blind 
 old Rachel, her happy death — Letter from Monrovia — A Let- 
 ter from Rev. R. Smith — Death of a Missionary at Rocktown, 129 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Removal of Rev. Mr. Rambo to the new Station at Bassa Cove — 
 Opening of the Orphan Asylum at Cape Palmas, by Rev. Mr. 
 Scott — Successful labors of the native deacons at the Cape — 
 Extracts from the journal of Rev R. Smith 140 
 
CONTENTS. V 
 
 CHAPTER XL PA0B 
 
 Description of Mt. Vaughan, tho first home of the Missionaries — 
 The High School — Beautiful road— Reopening of the Mission 
 Station at Rockbookah — Death of another Missionary, Rev. R. 
 Smith — Return of Missionaries to the Mission — Native Female 
 Boarding-School at Cavalla — Review of the work in the hea- 
 then towns 155 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 Interesting Convocation of August, 1855 — Reports from the Grebo, 
 Babo, and Plabo teachers — Reports of the Foreign Mission- 
 aries, 177 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 Description of the Orphan Asylum at Cape Pahnas — Death of a 
 Missionary at Bassa Cove, Mrs. Rambo — Reports of the native 
 ministers, 190 
 
 CHAPTER XIY. 
 
 History of tho little slave, Seiko — Mlede — Conversion of a deyd at 
 Taboo — Opening of a new Station on the Cavalla river, in the 
 Babo tribe — Rocktown and Fair Haven — Address of a native 
 Governor — Review of the year 1855, 208 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 Incidents of Missionary life — Ordination — Ude — A new way to re- 
 lease prisoners — "Prisoner palaver " — Death of a Missionary, 
 Mrs. V. H. Hoffman, 224 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 Thanksgiving day in Africa — A faithful convert — Increasing ef- 
 ficiency .of native laborers — Tours into the interior — Loss of 
 a female teacher at the Orphan Asylum, 235 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 Visitation of the Bishop to Monrovia, Sinoo, Bassa Cove, and other 
 remote Stations of the Mission — Description of Bassa Cove, 
 and tho beautiful Dja mountain — Lower Buchanan — Rev. Mr. 
 Russell's Station, Clay-Ashland — Arrival of Rev. Mr. Hol- 
 comb from the United States — Description of tho Bassa tribe 
 — Tour to the St. John, or Dja mountain — Proposition to open 
 there a new central station, 249 
 
VI CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. page 
 
 Rumor of war between the colonists and natives— Conversion of 
 many of the children at the Orphan Asylum — Interesting de- 
 tails—Candidates for confirmation — Outbreak at Cape Palmas 
 — War between the colonists and natives — Burning of the na- 
 tive towns at Cape Palmas — Burning of Mt. Vaughan, 261 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 Further details of the war — Progress of the work in the Mission 
 — Peace declared — The Ma^'land Colony at Cape Palmas 
 united to the Republic of Liberia — Mission work among the 
 natives at the Cape resumed — Unusual prosperity of the Mis- 
 sion Schools and Churches — "War overruled for good— A Let- 
 ter from a native African, recently converted - Demolition of 
 idols 27-4 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 The field widening — A new Mission Station opened in the interior, 
 (at Mt. Netea) — Interesting letter from the native catechist 
 stationed there — Account of the Bishop's tour up the Ca valla, 
 to Mt. Netea — Appeal for more Missionaries, 291 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 The design of this little work is to make known to the reading 
 public the present highly encouraging state of one of the most 
 interesting and important Missions of our day. 
 
 It was undertaken with the conviction, that the way " to im- 
 bue Christian men with the missionary spirit, is to acquaint 
 them with the missionary enterprise ;" and that the interest felt 
 in the missionary work must very much depend upon a know- 
 lodge of its details and progress. 
 
 The history of the first years of our Mission,* (beginning with 
 its establishment in 1836,) has already been given to the world 
 by one of its members, who has faithfully and ably described the 
 night of patient toil and suffering. Ours is the pleasant task to 
 tell of the day dawn which is now stealing over the borders of 
 this large, dark, and mysterious continent. 
 
 From the interesting reports given by our fellow-laborers, and 
 from scenes which we ourselves have witnessed, we have prepared 
 this volume, with the hope that it will be blessed by God to the 
 stirring up of the careless, to the encouragement of the despond- 
 ing, and to the increased gratitude of the Church. 
 
 As our object is history, not biography, the obituaries of de- 
 ceased missionaries have been necessarily brief. This history 
 embraccs the last six years, beginning with the consecration of 
 Bishop Payne, in 1851. During these years the progress in the 
 Mission has been unusually encouraging. Those who so long 
 "sowed in tears," have now begun to "reap in joy." 
 
 Another object in presenting this record to the public at pre- 
 sent, is to solicit assistance. The field is now white for the liar- 
 
 * History of the P. E. Mission in Western Africa, by Mrs. E. F. Hening. 
 
Vlll PllKFACK 
 
 vest, but the laborers are very few ; and those in the field are 
 now bending beneath their heavy burdens. When compelled by 
 sickness to leave, for a season, our beloved Mission, there remained 
 but three ordained Foreign Missionaries to minister to thousands 
 of heathen souls. We need, at once, more regular missionaries, a 
 physician, male and female teachers, and catechists. We appeal 
 for help from among the many thousands in our Church, who 
 profess to be followers of Him whose last command was : " Go 
 ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature." 
 For His sake, we beg, let not the earnest cry of heathen Africa, 
 " Come over and help us," go unheeded. 
 
 "It comes from a land where a beautiful light 
 Is slow creeping o'er hill-top and vale ; 
 Where broad is the field, and the harvest is white, 
 But the reapers are wasted and pale. 
 
 "All wasted and pale with their wearisome toil — 
 Still they pause not, that brave little band, 
 Though soon their low pillows will be the strange soil 
 Of that distant and grave-dotted strand. 
 
 "There the strong man is bowed in his youth's golden prime, 
 But cheerly he sings at his toil, 
 For he thinks of the sheaves and garnering time 
 Of the glorious Lord of the soil. 
 
 ***** 
 
 " But ever they turn, that bravo little band, 
 A long, wistful gaze towards the West ; 
 ' Do they come ? Do they come ?' from that dear, distant land- 
 That land of the lovely and blest ! 
 
 " 'Do they come ? Do they come ?' Oh ! wo are feeble and wan, 
 And we are passing like shadows away; 
 But the harvest is white — lo 1 yonder the dawn ; 
 For laborers, for laborers we pray." 
 Washington, D. C, June, 1857. A. M. S. 
 
For the cuts, which add much to the beauty and value of this 
 volume, we are indebted to the Carrier Dove, a monthly paper 
 for children and youth, published by the Foreign Committee of 
 the Board of Missions, Protestant Episcopal Church, 19 Bible 
 House, New-York. 
 

DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 CIjHpiu lint. 
 
 " Separated unto the Gospel of God." — Rom. 1 : 1. 
 " Declare his glory among the heathen." — Ps. 96 : 3. 
 
 On the eleventh of July, 1851, in the old town of 
 Alexandria, Virginia, a scene was enacted which was 
 destined to influence, through time and eternity, thou- 
 sands of heathen on a far distant continent. A large 
 congregation was assembled in St. Paul's Church, to 
 witness the setting apart to the office of Bishop, one 
 of the pioneers in the missionary field of Western 
 Africa, who had dedicated himself for life to that labor- 
 ious work. 
 
 From the Theological Seminary of Virginia, whose 
 hallowed walls crown a neighboring hill, he had gone 
 forth fifteen years before, to encounter the toils and 
 perils, the struggles and triumphs of the missionary 
 life, in that most fatal climate. He had now returned 
 at the call of the Church, to receive the highest office 
 in her gift. 
 
 Many were present at his consecration, who had 
 seen this devoted servant of Christ, with his faithful 
 
12 DAY DAWN IN AFHICA. 
 
 fellow-laborers, depart to that distant and untried field. 
 How different their feelings now ! Then, thoughts of 
 the unhealthiness of the climate, and the apparently 
 hopeless degradation of the people, were uppermost in 
 every mind.' Now they could rejoice over the glad 
 tidings brought by this faithful evangelist, who had 
 returned, like the apostles of old, to tell what great 
 things the Lord had done in heathen Africa. 
 
 No better summary of the work accomplished in 
 that important and interesting field previous to this 
 time, can be given than is contained in the following 
 extracts from the discourses of Bishop Payne, delivered 
 about the time of his consecration. After speaking, at 
 some length, of the work accomplished at other mis- 
 sions on the coast, he thus sums up the achievements 
 of our own Protestant Episcopal Mission at Cape 
 Palmas : 
 
 " Four distinct stations, in sufficient proximity for 
 mutual sympathy and relief, have, it is hoped, been 
 firmly established, three of them being amongst na- 
 tives, and one of them in the Maryland Colony at Cape 
 Palmas. 
 
 "At these several stations the usual moral machinery 
 of Christianity is, and has been for some years in con- 
 tinuous and efficient operation. One permanent stone 
 church building is nearly completed ; another has been 
 commenced ; regular congregations, varying from fifty 
 to three hundred, have been gathered; pastoral and 
 missionary efforts have brought the Gospel in contact 
 with the minds of thirty thousand heathen ; boarding 
 and day-schools have been maintained, in which about 
 one thousand native and colonist scholars have re- 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 13 
 
 ceived, to a greater or less extent, a Christian educa- 
 tion. 
 
 " "When it is considered that the hindrances to the 
 success of Christian missions in general, and especially 
 to African missions, have arisen from the interruption 
 and inefficient character of the religions agency em- 
 ployed, the importance of having thus secured for 
 Christianity, in one place, a permanent home and in- 
 fluence, can not be too highly estimated. 
 
 " Kesults of greater value still have been attained. 
 Missionary experience is every where valuable, but in 
 no country so much so as in Africa. It is not too 
 much to say, that at least half of those who have fallen 
 victims to the climate might have been saved, had they 
 enjoyed the benefits of the experience now possessed. 
 
 "A native language has been reduced to writing; 
 services are held in it. Spelling-books, reading-books, 
 portions of the Liturgy, and of the Scriptures, have 
 been translated, and many children and youths taught 
 to read them. 
 
 "A standing influence, as Christian teachers, has 
 been gained by the missionaries for scores of miles 
 around them, and amongst fifty thousand natives. 
 This was no easy task. For years the heathen natu- 
 rally persisted in classing them with foreigners in 
 general, whose object was only gain. The endless 
 annoyances, exactions, vexations, and persecutions, 
 which this view entailed upon the missionaries, they 
 only can know who have experienced them. 
 
 " The" direct spiritual effects of missionary labor 
 upon the heathen are manifest. The popular faith in 
 idolatry is shaken. I have myself burned up a wheel- 
 
14 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 barrow load of idols, or gree-grees, at one time. Many 
 use gree-grees only from custom and a fear of exciting 
 observation and remark, not from faith in their efficacy. 
 Beside some who have died in the faith, and others 
 who have apostatized, we have now in regular stand- 
 ing above one hundred communicants, more than half 
 of whom are natives. 
 
 "Fifteen Christian families, the members of which 
 were nearly all educated in the schools, are living to- 
 gether in a Christian village, on our mission premises, 
 at Cavalla. Nine young men and women, educated in 
 the mission schools, are employed as catechists, teach- 
 ers, and assistants. Two native youths are in this 
 country pursuing their studies, preparatory to the 
 ministry. One colonist is a candidate for orders. 
 
 " A wide and effectual door for the spread of the 
 Gospel in the colonies, amongst neighboring and dis- 
 tant tribes, has been opened around the mission sta- 
 tions which have been established. To gain this point, 
 though obviously of the first importance, has been the 
 work of time. At first the natives on the coast would 
 on no account allow foreigners to go into the interior ; 
 and viewing all foreigners as traders, they were appre- 
 hensive that, if permitted to go thither, the mission- 
 aries might interfere with their gains. With correct 
 views of the missionaries, however, came the abandon- 
 ment of such objections; and at the present moment, 
 a hundred evangelists might find immediate and full 
 employment among the numerous and populous tribes 
 lying between the mission stations and the mountains 
 of the interior. 
 
 " But whence shall come the host of laborers re- 
 
DAY DAWN IX AFRICA. 15 
 
 quired to go fortli and reap the wasting harvests of 
 these extensive regions ? 
 
 "Doubtless from the mission-schools already in 
 operation, shall be raised up many native teachers and 
 evangelists to go forth in this blessed work ; and on 
 this account these schools, and the missions which sus- 
 tain them, challenge your prayers, your contributions 
 and efforts. 
 
 "But these natives, with few exceptions, can only 
 make assistants. They will require some superintend- 
 ing agency. And since, as I have observed, white 
 men can not bear the interior of Africa, this circum- 
 stance, and the comparative advance in Christian civil- 
 ization attained by the colonists from this country, 
 point to them as the materials from which to raise up 
 this superintending agency. 
 
 " Hence the preeminent importance to be attached 
 to all schemes of education in Liberia, and especially 
 to our own High School at Mt. Vaughan. Here, as 
 before observed, we have in operation an institution 
 for preparing teachers and ministers for the great work 
 around them. In order to insure a complete educa- 
 tion, it is necessary to support young men four or five 
 years, at an expense of one hundred dollars per an- 
 num ; and when the demand for such laborers, as it is 
 sought here to raise up, is considered, an object more 
 worthy of the patronage of American Christians, can 
 not well be conceived. At present there are only ten 
 scholarships, and only five permanently supported ; I 
 hope to raise seven more. 
 
 " Other missions also, of similar character to that at 
 Cape Palmas, it is hoped, will be soon established at 
 
16 DAY DAWN IN AFPJCA. 
 
 Bassa Cove and Monrovia, as radiating points from those 
 places to the populous regions around them, which, as 
 has been said, Providence has committed to American, 
 Christians. May God give to all interested in Africa's 
 welfare, grace to devise liberal things, and to carry 
 those liberal things more and more into practice ; and 
 especially may we share largely in the distinguished 
 honor and reward of those who shall be instrumental 
 in causing ' Ethiopia to stretch forth her hand unto 
 God.' 
 
 " To all human appearances, the Gospel has been 
 planted there. In connection with our Mission, Christ- 
 ianity seems to have found one home, shall I say an- 
 other Antioch ? I would leave to my associates in the 
 Mission the pleasing task of describing particularly 
 their respective stations. But I shall be excused, I 
 am sure, for making some reference to my own, en- 
 deared as it is by the hallowed associations of some ten 
 years of missionary toil and enjoyment. And, breth- 
 ren, of it I can not say less than this : Much as I love 
 this our Antioch,* I have found more than another 
 Antioch in my African Cavalla home. 
 
 " Nay, brethren, there is now, in this wide world, 
 no place to me like that, my home. Thirty cocoa-nut 
 trees spread forth their graceful branches to shelter it 
 from the beams of a tropical sun ; a garden with lovely 
 flowers, such as God delights to scatter over his fair 
 creation, and numerous fruit trees, with beauteous 
 birds 'singing among the branches;' refreshing breezes 
 coming almost the whole day over the deep broad sea, 
 
 * Theological Seminary of Virginia. 
 
BAY DAWN IN AFH10A. 17 
 
 not three hundred yards distant ; a climate as pleasant 
 (temperature considered) as any on earth ; a Christian 
 congregation formed out of heathenism, and a sub- 
 stantial brick church commenced ; schools, containing 
 seventy pupils, in successful operation; and cheerful 
 hearts and willing hands to work in the Lord's 
 harvest. 
 
 " But, brethren, these are not the chief attractions 
 for me or for you. What makes Cavalla a most inter- 
 esting missionary station, is, that there the door of 
 faith is most widely and effectually opened to numer- 
 ous towns and tribes of African Gentiles. But I would 
 fix your attention upon the fact, that it is only the door, 
 and this door is only opened. The field — and oh ! 
 ivhat a field — how extensive, how dark, how ruined, is 
 yet to be occupied ! 
 
 " Here, brethren, I stand before you, fourteen years 
 after having first put my foot on African soil, and 
 having spent nearly the whole of this time in that 
 country. I have, by God's help, in short journeys, 
 travelled on missionary duty, more than eight thou- 
 sand miles, preached in Grebo and English at least 
 four thousand times, in from thirty to forty different 
 towns and places, to four distinct heathen tribes, and 
 in the colonies. In doing all which I can not remem- 
 ber having been interrupted by ill-health on one Sab- 
 bath ; certainly not in the last ten years. Now, here, 
 to the praise of God's grace be it said, are great facts, 
 to establish which my life had been well spent in 
 Africa, and to report which to you, would well repay 
 the trouble of my four voyages across the Atlantic. 
 
 "And, now, that after the lapse of fifteen years, I 
 
18 DAY DAWN IX AFRICA. 
 
 have returned to this, our Antioch, whence I was re- 
 commended to the grace of God for the work in which 
 I have been engaged, and am permitted to report to 
 you how through many dangers and temptations which 
 have come upon me, the door of faith has been so re- 
 markably and widely opened to the Gentile Africans, 
 I call upon you with me to return thanks for, and to 
 magnify the providence and mercy and grace of God, 
 which have so signally followed your brother and his 
 associates in the mission which they have been the 
 honored instruments of planting and sustaining. Yes, 
 with one heart and voice, let us say, 'Now, thanks 
 be unto God, who always causeth us to triumph in 
 Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of his know- 
 ledge by us in every place.' " 
 
C Ir it p t u S u n & . 
 
 " Enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly, to preach the 
 Gospel in the regions beyond you." — 2 Cou, 10 : 15. 
 
 Lsr May of the year 1852 we find our missionary 
 Bishop — after having visited many of the churches in 
 America, and greatly interesting them in his Mission — 
 again turning his face toward his beloved African 
 home, accompanied by five new missionaries, from 
 various States in the Union, namely : Rev. George W. 
 and Mrs. Home, from Connecticut ; Miss Alice E. 
 Colquhoun, from Virginia; Mr. Augustus Rogers, 
 from New- York ; and Rev. Thomas A. Pinckney, (col- 
 ored,) from South-Carolina. 
 
 The arrival of the Bishop is thus described by one 
 of the missionaries at Cavalla : 
 
 " Tliursday, July 8th, 1852. — The long-expected 
 day has arrived in which we are to welcome the 
 Bishop ; we heard of his arrival in the Ralph Cross, 
 while at breakfast — an occasion of joy and gratitude. 
 He reached the station at six in the afternoon. His 
 coming was announced by the noise of the children 
 and natives following him. Our family met him in 
 the avenue, as he rode upon his faithful donkey, which 
 had been sent for him. We rejoiced that God had 
 kept, blessed, and restored him to his work ; that he 
 had also brought out other laborers with him." 
 
20 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 We can readily imagine his feelings as he once more 
 beholds his beloved mission. Fifteen years have 
 elapsed since he first landed on the wild shores of 
 Africa. How encouraging the contrast between the 
 trials and sorrows of those laborious years and the 
 mercies and blessings of the present ! Memory recalls 
 that darkest hour,* when the heathen, who now herald 
 his approach with joyous demonstrations, seriously 
 proposed to exterminate the Mission by starvation, or 
 fire and the sword. With heartfelt gratitude he re- 
 members that merciful intervention of Providence, 
 which, at the most critical moment, brought so oppor- 
 tunely to his aid a man-of-war ; and an officer, at the 
 head of a body of marines, marched suddenly into the 
 mission grounds, from the United States ship, Deca- 
 tur. 
 
 How wonderful the change wrought on these wild 
 people, in a few years, by God's blessing upon the 
 " prayers, pains, and faith" of a feeble band of mission- 
 aries. Many of the hardened heathen, who, in former 
 years, when asked to visit the house of God, were wont 
 to reply, "Pay us, and we will come," are now heard 
 earnestly inquiring : " Payne, how can we do the will 
 of God?" 
 
 After the Bishop's return, a fresh impetus was given 
 to the Mission. Active measures were commenced by 
 him for enlarging its operations ; and he immediately 
 began the various buildings for which contributions 
 had been made during his visit to the United States. 
 The foundation of the Orphan Asylum at Cape Pal- 
 
 * See Mrs. Ilening's History of the African Mission, p. 22;;. 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFEICA. 21 
 
 mas (hereafter to be described) was laid — the colonial 
 authorities giving him a lot for that purpose on the 
 extremity of the Cape. 
 
 He was especially desirous to do more for the spirit- 
 ual progress of the young but rapidly growing Eepub- 
 lic of Liberia, and for this purpose put forth vigorous 
 efforts to open more stations within her limits. The 
 points to which his attention was now directed, were, 
 Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, two hundred and 
 fifty miles north of Cape Palmas ; Bassa Cove, eighty 
 miles to the south-east of Monrovia ; and Sinoe, half 
 way between Bassa Cove and Cape Palmas, and about 
 ninety miles from each. 
 
 It may be proper, before we proceed to describe 
 the progress of the Bishop's operations, to give, for the 
 benefit of the general reader, a brief account of the 
 origin of the American colonies in Liberia, and of their 
 early connection with our Mission. 
 
 The first scheme of African colonization sprang, we 
 are told, from the gifted mind of Thomas Jefferson, 
 "who was one of a committee appointed by the 
 General Assembly of Virginia, in 1776, to revise the 
 laws of that State, and at that time prepared an 
 amendment, to be submitted to the committee, propos- 
 ing a comprehensive plan of colonization." Though the 
 seed of colonization was doubtless sown at that time, 
 and fostered by other great and good men, it was not, 
 until many years later, that the first Colonization Soci- 
 ety was organized at Washington City, in 1817 ; 
 which shortly afterward, with the cooperation of the 
 general government, sent out agents to select a tract of 
 
22 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 land in Western Africa, to form a home for the free 
 colored people of the United States. 
 
 For this purpose a portion of the coast of New- 
 Guinea was purchased, of which the Sherbro river, in 
 latitude 7° 20', forms the northern, and the grand 
 Sesters river on the south, in latitude 4° 30', forms 
 the southern boundary. The distance between these 
 points on the coast is five hundred miles. Here has 
 sprung up the Republic of Liberia, of which Monrovia* 
 (so called in honor of James Monroe, President of the 
 United States, who did so much to forward the colo- 
 nization scheme in Liberia) is the capital. It is in 
 Messurada county, and is situated on an elevated site 
 behind Cape Messurado, in latitude 6° 16' north. The 
 summit of the Cape is two hundred and fifty feet high, 
 and the town about eighty feet above the level of the 
 sea. Cape Messurado is covered with the richest mass 
 of deep green foliage and shrubbery we ever beheld. 
 On this Cape, Bishop Payne has secured ground to 
 build an educational establishment of high character, 
 to take rank hereafter as a college. There is a large 
 native population in and around the Liberia settle- 
 ments, and it is hoped that as our missionary force 
 shall be increased at Monrovia, effective efforts may be 
 made in behalf of the heathen population in this 
 region. 
 
 Monrovia contains a population of something over 
 two thousand, and is increasing rapidly, all things 
 considered. The best houses are built of stone and 
 brick, and many of them are neatly furnished. The 
 
 * About two hundred and fifty miles south of the English colony at 
 Sierra Leone. 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 23 
 
 President's house is a double two-story building of 
 brick, with a portico, the roof of which is supported 
 by lofty pillars. The people are in general neatly 
 dressed, and the churches well attended. The gov- 
 ernment house on Broadway is a plain, substantial 
 building with a balcony. The lower floor is used as a 
 court-room, and the upper one as a legislative hall. 
 
 Many tropical fruit trees, such as the orange, lemon, 
 the lime, the banana, tamarind, cocoa-nut, papaw, 
 guava, and the beautiful coffee-tree are found growing 
 at Monrovia ; also pine-apples, cassavas, plantains, and 
 sweet potatoes. Other vegetables and fruits of tem- 
 perate climes have been introduced, and here — but 
 more particularly on the St. John's and at Cape Pal- 
 mas — have been successfully cultivated. wing partly 
 to the comparative poverty of the soil, but more espe- 
 cially to the absorbing love of trade, agriculture is not 
 as nourishing at Monrovia as at other places on the 
 coast On the St. Paul's river, and in other parts of 
 Liberia, the soil is much better and more productive 
 than at Monrovia. In many places there are good 
 coffee farms, and the sugar-cane grows finely ; and 
 recently one or two steam sugar-mills have been car- 
 ried out, to be used on the St. Paul's. 
 
 Eice is the principal production, and is raised in 
 great quantities by the natives. The chief article of 
 export is palm-oil. Many of the trees in Western 
 Africa are of a very hard and heavy growth ; there 
 are other varieties, however, which correspond in 
 lightness to our pine, and some which answer to our 
 hickory and oak. There are many large forests of 
 cam-wood toward the interior, (some fifty miles from 
 
24 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 the sea,) which, is used by the natives for fuel, and is 
 an important article of trade. 
 
 In many places on the rivers and in the forests may 
 be seen the stately palm tree, waving its light and 
 graceful head in striking contrast with the heavy ma- 
 hogany* and other huge trees ; while every where 
 delicate flowers, buds, and blossoms attract the eye, by 
 their rich and lovely bloom. 
 
 Lying so near to the equator, this territory has, of 
 course, summer weather throughout the year, inter- 
 rupted only by the rainy, or "wet season," as it is 
 generally called, which usually begins in May, and 
 continues until the last of October. During this time, 
 and when the harmattan wind is blowing, (from the 
 middle of December to the last of January,) the 
 weather is delightfully cool and invigorating. In the 
 wet season woolen clothing is very comfortable ; the 
 more so, as it is not customary to have fires in the 
 houses. The rain is not continuous, as many persons 
 in the United States have supposed, but varied by 
 spells of dry weather. December and January are the 
 warmest months. February and March are very warm 
 also. The oppressiveness of the tropical sun is so 
 chastened by the regular sea breezes, that one is sel- 
 dom oppressed by the heat ; some are scarcely con- 
 scious of it. We have never yet met one who had 
 lived in Western Africa, who would not prefer it, so 
 far as temperaturef is concerned, to any part of 
 America. 
 
 * This is not the genuine mahogany. 
 
 f The extremes of the thermometrical state may be set down at 65° 
 and 9(i°. The average height of the mercury during the rainy season 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 25 
 
 Cape Palmas, which is about two hundred and fifty 
 miles south-east of Monrovia, forms the southern part 
 of Liberia. In 1834, colonists from the State of Mary- 
 land settled here, and formed an independent State, 
 which they called " Maryland in Liberia." Very 
 recently it has been annexed to the Kepublic of Li- 
 beria. 
 
 The highest part of Cape Palmas is about eighty 
 feet above the sea. Its eastern end was covered by 
 native towns until a few months since, when they were 
 burned in the war between the natives and colonists. 
 The colonist population is about one thousand. Two 
 years after this colony was settled, (in 1836,) an addi- 
 tional tract of land was purchased, which extended 
 along the Cavalla river to the distance of thirty miles 
 from its mouth. Up this beautiful stream may often 
 be seen travelling our missionaries and native evangel- 
 ists, carrying the glad tidings of salvation to the hea- 
 then tribes dwelling on its banks. 
 
 The first colored Governor of Maryland was Mr. 
 Kusswurm, who was appointed in 1837, and honorably 
 and ably discharged the duties of his office. 
 
 When our first missionaries (Dr. Savage, Eev. J. 
 Payne, and Rev. L. B. Minor) arrived at Cape Palmas 
 in 1836, they found two colonists, Mr. and Mrs. 
 Thomson, members of the Episcopal Church, teaching 
 with great faithfulness a mission school at Mount 
 Yaughan, (three miles from the Cape,) under the pa- 
 tronage of the " Domestic and Foreign Missionary 
 
 may be set down at about 76°, and during the dry at 8-i°. The mean 
 temperature for the year is about 80°. 
 o 
 
26 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Amen 
 ca," which had been formed by the General Conven- 
 tion in 1820. So much pleased were our pioneer 
 missionaries with the appearance of things at Cape 
 Palmas, that they at once decided to make it their head- 
 quarters, and it has continued to be the central and 
 chief seat of our Mission up to the present time. 
 
 In describing the spiritual prospects of the colonies 
 in Africa, we shall quote the language of Bishop 
 Payne, who has been for many years among them : 
 
 " No one," says he, " can contemplate what has 
 been accomplished by providence and grace in Western 
 Africa, within the memory of many now living, with- 
 out exclaiming in grateful, adoring love: 'What hath 
 God wrought ?' 
 
 "It is little more than fifty years since the whole of 
 that part of the coast, lying between the Gambia on 
 one side, and the Bereby river on the other — a distance 
 of eight hundred miles — was desolated by ceaseless 
 wars and a foreign slave-trade ; and, owing to the 
 influence of slave-traders, the barbarous character of 
 the natives, and the unhealthiness of the climate, it 
 was supposed to be as effectually closed to missionary 
 efforts as China itself. 
 
 " Behold what a change ! At Sierra Leone and its 
 offshoots, a Christian colony, whose population is not 
 far below one hundred thousand ! And composed of 
 whom ? Of native Africans, taken by British cruisers 
 from slave-ships, and, under the nurturing care of 
 British philanthropy, transformed from savage, war- 
 loving hordes, into orderly Christian communities. 
 
 " Between Sierra Leone and Bereby have sprung up 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFIUCA. 27 
 
 as by magic, at five different points, as many civilized 
 settlements. These are the offspring of the benevo- 
 lence and far-sighted wisdom of those who have com- 
 posed the American Colonization Societies. These, too, 
 are composed of the descendants of Africa's own 
 children. They are, and have for some time been self- 
 governing, and will all ere long, no doubt, be united 
 under one republic, already known as ' Liberia.' The 
 population of the colonies proper is at this time seven 
 thousand, while they hold under their jurisdiction, or 
 their influence, to a greater or less extent, ten times 
 that number of natives. With the rich country, and 
 spirit of industry and patriotism now springing up 
 amongst them, they have all the elements for becoming 
 flourishing communities. 
 
 " But the influence of these colonies, present and 
 prospective, upon Africa, is their most interesting fea- 
 ture. Already, tuithin forty years, have they, in con- 
 nection with the British and American squadrons, 
 abolished the slave-trade along eight hundred miles of 
 coast ; so that where thousands and tens of thousands 
 of slaves were cajotured and shipped annually, now 
 there is not one ; and the foreign demand being thus at 
 an end, the internal wars, which were excited by and 
 have lived upon that demand, have to a great extent 
 I ; while the lawful commerce which has sprung 
 up with the colonics, has created a new channel for 
 the enterprise of the natives, and led them to develop 
 the resources of their rich and beautiful country. 
 
 "A more important aspect of these colonies remains 
 to be noticed: it is that which connects them with the 
 missionary enter j > r ise . 
 
28 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 " Sierra Leone, as has been stated, is settled chiefly 
 by re-captured Africans. Though taken from the 
 slave-ships savage heathen, yet being at once placed 
 under a good government and a strong missionary 
 influence, they are under the most favorable circum- 
 stances possible for rapid temporal and spiritual 
 improvement. They do improve rapidly, astonish- 
 ingly. Many of them become wealthy. They 
 are extensive merchants — some of them owners of 
 ships. In their own vessels, many of them have 
 actually returned to the land from which they were 
 forcibly taken — the distance of nearly a thousand 
 miles — and formed Christian colonies. 
 
 " But their religious improvements and prospects 
 are more striking than even their temporal. Here, in 
 Sierra Leone, and a similar settlement on the Gambia 
 river, on the north-west, and the colony from Sierra 
 Leone, at Badagry, eight hundred to one thousand 
 miles to the south-east, there are about fourteen thou- 
 sand children and youth now under instruction, be- 
 sides numbers who have been educated and settled in 
 life. There are engaged in instructing these children 
 one hundred and twelve native catechists, school-mas- 
 ters, and school-mistresses. Three natives have re- 
 ceived orders in the Church of England ; and in the 
 Grammar School and Fourah Bay Institute at Sierra 
 Leone are sixty -six students, some of whom are study- 
 ing Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, and a number of them 
 looking forward to the ministry. In other than the 
 Church Mission, many, with lower literary qualifica- 
 tions than are there required, arc usefully employed as 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 29 
 
 ministers of the Gospel among their less-favored breth- 
 ren. * * * * * 
 
 " I will now speak particularly of that portion of 
 the great continent of Africa, which God has assigned 
 peculiarly to American Christians. This is Liberia, and 
 parts adjacent At present this government has titles, 
 more or less perfect, to most of the territory lying 
 coast-wise from Grand Cape Mount and (taking in 
 Maryland in Liberia) to Grand Bereby, a distance of 
 four hundred miles. Its jurisdiction will evidently be 
 extended one hundred miles farther on either side, 
 making its entire length on the coast six hundred 
 miles. Thus much the powers of Europe will un- 
 doubtedly most cheerfully concede to the infant repub- 
 lic, which, indeed, they show every disposition to 
 strengthen. Towards the interior the peculiar charac- 
 ter of the native tribes will invite an extension of ter- 
 ritory to the distance of two hundred miles ; or to the 
 chain of the Kong mountains, stretching along near 
 the latitude of 8° north, from the vicinity of Sierra 
 Leone on the west, and beyond the Niger on the east. 
 
 " Here, then, a territory containing one hundred 
 and twenty thousand square miles, and nearly five mil- 
 lions of aborigines, besides American colonists — this is 
 the sphere to which Providence directs American phi- 
 lanthropy and Christianity. 
 
 " There are at the present time,* as has been stated, 
 about seven thousand emigrants from the United 
 States in the various settlements constituting Liberia. 
 The moral and intellectual energies of the colonists 
 
 * 1861. 
 
30 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 have thus far been almost exclusively required and 
 employed in forming and strengthening their own 
 infant civil and religious institutions. And, when it is 
 considered that the great mass of those who have been 
 sent out to Liberia are wholly uneducated, it is won- 
 derful how much has been accomplished in this respect. 
 Obviously, however, they still need the helping hand 
 of their more favored American brethren, to develop 
 and perfect their social, intellectual, and political con- 
 stitution. And it is most gratifying to see that while 
 they are sensible of their need, Christians of all 
 denominations are, though late, moving to their relief. 
 
 " The Methodists have completed a very good build- 
 ing at Monrovia, designed for a seminary. The Pres- 
 byterians have sent out a small iron house to the same 
 place, for an institution called the Alexander High 
 School.' There is a movement in New-England to get 
 up a kind of Union institution, to be located in some 
 central part of Liberia, perhaps at Bassa Cove.* When 
 these institutions shall be provided with permanent 
 and competent officers, they will indeed prove bless- 
 ings. I am thankful to be able to say that our Church 
 has rendered the most substantial service to the colo- 
 nies and to Africa by its High School at Mount 
 Vaughan, near Cape Palmas, which has raised and is 
 raising up teachers, so much needed in the colonies, as 
 well as missionaries for the surrounding heathen. 
 
 " It has been stated that the moral energies of the 
 colonists have been chiefly directed to their own inter- 
 nal affairs. It must not, however, be understood that 
 
 * This institution is now being established near Monrovia, with ox- 
 Presideut Roberts at its head. 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 31 
 
 they have done nothing for the heathen. Under the 
 direction of the Presbyterian, Methodist, and Baptist 
 Missionary Societies, the agency of colonists has been 
 employed at sundry times and in various places among 
 the heathen. But owing to the change of superin- 
 tendents, or their incompetency, little permanent fruit 
 of their efforts remains. 
 
 " Indeed, it must be evident to every one who duly 
 considers the missionary work, that its efficiency, under 
 God, depends upon a steady, persevering, Christian 
 influence, by a competent agency. That the agency must 
 be competent, needs no proof nor illustration. That 
 the influence, to be effective, must be continued, will 
 appear from the fact, that the work of making Christ- 
 ian disciples of the heathen implies far more than that 
 of transforming the most ignorant, degraded, and 
 wicked child, ever found in a civilized land, into an 
 educated, civilized, and Christian man. What, in fact, 
 is the object of Christian missions, but to carry on 
 this very process, not for individuals, but for commu- 
 nities, and this under the most unfavorable circum- 
 stances? 
 
 " What our Protestant Episcopal Mission in Western 
 Africa has accomplished, has been owing, under God, 
 to its complying to a good extent with these necessary 
 conditions. From what has been said of the moral 
 and intellectual state of the colonists, it must be per- 
 ceived that our reliance thus far, for a competent 
 agency must have been chiefly upon the white laborers, 
 however few in number, who have been led from 
 America to this country. And as it has been seen 
 that white men can not bear interior missionary excur- 
 
32 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 sions, or indeed the African climate at all, without a 
 home to which they may repair, after short intervals 
 of exposure — necessity, no less than a sense of duty, 
 in the preservation of life and health, has heretofore 
 prevented our extending our work, but we can rejoice 
 in substantial, we would hope permanent results 
 actually attained, and in the opening up, through these 
 results, of prospects of wider and ever-widening use 
 fulness hereafter." 
 
" Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased."— 
 Daniel 12:4. 
 
 In March, 1852, a small newspaper called the 
 Cavulla Messenger, was commenced in the Mission. It 
 was printed in Grcbo and English, by two young na- 
 tive Christians, who had been trained in the mission - 
 school at Cavalla ; and it was hoped that it would be 
 a benefit to the young connected with the Mission, be- 
 sides giving employment to those engaged in it. It is 
 sustained by articles from the various missionaries, de- 
 signed to give a picture of the inner life of the Mission, 
 and to interest foreign readers in behalf of the work 
 among the heathen. The first page is always devoted 
 to a history of the Grebo tribe, in their own language, 
 by the Bishop. 
 
 We may look upon the establishment of this paper 
 as an important era in the history of this tribe. Since 
 the press was established at Cavalla, it has issued seve- 
 ral hundred copies of school-books in the Grebo tongue, 
 and more will be done in the future. How encouraging 
 the thought that on the spot, where once was heard 
 only the groans of the dying gidu victim, or the shrill 
 unearthly cries of the "Kwi-iru" keeping their nightly 
 orgies, is now heard the cheerful hum of the printing- 
 press, and that within the office may be seen animated 
 
34 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 Grebo faces busily bending over the type which is to 
 be the means of disseminating knowledge among their 
 heathen friends. No stranger could meet the bright, 
 intelligent faces of many of the youths and children in 
 that vicinity, without being at once convinced that 
 Christianity and civilization had visited that heathen 
 wild. 
 
 Two native youths, Ku Sia, (alias Clement F. Jones,) 
 and Bidi Wah, (alias G-. T. Bedell,) returned to the 
 Mission in January of this year. For more than a year 
 they had been under the tuition of Kev. Dr. May, and 
 some of the students at the Theological Seminary of 
 Virginia. Jones went to Cavalla to finish his studies, 
 preparatory to the ministry, under the Bishop; and 
 Bedell to Rocktown to teach in the boarding-school 
 for native boys. 
 
 " We were glad to welcome back our former scho- 
 lars, Jones and Bedell," writes a missionary. " Their 
 sojourn in America has been an advantage to both. 
 Jones accompanied me to-day to Kioto's town, where 
 I preached. When I had finished, he asked to be per- 
 mitted to speak. With much attention the people 
 listened, while with earnestness he spoke. He having 
 finished with prayer, they thanked him, and on our 
 leaving, shook hands with us, one man remarking to 
 him : ' Go on, that Word is good? " 
 
 " March 7th. — During this week a debating society 
 and singing-school have been commenced by our older 
 native pupils and the youth of the village, Ku Sia and 
 Bedell being the leaders of both." This is certainly 
 progressive. 
 
 Bishop Payne, finding on his arrival at Cavalla, that 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 35 
 
 his faithful fellow-laborers, Rev. Edmund "W. and Mrs. 
 Ilening, had been compelled, by the blindness and 
 failure of health of the former, to withdraw from the 
 Mission, thus wrote to the Foreign Committee : 
 
 " However we may mourn over the cause and the 
 loss of a brother and sister so dearly beloved, it could 
 not be reasonably expected that one afflicted like Mr. 
 Ilening could long endure as a missionary in Africa. 
 I have suggested to Mr. H. a mode by which I think 
 he may be most usefully employed in America, if it 
 shall please God to restore his health. It is, either 
 under the direction of the Foreign Committee or the 
 Diocesan Missionary Societies, to plead the cause of 
 missions before every congregation to which he can 
 get access. ' To imbue Christian men with the spirit 
 of missions is to acquaint them with the missionary 
 enterprise,' and to acquaint them with the missionary 
 enterprise, requires a special agency; and Mr. Hen- 
 ing's affliction for Christ's sake, and his eloquence — 
 for God has given him eloquence — will give much 
 effect to missionary arguments presented by him." 
 
 In accordance with this advice Mr. Hening soon 
 after became agent for the Mission in America, and 
 has continued to act as such up to the present date. 
 
 One year later the Mission wan pained to hear of the 
 unexpected death of his estimable wife. She died, in 
 much peace, at Norfolk, Va., June 1st, 1853. In an- 
 nouncing to the public the death of this gifted lady, 
 the Secretary of the Foreign Committee thus writes: 
 
 " She died after a very short illness, leaving her hus- 
 band totally blind, and with the charge of an infant 
 but a few months old. Long a most faithful and effi- 
 
36 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 cient laborer, Mrs. Hening's usefulness was continued 
 after her husband's loss of sight compelled him to re- 
 turn to the United States; and, at the time of her 
 death, she was accompanying him on a journey, in 
 which he was engaged in behalf of the African Mis- 
 sion." 
 
 "While Mr. Hening was advocating the cause in 
 the pulpit, she, in a more retired, but scarcely less 
 important sphere, was enlisting the sympathies of 
 Christian women in the various objects recommended 
 by Bishop Payne. Her loss is very great to the Mis- 
 sion, and, to her husband, humanly speaking, irrepar- 
 able." 
 
 " Mrs. Hening, in addition to other most excellent 
 and valuable service, prepared and published an ac- 
 count of the Mission which had engrossed her mind 
 and heart. This interesting volume, which gives a 
 brief history of the early efforts of our Church to 
 spread the Gospel among the natives of Africa, and 
 develops the Christian character of the author, ought 
 to be in the hands of every friend of the cause of civil- 
 ization and Christianity in the land." 
 
 Eev. G. W. Home (who had accompanied the Bishop 
 on his return) took charge of the Eocktown station, 
 left vacant by Mr. Hening's departure ; and Mr. Au- 
 gustus Eogers became a most efficient teacher in the 
 boarding-school for native boys at Cavalla. 
 
 On Christmas- day, 1852, in the presence of a large 
 congregation, the Bishop held the first confirmation in 
 the new colonial church, St. Mark's, at Cape Palmas. 
 Twenty-five persons were confirmed. As this was the 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 37 
 
 first service of the kind ever performed in the colony, 
 it was a season of unusual interest. 
 
 This beautiful little stone church had been built for 
 the colony by contributions collected principally in the 
 Diocese of Maryland. The first two years it was under 
 the pastoral care of Kev. C. Colden Hoffman, assisted . 
 by Rev. T. A. Pinckney. It was consecrated to the 
 service of Almighty God, December 21st, 1853 ; and 
 placed in charge of Rev. Hugh Roy Scott, from Vir- 
 ginia, who, with Mrs. Scott, and Miss Freeman, had 
 arrived at Cavalla at the beginning of this year. 
 
 In this year the Bishop thus writes further in regard 
 to the enlargement of the Mission: 
 
 " The Mission at Cape Palmas may be considered as 
 established, and possessing all the elements necessary 
 to expansion in this vicinity. And here there is 
 doubtless ample scope for the employment of scores of 
 teachers, evangelists, and pastors. 
 
 "But, as has been already intimated, the providence 
 of God calls to a more extensive sphere of action. The 
 young but rapidly growing settlements of Liberia pro- 
 per, demand our care in building up their social and 
 political institutions. And no doubt those members 
 of our communion who have assisted in planting and 
 sustaining these colonies, expect that we will extend 
 to them such care. Certainly they will not think they 
 have discharged their duty towards them by merely 
 transporting the objects of their interest to these hea- 
 then shores; they will desire to provide for them 
 religious advantages in their new home." 
 
 " It is now very generally admitted that Africa 
 must be evangelized chiefly by her own children. It 
 
88 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 should be our object to prepare them, so far as we 
 may, for their great work ; and since colonists afford 
 the most advanced materials for raising up the needed 
 instruments, it becomes us, in wise cooperation with 
 Providence, to direct our efforts in the most judicious 
 manner to them. To do this, the most important 
 points should be occupied, to become in due time radi- 
 ating centres of Christian influence to colonists and 
 natives. 
 
 "Convinced of the indications of Providence in this 
 direction, and of the ability and disposition of the 
 Church to sustain any proper measures which may be 
 adopted, I have ventured to suggest the opening of 
 three new stations in connection with the Mission. 
 The points proposed to be occupied are, Monrovia, the 
 capital of Liberia ; Bassa Cove ; and Sinoe, about half 
 way between Bassa Cove and Cape Palmas, and some 
 ninety miles from each. 
 
 "At Monrovia, incipient steps have been taken to 
 open a station. A candidate for orders has charge of 
 a school, and, in the course of the year, he will be pre- 
 pared, it is hoped, to enter regularly upon his duties 
 as a missionary to both colonists and natives. The 
 mission at Monrovia, it is expected, will be sustained 
 chiefly by the Church in Virginia. 
 
 " At Bassa Cove, active measures have been delayed 
 in consequence of the unsatisfactory relations between 
 colonists and natives. It is understood now, however, 
 that these have assumed a more pacific aspect, and I 
 hope, in the course of the present year to have a build- 
 ing erected in the township of Buchanan, suitable for 
 a teacher and a school-house. 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 39 
 
 " Sinoe, tlie settlement intermediate between Bassa 
 Cove and Cape Palmas, is one of the most populous 
 and flourishing in Liberia. Some of our members are 
 already settled there, and the place offers every facility 
 for the establishment of a station. One of our colonist 
 candidates for orders will be prepared (God willing) 
 within a year to take charge of it ; and in anticipation 
 of this, I have made an appeal to some of our churches 
 in the West and South-west to sustain him." 
 
 While the Bishop was thus cheerfully contemplating 
 an extension of the operations of the Mission, his heart 
 was burdened with anxiety for the health of his wife 
 and other missionaries, as the following brief extracts 
 from one of his letters will show : 
 
 " Captain Lowlin, by whom it is hoped this will 
 reach you, takes to the United States our highly 
 esteemed friend and fellow-laborer, Miss Williford. 
 During my absence from the Mission, she had a very 
 severe attack of fever. This was followed by a com- 
 plication of diseases, which, with more favored inter- 
 vals, has continued to the present time. No medical 
 aid obtained here has effected relief, and several weeks 
 since she became so weakened as to be compelled 
 to resign the girls' school to Miss Colquhoun, and to 
 confine herself to her chamber. A visit to the United 
 States presents the only hope of her restoration." 
 
 Three months later lie writes : 
 
 " You may be surprised to hear that before the ar- 
 rival of Captain Lowlin, it has been determined that 
 Mrs. Payne should accompany Miss W. to America. 
 For some months previous she had been confined to 
 her chamber, and this continues to be her state at pre- 
 
40 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 sent. Being unable to do any thing here, she has con- 
 sented to try a voyage, as the only hope of obtaining 
 any relief. Dr. McGrill is of the opinion that she has 
 been for some years suffering under a pulmonary affec- 
 tion. Lately she has had several haemorrhages. 
 
 " I have already briefly informed you, via England, 
 that God, in His wise providence, has seen fit to take 
 from us our late amiable and highly esteemed sister, 
 Mrs. Jane C. Scott. She died of fever, after an illness 
 of eleven days, on the 6th of June, 1853, (four months 
 and twelve days after her arrival at Cavalla.) She 
 was not supposed to be in danger thirty-six hours 
 before her death. This event, so unexpected to herself 
 and to us all, has excited in no breast other sentiment 
 than, ' Thy will, Lord, be done ! '" 
 
 "We have abundant reason," writes another, "to 
 believe that • our loss is her eternal gain.' Being un- 
 aware of the near approach of death, she left no testi- 
 mony of the preciousness of the Saviour in that trying 
 hour, but none was needed. She expressed her thank- 
 fulness, a few days before she was taken ill, that she 
 had been led to live among the heathen ; and signified 
 her entire resignation to the Lord's will, should it 
 please Him to call her away by the acclimating fever, 
 which she was then expecting." 
 
 A few months later, the Taboo station was reopened 
 under interesting circumstances. Musu, a native of 
 Taboo, (who had some years previously been baptized 
 by the name of John Musu Minor,) had long expressed 
 a strong desire to return to his people, with the hope 
 of doing something for their spiritual benefit. 
 
 The Bishop thought it proper to gratify his wish, 
 
DAV DAWN IN AFRICA. 41 
 
 and, accordingly, he took possession of the mission- 
 house, which had been erected and inhabited by the 
 lamented Eev. Lancelot B. Minor.* After repairing 
 the buildings, he opened a small school, and endea- 
 vored to do good, as he had opportunity, to his people. 
 
 Of him Mr. Minor wrote, in 1842 : " God has cer- 
 tainly blessed me in giving me such an interpreter as 
 Musu. From the first, he attached himself to me, and 
 served me with such zeal that I feared he would soon 
 wear himself out ; but, so far from this being the case, 
 his zeal has increased." 
 
 And now, ten years after the beloved pastor has 
 been called away to his heavenly home, we see Musu 
 still faithful, and returning, with joy, to labor alone in 
 the field left vacant by that pastor's death. 
 
 In the month of June, 1853, another pupil of the 
 Mission, Mr. Garrettson W. Gibson, (a young colonist,) 
 who had been, for more than a year, studying divinity 
 with the Eev. H. V. D. Johns, in Baltimore, returned 
 to Cape Palmas. He continued to prosecute his theo- 
 logical studies with one of the missionaries until he 
 was prepared for ordination. 
 
 About the close of this year, the congregation was 
 formed at Monrovia, and placed under the pastoral 
 care of Kev. Alexander Crummell, a colonist from 
 New-York, who had graduated from Cambridge Uni- 
 versity, England. 
 
 In his report to the Board of Missions, for the year 
 1853, the Bishop thus speaks again of the African 
 colonies : 
 
 * See Mrs. Hening's " History of the Mission in Western Africa," 
 p. 183. 
 
42 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 "It is a most gratifying consideration, that, from the 
 time when the political and religious condition of the 
 United States allowed opportunity for attention to 
 foreign objects of benevolence, the Episcopal Church 
 manifested a lively interest in the spiritual welfare of 
 Africa and her children. At first, this was largely 
 discovered in originating and prosecuting the scheme 
 of African colonization. For it is a great mistake that 
 this was prompted, or is sustained, by selfish consider- 
 ations. Doubtless, these enter into it, as into all hu- 
 man enterprises. But that benevolence conceived, as 
 benevolence now sustains this cause, must be manifest 
 to all who will examine the subject carefully. The 
 same principle which, within the last half century, has 
 planted at Sierra Leone a settlement of forty-five thou- 
 sand native Africans, of whom thirty-five thousand are 
 said to be Christians — extending their missionary in- 
 fluence and operations far along the coast, and in the 
 interior — originated and sustains the Christian colonies 
 constituting Liberia." 
 
 " Nor has this benevolent feeling found expression 
 only in the United States. From the very beginning 
 of the effort to benefit Africa, in connection with colo- 
 nies, members of the Episcopal Church have ever been 
 found to encounter all the privations inseparable from 
 this enterprise, and the perils of the most unhealthy of 
 climes. Let us glorify God, in the reflection that 
 nothing less than a manly spirit brought to these 
 shores our Wiltberger, Bankson, Andrus, and Ash- 
 mun, ready to lay down their lives for Africa's re- 
 demption. 
 
 "And when, in the light of the knowledge and 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFKICA. 43 
 
 experience, gained chiefly in connection with the colo- 
 nies, the Church became convinced that the time had 
 come for her to enter upon her appropriate work of 
 evangelizing Africa, through direct missionary efforts, 
 instruments were at once found to engage in this 
 work. 
 
 "From the year 1836, when the Mission on this 
 coast was regularly commenced, to the present time, 
 there have been connected with it no less than thirty- 
 one white missionaries, (besides respected and beloved 
 colored brethren and sisters, who have labored with 
 them in the Lord,) and more, many more, thank God, 
 are ready to offer themselves for its service. 
 
 "Is it asked, Where are now all these laborers? A 
 more profitable question is, What have they accomplished 
 for themselves, and for Christ 's cause in Africa ? Every 
 one who entered upon the work in a proper spirit, has 
 obtained blessings for himself and the Church with 
 which he is connected. 
 
 "Some, whose constitutions on trial, proved unfitted 
 for the clime, have returned to their native land, sel- 
 dom without carrying with them earnest resolves to 
 labor there for Africa. Others, who ' counted not 
 their lives dear unto them, so that they might finish 
 their course with joy,' have been honored by receiv- 
 ing the Master's summons to wear the martyr's crown. 
 While a remnant, rejoicing in what God hath already 
 accomplished, through the labors and sufferings of all, 
 are looking forward to a glorious harvest." 
 
 Doubtless, all who have entered upon the mission- 
 ary work in Africa, in the right spirit, have done so in 
 the belief that the last command of our Lord and Sav- 
 
44 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 iour, " Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gos- 
 pel to every creature," is imperative, and to be literally 
 fulfilled. They could not, therefore, hesitate, and say, 
 (as so many do:) " There is little hope of ultimate suc- 
 cess in Africa; the work progresses too slowly, and 
 requires too much sacrifice." This, in their opinion, 
 would be criminal, as calling in question the wisdom, 
 power, nay, the very truth of the Almighty, who has 
 so emphatically declared that, " Ethiopia shall soon 
 stretch forth her hands unto God." 
 
 Those who have labored, and suffered, and died, in 
 the African Mission, have felt it to be a precious j)rivi- 
 lege to do all in their power to obey the last command 
 of their ascended Lord, calmly leaving consequences 
 in the hands of God. Their feelings have been well 
 described by one who has recently died in her native 
 land, far away from the missionary home she loved so 
 well. Before duty to her afflicted husband required 
 her to leave that home — when on a bed of sickness 
 herself, hovering between life and death — she thus 
 wrote : 
 
 "/may not reap, but others will; 
 For never shall that voice be still, 
 Whose loud command is echoed yet, 
 From Judea's favored Olivet. 
 
 " Go teach all lands : the Church has heard, 
 And will obey her Saviour's word : 
 Others will come when I am gone, 
 And Ethiope yet her God shall own," 
 
"None saith, "Where is God my Maker, who giveth songs hi the 
 night? who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh 
 us wiser than the fowls of heaven." — Job 35 : 10. 
 
 Befoke we proceed to describe the remarkable 
 work of grace winch began in the heathen towns 
 about this time, it may not be amiss to give a brief 
 account of the Orebo people, among whom the Mission 
 is more especially established. 
 
 Deriving their name from gre, a species of monkey 
 noted for its activity, this tribe boasts of being more 
 active, wiser, and more civilized than their brethren 
 of the interior, or the " bush people," as they some- 
 what contemptuously term them. Though rather su- 
 perior physically and mentally to many of the neigh- 
 boring tribes, and from contact with the colonists, 
 missionaries, and foreigners generally, more enlight- 
 ened than they, the mass of the Greboes still live as all 
 their people have lived from time immemorial. 
 
 With the exception of those who have embraced 
 Christianity, and removed to the Christian villages at 
 the mission stations, the Greboes — like all native Afri- 
 cans — still dwell in small circular huts. These huts 
 are built with conical roofs, varying from fifty to a 
 hundred feet in circumference, and from twelve to 
 twenty feet high. The lower part is made of upright 
 
46 DAY DAWN IN AFIIICA. 
 
 boards, about five feet high. Over these extend, sev- 
 eral feet, the peaked roof, made of bamboo, and cov- 
 ered with thatch. The floor is of earth, beaten hard 
 and smooth, in the centre of which a fire is commonly 
 kept burning. The low, narrow doorway answers the 
 triple purpose of door, chimney, and window. These 
 houses are furnished in the simplest style — with a few 
 chests, several low chairs or stools, mats, and a num- 
 ber of wash-basins, bowls, and earthenware hung 
 around the walls, as much for ornament as for use. 
 The mats are spread out on the floor at night for beds, 
 with pieces of wood for pillows. In the morning they 
 are packed away in frames over their heads. The 
 wood, which the women bring from the forests on 
 their heads, is also nicely arranged in the same man- 
 ner. In this particular, by the way, the women vie 
 with each other, the neat arrangement of the wood 
 being considered an indication of a good hai de, or 
 housekeeper. 
 
 They are, for the most part, an orderly people ; and 
 the women are cleanly in their persons and houses. 
 "When they have finished cooking, they carefully wash 
 their cooking utensils, and put them in their proper 
 places. All classes bathe daily ; and they frequently 
 anoint themselves with oil, to impart a fresh appear- 
 ance to their skins, and perhaps with the view of pro- 
 moting their health. 
 
 They all live in towns, and their houses are hud- 
 dled closely together, with so little regard to order, 
 that it is very difficult for a stranger to find his way 
 through them without a guide. They vary in size, 
 some containing not more than fifty or a hundred, and 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 47 
 
 others several hundred or a thousand houses. In the 
 centre of the town stands a large square, or oblong 
 house, in which the town gree-grees are kept, and pub- 
 lic measures and palavers are discussed. 
 
 The farms of the people are generally two or three 
 miles distant from the towns. The chief articles of 
 cultivation are rice and cassava root. Some of them, 
 in addition to their farms, have little patches of ground 
 inclosed nearer home, in which they cultivate plan- 
 tains, bananas, beans, and a few other vegetables. 
 
 Their food consists principally of rice and palm oil. 
 This is served up in large wooden bowls, and placed 
 on the ground or floor of the hut, where it is eaten 
 without the aid of knives, forks, or spoons. 
 
 From intercourse with the colony at Cape Palmas, 
 the principal natives have been led to adopt some ar- 
 ticles of European and American manufacture. Thus, 
 in the houses of the head men, we sometimes see a 
 rough bedstead and a table, chairs, knives, forks, and 
 spoons, which are used on extraordinary occasions. 
 They make also a greater display of crockery ware 
 than the poorer classes. Many have acquired a 
 smattering of the English language : this is particu- 
 larly the case with JTroomen, or sailors, who return 
 home laden with trade goods, which they have taken 
 in place of money for their wages, and bringing with 
 them ideas of civilization very much in advance of 
 their countrymen. 
 
 On reaching home, the Kroomen are received with 
 much eclat by their people. But the poor fellows do 
 not long retain their hard earnings ; for shortly after 
 reaching home, according to African custom, they 
 
48 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 must give a large portion to the head men of their 
 families, and divide the balance among their friends 
 generally. This practice of dividing, or, as they say, 
 " eating one another's money," is one of the greatest 
 checks to industry and enterprise among these people. 
 
 The young kroomen, however, enjoy a short triumph 
 when they first return from sea. We have seen six or 
 eight of them parading the towns, some dressed in 
 English costume, with black fur hats and feathers ; 
 others in cloths of brilliant colors, with straw hats, 
 from which streamed five or six yards of fancy rib- 
 bons. They carried in their hands Jew's-harps, and 
 other small and cheap musical instruments, with which 
 they charmed the admiring crowds, of all sizes and 
 ages, by whom they were followed. 
 
 The Greboes possess fine physical frames, and con- 
 siderable energy of character. Tall, erect, with finely 
 formed limbs, they are generally easy and graceful in 
 their carriage ; and their countenances are open and 
 smiling. Their features, though of the genuine negro 
 type, are comparatively regular ; and every shade of 
 complexion may be found, from the darkest to the 
 lightest shade of brown. 
 
 They are hospitable, affable, and easily approached 
 by foreigners. It would be regarded a great disgrace 
 to refuse to entertain any of their own people, who 
 may choose to visit them. It is a common practice in 
 the dancing season for the women to go to distant 
 towns, and spend weeks in this amusement. On these 
 occasions, great preparations are made for their recep- 
 tion. They go arrayed in their holiday dress, some- 
 times bearing green branches in their hands, and sing- 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 49 
 
 ing and dancing as they advance. They are treated 
 with the greatest hospitality while they remain, and 
 return home laden with presents. 
 
 Polygamy prevails among them, as in every other 
 part of Africa. No man, in their estimation, can be 
 " a proper gentleman," who has but one wife. And, 
 strange to sa} r , the women participate in this feeling : 
 they think it a degradation to belong to a man too 
 poor to purchase but one wife. The women are con- 
 sidered very valuable property, inasmuch as they do a 
 great part of the work on the rice-farms, in addition to 
 bringing all the wood and water, attending to house- 
 hold matters generally, and nursing their children. 
 
 As may be expected in such a peculiar state of so- 
 ciety, where the affection of the father is necessarily 
 divided among several families, the children cling 
 more closely to their mothers ; and there is nothing a 
 mother will not attempt in defense of her children. 
 Within our own knowledge, a Grrebo woman success- 
 fully contended with a leopard which had attacked 
 her infant child. Very little systematic control, how- 
 ever, is exercised by either parent ; and they are, for 
 the most part, utterly disobedient and reckless of pa- 
 rental authority. As they are taught in their earliest 
 infancy to steal and lie, and to indulge in other gross 
 vices, nothing better could be expected. One most 
 cruel punishment inflicted upon their children, when 
 they can no longer bear with them, is to rub red pep- 
 per in their eyes. 
 
 The wives are bought from their parents while they 
 are still children, and commonly carried home to be 
 trained up in the houses of their future husbands. 
 3 
 
50 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 They always place a string of beads on the necks of 
 the girls, as signs of their betrothment. "We remem- 
 ber on one occasion, being somewhat puzzled when we 
 asked an interesting little heathen girl, not over six 
 years old, if she would not like to come to our mis- 
 sion school, to hear her little companions cry out, 
 pointing to her neck : " She can't come ; see, she has 
 got a husband." 
 
 The price of a wife is generally two or three bul- 
 locks, a little cloth, etc., not exceeding in all twenty 
 dollars. The husband is always expected to provide a 
 separate house for each of his wives ; but even this 
 precaution can not prevent the quarrels and strife 
 which are continually occurring among the different 
 wives and children. The wives are never treated as 
 equals. They are not allowed to sit down to a meal 
 with their husbands ; but after they have prepared 
 their food, they are required in their presence to taste 
 it, to show that it has not been poisoned. This pro- 
 cess is called, "taking off the witch." 
 
 Though not much given to dress, they are exceed- 
 ingly fond of ornaments. Two or three yards of 
 cloth suffice for the body, but they must have a great 
 number of brass or ivory rings for the arms and 
 ankles — often with small bells attached — and as many 
 beads as they can crowd on their necks. With the 
 men, the greatest ambition in the way of dress is a 
 European hat. "We have often seen individuals, the 
 rest of whose clothes have not cost over fifty cents, 
 parading in a beaver worth three or four dollars. 
 They, too, wear on their wrists and ankles ivory rings, 
 on which, if they are kroomen, their names are carved, 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 51 
 
 or rather the titles given to them in jest by the cap- 
 tains with whom they have sailed : " Jack Africa," 
 " Trust Money," and " Bottle of Beer," are favorite 
 cognomens. 
 
 They are generally fond of intoxicating drinks, and 
 almost the first article they demand from vessels is 
 rum. They have no intoxicating drink of their 
 own, except the sap of the palm tree, which is ob- 
 tained by tapping the tree. When a few clays old, 
 palm wine tastes very much like hard cider ; but when 
 perfectly fresh, it has a faint sweet taste. It will not 
 intoxicate, unless taken in large quantities. The palm 
 tree is one of God's greatest blessings to the poor Af- 
 rican ; as from it they get food and drink, while the 
 oil obtained from its nuts is the chief medium of ex- 
 change between them and foreign nations. They carry 
 their palm oil to the trading vessels, and obtain in ex- 
 change European cloth and other commodities. They 
 also carry on a trade in cam-wood, which produces a 
 very fine red dye ; but as this tree does not grow on 
 the sea-coast, the Greboes have to obtain it from the 
 tribes in the interior ; and hence the importance of 
 christianizing this and other sea-coast tribes, that they 
 may influence for good those with whom they are 
 thus brought in contact. 
 
 The Greboes are divided into twelve separate fami- 
 lies, and these have been kept distinct for generations. 
 Each family has a head man, or patriarch, who is 
 generally the oldest male of his family. The princi- 
 pal property of all the members of the family is held 
 as a common stock, and can not be disposed of with- 
 out the consent of the head man. He is the repre- 
 
52 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 sentative of his family in all public discussions, and is 
 held responsible for the good behavior of its members. 
 
 "When one is wronged by an individual, he consid- 
 ers himself fully revenged if he can retaliate on any 
 member of the offender's family. A man belonging 
 to a family down the coast, was killed some time since 
 by a Nyarribo man, and one of his family came up, and 
 offered to enlist with the Cavalla people, who hap- 
 pened to be at war with the Nyamhoes ; as soon as he 
 had killed one man of the Nyambo family, he de- 
 serted and returned home, exulting in the thought 
 that he had freed his family from disgrace, and ap- 
 peased the ku or spirit of his murdered kinsman. 
 
 The Greboes, though most implacable enemies, are 
 characterized by cheerfulness, humor, and fondness for 
 fables. While working on their farms, it is not un 
 common for one to cheer the rest by the enliveuing 
 sounds of the horn, and by telling amusing fables. 
 They have also boat-songs similar to those sung by 
 the slaves in our Southern States. The helmsman 
 cries, Batio, (attend ye,) and the crew responding, Bate, 
 (we do attend,) he begins an impromptu song, in jDraise 
 of some one they are rowing, and the others join in a 
 chorus. 
 
 They are very close observers of persons and things, 
 and often give names indicative of character or man- 
 ner. We remember one poor fellow, whom they called 
 "Jeoboloah" or ship, because he staggered along in a 
 peculiarly awkward manner. To a missionary, who 
 had a very erect person, and walked with a measured 
 tread, they gave the name of " war man ;" and this 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 53 
 
 very individual, though they knew nothing of it, had 
 in his youth belonged to the army. 
 
 Almost every settlement of any importance has a 
 king ; but his power is very limited, and the govern- 
 ment is much more of a democracy than a monarchy. 
 The NyeHba.de, or old men, wield more power appar- 
 ently than the king. No enactment of his is enforced 
 until sanctioned by the voice of the people. The Bo- 
 did, or high priest who is anointed and set apart by 
 the people, generally presides in all their public assem- 
 blies. He is a prince as well as priest, and lives in an 
 anointed house — differing in appearance from the other 
 houses — provided by his people. To his care are in- 
 trusted the town gree-grees, or idols ; by him are offered 
 up the sacrifices ; and to his house, which in some 
 respects seems to correspond to the Jewish city of 
 refuge, criminals flee for protection, and from it no 
 one can be taken without his sanction. His people 
 are bound to provide him with the best of food : but, 
 on the other hand, he is subjected to many painful 
 restrictions ; one of the most foolish and inconvenient 
 is, that which prohibits the Bodid from tasting food in 
 the town while a dead body is lying there. He is not 
 allowed to become intoxicated on any occasion, or to 
 mourn the death of any of his family. 
 
 The office is hereditary, and the badge, an iron ring 
 worn on the ankle, is regarded with much veneration 
 by the people. It is a post of great clanger, from the 
 fact that his people expect him to insure them success 
 in all their undertakings ; and when misfortunes over- 
 take them, lie is regarded as the author, and frequent- 
 ly loses his life by the dreaded gMu ordeal. 
 
54 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 Another important class of the people is the Sedibo, 
 or soldiery, composed of the middle-aged men. They 
 are the strongest body in the town, and, though ex- 
 ceedingly rapacious themselves, often aid in securing 
 justice for foreigners. 
 
 The Deydbo, or demon-men, whom we shall describe 
 hereafter, exert, through their superstitious practices, 
 a -much more powerful influence over their people, 
 than any other class. 
 
 Since the above was written, we have met with the 
 following account of the Greboes, from the pen of 
 Bishop Payne ; and as it is fuller in some points than 
 the preceding one, we will add it in this connection : 
 
 " The Grebo tribe extends thirty miles along the 
 coast, from Cavalla to Fishtown river. 
 
 " The Greboes emigrated probably about one hun- 
 dred and fifty years ago, to the territory now occupied 
 by them, from the leeward coast. The point of their 
 debarkation was just below Grand Bereby. They 
 lived a short distance from the coast, and constituted 
 part of a tribe still living in that region, and known 
 as the ' Worebo.' A crowded population appears to 
 have led to the emigration. 
 
 " The name Grebo is composed of Gre and bo. The 
 latter designates a class, (for example, degu, a doctor ; 
 degu-bo, doctors.) The former, ' Gre,' is the name of 
 a species of monkey which leap with remarkable agil- 
 ity. In getting off from the shore at the time of emi- 
 gration, it appears that many canoes were capsized. 
 The Grebo word for capsize is wore, and hence those 
 who capsized and remained were called Worebo. Those 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 55 
 
 ■who were successful in embarking, leaping over the 
 waves like the ' Gre,' were styled Grebo. 
 
 " The Greboes, proceeding up the coast in their 
 canoes, landed at different points as they became tired, 
 and where they found water, formed small settlements. 
 The coast at that time appears to have been uninhab- 
 ited ; only at Cape Palmas, tradition relates that a 
 s:: rill settlement of whites was found. These were 
 probably Portuguese and slave-traders. The first settle- 
 ments of the Greboes in this region were not perma- 
 nent. They proceeded at different times up the coast, 
 until they readied Grand Sestres, where contact with 
 other tribes, and a partial accession from them, pro- 
 duced a modification of the language and of the tribe. 
 At length, directed by an oracle, the scattered settle- 
 ments of the Greboes retraced their steps to the lee- 
 ward. The great body proceeded at once, and settled 
 at Cape Palmas, although subsequently considerable 
 numbers followed, and became engrafted into the tribe. 
 From Cape Palmas, (Bulmle Lit,) Rocktown (Taake) 
 was colonized ; and subsequently, after considerable 
 intervals, Grahwah, (Blege,) and the river Cavalla 
 towns, ( Wattah and Koblah.) Again, from Rocktown 
 were colonized Middleton, (Lede,) Fishtown, {Wah,) 
 and Ilalf Cavalla, (Bwede.) The names here given are 
 those of the seven principal Grebo towns, having an 
 aggregate population of about twenty-five thousand. 
 
 " The constitution of the Grebo tribe is patriarchal, 
 although the government is almost purely democratic. 
 There are in it twelve families, as in the case of the 
 ancient people of God, deriving their names, probably, 
 from the emigrant patriarch or father. Their appella- 
 
56 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 tives are Nyambo, Grebo, etc. In nearly every one of 
 the Grebo settlements above enumerated, there are 
 parts of these families, having in each case their dis- 
 tinct head man or patriarch. This patriarch usually 
 occupies a particular portion of the town, with his 
 sons, grandsons, and relatives around him. The male 
 members of these deposit with the patriarch a portion 
 of the money which they accumulate, and the latter 
 in return pays the betrothment money (about twenty 
 dollars) for wives, as well as the fines and expenses, 
 from any source, to which they may be liable. 
 
 " Besides these duties to their relatives with whom 
 they are connected, the patriarchs collectively consti- 
 tute an upper court or senate in the body politic. To 
 this body belongs the right of originating plans for 
 promoting the public weal ; to them are referred ques- 
 tions involving international rights and relations in 
 the jDremises, and by them claims growing out of such 
 relations are met. Indeed, in all matters of grave in- 
 terest, whether domestic or foreign, the voice of the 
 patriarchs must be heard. 
 
 " But the most influential class in every Grebo com- 
 munity is the Sedibo. This is most emphatically the 
 1 house of representatives,' the popular house, for it is 
 composed of all males beyond the age of eighteen or 
 twenty, except the patriarchs. Usually, as soon as a 
 young man is married and has a house, he pays 
 into the treasuiy of the Sedibo a bullock, goat, half- 
 bushel of rice, and thenceforth, unless convicted of 
 witchcraft, is entitled to all the rights and privileges 
 of the Sedibo. These are by no means inconsiderable. 
 They combine the legislative and executive powers ; 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFIUCA. 57 
 
 for although the patriarchs may originate and advise, 
 the Sedibo, the people in lawful assembly, must discuss 
 and resolve, before any action can be had or law 
 passed ; and they meet and make laws at any time, 
 and in relation to almost any thing. They meet, and 
 decide that a man has stolen something, and for the 
 offense make him pay a fowl or all that he possesses, 
 according to their temper towards him. They deter- 
 mine that a certain man has been guilty of witchcraft, 
 and give him gidu, and kill him. The fines imposed 
 by this body are divided according to hereditary right. 
 Thus, for example, if a bullock is slain, one man, by 
 hereditary right, takes the shoulder, another the neck, 
 etc. These rights owe their origin to the same causes 
 as the titles in Europe. They were given to ancestors 
 for some services rendered, or by some powerful 
 prince, and have thence come down in lineal descent 
 to posterity. The same principle prevails in resj^ect 
 to offices, of which there are four principal ones in 
 every Grebo community. These are the Woraba, Bo- 
 dia, Ibadia, and Tibawa. The former two are taken 
 from the class of Nyekbade, (old men,) and the latter 
 from the Sedibo. 
 
 " The Wbraba (literally, town's father) is the oldest 
 or most influential patriarch, lineally descended from 
 the founder of the town. In the assembly of the pa- 
 triarchs, he takes precedence of all others, and has the 
 largest share of the perquisites of this body. 
 
 " The Bodia appertains to one family, but this is by 
 
 appointment of an ancient oracle. The Bodia, and in 
 
 fact the other two offices, of which I am to speak, 
 
 though belonging to particular families, are only con- 
 
 3* 
 
58 DAY DAWN IN AFEICA. 
 
 ferred upon those designated by some oracle, consulted 
 in reference to the appointment. The Bodices, more 
 than any thing else, resembles the office of high priest 
 among the Jews. The individual having been desig- 
 nated who is to fill the office, on the appointed day he 
 is installed, by a long ceremony, too tedious to de- 
 scribe. The leading features are the sacrifice of a 
 goat to Kwi, (demons and departed spirits,) the blood 
 of which is sprinkled around and inside the door-posts 
 of the Bodia] s house. The Bodia is shaven, clad in a 
 new garment, has a tiger's tooth around his head, (this 
 is a common ornament of gentlemen,) has a monkey's 
 skin prepared, to be placed always beneath him when 
 he sits, and he is anointed. The house in which he 
 lives is called, from this circumstance, Ta-kai, the 
 anointed house. During the ceremony, the patriarchs 
 of the several families in order give the Bodia elect 
 their respective charges : ' Let trade be active ; cause 
 the earth to bring forth abundantly; let health pre- 
 vail ; drive war far away ; let witchcraft be kept in 
 abeyance,' etc. 
 
 " Poor man ! he has a load put upon him, which it 
 is not wonderful can be borne only a short time. 
 During his continuance in office, he resides in the Ta- 
 kai, or house built by all the people. He keeps the 
 public gree-grees and idols, and feeds them with rice 
 and oil every new moon. In making sacrifices for the 
 town to departed friends and demons, he officiates as 
 high priest. He can not sleep in any other house in 
 the town but his own ; he may not drink water on the 
 highway ; he may not eat while a corpse is in town ; 
 he must not mourn for the dead ; if he dies while in 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 59 
 
 office, (the ring put on his ankle at his inauguration 
 having been previously taken off, and placed on that 
 of some member of his family,) he must be buried in 
 the stillness of the night, none but the most important 
 public functionaries hearing of it, and none mourning 
 for him when his death is made public. All Grebo 
 Bodias, too, must be buried on the island off Cape Pal- 
 mas, if they have died a natural death. If they have 
 been killed by gldu, (sassa-wood,) they must be buried 
 beneath a running stream of water. 
 
 " The nominal power of the Boclia is very great, as 
 he has a veto on all questions brought before the peo- 
 ple ; but in practice is very limited, for he dares not 
 act contrary to the popular will, which he is, therefore, 
 very careful to ascertain. In truth, of all offices, that 
 of the Bodia is most comfortless. This arises from the 
 superstitious notions and expectations connected with 
 the office. It has been before stated, that at his inau- 
 guration he is charged with matters which God alone 
 controls — with providence. It follows, that whenever 
 adversity of any kind befalls the country, the Bodia is 
 held responsible for it : ' He has made witch' — this is 
 the solution, and many a poor incumbent has paid the 
 penalty with his life. It is no wonder that this high- 
 est office in the people's gift is far from being desired, 
 and that in the most instances, when the oracle has de- 
 signated the individual, they have almost to ' take him 
 by force and make him king.' The two remaining 
 offices, Tibawa and Ibadia, appertain to the Sedibo, 
 and on a vacancy occurring, are filled in the same 
 manner as that of Bodia. These, too, are hereditary 
 in families. In the assembly of the S&dibo, their as- 
 
60 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 sent must be obtained to any measure before it can be 
 carried into effect ; though, as in the case of the Bo- 
 dice, this assent is rather the expression of the popular 
 will than the guide of it. The most important duties 
 of these offices devolve upon them in time of war. 
 Then the Ibadia must always lead ; and in case of re- 
 treat or defeat, the latter must always bring up the 
 rear, or cover the retreat. They are consequently 
 posts of the greatest danger. In reward for their 
 services, they have, by hereditary right, a large share 
 of all perquisites of the Sedibo. 
 
 " The third class into which every Grebo commun- 
 ity is divided, is the Kedibo. This is composed of 
 youths and boys between the ages of eighteen and 
 eleven to twelve. A small initiation fee admits any 
 one of initiable age to this class. They have a trea- 
 surer, a kind of head, usually selected from among the 
 elder Sedibo, to take care of their property. They 
 have meetings, at which they discuss subjects of which 
 they have the control, but are subject to the direction 
 of the Sedibo in all important matters. 
 
 " The Kimbo includes children from six to eleven 
 years of age. Theirs is a separate organization, al- 
 though their rights and privileges are of more limited 
 character. Their chief perquisites are those obtained 
 for their collective services in busy seasons. But it is 
 wonderful to witness the stormy debates of this little 
 society, as well as amusing to sec them punishing each 
 other for real or alleged offenses, by putting pepper in 
 their eyes, beating them, etc. 
 
 " There is a curious secret association or society to 
 be found in every Grebo community, styled Kwi-iru, 
 
DAT DAWN IN AFRICA. 61 
 
 or ' children of departed spirits.' Although it is at- 
 tempted to keep every thing connected with this asso- 
 ciation concealed, it is known to be composed of per- 
 sons of almost all ages in the community, except 
 children. They have a ' father,' as he is called, but 
 he is never visible or known, except to members of 
 the society. When, as is rarely the case, the l Kwi- 
 iru* appear in the day, the 'father' is always so 
 masked as to be perfectly disguised. The night, how- 
 ever, is the usual time for this strange association to 
 go abroad ; often at midnight, on the outskirts of the 
 town, or in the adjoining bush, a sudden, discordant 
 shrieking, whistling, yelling, hideous noise bursts forth, 
 as if scores of spirits had been let loose from the 
 lower world, and as if their object was to frighten 
 man from the earth. In a tumultuous body they run 
 around and through the town. Women and children 
 fly affrighted into their houses, and close them up, for 
 a heavy fine would be the penalty of their seeing and 
 being seen by the mysterious visitors. If in their 
 wild revellings they fancy to want any thing from 
 any one, they surround his house, and there remain, 
 }relling, dancing, screaming, and threatening, until 
 their demand is granted. 
 
 " The avowed object of the association is to seek 
 and to punish witches and wizards. These are said to 
 be particularly active in practising their arts at night. 
 They strip themselves naked, and go to the houses of 
 those whose lives they seek ; and especially is it their 
 delight to visit and dance on the graves of those 
 whom they have succeeded in killing by their en- 
 chantments. Wo, then, be to the, man or woman who 
 
62 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 is seen walking around or through the town in the 
 night! The Kwi-iru pounce upon them, carry them 
 to a house prepared for the purpose, put them in the 
 top of it, where they are smoked until next day about 
 ten o'clock, or the usual time for subjecting them to 
 the universal African test, gidu, or sassa wood. Early 
 in the morning, an official of the Kwi-iru is dispatched 
 to the forest, to get the bark of the gidu tree. This 
 arrived, the accused person is taken by the Kwi-iru to 
 the field, there, in the presence of the assembled town's 
 people, to be subjected to the test. The officer of the 
 body beats the bark in a mortar, pours water into it, 
 then turns it out in a wooden bowl, and calls for the 
 accused to come forward and drink. Holding the 
 bowl in his hand, he looks toward the east, and says 
 in substance : ' O God ! O God ! God ! I invoke 
 thee four times. If this person be innocent, cause 
 him to vomit this gidu, and escape ; if he be guilty, 
 may it kill him I' The accused takes the bowl, and 
 repeats the same words. Imnediately after doing thus, 
 he drinks, and starts to town, escorted by one or more 
 members of the Kwi-iru, and followed by the multi- 
 tude.* The former, after reaching town, keep near 
 the accused, and force him to walk incessantly, until 
 it is ascertained that the gidu does not affect him, or 
 he falls down suddenly dead, a victim to the poison. 
 As soon as this takes place, a fiendish shout rends the 
 
 * On one occasion, when one of our missionaries went to intercede 
 for a man who was condemned to drink gidu, he was taken asido by a 
 friendly native, and warned that it would be dangerous to interfere. 
 " In your country," said he, "they hang man up by the neck, s'pose he 
 do bad ; gidu be our country fash for witch, and all bad men." 
 
DAY DAWN" IN AFRICA. 63 
 
 air : ' The witch is found — lie is killed.' Tied by the 
 feet, the dead body is dragged out to the beach, where 
 it lies for some hours, exposed to the insults of the 
 populace. Before the relatives are permitted to bury 
 it, they must purchase it from the Kwi-iru, for a bul- 
 lock, or something equivalent. The Kwi-iru, as a 
 kind of police, are often employed by the Sedibo to 
 administer gidu in cases where persons are accused of 
 witchcraft, either by them or by the Deyabo. 
 
 " The last word, Deyabo, designates the most re- 
 markable class among the Oreboes. They are the life 
 and soul of their superstitions. They are commonly 
 called in English, demon-men. or devil-doctors. Neither 
 term, however, conveys a correct impression. They 
 suppose themselves possessed by a l huJ demon or 
 spirit, under whose inspiration they act, and give their 
 responses. They, in fact, do exhibit the peculiarities 
 mentioned in Scripture, as ' possessed.' They are 
 ' thrown down on the ground,' they ' gnash with their 
 teeth,' they appear dead, while they utter strange, un- 
 earthly sounds, they ' pine away.' Whenever any of 
 the above marks appear in an individual, he is said to 
 be ' possessed,' and is at once placed with an old l Deyaf 
 to be instructed in the arts and mysteries of the pro- 
 fession. The novitiate lasts from one to three years, 
 according to circumstances. He is not allowed to 
 wear other covering than some grass tied with a cord 
 around the loins. He does not wash ; has no connec- 
 tion with his wife or family; sleeps apart, sits apart, 
 etc. When the instructing deya is satisfied with his 
 proficiency, and the candidate's family get a bullock 
 ready to pay for his education, a day is appointed for 
 
64 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 inducting him into office. This is quite a long cere- 
 mony. The principal features only will be here given. 
 The test of the reality of his ' possession' is a very sin- 
 gular one. A fowl or duck is killed, and the head cut 
 off; some of the blood of this is put upon the candi- 
 date's eyes, and the head is then taken away, and 
 thrown into the bushes. The candidate is now sent 
 to find it. If he succeeds, his ' possession' is real ; if 
 not, he is deceived. The latter case, however, seldom 
 occurs, as good care is taken that the head shall be 
 found, and the candidate is escorted by his relatives 
 (usually on the back of one of them) to the place of 
 ceremony. There he is divested of his filthy hair and 
 habiliments ; is clothed in the usual dress of his class, 
 furnished with a stock of gree-grees and charms, and 
 taken home by his relatives. 
 
 " Established at home, he is a most wonderful cha- 
 racter. Under the inspiration of his demon, there is 
 nothing he will not accomplish, nothing he can not 
 find out. Distance is annihilated, hundreds of hearts 
 are known and revealed. Hidden acts of witchcraft 
 are brought to light. The potent spells of the deya 
 control winds, rain, pestilence, health, wealth, life, and 
 death. But it is especially in reference to witchcraft 
 that the powers of the deyabo are invoked and exer- 
 cised. This is the great evil of the country — the one 
 most practised, the most feared. To guard against 
 this, the deyabo make charms for the persons of indi- 
 viduals, for their houses, for the town, for the country. 
 By consulting their demons, they are supposed to be 
 able at once to designate the witch or wizard in any 
 particular case ; and the word of a deya is taken ordi- 
 
DAY DAWN IN" AFRICA. 65 
 
 narily as sufficient proof that the party accused is 
 guilty, or, rather, sufficient ground for subjecting him 
 to trial by gidu. This fact, in connection with the 
 popular belief that death in all cases — except those of 
 infants and very aged persons — is caused by witch- 
 craft, causes a general fear throughout the town when 
 any one dies ; for any one in town is liable to be ar- 
 rested at any moment, and subjected to the dread 
 ordeal of gidu, upon the mere ipse dixit of a Deya. 
 
 " When the Deya has consulted his demon and pre- 
 pared his charms, it is common with him to say : 
 ' Now, nyena ba wenh, (if God wills,) this will accom- 
 plish the good you seek, but not otherwise.' Indeed, 
 the intelligent Greboes contend that the whole system 
 of the Deyabo is by appointment of God. The Deya is 
 their means of access to God ; the Deya, speaking by 
 his demon, conveys the voice of God. 
 
 " Such is the most intelligent view of the system of 
 the Greboes' superstition. But it contains within it- 
 self the elements of its own destruction : for the Gre- 
 boes believe that God is holy and true ; but the Deya- 
 bo, they know by experience, are all vicious, and all 
 speak lies. It is not wonderful, therefore, that in the 
 light of the Gospel, the system is losing its hold, and 
 the Deyabo their influence upon the people. 
 
 " The moral character of the Greboes is substantially 
 that given in the first chapter of Eomans — that of 
 man every where, left to himself. But it is surprising, 
 in their case, to see how much that is outwardly good 
 and pleasant can coexist with the inwardly corrupt, 
 and, indeed, how the latter contributes to the mani- 
 festation of the former. It has been stated that witch- 
 
66 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 craft (by winch, is meant the accomplishing of any ob- 
 ject by magical preparations) is generally practised. 
 The people are also, of course, all revengeful, and 
 witchcraft affords the means of revenging themselves ; 
 and as all are conscious of evil, all fear evil ; and this 
 fear is the chief cause of the great courtesy which 
 really characterizes the Greboes in their intercourse 
 with each other. 
 
 " The 'physical character of the Greboes is not infe- 
 rior to that of any tribe on the west coast of Africa. 
 This may be readily inferred from the fact that they 
 are eagerly sought by vessels of war, as well as by 
 traders. The class known on the coast as Kroomen, 
 (Croomen, or Crewmen,) are, in fact, a large portion 
 of them, Cape Palmas or Grebo people. A great 
 many of them are to be found in Sierra Leone, and, 
 indeed, in many of the foreign settlements from Sierra 
 Leone to the Gaboon river. 
 
 " Their intellectual character corresponds with the 
 physical. In our schools, the children learn rapidly. 
 In the meetings and councils of the Sedibo and peo- 
 ple, which I have attended, I have been struck with 
 the order, decorum, and mental acumen displayed. 
 In grave assemblies, each man has his place and his 
 time to speak ; when this arrives, he stands up, usu- 
 ally holds a long staff in his hand, and asks attention 
 by saying, 'Bateo,' (attend all;) the assembly responds, 
 1 Bate,' (we attend;) after he has finished, the next in 
 order takes the staff, and proceeds in like manner. 
 And in examining evidence, they are most thorough ; 
 and keen, indeed, must be the foreign casuist who can 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 67 
 
 get the advantage of them on matters coming within 
 the range of their knowledge and experience 
 
 "The geographical position of the Greboes, in con- 
 nection with their physical and intellectual character, 
 affords ground to hope that they are destined to be 
 instruments of extreme good amongst the numerous 
 tribes in their vicinity. They are situated at the 
 mouth of the Cavalla river, navigable for canoes and 
 boats about seventy miles, and having on its banks 
 some twelve tribes. With these tribes the Greboes 
 have daily intercourse, and they speak dialects so 
 nearly alike, that they are readily understood by each 
 other. It is probable, too, that books published in 
 Grebo will be understood by all these tribes. Hence 
 it follows, that to christianize the Greboes will be at 
 once to diffuse its blessings throughout these tribes." 
 
 The Grebo tongue has been reduced to writing by 
 Bishop Payne, and part of the Old and much of the 
 New Testament translated into it, beside liturgies, cate- 
 chisms, and other small books. 
 
€(raptu fifth 
 
 "A lakd of darkness, as darkness itself." — Job 10 : 22. 
 
 Those who have always lived in the cheering light 
 of the Gospel, can have but a faint idea of the gross 
 spiritual darkness which envelopes the heathen. 
 
 The Greboes have, it is true, a vague idea of a one 
 Supreme Being, whom they call Nyesoa, and who, as 
 they believe, is the creator of all things, but they offer 
 him no sacrifices, and pay him no homage ; on the 
 contrary, they are continually making propitiatory 
 offerings to inferior spirits. They have no idea what- 
 ever of future punishments, or their need of a Saviour, 
 and yet their minds are held in life-long bondage, 
 through fear of evil spirits, who, they imagine, are 
 ever surrounding them with hurtful designs. 
 
 Almost every heathen family believes they have a 
 presiding genius, or ku, to whom they are bound to 
 pay especial honor, and this spirit they dread exceed- 
 ingly to offend. This kit is not unfrequently one of 
 their deceased ancestors. In addition to these family 
 spirits, which seem in some degree to accord with the 
 household gods of the ancients ; the Greboes worship 
 public spirits, who are not supposed ever to have in- 
 habited human bodies. These they locate in retired 
 groves, caves, or picturesque rocks on the borders of 
 the ocean. Bidl Nyima, who is said to dwell in the 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 69 
 
 cavity of a large rock, called Grand Devil place, is one 
 of the most celebrated. One of the missionaries, who 
 has recently visited the place, thus describes it : 
 
 " We reached Hidie, the place of our destination, 
 about eleven o'clock. This is about eleven miles dis- 
 tant from our Cavalla station. There are three villages 
 in the settlement, one being very small. It is nearest 
 the smallest one, up a stream, that the ' Grand Devil ' 
 has his seat. Like the temple of Mecca, it has its 
 devotees, going on long pilgrimages, to see for once in 
 their lives this wonderful place. The Grand Devil, 
 who, as the natives say, 'passes all other devils,' is wont 
 to perform his ' lying wonders ' behind, or in the hol- 
 low of a rock ; of course no white man would be 
 allowed to go too near it, as the poor dupes are not. 
 I did not even ask for the privilege. This wonderful 
 'invisible one ' is said to work all kinds of cures, tell 
 fortunes, solve hard and knotty questions, and so may 
 be said to have, in the native sense, all knowledge and 
 all power. 
 
 " The truth is, a demon doctor, {deyd,) who has skill 
 and tact for his business, secretes himself behind the 
 rock, he perhaps first learning through some accom- 
 plice, all about the pilgrim — his name, his family, his 
 character, and the object of his visit. This has been 
 learned privately from the stranger without his hardly 
 being aware of it. He, on the day appointed, takes 
 his stand as directed, near enough the mysterious rock 
 to communicate with its still more mysterious inhabit- 
 ant. With amazement he listens to a voice that seems 
 to come, as it were, from a sepulchre, and tells him 
 almost all that he ever did. The spirit has told him 
 
70 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 what he wished to know, and he receives an answer 
 of peace, at least such an one as he hoped to receive. 
 The dupe pays an enormous fee to some assistant, and 
 goes away and 'speaks the wonders all abroad.' 
 Hundreds, no doubt, annually come far and near, thus 
 to be deceived and fleeced." 
 
 The Greboes, like other Africans, live in perpetual 
 fear of witchcraft. The origin of witchcraft is de- 
 scribed by the old men as follows : " There was once 
 a time when God walked with man, and man talked 
 with him as with a friend, and then there was no sick- 
 ness, or sorrow, or death. But one day, a woman went 
 into the bush to get some herbs to season her husband's 
 food with ; and while there, a snake showed her leaves, 
 which contained a deadly fruit, called we* or witch- 
 craft. The woman took of the leaves, brought them 
 to her husband, and he ate x of them, and died. The 
 woman, before she died, imparted the secret to others, 
 and many began to die, till at length death prevailed 
 over the land, and now all must die." 
 
 They believe that almost every death is caused by 
 witchcraft, and that none die a natural death, except, 
 perhaps, some very old persons and a few young child- 
 ren. "When a friend dies, therefore, anger and revenge 
 absorb their minds even more than grief. Their first 
 business is to find tbe murderer, and for this purpose 
 a cleyd, or demon-man is consulted ; he generally points 
 out as the criminal some one who has borne ill-will to 
 the deceased ; and not unfrequently takes this oppor- 
 tunity to revenge himself against some enemy of his 
 own. 
 
 * See Appendix. 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 71 
 
 The person pointed out by the deyd as a witch, un- 
 less he flees for his life, is compelled to go through the 
 deadly ordeal of gldu, or sassa wood. This consists 
 in drinking a decoction of the gldu tree, a very poison- 
 ous narcotic. Before drinking the poison, the victim 
 calls upon God three times to attest his innocence. If 
 death is the consequence, the guilt of the individual is 
 established ; and the most shocking and cruel indigni- 
 ties are heaped upon him in his dying hours. Even 
 the little children are encouraged to drag and stone the 
 wretched victim until life is extinct. The dead body 
 lies exposed on the ground until the sun goes down, 
 and then it is hurried away to the burying-ground for 
 criminals, and hastily interred ; and for him alone the 
 voice of weeping and lamentation is not heard. Even 
 his immediate family are not allowed to show signs of 
 grief. In a painful case, which came under our own 
 observation, where the victim was a person of superior 
 rank — being a Bodid, or high priest — the body lay, 
 during the whole day, exposed on the beach, and was 
 dragged away about sunset, and buried alone in a 
 marsh. This is said to be the common fete of all the 
 Bodids, who perish by the ordeal of g'idu. 
 
 All persons who escape death by this ordeal have a 
 public triumph. If they be women, they dress them- 
 selves in their finest holiday attire, paint their faces, 
 hang bells around their persons, and promenade 
 through the town, accompanied by a troop of their 
 own people. Sometimes a man walks by the side of 
 the woman, and holds over her an umbrella — the only 
 time in her life she is thus honored ; for on all other 
 occasions she is required by custom to walk behind 
 
72 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 her husband. As she dances triumphantly along, tink- 
 ling her bells, she joins the company in an impromptu 
 song, setting forth her praises. The men, who escape, 
 make a similar demonstration. 
 
 The sassa-wood victim is sometimes pointed out in a 
 singular manner. An instance of this kind occurred 
 near one of our mission stations. A man died sud- 
 denly on the road, and as the bearers were bringing 
 the corpse to town, it struck against the house of his 
 brother. This was an indication that this brother had 
 caused the death by witchcraft. The terrified inmate, 
 knowing well that he would soon be compelled to drink 
 the deadly sassa-wood for a crime of which he was 
 entirely innocent, fled to the mission-house for protec- 
 tion . In a very little time the sedibo, or soldiery, were 
 in eager pursuit, and fiercely demanded that he should 
 be given up to them. The missionary refusing to do 
 so, they left the house, after making a great noise. In 
 a short time they returned, bringing the corpse along with 
 them, and firing guns as they approached. "When they 
 got opposite the gateway, they pretended that the 
 corpse would not pass the mission-house — so it was 
 carried into the yard, and shaken violently about, to 
 convey the impression that it was in pursuit of its sup- 
 posed murderer. Eunning rapidly around the house, 
 it struck against one of the pillars of the porch, and it 
 was now settled to a certainty that the unfortunate 
 refugee within was the criminal. 
 
 On this occasion, however, the victim was spared, at 
 least for the time, the deadly ordeal, through the inter- 
 cession of the missionaries. We say for the time, be- 
 cause it not unfrequently happens that persons thus 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 73 
 
 rescued, have afterwards voluntarily subjected them- 
 selves to the ordeal, because they could uot endure the 
 public odium which always attends a suspected witch. 
 
 The deydbo, demon-doctors, or fetish men, as they 
 are variously called, have unbounded influence over 
 their people ; and it will be in vain to expect any great 
 advance in civilization among the Greboes, while these 
 men retain their power ; but it has been very much 
 shaken lately. 
 
 The deydbo make their living by the manufacture of 
 idols, or gree-grees, giving remedies for the sick, and 
 pointing out witches and other criminals. These gree- 
 grees, or charms, as they may more properly be called, 
 are of various descriptions. Some of them are simply 
 deer or sheep horns strung together ; others consist of 
 small bags filled with earth and vegetable matter, or 
 bits of wood strung together, and worn round the 
 neck as charms to protect against sickness, witches, 
 and death. Many, of a larger size, are hung up in 
 their houses, in their rice-fields, and on the beach, to 
 insure them success in all their worldly undertakings. 
 
 Many of their superstitions are extremely ludicrous 
 — none more so, perhaps, than their attempt to frighten 
 away thunder-storms, by firing guns and beating drums. 
 
 An amusing incident, illustrating their superstitious 
 dread of sickness, is described in the journal of Rev. 
 George W. Home : 
 
 "Sept. 15th. — This morning several natives came into 
 the apartment in which we were sitting at breakfast, 
 and noisily demanded permission to cut down a palm- 
 tree upon the mission-ground. I understood them to 
 say that their god had directed them to cut it down. 
 
 4 
 
71- DAY DAWN IN AFKICA. 
 
 At the time, however, I refused to receive them or 
 talk with them, and told them I was at breakfast, and 
 they must go down and wait. After some minutes I 
 went to them, and found that they had fallen on poor 
 Musu, reproaching him with disregarding his country, 
 because he had remonstrated against their proceedings. 
 One man had proposed to take an axe and fell the tree 
 at once, and Musu told him to do it, but warned him 
 that all the trouble that might grow out of such an act 
 would fall upon him. They replied, when I demanded 
 of them what was wanted, that they intended to cut 
 down the palm tree and jungles generally, to prepare 
 the rice-farms and make palm- wine ; and that, on con- 
 sulting a demon-man, he had told them to do so, but 
 to cut down the palm tree on the mission-ground first of 
 all, or there tvould be sickness among them. God, there- 
 fore, they said, had sent them to take that tree. 
 
 " 'Yery well,' I replied, 'as soon as you satisfy me 
 that God has said, " Cut down that tree," I will con- 
 sent to it.' 
 
 " This was an unexpected answer, evidently, and 
 perplexed them; at length one of them said that a 
 man in the town had told them that God said so. 
 'What man?' I asked. They seemed unwilling to 
 give any answer. ' Who is he ?' I again asked. ' The 
 king,' they at length replied. 'What is his name?' 
 'Bodia, and Tom Cavalla,' they finally stated. These 
 are the two principal men in the town, and appear 
 really friendly to the missionaries. I do not believe 
 they sent to make any such demand, unless, perhaps, 
 urged by their people, they might have said, ' Go, ask 
 Mr. Home.' I took the party, however, at their word, 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 75 
 
 and said, ' Tell the Bodia and Tom Cavalla to come ; 
 I will talk to them about this matter;' but they came 
 not, and the tree yet stands." 
 
 They always secrete their sick, to keep them out of 
 the way of the witch who has caused the sickness. In 
 his last hours, the poor, harassed invalid is moved 
 from house to house, not unfrequently from town to 
 town, to avoid this imaginary foe. Sometimes instead 
 of concealing them, a class of men, called "Kwi" or 
 devils, go around the town warning people not to witch 
 their side. A curious illustration of this practice is 
 described in the journal of Eev. C. C olden Hoffman : 
 
 " Oct. 10th, 1852. — Went this afternoon to Nyaro to 
 preach. While waiting for the people to assemble, a 
 man came running into town, uttering some wild 
 exclamations. At once every door was closed, and 
 not a woman was to be seen. Soon a noise of voices 
 and tramping of feet were heard in the direction of the 
 town-gate, and a party of about fifty men approached, 
 making, as they quickly walked, yells and fiend-like 
 sounds, brandishing at the same time their cutlasses in 
 the air ; and after going around the town, they came 
 to the house of the head man, and seated themselves in 
 front of his door : after they had arranged themselves, 
 the herald who first announced their approach, ran 
 about the town giving notice that the doors of the 
 houses could be opened, and then appeared, one after 
 another, the women of the head man's family, and of 
 another family, his neighbors, and seated themselves 
 near the house, in all about twelve. The herald then 
 approached, and flourishing his cutlass, ivarned the wo- 
 men against witching the sick child of the Jiead man. 
 
76 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 After this they were allowed to go to their houses — 
 all doors were again closed, and the men rising left the 
 town in the same way as they entered it, with fierce 
 cries and yells. 
 
 "These men are called the l Kwi^ or ' Devils' — a class 
 among the people composed of youths from twenty to 
 men of fifty years. They had been called by the head 
 man to prevent witchcraft being exercised against his 
 child who was ill. No woman is allowed to see them 
 under penalty of a heavy fine ; when they come, there- 
 fore, every door is shut. After they left, I went to 
 our little chapel and j)reached on the death of Laza- 
 rus." 
 
 They believe in the transmigration of souls; and 
 think the spirits of their deceased ancestors often reap- 
 pear in the bodies of new-born infants, and sometimes 
 in monkeys. Hence the numerous monkeys which fre- 
 quent the burial-groves, can play with impunity ; for 
 there alone they are perfectly safe, as it is regarded a 
 great crime to shoot one among the graves. The dead 
 are supposed to have great power over their surviving 
 friends, and they are continually trying to propitiate 
 them, by offering them food, and also by kindling fires 
 near the graves of their most illustrious ancestors. 
 
 In solemn assemblies, the dead are sometimes 
 invoked as witnesses to some important public transac- 
 tion, the speaker, on such occasions, turning his face 
 toward the burial-grove. Before the body is interred, 
 surviving friends often give messages to it, to be con- 
 veyed to friends in the spirit world, which are, for the 
 most part, requests for success in their worldly under- 
 takings. On one occasion, while a missionary was 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 7i 
 
 preaching " Jesus and the resurrection " to a crowd of 
 people assembled around a dead body, (laid out in state 
 for the public view,) we observed a woman stoop down 
 and whisper, with apparent pleasure, into the ear of 
 the deceased. Upon asking a bystander what she 
 said, we were told that she was telling the corpse that 
 " a white man had come there to speak his praises." 
 
 The kings, warriors, and head men are generally 
 buried apart from the mass of the people, and have 
 houses erected over them, and tables set out, covered 
 with crockery ware, etc ; . . . no one daring to 
 touch a morsel of the food thus exposed. From the 
 roofs of the houses numerous flags float in the air, and 
 seats are placed in front for the accommodation of the 
 spirit. The sacred groves where the people bury their 
 dead are sometimes very beautiful ; but it must ever 
 sadden a Christian heart to see around the canoe-cov- 
 ered graves propitiatory offerings of furniture and food 
 to spirits, whose eternal destinies have long since been 
 fixed by an immutable God. 
 
 The following description, from the journal of Rev. 
 H. R. Scott, will give a clear idea of the horrors of a 
 heathen funeral : 
 
 "Dec. 13th. — Wia, the king of the Cavalla towns, 
 died to-day. He was a man of great weight of cha- 
 racter, a friend to our Mission, and an advocate for 
 peace. He believed the Gospel to be true, but said it 
 was too late for him to attend to it. Great preparation 
 is being made for his funeral, which will take place 
 day after to-morrow. Went to his house this after- 
 noon, where I witnessed a scene which can better be 
 imagined than described. As is the custom on such 
 
78 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 occasions, the -women related to the deceased were 
 collected around his body, in front of his house, where 
 he lay under a canopy — to the number of forty or 
 fifty — rolling in the sand, and making the air resound 
 with such lamentations as I have read of, but never 
 before heard. Some doubtless felt what they expressed, 
 but with the majority it was the expression, with very 
 little, if any, feeling of grief. 
 
 "Dec. 15th. — A great number have come to-day 
 from various directions to attend the funeral. Guns 
 are being continually fired, and a drum beat. 
 
 "Dec. 16th. — The body of the deceased king was 
 taken this morning to an open plain in the vicinity of 
 the town, where an arbor was erected over it, and a 
 table placed near it, on which was his hat, two um- 
 brellas, a stool, a bottle, and a few other articles from 
 his possession. Then the regular exercises commenced, 
 by some one or two hundred of the men, in full war- 
 dress, performing around the body military evolutions 
 peculiar to the heathen, and keeping up a constant fir- 
 ing over and upon the body, dancing and hallooing, 
 and making addresses to the deceased — all seeming to 
 be striving to drive away every thing like serious 
 reflection. These warriors were smeared all over with 
 a species of black paint, and had a great number of 
 skins of wild animals hanging around their waists, 
 and a frightful head-dress, made of feathers, skins, 
 deer-horns, etc. Altogether, they presented such an 
 appearance as we might imagine to belong to fiends, 
 rather than to human beings. 
 
 "Besides these there were collected perhaps a thou- 
 sand people, of all ages and sexes — all, with few 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 79 
 
 exceptions, manifesting the greatest delight at the 
 exhibition. About twelve o'clock, the native schools 
 from Rocktown, Mount Vaughan, and Cavalla — being 
 all at this place to attend a school celebration — marched 
 down in procession, with their banners, when Bishop 
 Payne delivered an appropriate address to the large 
 audience assembled. After this, they continued firing 
 and playing around the body, having mock battles, for 
 about two hours. They then sent word to the Bishop 
 that they were about to inter the bod}'-, and requested 
 that he would come and address them again. Being 
 engaged in the examination of the schools, he sent the 
 messenger to me, and I went down and gave them a 
 short address. After which, a brother of the deceased 
 made him an address, in which he alluded to the diffi- 
 culties which had occurred between them, and said 
 they were all settled now ; then concluded by pouring 
 water on two or three sticks of wood, which were 
 burning at the end, and throwing them away. The 
 body was then conveyed to the grave,* and hastily 
 interred, with a quantity of rice, palm-oil, beef,f and 
 rum for the use of the spirit on his visits to the grave. 
 From this dark scene I returned to my home, feeling 
 lliat there is nothing better calculated, than a heathen 
 funeral, to lead the Christian to realize and cherish the 
 blessings of the Gospel." 
 This people are very averse to hearing about death ; 
 
 * They do not always dig grave'. Some of the native Africans 
 merely lay the bodies of their dead on the ground, and cover them with 
 canoes. If they do dig graves, they aro but a few inches in doplh. 
 
 f While the funeral ceremonies aro progressing, a bullock is killed, 
 find every man may cut off a slico for himself. 
 
80 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 and much of the horrible conduct at funerals doubtless 
 arises from a feeling of utter recklessness. Death, 
 their great enemy, has conquered them, and the sur- 
 vivors are determined to brave it out. We have been 
 told that they sometimes beat on the drum the Grrebo 
 words, signifying, u We don't care, we don't care ;" and 
 generally many of the attendants are greatly intoxi- 
 cated ; while it is the evident aim of all to drive away 
 serious thought, and to set death at defiance. 
 
 Truly it maybe said of this people, that they "walk 
 in a vain shadow, and disquiet themselves in vain." 
 " They die and lie in the grave like sheep." 
 
 " May we, Lord ! with patient hand 
 Thy blessed precepts spread, 
 And strew o'er Af'ric's torrid strand 
 The Gospel's living bread ; 
 
 " Till from the watch-tower on her shore 
 Shall heavenly radiance stream. 
 And e'en her utmost deserts pour 
 Fresh incense at its beam ; 
 
 " Until her long-benighted lands 
 The Christian's anthems raise, 
 And Nile and Niger's wandering bauds 
 Unite in hallowed praise. 
 
 " And may we 'mid these mission -toils 
 Still hear thy teaching voice, 
 And like Judea's villagers 
 Behold thee, and rejoice."* 
 
 * Mrs. Sigourney. 
 
" The people that walk in darkness have seen a great light : they 
 that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light 
 shined." — Isa. 9 : 2. 
 
 About the close of the year 1853, the hearts of the 
 missionaries were cheered by the beginning of a work 
 of grace in the heathen towns. 
 
 One of the first individuals, who gave evidence of 
 being under the influence of the Spirit of God, was an 
 old man named Hyano, who had been for many years 
 a cleyd, or demon-doctor, but had been led, through 
 the influence of the Bishop, to renounce his profession 
 several years prior. Though, at that time, intellect- 
 ually convinced of the truth of the Gospel, he showed 
 no desire to embrace it until this period. He possessed 
 a mind of more than ordinary sprightliness, and his 
 convictions of sin were unusually vivid, as will be seen 
 by his conversations, described in the journal of Mr. 
 Scott : 
 
 " Oct. 9th. — Had an interesting conversation with 
 Hyano {alias Freeman) to-day. He has been under 
 conviction of sin for two or three years, and during the 
 last two months, has seemed to have a deeper sense of 
 his sins, and now expresses a desire to be baptized into 
 Christ's Church. He says he spends a great deal of 
 time in prayer, and is often so troubled in his mind at 
 4 ;: 
 
82 DAY DAWN IN" AFEICA. 
 
 night, that he gets up and remains awake the greater 
 part of the night. He gives evidence of his sincerit} 7 , 
 by being unwilling to remain in his town, from fear 
 that he may be led astray by his people, and expresses 
 a desire to become acquainted with Scripture truths, 
 and often exhorts his people to abandon their heathen 
 customs, and put their trust in the Saviour. Besides, 
 he gives frequent instruction to two young men in his 
 town, who have been for several months under con- 
 viction of sin." 
 
 " Oct. 11th. — Went to Nyaro this afternoon, and had 
 a very interesting, and, I hope, profitable conversa- 
 tion with Hyano, who seems to be growing in grace. 
 I have rarely seen in an inquirer the same eagerness 
 to know the truth. He visits me almost daily, and 
 asks a great many questions, and often requests me to 
 repeat something related to him some time previously. 
 Upon my asking him, some days after I related to him 
 the history of Abraham, two or three times, at his re- 
 quest, if he did not know it, he replied : ' Me know 
 nearly all of it, but me donH want to lose a word? 
 
 " It is his practice to relate every thing he learns to 
 his people. A few mornings since, he came to my 
 room with another native, (who is also apparently un- 
 der conviction,) and told me that the people in town 
 wouldn't believe his statements, and that he had 
 brought this man to witness what he heard, so that he 
 might prove every thing related to him." 
 
 " Nov. 8th. — This morning I had a very satisfactory 
 conversation with Hyano. For nearly a week past his 
 wife has been gone, without his seeing any thing of 
 her, and his trouble seems to have been greatly blessed 
 
DAY DAWN EN AFRICA. 83 
 
 to him. He assured me that he had not murmured, 
 but had felt persuaded that the trial came from God, 
 and was sent for his good, and that he was, to use his 
 own words, ' happy all the time.' He also gave me a 
 clear account of his religious experience; he says: 
 • The word of God first lived in my head, but now it 
 live in my heart. 1 He also says that he looks to Christ 
 for salvation, and if it is God's will, he is ready to die 
 to-day. Upon my asking him what he thought of the 
 views of two native men, who are in the habit of 
 coming to my room for religious instruction, he re- 
 plied, that he thought the word only lived in the head 
 of one of them, that it had not yet reached his heart ; 
 and said : ' This man tell me God's word come into his 
 head, but he no hold it there long.' 
 
 " He says he encouraged the man to go forward by 
 telling him that it would after a while get into his 
 heart, illustrating it by a seed, which does not spring 
 up as soon as it is planted, and become a tree, but 
 comes by degrees : at first there is a little sprout, and 
 after a while it becomes a plant, and so on. In regard 
 to the other individual, he says he thinks the word is 
 now beginning to live in his heart, and that ' he, Tiba, 
 a all other men in town for hear God palaver, 
 lie come look my house all times for me teach him.' " 
 
 " Nov. 23d. — Had a visit from Hyano this afternoon. 
 He continues to give good evidence of having passed 
 from death unto life. The great desire of his heart 
 now seems to be to bring his wife to the same blessed 
 hope with himself. He is continually striving to 
 awaken her; and brought her to us this afternoon, and 
 
84 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 says he wishes to bring her every day that she may be 
 taught." 
 
 " Dec. 6th. — Was visited to-day by Tiba, the friend 
 of Hyano, who has been for the last two or three 
 months under conviction. He has recently given good 
 evidence of being under the teachings of the Spirit, 
 and would now be willing to make an open profes- 
 sion of his faith in Christ, but for one difficulty — he 
 is not yet ready to give up one of his wives. He 
 says, if she will leave him of her own accord, he is 
 willing to let her go, but he can't bear the idea of 
 compelling her to leave his house. This is one of the 
 greatest obstacles to the progress of the Gospel among 
 this people. But the Spirit can enable them to make 
 the sacrifice, and we have reason to hope that such will 
 soon be the experience of this interesting inquirer." 
 
 "Dec. 7 th. — Hyano informed me to-day of the treat- 
 ment he received, last evening, from his people, which 
 looks very much like persecution on account of his re- 
 ligion. They compelled him to pay quite a large fine 
 on account of his wife's gathering palm-nuts from a 
 part of the forest which they say is forbidden ground ; 
 though he had never heard before that it was forbid- 
 den, and another woman accompanied his wife to the 
 same place for nuts, and he heard nothing of her fa- 
 mily being required to pay. He, in a truly Christian 
 spirit, quietly paid the fine, without any manifestation 
 of indignation ; and when asked why he did not de- 
 fend himself, while the people were discussing the mat- 
 ter, he replied, that it was not his, but God's palaver. 
 After he was fined, upon some one's asking where he 
 would get money to buy provisions — it taking all he 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 85 
 
 had to pay the fine — he said he would pray to God, 
 and He would give him what he needed. 
 
 " Never have I seen more simple and childlike faith 
 in the promises of God, than is constantly manifested 
 by this old man." 
 
 Gidawudi, who belonged to the same town with 
 Flyano, also became a candidate for baptism about this 
 time. He had been interested more or less in religion 
 for two years, and came regularly to the mission-house 
 on Saturday evening for instruction. After the Bishop 
 had taught him to read, he conducted a night school 
 in his own town, without any charge for his services. 
 The quiet energy and perseverance, which character- 
 ized this interesting young man, encouraged the mis- 
 sionaries to hope that he might become a blessing to 
 his people. 
 
 On December 11th, in the native chapel of the 
 largest Cavalla town, in the presence of a very large 
 assembly of their own people, the aged Hyano and the 
 youthful Gidawudi received baptism from the hands of 
 the Bishop. The former was baptized Thomas Free- 
 man, a name which had been given him when, in 
 former years, he served as a krooman ; and the latter 
 received the name of William Meade, in honor of the 
 venerable Bishop of the Diocese of Virginia. 
 
 Others at this time seemed to be much awakened, 
 and eagerly sought instruction from the missionaries. 
 An instance of this character is thus described by Mr. 
 Scott : 
 
 " Oct. loth. — Had a visit this afternoon from a 
 young man by the name of Ddba, who seems to be 
 troubled about his sins. He has been for some tune 
 
86 DAY DAWN IN AFEICA. 
 
 past learning to read, and expresses a great desire to 
 be able to read the Bible. He seems to be conscious 
 of his inability to lead a holy life without divine aid, 
 and professes to have a great dread of the evil influ- 
 ence which is constantly exerted by his ungodly com- 
 panions. He has now but one wife, and upon my 
 remarking that I supposed he did not intend to have 
 another, he at first hesitated to reply, evidently very 
 much troubled ; at last, he said : ' I would like to 
 have two.' I then said to him : ' Ddba, if you would 
 like indeed to be one of God's people, you must make 
 up your mind to have but one wife.' 
 
 " He manifested much emotion, and after reflecting 
 a few moments, said : ' Mr. Scott, one thing makes my 
 heart burn too much.' I asked him what it was, and 
 he replied : ' If God helps me, and I become one of 
 His people, I can't live in town.' Then drawing two 
 lines in opposite directions, he said : ' It is just this 
 way ; let this line stand for God,' pointing to one of 
 them, 'and the other for the devil; now God's law 
 leads me this way, and the devil leads me on that way. 
 When I think I must keep God's law, the devil tells 
 me not to do it, and my people lead me in the same 
 way.' 
 
 "I told him I was glad to hear him speak so, and 
 that I approved of his leaving a place where he had so 
 many temptations to evil, and advised him, when he 
 decided fully to come out on the Lord's side, to move 
 up to the Christian (native) village, where he could 
 always be with God's people." 
 
 About this time, a deep and interesting work of 
 grace began in the native schools. Many of the scho- 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFEICA. 87 
 
 lars, both male and female, began to inquire " what 
 they should do to be saved/' and an unusual serious- 
 ness pervaded the inhabitants of the Christian village. 
 
 On the Friday preceding Christmas of this year, a 
 practice was introduced among the native Christians 
 which gives promise of much usefulness. All the 
 adult communicants collected in the house of one of 
 the village householders, on the Friday preceding the 
 Communion Sabbath, to hold a social repast, or Christ- 
 tian supper, as they term it. This meal is given in 
 rotation by each person in the Christian village, keep- 
 ing a house. The food prepared is that ordinarily 
 used, only increased in quantity. 
 
 The communicants are all expected to attend: the 
 pastor, with one or more ladies of the Mission, is always 
 present. When collected, after a little conversation, a 
 hymn is sung, a suitable portion of Scripture is selected 
 — each one reading a verse aloud in turn — and explan- 
 ations made by -the pastor or some one selected from 
 the company. The " Christian Visitors" (whose duty 
 it is "to take the general oversight of the communi- 
 cants, to settle differences, and to correct improprie- 
 ties") are then interrogated as to the condition of the 
 communicants ; and if differences remain unsettled, the 
 parties are, if possible, reconciled ; pra}~er is offered up, 
 and all afterward sit down to partake of a frugal meal. 
 On the few occasions we attended these meetings, we 
 were much struck with the decency and propriety 
 which pervaded the demeanor of the communicants, 
 and the order and neatness of the table arrangements, 
 and more especially with the gravity and earnestness 
 of their religious exercises. 
 
OO DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 " The influence of such a practice," writes the Bishop, 
 "upon those just emerged from heathenism is most 
 salutary. The Christian village, however, like all 
 parts of the Church militant, must not escape trials. 
 During the year, two of its inhabitants have fallen into 
 gross crimes, and in consequence have withdrawn to 
 the more congenial atmosphere of heathenism." 
 
 Most pleasing is the neatness, order, and apparent 
 harmony, which seem to pervade this native Christian 
 village at Cavalla. No one could see, without interest, 
 the neatly clad children of the villagers taking their 
 morning walk to school — here and there an older boy, 
 " with shining face," carrying on his back a recreant 
 little one, and the girls, large and small, tripping gayly 
 along, with folded hands and clean attire — all making 
 their way to the same schools, in which their parents 
 were first taught the truths of the Gospel, and rescued 
 from the hopeless, aimless life of the heathen. 
 
 In visiting the neat little houses of these villagers — 
 most of which were built by themselves — we always 
 found their wives busily engaged in household work, 
 or sewing for their children, while their husbands were 
 employed at their various trades, or in teaching their 
 own benighted countrymen. In conversing with them, 
 we have been surprised to find how very familiar 
 they are with the Scriptures, and how dearly they love 
 to study them. The Bible to them is indeed "the 
 book of books." 
 
 We shall never forget the glow of pleasure, which 
 lighted up the face of a newly-arrived missionary, 
 (now in heaven,) when, as he walked for the first time 
 through the village, at eventide, he heard from the 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 89 
 
 open windows the voice of "thanksgiving and melo- 
 dy," and saw the humble household bands prostrated 
 at the family altar. It was indeed a sight upon which 
 angels might look down with pleasure; and if the 
 missionaries had accomplished nothing more than the 
 establishment of this Christian village, in the midst of 
 heathenism, it would amply repay them for all their 
 toil and sacrifice. 
 
 Similar villages are being formed at all the im- 
 portant mission stations, and we have no doubt, they 
 are destined to become as "cities set upon a hill," to 
 thousands and tens of thousands of degraded and be- 
 nighted heathen. 
 
 Hyano, after his baptism, expressed a desire to re- 
 move to the Christian village, where he would not be 
 exposed to such temptations as continually surrounded 
 him in a heathen town, but he was advised to remain 
 where he was, on account of the influence for good he 
 might, with God's blessing, exert over his own people. 
 He now set up a family altar on the very spot where 
 he had formerly kept his idols, and practised his demon 
 arts. Every evening he was joined by Tiba, Gidawu- 
 di, and his own wife, whose heart seemed to be inclin- 
 ing to the truth. 
 
 Soon an aged woman, to whom he had often spoken 
 of the glorious Gospel, joined the little praying circle. 
 The change in this old woman, Yuwa, was very strik- 
 ing. She had seemed to be one of the most unpro- 
 mising characters in the town of Nyaro, and the first 
 time the missionary, who had charge of the town, 
 asked her why she did not regularly attend the chapel, 
 she replied : " Me go to church, and you no pay me." 
 
90 DAY DAWN IX AFEICA. 
 
 But the Hoi j Spirit led her to pereeive that the Gospel 
 was more than meat or drink, and soon she truly hun- 
 gered for the " bread of life." 
 
 Day after day she came to the mission-house to hear 
 about the blessed One, who had died for her salvation. 
 She was gently and almost imperceptibly led forward, 
 like "Lydia, whose heart the Lord opened." Not 
 many months after, she was ready to make a public 
 profession by baptism, and at the same time, Hyano 
 had the pleasure of seeing his wife come forward for 
 baptism. 
 
 And God blessed the little church of five in the 
 heathen town of Nyaro ; and the Holy Ghost, the 
 Comforter, abode with them, and their " eyes were 
 constantly unto the Lord," who had delivered, and 
 now sustained them. 
 
 As the shades of evening approached, it was our 
 constant practice, for some months, to visit the house 
 of this aged disciple, and join with the humble band, 
 who there met for the worship of the triune God. As 
 we saw when passing through the village, at almost 
 every door the worthless fetish, and heard, from every 
 quarter, the reckless, mocking laugh, and the foolish 
 heathen jest, we thought, truly the contrast between 
 light and darkness is not greater- than that between 
 Hyano* s peaceful abode and all the other homes of this 
 thickly -peopled town. 
 
 One evening, when we had been prevented visiting 
 him for some time, we asked Hyano if Yuwa attended 
 evening prayers as regularly as formerly. "Yes," he 
 replied, " she come all times — s'pose she come home 
 from work too late, she come look my house, and ask 
 
DAT DAWN IN AFRICA. 01 
 
 mc to pray to ' God one more time. Yuwa love GouVs 
 word more than her daily food." 
 
 Like the woman at the well of Sychar, Yuiva, when 
 she had found Jesus, went out and proclaimed Him to 
 her people. She soon succeeded in persuading an aged 
 female friend to come and hear the blessed Gospel, 
 and, a few months later, she too was baptized. 
 
 Tiba, who had renounced one of his two wives, pro- 
 fessed his faith in Christ, and been baptized, continued 
 — as did Gidawudi — regularly to resort to Hyano's 
 house for religious instruction. In addition to the five 
 who daily assembled there to pray, others would drop 
 in from curiosity, and sometimes become interested ; 
 thus Hyand's house became to his people "like a city 
 set upon a hill, whose light could not be hid." 
 
 Byano did not confine his instructions to his own 
 house, but wherever he went, " in season, and out of 
 season," he spoke a word for Christ. 
 
 He publicly denounced and exposed, as he well 
 could, the practices and the superstitions of his people. 
 ne showed them clearly in what manner he, in com- 
 mon with other demon-men, had imposed upon the 
 credulity of his people, and exhorted them to cease to 
 place confidence in the deydbo, and to look to the Lord 
 God alone for aid in time of need. 
 
 From village to village, and from tribe to tribe, he 
 carried the glad tidings of salvation to his unhappy 
 people. Though unable to read, he was well instruct- 
 ed orally, and could repeat with fluency many of the 
 most striking portions of the Scriptures. With earnest 
 voice and animated gestures, he would tell of Noah, 
 Abraham, Isaac, ana Jacob ; of God's wonderful acts 
 
92 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 among the Israelites, and of the life, death, and m.raclea 
 of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 Tall, slim, and commanding in person, with brown 
 complexion, and regular features, Hyano possessed a 
 countenance of a more elevated cast than is common 
 to his people. As leaning on his tall staff, he walked 
 through the villages, or sat, robed in a loose, flowing 
 garment, at his own door, at eventide, he frequently 
 called to our minds one of the old Scripture patriarchs, 
 upon whose history he so much loved to dwell. 
 
 He made a faithful attempt to learn to read, but he 
 was old, and his sight had grown dim, before he was 
 brought under Christian teaching. For many months 
 he carried his primer in his hat, and asked any edu- 
 cated person he chanced to meet, to give him a lesson. 
 On one occasion, when he had succeeded in stumbling 
 through a few verses of the New Testament, he ex- 
 claimed : " Me feel so happy !" 
 
 "Why?" we asked. 
 
 " Why — s'pose me can learn to read God's book, 
 then me can go in my house, and read it all times, 
 myself." 
 
 On one occasion, as he accompanied one of the native 
 deacons, Ku Sia, on a missionary tour up the Cavalla 
 river, he landed at a place where he had once gone as 
 a demon-doctor, to practise his arts. The people were 
 very much surprised to see him, and, at first, scarcely 
 recognized him, so much were his manners, person, 
 and countenance changed by his religion — he was in- 
 deed "a new creature" in the sight of all who had 
 known him. How different his message now! The 
 first time he had visited them as an agent of the devil ; 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFIUCA. 93 
 
 now he went to them as an ambassador of Christ, and 
 they, blind and ignorant as they were, could not fail 
 to see the wonderful change. 
 
 One poor man, however, as Hyano relates, was very 
 much frightened by this visit. It so happened that 
 when he had been there before, as a demon-man, he 
 left behind him a quantity of rice, to preserve which, 
 he had declared that whoever should eat thereof would 
 die. In the order of providence, it happened that the 
 man who stole and ate his rice, did die very soon after- 
 ward ; and those who were cognizant of this fact, 
 greatly dreaded Hyands return. A man, who had 
 probably been an accomplice in the robbery, not re- 
 cognizing Hyano, put his arm around the supposed 
 stranger, in a very cordial manner, to welcome him to 
 their town, and kindly asked his name. 
 
 " I am Hyano" he replied. 
 
 No sooner had he said this, than the man, to the 
 amusement of Hyano, (who understood his feelings,) 
 ran off as if stung by a viper. Knowing nothing of 
 the transforming influence of the Gospel, this supersti- 
 tious being could not believe that a demon-man, so 
 powerful as he believed Hyano to be, had returned for 
 any other purpose than to take vengeance upon his 
 enemies. Unbounded indeed was his astonishment to 
 hear this formidable deyd, advocating the forgiveness 
 of injuries, and telling of a mighty Saviour, who had 
 " laid down his own life" for His enemies and perse- 
 cutors. 
 
 In other of the heathen towns, God was daily snatch- 
 ing, " as brands from the burning," those who had for 
 many years bowed down to idols. One of the most 
 
94 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 interesting conversions, -which,thougli it happened some 
 months later, may be mentioned in this connection, 
 was that of an infirm old woman, named Bade. A 
 hopeless invalid, she lived alone in a very small hut 
 of one of the heathen towns of Cavalla. The Spirit of 
 God touched her heart, and she forsook her sins, and 
 " sat at the feet of Jesus." Pain, poverty, and loneli- 
 ness no longer seemed such grievous burdens, for in 
 her lowly home dwelt now the Holy Ghost, the Com- 
 forter. Being unable to walk to the church, she was 
 baptized by the Bishop in her little hut, receiving the 
 name of the missionary who had been mainly instru- 
 mental in leading her to Christ. 
 
 Some months later, when told that she who had 
 cared for her soul was dead, poor Bade was greatly 
 troubled. One standing by attempted to console her 
 with the doctrine of the resurrection, assuring her that 
 she would, if faithful to God, see her friend again. " Is 
 it true," said she, " shall I see her with these same 
 eyes ?" raising her trembling hands to eyes dimmed by 
 sickness, age, and tears. 
 
 Yes, poor Bade. With those same eyes, grown dim 
 amid heathen scenes, thou mayest indeed behold, not 
 only her who sought thee in thy loneliness, and led 
 thee to the Saviour, but the Lord, " the Prince of life," 
 Himself. 
 
€ Ir a p t u S * in tt t ft . 
 
 " I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means savo 
 some."— 1 Con. 9:22. 
 
 The missionary life, while it has stronger lights and 
 shades than any other, must, from its very nature, be 
 ever attended with more petty annoyances. 
 
 The following graphic description of an African 
 study, written for the Gavalla Messenger, will give our 
 readers a clear idea of the nature of these annoyances : 
 
 " It is so common for ministers to have rooms, which 
 they call studies, that the missionary pastor must, per 
 force of custom, so call one too. With how much 
 propriety will appear from the following narrative of 
 a week's occurrences." 
 
 u Monday. — Missionary enters his study at seven 
 o'clock. Study for half-hour, biography ; he opens 
 the Life of Dr. Chalmers. But scarcely has he opened 
 it ere K. appears : ' I bring four fowls, sir.' ' Very 
 well ; take them to M.' While he is still speaking, Gr. 
 and B. enter. G., ' Will you please take out my tooth, 
 sir ?' ' Yes : ' the tooth is extracted ; when B. shows 
 his hand, which he has just cut, and which requires to 
 be attended to. This case disposed of, M. comes push- 
 ing in, with a bunch of plantains on her head, for sale. 
 She is sent to J. Then comes N., with a tin cup : 
 ' My brother is sick too much, sir ; he say, do you 
 
96 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 please give him little molasses ?' It is given, and the 
 prayer-bell rings ; and progress in study has been — 
 perhaps one of Dr. Chalmers's five sentences. 
 
 "Prayers over, the missionary returns to study — ■ 
 review of Greek or Hebrew, from quarter to half an 
 hour. Finds his study preoccupied by A., B., and C, 
 with naked children. A. has come to take a walk, 
 which means to get some tobacco, if the missionary 
 will so receive it — for he will not now beg out-right. 
 Civility requires a few words with him. B. has come 
 to know if I wish him to bring me some rice, and 
 what I will pay for it. He is referred to J., whose 
 duty it is to attend to attend to such things. C. has 
 come from a distance to ' look the Kobo Kai,' that is, 
 foreigner's house. While discoursing with this man, 
 the breakfast-bell rings. Progress in study, six lines. 
 After breakfast, about half an hour is devoted to the 
 manifold calls for rice, meat, medicine, or of business 
 which has been accumulating during breakfast. 
 
 "At a quarter to nine o'clock the missionary goes to 
 his study to read McCosh on the Divine Government, 
 for three quarters of an hour ; but, half-way in a para- 
 graph, a ' proper gentleman ' enters, with his retinue 
 of wives and relatives. He has come from the interior 
 — has heard the missionary's great name, (fame,) and 
 come to see him. Ah ! stranger,' the missionary, after 
 usual salutations, says to him, ' the fame of this world 
 is vain. We have come to teach you to find enduring 
 fame in heaven.' The stranger is followed by a party 
 of people from the town, who must needs talk on no 
 low key to themselves and their guest, by way of 
 being agreeable. The three quarters of an hour have 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 97 
 
 brought 'but little progress in McCosh. Grebo transla- 
 tion is next taken up ; but, as the sun rises, visitors 
 and calls multiply. ' Will you please give me a little 
 sulphur? (' ko-bo-na, 1 foreigner's fire,) my mother is 
 sick,' says one ; ' She says, will you please come see 
 her ?' says another. The leper D. makes his appear- 
 ance and presents his claim for tobacco, rice, and fish. 
 S. ' has eaten nothing for two days,' and begs, for 
 mercy's sake, a little food. 
 
 " In the midst of these, half-past eleven o'clock has 
 come, and J. appears to recite. A Utile progress has 
 been made in Grebo. 
 
 "As J. proceeds in his recitation, visitors still come 
 and go, and ask questions and talk. At twelve, K. 
 comes to recite theology, and friends still abound and 
 talk. At half-past twelve a Grebo class from the boys' 
 school come to recite ; but, as they proceed, a stream 
 of visitors, young and old, of differing tribes and dis- 
 tant places appear and disappear, sleep, or sit listlessly, 
 or talk. 
 
 "At one o'clock the missionary's body and head 
 and heart rejoice to find rest and refreshment in the 
 quiet retirement and privileges of his chamber. 
 
 "Wednesday. — At early dawn, a great commotion 
 is observed amongst the people in the native village 
 near the mission-house. 
 
 "A crowd of men rush about amongst the houses, 
 and women are running hither and thither, crying out, 
 'Nia yuo I buo ah yuo ! de ah yuo I mi nd lamdo.' (O 
 my child! my father's child! my mother's child! 
 They are about to kill him.) 
 
 " By the time the missionary gets in his study, at 
 5 
 
98 D4lY PAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 seven o'clock, a group of women are at the door. 
 ' They have caught H., my brother, to give him gidu, 
 (sassa-wood.) Please come to beg him off.' ' But what 
 can I do? The people say they have caught him in 
 the very act of witchcraft ; and you know by your law 
 he ought to die, if this be the case.' 
 
 " But come and beg him off, that he may go away 
 and drink gidu privately, and die.' 
 
 " Knowing that it is customary to administer the 
 ordeal about ten o'clock, the missionary defers the rela- 
 tives of the accused man until that time, and, the 
 morning hour for study having been all consumed, he 
 obeys the call to morning prayers. 
 
 " Prayers over and breakfast, the poor women still 
 begging him to intercede, the missionary accompanies 
 them to the field, where the people have taken H., to 
 give him gidu. The red wood infusion has been pre- 
 pared, about a quart put in a wooden bowl, and H. is 
 urged to drink it. He refuses. The missionary inter- 
 cedes in vain. ' This man has been seen by many,' 
 they say, in ' the very act of witchcraft.' 1 l He must drink 
 gidu.'' But H. will not drink it. They order him to 
 return to town. He goes, and is put up in the loft of 
 a hut. He says something to vex the people. They 
 again order him to the field to drink. He starts, and 
 on the way runs off. It is unlawful to pursue him ; 
 and he gets away at last to drink it privately. In a 
 few weeks he has drunk it, and returns home in 
 triumph. 
 
 " But the missionary has exerted himself in vain, 
 and the study for that day has had only a name ; not a 
 page has been read, not a line written." 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 99 
 
 "Thursday. — At seven o'clock, a crowd being 
 around the house, of idlers, men, women, and children, 
 the door is shut and locked. But one man has brought 
 rice, and the missionary must add to his other duties, 
 the purchase of this necessary article of food, as it 
 comes. So W., who has come from the distance of 
 five miles, must be admitted, talked to, and paid. 
 And, the door opened, in comes the naked boy, Kra, 
 to ask for a cocoa-nut, and the sick woman, Mara, for 
 a piece of meat ; and a teacher from the High School 
 for a conversation ; and the teacher of the boys' native 
 school, for padlocks and a chest-lock, to put on desks 
 and doors ; and then the bell rings for breakfast, and 
 the hour is past. 
 
 " Breakfast over, a man follows him to the garden, 
 to say a krooman has just come ashore from a vessel, 
 very tired, has nothing to eat, and begs for a cocoa- 
 nut ; on emerging from the gate, an old man, whose 
 meagre form shows him really in need of food, pre- 
 sents a few Lima beans, tied up in a handkerchief, to 
 exchange for a little fish. And then comes another 
 and another slate from school-boys, asking for a box, 
 a chest, or any other article they happen to need. 
 
 "Followed by boys and children, the missionary 
 goes about for half an hour, giving directions about 
 making fences, nailing boards on the house, attending 
 to the sick, etc. 
 
 " Returning to the study, a book is taken up, but 
 before a paragraph is read, Hne comes to tell about the 
 wonderful effect of medicine which the missionary has 
 given, and to ask for a little molasses, to make his mouOi 
 sweet • and then K. S., the statesman, who must be en- 
 
100 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 tertained ; and N". S., the communicant, who must 
 receive attention, etc. And thus the morning passes 
 away until eleven o'clock, when the new missionary 
 appears to take his first lesson in Grebo. And the 
 missionary only finds comfort in this morning's engage- 
 ments in the reflection that ' it is more blessed to give 
 than to receive.'' 
 
 "Friday. — If the company in the African study is 
 always engrossing — sometimes exceedingly annoying — ■ 
 it is also often very amusing. 
 
 " "What is the name of that insect, H. ? ' 'It has 
 two names, Kyenh ncbld and Bunanh ah nyine.' ' But 
 Bunanh is the name of the gazelle, and nyine the name 
 of wife. Do you mean to call this insect the wife oi 
 the beautiful gazelle?' 'Yes, that is just what we 
 say.' ' Why so ? ' ' Well, you know the gazelle, 
 though so small, is the king of all animals — made so 
 on account of his great prudence and address. Being 
 desirous to obtain a wife like-minded — especially one 
 who was orderly and could Jceep a secret — he searched 
 in vain amongst the animals. He at last made the 
 acquaintance of Madame Kyenh nebld. 
 
 "'He was struck with her retired habits — for she 
 seemed to have no company — with her neatness, and 
 especially with the skill displayed in the construction 
 of her places of abode. So cunningly indeed were 
 these planned and executed, that it was with the great- 
 est difficulty they could be distinguished from sur- 
 rounding objects, thus eluding alike the visits of pro- 
 fessed friends and open enemies. Here, at length, said 
 Bunanh, is the woman for me — and henceforth Kyenh 
 nebld became Bunanh ah nyine.'' 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 101 
 
 " This fable, with others like it, and sundry inter- 
 ruptions of daily occurrences, consumed most of the 
 hours which had otherwise been given to study on 
 Friday morning. 
 
 "Saturday. — Study is not indeed the object of the 
 missionary on Saturday. He rather desires to make it 
 a day of relaxation, and of attention to the externals 
 of home. But indeed, were it desired, it could not 
 well be otherwise. For, whereas, on other days, there 
 are different varieties of calls and engagements, on 
 Saturday there appears to be an accumulation of all. 
 The poor, the miserable, and the begging — all would 
 seem to come to express their sorrows and wants 
 together. 
 
 " Poor 1ST. was once a candidate for the office of deya. 
 Sought out by a dear sister now in heaven, he was led 
 to the great Physician, and became healed of his spir- 
 itual disease, but not of his bodily. Also his feet and 
 hands, and other parts of his body, are being gradually 
 consumed by leprosy. And often he displays the 
 parts which the rats have been gnawing during the 
 night. He wishes food, medicine, and healing for the 
 soul. 
 
 "D. has some cutaneous affection, which, if it be 
 not a variety of leprosy, produces similar effects. It 
 has drawn together the fingers, taken off some toes, 
 and scattered over the body many dark, ugly plague- 
 spots. But he is a cheerful, saucy, importunate and 
 ungrateful beggar. 
 
 " On P. leprosy has almost finished its work. Once 
 tall, strong, handsome, eloquent. Now ' the sun and 
 moon, and the stars are darkened ; the keepers of the 
 
102 DAY DAWN IN AFEICA. 
 
 house tremble and decay ; the strong men bow them- 
 selves ; those that look out of the windows are dar- 
 kened; the silver cord is loosening, and the golden 
 bowl is almost broken.' He stumbles along, feeling 
 his way, leaning on his long staff, and asking for all 
 he needs. The heart says : ' Give now, for you shall 
 soon have given him for the last time.' 
 
 " Old Y. has passed three-score years and ten, but, 
 alas ! old age has not brought wisdom or goodness. 
 She has often heard the truth, but to all appearance it 
 has produced no visible effect. Weak and blind, and 
 tottering over the grave, she only seeks the missionary 
 to relieve her bodily wants, and quarrels if her expec- 
 tations are not realized." 
 
 "A., B., C, and G., H., and so on, are instant and 
 clamorous for hnede, blade, ovpode, (fish, rice, or tobacco,) 
 because, forsooth, it is the Sabbath to-morrow, and 
 they mean to rest on that day. And then follow in 
 constant stream, the gentleman and poor man ; .men, 
 women, and children, for medicine, conversation, this 
 thing, or that thing, or nothing, until the missionary, 
 to the full, has the comfort of having seen all sorts of 
 people, and dealt with all manner of cases. And it is 
 good comfort, for he is the bearer of ' good tidings to all 
 people? " 
 
 While the pastor is enduring his share of annoy- 
 ances in the study, his wife is having trials of a similar 
 nature in the parlor, mitigated somewhat by the fact, 
 that the industrious Grebo ladies, as a general thing, 
 have not leisure to make visits of as frequent and pro- 
 tracted a nature, as is the custom of their lazy lords. 
 
 For their own convenience, the ladies of the Mission 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 103 
 
 have set apart the afternoon of every day for their 
 reception, with the exception of Sunday, when they 
 are engaged in Sabbath-school ; and Saturday, when 
 they invariably visit the native towns. At the oldest 
 mission-houses the natives have happily fallen in with 
 this custom, and but seldom intrude in the morning. 
 Soon after dinner, men, women, and children may be 
 seen wending their way to the parlors of the different 
 mission-houses, which are thrown open for them until 
 sundown, or, as the Greboes have it, until " night 
 rights the day." 
 
 The most wearisome feature in these levees to a new 
 missionary — more so even than their unending de- 
 mands upon one's time and attention — is the receiving 
 their " dashes," that is, presents, which are to be re- 
 paid with interest at some future visitation. Could 
 twice the value of the fowls, plantains, rice, and palm- 
 butter, or whatever gift they may be pleased to bestow, 
 be given to them at once, it would be a relief to the 
 mind (or memory) of the burdened housekeeper ; but, 
 no, that would be a breach of Qrebo etiquette, and make 
 them, as they say, " ashamed too much." The recipi- 
 ent must tax her memory to remember all the new 
 faces, and the proper value of the various trifles be- 
 stowed, and return them at regular intervals to the 
 shrewd donors, who have discovered that it is much 
 more profitable to give than to sell to their white 
 friends. 
 
 Annoying as this and other practices undoubtedly 
 are, the missionaries, knowing how very important it 
 is to enlist the affections and sympathies of the heathen, 
 would not, if they could, abolish them hastily. They, 
 
104 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 who properly weigh the worth of immortal spirits, can 
 not consider time, health, or even life itself wasted, if, 
 by all means, " they can win souls to Christ" 
 
 The following description of an African parlor at 
 night, (by Rev. Mr. Holcomb,) shows that the annoy- 
 ances end not with daylight : 
 
 " The sun has gone down behind ' Devil Rock,' the 
 bell has tolled the hour of prayer, the lame, blind, halt, 
 and the lepers, that thronged us during the day have 
 departed, and the new missionary begins to realize the 
 pleasure of the disciples when they they heard the 
 Master say: 'Come ye yourselves apart and rest 
 awhile ; for there were many coming and going, and 
 they had no leisure so much as to eat.' A quiet hour 
 with the missionaries in the parlor is anticipated. 
 
 " They are seated around the centre- table, and one 
 takes a book just arrived from the land of books, and 
 is about to read aloud, when one of the school girls 
 appears with a basket of boys' clothes, and deposits 
 them before Mrs. . Then follow sundry ques- 
 tions and answers, and the counting, examining, and 
 
 mending of the aforesaid clothes by Mrs. . The 
 
 reading begins, but is soon ended by the appearance of 
 another girl with a basketful of girls' clothes, which 
 
 are placed at the feet of Miss . Then follow 
 
 again sundry questions and answers, and the counting, 
 examining, and mending of the aforesaid clothes by 
 Miss . 
 
 " The reading is again resumed, and again interrupt- 
 ed every few moments by the appearance of scholar 
 after scholar, and slate after slate, with messages on 
 them which must be answered. A scholar desires to 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 105 
 
 go to Cape Palmas. One wants a sheet of paper, etc., 
 etc. One brings the mail from Cape Palmas. Some 
 one comes for the keys of the duck-house. Another 
 for flour. Kede is called and sent to town to get some 
 men to go to the Cape in the morning. The bell tolls 
 the hour of nine, and then the lantern is lighted and 
 sent to the school-house. Some one is sick in the 
 Christian village, and a blue pill or some other pre- 
 scription is asked for, and the medicine-chest and medi- 
 cal books must be resorted to. Now a heavy piece of 
 
 cloth is brought in by Miss , which must be made 
 
 up for mission use, and during the cutting and tearing 
 of the same, many a beautiful sentiment is lost, and the 
 effect of many a well-finished sentence is destroyed, for 
 cutting of said cloth is like the sound of the saw under- 
 going the operation of the file. The look of annoyance 
 of the reader is answered by another, which, inter- 
 preted, means, I am sorry, but this work must be done. 
 " Now a terrible coughing is heard, and some one 
 appears and announces a sad case. Every thing is 
 suspended to attend to this. Various medical books 
 are taken down, all under the heads of coughing and 
 strangling are read, and a prescription made out. Ten 
 o'clock brings up the Bishop from his Grebo study, 
 and Miss W. goes to visit the girls' rooms, and to bring 
 away the lamp. ' The good night ' is played by Mrs. 
 
 , and then follows the barricading of the African 
 
 parlor against rats. One door, for want of other 
 means, is barricaded with a chair, and another by 
 boards to stop the rat-holes in it. The covering is 
 taken from the lounge, and the new missionary is 
 warned not to leave his cap where the rats can get hold 
 
106 1>AY DAWN IN AFEICA. 
 
 of it for their supper. But orders are given not to bar 
 ricade the parlor too strongly, for one of the ladies 
 informs us that during the night she must visit the sick 
 one. The new missionary goes to his room convinced 
 that it is impossible for a missionary to rust out in 
 Africa." 
 
 It is very amusing to see the natives visit the new 
 house of a foreigner, or, as they say, "look a hobo 
 hai." 
 
 When the Asylum was first opened at Cape Palmas, 
 a number of " proper gentlemen " from the interior 
 came to examine it. Heralded by a Cape Palmas man 
 of their acquaintance, they entered with courtly bows, 
 and the usual salutation, u Nah wioV (How are you?) 
 After their friend had named them to us one by one, 
 he said, with a flourish : " These be my friends ; they be 
 proper gentlemen from Nyambo country ; they hear news 
 — countrymen tell them your house be fine pass all 
 houses live this country — they come boh you this 
 time." 
 
 After they had " looked " to their satisfaction, they 
 bestowed a small " dash," (as a pledge of their return 
 at some future time,) and quietly departed, their friend 
 remarking, in a complimentary tone, as he withdrew: 
 " My friend say you be fine plenty."* 
 
 They frequently bring with them a present, generally 
 a trifling one ; but on one occasion, a visitor of this 
 description, by way of establishing a friendship, brought 
 
 * "Fine 1 ' is the most flattering English word with which they are 
 acquainted, and is freely applied by them to foreigners, with the hope 
 of eliciting a "dash," (that is, a present.) 
 
_DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 107 
 
 a bullock. When it was proposed to settle with him 
 at once, he declined, saying: " That no be country fash 
 — spose you will, me take little dash to-day." Occa- 
 sionally, for some months, we would hear that our 
 " friend from bush country" wanted to " look " us ; and 
 at every visit, without asking directly for pay, he made 
 it evident that he had come for no other purpose. 
 After he had received far more than he could have 
 sold his bullock for, he was told that ?* was time to 
 have the account settled, when, to the amusement of 
 the missionary, he said, " He no be my bullock, he be 
 my father's," intimating that what he had received was 
 merely a present by the way, and that it would now 
 be agreeable to him to receive some compensation for 
 the bullock. 
 
 The following extract from the journal of Eev. Mr. 
 Wright, will further illustrate this peculiarity : 
 
 " On the 4th of July, Mrs. W. and myself left Mr. 
 Home's at Eocktown, where we had been boarding, to 
 take up our residence at Fishtown. We started rather 
 unfavorably, Mrs. W. suffering with a severe attack of 
 bilious remittent, and with which she was laid up a 
 week after our arrival. An incident which happened 
 to us on our way, may serve to illustrate native cus- 
 toms. Passing through Middletown — a small settle- 
 ment consisting of two native towns lying half-way 
 between Rocktown and Fishtown, and to pass through 
 which, Mrs. W. had to alight from her hammock — we 
 were accosted by the governor of the towns, and we 
 stepped aside to shake hands with him. Anxious to 
 reach Fishtown, or Fairhaven, on account of Mrs. 
 Wright's indisposition, we would have proceeded, but 
 
108 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 Mrs. W. was requested to seat herself in a chair 
 placed outside his hut, and, our hammock-men refusing 
 to proceed, we thought it best to comply with his 
 request. 
 
 " The Governor now said something to his boys, 
 and then retired out of sight. Immediately a dozen 
 or more boys were in chase of an unfortunate rooster ; 
 every boy or girl who came up was pressed into ser 
 vice, so that soon nearly all the children of the town 
 were engaged in the chase. Finally, the rooster was 
 captured, and taken to the Governor, who now came 
 forward and, with a low bow, presented it to Mrs. W. 
 We were now allowed to proceed. You may be sure, 
 if you are acquainted with the African character, that 
 His Excellency did not fail to pay me a visit soon after, 
 when I had to make him a return present of four or five 
 times the value of his fowl. Nor was this sufficient, 
 but he must come four or five times, giving me to un- 
 derstand he wanted something." 
 
 Pleasant and conciliating, however, as the Africans 
 may generally seem to be, there is, alas ! a very dark 
 side to their character. Very many of them would not 
 hesitate to poison (secretly) those who offend them, or 
 to commit murder for very small gain. In the year 
 1853, not far from our Mission, a most shocking mas- 
 sacre of the captain and crew of an English vessel, was 
 committed, partly from the feeling of revenge, and 
 partly from the hope of gain. ■ 
 
 The following account of the massacre, and of the 
 sole survivor — who is now a member of our Mission — 
 will not be uninteresting to the reader. 
 
 The Heroine arrived on the African coast about the 
 
DAY DAWX IN AFRICA. 109 
 
 middle of March, (1852.) It was Captain Cormack's 
 first voyage. Being ignorant of the character of the 
 natives, he placed in their hands a large amount to 
 purchase palm-oil, thinking that, in a few months, they 
 would supply him with all that was needed, according 
 to their engagement. But from month to month they 
 put him off, until at last, being convinced that they did 
 not intend to pay him, in accordance with a custom 
 among themselves, he seized one or two of their prin- 
 cipal men to hold as hostages until their debt should 
 be paid. The natives of Taboo, the town to which 
 these people belonged, resolved to rescue them at all 
 hazards. By practising a deception, they succeeded in 
 getting a large number on the deck of the vessel at the 
 same time, as they now say, simply with the intention 
 at first of rescuing their friends, but in a few moments 
 they not only loosed the prisoners, but massacred the 
 captain, super-cargo, and every one of the crew, with 
 the exception of Thomas Toomey, who happened to be 
 below deck on account of indisposition. 
 
 When all his companions were murdered, his first 
 thought was to sell his life as dearly as possible, and 
 he raised a blunderbuss, that was near to him, to shoot 
 the leader of the party through the sky-light ; but it 
 missed fire. He then seized a musket and pointed it 
 at another man, who passed near, but it also failed to 
 fire. He now resolved to be still, and commenced 
 earnestly praying to God to spare his life, and solemnly 
 vowed, if it were spared, to devote it to His service. 
 His prayer was heard, and when there seemed scarcely 
 a ray of hope, a way of escape was provided. All 
 night he remained in a state of restless anxiety, think- 
 
110 DAY DAWN" IN AFRICA. 
 
 ing that eacli hour might be his last ; but he was per 
 fectly safe ; for He who ruleth iu heaven and earth 
 had resolved to rescue him. So eager were the mur- 
 derers to get possession of the contents of the vessel — 
 especially of the rum — and so much were they elated 
 by their success, and excited by what they drank, the 
 youth seemed to have been forgotten. 
 
 Early the following morning a colonist from Cape 
 Palmas, who happened to be on a visit to the neigh- 
 borhood, hearing that he was still alive, came and 
 begged his life. After a time they granted his request, 
 and some time during the day he was brought up from 
 the hold of the vessel, and carried on shore. Here he 
 remained all night, not without great apprehension 
 that they would change their minds, and take his life, 
 as he was the principal witness against them. Indeed, 
 we were told by a native man, that while he was in 
 the town, they discussed the expediency of killing 
 him, and were prevented by the expostulations of a 
 woman, who contended that it would be a violation of 
 the rules of hospitality, to kill him after he had drunk 
 water in their houses. 
 
 The next day he arrived at our mission-station at 
 Cavalla, in a most pitiable condition. The best friend 
 he had in the world was murdered — he was thousands 
 of miles from his home in a heathen land, almost with- 
 out clothes enough to cover his body, and suffering 
 •with the fever, which so often, in this climate, proves 
 fatal to the white man. 
 
 But though, to short-seeing mortals, he seemed en- 
 veloped in a cloud of deep darkness, this was the 
 brightest day in the life of the sailor boy. For this 
 
DAY DAWN IX AFRICA. Ill 
 
 day be came within the sound of the Gospel. Before 
 leaving his own country, Ireland, about eighteen 
 months before this, he had never looked into the word 
 of God, his parents having been members of the Bo- 
 man Catholic Church. Being taken ill in London, 
 whilst on his way to the coast of Africa, he was placed 
 in a naval asylum, and there he received a Bible from 
 a young lady who came to visit the sick. The captain 
 of the ship taught him to read it, and for months this 
 blessed volume had been to him a much-cherished 
 companion. But, like the Ethiopian eunuch, he 
 needed to have the Scriptures expounded to him, and, 
 like the same individual, when Christ was preached to 
 him, he joyfully embraced Him as his Saviour. 
 Clearly did he see His guiding hand in all the events 
 of his life, especially in bringing him from the ignor- 
 ance and superstitions of his native land ; and in com- 
 pelling him, on the day of the massacre, almost for the 
 first time during the voyage, to leave his regular duties 
 on the vessel, thus enabling him to escape the fate of 
 his companions. 
 
 From meditation upon these evidences of God's 
 favor, his mind was well prepared for the messages of 
 mercy now proclaimed to him. With scarcely any 
 delay, he laid hold of the Saviour, and from that hour 
 to the present, has been a rejoicing Christian. The 
 great desire of his heart now is to be enabled to do 
 something for the glory of that Being, who so merci- 
 fully delivered him from death, temporal and spiritual. 
 
 For some months, Toomcy was connected with the 
 Mission school at Cavalla, and during the past year 
 has rendered most efficient aid, as secular agent at that 
 
112 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 station. Kecently he has become a candidate for or- 
 ders, and will probably soon be set apart for the blessed 
 work of an evangelist to the heathen. 
 
 Truly, God " leads us byways we know not." How 
 little thought that humble youth — himself a stranger 
 to Christ — as he lay near his murdered friends in the 
 hold of the Heroine, that he was destined at no very 
 distant day, to preach the Gospel to the heathen, who 
 had taken the lives of his captain and companions ! 
 
" How shall they hear without a preacher ? And how shall they 
 preach, except they be sent?" — Rom. 10 : 14. 
 
 The year 1854 opened auspiciously upon the Mis- 
 sion ; for, at its beginning, we find three new laborers, 
 raised up on the ground, ready to engage in the fields 
 now " white for the harvest." 
 
 On Easter Sunday of this year, Ku Sia and Musu 
 were admitted to the Order of Deacons by Bishop 
 Payne. This event made that bright Sabbath an un- 
 usually joyful festival to the little band of mission- 
 aries at Cavalla, who were there assembled to witness 
 the first ordination of natives in the Mission. 
 
 On the preceding 15th of January, G. W. Gibson 
 (colonist) was ordained deacon, and shortly after made 
 the principal of the High School at Mt. Vaughan ; 
 and in the following June, when Mr. Pinckney went 
 to the new station at Sinoe, he was appointed to assist 
 the Eev. Mr. Scott at St. Mark's. We find, by the 
 following extract from Mr. Scott's journal, that he 
 had been ordained priest near the close of the preced- 
 ing year : 
 
 "August Slst, 1853. — To-day I was ordained priest 
 at St. Mark's Church, Cape Palmas, by Bishop Payne. 
 lie preached from Numbers 16 : 48 — ' He stood be- 
 tween the living and the dead.' " 
 
 Musu was appointed to preach in the Baho and Plabo 
 towns, about twenty in number, and Ku /Sia, accom- 
 
114 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 panied by Hyano, (alias Freeman,) the converted de 
 mon-man, to visit and preach among the twelve tribes 
 scattered along the Cavalla river, from the Bishop's 
 residence to the distance of sixty miles in the interior. 
 
 On the 8th of January, 1854, the Mission had been 
 cheered by the arrival of eight more missionaries — ■ 
 namely : Eev. J. Rambo (who had been visiting the 
 United States for his health) and Mrs. Rambo, from 
 New-York ; Rev. William and Mrs. "Wright, from the 
 same State ; Dr. T. R. Steele and Miss Anna M. Steele, 
 from Washington, D. 0. ; and Miss Sophia M. Smith 
 and Miss Mary Ball, from Philadelphia. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Wright, with Miss Smith, went to 
 Rocktown, to assist Mr. Home, and the rest of the 
 party to Cavalla, to remain there until the buildings 
 at Bassa Cove and Cape Palmas should be ready for 
 them. The same vessel that brought them to Cape 
 Palmas, carried Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman to the 
 United States, the health of the latter requiring a 
 change ; and Miss Colquhoun, who had found her 
 constitution not at all adapted to the climate, also 
 availed herself of this opportunity to withdraw from 
 the Mission. 
 
 All who had recently arrived, passed safely through 
 the acclimating fever, with the exception of Miss Smith, 
 whose constitution was peculiarly unfitted for the cli- 
 mate. She had a severe bilious attack on the voyage, 
 and died of acclimating fever on the 23d of February, 
 six weeks after her arrival at Rocktown. 
 
 Bishop Payne, in announcing the death of this in- 
 teresting young lady to the Foreign Committee, thus 
 writes : 
 
DAY DAWN IX AFRICA. 1 '. ■', 
 
 " She always declared that she was most happy to 
 have come, even though she should be spared for a 
 very short time ; so humbly did she think of herself, 
 and so much honor did she account it to be permitted 
 to exert even the feeblest influence in causing ' Ethio- 
 pia to stretch out her hands unto God.' ' Verily I say 
 unto you, he that humbleth himself as a little child, 
 the same shall be called great in the kingdom of 
 heaven.' Can we wonder, then, that one who, by 
 grace, had been prepared for the highest honors in the 
 heavenly kingdom, should be at once admitted to 
 those honors ?" 
 
 Clement F. Jones (Ku Sia) and Hyano made two 
 tours sixty miles into the interior, and preached many 
 times along the banks of the Cavalla river. In some 
 places, Hyano had to endure many taunts and bitter 
 expressions from demon-men, for having abandoned 
 and exposed his former profession. Many of them 
 would gladly have poisoned him, could they have 
 done so secretly ; but Hyano, though he knew his 
 danger, did not hesitate to speak out boldly, and to 
 warn his benighted countrymen not to trust the lies 
 of the deyabo, but to turn, and seek the true God. 
 
 Ku Sia afterward made some interesting missionary 
 excursions with Mr. Rambo, and from the journal of 
 the latter we quote the following description of scenery 
 on the Cavalla : 
 
 " April 19$.. — Left Cavalla station at seven o'clock, 
 in company with Eev. C. F. Jones, (native deacon.) 
 We went across the country two and a half miles, to 
 Di-ima-Lu, a town on the Cavalla river. We there 
 hired a canoe, having men already with us, and em- 
 barked about nine A.M. 
 
116 DAY DAWN IN AFEICA. 
 
 " This is the second visit I have made up this beau- 
 tiful and picturesque stream. After my former visit, 
 more than two years since, I described briefly some 
 portions of this river. Its scenery is not grand, but 
 certainly interesting and attractive ; but there are none 
 between here and Sierra Leone that I have seen or 
 heard of, that at all compare in beauty or grandeur to 
 dozens of rivers in the United States. Yet there is 
 much in the scenery on some of the rivers here to in- 
 terest the traveller, and almost make him believe, for 
 the time, that it rivals any thing that he has ever seen. 
 The country is always green ; and where there are 
 high hills, prominent rocks, occasionally deep ravines, 
 extensive forests, overhanging palms, and clustering 
 vines, as is the case fifty miles up the Cavalla river, 
 one may well lose himself for a short time, and ima- 
 gine that he is permitted this once to behold almost a 
 paradise. He is, however, soon persuaded of his error, 
 when he comes in contact with the natives. If he is 
 a new-comer, and has little or no experience in deal- 
 ing with them, his pleasant reveries will often be dis- 
 turbed, and he will soon be perplexed, tried, and 
 harassed to the height of human endurance. 
 
 " The missionary traveller, however, becomes, or 
 should become, inured to all annoyances, and gladly 
 bears them all, that he may, in obedience to the Sav- 
 iour's command, ' Go and preach the Gospel to every 
 creature,' within his reach. We came to win these 
 poor, ignorant, unprincipled creatures to Christ, who 
 died for them." 
 
 "After leaving our place of embarkation, we as- 
 cended the river three or four miles before we saw 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 117 
 
 another town The width of the river at this point 
 was about half a mile, and it widens somewhat in 
 places farther up the stream. At the distance of fifty 
 miles up, it narrows but little, and is- deep enough in 
 the ' rainy season ' to be navigated that distance by 
 small steamers. "We passed two towns, and continued 
 four miles farther up the stream, which along that part 
 of it is extremely meandering and beautiful. The 
 banks rise in some places from twenty to fifty feet, 
 and now and then extensive forests of large trees are 
 seen. Then, again, rice-farms of the natives are no- 
 ticed, containing in the aggregate from one hundred to 
 two hundred acres of rich alluvial soil, or loam and 
 clay mixed. "We reached Uidie, the place of our des- 
 tination, about eleven A.M. This is eleven miles 
 from Cavalla station. There are three villages in this 
 settlement, one being very small. It is near the small- 
 est one that the natives say the ' Grand Devil ' has his 
 seat. We found the village nearly deserted, the peo- 
 ple being busy on their rice-farms. At last, however, 
 we gathered from all the towns about twenty-five per- 
 sons, who came and sat down under the shade of some 
 large trees, and listened to the blessed truths of the 
 Gospel. We sang a Grebo hymn, repeated the com- 
 mandments, prayed, and ' preached unto them Jesus 
 and the resurrection.' 
 
 " We were hospitably entertained by the head man, 
 who killed a fowl, made some soup, and boiled some 
 rice. AVe ate out of a wash-basin, (used for eating 
 only, by the natives,) and being hungry, our dinner 
 tasted very palatable. 
 
 "At two o'clock we left this place, and returned and 
 
118 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 preached in the towns of the same tribe before men 
 tioned. Our congregations were attentive and qniet. 
 They have heard the Gospel as seldom as the others, 
 though not so far distant. What multitudes and mul 
 titudes of poor heathen throng both banks of this 
 river, for a hundred miles ! How few of them ever 
 heard and understood the import of the blessed name 
 of Jesus ! Now, however, God has raised up and 
 commissioned a native evangelist, (with me to-day,) 
 whose principal work will be to go ' far hence to these 
 Gentiles.' " 
 
 In July of this year, Mr. Pinckney took charge of 
 the new mission station at Sinoe. Bishop Payne, who 
 had visited it in September of the preceding year, to 
 make arrangements for the establishment of a station, 
 thus describes it : 
 
 "Sinoe is a Liberian settlement, intermediate be- 
 tween Cape Palmas and Bassa, and ninety miles from 
 either place, the apparent prosperity of which was 
 greater than I had anticipated, flattering as were the 
 accounts I had heard. Greenville, the seaport town, 
 presents altogether the most pleasant and respectable 
 appearance of all the towns in Liberia. Not so large 
 by half as Monrovia, nor having so large a number of 
 good buildings, it is yet more compact, has more good 
 houses together, and the style of building is better and 
 more uniform. This arises from the fact that the in- 
 habitants came chiefly from the cities of Charleston 
 -and Savannah, and are, many of them, men of means, 
 and excellent mechanics. I believe all the trades are 
 there represented, from the goldsmith to the blacksmith. 
 
 "A fine steam saw-mill has been erected and is iu 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 119 
 
 operation on the Sinoe river, immediately in the rear 
 of Greenville, and on the border of a heavily-timbered 
 forest. Besides the town of Greenville, there are four 
 other villages on the Sinoe river, namely: Farmers- 
 ville, Lexington, Louisiana, and Eeadsville. They ex- 
 tend to the distance of seven miles from the sea-shore, 
 and have an aggregate population of about fifteen 
 hundred. These settlements are receiving yearly ac- 
 cessions of population from the United States, and are, 
 I think, destined to improve as fast, and increase as 
 rapidly almost, as any other places in Liberia. 
 
 "Nor does the native less than the colonist interest 
 claim our attention. The Sinoe and Kroo and Fish 
 tribes have numerous towns on every side of the set- 
 tlements, for whose Christianization the first well-ap- 
 pointed measures are yet to be taken." 
 
 " The Bassa Cove station may now be regarded as 
 fairly commenced. The settlement of Fishtown, in con- 
 nection with which so much difficulty had occurred, and 
 upon which incipient operations had in some measure 
 depended, has been effected. More than two hundred 
 people are on the ground ; the city has been laid off, 
 lots drawn, and buildings carried rapidly forward 
 towards completion. 
 
 "It is a truly beautiful site, richly deserving all the 
 encomiums which have been lavished upon it. No- 
 thing but a lack of enterprise can fail to make it the 
 commercial emporium of Liberia. Fishtown is three 
 miles from the mouth of the St. John's river, and the 
 present settlement of Bassa Cove. With the settle- 
 ment and the intervening plain, it constitutes the city 
 of Buchanan. The project of a railroad, to connect 
 the two settlements, is in agitation." 
 
120 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 " On tlie western border of Fishtown, and separated 
 from it by a creek or lagoon, and two miles from the 
 mouth of the St. John's, is the site for the station. It 
 has the advantages of retirement, a good landing, and 
 exposure to the life-inspiring sea-breeze. Ten acres 
 have already been secured from the government at 
 this place for our purposes. Two lots, in the settle- 
 ment at Fishtown, have also been engaged, to erect a 
 school-house or church, as circumstances shall deter- 
 mine. As the colonist population is now, and will 
 probably be for some time, distributed in compara- 
 tively small towns and villages, the proper mode of 
 reaching it will be to erect small and cheap chapels in 
 each. 
 
 " Dr. I. S. Smith, resident of this place, has been 
 requested to act as agent for erecting a suitable dwell- 
 ing-house for the Mission. The plan given him is that 
 of a building two stories high, with five rooms and 
 four closets. This will accommodate permanently a 
 married and unmarried missionary and teacher. It 
 may be also used at first as a storehouse, and for a 
 small boarding-school." 
 
 Mr. Rambo, who expected to have charge of this sta- 
 tion, visited it in May of this year, and thus wrote : 
 
 " Buchanan, Bassa, Liberia, May 25, 1854. 
 " I am here on my first visit to see the place, hasten 
 the building of our mission-house, and make some ac- 
 quaintances among both colonists and natives. I left 
 Cape Palmas on the tenth, when all our Mission, with 
 one or two exceptions of indisposition, were in good 
 health and spirits, and prosecuting their work with 
 cheerfulness and success. 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 121 
 
 " One thing and another has delayed the commence- 
 ment of the building till this time. The frame is now 
 cut, and the boards engaged, and soon will be on the 
 spot. ... I have been well received, and, in fact, 
 cordially welcomed by the most respectable citizens 
 here. We have now no member in any of the settle- 
 ments, that I can hear of. Some who were formerly 
 members in America, not finding our Church here, 
 have connected themselves with other denominations. 
 I believe the Lord has an excellent work for our 
 Church to accomplish in this country, both amongst 
 colonists and natives." 
 
 " This afternoon, an old gentleman in a prominent 
 station called upon me, to inform me of two excellent 
 openings among the natives, (Bassas.) One of the points 
 was sixteen, and the other ten miles distant. The 
 Methodists formerly had schools at these places ; but 
 since they have deserted them, the chiefs have called 
 earnestly in vain for a God-man." 
 
 In speaking of the Bassas, in another letter, he says : 
 "An almost unbounded field is before us. Their 
 country embraces at least ten thousand square miles, 
 which, at a very moderate calculation, must contain 
 from fifty thousand to eighty thousand souls, all speak- 
 ing one language. 
 
 " I made a visit, a few days ago, to ' King Peter 
 Harris' ' town, about four miles from Bassa Cove, 
 near the Benson river. The town was very small, not 
 containing more than twenty -five houses, and about 
 one hundred persons. This, indeed, is rather larger 
 than the average size of Bassa towns, a large number 
 
 G 
 
122 DAY DAWN IX AFRICA. 
 
 being smaller than this. After being accustomed to 
 see the towns of the Greboes, averaging from four 
 hundred to six hundred persons each, such towns 
 seem quite small. The houses, however, look more 
 substantial and comfortable than those of the Cape 
 Palmas natives, yet they do not last so long. They 
 have, as others, ground floors and thatched roofs ; but 
 the interstices between the upright sticks are filled 
 with clay, and plastered smoothly inside and out. 
 They are of square form, high doors, with roofs pro- 
 jecting three or four feet, so as to form a good veran- 
 dah. Inside, on either side, are wide berths, elevated, 
 answering for beds, neatly constructed of plaited bam- 
 boo, which are fir more comfortable than the hard 
 clay floor on which, with a thin mat spread, the Gre- 
 boes sleep. , 
 
 " ' King Peter' is one of the most prominent of the 
 P>assa chiefs, speaks broken English, and is a friend 
 of Liberia and the missionaries. He has about one 
 hundred towns under his influence, in every one of 
 which, I doubt not, the Gospel may be preached with- 
 out let or hindrance. 
 
 " These people are less fixed in their abodes, and 
 their country far more sparsely settled, than that of 
 1 he Greboes ; yet this fact, together with their desire to 
 become assimilated to the Liberians and other foreign- 
 ers, would make it easy for a missionary, in some cen- 
 tral place, to gather around him hundreds of people, 
 who would place themselves under Liberian laws, and 
 thus be somewhat prepared for the Gospel. Sassa- 
 wood, witchcraft, fetishism to some extent, and break- 
 ing of the Sabbath, are amongst the evils which some 
 
DAY DAWN IX AFRICA. 123 
 
 of the more civilized Bassas, among them ' King Peter' 
 and his subjects, have professed to give up, especially 
 where the influence of the Liberian laws is felt. 
 
 " I conversed some time with King Peter and his 
 people, and preached to them. He promises me some 
 of his boys, as soon as a school can be established 
 among them, which I hope may be next year, (though 
 one missionary and his wife can not do all, or even 
 commence all, that is desirable.) Scores, if not hun- 
 dreds of Bassa youths, are employed in various ways 
 among the colonists in this count} 7- , and are thus, to 
 some extent, being civilized. But ivho cares for their 
 souls, or the souls of the natives generally ? Almost 
 no one. The whole land, then, or nearly so, is ' yet to 
 be possessed. 1 . . . With millions of treasure, and 
 many young candidates for orders, (alas ! too few,) can 
 not the Church spare enough to undertake a work 
 which promises so much in return for well-directed, 
 prayerful labor ? . . . . Shall their sad cry, (the 
 cry of untold millions of degraded, superstitious, 
 wretched heathen Africans,) shall their sad cry remain 
 unheeded t Will Christians at home, who are blessed 
 with all spiritual and all temporal blessings, rolling in 
 their wealth, say indifferently, ' Be ye (spiritually) 
 clothed and warmed and fed,' extending no hand to 
 help, contributing no funds to aid, offering no prayer 
 to save these enslaved millions ?" 
 
 " The Liberians of this county," adds Mr. R, " will 
 give our Mission a hearty welcome, especially on ac- 
 count of what they consider our superior manner of 
 managing schools. The influence of our Church is 
 also much needed, and it will in due time meet, I 
 doubt not, with success." 
 
124 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 At Clay Ashland is another new and interesting 
 mission station. " This is the name of a township on 
 the St. Paul's river, beginning ten miles above Monro- 
 via, and embracing the most populous and flourishing 
 agricultural district of Liberia." 
 
 "At the beginning of last year," writes Bishop 
 Payne, " a late prominent minister of the Methodist 
 Church, having his residence in this neighborhood, 
 became a candidate for orders in the Protestant Epis- 
 copal Church, and proposed opening a mission station 
 under my direction. As it is the very spot which I 
 should have selected, could I have had my choice, for 
 our second mission station in Mesurado count} r , Mr. 
 Eussell's proposition was readily assented to. During 
 the year, I accordingly authorized him to receive fif- 
 teen native youths under his care, to act as lay reader 
 amongst the colonists in the neighborhood, and to 
 erect a small brick church edifice. All these objects 
 received his due attention, and at the close of the year, 
 Grace Church, a neat little G-othic building, was nearly 
 finished. 
 
 "As Mr. Kussell was expecting to take orders early 
 in the next spring, I thought proper to employ Mr. 
 Harris as teacher at his station. After Mr. Eussell's 
 ordination, Mr. Harris will act as lay reader under his 
 direction, and the joint labors of the two will extend 
 our services to all the settlements on St. Paul's river 
 where they may be desired, At one of these settle- 
 ments, (called New -York,) an enterprising merchant 
 has given to the Mission a lot, and some means for the 
 erection of a chapel. Mr. Russell has also kindly of- 
 fered desirable lots, for school-houses or chapels, as 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 125 
 
 may be needed, in Clay Ashland, ten miles back of 
 Monrovia, and Caldwell. A merchant has made a 
 similar offer in the township of Louisiana.' 1 '' 
 
 Mr. Eussell was ordained at Cavalla on the fifteenth 
 day of February, and put in charge of Grace Church. 
 
 " Through the great mercy of God, our Mission has 
 now attained a condition which may well rejoice the 
 hearts and strengthen the hands of its friends, and of 
 all the people of God. 
 
 " The actual existence and continual progression 
 during eighteen years, has placed its practicability be- 
 yond all question." 
 
 " Conversions, both amongst colonists and natives, 
 have afforded proof enough that the Gospel brings 
 forth fruit here, as in all the world, where it is faith- 
 fully proclaimed. 
 
 " The continual enlargement of the Mission has been 
 a most evident following of the word and providence 
 of God, and is therefore God's call' to the Church for 
 ever-enlarging prayers, contributions, and efforts in its 
 behalf. 
 
 " The increase of colored ministers (colonist and na- 
 tive) gives promise that ere long the work, commenced 
 by foreign missionaries, may be carried on by the 
 Africans themselves. While at the same time the con- 
 tinual accession of foreign laborers shows that God is 
 working in the hearts of His faithful ones to come up 
 to the great work which His providence is about to 
 accomplish in Africa." 
 
 And now again the angel of death visited the Mis- 
 sion band, and bore away from our midst the young 
 missionary physician. In announcing his death to the 
 
126 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 Foreign Committee, the Bishop gives the following 
 touching description of his character and his end : 
 
 " We have again to appeal to the Church, and the 
 thousands of medical men in the United States, for a 
 missionary physician ; for on yesterday morning, (July 
 11th,) Dr. T. K. Steele died at Cavalla, in the faith 
 and love and peace and joy of the Gospel of our Lord 
 and Saviour Jesus Christ. 
 
 "At the time of his appointment, Dr. Steele was 
 thought to have consumption ; and the voyage to this 
 place proved injurious rather than an advantage. Dur- 
 ing the six months of his missionary life, days and 
 nights of weariness were appointed to him ; but the 
 ' life of Christ was manifested in his mortal body.' 
 
 "In love and faithfulness, he instructed and prayed 
 with the heathen with whom he came in contact ; in 
 'unity, like the precious oil which ran down Aaron's 
 beard, he dwelt with brothers and sisters of the Mis- 
 sion, ever ready to do them service, ever regretting 
 he could not do them more. In patience he abided the 
 short night of affliction, yet longing for the morning ; 
 and as the shadows of Tuesday night, with all his 
 earthly night, were fleeing away together, the glorious 
 heavenly day was dawning upon him. Yesterday 
 morning, about nine o'clock, amidst sorrowing yet re- 
 joicing missionary sisters and brethren, did this lovely 
 disciple fall asleep in Jesus, and was carried by angels 
 to Abraham's bosom. Amen, amen, blessed be God !" 
 
 "A native of Baltimore, Maryland, the last years 
 of Dr. Steele's life were spent in "Washington City, 
 D. C, where (under the ministry of Eev. C. M. But- 
 ler, D.D.) he became a professing Christian, and was a 
 

 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 127 
 
 communicant in Trinity Church, until he sailed for 
 Cape Pal mas, where it was hoped his deep piety and 
 thorough medical education would make him a bless- 
 ing to the Mission." 
 
 From the journal of another member of the Mission, 
 we quote the following particulars of his last hours : 
 
 "As long as he was able to speak, our beloved 
 young friend seemed to realize more and more of the 
 Saviour's presence, assuring us that He was unspeak- 
 ably precious to his soul, and requesting his sister not 
 to weep, but rather to rejoice that he was so near his 
 home. Soon after, as his nurse was changing his gar- 
 ments, he exclaimed : ' How many comforts / enjoy, 
 unworthy creature that I am, while my Saviour had 
 not where to lay His head !' We sang for him : ' There 
 is a land of pure delight,' 'Jerusalem, my happy 
 home,' etc. Thus the last sounds he heard on earth 
 were songs of praise to the precious Eedeemer who 
 had saved him from his sins, and whom he hoped 
 soon to see where ' faith is swallowed up in sight.' 
 
 " The Bishop made a very appropriate and earnest 
 address to the heathen who attended the funeral, on 
 the horrible effects of sin, showing that even those 
 whom God loved must pay the penalty of death, and 
 ending by drawing a contrast between the peaceful 
 death of the young Christian whose mortal remains 
 lay before them, and that of a heathen man who had 
 died about the same time, for whom firing of guns and 
 wild lamentation had been kept up several hours. ' If 
 we mourn,' said he, ' it is for ourselves, because we 
 shall see our friend no more until we follow him ; but 
 you mourn, because you never again expect to see 
 
128 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 jour friend, and know not where his spirit has fled. 
 "When our friends die in the Lord, we know they are 
 happy and gone to rest." 
 
 " Gone to the rest of the ever blessed, 
 To the New Jerusalem ; 
 Where the children of light do walk in white, 
 And the Saviour leadeth them." 
 
C \ a $ 1 1 1 |( i n f Ir . 
 
 " Mt word shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish 
 that which I please." — I3A. 55 : 11. 
 
 Ix May of tins year (1854) two more ordinations 
 took place at St. Mark's Church. Mr. Pinckney and 
 Mr. Green, both colonists, were ordained, the former 
 priest, and the latter deacon. Mr. Green went to Mon- 
 rovia to assist Eev. Mr. Crummell ; and Mr. Pinckney 
 took charge of the congregation at the flourishing town 
 of Sinoe, ninety miles north-west of Cape Palmas. 
 
 An increased religious interest was manifested in the 
 Maryland Colony at Cape Palmas, and before the close 
 of the year twenty communicants were added to St. 
 Mark's Church. 
 
 While the colonists here, (as at Monrovia, and other 
 places in Liberia,) who have had capital and business 
 knowledge, have done well — have in some cases be- 
 come rich — we find that there is much bitter suffering 
 among the poor ; and the cause of this is stated in the 
 journal of the missionary in charge, Rev. Mr. Scott : 
 
 11 May 2\st. — After service to-day, I visited a num- 
 ber of sick persons in the neighborhood of the church. 
 Four of the persons, I visited, are very ill, and almost 
 entirely dependent on the charities of their neighbors 
 for the means of subsistence. A good proportion of 
 the colonists here are unable to provide themselves 
 
 6* 
 
loO DAY DAWN IN AFEICA. 
 
 •with much more than the necessaries of life; and in 
 times of sickness are compelled to dispense with almost 
 every thing like comfort, not being able, indeed, to 
 provide themselves with the medicines needed. 
 
 "Will not the friends of colonization, who are favored 
 with an abundance of this world's goods, contribute 
 something towards the relief of the poor at Cape Pal- 
 mas ? Only a few of the emigrants possess any thing 
 of importance on their arrival, and consequently are 
 unable to contribute much to the relief of the suffering. 
 It is proposed to erect an asylum for the helpless, and 
 a small sum has already been obtained for it ; but un- 
 less aid is obtained from abroad, several years must 
 elapse before a suitable building can be erected.* 
 
 " The people, with the blessing of God, may in a 
 few years be able to take care of themselves ; but that 
 a small colony, without foreign aid, in the infancy of 
 their existence, in a climate, for the first year or two, 
 trying to their health, should be able to provide them- 
 selves with the comforts of life, and supply all the 
 wants of the poor, is a degree of success no people have 
 ever yet attained." 
 
 From the same journal we take the following ex- 
 tracts, which will serve to give some idea of their reli- 
 gious state : 
 
 u May lid. — Passed by the house of a colonist this 
 morning, whom I visited some days since in his last 
 illness, intending to visit him again to-day, but was 
 surprised to learn that his spirit, a few hours before, 
 had returned to his God. Whilst I sympathized with 
 
 * We hope an hospital will bo built ere long at this place. 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 131 
 
 his afflicted family, I rejoiced at his departure ; for in 
 his humble life he walked with Jesus, and in his dying- 
 hours he was not deserted. As I communed with him 
 a few days before, and heard from his lips expressions 
 of joy which none but the dying Christian experiences, 
 I felt it was good to be there." 
 
 " June 17th. — Spent the day in visiting the members 
 of St. Mark's, and other sick persons in the colony. 
 In the morning visited a colonist woman, who is, to all 
 appearances, near her end, and without any hope in 
 Christ ; and says, she never in her life felt sin to be a 
 burden. After striving to awaken her to a sense ol 
 her danger, I left the house with a sad heart. In the 
 afternoon visited old aunt Rachel, a blind woman, 
 nearly a hundred years old, and found her apparently 
 dying ; but with her faculties clear, and perfectly hap- 
 py. When asked if she was willing to go and be with 
 Jesus, she replied, that the only fear she had was, that 
 she was too anxious to go, and hadn't patience to wait 
 the Lord's time. Never, from any other dying lips 
 did I hear such expressions of thankfulness and joy. 
 She thanked God that she was born, to be born again ; 
 and though she could not articulate without difficulty, 
 she sweetly sang : 
 
 •■ Jesufl can make a dung-bed 
 Feel soft as downy piLlows err." 
 
 " As I was entering the heathen town at the Cape 
 to-day, I saw a large crowd of people, mostly children, 
 in pursuit of a man who had just taken sassa wood, 
 ready to beat him to death with stones and clubs, as 
 soon as he should fall. He ran into a house, where he 
 
132 DAY DAWN IX AFRICA. 
 
 was protected from his pursuers, until the fatal poison 
 had done its work." 
 
 What a contrast between the deaths of these two 
 Africans ! She, waiting with patient joy for the long- 
 expected hour when her blind eyes should open upon 
 the glories of the upper sanctuary, and behold Him 
 who had died for her redemption. He, ignorant of 
 God, and without hope beyond the grave, rushing un- 
 called into eternity, and lying down, like a hunted 
 beast, to bear his dying agonies alone. What matters 
 it to blind, old Kachel now, that in her youth, she was 
 exiled from her own land, and lived in bondage to a 
 foreign race, since there she found a Saviour ; and, 
 unlike millions of her own people, could rejoice in the 
 prospect of death ? 
 
 " June 18th. — Called again this morning," writes 
 Mr. S., "to see aunt Rachel, and found her almost 
 speechless, but still rejoicing in the Saviour. She said 
 she was almost home, and would ' give God all the 
 glory;' and thanked Him for all her trials, without 
 which she would not have known so much of her 
 Saviour." 
 
 In the other mission stations among the colonists, 
 an increased interest in religious affairs was manifest. 
 Rev. Alex. Crummell, in a letter, dated Monrovia, 
 Nov. 11th, 1854, says: "We have great cause for 
 thankfulness to almighty God, for His favor, His mer- 
 cy, and His love. Our school (and Sunday-school) is 
 in an unusually progresive state. Unfortunately our 
 male teachers are few in number ; and, therefore, both 
 Mr. Green and myself are obliged, besides our other 
 duties, to attend Sunday-school twice every Sunday. 
 

DAY DAWN IN AFltlCA. 133 
 
 Every week we have an increase of scholars in attend- 
 ance. On Monday afternoons, at four o'clock, we 
 always gather our little ones together for catechising." 
 
 "Here, also, we see a regular increase. They as- 
 semble at my house, and their improvement in man- 
 ners, and their advancement in acquaintance with cate- 
 chism and scriptural proofs thereof, would please any 
 pastor. We have no part of our work more pleasing 
 and encouraging than our work among the little ones 
 of Christ's flock." 
 
 " Our church attendance increases regularly as well 
 as our members. No month passes without some little 
 one baptized into the fold, and some new adult added 
 to our list of members. The 29th and 30th of October 
 were two ' high days' with us : the former, the twen- 
 tieth Sunday in Trinity, completed a year since we 
 commenced services at 'Trinity Church.' "We cele- 
 brated our anniversary on the same Sunday. On 
 Monday morning, the 30th, we again held service, 
 celebrated the Holy Communion, and then went in 
 procession to the place where we are building Trinity 
 Church, and I laid the corner-stone thereof, with ap- 
 propriate services, and delivered an address on the 
 occasion. The whole town showed much interest in 
 the event. On October 2d, we celebrated the anniver- 
 sary of our Sunday-school. The children assembled 
 at half-past ten ; prayer, reading of the Bible, singing, 
 catechising the children, and addresses by myself and 
 assistant, and three others, were the exercises of the 
 morning; after which the children walked in proces- 
 sion to my residence, where they had lunch, and then 
 spent the afternoon in play." 
 
13-i DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 "Mr. Bass, one of our young communicants, has 
 succeeded in erecting a thatched building, and opened 
 a small school, which promises to increase. When 
 Bishop Payne was here last October, he said he saw 
 the need of immediate effort to erect a church edifice 
 for the church people of this town. For this purpose 
 he gave a donation of $500, and requested me to write 
 to several parties in the United States, and to push on 
 in our efforts, so that the walls might be up, and 
 the roof on, during the present dry season. In com- 
 pliance with these orders, I wrote to a few clergymen, 
 asking their interest in our undertaking,* and having 
 no plans, I got a friend in England to obtain for us a 
 neat and handsome model for a church. 
 
 " It is with great regret that we feel obliged to cease, 
 even for a brief period, our efforts for our growing 
 church, in the capital, the place of resort from every part 
 of Liberia. We are very fortunate in the selection of a 
 site : the first rise of the hill which stretches out into 
 a cape, where there is no place of worship, and which 
 is being more rapidly settled by new comers than any 
 other portion of the neighborhood 
 
 " The site was a mass of rocks ; and for weeks we 
 have been drilling and blasting, and the masons laying 
 the foundations as fast as a clearance could be made. 
 Three sides of the foundation of the church have been 
 laid in solid rock ; and on those three sides the founda- 
 tion has been carried up three feet." 
 
 The following letter, from Eev. Eobert Smith, to the 
 
 * Since this letter was written, the Sunday-school of St. George's 
 Church, New-York, has undertaken the whole expense of building this 
 church at Monrovia. 
 
PAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 135 
 
 Secretary of the Foreign Committee, gives an account 
 of his voyage to Africa, accompanied by Mrs. Payne, 
 the wife of the Bishop, and Miss Alley. It is dated at 
 Monrovia, Dec. 19th, 1854: 
 
 " By an English steamer that is expected in this 
 port hourly, I send you the gratifying intelligence of 
 our safe arrival. We anchored in this harbor last 
 Sunday morning, after a passage of fifty-one days. 
 Our passage, you perceive, has been a long one, and it 
 has also been a tedious one. For the first twenty-five 
 days we were hindered by strong head-winds and 
 storms, and for the last ten days by calms. * * * * 
 We had public worship every Sabbath morning after 
 the storm had been passed, and morning and evening 
 prayers, besides occasional prayer-meetings. And I 
 am happy to inform you that we have enjoyed very 
 cheering tokens of the special presence and gracious 
 operation of the Holy Spirit. Several of our party, 
 we have good reason to believe, have passed from 
 death to life ; among whom are one of the officers, and 
 two other of the ship's company : professing Christians, 
 who had grown cold, and well nigh abandoned their 
 hope in Christ, have been quickened, and all, I believe, 
 have felt a new impulse heavenward. Our Methodist 
 fellow-passengers have been profitable companions; 
 and altogether our time has passed agreeably and pro- 
 fitably. 
 
 "And now we are in Africa, we all thank God. 
 We have no desire to return to our dear, dear Father- 
 land. We love her — oh ! how well ! But God forbid 
 that we should ever be willing to abandon a post of 
 duty so manifestly assigned us by the Head of the 
 
136 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 Church. We are happy in our present situation ; and 
 we shall be still more so when we get to our home. 
 
 " I have been on shore twice^ Yesterday I called 
 upon his Excellency the President of Liberia, in com- 
 pany with that very agreeable gentleman and officer, 
 Captain Whittle, of the United States ship Dale. I 
 called upon Eev. Mr. Crummell also, having been 
 visited by him on board the Estelle. He is very well, 
 as is his colleague, Eev. Mr. Green. I was favorably 
 impressed with their intelligence. 
 
 " Trinity Church is going up slowly, that is, the 
 foundation is being laid. The situation is a very agree- 
 able one. Mr. Crummell speaks very encouragingly 
 of the prospects of his rising church ; and I have heard 
 him favorably mentioned. 
 
 "To-day I visited the Legislature, which is now in 
 session. The President delivered a message before the 
 Legislature, and it was, such as all of his public efforts 
 are, straightforward and excellent. President Roberts 
 is a true man, admirably qualified for his position, 
 which I am sorry to hear he will not continue to 
 occupy. 
 
 "Every thing looks strange, and nature, doubly 
 deeply interesting. We found letters here from Cape 
 Palmas reporting all well. Mr. Home has joined the 
 host of the white-robed throng before the throne. The 
 particulars of his death I have not heard. When we 
 reach Cape Palmas, I will write again. 
 
 "Robert Smith." 
 
 The event referred to in the close of the preceding 
 letter, had cast a shade of gloom over the Mission. 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 137 
 
 "We quote the particulars from the Bishop's letter to 
 the Foreign Committee : 
 
 " The Eev. George W. Home died at Eocktown on 
 the 2d of October, 185-1. He had long been in feeble 
 health, and had, in fact, made all his arrangements to 
 return to the United States. He expired, most unex- 
 pectedly to every one but his faithful, sorrowing wife. 
 She alone was too fully aware of the certain failing of 
 life and strength. At Mrs. Home's request, I went to 
 Eocktown, and remained with Mr. IT. a week. At the 
 expiration of the time he seemed much better. Indeed, 
 he preached the Sunday after I left ; but he became so 
 unwell again, that the physician continued to visit him 
 until the day before yesterday, when he reported him 
 much improved. Such was the account I received last 
 evening at Cavalla, about eight o'clock. At the same 
 hour a note was penned to me from Eocktown, an- 
 nouncing his death. He continued to direct every 
 thing connected with his family and himself to the last 
 moment, and Mrs. H. thinks he was not aware his end 
 was at hand. 
 
 " Mrs. Home, I am thankful to find, bears her afflic- 
 tion with becoming resignation. She will return, by the 
 first good opportunity, to her parents at Middletown, Ct. 
 Her sweet child, thank God, is spared her, and is in 
 very good health." 
 
 Mr. Augustus Eogers, the faithful and efficient 
 teacher of the male native school at Cavalla, was com- 
 pelled, by declining health, to withdraw from the Mis- 
 sion in October of this year. Not finding a vessel to 
 carry him directly to the United States, and feeling 
 the need of surgical assistance, he took passage to 
 
138 I)AY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 Hamburgh, Germany, and there died, shortly after his 
 arrival. In speaking of his loss to the school, the 
 Bishop writes, under date of September 26 : 
 
 " I have to divide with brothers Scott and Kambo 
 the duties of school-teacher. We are assisted by 
 Brownell and Kinckle, (native youths,) both of whom 
 have made great improvement, and the former, I hope, 
 by the beginning of next year, will be prepared to take 
 the principal charge of the school. He and all the 
 boys have made astonishing improvement under Mr. 
 Kogers ; and the school is now left in such a fine state 
 of discipline, that my part is performed in it with plea- 
 sure. Still I hope you will send us some good teach- 
 ers for boys as well as for girls. * * * * Amidst 
 all our trials and tribulations for Jesus' sake, how 
 blessed our consolations also !" 
 
 "At Mount Yaughan there has been a gracious visi- 
 tation of the Spirit to the members of the High School. 
 Eight boys (colonist) have made a profession of faith 
 in Christ. The Spirit's influences were granted in the 
 course of regular services and duties; and on this 
 account we hope they will be more abiding in their 
 effects. Brother Scott is spending this week at Cape 
 Pal mas, collecting and preparing candidates for con- 
 firmation. He writes me that St. Mark's has been 
 favored with an outpouring of the Spirit. He has 
 already a class of twenty for confirmation, including 
 those from the High School." 
 
 After the death of Rev. Mr. Home, Mr. Wright, 
 who had been ordained priest on the 3d of September, 
 took charge of the station at Rocktown, and continued 
 to discharge the duties thereof — at the same time hav- 
 
DAY' DAWN IN AFRICA. 139 
 
 ing an oversight of his former station at Fishtown — 
 until the month of March following, when failure of 
 health compelled him to return to the United States. 
 
 One of the greatest trials of the faith of the mission- 
 ary band, is to see important stations left vacant at a 
 time, when, after years of patient waiting, the fruits 
 begin to appear. 
 
 In addition to Rocktown and Fishtown, Taboo, 
 thirty miles, and Rockbooka, twenty miles, east of 
 Cape Palmas, have been left for several years without 
 a white missionary. 
 
 In this connection, the following extract from the 
 journal of one of the missionaries, comes with touching- 
 sadness to the ear : 
 
 " Went to Taboo to-day. 
 
 " On my return, I stopped at the site of the old 
 mission-house at Rockbooka, a sweet spot, where a 
 few years since the sacrifice of prayer and praise 
 ascended daily to the triune God. 
 
 "As I walked among the fruit and flower trees, 
 planted and reared by those who will never again look 
 on them, my heart was filled with sadness, and I won- 
 dered if the time would ever come when this beautiful 
 wilderness would bloom again. 
 
 " If God's ministers fully realized the awfully sad 
 condition of the heathen of Africa, and their claims 
 upon the Church for the only remedy for their degra- 
 dation, this and other stations which have been opened 
 would not long be deserted for the want of laborers. 
 
 "Are there not many pious young men in America 
 — private members of the Church — who would esteem 
 it a glorious privilege to be engaged in this most 
 blessed work?" 
 
Chapter %t\\t\. 
 
 " My name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of 
 host?. 1 ' — Mal. 1:11. 
 
 In March of this year, (1855,) Eev. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Eambo removed to Bassa Cove, one hundred and 
 eighty miles north of Cape Palmas, to take charge of 
 the new station opened at that point. 
 
 Under date of June 29th, Mr. B, writes : " I still 
 continue to preach once and to lecture once at every 
 Lord's day at this station, and once every fortnight at 
 Lower Buchanan, when the lameness from which I 
 am temporarily suffering will permit. My Bible class 
 and lectures are also held in the course of each week. 
 Our congregations are not large, but having no other 
 place at present in which to officiate but a private 
 dwelling, we can not expect so large and attentive an 
 attendance as if we had a building for the purpose. 
 The Sunday-school, which we opened a few weeks ago 
 at Lower Buchanan, has now twenty -five pupils en- 
 rolled, most of whom are regular attendants. The 
 examination of our High School took place ten days 
 ago. The scholars, of whom there are as yet but 
 seven, stood a fair examination. I am happy to say 
 that two of these pupils are communicants, and a third 
 is to be baptized on Sunday next. We have reason to 
 hope that another will soon be added. I regularly 
 
DAY DAWN IX AFRICA. 141 
 
 hear the recitations of Mr. McMerwin and Mr. Oliver. 
 Both are likely to be useful as agents, if not deacons, 
 to which they are now aspiring." 
 
 In April of the same year, the Orphan Asylum, 
 after many delays, was sufficiently completed, and the 
 Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Scott removed to Cape Palmas, to 
 take charge of this institution, and of the mission sta- 
 tion at that place. 
 
 Previous to this time, no white missionary of our 
 Church had resided at Cape Palmas, though it had 
 always been embraced within the limits of the Mission, 
 and Mount Vaughan, the oldest mission building, is 
 but three miles distant. The missionary residing there, 
 and those at Cavalla, had regularly preached at the 
 Cape. 
 
 About two years prior to this time, N. S. Harris, a 
 member of the native school at Cavalla, asked the 
 Bishop's permission to remove to Cape Palmas, and 
 become a regular teacher to the people of his own 
 tribe residing there. 
 
 On arriving at the Cape, Harris called the natives 
 together, and told them that as there was no house yet 
 ready at the Cape for a white missionary, he thought 
 it was his duty to give them such instruction as he was 
 qualified for, and that he, having been educated by 
 the missionaries, felt himself prepared to teach the 
 Gospel to them and their children. He then proposed 
 to teach a boarding-school during the week, and to 
 preach the Gospel in their towns on Sunday. The 
 people gladly agreed, and in a short time he had a 
 school collected at "Green Hill," a beautiful spot near 
 the Cape, where a neat little house had been erected 
 
1-42 PAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 for the purpose. Kegularly on Sunday he went into 
 the heathen towns around the Cape, and read and 
 explained the Scriptures to his idolatrous countrymen. 
 At first they gathered around him to hear the interest- 
 ing fables, as they supposed the parables and miracles 
 of our Lord and Saviour to be. In the course of a 
 few months, however, they began to believe that there 
 might be some truth in these strange stories ; and, as 
 conviction fastened upon their minds, one and another 
 would shake his head gravely, and say to Harris : 
 "Hanh te ne ahpode" " The thing, or word, you speak 
 is true." 
 
 The remarkable zeal and earnestness of this young 
 native teacher, combined with his great rhetorical 
 powers, prepared him for more than ordinary useful- 
 ness. In season and out of season he preached the 
 Gospel of Christ. It was evident to his people that 
 there must be some power in the religion he professed, 
 to account for his great devotion to his work. "When 
 they had seen white men laboring in this manner, 
 they would say, " God has made white man to have a 
 different fashion from black man ;" but when they 
 became the daily witnesses to the upright life of one 
 of their own people, and saw him conduct himself, in 
 every point, as a consistent Christian, they felt con- 
 vinced that the white man's religion had power to 
 turn Africans also from their wicked ways. The Ny- 
 ekbade, or old men, passed a law prohibiting labor on 
 the Sabbath ; and a spirit of inquiry concerning reli- 
 gious matters appeared to have been aroused in the 
 minds of the people generally. When Mr. Scott went 
 up to the Cape every other week to preach, (as he did 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 143 
 
 for more than a year before he left Cavalla,) he found 
 large congregations gathered to meet him, by the per- 
 severing efforts of this devoted teacher ; and, by many, 
 an earnest desire was expressed to be fully instructed 
 in the Gospel. 
 
 Soon after Mr. Scott settled at the Cape, a commo- 
 dious chapel (costing about three hundred and fifty 
 dollars) was completed for the natives. This building, 
 called Church of the Evangelists, was erected almost 
 entirely by contributions from missionaries and colon- 
 ists. The natives were exceedingly gratified to have 
 a white missionary, and a place of worship that they 
 could call their own. From this time, the congregation 
 increased in size and in interest. The missionary 
 divided his time between the colonists and natives, 
 preaching in the morning at St. Mark's, the colonial 
 church, and in the afternoon at the native chapel. 
 
 About this time, it was thought expedient to remove 
 the native boarding school from Green Hill, to a beau- 
 tiful plain on Hoffman river, in the immediate vicinity 
 of the Cape. It is proposed to establish at this place, 
 now called Hoffman Station, another Christian village. 
 Already several young men, who are interested in the 
 Gospel, have expressed a desire to remove to it ; and 
 we have reason to hope that the day is not far distant, 
 when here, as at Cavalla, the voice of "thanksgiving 
 and melody" shall be heard from the happy homes of 
 many regenerated heathen. 
 
 The following extracts from the journals of mission- 
 aries, will give some idea of the nature of the work 
 among the heathen : 
 
 "Nov. 21s/, Mr. Scott writes : ' Went to Taboo today, 
 
144 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 accompanied by Eev. C. F. Jones, and spent three 
 days, during which time we preached at ten different 
 towns among the Baboes and Plaboes. 
 
 " Had many animated discussions with the people 
 on the subject of gree-grees, and found them very much 
 more wedded to their superstitions than the Greboes, 
 the difference to be attributed doubtless to the preach- 
 ing of the Gospel to the latter, and their intercourse 
 with the colonists at Cape Pal mas. 
 
 "Nov. 26th, (Sunday.) — Preached at Nyaro this morn- 
 ing. Found Hyano very sick, but in a peaceful and 
 happy frame of mind. By this sickness he is afforded 
 an opportunity of showing his people that the Gospel 
 has power to drive all superstitious fears from the 
 mind. When any one among them is seriously ill, he 
 is taken by his friends from his home, and conveyed 
 secretly to some other house, from the fear that those 
 who, they imagine, have produced the sickness, by 
 means of witchcraft, will succeed in effecting his death. 
 This old disciple has persisted in remaining in his own 
 house, and walking in the town, when he is able, very 
 much to the surprise of his people. 
 
 "Nov. 29th. — Saw a woman dead on the beach to- 
 day. She and another of the wives of her husband 
 had a quarrel, and agreed to settle it by both taking 
 sassa-wood, which proved fatal in her case. 
 
 "Dec. 1st. — Lectured at St. Mark's this afternoon, 
 preparatory to the Communion. 
 
 "Dec. 3d, (Sunday.) — Lectured to confirmation class, 
 preached, and administered communion at St. Mark's 
 Church this morning, and delivered an address at the 
 monthly missionary meeting in the evening. 
 
DAY DAWN IX AFRICA. 145 
 
 "Dec. 7th. — Delivered the address at the monthly mis- 
 sionary meeting at Cavalla this evening, giving a 
 sketch of the progress of the Gospel in the Polynesian 
 islands. 
 
 "Dec. Lllh. — Heard this morning of an incident 
 which well illustrates the disposition which prevails 
 among the heathen of Africa to keep all on a common 
 level. A man at Dodo-lu having made a good deal of 
 money by collecting rock for the church at this place, 
 excited the cupidity of his people ; and they have 
 determined to share his gains on the trifling pleas of 
 his having detracted from the appearance of the en- 
 trance to the town, and taken a part of the rock from 
 holy ground. 
 
 " There is among them scarcely any encouragement 
 to more than enough industry to obtain the necessaries 
 of life ; for, as soon as one begins to lay by a portion 
 of his gains, he becomes a prey to his ravenous people, 
 who are never satiated until they have brought him to 
 their own level ; to get possession of his property, they 
 often compel the unfortunate individual, under a false 
 charge, to drink the deadly sassa-wood. 
 
 "Dec. 24:th, (Sunday.) — Our Convocation services 
 commenced this morning at St. Mark's Church. The 
 Bishop preached at eleven o'clock, and confirmed 
 twenty-three young persons, two of whom are con- 
 nected with the congregation at Cavalla. Three others 
 who are candidates for confirmation, were prevented 
 being present by sickness and other causes. After 
 confirmation, communion was administered, and in the 
 afternoon sermons were preached bv Mr. Gibson and 
 Mr. Wright. 
 
146 BAY DAWK IX AFRICA. 
 
 "Christmas-day. — I preached the Convocation sermon 
 this morning. In the afternoon we had a celebration 
 of the two Sunday-schools of St. Mark's and Mount 
 Vaughan. The children with their parents and teach- 
 ers first assembled at St. Mark's, where they were 
 addressed by the Bishop ; after which they marched 
 in procession, with a number of appropriate banners, 
 to a pleasant spot on the point of the Cape, near the 
 Orphan Asylum ; here they sang two hymns, and lis- 
 tened to an address from Mr. Eambo, at the close of 
 which refreshments were handed around ; and, about 
 sun-set, the exercises closed with the gift of a small 
 book to every child connected with the schools. 
 
 " In the evening we held the usual missionary meet • 
 ing of the Convocation, at which reports were read and 
 addresses delivered. Thus closed the religious exer- 
 cises of our Convocation, which were well attended 
 throughout by attentive hearers. 
 
 "Jan. 7th. — Held the usual services at St. Mark's 
 this morning, and preached in the largest native town 
 of Cape Pal mas in the afternoon. 
 
 "As I was urging upon the people the importance 
 of taking the Lord for their guide during the year 
 upon which we have just entered, I discovered a large 
 grce-gree, which they had erected to aid them in clear- 
 ing their farms. When I called their attention to it, 
 and endeavored to show them the folly of putting their 
 trust in wood and stone, instead of the great God, who 
 made and sustains the world, many of them seemed 
 ashamed. A majority of the leading men in Cape 
 Palmas towns have lost confidence in gree-grees ; but, 
 like the philosophers among the anc : ent Romans, they 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 147 
 
 think it inexpedient to oppose the superstitions of the 
 multitude. Not unfrequently we meet with persons 
 who profess to have no faith in the efficacy of gree-grees 
 — merely keeping them about the house to frighten off 
 rogues. 
 
 " Just before the hour for service, a large delegation 
 from a tribe in the interior arrived. When the con- 
 gregation assembled, a number — probably thirty-five — 
 of these wild beings came to our place of meeting, in 
 front of the Bodia's house ; but on seeing a white face, 
 they retired in alarm. "With some difficulty, the town 
 people persuaded them to return, and hear what the 
 Kitbi, or white man, had to say. They listened with 
 eager curiosity to the preaching of the Gospel, and 
 some of them heard, for the first time in their lives, of 
 the Saviour who died to redeem them. 
 
 " When asked, after the sermon, what they thought 
 of the Word, one replied that they likecl it and wished 
 to have it preached over again, evidently not that they 
 believed it, but because its novelty pleased them. 
 
 " They were, without exception, the oddest, most 
 grotesque-looking specimens of humanity we have 
 ever seen. Low in stature, lean in flesh, and shrivelled 
 in skin, with stupid countenances, they formed a strik- 
 ing contrast, both in physical and intellectual develop- 
 ment, to the natives of the Cape Palmas towns, who 
 are, for the most part, strong, athletic, and ereet in 
 form, with features indicative of decided sprightliness of 
 mind. 
 
 " The question naturally arises, What makes the dif- 
 ference between these tribes ? And the answer is one full 
 of encouragement to all friends of the race, namely, 
 
148 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 contact with, enlightened and Christian people. A 
 large proportion of the coast people serve as kroomen, 
 or sailors, in the vessels of various enlightened nations, 
 and have brought home new ideas, which serve in 
 some degree to expand their minds. 
 
 " Even where they have failed to receive the truths 
 of the Gospel, their superstitions have been materially 
 modified by the influence of Christian colonies; for 
 example, the Cape Palmas heathen, in the congrega- 
 tion alluded to, displayed very few gree-grees, while the 
 Bushmen had a great number hung about their bodies. 
 The latter seemed scarcely able to believe that there 
 could be, in any part of the world, a people who had 
 no faith in gree-grees. 
 
 " The Grebo tribe is evidently being gradually pre- 
 pared for the full reception of the Gospel. A good 
 proportion of them are already intellectually acquaint- 
 ed with its saving truths, and all that they now need 
 to enable them to come out decidedly on the Lord's 
 side, is an outpouring of the Holy Spirit : for this let 
 all the people of God earnestly pray. 
 
 "Feb. 13th. — As Mrs. S. and myself were walking 
 out this afternoon, we witnessed a most pitiable sight. 
 A woman had run away from her husband at Rock- 
 town, and his friends were dragging her back by main 
 force, while she was resisting with all her strength. 
 Just as we came up, they plunged her head foremost 
 into a stream of water again and again, but finding 
 that she still continued to resist, they beat her most 
 cruelly, and dragged her along like a log through the 
 sand. The last we saw of her, she was looking back 
 imploringly for help, while her cries were borne to us 
 on the evening air. 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 149 
 
 "Feb. 2-itJi. — After service in town, I had a long dis- 
 cussion with a demon-doctor from the interior, lie 
 contended more earnestly than any one I have met, for 
 the truth of his system ; and assured me I would be 
 regarded as a fool by his people for opposing the Gos- 
 pel to gree-grees. He said he could foretell future 
 events, and told me of a number of things, about which 
 he had prophesied correctly. Upon my asking him, 
 by way of trial, what would become of me, he replied 
 that he could tell me but for the book I had with me 
 — thus pretending to regard the Christian's Bible as a 
 gree-gree. 
 
 " It is most sad to think what a fearful influence 
 these demon-men have over the poor heathen of 
 Africa." 
 
 From the journal of the Rev. Eobert Smith we se- 
 lect the following interesting extracts : 
 
 "Jan. 24^A. — Visited Dodo-lu and Ordnh-Idiade this 
 afternoon, with Rev. C. F. Jones as interpreter. Found 
 numbers of the women beating rice, and as it seemed 
 expedient, urged upon them the necessity of fleeing 
 from the wrath to come, and turning to God with their 
 whole heart. They seem to be destitute of every true 
 emotion — as hard-hearted and lifeless as the rocky pro- 
 montory on which their towns are built. They yield 
 an unquestioning assent to every thing I say, and yet 
 I know that they do not feel the force of one blessed 
 truth which they hear. They seem to be almost totally 
 devoid of truthfulness, and, indeed, of every ennobling 
 principle. But surely this is their strongest plea to 
 the servants of Christ to remain among them, and by 
 all means endeavor to elevate them from their low estate. 
 
150 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 "Jan. 27th. — A man came to me soon after break 
 fast, and three others from Dodo-lu about noon, to be 
 instructed in reading. I like their bearing, and the 
 interest they manifest in their simple lessons betokens 
 something good in store for them. 
 
 " In the afternoon I passed through the towns, as 
 usual, announcing that the morrow was Sunday, and 
 that they must come and hear me preach. The uni- 
 form answer was, ' Yes,' and a promise to comply with 
 my request ; but not more than a dozen ever fulfill 
 their engagements. The others ' go to bush,' to work 
 on their farms, or spend the day in fishing — some few 
 in idleness. 
 
 " One of the head men of Oranh-Idiade received me 
 very coolly, and, at the same time, said he would not 
 allow us to come to his town to preach, because we did 
 not pay him for the use of his house and yard. This 
 was false: but he thought, as I was a 'new man/ I 
 would not know that he receives an allowance for the 
 use of his house and yard, and would agree to pay him 
 extra. I simply replied that we did pay him ; we 
 gave him and his people the most precious things in 
 the world ; we told them how they might obtain riches 
 that endure forever. This did not satisfy him, and 
 he arose and went away, muttering that, if he said so, 
 not one person would come to hear me. 
 
 " With one man of sprightly mien, I had a long dis- 
 cussion about the duty of renouncing gree-grees for 
 the service of God. He contended quite earnestly that, 
 as their grandfathers and fathers had used gree-grees, 
 and commanded them to do the same, and as it was 
 country custom, they are justified in holding on to 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 151 
 
 them. At any rate, it was hard, under these circum- 
 stances, to change their religion. 
 
 "I replied that they could do so if they chose ; but 
 that they had long heard the VYord of God, which for- 
 bids all dependence on such vile objects, and if they 
 still refused to obey it, and to cast away their gree- 
 grees, and turn to God, He would leave them to perish 
 in their sins. As to its being hard to change their 
 religfcn, if they would all agree to do so, it would not 
 be hard. And what did it matter, that their forefathers 
 trusted in gree-grees, and that it had become country 
 fashion to do so ? Suppose it were country fashion to 
 cut people's heads off, would he then follow the 
 fashion ? 
 
 " He replied, that, if it were country custom to cut 
 off people's heads, and, if their fathers had told them 
 to do so, he would cut off every man's head in town. 
 
 " ' Very well,' said I, ' here is one way, (drawing a 
 straight line in the sand with my cane,) and here is 
 another, (making a very crooked one.) Now, that is 
 God's way, and it is a good way. But, if you follow 
 it, you must cast away all your gree-grees, and turn to 
 ( rod with all your heart, and serve Him.' 
 
 " He replied that, if he did so, countryman would 
 laugh at him. That they laugh at the Christians about 
 Cavalla, and say that they have left country fashion, 
 because they do not like to work ; and have but one 
 wife, because they are too lazy to support more. 
 
 " I told him it was not true that the Christians at 
 Cavalla are lazy ; for they do a great deal more work 
 than other people. And what if country people did 
 lausrh ? Let them laugh: it could not hurt him. 
 
152 DAY DAWN IX AFKICA. 
 
 Some people in my country laughed at me for wanting 
 to come so far to preacli the Gospel to his people. But 
 when I knew it was right for me to come, I did not 
 mind what they said or did. And so it should be 
 with him. He ought to obey God, and let countryman 
 laugh as much as he pleased. Such was the tenor of 
 our conversation ; and it ended by his saying that he 
 loved this way, and had put his son in our school. 
 That his son is in school is true ; but that he put him 
 there from the motive he professed is questionable. 
 
 "/Sunday, Jan. 28th, — No trouble to-day from the 
 head man of Oranh-Idiade, as I feared yesterday. 
 Congregation larger than usual. One man said I did 
 not come to them from my own country because I 
 loved them, but to make money. To this they all 
 seemed to agree. They also intimated that I ought to 
 pay them for coming to hear me. 
 
 "An old man in Dodo-lu made great professions of 
 his own and his people's rejection of gree-grees and 
 attachment to the Gospel. I knew there was not a 
 word of truth in what he said ; but simply requested 
 him to give me some evidence of his sincerity. He 
 said they prayed to God every evening and morning. 
 I replied that they could not have love for God, as 
 they would not acknowledge themselves to be great 
 sinners ; and that no man can love God, until he has 
 felt that he is a lost sinner, and has found pardon 
 through Jesus Christ. Another old man said I was a 
 ' new man,' and did not understand what they were. 
 I replied, that I was indeed a new man amongst them, 
 but, that I had seen a great many people, and found 
 they all had bad hearts ; and I was sure those of his 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFEICA. 153 
 
 people were like all others. They all rejected the 
 counsel of God against themselves ; and if I succeed 
 in bringing any of them from the depths to which they 
 are sunk, it will assuredly be by the effectual operation 
 of the Holy Spirit. 
 
 "Jan. SOth. — Met a novitiate devil-doctor, with whom 
 I had an animated discussion. He said he had been 
 to sea as a krooman ; had returned home in bad health ; 
 and, after suffering for three years, was told by a doc- 
 tor that he could get well only by himself turning 
 doctor. At first he was unwilling to do this ; but 
 finally the devil took him up and shook him, and told 
 his heart that he must become a doctor. He seemed 
 thoroughly persuaded that the devil had called him to 
 this office, and was therefore not prepared for my 
 mode of attack. 
 
 "'Well,' said I, 'you say the devil told you to 
 become doctor ?' ' Yes.' 
 
 " 'And you are obeying the devil ?' ' Yes.' 
 " ' Then you arc the devil's man. You are a very 
 bad man ; and you will do the people a great deal of 
 harm.' 
 
 " ' No. Me no be devil's man. Me no be wicked.' 
 " ' Yes you are ; and if I were your people, I would 
 put you in jail ; for you will do much evil, if you go 
 abroad.' 
 
 " ' Put me in jail ! Me no be bad man.' 
 " ' Indeed you are ; for the devil, you know, is very 
 wicked, and you are learning to be a devil-man. The 
 missionaries have come far over the ocean, to teach 
 your people to cast away their gree-grees, and become 
 the people of God, and no longer serve the deyj3 ; and 
 
154 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 all the while, you, and the other demon-doctors, are 
 trying to keep them from hearing us, and to induce 
 them to go on following country fashion till they are 
 lost forever. Oh ! stop ! Don't go any farther. Throw 
 away those gree-grees, and that grass, (a peculiar sort of 
 garment which novitiates wear around their loins,) and 
 turn to God. He will take care of you, and you will 
 then be happy, and at last you will go to live with Grod 
 in heaven.' 
 
 " With this exhortation we parted." 
 
" They that sow in tears shall reap in joy." — Psa. 126 : 5. 
 
 The high school at Mount Vaughan, during this 
 year, sent forth two teachers for the heathen ; Thomas 
 Thompson went to assist at Rocktown, and Edward 
 Simpson took charge of a new station, which was 
 opened at Half Grahway, on Sheppard's Lake, five 
 miles below Cape PaJmas. 
 
 This important institution, now in charge of Rev. 
 G. W. Gibson, gives promise of being one of the most 
 efficient instruments for raising up laborers, for Africa's 
 regeneration, from among her own sons. As yet, but 
 a limited number of pupils has been received, in con- 
 sequence of the small amount of money contributed 
 for its support. We trust, however, that the amount 
 will be greatly increased. We know not how a hun- 
 dred dollars could be annually expended to greater 
 advantage than by the support of a scholarship in this 
 school. Youths, at a suitable age, are taken from the 
 colony, and boarded, clothed, and educated here, with 
 the design of sending them forth as teachei:s and mis- 
 sionaries to the heathen. In addition to the regular 
 boarders, a large number of day scholars receive here 
 the advantages of education and religious training. 
 During this year, God so blessed the labors of His ser- 
 vants, that all the boarders in this institution, with one 
 
156 DAY DAWN IX AFRICA. 
 
 single exception, became professing Christians; and so 
 striking was the change in their lives, and so powerful 
 their influence for good, that pupils in other schools 
 were incited by their example to seek the Saviour of 
 their souls. 
 
 The Mount Vaughan buildings are beautifully locat- 
 ed on a high hill, three miles back of Cape Palmas, 
 commanding an extensive sea and land view. This 
 mount was the first home of our missionaries in "West- 
 ern Africa. When Dr. T. S. Savage (the first mission- 
 ary sent to Africa by the Foreign Missionary Board of 
 the P. E. Church in the United States) arrived, on the 
 25th of December, 1836, he found here Mr. and Mrs. 
 Thomson, actively and profitably engaged in teach- 
 ing a school. During the preceding year, (1835,) the 
 Managers of the American Colonization Society had 
 donated to the Foreign Missionary Board of the Epis- 
 copal Church, a lot of ground within the territory of 
 Liberia, and Mr. Thomson was instructed by the Secre- 
 tary of the Board to select such a spot as he should 
 deem suitable for the establishment of a mission-school. 
 After consulting with Dr. James Hall, then Governor 
 of Liberia, and others, Mr. Thomson decided to locate 
 the school at what is now called Mount Vaughan. 
 This was the beginning of our missionary work at 
 Cape Palmas. Few missionaries, white or colored, 
 have labored more faithfully in the cause than Mr. and 
 Mrs. Thomson. He has long since passed away to his 
 reward, but she still remains, a ble sing to the Mission. 
 
 In July of the following year, 1837, Eev. John 
 Payne (our present Bishop) and Mrs. Payne arrived, 
 to cheer the heart of the lonely pioneer ; and from that 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFEICA. 157 
 
 time to the present our Church in "Western Africa has 
 never been without a representative. When God, in 
 J I is wise providence, has seen fit to call home His work- 
 men, a few other missionaries have always been found 
 ready to supply their places; and so, we have faith to 
 believe, it will ever be, until that blessed period shall 
 arrive when there will be no more need to say to the 
 sons of Africa, " Know ye the Lord." 
 
 If Mount Vaughan has become endeared to us as 
 the first home of our Mission, as the resting-place of 
 those who were the first to die in its cause it has 
 become a hallowed spot. In its quiet and beautiful 
 graveyard rest, in hope, the bodies of some of our most 
 valued missionaries, and some of the little children 
 born in the Mission. When, at the bidding of the 
 great Judge, the dead shall arise, to meet their Lord, 
 from that secluded spot shall come forth some as noble 
 and self-sacrificing spirits, as ever devoted themselves 
 to the field of foreign missions. 
 
 The road between Mount Vaughan and Cape Pal- 
 mas runs through a forest of stately palms, and other 
 trees of a heavier growth, among which a species of 
 the mahogany predominates. At all seasons, these 
 trees are festooned with clustering vines, and many- 
 colored flowers and parasites. On the grounds of the 
 High School, which embrace about twenty acres, is a 
 flourishing coffee-farm, cultivated by the boys ; and on 
 either side of the road, extending to the Cape — consid- 
 ered the best in all Liberia — are situated the little 
 farms which constitute the homes of many of the 
 Maryland colonists. 
 
 Early in this year, Mr. James Dorsen, a colonist, 
 
158 DAY DAWN IN AFKICA. 
 
 who was among the number confirmed at St. Mark's, 
 the preceding Christmas, reopened the mission-station 
 at JRockbookah, three miles below the mouth of the 
 Cavalla river, which had been left vacant from scarcity 
 of laborers. Though the want of funds has not yet 
 justified the opening of a boarding-school, Mr. Dorsen 
 has done what he could, by teaching a day-school, 
 during the week, for native children, and instructing 
 their heathen parents, in the towns on the Sabbath. 
 
 Though, from necessity, but very poorly requited 
 for his services, Mr. D. prefers to remain there alone, 
 and labor for Christ, rather than to seek a temporal 
 employment which would be much more lucrative. 
 May God sustain him in his labor of love ! 
 
 Thus, from time to time, we are encouraged by see- 
 ing some of Africa's own sons cheerfully stepping into 
 the posts left vacant by the removal of their white 
 brethren, and willingly bearing the privations which 
 ever attend the true missionaries of the Cross. 
 
 Under date of May 11th, Mr. Scott writes : 
 
 "Had a long discussion with the head men of the 
 Cape Palmas towns on the subject of gree-grees ; which 
 resulted in a promise on their part, to call the people, 
 when they shall have returned from their farms, and 
 have a general discussion on the expediency of aban- 
 doning the whole system. 
 
 " 14ith. — Went through the native towns this after- 
 noon. As I entered the house of one of the head men, 
 I found him with a picture of the crucifixion before 
 nim, trying to give eight or ten bushmen an account 
 of the sufferings and death of Christ. I took up 
 the subject where he left off, and preached to them, 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 159 
 
 ' Jesus and the resurrection.' It was probably the first 
 time that some of them had heard the way of salvation. 
 Would that the glad tidings could at once be carried 
 to the many tribes still ignorant of Christ ! 
 
 " In one of these tours I encountered a well-educated 
 native, once connected with Mr. Wilson's school. He 
 keeps a Bible in his house, but rarely looks in it, be- 
 cause it always excites his fears ; for the same reason, 
 I learn that he rarely ever listens to the preaching of 
 the Gospel. 
 
 " May 23d — AYent to Cavalla to see Rev. Robert 
 Smith to-day, and was gratified to find him well 
 enough to ride out in a hammock, and be with the 
 family at the dinner-table. At 5 o'clock, in the after- 
 noon, I took leave of him, for Cape Palmas, to all 
 appearances decidedly better than he had been for 
 several days. 
 
 " May 24dh. — Heard this morning from the Bishop, 
 that Brother Smith was taken with a severe oppression 
 on his lungs about midnight. I hastened down, but 
 when within a short distance of Cavalla, met a messen- 
 ger announcing his death. Truly, 'in the midst of 
 life we are in death.' Little did I think, as we sat 
 pleasantly conversing on last evening, that we would 
 never meet again on earth. 
 
 "It was my privilege to be intimately acquainted 
 with our departed brother for more than three years ; 
 and I can truly say, that, besides being one of the most 
 faithful of friends, his devotion to his Master's cause I 
 have never seen surpassed. The absorbing desire of 
 his heart was to live near to Jesus, and do all in his 
 power to advance His kingdom in this world. With 
 
160 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 the exception of his feeble and deeply-diseased physical 
 constitution, few men ever went forth better prepared 
 to labor among the heathen. 
 
 "Though apparently just fairly begun, his work is 
 ended — his brief pilgrimage on earth has peacefully 
 closed — he now rests from his labors, and his works do 
 folloiv him. 
 
 " May 25th. — Delivered his funeral discourse in the 
 school-room, (the church not being completed,) and was 
 followed by some remarks from the Bishop. A large 
 procession then moved with the body to the sweet 
 graveyard in the mission-garden, where the burial ser- 
 vice was read by the Bishop, and the remains of our 
 beloved brother consigned to their last earthly resting- 
 place." 
 
 This event had cast a deep gloom over the Mission 
 in Africa, and the Church at home. So much had 
 been expected from the well-known zeal, fervent piety, 
 and practical ability of this young missionary, that his 
 sudden death had, at first, a dejjressing effect upon the 
 remaining missionaries, and their native assistants ; but 
 soon a reaction took place among the latter. They 
 began to awake, and ask themselves if God did not 
 mean to teach them a lesson by thus removing one 
 after another of the foreign missionaries — if He did not 
 intend them to take a more active part in the regenera- 
 tion of their native land ? And how blessed has been 
 their answer to those questions, the subsequent pages 
 of this volume will show. And we, who mourned so 
 truly the unexpected departure of our beloved friend 
 and brother, were comforted by the assurance that God 
 
DAY DAWN 1 IX AFItlCA. 1G1 
 
 had served Himself in his death, as in his life; and 
 that " he, being dead, yet speaketh." 
 
 " Mr. Smith was a native of Tennessee ; from which 
 State he removed in early youth to Louisville, Ken- 
 tucky. In this place, during the summer of 1843, 
 under the ministry of Kev. William Jackson, he be- 
 came a professing Christian. After spending some 
 time in preparatory study, he entered Yale College, 
 where he graduated in 1850. 
 
 " From the time he made a profession of religion, 
 he showed by his life and conversation that ' he had 
 been with Jesus, and learned of Him.' A few months 
 after his conversion he felt it to be his duty to preach 
 the Gospel ; and, when his college course was com- 
 pleted, he entered the Theological Seminary of Vir- 
 ginia. At this institution it was the privilege of the 
 writer to be intimately associated with him for nearly 
 two years. During this time he was ' instant in season 
 and out of season.' The smallest child, the meanest 
 beggar, who crossed his path, received from him a 
 warning word. He ever labored as one who felt that 
 he ha< I a great work to do, and a solemn account to 
 render. Whilst he was a most diligent student, he 
 was also regularly engaged in enterprises for the tern 
 poral and spiritual good of his fellow-beings. In the 
 destitute portions of the country, in the vicinity of the 
 Seminary, he might be seen, week after week, reading 
 the word of God, and praying in the houses of the 
 people ; and on Sunday collecting the old and young 
 together, and instructing them in the way of salvation; 
 
 "Soon after he entered the Seminary, the subject of 
 foreign missions was brought before him, and after 
 
162 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 much prayerful consideration, he decided to devote his 
 life to the heathen of Africa. From the day he re- 
 solved to become a missionary, he labored unceasingly 
 to promote the missionary spirit among his fellow - 
 students, and in the Church generally. He continually 
 urged his brethren to examine themselves and see 
 whether they were not called to this great work ; and 
 none, who were accustomed to attend the weekly mis- 
 sionary prayer-meeting, can fail to remember his 
 solemn appeals in behalf of the millions who are 
 perishing without any knowledge of a Saviour. 
 
 "In the month of January he arrived at Cavalla, in 
 a happy frame of mind, and with ardent hopes of 
 future usefulness. For more than two months, feeling 
 unusually well, he was enabled to labor uninterruptedly 
 in the blessed work to which he had been called. In 
 public and private — at their houses, and by the way- 
 side — he pointed the poor heathen to the 'Lamb of 
 God, who taketh away the sins of the world.' 
 
 " On the 16th of April he was taken with acclimat- 
 ing fever, while on a visit to Cape Palmas; it was 
 light, and soon yielded to medicine ; but his greatest 
 suffering was from dj^spepsia, which had annoyed him 
 nearly twelve years. A cough, with which he had 
 been troubled in America, now returned, with other 
 decided symptoms of consumption. After he returned 
 to Cavalla, though his cough was very painful, his 
 general health seemed to improve ; so much so, that on 
 the day before he died, he was strong enough to ride 
 a mile, in a hammock, and to join the family at the 
 dinner-table. 
 
 "Little did we think, as we sat cheerfully conversing 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 1G3 
 
 on the evening of the 23d, that he was passing his last 
 day on earth. Truly, ' in the midst of life we are in 
 death.' About twelve o'clock that night, he was seized 
 with a violent oppression on his lungs, from which he 
 could find no relief, in any posture, until half-past one 
 o'clock P.M., when his spirit was released from his 
 suffering body. Being in an agony of pain, his dying 
 testimony was necessarily brief; but it was not needed. 
 For nearly twelve years he had constantly fought 
 against the ' world, the flesh, and the devil,' and in this 
 trying hour we needed not the assurance he gave, that 
 he was sustained by the blessed Saviour. 
 
 "During his illness he was generally in a joyful 
 frame of mind. He often said that he considered sick- 
 ness a great blessing; and that he would willingly 
 endure his illness six times over for the sake of the 
 spiritual comfort that attended it. 
 
 "It seems to short-sighted mortals a mystery that 
 one so well-fitted for usefulness in the missionary field, 
 where laborers are so few, should be summoned away 
 in the beginning of his career. His race was indeed 
 short; but, 
 
 'That life is long which answers life's great end.' 
 
 Though Mr. Smith had just entered upon his thirty- 
 first year, we feel assured that he has accomplished a 
 great work. While, therefore, we mourn over the 
 early departure of this loving brother and faithful 
 friend, we mourn for ourselves not for him. In the 
 great day of accounts, we doubt not, it will be seen that 
 ' He has not run in vain ; neither labored in vain.' " 
 Attended by the heathen, mission-scholars and friends, 
 
164 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 his body was laid to rest, beneath flowering trees, in 
 the Cavalla graveyard, beside the grave of Dr. Steele, 
 with whom he had been associated in Sabbath-school, 
 in Washington City. 
 
 In July, 1855, Eev. C. C. Hoffman, accompanied by 
 his wife, child, and Miss Williford, returned from the 
 United States. The following letter from Mr. H. an- 
 nounces his arrival at Cavalla, and contains some inter- 
 esting statements of its condition at that time : 
 
 " Cavalla, July 4, 1855. — We arrived here, in health 
 and safety, yesterday. I find things much improved 
 here since my absence. Though our force has been 
 weakened by the loss of beloved fellow-laborers, God 
 is certainly causing His work to prosper abundantly in 
 the hands of His servants. I was astonished at the 
 unusual interest manifested by the natives at Cape 
 Palm as ; upwards of two hundred weekly assemble at 
 the new chapel on the Lord's day,, and a night-school of 
 from forty to seventy -five is attended by most success- 
 ful laborers. 
 
 "Mr. Scott says he never, in anyplace, saw more 
 anxiety for instruction than is manifested by the adult 
 population of Cape Palmas. Here, at Cavalla, too, the 
 Bishop is cheered in his work; the Spirit seems to 
 have been poured out from on high, and while wan- 
 derers are reclaimed, and the weak strengthened, God 
 is adding to His Church those who shall be saved. 
 
 " Eocktown and Fishtown are now vacant. At the 
 former place I am to reside. In a fortnight I expect 
 to leave my pleasant home and duties at this station, 
 and take charge of the two stations the other side of 
 Cape Palmas. This is unexpected, but the path of 
 
DAY" DAWN IN AFRICA. 165 
 
 duty seems very plain, and I rejoice to walk in it. I 
 hope you will be able to send us at least a female as- 
 sistant, should no brother come to join us. There is 
 work enough to crush a single laborer. The house, 
 whence I write, has been the house of mourning during 
 my absence. From my bed-room, the spirit of our 
 young brother, Dr. Steele, took its happy flight to 
 heaven ; from my study departed, with blessed hope, 
 peacefully, the soul of my friend and brother, Eobert 
 Smith. "We yet survive, but how long — who can tell ? 
 May it be our blessed portion, like them, with joy to 
 finish our course, and enter into rest. The work is 
 worthy the life. May God raise up others to supply 
 the place of the fallen." 
 
 By the following letter from Mrs. Hoffman, we find 
 that the Rev. Mr. Hoffman and family took possession, 
 soon after their return, of the vacant station at Rock- 
 town : 
 
 11 Hocktoicn, August Bd, 1855. — Here we are living in 
 dear Mrs. Hening's old home, occupying her accus- 
 tomed place. My seat, while writing, is the one she 
 had, and my eye rests on the same beautiful scene. 
 We spent but one night on land, when, in conversation 
 with our Bishop, it was decided that we were to come 
 here. Mr. Wright had returned home, and this station 
 was vacant. 
 
 " We remained but a fortnight at Cavalla, enjoying 
 the society of our loved friends there, and also enjoy- 
 ing the good work which is advancing. Almost daily 
 does the Bishop hear the question : ' Payne, how can 
 we do God's will ?' The Church has doubled its num- 
 bers, and calls now its members from the old heathen. 
 
166 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 The number asking for baptism, whom the Bishop 
 bids wait, is larger than those received. Our visits to 
 the towns are seasons of grateful joy, for we meet will- 
 ing and anxious listeners. 
 
 " The change to us, remembering what they were 
 when we left, is wonderful ; nothing less than the mov- 
 ing of the Spirit of God over the darkness could have 
 wrought this. Thus it is, while God has apparently 
 weakened our strength by removing one and another, 
 He manifests His own power without our being apparent 
 instruments. To the Bishop, who has lived years of 
 patient waiting, you can imagine how refreshing this 
 season is. 
 
 ' But that duty was plain, it would have been with 
 regret that we left the atmosphere of Cavalla. Here 
 Ave have met a much kinder reception than we antici- 
 pated. This people have usually been very trouble- 
 some, but God seems to have turned their hearts to 
 favor us ; they supply us readily and kindly with pro- 
 visions, and seem very willing to listen to our words. 
 "We have been cheered by large congregations on Sun- 
 day, and some~few seem seriously to weigh what they 
 hear. 
 
 "August 13th. — We have just parted from the Bishop 
 and Mrs. Payne, who passed four days with us. It 
 was our Convocation season ; and a most blessed one 
 it has been. On Friday evening, the 11th, the mission- 
 ary, meeting was held, and we were four hours en- 
 gaged in listening to the missionaries and native 
 teachers' reports. Yet we thought not of weariness, 
 for they told us of such a blessed work of grace, that 
 we could unite with the Bishop at the close, when he 
 
DAY DAWN IN" AFRICA. 167 
 
 said : ' Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in 
 peace.' 
 
 " Wonderful is the work ! Old men, young men, 
 and women, throwing away their gree-grees, giving up 
 their (many) wives, and receiving Christ. The work 
 advances with little special effort on our part, save 
 preaching the word. Our native Christians are acting 
 most faithfully. Since Mr. Smith's death, they seem 
 to have waked from sleep. They were consistent, but 
 we thought zeal was wanting. Now they set us an 
 example. A more full account will be sent home for 
 the Spirit of Missions. I know you will enjoy it, and 
 rejoice with us. If old Mrs. M. is spared to hear this, 
 she too will glorify God's grace. Her son's prayers 
 and her own, with those of all the faithful, have not 
 been unheard. Virginia H. Hoffman." 
 
 Miss Williford, on her return, resumed the charge oi 
 the native female boarding-school at Cavalla, which 
 during her absence had been faithfully taught by Miss 
 Ball, assisted by Mrs. Emma Gillet, a native teacher. 
 A large and commodious building had taken the place 
 of the low, damp, and dilapidated school-room, so long 
 the refuge of lizards, spiders, and scorpions. Its walls 
 are adorned with a set of fine maps, presented by a 
 kind lady of Savannah ; and it has recently been fitted 
 up with suitable desks, globes, and other aids to study. 
 In this school were educated most of the native women 
 of the Christian village at Cavalla, and their children 
 are now receiving in it the same advantages. 
 
 It will be interesting, before closing this chapter, to 
 add the following review by the Bishop, of the work 
 accomplished in the heathen towns, up to this time : 
 
168 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 " No pen can trace, because no human observation 
 can discern, the actual progress of that ' kingdom which 
 cometh not with observation.' And weak is that faith, 
 and pitiable the benevolence which must have contin- 
 ual ' signs from heaven,' to prompt to the discharge of 
 evident, abiding duty. But those who pray in faith 
 for Christ's promised presence with His Gospel, natur- 
 ally look for and are cheered by the tokens of that 
 presence. 
 
 " There is a species of proof of the presence of God 
 which even most professing Christians overlook, but 
 which is alike ' precious in the sight of the Lord,' and 
 of His saints. When the tree, stript of its leaves and 
 branches by the rude winds, is seen putting them forth 
 again, as soon as the tempest is passed, we know that 
 life is in the tree. And so, when one laborer after an- 
 other is withdrawn from the missionary field, or sick- 
 ens and dies, and yet the course of the Mission is ever 
 onward, we see and know that the life of Him who 
 ever worketh, is in it. 
 
 " Strange — oh ! how strange, that multitudes, and 
 of ministers of Christ, too, who will occupy the whole 
 season of Lent, and other seasons too, in contemplating 
 the humiliation and sufferings and death of the Master, 
 and would fain persuade themselves that they and their 
 people have fellowship with Him in His sufferings, when 
 they hear of sacrifice of health and life for Christ's 
 sake, for the salvation of the millions of heathen for 
 whom He died, shrink back with horror, or ask, it is 
 to be feared, in a spirit not very unlike that which 
 first prompted the question — ' To what purpose this 
 ■waste V 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFKICA. 169 
 
 " But although these are the most precious fruits of 
 missions, those which will abound most to the account 
 of missionaries and the churches with which they are 
 connected — as being the most unequivocal manifesta- 
 tions of fellowship with Christ — ■' the filling up that 
 which is behind of the sufferings of Christ,' it is to 
 what are commonly called the results of a mission that 
 I now call attention ; and blessed be God for the evi- 
 dence we have that the Gospel brings forth fruit here, 
 as it has in all the world where it has been faithfully 
 proclaimed. 
 
 " Let us first briefly glance at the results of our 
 work among the colonies. 
 
 " When the writer first assumed the pastoral care of 
 the colonist congregation, in 1847, there were on the 
 list but nine communicants. From that time until the 
 close of the last year, there had died, removed, and 
 been suspended, twenty. Notwithstanding this, at the 
 beginning of the present year there were over fifty 
 colonist communicants connected with our Church. 
 Only within the last two years the operations of the 
 Church have been extended to Monrovia. During 
 this time about fifty communicants have been gathered 
 in the two churches, Trinity, Monrovia, and Grace 
 Church, Clay Ashland, in Messurado county. St. 
 Mark's Church, at Cape Palmas, has long since been 
 completed, and Trinity Church, at Monrovia, a stone 
 building also, fifty -five feet by seventy-five, is in course 
 of erection. 
 
 " The Orphan Asylum, on the extremity of Cape 
 Palmas, is at once an ornament and a blessing to the 
 infant colony; as is also the High School at Mount 
 8 
 
170 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 Vaughan, three miles distant. Connected with these 
 institutions, are twenty-seven boarding scholars, while 
 there are connected with them, and the female day- 
 school at Mount Vaughan, one hundred day scholars. 
 In the Sunday-schools the number is somewhat greater. 
 At Monrovia, and in Messurado county, are four Epis- 
 copal day schools — one of a high grade, under the 
 Eev. Alex. Crummell, assisted by Mrs. Williams ; and 
 the former has also two young men under his care, with 
 a view to the ministry. Two members of the Mount 
 Vaughan High School have expressed their conviction 
 of duty, and an earnest desire to enter the ministry. 
 
 " The operations of our Mission, however, have 
 aiways been chiefly directed to the natives ; and we 
 will now review the progress of truth among them. 
 The means employed have been boarding-schools, day 
 and night schools, visiting from house to house, and 
 public preaching of the Gospel. 
 
 " The boarding-schools have been hitherto appar- 
 ently most productive of spiritual results. Scarcely 
 fewer than fifteen hundred heathen children and }^outh 
 have been connected with these schools, during the 
 existence of the Mission, for longer and shorter pe- 
 riods. 
 
 " From these ninety-one have been baptized and 
 received into the Church — of whom thirty-one have 
 died or been suspended, leaving seventy-two at present 
 on the communicants' list. And these communicants 
 again have furnished two native deacons and thirteen 
 schoolmasters employed at different times, besides val- 
 uable assistants as mechanics and secular agents. 
 Connected with the night schools, at different times, 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 171 
 
 and for various periods, there have been several hun- 
 dreds of natives of nearly all ages. Many are taught 
 to read, and what is far better, have received a know- 
 ledge of the Gospel. 
 
 " Visiting from house to house has never been 
 remitted by the missionaries, male and female. And 
 recently, at Cavalla, a ' Visiting Committee,' composed 
 entirely of native females, has been formed to visit 
 native women at their houses, to induce them to attend 
 religious services, and otherwise influence them for 
 good ; nor are instances wanting to show that efforts 
 thus made have been effectual in leading souls to a 
 knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus. 
 
 " But it is preaching — preaching in towns and vil- 
 lages, to the many and the few — the Gospel of salva- 
 tion through Jesus Christ, which, blessed be God, has 
 ever been the prominent business of the Mission. And 
 truly here the kingdom of God has been ' like leaven.' 
 It has worked so invisibly, and to human jDerception 
 so slowly, that many superficial, faithless ones have 
 grown tired, and because they could not see the pro- 
 gress, which God alone can fully see, they have grown 
 weary in well-doing, or ceased altogether to do. And 
 yet the leaven has ever worked. 
 
 " Its first effect was to arouse the worst elements of 
 heathenism into active antagonism and conflict with 
 truth. 
 
 " The next was to produce a lull of this strife — a 
 decent respect to the representatives of Christianity, 
 and foi the truths they taught. 
 
 " Next followed a general assent to the great doc- 
 trine of one God over all, and in all, and consequent 
 
172 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 rejection of gree-grees, of idols, and demons. Multi- 
 tudes of these vanities were cast away under this 
 influence. 
 
 "And, lastly, the mists of superstition and rubbish 
 being thus cleared away, the rays from the Sun of 
 Eighteousness penetrate the mind and soul, and the 
 heathen ' behold the Lamb of God which taketh away 
 the sin of the world.' 
 
 " The first rising of life from the dead mass of hea- 
 thenism was manifested Sunday, Dec. 11th, 1853, when 
 Hyano, an old converted demon-man, and Gida Wudi, 
 in the pride of youthful life, stood up in the presence 
 of a full assembly of their people to receive baptism. 
 
 " The next was the case of a middle-aged man who, 
 under the silent dews of the Spirit, was brought to 
 Christ. 
 
 "After this, was that of a poor diseased woman. 
 She seldom or never attended public service ; but a 
 sister of charity sought and led her to the Saviour. In 
 her little hut, on Sept. 19th, she received, in baptism, 
 the name of Mary Louise, after the angel of mercy who 
 had saved her. 
 
 "In about one month more, in the town of Nyaro, 
 Hyano, the old demon-man, his wife, and the gray- 
 headed Yuiva, were gathered into the true fold ; and 
 now, in Hyano's house, morning and evening, assem- 
 bled the little church of five, to offer prayer and praise 
 to the God of all, in their own language, wherein they 
 were born. Soon a few others assembled with them. 
 
 " In the beginning of the year, (1855,) it being de- 
 termined to make rice-farms at a great distance from 
 town, Hyano went with his people to reside in tempo- 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 173 
 
 rary huts. He was in feeble health, and apprehensions 
 were felt that the exposure might be more than he could 
 bear. But he made prayer, as aforetime, morning and 
 evening in his frail house, with all who would meet 
 there, and rested on the Sabbath, ' according to the 
 commandment.' Many watched him with an evil eye. 
 They said Hyano would die, or that he would have no 
 rice. But Hyano's health improved, and no one's rice 
 grew better than his. And many observed and said : 
 Hyano's God is the true God. 
 
 "The year passed on. On a cloudy afternoon at 
 Diima Lu, on the Cavalla river, the missionary 
 preached, as he had done many scores of times before, 
 and the hearers said, hanh te nonh, (true things,) as many 
 scores of times before also. The missionary asked, in 
 sorrow : ' How long will you say, and never do V' One 
 replied : ' Do what ? Long time have I believed the 
 Gospel, and I am ready to do whatever it requires.' 
 Another and another said so likewise. Amongst these 
 was a young man whose past life was notoriously bad. 
 His companions reminded him of this, and expressed 
 the conviction that whatever others might do, lie never 
 could be a Christian. 'And can a wicked man never 
 turn from his wickedness ?' he said. ' I know I have 
 been very bad, but it is this course which I mean to 
 forsake.' 
 
 " The interest continued and extended. One Sun- 
 day morning a middle-aged man, from the above town, 
 presented himself and said : ' I have come to inform 
 you that I have resolved to do the mind (lu, head) of 
 God.' 
 
 " ' Why is this ?' 
 
174 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 " ' You know my father. He had many idols, and 
 great faith in them. But these prevented not his sick- 
 ness, nor his death. While sick, I consulted many 
 deyabo (demon-men) in reference to him. All said he 
 would recover, and all lied. After his death, I again 
 consulted them, and they said he was bewitched, and in 
 one month the witch should be manifested by an un- 
 timely death. Again they all lied. Henceforth, I will 
 have nothing more to do with deyabo or gree-grees. I 
 shall serve God.' 
 
 " Similar cases soon followed. Amongst these, the 
 principal man in the town, on one Sabbath afternoon, 
 after Mr. Jones {Ku Sia, the native deacon) had held 
 services, gave up all his gree-grees, and announced his 
 determination to be a Christian. From this town seven 
 have already been baptized, and as many more are 
 candidates. They meet morning and evening for 
 prayer, in the house of one of their number ; and when 
 visited by the missionary, it is cheering to observe the 
 devout manner in which they join audibly in prayer 
 and praise. In the largest of the Cavalla towns, as 
 well as in two smaller ones, a hopeful interest is mani- 
 fested by quite a number, male and female — of these, 
 four have been baptized — making in all, eleven adults, 
 most all of them old and middle-aged men and women. 
 Quite as many more, scattered through the different 
 towns, are desiring baptism ; while there is every rea- 
 son to believe that the interest is extending. 
 
 " 'S.,' said the missionary to one formerly the most 
 hardened heathen, ' why are you not a Christian ?' 
 
 " ' I have many things to keep me back, but I believe 
 the Gospel, and so do my people. Once it was a mat- 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 175 
 
 ter of discussion among us, but it is no longer so. We 
 are convinced of its truth. Hence the number coming 
 to baptism ; and we all shall receive it yet.' 
 
 "At Cape Palmas, the state of things is quite as en- 
 couraging. Since the missionary took charge of that 
 station, the Sunday congregations have been overflow- 
 ing, and at night from fifty to two hundred have 
 attended school. Nor does this seem to satisfy them ; 
 along the roads they are to be seen, with books in 
 hand, asking of each other, and of colonists, who may 
 chance to be passing along, the instruction they seek. 
 Quite a number, the missionary, brother Scott, writes, 
 are interested in their soul's salvation. 
 
 " Many of the people there have thrown away their 
 gree-grees ; amongst these, is Pe- Gfipamo, brother of 
 the late King Freeman, and virtually his successor. 
 This aged man, who was also a deya, has not only 
 thrown away his gree-grees, but walks about among 
 his people, and exhorts them to follow his example. 
 The subject of throwing away the public grec-grces at 
 Cape Palmas, has been discussed, and although the 
 measure can not yet, probably, be carried, there is a 
 large number in its favor. 
 
 " Coexistent with this religious interest among the 
 people has been a remarkable quickening of zeal, and 
 sense of responsibility amongst our native assistants. 
 This, under God, is greatly attributed to the unex- 
 pected death of the late Eev. Robert Smith. At the 
 monthly missionary meeting in June, being the one 
 immediately after Mr. Smith's death, Rev. Clement 
 Jones, native deacon, made an address. In this he 
 expressed his deep conviction, that God, in thus sud- 
 
176 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 denly calling away the foreign missionary, spoke to 
 him and to all native agents to arouse themselves to 
 action. They must cease to depend upon laborers from 
 abroad. If the country is to be evangelized, it must 
 be done chiefly by its own people. 
 
 "And ' why not ?' he asked. ' What is the Gospel ? 
 It is words — words which I may speak, and you, and 
 all. God must give power to the words, but the ivords 
 we all may pronounce. God has evidently placed our 
 work before us. Let us resolve to do it.' 
 
 " The native teacher at Cape Palmas, N. S. Harris, 
 followed in a similar and most effective speech. He 
 mourned over his own past want of zeal, and called 
 upon all henceforth to unite with him in amendment 
 of life. At the close of the school examinations at 
 Cavalla, T. C. Brownell, the native teacher of the boys' 
 school, in a long and interesting address, urged the 
 same course. 
 
 "In like manner, at Eocktown, a few days after- 
 wards, the same motives and objects were presented. 
 And the gratifying fact is, that action has followed 
 words. In public and private ; in assemblies of 
 people called by themselves, and with old companions 
 in schools, but now relapsed to heathenism, have the 
 teachers, catechists, and native missionary, exerted 
 themselves. How effectually is seen, in part, by the 
 record now given. It shall be more fully seen here- 
 after. In the mean time, gratitude, and joy, and faith, 
 and hope, find their delightful expression in the words 
 of the Apostolic missionary : ' Now thanks be unto 
 God, who always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and 
 maketh manifest the savor of his knowledge by us in 
 every place.' " 
 
"The¥ that feared the Lord spake often one to another." — Mal. 3 ; 16. 
 
 The meeting of the Convocation of the Cape Palmas 
 Mission for August of 1855, was one of very remark- 
 able interest. 
 
 The missionary meeting held during this Convoca- 
 tion, was so delightful and encouraging, that we think 
 a brief account of it can not be otherwise than cheer- 
 ing, and must call forth from the Church thanksgiving 
 to our gracious Father, who giveth us, in the wilds of 
 heathenism, richly to enjoy the communion of saints, 
 and permits us, even there, to speak to each other of 
 His " marvellous works among the children of men." 
 
 Keports were read and addresses delivered by the 
 missionaries and teachers connected with the various 
 stations, and the hearts of all were warmed by hearing 
 "what great things the Lord had done among the hea- 
 then." In the words of Bishop Payne : " It was most 
 cheering to see native ministers, teachers, and cate- 
 chists standing up, and in their own language, with 
 words far more effective than any expressed in their 
 reports, exhorting one another, by their obligations to 
 the Saviour who died for them, by the sufferings of 
 foreign missionaries, and by their relations to the per- 
 ishing people around them, to labor for their salvation. 
 
178 DAY DAWN IN AFEICA. 
 
 " Most affecting was it to hear them confessing their 
 sense of utter inability to do any thing of themselves ; 
 and after the Saviour's example, who passed a whole 
 night in prayer to God, urging each other, by earnest 
 and continued supplications, to seek the grace which 
 they needed. 
 
 "And more blessed than all was it, after spending 
 four and a half hours in a missionary meeting — hours 
 flying so delightfully that they seemed but moments — 
 to hear from the house in which they were staying, at 
 a late hour of the night, the voice of thanksgiving 
 and prayer, rising to the throne of grace. 
 
 " Years of toil and suffering were all compensated 
 in that moment. Here was a company of Grebo and 
 Babo and Plabo teachers, catechists, and ministers, 
 deeply influenced by the grace of God themselves, 
 and burning to communicate that grace to others. 
 And as they were dismissed at the close of the me- 
 morable missionary meeting, with, ' Go, then, in this 
 your strength, to do your Master's work,' the convic- 
 tion was strong that the present grace was a sure 
 earnest of the future faithful service, and the future 
 blessing." 
 
 The native teacher from Cape Palmas, N. S. Harris, 
 read the following report to the Convocation : 
 
 " I have been called to give some report of my sta- 
 tion, and how the boys are improving in their studies, 
 and how the people feel concerning religious matters ; 
 and I am very glad to have such an opportunity as 
 this, to meet here at Eocktown for this very purpose, 
 and also to give praise to our heavenly Father, through 
 whose mercies the glorious Gospel of Christ is now 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 179 
 
 spreading in our country, and among our own perish- 
 ing brethren. 
 
 " In the first place, I want to tell you about my 
 school. At first there was a great running away 
 among my scholars, which I have strong reason to 
 believe is now ceased. I have now in school fifteen 
 boys and two girls, who have been in school for some 
 time, and not one of them ever makes an attempt to 
 run away. 
 
 " The people promise me some more boys, whom I 
 think I will get after they are done cutting rice, or 
 before they get through ; and I think there is a pros- 
 pect of my having a larger school than I have ever 
 had. May God assist the people to fulfill their pro- 
 mise, and make them see the usefulness of bringing 
 their children to school ! 
 
 " In the second place, I must not forget to give you 
 some account of the people among whom I live. You 
 all very well remember that I first went to live among 
 the Cape Palmas people in the year 1852, and have 
 continued there to this day. During this time, I have 
 bees speaking to them about Clod, and explained to 
 them what it is the white people bring in our coun- 
 try — that it is the religion of Jesus Christ, which, if 
 they would receive, would raise them from darkness 
 to light, and from eternal death to life eternal. 
 
 "At first I could not make them believe any thing 
 of what I said. Some thought I was a wise man, who 
 could tell fine stories; some thought that it was no- 
 thing but fables: but I continually spoke to them, 
 saying it is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which, should 
 you receive it, would make yon wise unto salvation. 
 
ISO DAY DAWN IX AFKICA. 
 
 After some time, a good many of them began to un- 
 derstand, and also to believe that it is true ; conse- 
 quently, a law was made among them, to rest from all 
 works and go to church on Sunday, and worship the 
 God of heaven. This they have been doing for several 
 months — a very pleasing object in the sight of all 
 Christians. Dressed up nicely, men, women, and 
 children fill the house of God, in order to hear the 
 good news. 
 
 " But oh ! the superstition of the heathen ! They 
 would rather mind their rice-fields than to praise God, 
 who gives them the rice. May God help them to un- 
 derstand better, and give them strength to keep His laws ! 
 
 " Third, the evening school. This was established not 
 long ago. It is attended to very well. A good many 
 young men and children are members of this school, 
 getting along very well with their lessons ; and I be- 
 lieve it will not be long before some will be able to 
 read in the word of God. May these lessons be as- 
 sisted by divine grace, that they may not only learn 
 to read, but may also learn to love and fear God, and 
 walk in His holy ways ! 
 
 " This school is always opened with prayer, and 
 closed with examination, and some of the explanations 
 of ' Line upon Line.' Some of the boys belonging to 
 this school are regular attendants at morning and even- 
 ing prayers ; and on Sunday mornings almost all of 
 them attend the prayers, after which the Sunday-school 
 commences, and closes about nine o'clock. In the 
 afternoon of Sunday, the Rev. Mr. Scott holds the 
 service, and preaches to them ; and in the evening, 
 about a little after six, I hold the service. 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 181 
 
 " This is the way which we work among the Cape 
 Palmas natives. May the true followers of Christ pray 
 for His servants who are laboring in His vineyard, that 
 their labor may be with success, and be the means of 
 bringing many souls to Christ. Amen." 
 
 The native deacon at Cavalla, C. F. Jones, then read 
 the following report : 
 
 "At our last meeting, I said that my labor was chief- 
 ly among the two tribes up the Cavalla river, name- 
 ly, the Babo tribe and Nyambo. My labor is limited 
 to these tribes at present, on account of the difficulties 
 on the river. But we hope the time is near, when we 
 may not only preach to these two tribes near us, but 
 to others far up the river. 
 
 " I am sorry to say, that since our last Convocation, 
 nothing of remarkable interest has occurred among 
 the people on the river. But we are still following 
 the promise, ' Be not weary in well-doing, for in due 
 season ye shall reap, if ye faint not.' The time of my 
 visits to their towns was formerly every week ; it is 
 lately changed to every other week. 
 
 " My duties at home are to assist the Bishop, preach 
 every Sunday in two native towns, and on Sunday 
 afternoons hold meeting with the native converts at a 
 village about three miles off, and on Sunday evenings 
 read the service, and also help the Bishop to adminis- 
 ter the Lord's Supper. On Wednesday evenings, I 
 hold meeting with the converts in the villages near us." 
 
 Next came the report of Thomas C. Brownell, the 
 native teacher of the boys' school at Cavalla : 
 
 " Rt. Rev. and Dear Sir : Agreeably to your re- 
 quest, I herewith submit to you a report of the school 
 
182 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 in which you have been pleased to make me a teacher. 
 Since entering upon the duties assigned me, at the 
 commencement of last January, I have endeavored 
 faithfully to discharge those duties, according to my 
 imperfect ability. And I am happy to say that the 
 scholars have been, on the whole, more obedient and 
 industrious than heretofore. I have reason to feel 
 encouraged. In January last, I adopted the rule of 
 meeting all the scholars on every Tuesday evening ; 
 and since the adoption of the rule, four of the scholars 
 have been baptized. And I hope, by God's assistance, 
 I will be successful in all my duties. ' Let us not be 
 weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap, 
 if we faint not.' 
 
 "And since the death of Rev. Robert Smith, I have 
 been breaking the bread of life to the inhabitants of 
 Dodo-lu and Ordnh-Idiade, and teaching children on 
 Sundays ; and I hope I have not labored in vain, for 
 God has said : 'As the rain cometh down, and the snow 
 from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth 
 the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it 
 may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater : so 
 shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth : it 
 shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish 
 that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing 
 whereto I sent it.' The gods that have not made the 
 heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the 
 earth, and from under the heavens." 
 
 Then came the report of William H. Kinckle, the 
 assistant native teacher in the boys' school at Cavalla : 
 
 " I am happy to tell you something of what I am 
 doing in the Mission. In the last year, I was ap- 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 183 
 
 pointed by the Kt. Eev. Bishop Payne to be an assist- 
 ant teacher, when Mr. Rogers was here. Since that 
 time to this very day, the lower class has been com- 
 mitted to my care. I shall now name the studies 
 which they are pursuing. Two of them are in Smith's 
 Geography, three are in Mitchell's Geography. They 
 are also studying, besides Geography, First Book of 
 History, Philosophy, Speller and Defiuer, Arithmetic, 
 and Writing. The others are in the New Testament, 
 National Spelling-Book, and Arithmetic. 
 
 " I have now been reporting to you about the 
 school, but permit me to say a few words to you. 
 Besides attending to the school, I thought within 
 myself to do something which will be the means of 
 bringing others to receive the Gospel. And this is 
 what I am doing, speaking to the people how or what 
 they must do to be saved. For ' the harvest is great, 
 but the laborers are few.' Now, as the harvest is 
 great, and the laborers are few to carry on this great 
 work, my question is, Where shall the laborers be 
 found ? We must not think that the white mission- 
 aries alone have to carry on this work. I need hardly 
 tell you who are they who have to carry on this work, 
 for you know who they are. It is we, who were ojice 
 heathen, and who have been taught by the mission- 
 aries the way of life. And as we have received it 
 from them, so let us to others impart. Says our Sav- 
 iour : ' Freely ye have received, freely to others give.' 
 IIow can we live in neglect of such a business ? 
 
 " What! do you think we were brought from hea- 
 thenism, and have been taught by the Mission the way 
 of life, for nothing? Oh! no. It must have some 
 
18 i DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 meaning in it, and the meaning that it has in it is this, 
 that we might go abroad, and teach our people the 
 way of life, and point them to the Lamb who taketh 
 away the sin of the world. And also tell them, that 
 ' there is none other name under heaven given among 
 men, whereby they can be saved,' than the name of 
 Jesus." 
 
 It was resolved by this Convocation, "that two com- 
 mittees — one from the American and Colonial mission- 
 aries, the other from the native ministers and teach- 
 ers — be appointed to make an appeal to the Church in 
 America, in behalf of the Cape Palmas Mission ; set- 
 ting forth its present great need of additional laborers, 
 and the encouragements to labor among the heathen 
 of its vicinity." 
 
 The report of the first committee was as follows : 
 
 " We, the undersigned, having been appointed as 
 the first committee, would earnestly solicit the atten- 
 tion of the Church to the following considerations : 
 
 " It is generally, if not universally, admitted, that it 
 is the duty of the Church to sustain the Mission in 
 Africa. For many years past, there has been a grow- 
 ing interest in this too long neglected continent ; and 
 all who have prayerfully watched the leadings of God's 
 providence, are convinced that the time has fully come 
 when the Gospel should be proclaimed to the millions 
 of her benighted children. There are many, however, 
 who still think it inexpedient for white missionaries to 
 labor in a land so destructive to their physical consti- 
 tution as this has proved to be. They say to those 
 who are seeking to know whether it is their duty to 
 come hither: ' Stay at home, where your services arc 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 185 
 
 needed, and leave the work in Africa to her own sons, 
 to whom it properly belongs.' Those who give this 
 advice, are doubtless sincere. They believe that Af- 
 ricans, in view of their physical constitution being 
 adapted to the climate, are better fitted for this work 
 than Anglo-Saxons ; but they entirely overlook one 
 very important fact, namely, that they are not yet pre- 
 pared for the ivork, and that they must be prepared for 
 it, to a great extent, by the efforts of foreign laborers 
 on their own soil. 
 
 " Yes ; in order that the Gospel be fully preached, 
 and schools properly sustained, among the heathen of 
 Africa, it is absolutely necessary that a goodly num- 
 ber of foreign missionaries continue to come, to labor 
 and suffer, and, if it please God, to die, for perhaps 
 one or two generations yet to come. 
 
 " From the establishment of the Mission to the pre- 
 sent time, the work has been carried forward under 
 great disadvantages. The wilderness had to be cleared, 
 comfortable buildings to be erected, interpreters to be 
 educated, a barbarous language to be acquired and 
 written, and the prejudices of the people to be over- 
 come. All this had to be done by a very few indi- 
 viduals, there being seldom more than three regular 
 missionaries in the field at one time, and they, in gen- 
 eral, but partially acclimated, and, from the short 
 time engaged in the work, necessarily without a tho- 
 rough knowledge of the native character. Yet, not- 
 withstanding the smallness of the force in the field, 
 and the many difficulties with which they had to con- 
 tend, a year never passed without some tokens of 
 God's presence. Even while some in America were 
 
186 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 gravely advocating the expediency of abandoning the 
 Mission, this little toiling band were cheered in their 
 work by seeing the breastworks of the enemy slowly 
 but surely weakening, and their little army gradually 
 enlarging by recruits from the opposing force. 
 
 " Now the way has been fairly prepared for the ac- 
 complishment of great things in future. Stations have 
 been opened and buildings erected at six important 
 points among the heathen ; and a goodly number of 
 teachers and interpreters, with hearts warmed by re- 
 deeming love, have been raised up from among the 
 people. These feel that the great business of their 
 lives is to carry the glad tidings of salvation to their 
 benighted countrymen. Two of them are already or- 
 dained, and others are looking forward to the minis- 
 try. Surely these are sufficient causes of encourage- 
 ment to the desponding friends of our Mission. 
 
 " That God is now pouring out His Spirit upon this 
 people as never before, is another most encouraging 
 circumstance. Since the 8th of April, (little more 
 than five months,) thirty -four heathen converts have 
 been baptized, twenty-four of whom were from the 
 heathen towns. In the Cavalla towns, where nearly 
 all these people reside, there are still many hopeful in- 
 quirers. A large proportion of the inhabitants have 
 renounced gree-grees, and only need the influences of 
 the Holy Spirit to enable them to give up all for 
 Christ. 
 
 "At Eocktown, large numbers of the people regu- 
 larly attend church, and some of them are being awak- 
 ened to a sense of their lost condition by nature. At 
 Fishtown, a law has been passed requiring the whole 
 
DAY DAWN IN - AFRICA. 187 
 
 peop.c to refrain from labor, and even from fishing, on 
 the Sabbath-day. Hundreds assemble there weekly, 
 to hear the Gospel from the native teacher. 
 
 "At Cape Palmas, there has been a growing inter- 
 est among the people for the past eighteen months. 
 The congregations at the native chapel are generally 
 large and attentive. A few months since, a night- 
 school was opened, which has been attended by large 
 numbers of young men and children, many of whom 
 have made remarka*ble progress in their studies. 
 Among the people generally, an unusual interest has 
 been awakened on the subject of education. The 
 leading men of the community — among whom is Gfi 
 Pam, the acting king of the Cape Palmas towns — have 
 renounced gree-grees. This will pave the way for the 
 rapid progress of the Gospel among them. 
 
 " In view of all these facts, can any one say that 
 this Mission has been established in vain, that those 
 who have suffered and died here, have suffered and 
 died in vain ? No, brethren ; could the dead speak 
 from their graves, they would say, as with one voice : 
 'Let the Mission go forward, more than ever let the Mis- 
 sion go forward. We count it not a vain thing that 
 we have suffered and died for Christ.' 
 
 "Indeed, were the number of those who have fallen 
 in the field ten times as great as it is, we should still 
 feel that the sacrifice had not been made for naught, 
 that they had accomplished a great work. Is it not a 
 great work, brethren, to plant a church in a heathen 
 land ; to raise up a hundred converts from the en- 
 slaved children of idolatry ; to educate scores of young 
 people, and prepare them for the work of teaching and 
 
188 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 preaching the Gospel to their degraded countrymen ; 
 to bring fifty thousand heathen, more or less, under 
 the influence of the preached word ; and to weaken, 
 and almost undermine, the superstitions which have 
 been handed down from father to son from time im- 
 memorial ? 
 
 " This is the work which, with the blessing of God, 
 this Mission has been enabled to accomplish. Now, 
 brethren, shall this work go forward ? Shall it go for- 
 ward vigorously? If you will have it so, you must 
 contribute of your means as you have never done be- 
 fore. At this very time, while God is working so 
 powerfully among these poor people, you draw back 
 from the work. You have been appealed to in vain 
 to give the small amount absolutely necessary to sus- 
 tain the operations of the Mission. 
 
 " For the six different stations among the heathen, 
 and one in the Colony, (within the bounds of this 
 Convocation,) there are but three regular missionaries 
 from America — one colonist, and two native deacons. 
 Those from America find it necessary ; in order to re- 
 tain a tolerable measure of health, to visit a temperate 
 climate at least once in four years. But how can this 
 be accomplished while the force is so very small ? 
 Again, those who are in the field at present, have 
 very much more to do than their strength will allow. 
 At this very time, our Bishop is prevented visiting 
 Bassa Cove, Monrovia, and other remote parts of the 
 Mission, by want of assistance at Cavalla. One more 
 regular missionary is also needed at Taboo, one at 
 Fishtown, and another at Cape Palmas. While it is 
 absolutely requisite to have four more, in order to 
 carry on the work effectually, a dozen might be use- 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFKICA. 189 
 
 fully employed at these different stations. It is utterly 
 impossible for the missionaries now on the ground, to 
 do one half the work pressing upon them continually. 
 To some of these poor people, so frequently asking us 
 to come and teach them, saying, ' We believe this 
 word, but we don't know enough about it yet,' we are 
 compelled, with sorrowful hearts, to reply : ' We have 
 not strength to teach you.' To obey this call as we 
 desire, to go from house to house, teaching the rudi- 
 ments of the Gospel, is far more than we are able to 
 perform, in connection with the many other duties de- 
 manding our time and attention. 
 
 " Let the Church send forth double the force now 
 in the field, and we shall soon see more than double 
 the work accomplished, and at much less waste of 
 health and life. 
 
 " We have now finished our task. We have set be- 
 fore you, brethren, the simple truth. Will you not 
 listen to the loud call which the poor, sin-enslaved, 
 suffering, dying heathen are making to you for the 
 bread of life ? Shall Ethiopia stretch forth her hands 
 to you in vain f God forbid ! In the words of our 
 beloved brother Smith, written only a few weeks be- 
 fore his death, we say : ' O brethren ! consider these 
 things ; and may God give you hearts, according to 
 your ability, to "come over and help us." ' 
 "E.E. Scott, 
 
 Missionary at Cape Palmas. 
 C. C. Hoffman, 
 
 Missionary at Eocktown. 
 G. W. Gibson, 
 
 Missionary at Mt. Vaughan. 
 
 "September 10(h, 1855." 
 
€\\x$ttx %\itittvit\. 
 
 "All thy children shall be taught of the Lord ; and great shall be 
 the peace of thy children." — Isa. 54 : 13. 
 
 "We mentioned in a previous chapter that the Female 
 Orphan Asylum at Cape Palmas was sufficiently com- 
 pleted to be occupied by a mission family, and that 
 Kev. Mr. and Mrs. Scott, whom Bishop Payne had 
 appointed to take charge of it, removed from Cavalla, 
 and took possession in April, 1855. 
 
 It will be proper here to give a sketch of the origin 
 and progress of this interesting institution, and, as no 
 better account can be given, we quote from the last 
 Annual Eeport of the Association in Philadelphia, by 
 which it is sustained : 
 
 " Four years ago, during the last visit of Bishop 
 Payne to this country, he published a letter, in some 
 of our Church papers, on the importance of establishing 
 an asylum at Cape Palmas for the education of orphan 
 girls, with a view of bringing the element of female 
 influence to bear on the great work of ameliorating the 
 condition of the African race. In his letter, the Bish- 
 op says : ' Such an institution is of the very first 
 importance to the welfare of the colony and the suc- 
 cess of African missions. It is not necessary to stop 
 to show that female education is indispensable to the 
 elevation of any community. This is universally ad- 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 191 
 
 mitted. It is enough to state that there is no adequate 
 provision for this at Cape Palmas. No provision exists 
 there for educating wives for colonists in general, or 
 for ministers and teachers, who must give tone to 
 society, and, ere long, constitute the great instrumen- 
 tality for evangelizing the heathen. In order to the 
 success of this enterprise, there should be an association 
 formed in this country. It would be of the first im- 
 portance that the operation of the association should in 
 no way affect the present current receipts for foreign 
 missions.' 
 
 " In accordance with the suggestions contained in 
 the letter from which these extracts are taken — at the 
 earnest request of our Eight Rev. Father in Africa, 
 and with the consent and approbation of the Foreign 
 Committee — an Association was formed in this city 
 (Philadelphia) in the summer of 1852, for the purpose 
 of aiding in carrying into operation an instrumentality 
 of the kind contemplated. The Association is composed 
 of ladies, from a number of congregations, who, with 
 the advice of several of their rectors, are earnestly 
 engaged, through the Foreign Committee, in cooperat- 
 ing with Bishop Payne, in establishing, sustaining, and 
 fostering an institution, which it is confidently ex- 
 pected will, with the blessing of God, accomplish 
 great good for Africa. 
 
 " The original estimate of the Bishop for the cost of 
 the burlding was two thousand dollars. This amount, 
 and more, was raised without difficulty during the first 
 year. Then came a long period of delay, the unavoid- 
 able attendant of all operations in the building line in 
 Africa. The materials for building had to be carried 
 
192 DAY DAWN IN AFKICA. 
 
 from this country. There was but one mason in the 
 colony, and his services could only be secured at inter- 
 vals ' few and far between.' For three years after the 
 commencement of their enterprise, the friends of the 
 Asylum were compelled to stand still and wait in pa- 
 tience the slow progress made towards the erection of 
 their building. The cost of erection, owing to difficul- 
 ties which could not be foreseen, as will be seen from 
 a recent letter of Bishop Payne's, will be four or five 
 times the amount originally contemplated. The fol- 
 lowing letter from the Bishop furnishes an interesting- 
 account of the first examination of the pupils of the 
 institution, held at the close of the year : 
 
 " Cavalla, near Cafte Palmas, Jan. 22. 
 
 " Eev. and dear Brother : I had the pleasure of 
 writing to you per bark Estella, in September, report- 
 ing some satisfactory progress in the Orphan Asylum. 
 I thank God, that I can now inform you that on Fri- 
 day, 21st of December, I attended the first regular 
 examination of that important institution. 
 
 " It was one of our most pleasant days. The sky 
 was clear, and by eleven o'clock, the earliest hour at 
 which we could assemble, the sea breeze had well set 
 in, to pour its refreshing influences upon the visitors 
 and children assembled in the beautiful new school- 
 room. 
 
 "Before going into examination, I could but refresh 
 my eyes with a view of the matron's room, and delight- 
 ful dormitory, on the first floor of the eastern part of 
 the building. Some of the best stone-lime from Ham- 
 burg, and an excellent plasterer, have provided here 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 1$3 
 
 as fine white, firm walls as could be desired. Along 
 either side of the dormitory were arranged the nice 
 little iron beds, with quilts sent out by your Associa- 
 tion ; and in a recess were cupboards, with a shelf for 
 each girl, with her number above it. Over the heads 
 of the beds, on the walls, I observed very suitable 
 texts inscribed by the good taste of the teacher. 
 
 " Passing into the west end of the Asylum, towards 
 the Cape, I found assembled sixteen orphans, and 
 about the same number of day scholars, arranged on 
 long benches on either side of the room, (like the dor- 
 mitory, beautifully plastered ;) Mrs. Scott, the teacher, 
 at the extreme west end, and friends and visitors at 
 the opposite part of the room. On a round table, in 
 the centre, were placed bouquets of African Lilies, Ole- 
 ander, Pride of Barbadocs ; copy-books, compositions, 
 small drawings, etc. 
 
 " Only six months had elapsed since the Institution 
 had gone into full operation, and not so long a time 
 since the orphans had been taken to board in the 
 Asylum. A number of them, however, had been 
 members of other schools for some time, and this 
 accounted for a degree of proficiency in some, which 
 could not otherwise have been anticipated. Classes 
 were examined in spelling, reading, rudiments of 
 geography, arithmetic, natural philosophy, ph} r siology ; 
 and a more advanced and adult class — not of the or- 
 phans — in ancient history and the rudiments of botatty. 
 Some compositicJns were exhibited of the class lust 
 mentioned, which certainly gave evidence of thought 
 in the writers and tact in the teacher. 
 
 " Most of the members of the Institution arc young, 
 
194 DAY DAWX IN AFRICA. 
 
 the oldest not being above fourteen years, and the 
 youngest as low as five or six. 
 
 " But the interesting fact to you will be that they 
 are now under instruction, and that the Institution is 
 in full operation. And the examination gave proof 
 enough that they possessed capacities for usefulness 
 here and happiness hereafter. 
 
 " The examination over, with some missionary and 
 colonist brethren, I dined in the upper part of the 
 building with Brother and Mrs. Scott. The rooms 
 immediately over the matron's room and dormitory 
 (three in number) are finished, and occupied by the 
 mission family. * * * * * The upper part of 
 the Asylum, in the division toward the Cape, is as yet 
 incomplete ; as are also the upper piazzas and the lev- 
 elling and grading below. * * * * The kitchen 
 of stone, with three floors, including basement and 
 five rooms, could not have cost much less than one 
 thousand dollars. Besides smaller out-houses, stone 
 walls are made, or being made, all around the lot. 
 This is done because stone is on the ground, and 
 nothing else will withstand the ravages of the termites, 
 which are all over this country. * * * * * 
 
 " With Christian love to the members of your Asso 
 ciation, I remain, 
 
 "Faithfully your friend and brother, 
 
 "John Payne." 
 
 From another letter, published in the same report, 
 we make the following extracts, which give a more 
 minute description of the building : 
 
s 
 
 : 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 195 
 
 "Orphan Asylum, Cape Talmas. 
 
 " Eev. and dear Sir : Your letter to Mr. Scott, 
 requesting to hear as much as possible about the Or- 
 phan Asylum, has been handed to me for reply — such 
 details, in his opinion, coming more immediately under 
 the observation of the lady of the house. Our first 
 examination took place a few days before Christmas ; 
 but as our Bishop will give you an account of it, I 
 will pass on to describe the building, merely observing 
 that the children acquitted themselves better than was 
 expected. The school-room, though not completed, 
 was used on that occasion. It is a fine, airy room, 
 about thirty feet long and sixteen wide, and is 
 adorned with large outline maps, a globe, and several 
 engravings. It is situated in that part of the building, 
 which approaches nearest the point of the Cape. Over 
 the western door, which commands a splendid view of 
 the sea, we have inscribed in large letters : ' "Wisdom is 
 the principal thing ; therefore, get wisdom.' 
 
 " Naval officers, captains of merchant vessels, and 
 others who have visited Cape Palmas, pronounce the 
 Orphan Asylum to have the most beautiful and healthy 
 location on the western coast of Africa. They also 
 highly approve of the object of the building, and of 
 the style in which it is built. Could those who have 
 been instrumental in erecting the Asylum, see the hap- 
 py, animated faces of the little beings daily assembled 
 within its walls, we feel certain that they would consi- 
 der themselves amply repaid for all their trouble and 
 expense, Do not think I am influenced by the natural 
 partiality of a teacher when I say that these children 
 are earnestly striving to improve, and that they arc 
 
196 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 truly grateful to those who have given them a home, 
 and the means of education. Some of the older girls, 
 I have been told, have spoken with emotion of the 
 contrast between their present and former mode of liv- 
 ing. 'Then,' said they, 'we were taught nothing; 
 some of us had to go out into the swamps, rain or 
 shine, and drag in timber to earn our bread ; now wc 
 have a comfortable home, good food, and teachers who 
 are willing to teach us all in their power.' 
 
 " The children walk in procession to St. Mark's 
 Church every Sunday morning, and occupy pews (near 
 the missionaries) appropriated to them. They also 
 attend Sunday-School there in the aftenoon. 
 
 " Thinking you may feel some curiosity on the sub- 
 ject, we send you the names and ages of the children as 
 nearly as could be ascertained. We also send you a 
 copy of the rules, which we have had printed, and 
 hung up in the different rooms. To promote order, 
 we have found it necessary to number the girls accord- 
 ing to their ages, and to prevent confusion have carried 
 it out in all our arrangements for them. Each girl 
 has her own number marked on her books, clothes, 
 and all her little possessions ; and it is contrary to rule 
 for one child to use any article marked with a number 
 appropriated to another. 
 
 "As you wish to hear particularly about the house, 
 I must not omit a description of the dormitory. This 
 is a pleasant and well- ventilated room, about thirty feet 
 long and sixteen wide, and is connected with the ma- 
 tron's neat little chamber. It contains three large 
 closets — two for the girls' clothes, and one for the bed- 
 clothes, towels, etc. Each child has a shelf marked 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFKICA. 197 
 
 with her own number, and she is required to keep 
 every thing in its place. The small iron bedsteads 
 (arranged in two rows along the white walls, look very- 
 comfortable with their sheets, pillow-cases, and spreads, 
 sent out by the ladies of Philadelphia. At the head 
 of each bed is a small picture and an appropriate verse. 
 Over the main door of the front entrance I have 
 inscribed those soothing words of the Psalmist, ' I will 
 lay me down in peace and sleep, for thou, Lord, only 
 makest me to dwell in safety ;' and on the opposite 
 door, the beautiful injunction of St. John, ' My little 
 children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but 
 in deed and truth.'' l If God so loved us, we ous-ht also 
 to love one another.' 
 
 " The dining-room is in the basement, and is very 
 dry and comfortable, The long table, covered with a 
 neat drab cloth and white plates, looks quite inviting. 
 On one side of the wall is printed the command of St. 
 Paul, 'Let all things be done decently and in order;' 
 on the other, the words of our blessed Saviour : ' Ga- 
 ther up the fragments, that nothing be lost.' 
 
 " Last, though not least important, comes the wash- 
 room. Here the older girls, under the supervision of 
 the matron, wash and iron their clothes ; and here too 
 they are required to bathe every night — every thing 
 necessary for personal cleanliness being freely supplied 
 them. Over the entrance we have written, ' Cleanli- 
 ness is next to godliness.' 
 
 " In addition to the rooms on the first floor just 
 described, there are already three rooms on the second 
 floor, and two in the attic, completed for the use of the 
 missionaries, and several more to be finished, all of 
 
198 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 them as comfortable as Christians need desire in this 
 transitory life. * * * 
 
 " Very truly yours, 
 
 "Anna M. Scott. 
 " Rev. Richard Newton, D.D." 
 
 We doubt not that many souls in Africa will arise to 
 call this Institution blessed long' after the noble spirits 
 who planned it, with those who now sustain its opera- 
 tions, shall have passed away to their reward ; and that 
 this Asylum will long stand — a moral light-house on 
 that dark coast — diffusing light and knowledge to all 
 around ; while numerous children, trained up within 
 its walls, " in the nurture and admonition of the Lord," 
 shall go forth to tell to thousands of the surrounding 
 heathen the story of redeeming love. In love its 
 foundation was laid ; in love its walls were reared ; in 
 love its orphans gathered, clothed, and taught ; and we 
 must believe that the God of Love will keep, defend, 
 and cherish that which His own Spirit has originated. 
 
 "We have now to record the death of another beloved 
 member of the Mission. On the 10th of November, 
 Mrs. Mary Louisa Rambo died at the mission-house at 
 Buchanan, Bassa county. "Her disease," writes Mr. 
 R., " was bilious remittent fever, which carried her off, 
 after a painful illness of sixteen days. She calmly 
 fell asleep in Jesus, at half-past three o'clock A.M., 
 Nov. 10th, 1855. 
 
 " I need not tell you that my house, lately so pleas- 
 ant and happy, is now desolate, gloomy, and forlorn. 
 This blow came the more severe, because it was sudden 
 and unexpected. Up to her last illness, which was 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 109 
 
 very severe from the beginning, she had little or no 
 fever — but her head-aches were often severe. I was 
 therefore quite unprepared for the sad and terrible 
 blow. But Mrs. R. thought from the beginning of her 
 illness that it would carry her off, and had ' set her 
 house in order.' She died as she lived, full of faith, 
 hope, and love. She gave unmistakable evidence 
 that all was well, and said that 'Jesus was near, and 
 precious to her.' " 
 
 In announcing her death to the public, the Bishop 
 thus writes : 
 
 " It is not quite two years since Mrs. Rambo joined 
 us in apparent good health, and in the fullness of all 
 the graces which form a dutiful, loving wife, an affec- 
 tionate, agreeable companion, a faithful missionary, a 
 guileless, meek, and lovely child of God. While pre- 
 parations were being made at her appointed station, 
 Bassa Cove, she was a member of the mission family 
 at Cavalla, and, during Mrs. Payne's absence, took her 
 place in guiding the household. How gently, and 
 wisely, and gracefully she performed her part, the sor- 
 rowing hearts of all, who then learned to know and 
 love her, can testify. 
 
 "As a missionary sister, too, she ' labored much in 
 the Lord,' and with God's evident blessing. Three 
 heathen adults she sought out and led to Jesus, in 
 whose name they have been baptized. And these and 
 many others can not think of her but with tears of 
 sorrow and regret. Though possessing naturally an 
 amiable temper, deep piety was the great secret of her 
 amial ileness and usefulness. Iler consecration knew 
 no reserve. In frequent conversations, whieh the 
 
200 • DAY DAWN IN AFKICA. 
 
 writer of this had with her on the subject, she 
 appeared fully to realize the hardships and the risk', to 
 which the opening of a new station must subject her, 
 but she said she had counted the cost, and was pre- 
 pared most cheerfully to encounter it. 
 
 " Thus she left Cava] la for Bassa Cove nine months 
 since, and we were hoping soon again to see her for a 
 short time, when tidings came to us of her death. 
 * * * We knoAv that our beloved sister sleeps in 
 Jesus ; and we will try so to follow her good example, 
 that soon we may be partakers with her of His hea- 
 venly kingdom." 
 
 In the last chapter we gave the appeal from the for- 
 eign and colonial missionaries to the American Church. 
 In this we give the appeal from the native missionaries, 
 which will afford a striking evidence of what education 
 can do with African minds, and what the Gospel can 
 do with heathen hearts : 
 
 " The native ministers, teachers, and assistants, con- 
 nected with the Protestant Episcopal Mission at Cape 
 Palmas, believing that God is now beginning a good 
 and extensive work of grace amongst the people 
 around us, and deeply feeling the great need of more 
 laborers to carry on this work, do hereby earnestly 
 appeal to Christians in the United States to send forth 
 more laborers into this great harvest. In order that 
 you may the better know the state of things and our 
 feelings, we have allowed each one to speak for him- 
 self." 
 
 G. T. Bedell, teacher at Eocktown, thus writes : 
 
 " From my desiring that the work of Christ should 
 go forward more than ever, I am led to address these 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 2Q1 
 
 few lines to you. In the first place, I desire to give 
 you information of a great change that is now begin- 
 ning to take place at Rocktown. 
 
 " There was once a time when the people's hearts 
 were so hardened, that they did not regard the great 
 God, who made them, nor did they like to hear about 
 Him, and of Ills Son, Jesus Christ. The first mission- 
 ary that went to them was Mr. Ilening ; afterward Mr. 
 Home was sent to them, who was taken away by death, 
 and, lastly, Mr. Wright. These three has God sent to 
 labor among the people. Bat oh ! the hardness of 
 their hearts — Gods message to them was not received 
 at that time. They looked upon religion as a mere 
 fable. But though God was pleased that this state of 
 things should stand so for a while, yet He did not mean 
 that His work should stop there altogether. It so hap- 
 pened that the thought came to me whether God meant, 
 by the departing of His servants, that I should stand 
 in their place, and act as a missionary to them. After 
 some consideration, I concluded to do so. So I have 
 tried speaking to them about God, the same as the 
 other missionaries have done, explaining to them the 
 foolishness of worshipping their gods, and set before 
 them God, their Maker, and Jesus Christ, their cruci- 
 fied Redeemer ; and the people have become so affected 
 by the Gospel truths, that they will fill the house of 
 God on Sunday for divine adoration ; and I believe, 
 that ' before long they will forsake the worshipping of 
 idols, and turn to the only true and living God. 
 
 " Sec now, my dear friends, how the work is carried 
 on. The native ministers and teachers are at work ; 
 our white missionaries are. at work, and the Holy 
 
202 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 Ghost is at work ; we are all at work, but the field is 
 too large. The harvest truly is great, but the laborers 
 are few. All of my native Christian friends say the 
 laborers are few. I have great reason to believe that 
 Jesus Christ says the same thing at this time. "We do 
 now jointly j:>ray the Lord of the harvest to send forth 
 more laborers into His vineyard, that His great work 
 may be accomplished among the sons of Africa. 
 N. S. Harris, teacher at Cape Palmas, thus writes : 
 " I desire to tell of a great work which is carried on 
 in this part of Africa. At Cape Palmas, my place of 
 residence, there were missionaries at first, but the na- 
 tives did not receive their message for a long time, 
 until they either died, or went away entirely from 
 them, and there was very little work of Christ carried 
 on among them. Thus, in this deplorable condition, 
 the people were left until 1852, when I was sent to 
 them as a teacher. Looking upon the condition of the 
 people, and none residing among them to teach them 
 the way of life, I considered mj^self as the only person 
 sent by God, to break the bread of life to these dying 
 people. So I commenced laboring among them. 
 
 "At first my words to them are as a tale, and they 
 even went so far as calling them fables — so blind were 
 they in things pertaining to their everlasting peace. 
 In this state of things, I continued to labor, explaining 
 that this word is not fables, as they suppose, but the 
 word of the great God, showing them their great error 
 in believing in gree-grees and devil-doctors. And now 
 these very people, who were so hard, that it seemed 
 nothing would affect them, are affected by the Gospel 
 of Christ the Lord. They, instead of violating the 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 203 
 
 holy Sabbath, have passed a law that it should be ob- 
 served. The house of God, which was attended by 
 few, is now crowded. Our usual prayer, which was 
 never attended by any except the scholars, is now 
 attended by the heathen morning and evening. The 
 night-school, which was never attended formerly, but 
 on condition of their receiving pay, is now attended 
 by the number of about two hundred. 
 
 " Now, brethren, think of these things that I write 
 to you, and remember that you are still called to this 
 country ; your assistance is yet needed, that the cause 
 of Christ may go forward more than ever ; which is 
 the desire of your Christian friends." 
 
 H. Humphreys, teacher at Taboo, thus writes : 
 
 u August 14:th, 1855. — I address these few lines to 
 let you know about the great change which is taking 
 place here among our country people. The mission- 
 aries have been here for a long time, and they have 
 been trying to labor here as hard as they can, and not 
 only so, but they have suffered and died also, and some 
 of them have returned again to their native country. 
 But now we do see that the Spirit of God is working 
 among some of them, and they see that gree-grees and 
 their country doctors are all liars. And some of them 
 are forsaking their gree-grees, and even doctors leave 
 their lying, and now turn to be preachers of the Gos- 
 pel of Christ. 
 
 " O dear friends ! I pray you come out and help 
 us, for the harvest is great, but the laborers are few, 
 and therefore I pray you to come and help u^, that we 
 may work together in the Lord's harvest. We have, 
 indeed, some native preachers, who arc trying now to 
 
204 DAY DAWN IN AFHICA. 
 
 preach the true riches of Christ, and not only they, 
 but many -of us, too, who are not preachers, are trying 
 to do so. But we pray you to come out, for our mis- 
 sionaries are only three, and we are so many. There- 
 fore, we desire some new missionaries to come out, 
 that they may teach us, so we will teach our country 
 people also. 
 
 "Dear friends, perhaps you may say some of us 
 went there and died ; but, friends, you may remember 
 Jesus has said : ' He that seeketh his life shall lose it, 
 but he that loseth his life for my sake, shall save it.' 
 And again, when Christ was sending out His twelve 
 apostles, He said : ' He that loveth father or mother 
 more than me, is not worthy of me : he that loveth 
 son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me.' 
 O dear Christian friends ! please come out to our help, 
 that we may go together and teach our countrymen." 
 
 Samuel Boyd, teacher at Fishtown, thus writes : 
 
 "August 14:th, 1855. — The loss of Mr. E. Smith was 
 much regretted. I was struck with these feelings. 
 Now it is high time for us to put forth all our strength 
 to do our Master's work. Must I do it with my own 
 power ? Nay, for there is no strength within me. 
 Therefore, I gave myself up to prayer. With these 
 feelings, many days elapsed before our examination 
 arrived. I then with my scholars proceeded to Eock- 
 town. At the close of the examination, Bishop Payne 
 preached. In his preaching he said : ' Put forth all 
 your strength ; put away your idleness. Behold, now 
 ye are called by God to do His work. The missionaries 
 are called away.' 
 
 "Also, with these words, I with my scholars. I 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 205 
 
 then found out my error in laying this work only on 
 the white missionaries. Prayer then was my chief 
 delight, to obtain an assistance from the throne of 
 grace, that I might be enabled to go at this work, 
 which I hope was answered by Him, who rules the 
 lit ;irts of men. I then felt the strength of God within 
 me, which enabled me to go and proclaim this blessed 
 truth to my people with faithfulness. I am in the 
 habit of making frequent visits to the sick, poor, and 
 blind, instructing them in the way of God and of their 
 Saviour. As I am among them, going from town to 
 town, and asking them to turn to God as their Father, 
 and to observe His Sabbath-da}^, they all seem to like 
 it well. How came the people to agree to observe the 
 Sabbath, is no doubt the work of God. For, by keep- 
 ing the Sabbath and receiving instruction, some have 
 given up their idols. I first commenced with each 
 individual, and their principal men and kroomen. 
 After I got the consent of each, I then went and beat 
 the public drum, and all were assembled. I then gave 
 my reason for beating the drum. And old Hyano, the 
 governor, said, ' Hear ye, my people: the Sabbath 
 from this time henceforth is to be kept by us:' ami 
 now the Sabbath is kept by the people. At our pub- 
 lic meetings, two or three hundred generally attend, 
 besides the services of the week. 
 
 " The people indeed want instructors. I consider 
 myself as an unworthy servant. I deserve nothing 
 but everlasting wrath. I am willing, by God's help, 
 to do His will unto my life's end. May the Lord Mess 
 US, ami give us His Holy Spirit, to enlighten our 
 minds, and strengthen us to do Mis will. Amen." 
 
206 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 The native deacon at Cavalla reports as follows : 
 
 "August 23d, 1855. — Much has been said in connec- 
 tion with the subject before me, to encourage Christian 
 friends to come over for our help ; it is not necessary 
 for me to go on enumerating my labors among these 
 people. 
 
 " Your missionary brethren continually set before 
 you their efforts here in Africa — how they labor night 
 and day, in season and out of season ; what encourage- 
 ments, and what trials they have ; how many receive 
 their message, and are admitted into the Church of 
 Christ. All these they do to encourage you for their 
 help. They have set before you the vastness of the 
 field, and the few that are engaged in it, and they have 
 called you by the words of your Saviour. 
 
 " Truly, truly, the harvest is great, but the laborers 
 are few. Even when native teachers and ministers 
 are added to the number of the missionaries, the num- 
 ber is still small compared to the field. Therefore, we 
 still call upon you. It is not to ease our burden that 
 we call upon you. No ; but that the cause of Christ 
 may go forward. We have greater encouragement in 
 our labors among the people than we ever have had : 
 but the more encouragement we have, the more desire 
 for more labor, and therefore we call upon you to come 
 over and help us in the great work. 
 
 " I call upon you by your most holy name, by your 
 profession, by your God, by your Saviour, and by the 
 Holy Spirit, I entreat and call upon you to come over 
 and help us. Especially do I apply to those institu- 
 tions for learning, which are established in the land, 
 from whence may issue the streams to make glad the 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 207 
 
 city of God, and refresh the whole earth. Your cir- 
 cumstances seem to be far different from those who 
 have already been ordained to the ministry, and fill 
 other important places. The choice is still upon you, 
 as to what place you may go. Our eyes are upon you, 
 the world looks upon you ; God the Father, God the 
 Son, and God the Spirit, for whom we labor, is still 
 looking upon you. As your coming for our help in 
 this great work is our rejoicing, so your refusal is our 
 sorrow. 
 
 " May God pour out His Spirit upon the Church 
 abundantly, that all may strive for the propagating of 
 the Gospel." 
 
 " Ku Sia, alias C. F. Jones." 
 
Clutjrfu ftnutunilj. 
 
 "If the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." — John 8 : 36. 
 
 Among the fifty heathen souls who, during this 
 year, yielded their hearts to their Saviour, was Seiko, 
 a little slave-boy, whose touching history is thus de- 
 scribed by the Bishop : 
 
 " On Tuesday last, I started about three o'clock P.M., 
 to visit Wotte and Sede, two heathen towns on the Ca- 
 valla river. In making these missionary journeys, 
 having no other means of conveyance, hammocks are 
 used to avoid excessive fatigue. At this season, when 
 the people are generally engaged on their rice-farms, 
 it is difficult to find even two bearers. On this ac- 
 count it was I accepted the services of little Seiko as 
 one bearer, on the occasion I referred to. 
 
 "As we walked along' — for I generally walk a? 
 much as I can — I told Sako I thought he was scarcely 
 large enough to be a bearer. He said this was true ; 
 but ' because we were going to preach true things, he 
 could not find it in his heart to refuse to go.' 
 
 " I was much struck with this observation ; for, al- 
 though he had been to me frequently to say he was 
 trying to become a Christian, and I had often remarked 
 his interest at Sunday-school, I was hardly prepared 
 to find him so concerned to spread the Gospel, as he 
 now appeared. But I made no reply to his remark, 
 and we went to Wotte to preach. 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFKICA. 209 
 
 " The attendance, as is usual here, was small ; and 
 I preached, and concluded, having little to comfort 
 me, except the consciousness of having delivered the 
 message with which I was charged. 
 
 "As soon as I had closed the services, what was my 
 surprise to see little Salco raising himself up, and with 
 outstretched hands, and a countenance beaming with 
 tenderness and love, urging upon the people to receive 
 the Gospel ! 
 
 " ' Sirs,' he said, ' think as you may of these things, 
 you can never have true peace until you shall have 
 received them. Your gree-grees and idols, what are 
 they ? Break them open, and will you find any thing 
 in them ? Do they do any good ? Are they not in 
 your hand while you continually see trouble and die ? 
 Cast these things away, and turn to God. Beware 
 how you refuse His message and break His laws. 
 God destroyed a town called Sodom, for the wicked- 
 ness of its people. Do not provoke Him to punish 
 you.' With many such words did this boy exhort his 
 people. 
 
 " I was astonished, and anxious too ; for I feared 
 that he would be severely reproved and scowled down 
 for his impertinence. But no ; the people aroused 
 themselves from their listlessness, and every eye was 
 fixed upon him, while one and another exclaimed : 
 ' J-Iya, hanhte ne pede, hanhte ne peek.' Child, you 
 speak the truth, you speak the truth. 
 
 "An old man then gave an account of a service at 
 Cape Pahnas, at which llyano, of Cavalla, the old con- 
 verted demon-doctor, had spoken, concluding by say- 
 
210 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 ing that their idols ivere vanities, and it would not be 
 long before all would turn from them, and serve God. 
 
 " "We now proceeded to the second village, Scde. 
 On the way, when I made allusion to what had passed, 
 he said : ' Once I was ashamed of God. I was afraid 
 and ashamed to be seen at church, but I have no fear 
 now. God has taken this away, and I am now ready 
 to confess Him any where. In my heart, I believe on 
 Him.' 
 
 " ' You once told me,' I said, 'Seiko, that your mas- 
 ter troubled you because you would observe the Sab- 
 bath. How is it now ?' 
 
 " ' Do you remember,' he replied, ' the last time I 
 was at service in the evening ? Well, the next morn- 
 ing my master tied me, and beat me for it. Here are 
 the marks on my arms and back.' 
 
 " ' Did you say any thing, Sako V 
 
 " ' No,' he replied ; ' when he had beaten me, I got 
 up, and went to my work on the farm.' 
 
 "Arrived at Sede, I preached, and here, as before, 
 Sako added a word of exhortation. He was particu- 
 larly pointed in exposing the folly of idols and gree- 
 grees. Nearly all present assented to what he said, 
 and an aged man appeared to vie with him in ridicul- 
 ing the impostures of the deyabo, (demon-doctors.) 
 
 " My heart was encouraged and my faith strength- 
 ened by this exhibition of faith and zeal in the little 
 slave-boy. Surety, I thought, ' there is no restraint 
 with God to work by many or few' — the old or young. 
 So, then, neither is ' he that planteth any thing, nei- 
 ther he that watereth ; but God that giveth the in- 
 crease.' Let me look more to God, and trust in Him.' 1 ' 1 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 211 
 
 "Seiko seems," writes the Bishop some months later, 
 " to continue a faithful disciple of his Lord and Sav- 
 iour, but he has been sorely tried. 
 
 " Some time since, his master, learning that he was 
 observing the Sabbath instead of working, as he had 
 ordered him, threatened him with severe punishment, 
 Early on Monday morning, Sako hastened to do the 
 work winch he had been ordered to do on the Sab- 
 bath ; but this did not satisfy his master. He sent 
 one of his sons to catch him. Sako fled to the Mis- 
 sion-house. A relative, living in the Christian village, 
 went to endeavor to appease the master, and even 
 offered to pay the value of the boy, to get him free. 
 But this only enraged the man. He said no sum of 
 money could induce him to sell the boy, and that he 
 should never be a Christian ; he would kill him before 
 he would allow this. He had bought him to do work, 
 not to be a Christian. 
 
 " Finding the master was in such a temper, the poor 
 slave-boy, trembling, was sent to town, by an influen- 
 tial friend, to his master. He was reminded of what 
 he had been before often told, that those who would 
 serve God in this world must suffer tribulation, and 
 exhorted, at the peril of his life, not to break God's 
 law. His master could not be changed ; and on the 
 following day, one of his sons gave the boy a severe 
 beating ; and he was told on no account to be seen on 
 the mission premises again. Some days afterwards, 
 Salco was seen bearing upon his flesh the marks of 
 cruelty. But he appears unmoved, and still attends 
 religious services, and school in town, as often as he 
 can do so. When beaten by his master for giving up 
 
212 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 his work on Sunday, he often goes to the Bishop for 
 sympathy ; and at such times, instead of speaking 
 harshly of his cruel master, he speaks of him in terms 
 of pity, and says : ' Oh ! that he could see as I see ; 
 but he can not.' " 
 
 About this time, a case of conversion occurred at 
 Cape Palmas, which deserves a particular notice. It 
 was that of an old demon-woman, one of the class of 
 people who profess to foresee future events, and to be 
 able to protect their people from evils with which they 
 may be threatened, and to give them success in all 
 their undertakings, by means of gree-grees, or charms. 
 
 Until a few months since, old Mlede (for so she is 
 called) was ignorant of the way of salvation. When 
 she heard the Gospel, she was convicted of sin, and 
 began to inquire what she must do to be saved. She 
 soon saw that it was her duty to renounce her lying 
 practices, and give up her gree-grees. To do this re- 
 quired in her case more sacrifice than the followers of 
 Jesus are often called to endure. She was very old, 
 and nearly blind, and there seemed to her no way of 
 being supported when her lucrative profession should 
 be abandoned — her friends being very much opposed 
 to her taking the step, and consequently little disposed 
 to contribute to her support ; and from the most of 
 her people she could expect little besides reproach and 
 ridicule. Nor could she be free from the fear of poi- 
 son at the hands of those who had been associated 
 with her in her lying practices. 
 
 She became a regular attendant at church, and al- 
 ways an eager listener to the preached word ; but on 
 one Sabbath afternoon, much to our surprise, she was 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 213 
 
 not in her accustomed scat in the native chapel. Near- 
 ly a week previous, she had called at the Orphan Asy- 
 lum, to tell us that she was going on a visit, or, as she 
 expressed it, " going stranger," for a few days, to a 
 neighboring town ; but we had heard of her safe re- 
 turn. Fearing that she might be sick, we called at her 
 hut as we returned from the chapel. 
 
 We found her sitting in front of her house, with 
 two strange women. Her face wore a troubled and 
 rather resentful expression, such as we had never be- 
 fore observed in her ; and she did not smile or stretch 
 out her hand as usual when we approached, but handed 
 us stools in silence. We inquired if she was sick. 
 
 " No," she replied. 
 
 " What, then, is the matter ?" we asked. "Are any 
 of your friends dead, Mlede V 
 
 " No, me no be sick. Me be angry too much ; my 
 heart burn plenty." 
 
 " Who has made you angry?" 
 
 " Me be angry with you plenty. My country people 
 say you make fool of Mlede — my people come tell me, 
 when I go stranger, God-man take my name in church, 
 say to all people, ' Mlede throw away gree-grees, be- 
 cause she no have sense to make witch proper fashion.' 
 My country people ask me why I no drive you away 
 from my house, like Tode and Wede, when you go to 
 talk God-palaver to them. Why you do this bad thing 
 to me?" 
 
 For a moment, surprise Kept us silent. 
 
 " Why you treat me this bad fashion?" she agaiu 
 asked, in a pitiful tone. " Do you wish to make my 
 people angry, make 'cm take my life ?" 
 
21-1 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 We told lier that some of lier people had been tell 
 ing her lies to tease her — that no one had mentioned 
 her name disrespectfully, but that, on the contrary, 
 she had been alluded to, in the thanksgiving services, 
 as a monument of Grod's mercy ; and that we wished 
 Tode and Wede, and all the demon- women, and men 
 too, were as highly favored as she had been, in being 
 led to feel her sins. 
 
 She seemed quite pacified when she heard this ex- 
 planation, and replied : " You speak true — my country 
 people tell lies plenty." 
 
 "She then expressed her regret that she had ab- 
 sented herself from church, and begged us to repeat 
 *' some of the word" that had been preached that after- 
 noon. 
 
 After we had satisfied her, we asked her if she had 
 felt like giving up God, and going back to gree-grees 
 again, when she thought we had injured her. 
 
 " No," she replied, " me no feel that way — me no 
 want ever to go back to devil side. Me feel this way, 
 same like a man who go down to sea to wash — long 
 time he stand look at the water — say wind blow cold 
 too much — shiver, shiver — turn away — go back again 
 — put one foot in water — soon water no feel cold — then 
 he say, Now me in, me wash clean. So with me. Long 
 time me look at gree-grees. Say, Me can't give 'em 
 up — be too hard. Then me pray, Nyesoa, help me. 
 Then He help me give 'em up — gree-gree be gone — all 
 nothing — now me live all time for God's side." 
 
 From this time forth, Mlede became settled in her 
 mind, and her interest in spiritual things rapidly in- 
 creased. Not many weeks elapsed before she said to 
 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 215 
 
 the missionary in charge of the station : "Me be ready 
 to follow Jesus, who died for me" 
 
 Having given abundant evidence of a renewed heart, 
 in the midst of a large and attentive congregation at 
 the native chapel, she was received into the visible 
 church of Christ. She trembled excessively as she 
 walked forward with her sponsors ; but her courage 
 revived, and she took the vows upon her (in the Grebo 
 lauguage) with an unfaltering voice and glad counte- 
 nance. At the conclusion of the rite, she turned to 
 the minister, and said, with touching simplicity : u Bi- 
 simle" (I thank you.) 
 
 From that day forward, her walk has ever been that 
 of an humble and consistent follower of Jesus. When 
 recently on a long visit in the interior, she took the 
 precaution to make a notch, for every day she was ab- 
 sent, on a stick, so that she might always know when 
 the Lord's day came ; and there, surrounded by those 
 who were ignorant of His name, she refrained from 
 work, and worshipped alone the Saviour of her soul. 
 
 Another demon-man at Taboo, and a candidate for 
 that office at Cavalla, were baptized by the Bishop 
 about this time. The latter is a leper, and was per- 
 suaded to become a deyd, or demon-man, in order to 
 appease the Jcu, or spirit that caused his disease. When 
 Christ was first preached to him, he rejected Him with 
 scorn, and asserted that the devil was more powerful 
 than God. But gradually, through the power of the 
 Holy Spirit, the truth made an entrance into his heart, 
 and after a few months he threw off the badge of his 
 profession, gave up one of his two wives, and enlisted 
 as a soldier of Christ. 
 
216 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 Thus, within the space of three years, one demon- 
 woman, two demon-men, and one candidate for that 
 office, were baptized, and by their example, as well as 
 labors, are doing much towards convincing their de- 
 luded countrymen of the folly of the gree-gree system. 
 The missionaries are having more and more reason to 
 believe that the Grebo, and perhaps the Babo and Plabo 
 tribes, will at no distant day be prepared to " cast their 
 idols to the moles and the bats." 
 
 Near the close of this year, John "W". Hutchins, a 
 Babo young man, who had been educated in one of the 
 Mission schools, expressed a desire to return to his 
 own people, and teach them the way of salvation. 
 The Bishop approving of his desire, he was placed in 
 charge of a new station on the Cavalla river, ten miles 
 from its mouth, called, in honor of the missionary who 
 was chiefly instrumental in leading him to Christ, 
 " Hening Station." 
 
 He entered upon his duties in September, and at the 
 Christmas Convocation made the following report : 
 
 " I am happy to tell you something of the people 
 among whom I dwell. It is true they observe the 
 Sabbath, but not in the manner taught in the Holy 
 Scriptures. On Sunday, I teach in two towns, and on 
 one other day in the week. They have promised that 
 they will observe the Sabbath when they cut their 
 farms. I have Sunday-school on every Sunday even- 
 ing, and on Monday I speak in two villages, about ten 
 miles off, according to my calculation. During the 
 week, I have school in the morning, which continues 
 about an hour and a half. As there is no boarding- 
 school yet, much has not been accomplished ; but I 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 217 
 
 hope the time will soon come when much will be 
 clone in teaching. 
 
 " Thus far I have told you of what I am doing ; but 
 permit me to say a few words to you who were once 
 heathen. 
 
 " My friends, I find that (his ivork is for us. As we 
 have received the Gospel, so let us to others impart it, 
 in order that they may believe and be saved. I would, 
 in the words of the Apostle, say to you, that ' we are 
 debtors both to the Greeks and to the Barbarians, both 
 to the wise and unwise.' Now let me ask, What does he 
 mean by saying this ? I think this is what he means, 
 that he was bound to do every thing which would be 
 the means of bringing others to receive the Gospel." 
 
 At Eocktown and Fishtown stations, the Eev. Mr. 
 Hoffman was greatly encouraged in his labors. In 
 his journal for the month of August, he wrote : 
 
 " Eemarkable is the interest which the people now 
 evince in the subject of religion. I never visit their 
 towns without feeling thankful that God has called me 
 to preach to them the blessed Gospel. Their serious 
 attention and conversation show a degree of interest 
 never known before. 
 
 " Our native Christian youth seem animated with 
 earnest desires to impart truth to their people. One 
 wrote me a few days since : ' Please give me some 
 work to do for God.' Another, this night, writes me : 
 ' I wish very much that I may go to my country, to 
 teach our native boys. I have thought of this long. 
 Now, I think God has called me to this work. They 
 have no body to teach them. If I go to my country, 
 10 
 
218 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 I think I may do much for them — not by my power, 
 but by the power of God.' 
 
 "Ona recent visit to Middletown, as I was closing 
 my discourse to the natives, two of our Christian 
 youth from Fishtown arrived at the place ; they had 
 come, of their own accord, to endeavor to induce the 
 people to observe the Sabbath. My assistant, Bedell, 
 remained with them, to advocate the cause ; and al- 
 though no law was passed, yet the Sabbath, by general 
 consent, was thenceforth to be observed ; and from 
 that time, service has been held there on the Sabbath, 
 one or two of our Christian youths going on that day 
 to instruct the people. 
 
 " More pleasing still is the interest at Fishtown, 
 from the fact that a native teacher is the instrument 
 of the awakening. He daily meets the people for in- 
 struction. A law has been passed, requiring the Sab- 
 bath to be observed. No one goes to fish on that day. 
 Beneath the spreading branches of a grove of trees the 
 people assemble morning and afternoon, when service 
 is read and instruction given by a native Christian 
 youth. The account which he gives of the meeting in 
 which the matter of the Sabbath was considered, is 
 interesting. He says : ' On the day appointed for the 
 consideration of this law, with T. L. Chandler and 
 others, we proceeded to the large town ; and having 
 called all the people by the sound of the town drum, 
 I arose and said to them : " Hear ye, my people ! God 
 requires you to keep the Sabbath holy. He will bless 
 those nations who will obey his commands. You have 
 neglected his warnings by the missionaries ; now it is 
 high time to wake up from your sleep." Then the 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 219 
 
 Governor addressed them : " Ye my people, the Sab- 
 bath must be kept by all of you. Men, women, and 
 children ! from henceforth no one is permitted to go 
 out fishing, to go to his farm, to go stranger, (that is, 
 visit other towns,) or to do any other business on the 
 Sabbath." Then all gave their consent. At the con- 
 clusion of the afternoon service, one of the head-men, 
 the judge or lawyer of the town — one of the most in- 
 fluential persons — thus addressed the people : " Peo- 
 ple, see how pleasant it is to keep the Sabbath ! Our 
 Governor is an old man ; he wishes us to keep the 
 Sabbath truly, as long as we can get a person to preach 
 to us. See how some of the Greboes have given up 
 their gree-grees, and keep the Sabbath, (referring to the 
 converts at Ca valla ;) shall we not do the same ?" 
 And he turned to the Christian youth, and said : 
 " You have heard how I addressed the people. Now 
 you are our example. If you get weak concerning 
 this matter, we also will get weak ; but if you will 
 encourage us, we also will be very happy and willing 
 to hear your preaching. It is a law that the Sabbath 
 must be kept. These are our Governor's words. You 
 are constantly talking to us of this matter, which we 
 will do." So the meeting closed. May the Lord help 
 our people to do His will ! ' 
 
 "Almost every week brings some pleasing account 
 of the people forsaking their idols and turning to the 
 Lord. For instance, I received the following : ' The 
 people attended church yesterday as usual. With 
 much surprise, this morning, a man, who was at my 
 house on Sunday, (with whom I held a conversation 
 on the subject of our country doctors, and their super- 
 
220 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 stitious vanities of gree-grees,) came with his gree-grees 
 in his hands, and said : " Boyd, you may do with them 
 what you please. I have no others but these, (nine in 
 number.) I am very sorry indeed that I have spent 
 my money for that which is nothing." ' 
 
 " Under date of August 13, we have the following : 
 ' The people have again thrown down one of the devil- 
 doctors in the sea this morning, and charged him not 
 to make any more gree-grees • but he has the liberty of 
 getting medicines from the bush, to cure people with. 
 Oh ! it is so pleasing to hear of nothing but casting 
 away their gree-grees talked of. Old and young, and 
 even doctors themselves, are now thinking it time to 
 give up these idols.' 
 
 " Under date of August 5, he writes : 
 
 " ' Sunday. — Our service this morning consisted of 
 two hundred persons, men, women, and children ; all 
 were very attentive. One of the congregation called 
 upon me, to come for his gree-grees. On entering his 
 house, he said : " Here are my gree-grees. I have felt 
 the vanity of them. I will have nothing more to do 
 with them. I will live for God." 
 
 " ' Sept. 9th. — Baptized this morning three school- 
 boys, Alonzo Potter, George M. Randall, and E. W. 
 Hening, with a native youth from the heathen town, 
 whom I called " George." These all gave most de- 
 lightful evidence of the renewal of the heart by the 
 Holy Ghost, and they are a source of comfort and joy 
 to my soul. 
 
 Ui Sept. 11th. — Blessed be God! three native men 
 have expressed to me a desire for baptism. They pro- 
 videntially met in my study this morning, and I talked 
 
BAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 221 
 
 and prayed with them. One is the son of the head- 
 man of the town. He has three wives, bnt heartily 
 assures me of his readiness to relinquish two, and join 
 the people of God. Polygamy is a powerful obstacle 
 to the spread of the Gospel, but not too powerful for 
 grace to overcome. 
 
 11 'Accidentally saw a note from a school-boy at Ca- 
 valla, asking the prayerg of one of the boys who were 
 baptized last Sunday, and congratulating him on his 
 being a Christian.' " 
 
 On the sixth of this month, Mr. Hoffman wrote : 
 
 " I have proposed to our native Christians at this 
 station, and at Fishtown, to aid in the support of I. 
 W. Hutchins, a native youth, who leaves this station 
 next week, to labor among his own people on the Ca- 
 valla river, and they cheerfully responded. One youth, 
 a school-boy, not receiving any salary, went to the 
 bush and gathered a bundle of rattans, which he split 
 and offered for sale, and gave the proceeds (nine cents) 
 for the work. And a poor blind boy, who receives 
 but six shillings a month, wanted to give a portion of 
 this for the spread of the Gospel." 
 
 In his review for this year, the Bishop writes as 
 follows : 
 
 " It is just nineteen years this Christmas-day since 
 the Kev. Dr. Savage formally opened the Mission at 
 Mt. Vaughan, in the only building connected with it, 
 and this but half finished. 
 
 " On that clay, only about half a dozen communi- 
 cants, if so many, were in connection with the Episco- 
 pal Church. Since then, ' through the good hand of 
 our God upon us,' the Mission has established perma- 
 
222 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 nent stations, of greater or less efficiency, at fourteen 
 different places among colonists and natives. 
 
 " It has expended for churches, mission-houses, and 
 school-houses, a sum of not less than one hundred thou- 
 sand dollars. In the day and boarding-schools sus- 
 tained by it, not fewer than three thousand children 
 and adults have received the rudiments of a Christian 
 education. From six, the communicants, partly now 
 living, partly dead, foreign, colonist, and native, have 
 numbered at least three hundred. The number at the 
 present time is two hundred and forty-one. The blessed 
 Gospel is preached regularly to four colonist congrega- 
 tions, in some twenty different native tribes, and to a 
 hundred thousand people. 
 
 " There are now, including the Orphan Asylum, 
 seven commodious mission-houses — three churches com- 
 pleted, and a fourth nearly so, two being of stone, one 
 brick, and one wood ; besides one very superior school- 
 house, and several more in different places for colonists 
 and natives. 
 
 "A more sufficient cause of thankfulness still, is to 
 be found in the number and character of the schools 
 connected with the Mission. The High School and 
 Female Day School at Mt. Yaughan, the Orphan Asy- 
 lum at Cape Palmas, the native schools at Fishtown, 
 Rocktown, Cape Palmas, Cavalla, Hening Station, 
 Rockbookah, and Taboo, the Boarding and Colonist 
 Day-School at Bassa Cove, the Female High School at 
 Monrovia, and Native Boarding-School, and Colonist 
 Day-School in Clay- Ashland, give evidence of earnest 
 and well-directed effort to diffuse Christian instruction 
 throughout the bounds of the Mission. 
 
DAY DAWN IX AFRICA. 223 
 
 "And these institutions, with, the precious fruits 
 yielded by them, and the stations with which they are 
 connected ; the children and youths instructed ; the 
 souls converted to God ; the colonist and native min- 
 isters and teachers and assistants raised up ; the grace 
 given to those who labor, and to the Church in the 
 United States, which sustains the laborers — all these 
 are our precious Ebenezer stones, the monuments of 
 God's presence in the past, and pledges of His blessing 
 in the future." 
 
 In another communication, on the first of January, 
 1856, after speaking of fifty adult heathen converts 
 within the preceding eight months, he says : 
 
 " In view of these, and other tokens of the divine 
 blessing, my report to the Board of Missions and the 
 General Convention, which will soon be made, can not 
 but conspire with causes elsewhere at work, to increase 
 the missionary interest, which, I trust, ere this has be- 
 gun a new life in the Church. 
 
 " Surely, if the constant increasing propagation of 
 the blessed Gospel amidst sickness and death ; the en- 
 larging numbers and influences of schools ; the multi- 
 plication of African ministers and teachers and cate- 
 chists, animated by «the living, loving, outgoing, and 
 aggressive spirit of the Master, and the gathering of 
 precious souls into the fold of Christ, are proofs that 
 God is with us, are calls to the faithful to be co-work- 
 ers with Him, we have these tokens and motives in 
 our midst. 
 
 "Your missionaries thank God, and take courage." 
 

 
 Cjrspttr $iftmti[r. 
 
 " As ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the 
 consolation." — 2 Cor. 1 : 7. 
 
 The following incidents, culled from the journals of 
 the missionaries, will serve to give an insight into the 
 nature of their work, its lights and shadows, its com- 
 forts and discouragements, its trials and its blessings. 
 
 "Oct. 1st. — Three of the school-boys," writes Mr. 
 Hoffman, " came this evening to tell me that they 
 trusted God had sent His Spirit and renewed their 
 hearts, and that they wanted to be baptized. I was 
 cheered by their coming, and conversed and prayed 
 with them. 
 
 "Oct. 14$,. — Baptized this morning at seven o'clock, 
 in the church, two of the school-boys referred to on 
 the first inst. In the afternoon went to Fishtown and 
 baptized a native. The baptism took place in the 
 midst of a large collection of his people, beneath the 
 trees, the usual place of assembling for service. Re- 
 turned and preached at night at Rocktown. 
 
 "While God thus calls one and another into his 
 kingdom, the Prince of Darkness still rules among 
 the people. This day was appointed by them, as one 
 on which a sacrifice was to be made to 'Cb£e,' the devil 
 of the rocks, for a plentiful harvest. Against this 
 wickedness I testified, and solemnly warned the peo- 
 
 \ 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFEICA. 225 
 
 pie, and called on them to unite with us, on the follow- 
 ing Tuesday, in giving thanks to the great and living 
 God. 
 
 "Sunday, 21st. — No one in the church this morning 
 from the town but a blind man and a few children. 
 This was owing to two reasons — one was, that the 
 bell, usually sent by a school-boy to be rung in two 
 of the towns, was not rung there this morning ; and 
 the other reason was, that the soldiers were engaged 
 in giving sassa-wood to Torobo, (the town prince,) the 
 man who some weeks since took refuge from the sol- 
 diers in the mission-house. In order to clear his cha- 
 racter, and prove his innocence of the crime of witch- 
 craft, he had twice drank sassa-wood of his own accord 
 at Middletown, whither he had fled ; he now returned 
 with a proud heart, and called the people to witness to 
 his innocence. 
 
 "When I heard of this, just at church-time, I sent 
 Bedell to expostulate, and beg of them, in my name, 
 to observe the Sabbath. They refused ; the town was 
 full, but the church empty. We were sitting at din- 
 ner, when we heard the bitter cries of a woman, as she 
 was hastening to a town beyond us. What we 
 thought might have occurred, had happened. Torobo 
 had drank the sassa-wood, and it had killed him. We 
 could not but exclaim : ' Is not this the hand of God?' 
 This man had been solemnly warned ; the wickedness 
 of his having gree-grees had been shown him, and 
 acknowledged by him, and yet, though perfectly well 
 aware of the sacredness of the Sabbath, he polluted it 
 by coming to drink sassa-wood on it. He was in the 
 prime of life, had eight wives and eighteen children. 
 
226 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 " On Sunday, the 23d of December, the services of 
 the Convocation commenced at Cape Palmas. 
 
 "In the morning the Bishop preached, and con- 
 firmed fifteen persons, three of whom were natives — 
 a man, a woman, and a youth. The woman, MUde, 
 was a deya, or doctress. When the Bishop laid his 
 hands on her head, and made the prayer in Grebo, in 
 the fullness of her heart she replied, 'Nd-mro,' I thank 
 you. 
 
 "In the afternoon, the Eev. G. W. Gibson was or- 
 dained priest. The candidate was presented by Eev. 
 H. E. Scott, who, with Eev. Mr. Eambo and myself, 
 united in imposition of hands. 
 
 " In the evening was held the missionary meeting. 
 
 "Christmas. — Services were held at St. Mark's. 
 Eev. Mr. Eambo preached in the morning. In the 
 afternoon there was a Sunday-school celebration of the 
 St. Mark's and Mount Yaughan Sunday-schools. 
 Several addresses were made. At night, our conclud- 
 ing services were held at St. Mark's, a sermon preached, 
 and addresses delivered. 
 
 " The church, during all our services, was well filled, 
 and while we felt refreshed ourselves, we feel that they 
 were accompanied by the blessing of our heavenly 
 Father." 
 
 The Eev. H. E. Scott, being compelled by the fail- 
 ure of his health, after a residence of three years in 
 Africa, to visit some temperate climate, took passage, 
 with Mrs. Scott, in the bark Cora, for the United 
 States, via Eio Janeiro, on the 29th of December. 
 
 On January the 1st, 1856, Mr. Hoffman wrote : 
 
 " The Eev. Mr. Scott and wife having left for the 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFEICA. 227 
 
 Uniteo. States on the 29th of December, -we at once, by 
 the appointment of the Bishop, took his place, and en- 
 tered upon the duties of the station at Cape Palmas, 
 which embrace the congregation of St. Mark's, the 
 native population and the Orphan Asylum, together 
 with the general supervision of the two vacant stations 
 of Eocktown and Fishtown. In a few days we were 
 joined by Miss Alley, who has the chief charge of the 
 children of the Institution, of whom there are seven- 
 teen. Besides the boarders, there are twelve da} 7- - 
 scholars. 
 
 11 Jan. 5th. — Went as usual to the native towns ; 
 visited a Christian woman named Mlede. "With her, 
 in her hut, was a child, about ten years of age, in the 
 last stage of consumption. I told her she should teach 
 him what she knew of Jesus the Saviour, that he could 
 not live very many days, and that she should teach 
 him to pray ; and she promised very earnestly that so 
 she would do, and she did. When I went again to see 
 her, the poor child was dead ; but, said she, ' he prayed 
 much to Jesus, as I taught him.' 
 
 " This woman was formerly a demon-doctress, now 
 an humble believer in the Lord. 
 
 " In another visit, this afternoon, I met a very differ- 
 ent character — a man who gloried in calling himself a 
 1 son of the devil ;' he said that the devil would do 
 him good ; and in the next world Christians would be 
 burned, and want a drop of water to quench their 
 thirst, while he, in happiness, would not give it. 
 
 "February 1st. — We commence this month with sor- 
 row. Our little daughter, Kate, taken sick a few days 
 ago, this evening was taken from us. She died at 
 
228 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 half-past ten o'clock, having been apparently uncon- 
 scious for several hours previous to her death. She is 
 safe arid happy with Him who loved her, and called 
 her from the sin and suffering of this world. She was 
 buried at Mount Yaughan the next day, the Eev. Mr. 
 Eambo and Gibson taking part in the service. 
 
 "Sunday, Feb. 10th. — After preaching in the native 
 chapel to-day, I was attracted by a blind woman, who 
 had attended services ; she was returning to her house, 
 and seemed to have been impressed by the services. 
 Speaking to her of Jesus dying for her sins, she 
 seemed much interested, and kept repeating the name 
 of ' Jesus,' and said she feared she would lose His 
 name. I asked, ' If one should restore her sight, would 
 she forget his name ? Jesus has died to obtain the for- 
 giveness of all your sins, and make you happy forever.' 
 ' I can not forget,' she said, ' the name of God's Son, 
 Jesus.' So desirous of hearing was she, that she fol- 
 lowed me far past the path leading to her house, and 
 stood long, talking and listening to the word of God. 
 
 "February 11th. — Went to see Tide, the blind woman, 
 in her house. She took my hand in both of hers, and 
 listened most attentively to Christian instruction. 
 
 "April 9th. — A battle took place to-day between the 
 Eocktown and Cape Palmas natives. They fought on 
 the beach, within sight of the Cape. Fourteen of the 
 Eocktown people were killed, and about forty on each 
 side wounded. The dead bodies of the Eocktown peo- 
 ple were dragged by their enemies to the Cape, and 
 laid on the bank of the river. Their heads, in the 
 evening were cut off, and their bodies otherwise muti- 
 lated until, by order of the governor, they were 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 229 
 
 removed. Great was the triumphing in the town. 
 Women were dancing and singing, parties were going 
 from town to town making the boldness of their lead- 
 ers known, and singing their praises. 
 
 "April 19th. — Visited Gola, a native, who had been 
 baptized some months ago. He had been wounded in 
 the war. I reminded him that I had seen a gree-gree 
 on him when he went to battle, and that now he had 
 one on his wrist. I told him how God was displeased 
 with this double-dealing, that he could not serve God 
 and the devil, and that God would certainly visit him 
 for turning backward from the way of truth. 
 
 " He listened with deep attention, and then tried to 
 untie his gree-gree, which, being difficult, I took my 
 knife and cut it off. After more conversation and 
 pra}^er, I left him, I trust, once more determined to 
 serve God." 
 
 During the past few months, the native teachers 
 and candidates for orders, besides giving instruction in 
 their own towns, adopted the practice of going on mis- 
 sionary excursions to the interior -towns, and preaching 
 the Gospel to great numbers of people, who have 
 never seen a foreign missionary. 
 
 Samuel Boyd, the teacher at Fishtown, in his report 
 at the Christmas Convocation, thus wrote : 
 
 " Since our last convocation, I have had the pleasure 
 of breaking the bread of life to my people, and to 
 other tribes. My first visit to the people of Half- 
 Garroway was much encouraging. The king and 
 principal men of the land received me very gladly, 
 and the message to them was very acceptable. But 
 they mucli regretted to have their wishes ungratified. 
 
230 DAY DAWN IX AFRICA. 
 
 " This place consisted of four villages. My second, 
 visit to them was the same. From thence I proceeded 
 on my way to the interior of Grand Garroway. There 
 I found all people, both kings and principal men, 
 flocked around us, to hear the cause of our coming. 
 They were much surprised to listen to the strange 
 news of the blessed Gospel. This place consisted of 
 five villages. 
 
 " My third visit was to the three different people, 
 and I spoke in seventeen towns. 
 
 " The people of these towns wished the Gospel to 
 be preached to them constantly. 
 
 "At home, I speak to my people on every Sabbath. 
 I visit and instruct the poor and sick in the way of 
 salvation to their immortal souls. The Sabbath-school 
 is not neglected. The daily prayer, morning and even- 
 ing, with my scholars and the people from town, is 
 regularly attended to, and I instruct them in the word 
 of God. Thursday is our prayer-meeting day. This 
 also is attended by the people of the towns, and schol- 
 ars in the towns converse with the people, for the sal- 
 vation of their souls." 
 
 An incident occurred about this time, which well 
 illustrates the zeal of the native laborers. Two of the 
 interior tribes had been at war with each other, and 
 one had confined in stocks for several months a number 
 of prisoners taken from the other tribe. All efforts 
 to have the prisoners released having failed, N. S. 
 Harris, a native candidate for orders at Cape Palmas, 
 and the native teachers at Rocktown, determined that 
 they would make one more trial. 
 
 When they arrived at the town where the prisoners 
 
DAY DAWJST IN AFRICA. 231 
 
 were confined, they stated the object of their visit ; 
 and in a short time the people were summoned by the 
 town drum, to hear what the strangers had to say. 
 Instead of speaking of the prisoners, however, they 
 preached to them the Gospel of Christ ; and, day after 
 day, when the people were assembled, by the drum, to 
 discuss the prisoners, these strangers preached to them 
 of "Jesus and the resurrection." 
 
 At last the people became impatient, and inquired 
 why the strangers did not " talk the prisoner palaver, 
 instead of telling them these strange things that they 
 had never heard of before ?" 
 
 They replied : " This is our way of talking the 
 palaver. The great God of the universe, who made 
 us and supplies all our wants, is a merciful God — so 
 merciful, that He gave His only Son, Jesus Christ, to 
 die so we might not be punished forever ; and He 
 would have us be merciful, even as He is merciful." 
 
 They then exhorted them to have compassion on 
 the prisoners, as God had had compassion on them ; 
 and were so earnest and persevering in their appeals, 
 that, in a few days, every prisoner was released, and 
 measures taken to have all the difficulties between the 
 two tribes amicably settled. 
 
 While the Church was joyfully celebrating the 
 resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, in March of 
 this year, another member of the Mission band was 
 safely passing through the dark valley, which had been 
 lighted up by His gracious presence. 
 
 From the Cavalla Messenger for March, 1856, we 
 glean the following particulars : 
 
232 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 " In sorrow and in joy, we record the death of an- 
 other beloved member of our Mission. 
 
 " On Easter-morn, at nine o'clock, Mrs. Virginia 
 Hale Hoffman, wife of Eev. 0. C. Hoffman, sweetly 
 fell asleep in Jesus. 
 
 " Mrs. Hoffman was born in Glastenbury, Connecti- 
 cut, Oct. 14th, 1832 ; was married in Norfolk, Va., 
 Sept. 5th, 1850 ; arrived at Cape Palmas, Feb. 10th, 
 1851 ; left for America, on a visit, Jan. 10th, 1854 ; 
 returned to Cape Palmas, July 1st, 1855 ; and died, 
 March 23d, 1856. Not quite twenty-four years, there- 
 fore, measured the earthly sojourn of our sister, and 
 little more than five her missionary career. And yet, 
 if 'that life is long that answers life's great end,' those 
 who knew her will have no hesitation in accounting 
 the life of our departed friend long, as they will delight 
 to treasure the remembrance of her short missionary 
 course as most honorable and blessed. 
 
 " From the time of her conversion, which took place 
 not more than eighteen months before she became a 
 missionary, her religious views appear to have been 
 peculiarly clear, and her Christian character most de- 
 cided. Salvation through faith in Christ alone, was 
 her hope and joy ; and unwearied consecration of her 
 life to His service, the standard of her duty. 
 
 "It was with such views that she gave herself, in 
 the bloom of youth and health, to the work of God 
 in Africa ; and all who knew her delight to testify that 
 her views underwent no change, and her zeal only 
 increased to the last. And how peaceful, how blessed 
 her last end was, the following record from her 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 233 
 
 bereaved, but, through faith, rejoicing husband will 
 show : 
 
 " ' She contracted a cold in October of last year, at 
 Eocktown, which led to consumption, of which she 
 died. Owing to great oppression, she was unable to 
 lie down the night previous to her death, and was sup- 
 ported by pillows in bed until five o'clock, when she 
 sat in a rocking-chair. I was by her side, and re- 
 peated to her texts of Scripture and portions of hymns, 
 which refreshed and strengthened her soul. She was 
 perfectly conscious, and felt that her end was near. 
 
 " ' I sent for the doctor, to whom, on arrival, she 
 said: "Doctor, how soon shall I go?" He replied: 
 " It will not be long." She was glad, smiled sweetly, 
 and said to him : " Doctor, you have been kind to me, 
 but Jesus is kinder." 
 
 " ' I said : " Dearest, is your trust in Him ?" "In 
 Him alone," she replied with firmness and a smile. 
 At times her pain was great, and she exclaimed : 
 " Oh ! the agony ! Father, take Thy child. Husband, 
 pray for my release. Thy will be done : but, oh ! 
 the flesh is weak." Again, in her pain, " It is so wea- 
 risome, but I will bear it;" and smiles mingled with 
 these expressions of her Father's will. At a later pe- 
 riod she said : " I do not suffer." 
 
 " ' I asked if she had any messages for dear Die, 
 (Miss Dickson.) With a smile, she answered : " Love 
 to all at Cavalla, and to Annie." 
 
 "'I asked: "Have you any regret for coming to 
 Africa?" (Not that I in the least thought she had, 
 but to receive her dying testimony.) With a smile, 
 
2-34 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 almost of scorn, at the idea, she partly turned her 
 head towards me and said : " Oh ! no ! Never." 
 
 " 'As her dissolution approached, I asked : " Is all 
 well ?" " Yes, joy," sweetly smiling. 
 
 " 'Afterwards, I asked the same ; and with a smile 
 
 she answered, " Yes. Love to the Bishop. of 
 
 our work. The Lord reigneth ;" as if she was think- 
 ing of the fewness of our number. " Love to Miss 
 Alley," who was away at the moment. I said, 
 " Farewell, blessed one ;" when, putting her lips to 
 mine, she kissed me. 
 
 " ' She had felt some fear of the " pains of death," 
 but the Lord was very gracious to her, and caused her 
 to fall into a sweet sleep, three quarters of an hour be- 
 fore she breathed her last ; and so she fell asleep in 
 Jesus — so quietly that it was scarcely known when the 
 spirit took its flight. Glory to God !' " 
 
 " So fades the summer cloud away ; 
 
 So sinks the storm when gales are o'er ; 
 So gently shuts the eye of day ; 
 So dies the wave along the shore." 
 
Chapter S i * i tt n t \ . 
 
 "Tiiet shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils." — Lev. 17 : 7. 
 
 Thanksgiving-day is always a season of rejoicing 
 at all our mission stations. The native Christians, old 
 and young, having been taught to offer thanksgiving 
 to God for the fruits of the earth, and all the other 
 blessings of His merciful providence. 
 
 Early on the morning of the appointed day the con- 
 tributions begin to flow in. The little boys bring a 
 fowl, a few cassavas, small bunches of rice, or a pocket- 
 handkerchief. Then come the school-girls with simi- 
 lar offerings. Next, the Christian natives bring a few 
 yards of cloth, palm-nuts, or rice, according to their 
 ability. On one occasion, we remember, one of the 
 teachers gave a whole month's salary. On another 
 day, from the Mission garden was sent a fine lot of 
 fruits and vegetables — such as guavas, cocoa-nuts, ba- 
 nanas, and pine-apples ; tomatoes, radishes, etc. 
 
 These offerings are generally brought to the native 
 chapel ; each, as he enters, placing his gift on a table. 
 An appropriate sermon is then preached ; and after 
 the morning services are concluded, the children of 
 the Sabbath and day-schools are formed into a pro- 
 cession. Carrying suitable banners, they march through 
 the town to some favorite spot, where they halt, and 
 are refreshed with cake and lemonade. Gift books 
 
236 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 and rewards of merit are then distributed to the cnnd- 
 ren, and the performances wind up with short addresses, 
 singing, and prayer. 
 
 The whole scene is pleasing, and peculiarly refresh- 
 ing in a heathen land. The boys frequently bear in 
 their hands branches of the palm-trees, and the girls, 
 flowers from the oleander trees, and pure white lilies. 
 Trifling and unimportant as these little festivities may 
 seem to Christians in a civilized country, they have 
 undoubtedly a great influence for good over those sa- 
 vage " children of a larger growth" in Africa. Even 
 the rudest of heathen parents love to see their children 
 trained to the habits of civilized and refined people. 
 We have sometimes heard them say : " We be too old 
 to learn ourselves, but there are our boys ; take them, 
 and teach them white man's fashion. We like that. 
 We want them to sabby God's book." 
 
 The native teacher, N". S. Harris, at Cape Palmas, 
 reports, that on the day after last thanksgiving, (when 
 he was distributing the offerings among nineteen poor 
 people, four of whom were blind,) one poor woman 
 came in singing his praise for the things given. " Not 
 unto me, not unto me," said he, " but unto God give 
 the praise ; for it is through Sis name these things have 
 been given, and divided among you all." 
 
 An old man, named Yoh, said : " Let it be so always. 
 May God bring good to our people and our land." 
 Others thanked God and were very glad for the things 
 given them. The next morning an old woman crossed 
 the river, and came before Harris' house, dancing and 
 singing, (in Grebo,) "JSo we must always do — give 
 thanks." 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 237 
 
 The most interesting feature of thanksgiving-day in 
 Africa is certainly the humble and hearty gifts of the 
 natives. To see persons who have been trained from 
 infancy to give to devils the offerings of their first-fruits, 
 promptly and cheerfully coming forward to acknow- 
 ledge the true God in His gifts, and to thank Him for 
 His mercies, is indeed a touching sight, and one deeply 
 calculated to encourage the hearts of the missionaries 
 who have been so long endeavoring to sow the good 
 seed in this stony soil of Satan. 
 
 We turn again to the journal of the missionary at 
 Cape Palmas, and find that it too breathes a spirit of 
 thankfulness for mercies and comforts : 
 
 "Sunday, 11th Dec." he writes, " Three things have 
 cheered me to-day ; the first is a note from a scholar 
 from Kocktown, who, six or eight months ago, acted 
 very sinfully. Now he begs forgiveness, and brings 
 me a present to show his sincerity. The note is as 
 follows : 
 
 " ' Eocktown, Dec. 10th, 1856. 
 
 " 'Dear Pastor: I have sinned against God, and 
 before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy 
 son. Please to forgive me. 
 
 '"I bring you two fowls, two yards of cloth, and 
 one razor. I want to come to school. 
 
 " ' Mini, Charles Barrett.' 
 
 " Having received a good account of this boy from 
 the teacher at Kocktown, and believing him to be truly 
 penitent, I received him again. The second thing was 
 a visit from l Mkde, the African demon-woman,' (or 
 whom an account has been written by Mrs. Scott.) 
 
238 DAY DAWN IN AFEICA. 
 
 Five days ago, her town people ordered, for some su- 
 perstitious reason, that every one should shave their 
 heads, and the hair should then be collected and buried 
 in the sea. Mlede at first declined, but afterwards was 
 persuaded to yield. "When I saw her, I told her she 
 had not acted wisely, in conforming to a heathen cus- 
 tom ; and, as every one knew the reason why the peo- 
 ple shaved their heads, notwithstanding her sorrow, I 
 did not think it expedient for her to come to the Holy 
 Communion next day. She verily seems troubled. I 
 told her God would forgive her, but hoped it would 
 be a lesson to her in future. To-day, after five days' 
 absence, she called on me, and told me her sin was too 
 heavy on her heart ; it oppressed her night and day. 
 Her penitence assured me of her sincerity, and I could 
 not but rejoice in her tender conscience. I assured 
 her that God for Christ's sake would forgive her ; and, 
 with further conversation, prayed with her, and she 
 departed comforted. 
 
 " The third pleasing incident of the day, was the 
 account I received from N. S. Harris, relative to the 
 natives in a town near his station. A demon-doctor 
 had come on Sunday morning to the town to make 
 them a gree-gree : afraid openly to oppose him, they 
 secretly sent to Harris, to say he must send and call 
 them to come to church ; and that if they, in return, 
 sent word back that a doctor was making a gree-gree, 
 he must come to the town and destroy it. All this 
 was done, and the following day the town people came 
 to thank him for the part he had so well performed, 
 and the demon-man was driven away. So grows the 
 good word of our God. 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 239 
 
 "Monday, 12th. — Visiting candidates for confirma- 
 tion; the number is now twenty-four. The Bishop 
 preached for me yesterday at St. Mark's." 
 
 At another time he thus writes of Mlede : 
 
 " While we are tried sometimes by the want of sta- 
 bility in native converts, we are at other times com- 
 forted by true faithfulness. In the church at Cape 
 Palmas is a native woman, (named Mlede,) formerly a 
 demon-doctress. At the time of harvesting the rice, 
 she came to her pastor to say that she was going to the 
 bush to stay with her friends, and assist in the harvest. 
 He charged her to remember her Christian profession, 
 to observe the Sabbath, and call daily on God : she 
 promised to do so. She was absent six months. On 
 her return, she brought to her minister a bottle of oil 
 as a present. She had observed the Sabbath with great 
 care, keeping the number of days by notches on a stick, 
 proving her account by inquiring of traders from the 
 Colony. She had refrained from visiting her former 
 friends among the doctors and doctresses, or encourag- 
 ing them to visit her, lest she should have been drawn 
 back to evil ways, which she now knew were wrong. 
 She had resisted their ridicule and solicitations to turn 
 her from the way of God, and maintained her integrity. 
 She had daily prayed, and especially and earnestly, 
 when overtaken by sickness ; and she attributed her 
 recovery to God's answer to her prayer. She came 
 back cheerful, happy, and established in the faith ; she 
 felt God had been with her of a truth. As she finished 
 her simple and interesting account, we knelt together 
 to give thanks to Him, who had graciously kept her." 
 
 A most gratifying sign of progress in the Mission, is 
 
240 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 the steadily increasing efficiency of native laborers. 
 They give proof that they are becoming more and 
 more awake to the fact that the great work of evangel- 
 izing Africa must be theirs. They perceive that the 
 white man can only attack the outskirts of their vast 
 country. They know, too, that the climate is to for- 
 eigners a most fatal one, and are therefore desirous to 
 have men raised up among themselves, who will be 
 capable of carrying on the work of evangelization 
 when the missionaries, who have originated it, and 
 sustained it for so many years, shall be compelled by 
 sickness or death to withdraw. We see a continually 
 growing zeal, perseverance, and method in the labors 
 of the native Christians, and the reports at the convo- 
 cations are becoming increasingly interesting. 
 
 " I am happy to report," writes the native teacher 
 at Cavalla, " that since our last convocation I have 
 endeavored faithfully to discharge the duties assigned 
 me according to my imperfect ability. And I am 
 more happy to report that nothing has occurred to 
 interrupt its exercise, except the scarcity of food, 
 which prevented the scholars from coming to school 
 for a time : for two weeks school was omitted, and the 
 children sent to their parents. 
 
 " The scholars have been on the whole industrious, 
 progressive, and successful in their studies ; very punc- 
 tual, and more obedient than heretofore. The weekly 
 meeting with the scholars is still kept up. And I 
 thank God it is by the influence of this meeting, the 
 religious proficiency of the Christians is increased, and 
 peaceableness and love have now begun to show them- 
 selves in their conversation as well as in their deport- 
 
DAY" DAWN IX AFRICA. 241 
 
 merit : hatred and selfishness are now declining. And 
 in looking at these, I might say with the Apostle : ' We 
 beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord 
 Jesus, that as ye have received of us, how ye ought to 
 walk and to please God ; ye would abound more and 
 more.' 
 
 " The monthly missionary meeting also with the 
 scholars is still continued. The efficacy of this meet- 
 ing has produced a hearty desire for the saving of oth- 
 ers, upon its members, and they are zealous in this 
 work, especially C. Morgan and F. Iloskins ; and I 
 horje it will be so continually. 
 
 " On every Sabbath day I have been in the habit of 
 visiting at Kabla, or River Cavalla, a town five miles 
 east of us at the mouth of Cavalla river. This people 
 have begun the observance of the Sabbath during the 
 last month, by the influence of Mr. F. Alison, a trader 
 that dwells among them. And I find that the prince 
 of this world has now begun to lose his power in many 
 hearts of these people, and God has begun His work 
 in their hearts. One thing that prevents the embracing 
 of Christianity is the plurality of wives. ' Not by 
 might nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord 
 of hosts.' 
 
 " On the 26th of May I paid my missionary visit to 
 Nyambo with brother J. D. George. I preached in 
 seven towns ; some of these people never heard the 
 Gospel before. And I was kindly received, and we 
 were persuaded by the people to spend more time 
 there ; but as the Bishop was away, I was required to 
 return home on the 29th inst. 
 
 " Since our last vacation, I adopted another rule, in 
 
 11 
 
242 DAY DAWN IX AFRICA. 
 
 which I divided the scholars into four divisions. The 
 first division consists of young professing Christians, 
 eight in number, who are required to come into my 
 room on the first Wednesday in the month, for 
 their religious instruction and prayer for three quarters 
 of an hour. The second division, nine in number, 
 come in my room on the second Wednesday of the 
 month. These are not professors of religion ; and the 
 way of salvation is plainly set before them. The third 
 division on the third Wednesday in the month : these are 
 smaller boys, both in the village and the school-house, 
 eleven in number. The last, or fourth division, are 
 young men in our school, three in number, who meet 
 the last Wednesday in the month to pray for strength, 
 and especially that we may labor for those who are 
 around us. And may God use these means for saving 
 others, and strengthening our member for Christ's 
 sake. Amen. 
 
 " The regular monthly missionary meeting for this 
 month (September) was invested with unusual interest 
 by the reports of three catechists, who had just re- 
 turned from visits to the JVyarnbo, Babo, and Plabo 
 tribes. J. Vaughan and T. C. Brownell, (the native 
 teacher at Cavalla, whose report we have just quoted,) 
 during a week visited and published the good news in 
 eighteen towns and villages of the Nyambo tribe. 
 While E. Valentine, with J. W. Hutchins, and a part 
 of the time, Rev. Mas a Minor, of Taboo station, visited 
 fourteen towns of the Plabo and Babo tribes. They 
 seemed to realize that they were engaged in God's 
 work, and in prayer and faith to look up for His bless- 
 ing to rest upon their labors. 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 243 
 
 "And God was with them, giving them favor and 
 audience, and interest with the people addressed. 
 Several threw away their gree-grees, and many declared 
 that the word preached was true and good." 
 
 We know of nothing in the history of our Mission, 
 in the way of celebrations, which will more interest 
 our readers, young and old, than the following deeply 
 interesting account of the Sunday-school celebration 
 on Easter-Monday. It is from the pen of the mission- 
 ary at Cape Palmas, Kev. Mr. Hoffman, written for the 
 children of America : 
 
 "All the children met at St. Mark's Church at eleven 
 o'clock : 
 
 "Belonging to St. Mark's Sunday-school, 100 
 
 Belonging to Mount Vaughan Sunday-school, 50 
 
 Belonging to the Orphan Asylum, 18 
 
 Belonging to the native station on the river 16 
 
 In all, 184 
 
 "Each school was known by its different badges 
 and banners. Our little church was almost filled with 
 young and happy faces. We commenced by singing : 
 
 ' To Thee, blessed Saviour ! 
 Our grateful songs we raise.' 
 
 Then the Bishop offered a prayer from the chancel. 
 Then all the children repeated the Catechism as far as 
 the Sacraments. After this, the Bishop made an ad- 
 dress, and then, with one voice, we sung the Easter 
 hymn : 
 
 1 arist the Lord, is risen to-day.' 
 
244 DAY DAWN IN AFEICA. 
 
 " Leaving the church, we marched half a mile, to 
 the end of the Cape. Here the children stood around 
 its high and sloping sides, facing inward and standing 
 side by side. With their minister in the midst, they 
 chanted the Venite : 
 
 ' Oh ! come let us sing unto the Lord.' 
 
 Walking still in single file, we descended the steep 
 bank by a narrow and winding path ; when half-way 
 down, on a receding knoll, the Asylum children halted 
 and sang, while the others passed, each school taking 
 its appointed position — some on a high rock, against 
 the sides of which the waves were dashing ; others 
 opposite, under the slope of the Cape ; others in the 
 valley between, and others on the rocks beyond ; while 
 from above, on the high Cape, a number of people 
 looked down on the beautiful scene. When all were 
 ready, the Asylum children led in chanting the Bene- 
 dicite, while from below and around sounded, from all 
 the children, the chorus : 
 
 'Praise Him and magnify Him forever.' 
 
 " my dear children ! this was so beautiful, so 
 sweet, so heaven-like ; the voices of the children min- 
 gled with the air and ocean, in their praises to God, 
 and even the rocks cried out, in echo : 
 
 'Praise Him, and magnify Him forever.' 
 
 And all this from the very place where, twenty -five 
 years ago, Satan had his seat and ruled, and the poor 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 245 
 
 heathen lived under his cruel sway. Here, too, was a 
 fine spring of water, and next to the spring was a 
 bower, under which we had cakes, and each school in 
 turn went and were refreshed, and all, as they left the 
 spring, assembled on a high rock and sung : 
 
 ' Hosanna be tho children's song, 
 To Christ, the children's King.' 
 
 "Again the children formed in procession, and 
 marched to the water's side ; here were three large 
 canoes and a boat, waiting to convey them up the river 
 to the native station. About fifty children were in 
 each canoe ; and as they were paddled across, their 
 banners flying, you might have heard their beautiful 
 chants until they arrived at the landing of the station. 
 Here they were met by the native school, who stood 
 at the water's edge to welcome them by singing Grebo 
 hymns ; then, leading the procession, these native boys, 
 with their teacher, Mr. Harris, took opposite sides of 
 the road and saluted the procession as it passed, with 
 bows and welcomes. "We walked through the garden, 
 and then to the site of a church which we propose 
 building for the natives, who, since the war, have set- 
 tled all around this station. 
 
 " The children having assembled around the lines 
 for the foundation, the boys on the inside and the girls 
 outside, we sung a missionary hymn : 
 
 ' Who but Thou, Almighty Spirit, 
 Can the heathen world reclaim ?' 
 
 Then I told the children that they should begin this 
 church with their own hands, but that its foundation 
 
246 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 should be laid in love. It was God's love that gave us 
 Jesus, that sent us the Gospel, and that we must have 
 love to God, and to each other, and to the poor na- 
 tives ; and then I called T. E. Steele, a little native 
 boy, eight years old, and he stood up in the midst, and, 
 in English, repeated the thirteenth chapter of First 
 Corinthians, about love. When he had finished and I 
 had said a little more, the boys took the hoes and went 
 to work ; the Bishop worked, too, and I worked, but 
 the children did the most. The girls sung and the 
 boys worked. So we began St. James's Church, a 
 church for the natives. 
 
 "After digging the foundation, we marched to the 
 other side of the teacher's house, where the masons 
 and carpenters were busy building a school-house. 
 This I have money for, but I want your help in build- 
 ing the church. Near this place are many young 
 palm trees and guava trees ; beneath them benches 
 were arranged, and again the children partook of re- 
 freshments. Then, for half an hour they were dismissed 
 to play. At this time a violent storm arose, and drove 
 us all into the teacher's house. Many had to stand on 
 the piazza, for they could not crowd into the house. 
 The storm was soon over, and had made the air cool 
 and delightful to return home. So we all embarked, 
 and, with singing, crossed the river, and when the sun 
 went down all were happily going to their homes, to 
 tell their parents of the pleasures of the day." 
 
 During the month of September, 1856, the faith of 
 the missionaries was tried by the death of the only 
 remaining female teacher at the Orphan Asylum, Miss 
 Isabel T. Alley, who died of consumption Sept. 29th, 
 1856. 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 247 
 
 " Moved by tlie Spirit of God," writes one who was 
 with her in her sickness, " Miss Alley left a comforta- 
 ble and beloved home in King George county, Vir- 
 ginia, in October, 1855, to join the Mission at Cape 
 Palmas. Until the beginning of the year in which she 
 died, she resided at Cavalla. Here, it may be truly 
 said, l Ske did what she could. 1 A kind, affectionate 
 heart made her delight in offices of love, and warmly 
 attached her to the circle in which Providence had 
 placed her. But her great desire was to do good to 
 the souls of those for whose salvation she had come to 
 this land. In this work she labored, nor in vain. 
 The class which she taught will long remember her 
 faithfulness, while her efforts in behalf of the native 
 women were truly blessed of God. As I write, one 
 who was led to Christ through her means, stands in 
 sorrow by her corpse ; and another is only prevented 
 from professing Christ by the influence of the deyd, to 
 whom she is married. Other sheep, though now un- 
 known, but led b}' her to the great Shepherd, will no 
 doubt rise up in the last day, and call her blessed. 
 
 " It was, however, at the Orphan Asylum at Cape 
 Palmas, where she spent the last few months of her 
 life, that she specially manifested her zeal and effi- 
 ciency. Assuming the charge of sixteen boarders and 
 as many day-scholars, notwithstanding her declining- 
 health, she, from the very first, made herself their very 
 mind and soul — directing all the minutiae of their stu- 
 dies and deportment both in and out of school. 
 Every energy of her mind, soul, and body appeared 
 to be taxed for this purpose — taxed beyond endurance. 
 When the examination in July arrived, the scholars 
 showed that every thing had been done that could be 
 
248 DAY DAWN IN AFEICA. 
 
 done, but the agent had prostrated herself in the effort. 
 She could not be present at it. The disease (consump- 
 tion) which she had brought to this country had now 
 far advanced in its work upon her frame. Too weak 
 longer to do any thing at the Asylum, she was brought 
 down to Cavalla. After a few weeks' stay, she flat- 
 tered herself that she had so far recovered, as to enable 
 her at least to take the general oversight of the school 
 at the Asylum, and she requested to be carried thither ; 
 but a few days' trial showed how incompetent she was 
 to the task. She was brought back to Cavalla, where 
 she gradually passed away to her rest. 
 
 " During the days and weeks of weariness appointed 
 to her, clouds would come over her mind as to her 
 acceptance with God, and a consciousness that she had 
 allowed her mind to be too much engrossed in her 
 work, to the neglect of her soul's state and interests, 
 somewhat disturbed her. A strong desire, too, to live, 
 with the prospect of a speedy dissolution, marred her 
 peace. But gradually she was made to apprehend the 
 Saviour's all-sufficient righteousness as her own — to see 
 God's merciful design in laying her aside that she 
 might commune with herself and Him, and to acquiesce 
 in His will. 
 
 " She seemed ever to have a great fear of suffering 
 in death ; but she was mercifully favored in this 
 respect, passing away as if unconsciously to herself, 
 into the sweet sleep of death. Attended by Bishop 
 Payne, Eev. H. Holcomb, the Mission family, schools, 
 and a large number of persons from the native towns, 
 her body was laid alongside of Eev. E. Smith, (who 
 came to Africa in the same vessel with her,) in the 
 burying-ground at Cavalla." 
 
"The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and 
 the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose." — Isaiah 35 : 1. 
 
 After many unavoidable delays, the Bishop was 
 enabled, in May of this year, to make another visitation 
 to the stations in Liberia. 
 
 The following extracts from his letters, written at 
 Monrovia, give an interesting account of the progress 
 of the work there, and at the intervening stations.* 
 
 The first place he touched at was Sinoe. "Here," 
 he writes, "the rite of Confirmation was administered 
 to two persons — a very respectable citizen of the rjl ace, 
 who had been reared in the Episcopal Church in 
 Charleston, S. C, and his wife, lately a Baptist. I 
 was gratified to find just arrived at the place, as a per- 
 manent resident, Dr. J. II. Snowden, and family. He 
 informs me that he attended Grace Church, in Boston, 
 and is most anxious that the services of our Church 
 shall be continued at the place. In this feeling I fully 
 participate, and shall, if possible, send down Eev. Mr. 
 Green, of Monrovia, to take Mr. Pinckney's place ; 
 and, in faith, I hope, I have purchased a lot for $130, 
 
 * The missionaries greatly need a ship, to be under their own con- 
 trol. We hope the friends of tlio Mission will soon furnish means for 
 that purpose. 
 
250 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 for a mission chapel and building, when it shall please 
 God to furnish the means to erect them. * * * * Most 
 anxious am I here, as at all other stations under 
 my care, to manifest some vital connection with 
 Him who worketk ever by ever onward movement. 
 God help us ! 
 
 " I was gratified to find that the people of Sinoe, 
 though great sufferers in the late war, in mind, body, 
 and estate, have quit themselves like men, and have 
 still the manly bearing which, I trust, is the earnest of 
 future success and prosperity. 
 
 "We sailed from Sinoe yesterday, (April 29th,) 
 about noon, and are now in sight of Bassa Cove. Eev. 
 Mr. Pinckney was unable to leave for America, on 
 such short notice, (as the Captain gave,) but will pro- 
 bably follow in another vessel, and join us at Bassa 
 Cove." 
 
 Speaking of Mr. Pinckney 's departure, in another let- 
 ter, the Bishop says : " As he has been in this country 
 the full time required by the rules of your Committee, 
 to entitle him to the privilege of visiting the United 
 States, and has had much suffering, I make no objec- 
 tion to his present determination." 
 
 He adds : "I have omitted to say that we have on 
 board Miss Ball, who goes to the United States for her 
 health. It is gratifying to see that the voyage thus far 
 has proved favorable to her." 
 
 "At daylight yesterday morning, May 1st, the beau- 
 tiful Dja Mountain was visible in the distance through 
 my state-room window, and the lofty cotton trees front- 
 ing Atlantic street, in Buchanan City, were distinctly in 
 view. As it would be some time before our ship 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFKICA. 251 
 
 would get into harbor, I thankfully accepted our kind 
 Captain's offer to accompany him on shore, immediately 
 after breakfast, in the row-boat. In less than two 
 hours we landed. As we approached the shore, the 
 Mission-house, situated nearly in the centre of the 
 curve forming the bay, peered beautifully through the 
 palm trees which have been tastefully trimmed up and 
 left in front. The view from the Mission-house and 
 premises in the harbor, as well as that from them, is 
 very delightful ; and now that the grounds are cleared 
 and improved, I feel more than ever satisfied that the 
 site is the best that could have been selected for our 
 purposes. 
 
 " Mr. E. informs me that the Dja Mountain, always 
 spoken of in my communications as the most desirable 
 location on all the Liberian coast to try the experiment 
 of the comparative healthfullness of sea-board and 
 mountain residence, is soon to be actually settled in 
 part by colonists from New-Jersey. While, therefore, 
 the wants of Buchanan City of missionary influence re- 
 main the same, there is now open to the very midst 
 of the Bassa tribe a high road for the Gospel. Verily, 
 there is scarcely a more interesting field for two or 
 three missionaries than this. Oh ! that the Lord of the 
 harvest would count our Church worthy to raise up 
 and send from her midst many faithful evangelists into 
 this field. They must still come from America, for 
 we have not Liberians yet to occupy the field, and the 
 scanty contributions of the Church will not enable us 
 to raise them up as we would. Mr. 11. had at one time 
 six promising boys at this station under instruction ; 
 but advices of pecuniary embarrassment from the For- 
 
252 DAY DAWN IN" AFRICA. 
 
 cign Committee made it necessary to dismiss all except 
 one. Oh ! bow long shall we live at this poor, dying 
 rate ? May the Lord pour out upon His people that 
 charity which will lead them to give more generously 
 in this cause. We ought, and must, if we can accom- 
 plish it, have a small training boarding-school at this 
 station. 
 
 "May 5th. — I have passed three busy days on shore 
 at Bassa Cove. Friday was spent chiefly in visiting 
 Lower Buchanan with Mr. E., where, in the afternoon, 
 I confirmed two invalid persons in a private house. 
 The settlement has much increased since my visit in 
 1853, having extended some two miles back from the 
 sea-shore ; and, Mr. R. being near, is able to give 
 much attention to visiting and holding services amongst 
 the" people. 
 
 " On Saturday I visited Upper Buchanan and 
 preached, in the afternoon, in the Court House, a good 
 brick building, kindly loaned by the local authorities 
 to Mr. Rambo for holding services. This portion of 
 the town has also much improved ; and I was glad to 
 learn that a lot had been obtained in the vicinity for a 
 place of worship, when God shall enable us to erect 
 one. In the same place we held services morning and 
 afternoon ; on the former occasion, I preached and con- 
 firmed several persons ; and in the afternoon, preached 
 and administered the Lord's Supper. The congrega- 
 tions were good, especially in the morning. In the 
 evening, I walked down three miles, and again 
 preached in Lower Buchanan. My observation and 
 intercourse, in this county, have confirmed my previous 
 impressions of its importance as a missionary station. 
 
DAY DAWN IX AFEICA. 253 
 
 Mr. Rambo has reason to be encouraged at the measure 
 of success, which God has granted him in the Colony, 
 whilst his efforts amongst the natives only show him 
 what a wide and open field lies before him in this di- 
 rection. But he sadly needs help. Oh ! that God may 
 send it to him speedily." 
 
 The Bishop's visit to Monrovia was rendered too 
 short by the arrival of the General Pierce three days 
 after the Mendi reached Monrovia, and the conse- 
 quent necessity of his availing himself of the opportu- 
 nity, afforded by the former vessel, to return to Cape 
 Pal mas. 
 
 Arriving on the 6th of May, on the following Sab- 
 bath, (11th of the month,) the Bishop preached the or- 
 dination sermon, and admitted Rev. H. Green to the 
 Order of Presbyters. In the afternoon he again 
 preached and confirmed six persons. Again in the 
 evening, being kindly invited to do so, he preached in 
 the Presbyterian Church. 
 
 The congregation here, who have felt so much their 
 need of a church, are soon to be supplied through the 
 liberality of St. George's Church, the noble-hearted 
 Rector of that Church having resolved to raise chiefly 
 from his Sabbath-schools the sum necessary to finish 
 Trinity Church, on the beautiful plan obtained from 
 England, and already commenced. 
 
 A day school for girls'^s taught in Monrovia for the 
 Episcopal Mission, by Miss G. M. Williams, but the un- 
 favorable state of the weather, together with sickness in 
 the family in which the teacher lived, prevented the 
 Bishop's visiting the school. Tuesday, Wednesday, 
 and Thursday, 20th, 21st, and 22d, were devoted to 
 
254 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 visiting Clay-Ashland. On Wednesday morning 
 Grace Church was consecrated, the Bishop preaching 
 the sermon, and Kev. Messrs. Eussell, Crummell, and 
 Green taking part in the services. In the afternoon 
 he again preached and confirmed four persons. 
 
 At Kev. Mr. Eussell's station is a school of some 
 twenty native boys, most of whom seemed to be raw 
 recruits, and had made but little progress. In the rear 
 of his house is a native village in which the school is 
 kept, and where he holds services for the villagers. A 
 female school for colonists is also held in Clay- Ash- 
 land, which, for want of time, it was not possible to 
 visit. Eeturning to Monrovia on Friday, -on the way 
 a service was held in Caldwell, at which Eev. Messrs. 
 Crummell, Eussell, and Green were present, and three 
 persons were confirmed, connected with the Church at 
 Clay-Ashland. The ship not leaving Monrovia on 
 Saturday, as had been appointed, on Sunday, 18th of 
 May, the Bishop again preached to Trinity Church 
 congregation and confirmed two persons who had not 
 come forward on the preceding Sabbath. 
 
 On Saturday, 24th, the Bishop sailed from Monrovia 
 in the brig General Pierce, in company with Eev. H. 
 H. Holcomb, just arrived from the United States for 
 the Cape Palmas Mission, and Eev. H. Green for 
 Sinoe. Having stopped at Bassa Cove and Sinoe, he 
 reached home on June 13th, after an absence of seven 
 weeks, during which he had the happiness to find God 
 had graciously preserved his family and all the mem- 
 bers of the Mission. 
 
 In the month of August, Mr. W. H. Davies, of 
 Baltimore City, having received an appointment as 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 2~>~> 
 
 teacher and business agent in the African Mission 
 sailed in the barque Shirley for Cape Palmas. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Rambo, whose labors are chiefly con- 
 fined to the colonists at Bassa Cove, makes occasional 
 missionary tours among the Bassas and the other neigh- 
 boring tribes. In describing one of his visitations, he 
 says : 
 
 " These people, like all the Bassas around here, have 
 most of them seen something of civilization at Bassa 
 Cove during their visits there, and a few have heard the 
 Gospel. All have heard of it. Found a few who spoke 
 English very well. Retired to rest at 9 o'clock in the 
 small house assigned me and my interpreter. It was 
 about six feet wide by about ten long. The floor, like 
 the sides, was of plaited bamboo, raised two feet above 
 the ground. The roof was of thatch, and so low that 
 I could not stand up in it ; but having learned to crawl 
 in early life, I was at no loss how to move about when 
 necessary. The people were quiet, and drivers* and 
 rats scarce to-night, so I slept well, as I was in a good 
 condition for it. 
 
 "August 20th and 21st. — These days were spent in 
 the same village (JPe Nyo's) conversing with and preach- 
 ing to the people. The congregations generally in- 
 cluded all in the town. At night, when all had re- 
 turned from their farms, they were largest. At eight 
 o'clock in the morning, when I twice preached, many 
 were absent. 
 
 * Drivers — that is, fierce black ants, which go forth in large columns, 
 numbering hundreds of thousands, attacking every animal they meet, 
 from a man to a fowl, or a roach ; their approach is indicated by the 
 flight of fowls, lizards, and serpents. 
 
256 DAY DAWN IN AFEICA. 
 
 " I am much, encouraged in the fact that the Bassas, 
 even beyond this place, have done away with sassa- 
 wood or red-water. None is administered on any occa- 
 sion, not even in cases of supposed witchcraft. Per- 
 haps among ten thousand of the most civilized Bassas, 
 not one violent death occurs in a year. "Whilst among 
 ths same number of Kroo, Fish, and Grebo people, 
 they may amount to a dozen or twenty during the 
 same period. But the villages are small and scattered. 
 I only passed nine during the whole journey of twenty 
 miles. 
 
 "Another encouraging sign is, that if gree-grees ex- 
 ist at all, they are seldom seen in numbers, and in 
 some villages the people have abolished them alto- 
 gether; and that without the continual systematic 
 preaching of the Gospel among them. 
 
 " Still another good sign is, that wherever a mis- 
 sionary goes to settle in a central location, he probably 
 will easily succeed in getting natives from various mo- 
 tives (not all good, perhaps) to settle near him, say 
 
 within one or two miles of his residence. . Mr. V , 
 
 a native missionary, has succeeded well on the St. 
 John's river in this matter. He can now gather, at 
 certain seasons, from one hundred to two hundred per- 
 sons, some of whom walk one or two miles on the 
 Lord's day to hear him preach the Gospel in his chapel 
 near his residence. 
 
 " The Liberian laws have had a salutary influence 
 upon all the natives within twenty-five miles of Bu- 
 chanan. Sassa-wood has been, in part or wholly, 
 checked from this cause. Let us thank God, and take 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 257 
 
 courage, that such good signs are to be seen among the 
 comparatively peaceful and interesting Bassas. 
 
 "August 22d. — Started for my home this morning, 
 and walked to a town five miles from my residence, 
 where I thought it expedient to spend the night, as I 
 became very much fatigued with my rough walk. 
 Eeached home next day, after a most satisfactory visit 
 to the ' bush.' My health seems very good, thanks to 
 our covenant-keeping God. 
 
 "Sept. 14/A, {Sunday.) — Preached in the morning at 
 Upper Buchanan, and in the afternoon to a few na- 
 tives ; lectured as usual at night on Pilgrim's Progress, 
 at my house. 
 
 "October 13th — Walked at 12 o'clock, two miles, and 
 took a canoe and ascended the Benson river, nearly 
 five miles, and, taking a winding path through a pleas- 
 ant woods, reached King Peter's town in ten minutes 
 after leaving the canoe. The King was not at home, 
 nor many of his people. Walked nearly two miles 
 further to Pessa town, where I found him. I preached 
 to some thirty people in this village. These people 
 are part of another tribe. There are several towns 
 belonging to this (the Ptssa) tribe scattered throughout 
 the Bassa country. They are in such cases tributary 
 to the chief on whose land they settle, and serve, as 
 interior traders, to bring palm oil, rice, and camwood, 
 from fifty to one hundred miles inland, where their 
 own tribe is settled. They have seldom, if ever, heard 
 the Gospel, and seemed much surprised at the truths 
 announced to them. Their language differs somewhat 
 from the Bassa. 
 
 " I returned and took supper with King Peter. He 
 
258 DAY DAWN IX AFRICA. 
 
 gave me quite a comfortable house. It had elevated 
 berths of bamboo within. He spread a cloth on the 
 table for me ; placed a knife, fork, plate, spoon, and 
 tumbler for me. After all, the palm butter and rice 
 were served up in a wash-basin ; this article, however, 
 is used for no other purpose by the natives. I have 
 gotten used to the practice during my visits to the na- 
 tives. 
 
 "I had quite a long talk with the King about his 
 country, his people, and their superstitions. He says 
 he likes the Gospel and missionaries ; yet, he still 
 clings to the most of the native customs. I saw no 
 gree-grees in his village, but he, like others, still coun- 
 tenances demon-doctors, and believes many of their 
 lying deceits. He is more advanced towards civiliza- 
 tion than most of the Bassa chiefs ; yet, still he is a 
 real heathen. 
 
 " Went to my berth at nine o'clock quite tired, and 
 slept better than I generally do in a native hut. It 
 was quite comfortable, and free from soot and smoke. 
 I had room to stretch my full length, and was not an- 
 noyed by rats or drivers. 
 
 "Nov. 29th. — I am now prepared to report on the site 
 proposed on the St. John's river for a central mission 
 station. I will do so briefly. Left Bassa Cove on the 
 21st; ascended the St. John's river twelve miles to 
 Benstown the first day ; spent the night, as rain stop- 
 ped us, in this same village. 
 
 " 22d. — Walked twelve miles through forests, along 
 winding, muddy, rough, almost impassable paths, in 
 places, to Gia's town, on the side of the mountain, two 
 miles from the summit. We ascended gradually dur- 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFEICA. 259 
 
 ing the last six miles of our journey. Sunday was 
 spent in Gia's town, (very small and uncomfortable ;) 
 preached to twenty-five, persons. 
 
 u 24th. — Ascended to the summit, walking two miles 
 from Gia's town, the road being steep in some places ; 
 found primitive forest, and an elevation of about two 
 hundred feet above Gia's town, and perhaps five hun- 
 dred feet above the sea. The sides near the top are 
 very rocky, though the forest is fine. On the very top 
 is a plain or level (all covered with forest) of some fif- 
 teen to twenty acres, and comparatively free from 
 rocks and stones. The soil is a very rich loam on a 
 clayey foundation. 
 
 "Abundance of the best building materials to be 
 found just on the spot. Springs not distant. Such is 
 the St. John's or the Dja Mountain. Distant from 
 Upper Buchanan by the present route twenty-six 
 miles, but in a straight line perhaps less than twenty. 
 But the present path is too winding and hemmed in 
 to be used by the missionaries, who may settle perma- 
 nently on that fine spot, if the Board agree to establish 
 a central native station there. 
 
 "A straight road should be opened from the highest 
 point on the St. John's, to be reached by canoes, 
 twelve miles from the mouth direct to the mountain. 
 This would not be, perhaps, over eight or ten miles. 
 This road I deem necessary, and some light bridges 
 also, before it would be safe for an unacclimated mis- 
 sionary to attempt to travel it, which must be princi- 
 pally by hammock. 
 
 "The elevation of from five hundred to six hundred 
 feet is sufficient to test the comparative health of the 
 
260 DAY DAWN IN AFEICA. 
 
 marshy coast and the highland interior. There are at 
 least five towns, within three or four miles of the site 
 I selected, and a dozen more within seven or eight 
 miles in all directions, which, in aggregate, may num- 
 ber one thousand souls. 
 
 " These people not only have never heard the Gos- 
 pel, but, so far as I can ascertain, will welcome and 
 hear with pleasure a missionary, and will give as many 
 children as we desire for schools." 
 
 It is to be hoped that a mission station will soon be 
 established on this beautiful mountain, (Dja, or St. 
 John,) about twenty-five miles from Bassa Cove, as it 
 may prove a healthful and delightful resort for invalid 
 missionaries from the more malarious coast stations, 
 and become an opening to an important field in the 
 interior. 
 
<£ I] aptu &i$\ttttt I] . 
 
 " Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to 
 try you." — 1 Peter 4:12. 
 
 As the year 1856 drew near its close, the quiet of 
 the Mission was disturbed by rumors of approaching 
 war between the colonists and natives. 
 
 Before the war commenced, however — as if to pre- 
 pare the missionaries for the trial which awaited them 
 — it pleased the Lord to strengthen their hearts by an 
 unusual manifestation of His gracious presence. From 
 the letters and journal of the missionary at Cape Pal- 
 mas, we extract the following interesting particulars : 
 
 " You will heartily rejoice to hear that the God of 
 Love has manifested His presence amongst us at the 
 Orphan Asylum. I had for some days observed an 
 increasing interest at our morning and evening pray- 
 ers ; and on the evening of the 31st of July, one of the 
 girls asked me if I had any objections to some of the 
 older ones going to the school-room to sing hymns. 
 ' Certainly not,' I replied, ' it would give me pleasure 
 to have them do so.' 
 
 " I heard their voices in the evening, and about 
 eight o'clock, when the bell was rung for them to go 
 to the wash-room, I thought I would go over, join 
 them in a hymn, and dismiss them. I found them 
 gathered together, sobbing and singing ! I soon found 
 
262 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 they were all apparently deeply affected with a sense 
 of their sins. So I talked and prayed with them, and 
 sending the youngest to bed, I continued my con 
 versation with the older ones, some of whom I learned 
 had gone without their supper to sing and pray to- 
 gether. I had at our evening devotions for some days 
 previous, been speaking of the spirituality of God's 
 law, and of the imputed righteousness of Christ. On 
 Monday, the 1st of August, I was obliged to leave my 
 little flock to take Miss Alley to Cavalla, and did not 
 return till Tuesday. That evening the girls met again, 
 and again I joined them. Each came and stood by my 
 side, and told me her sense of sinfulness, and of her 
 hope in Jesus. To each I spoke as her case seemed 
 to demand. A solemn silence pervaded the room, and 
 the Spirit of God seemed to be moving upon their 
 souls. Some were in tears. We sang together, ' I lay 
 my sins on Jesus,' after which they went quietly to the 
 dormitory. Their general conduct has been in accord- 
 ance with their Christian profession. They have gone 
 to their work and attended to their studies with faith- 
 fulness. 
 
 " On the 7th of August, I was obliged to leave them 
 for Cavalla, to attend our convocation ; and you may 
 imagine my regret to do so, under the interesting state 
 of feeling in which I left the little ones. But it was 
 the work of God, not mine. And when He called me 
 away, He could work as well without as with mo. I 
 was absent from Thursday till Monday, and I came 
 back to find six of the oldest girls rejoicing in the hope 
 of pardoned sin and acceptance with God. On Satur- 
 day all had gone to the end of the Cape, a retired and 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 263 
 
 beautiful place, and among the high bushes, knelt in 
 prayer, and sang the praise of Jesus. There He met 
 with them, and filled them with joy and peace. They 
 came away with light hearts. Jesus had been found 
 of those who sought Him. He had received the little 
 ones, laid His hands on them, and blessed them. 
 
 " I heard nothing of this till my return on Monday. 
 About four o'clock the smallest children came to 
 say they had done their work, and would I let them 
 go to walk ? ' Yes.' And away they went with light 
 hearts. An hour after I went to the school-room and 
 foimd the door locked. When opened, I found the 
 older girls seated together. Asking the cause, they 
 said they were consulting in regard to coming to see 
 me up stairs. I told them they could come when they 
 felt disposed, and left them. Soon afterwards they 
 came, and told me they thought their sins were for- 
 given for Jesus' sake. One I stood in doubt of, and 
 when I asked her what she had to say, she replied 
 with a sad look and voice, she ' could not say she felt 
 her sins forgiven.' I was pleased with her answer, for it 
 assured me of her sincerity. I had a blessed talk with 
 them. We sung together and prayed. I briefly ex- 
 plained the subject of Confirmation to them, and re- 
 minded them of the Holy Communion, to which I shall 
 hope to receive five of them next month, perhaps six. 
 The whole demeanor, manner, and expression of these 
 children, indicate the greatest sincerity, and give me 
 the sweetest assurance that the work is God's. 
 
 " You will with me, therefore, thank God for His 
 grace. You will rejoice in these first fruits from the 
 Orphan Asylum. You will be encouraged, and be 
 
264: DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 glad to see your labors for Africa owned of God, 
 blessed in the salvation of precious souls, whose life 
 and conversation may yet win hundreds more to the 
 Lord : s fold, and swell His praise throughout eternity. 
 
 " I was this morning (as I have frequently been be- 
 fore) pleased with the selections of texts made and re- 
 peated by the children at morning prayer. One said : 
 ' Love not the world, nor the things of the world.' 
 Another : ' Ye are of God, little children, and have 
 overcome them ; because greater is He that is in you, 
 than he that is in the world.' And another : ' Let your 
 light so shine before men,' etc. 
 
 " While I have only thought it well to say to the 
 five, ' Come, confess your Saviour before men,' the 
 Spirit of Jesus seems to be in the little ones also. They 
 are so good ; but I must exercise my judgment in re- 
 gard to them, and watch their conduct. It may be 
 some are fit for a profession of faith. It is a blessed 
 thing thus to labor for Jesus, and see Jesus manifest 
 Himself in our midst. And how it proves ' our ways 
 are not His ways.' See ! He removes my beloved 
 wife, and they are left without her influence. Then 
 He takes their faithful teacher, and leaves them with- 
 out a female instructor. And then when I am alone — 
 yea, even then, when / am away, He works in them. 
 Even so Lord, be Thine all the praise forever and ever." 
 
 " Dec. 14:th, 1856. — A crowded congregation at St. 
 Mark's to-day ; benches placed in the aisle to accommo- 
 date the people. Four persons baptized — two adults 
 and two children, the latter belonging to the Orphan 
 Asylum. Sunday-school and services at the Native 
 
DA.T DAWN IN AFRICA. 265 
 
 Chapel, as usual. At night there was a rumor of war, 
 and very few came to St. Mark's. 
 
 " Tuesday, 16th. — Six hours visiting the candidates 
 for Baptism and Confirmation — many interesting cases. 
 The candidates for Confirmation now number thirty -six. 
 
 "Wednesday, 17th. — Visited by some interested for 
 their souls' salvation. In the afternoon went to the 
 station on the river, to converse with the four little 
 boys referred to on the oth of December. Their an- 
 swers were smart, wise, and satisfactory. Appointed 
 their sponsors, and set forth their duties. Visited a 
 native town, and had a delightful talk (because so ear- 
 nestly responded to) with the natives, who assembled 
 under a thatched shed ; then we knelt in prayer, and 
 parted. Returned to dine and rest. I sent for the 
 head-men of the towns to make them their usual 
 Christmas presents, thus assuring them of oar friend- 
 ship, for rumors of war between the colonists and na- 
 tives are growing more serious. Uad our usual Wed- 
 nesday evening lecture. 
 
 "Thursday, 18th.— Went to Cavalla to attend the 
 examination of the schools ; found the scholars had 
 greatly improved. On Saturday, 20th, returned, stop- 
 ping at Grahway ; found too much cause for fear of a 
 rupture between the natives and colonists. May our 
 Heavenly Father be our preserver and theirs ! 
 
 "Sunday, 21st. — Though with every prospect of war 
 to-morrow, God has greatly blessed me in all the ser- 
 vices of the day, notwithstanding a severe headache 
 and slight fever. At St. Mark's, baptized two adults, 
 one of whom was a native youth, who lives with the 
 superintendent of our Sunday-school, lie had been 
 
 12 
 
266 DAY DAWN IN AFKICA. 
 
 an attendant at the Sunday-school, and attentive and 
 devout. As I was leaving, one evening, the house 
 where he was employed, I heard him running behind 
 me, and as soon as he could get breath he said : ' Sir, 
 I think God has given me a new heart.' Subsequent 
 conversation convinced me of the fact. He was bap- 
 tized ' James Hall.' The other candidate was a female 
 and a colonist. Thus we see that God is no respecter 
 of persons, but natives and Americans by each other's 
 side enter the gate of life. We had a deeply interest- 
 ing service at the chapel. It was crowded with colo- 
 nists and natives, and with most of the Sunday-school 
 children from St. Mark's ; all came to witness the bap- 
 tism of four native youths from the Eiver station. 
 Their ages were from eight to twelve, and their names 
 "William Roberts, Joseph Packard, J. Howard Smith, 
 and Thomas Ramsay Steele. They made their answers 
 in Grebo, distinctly and solemnly. It was a deeply 
 interesting and most impressive occasion. The fathers 
 of two of the boys came forward, after the service, and 
 shook my hand, saying, ' they liked that,' they 
 ' thanked me,' they gave their children to me. And 
 now, with cheering hope of God's blessed Word ad- 
 vancing among the natives, with the prospect of up 
 wards of forty persons being confirmed, in a few days, 
 at St. Mark's, a dark cloud gathers around us, and the 
 horrors of war are just ready to burst upon us. 
 
 "Monday, 22d. — A report has been current for some 
 days past that the natives, on a fixed day, (the previous 
 Sunday,) had intended to rise upon the colonists and 
 destroy them ; but that this had only been prevented 
 by the vigilance of the colonist?. The Governor and 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 267 
 
 Council inquired into the matter, and, from the subse- 
 quent action, we would infer that the fact was substan- 
 tiated. Difficulties between the natives and authorities 
 had been frequent, and were increasing. The posi- 
 tion of the native towns dividing and joining the Ame- 
 rican settlement, was one which could not fail to give 
 rise to disputes and difficulties. The Grab way people, 
 who live about eight miles east, were closely connected 
 -with the Cape people, as friends and allies. Those 
 Grahway people had refused to acknowledge the Go- 
 vernor's authority, and sent to him impertinent mes- 
 sages, to the effect that before they would obey his 
 demands, he must come and burn the sand on which 
 their town was built. 
 
 " The Americans were fully prepared for war. 
 Orders were issued on the afternoon of the 21st that 
 every thing should be prepared for an emergency ; 
 ammunition, guns, and cannon, were prepared, and sta- 
 tions appointed for the effects of the people to be taken 
 to for safety. 
 
 " Treaties had been made some weeks before with 
 the Kocktown people, on one side, and the Cavalla 
 people on the other, and with other tribes who were 
 regarded as the allies of the Americans — while they 
 were the old enemies of the Cape and Grahway people. 
 
 " The Cape Palmas people seemed not to have 
 thought that things would be pushed to an extremity ; 
 they were occupied generally in making their farming 
 utensils ; and, to hasten their work, had sent to the 
 ' bush ' for blacksmiths, who were daily busy at their 
 work. Parties were going out to their farms every 
 day, and those farms very near the settlement. 
 
268 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 " Apparently there was tlie most friendly feeling 
 up to the last hour, between the Americans and the 
 mass of the people ; their towns were unguarded and 
 quiet at night, and their usual avocations followed 
 during the day. Not having planted their farms the 
 previous year, on account of war with the Eocktown 
 people, they had no rice, and they had planted their 
 cassadas, now just mature, on the vacant lots of the Ame- 
 ricans — acres and acres of them. The Grahway people 
 were also engaged in preparing for farming. 
 
 " Early Monday morning the head-men were sent 
 for at the Government House. It was understood that 
 propositions would be made to them to leave their 
 towns and vacate their lands, in consideration of an 
 annual sum for a certain number of years. They were 
 very slow in coming to the Government House, and 
 when they came, refused to treat until the Eocktown 
 men, who had just approached in two large war-can oes> 
 should be sent away. Whether they rejected the offers 
 of Government, or even fully heard them, in that last 
 moment of confusion and anxiety, I do not know ; but 
 no sooner had they left the House than orders were 
 given to fire the large gun, the signal of war, and every 
 man stood at his post. This was ten o'clock. The 
 Eocktown canoes approached, and received an officer 
 off the end of the Cape ; another body of Eocktown 
 men rose from an ambush, on the opposite side of the 
 river, where they had been stationed the night before ; 
 the cannon opened upon the town ; the houses were 
 approached by a small party, and fired ; in a few mo- 
 ments the town was in a blaze. 
 
 "The natives made little or no resistance. A party 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 209 
 
 ■with a white flag, came out soon after the cannons were 
 fired, but were driven back. The flames swept every 
 thing before them. At eleven o'clock, the natives, en 
 masse, crossed the river, and coining upon the settle- 
 ment in the rear, their course was marked by the 
 smoke and flames of houses. The people had fled, and 
 removed most of their effects. The Eocktown people, 
 and other allies, were now returning with their plun- 
 der ; loaded canoes by scores, were seen going towards 
 Eocktown and Fishtown, with boxes, chests, etc. ; and 
 the towns were one heap of ruins ! There was very 
 little blood shed. A cannon commanding the river 
 pass, was unfired ; had it been used, hundreds of na- 
 tives would have been killed. Only one of the colo- 
 nists was killed, and one wounded. The one killed fool- 
 ishly endeavored to protect his house against a host of 
 natives, instead of seeking safety for himself. 
 
 " As the day advanced, a number of persons sought 
 refuge at the Asylum ; family after family came in. 
 Beds were laid on the floor for the females and infants, 
 while children and youths lay on the mats under the 
 tables. 1ST. S. Harris and his school reached the house 
 just as the war began, and I rejoiced to have them with 
 me in safety. We had our evening prayers as usual, 
 only that they were more earnest and crowded. The 
 night was lightened by burning houses. 
 
 " Tuesday, 2Sd. — A household of about a hundred 
 persons ! Had morning, noon, and evening prayers. 
 Had headache and fever all day, yet able to keep about. 
 Though not fearing an attack, yet prepared for one, by 
 having a communication cut between the second story 
 and the dormitory, and between the dormitory and 
 
270 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 cellar, by trap-door in the ceiling ; a pair of steps were 
 hastily put together, which could be used and drawn 
 up if necessary. I received a letter from the Bishop, 
 suggesting that I should go to Cavalla; but my duty 
 is plainly here, and until it shall appear otherwise, here 
 I intend to remain, trusting in God. 
 
 " Wednesday, IMh. — In the midst of war; guards 
 posted at various points of the Cape. House full of 
 people. Having with me about twenty native children 
 and youth, school-boys and others, my position is 
 rather a delicate one. Had a visit from the Governor's 
 aide-de-camp, to inquire in regard to rumors about some 
 of the boys, also regarding myself, etc. His visit was 
 entirely satisfactory. This evening some of the colo- 
 nists went to Cavalla, to apprise them of an attack con- 
 templated on the morrow upon the Grahway people, 
 and to get their cooperation. Before retiring, with 
 the aid of some of the school-girls, our Christmas motto 
 was prepared for the school-room. On white cotton 
 was sewed, in large letters, 'A Saviour which was 
 Christ the Lord.' This was stretched across the school- 
 room, and on the morrow was to be dressed with flow- 
 ers. Thus in the midst of war, we prepared to keep 
 the feast of the King of Peace. 
 
 " Christmas-day. — Our household preserved in safety 
 during the night. Our beautiful motto formed the 
 subject of a short address at morning prayers. Con- 
 siderable excitement among the people. A party of 
 about sixty colonists, with a large number of Bock- 
 town and Fishtown natives, left about ten o'clock A.M., 
 for Grahway. At half-past nine, we observed the Half 
 Grahway towns on fire, and soon afterwards those of 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 271 
 
 Grahway, a few miles beyond. Had a meeting with 
 Harris and his scholars, and endeavored to turn their 
 eyes from the battle to God. There would have been 
 probably forty persons confirmed to-day, if it had not 
 been for this ; but the Lord reigns, and the war may 
 scatter the seeds of Divine truth where they never 
 otherwise would have reached. 
 
 "Evening. — While at tea we observed the houses at 
 Mt Vaughan in a blaze ! "We trusted the natives 
 would have spared these, because Mission and Ameri- 
 can property ; but now they are all gone, save a small 
 school-house and the chapel at the foot of the hill. 
 Mrs. Thompson has lost every thing except her clothes ; 
 and Eev. Mr. Gibson his library and every thing else, 
 except his bedding. This is the twentieth anniversary 
 of our Mission. How sad it has been ! Our services 
 interrupted ; our little flock scattered ; a portion of 
 the roof of St. Mark's Church burned, and the 
 door broken in ; our Mission buildings at Mount 
 Vaughan consumed ; intercourse cut off between our 
 stations ; the natives — among whom we had gone 
 preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom — scattered ; and 
 ourselves sharing in the general apprehension of the 
 community. But our God lives, and our Captain rules, 
 and our Jesus, to whom all power is given, reigns ; and 
 we rejoice — yea, and we will rejoice. 
 
 " Saturday, 27th. — Up from three o'clock. I am keep- 
 ing guard on the piazza. At two in the afternoon, I 
 took a walk over the burnt district ; the hill where the 
 town had stood is truly a beautiful one, commanding a 
 view of the ocean both to the windward and leeward. 
 Not a house was standing. Here and there a charred 
 
272 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 pillar was seen, a pile of broken crockery, etc. ; the 
 three fire-bricks of each house, where many a meal of 
 rice had been cooked, alone -uninjured. Two of the 
 older school-boys were taken into custody by the Go- 
 vernment, being Cape Palmas youths, and charges 
 having been made against them for conveying informa- 
 tion to their people. Before night, however, I got per- 
 mission from the General to take them from their con- 
 finement, and keep them as prisoners in the Asylum. 
 
 "Sunday, 28th. — Rose after a quiet night's rest. 
 Prayers largely attended ; read the Epistle and Gospel 
 for the day. Two native dumb boys, who had fled 
 from the town were present ; they knelt in prayer, one 
 on either side of me. Visited the General, and offered 
 to have service for the soldiers at any hour he would 
 appoint. Eleven o'clock was fixed. Meanwhile, went 
 up stairs and heard the native children sing ; addressed 
 them and prayed with them. They entered into the 
 service very heartily. At a quarter before eleven there 
 was an alarm of war ; an attack was made on the Go- 
 vernor's house, (so the report went.) It proved, how- 
 ever, only to have been the reappearance of a crazy 
 native, who, in the morning, had appeared in the settle- 
 ment and snapped his gun at a female, and then ran 
 into the 'bush.' The poor fellow was shot. Finding 
 no congregation at the Government House, I returned 
 to the Asylum, and commenced services there. I had 
 not proceeded far, however, before I was sent for ; and 
 leaving the service here to Mr. M in the school- 
 room, and Harris to conduct service up stairs with the 
 natives, I went again to the Government House. A 
 congregation of about twenty-five assembled, mostly 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 273 
 
 soldiers and females. Preached from Joshua 5 : 3. 
 In the afternoon, made visits among the people. Many 
 had left their own houses, and were, for safety, living 
 together. Many families were in the Methodist church, 
 and many in the Seminary — both large stone build- 
 ings. 
 
 "Monday, 29^A. — A day of many mercies. The Go- 
 vernment has allowed the Cape Palmas school-boys, 
 from Cavalla, to return — except one, John Davis, who 
 has been court-martialed, being accused of stealing ball 
 and conveying them to his people. Overtures of peace 
 made by the Cape and Grahway people. 
 
 "Wednesday, Dec. Blst — The last day of a year of 
 many sorrows, and much grace, and many mercies." 
 
 12* 
 
CIrajfu gKhutnntlr. 
 
 "I will overturn, overturn, overturn it; and it shall be no more, 
 until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him." — Ezek. 21:27. 
 
 " Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee ; and the remainder of 
 wrath shalt thou restrain. — Psalm 76 : 10. 
 
 Though the beginning of the year 1857 found the 
 Mission still in the midst of war, yet the missionaries 
 were punctually and hopefully fulfilling the duties of 
 their various stations ; which, indeed, they had never 
 remitted, even at the most alarming period. 
 
 A letter from the missionary in charge at Cape 
 Palmas, gives the following particulars : 
 
 " Cape Palmas, Jan. 28th, 1857. 
 
 "* * Having written you of the breaking out of 
 war between the natives and colonists, on the 22d of 
 December last, you will feel anxious to hear from us. 
 On the 19th inst. the colonists, to the number of sev- 
 enty, went to make an attack on the natives at Grah- 
 way. A party of twenty-three went by the lake in a 
 large canoe, in which was placed a brass cannon. 
 These commenced the attack ; met with a very heavy 
 fire from behind a barricade, and as they were endea- 
 voring to back a canoe, it upset, and every one was 
 drowned. 
 
 " Their comrades on the opposite shore returned in 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFltlCA. 275 
 
 disorder. The enemy gained thus three large canoes, 
 and two pieces of cannon. Since then they have be- 
 come emboldened; have cut off our communication 
 between the Cape and Cavalla ; and yesterday, from 
 ambush, killed one man, and wounded another who 
 was getting out some cassadas. The Governor has 
 issued a proclamation for the people to act now on the 
 defensive, and to take advantage of the season, and 
 plant what vegetables they are able. Strict guard is 
 kept by day and night. The government has also sent 
 to Monrovia to ask aid from the Eepublic, and written 
 to the English and French consuls, as well as to the 
 American commercial agent, for the presence and aid 
 of a man-of-war. There is considerable anxiety felt 
 among the people. I think at present they are able to 
 defend themselves, and there is no present want of 
 food. The Cavalla people on one side, and the rest of 
 the Grebo tribe on the other, are their allies. For our 
 own personal safety I have little apprehension. The 
 Asylum has been a place of refuge in every alarm. 
 The first week of the war I must have had at least a 
 hundred persons beneath my roof; and now my family 
 is sixty — this includes Mrs. Thompson's family from 
 Mount Vaughan ; the orphan children of the Asylum ; 
 the native teacher, N. S. Harris, his family, and school ; 
 two widows, with seven children, whose houses were 
 burned, and their husbands killed ; and two most in- 
 telligent deaf and dumb boys, (natives,) who ran in 
 here for refuge. 
 
 "I reopened the schools yesterday. The day and 
 the Asylum scholars are, as usual, in the school-roOm 
 on the first floor, and Harris and his school up in the 
 
276 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 third story. All things are going on quietly and or- 
 derly. My morning and evening prayers, with such a 
 large number of children, are interesting and delight- 
 ful. Our Sabbath services are as usual, (except those 
 to the natives.) Harris has his Sunday-school here, 
 while the Colonial one is held at St. Mark's. Since I 
 wrote you, I have made a short voyage for my health. 
 I was absent a week, and went as far as Sinoe. Arriv- 
 ing on Sunday, I preached twice on that day, and once 
 on Monday. I found Eev. Mr. Greene well, and pros- 
 pering much in his school and church. He holds ser- 
 vice in his house. A church-building, as recommended 
 by the Bishop, would advance at once the prosperity 
 of his work. * * 
 
 " I was made glad to hear from the Bishop this 
 morning. The bearer of this note passed Grahway in 
 the night, and by going out to sea, reached Fish town 
 safely ; thence he brought it here. I inclose it, as it 
 will tell you more fully than I now have time to do, 
 of the welfare of those at Cavalla. 
 
 " Thus you see, dear brother, that though the Lord 
 1 breaketh upon us breach upon breach,' He does not 
 forsake us ; ' though troubled, not distressed ; per- 
 plexed, but not in despair.' Ah ! no ! thanks be unto 
 God, who always causes us to triumph through our 
 Lord Jesus Christ." 
 
 The Bishop's note is as follows : 
 
 "Cavalla, Jan. 27th, 1857. 
 " My Dear Brother : For four or five days I have 
 had notes for Cape Palmas, but have sought in vain 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA 2 i i 
 
 for some conveyance. Since the disaster of last Mon- 
 day, there has been little or no passing from this place 
 to Cape Palmas, Bocktown. or Fisktown. Only this 
 moment I learn there is a Fishtown man here, and I 
 write this for him to take. 
 
 " I trust, my dear brother, you are by this time at 
 home, safe, and in improved health. You will find in 
 the altered state of the Colony much, I fear, to disquiet 
 you. 
 
 " Here, through grace, we are well and tranquil, 
 though hearing constant rumors of intended attacks 
 upon the place by Grahwayans and Cape Palmas na- 
 tives. All are on the alert, though I am not much 
 inclined to credit rumor, so far as immediate attacks 
 are concerned. I think the enemy will direct their 
 attention towards Cape Palmas at present. 
 
 " Here our work is going on as prosperously and 
 quietly as if there were no war. Indeed, I think 
 amongst scholars, villagers, and town-people, there is 
 a more serious state of mind than I have known for 
 some time. The congregations on the last two Sun- 
 days have been excellent ; and the hushed attention 
 and serious manner were proof consoling, that God 
 was present, turning minds and hearts to the truths 
 taught. Not only so : GocVs kingdom enlarges. Sun- 
 day before last I baptized old Mase Sia, of Dodu-lu, an 
 apparently sincere convert ; and yesterday a boy 
 (Richard Killin) belonging to Kobla. It seemed, as I 
 remarked at baptism, that the Spirit of Jesus was with 
 us ; that in the present state of things we could thus 
 receive one from the oilier side in our midst, under His 
 arms, who, in the days of His flesh, would have gath- 
 
278 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 ered those whom His justice must now destroy, ' as a 
 hen gathereth her chickens under her wing.' 
 
 " I long to see you, but know not how or when I 
 can go up to the Cape ; soon, however, if He who con- 
 trols all in mercy, shall say, ' Peace.' 
 
 "All join in love to you and ' the Church which is 
 m your house.' J. Payne." 
 
 One month later an arrival from Africa brought the 
 following letter from the Bishop containing the joyful 
 intelligence that peace had been declared : 
 
 " Cape Palmas, Feb. 26th, 1857. 
 
 "Rev. and Dear Sir: I have been here three 
 days, attending the deliberations of commissioners for 
 settling the difficulties in which our last communication 
 left us. I am rejoiced to inform you that peace has 
 again been established. The good providence of God 
 brought to us a man-of-war, with General Roberts, and 
 some one hundred soldiers from Monrovia, just at the 
 time when their services were required ; and they set 
 themselves, most wisely and justly, not to make war, but 
 to conclude a peace. They have been entirely successful . 
 
 " The Cape Palmas natives expressed their regret 
 and shame that our station at Mount Yaughan was 
 burned — said it was not done by their authority, but by 
 some individuals either of their own or of the Bush 
 people. They are allowed to settle near enough to the 
 Cape to allow them still to enjoy missionary influence, 
 and we trust the peace will be permanent. 
 
 " I have not time to write more, but could not but 
 hasten to communicate to you these glad tidings. 
 
 " Yours in the Gospel, J. Payne." 
 
DAY' DAWN IN AFRICA. 279 
 
 Under date of April 23d, he writes : 
 
 " God's special blessing appears to have rested on 
 the labors of our beloved brother at Cape Palmas. At 
 the Convocation just held in St. Mark's Church, at 
 Easter, thirty-one persons -were confirmed, and several 
 others were prevented by sickness from coming for- 
 ward. Since that time he informs me that others have 
 expressed their desire for Confirmation.* Our beauti- 
 ful little St. Mark's is now becoming too small for the 
 congregation attending it. 
 
 "At this station, Cavalla, the congregation continues 
 to average two hundred and two hundred and fifty, 
 and within the past nine months, sixteen adult heathen 
 have been baptized into Christ's fold ; others are hope- 
 ful candidates. 
 
 " The Kev. Mr. Minor continues to labor at Taboo ; 
 Mr. Dorsen, at Rockbookah ; J. W. Hutchins, at Hening 
 Station ; Mr. F. Allison, at River Cavalla. Mr. Thom- 
 as Toomey has been transferred from this station to 
 Rocktown, while Mr. Thomas Thompson, formerly 
 there, has been removed to the Orphan Asylum, to 
 teach the girls, and to assist Mr. Hoffman, until a more 
 suitable teacher shall be provided. 
 
 "G. T. Bedell remains at Rocktown as native 
 teacher, and Mr. S. Boyd continues to render some 
 service as catechist at Fishtown. But this last station 
 especially, as indeed the Mission generally, needs 
 strengthening. May God, in answer to our earnest 
 prayers, speedily bring us help." 
 
 From this, and other letters, we learn that some- 
 
 * Soon after Easter, twenty-sis were confirmed, ranking in all fifty- 
 seven within three months. 
 
280 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 thing was being done at all the Mission stations, not- 
 withstanding the horrors of war, and the scarcity of 
 laborers. 
 
 We also learn that there was much seriousness in 
 the girls' native school at Cavalla. Three of the child- 
 ren had recently professed their faith in Christ. Others 
 were deeply impressed by religious truth, and the hope 
 was entertained that they would speedily become 
 Christians. At no time had there been more accom- 
 plished in this school. 
 
 From Bassa Cove, under date of February 15th, Mr. 
 Eambo writes, that he feels much encouraged in his 
 labors, which he divides between Upper and Lower 
 Buchanan, and the natives around. He had recently 
 travelled fifty miles, mostly on foot, and preached in 
 ten villages on the way. 
 
 Under date of March 30th, 1857, Mr. Hoffman thus 
 writes from Cape Palmas : 
 
 " I am very happy to be able to forward you the 
 mail from Cavalla, by the English war-steamer, Hecla. 
 She came down in answer to a call of the Government 
 upon the English consul for aid in the recent difficul- 
 ties with the natives. Those difficulties, I am glad to 
 inform you, are now settled. The Mary C. Stevens, 
 on the 16th of February, brought one hundred and 
 ten soldiers from Monrovia, under command of Gen- 
 eral Koberts, the ex-President. The head-men of the 
 natives were called, and the ' palaver ' talked. Three 
 conferences were held, and ou the fourth a treaty of 
 peace was signed, satisfactory to all parties. One thou- 
 sand dollars indemnity is to be paid to the natives for 
 the destruction of their towns ; they are to be hence- 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 281 
 
 forth under the laws of the State. They are to be 
 allowed to return and settle on the river, about a mile 
 from their former location, and in the rear of our Mis- 
 sion town at Hoffman Station ; and are also to have a 
 Kroo town allowed them, on the opposite bank, at the 
 entrance of the river. The Grab way people rebuild 
 their old towns. 
 
 " The erection of the towns is to commence at once. 
 The population will now be in the immediate neigh- 
 borhood of our station, whose motto from its com- 
 mencement has been: 'A little one shall become a 
 thousand.' May God so fulfill it ! 
 
 " Harris and his wife are still faithful and earnest. 
 They, with the scholars, returned to the station on the 
 second, after two months' absence. Things had been 
 much injured during the time they were away — the 
 out-houses pulled down, and vegetables stolen. Some 
 considerable expense and much labor will be necessary 
 to put it again in order. 
 
 " Here, things go on as usual. The Institution must 
 suffer, so long as it is left without a lady to guide its 
 affairs. I am myself overwhelmed with work, and 
 earnestly beg your prayers and hearty endeavors to 
 send us help ; we need it, we need it. The Bishop and 
 family are well. 
 
 " The United States ship St. Louis, and brig Dol- 
 phin, are both here. The St. Louis leaves in a few 
 days for the windward, and the Dolphin for the lee- 
 ward. The officers are well. 
 
 " In the settlement of the recent troubles, the na- 
 tives acknowledge the wrong they did us in burning 
 the buildings at Mount Vaughan, and pay two hundred 
 
282 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 bushels of rice as indemnity — a small price, but the 
 Bishop would show them mercy in their present low 
 and depressed state. 
 
 " This day the State of Maryland in Liberia, is no 
 more ; she has been united to the Eepublic of Liberia, 
 and now the Liberian flag is flying on our Cape." 
 
 Truly the providence of God has overruled evil for 
 good in the late war. The Cape Palmas natives are 
 now removed to a more suitable location than the one 
 they formerly occupied. The centre of the town of 
 Harper* was not, in the opinion of the colonists, the 
 proper place for a native settlement ; and much discon- 
 tent arose from this cause. They are now under the 
 laws of the State, which may beget in the hearts of the 
 colonists feelings of a more fraternal nature toward 
 them. 
 
 The annexation of the State of Maryland to the Ee- 
 public of Liberia, will prevent the recurrence of war 
 between the natives and colonists at Cape Palmas. 
 The colonist force, in future, will be strong enough to 
 intimidate them. For this, the missionaries, in com- 
 mon with others, have cause to be grateful to God. 
 
 Another cause of gratitude is to be found in the 
 fact that the war did not, to any extent, interrupt the 
 operations of the Mission, or call off the attention of 
 the congregations from spiritual things ; but that, on 
 the contrary, a greater degree of seriousness was 
 observed among the attendants and members of the 
 various mission churches. Lately, St. Mark's Church, 
 at Cape Palmas, the principal seat of the war, has been 
 
 * So the colonist town at Cape Palmas is called. 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 283 
 
 filled to overflowing. The rector writes, under date 
 of April 27th: 
 
 " I am happy, and God makes me useful, and blesses 
 me in my work. St. Mark's is crowded. We have 
 eighty-one communicants, and I have constant applica- 
 tions. The Sunday-school is overflowing, and here, 
 at the Orphan Asylum, the lambs are being brought 
 to the good Shepherd. * * Nor are the heathen 
 without my reach. Hoffman Station, around which 
 all the Cape Palmas natives are now settled, God 
 blesses." 
 
 In view of these facts, we are constrained to ex- 
 claim with the Psalmist : " Surely the wrath of man 
 shall praise thee, and the remainder of wrath shalt 
 thou restrain." 
 
 "Ah ! are none coming to help us ?" writes Mr. H. 
 " Well, while God is with us, we shall go on, whether 
 they come or not. We can however hut pity those 
 who, with all necessary qualifications, refrain from 
 giving themselves to the work of God. The Saviour's 
 language is ours : ' O ye of little faith !' Be assured 
 we are strong in the Lord, even though men withhold 
 their help. They who come must come willing to suf- 
 fer and ready to die. They who come must so feel 
 the love of Jesus in their hearts, that it can burn 
 brightly even, if need be, in an atmosphere of coldness, 
 indifference, and ingratitude. For so, ofttimes, the 
 missionary feels who labors among the heathen. The 
 salt and the light must be within, "shining directly 
 from the Sun of Righteousness on his soul, and not 
 reflected from any thing without, for darkness sur- 
 rounds us.' 
 
284 DAY DAWN IX AFRICA. 
 
 But the work goes on. Midst sickness, death, and 
 "war, God's work goes on. " Not by might, not by 
 strength, but by His Spirit." 
 
 " Our most delightful and profitable Convocation," 
 (writes one of the missionaries,) " closed atCavalla last 
 Sunday evening, the 10th. The attendance was larger 
 than ever before, and it was a period of deeper religious 
 interest, and more evident manifestation of the pre- 
 sence of God, than we believe ever has been witnessed 
 before since the establishment of our Mission. 
 
 "Although the services did not regularly begin until 
 Friday, yet Thursday evening being the usual lecture 
 evening at this station, most of the members of the 
 Convocation arrived in time to attend it. 
 
 " There were present, S. Boyd and three native 
 Christians from Fishtown ; G. T. Bedell, and three 
 from Kocktown ; N. S. Harris, (native deacon,) and 
 two from Cape Palmas ; John Farr, the native teacher 
 from Half Grahway ; J. W. Hutchins, native teacher 
 from the Cavalla Biver ; and Musu, (Rev. J. M. Minor,) 
 from Taboo. 
 
 " On the following day, Rev. Mr. Gibson, of Mount 
 Yaughan, and Mr. T. J. Thompson, of Rocktown, 
 arrived. 
 
 " On Thursday evening the Rev. Mr. Hoffman 
 preached from the text : 'And they shall all be taught 
 of God.' Blessed truth ! Of which we had living 
 manifestations in the large native Christian assembly. 
 
 " On Friday morning a meeting was held at seven 
 o'clock in the large Church of the Epiphany. This 
 was for the natives, and upwards of two hundred 
 attended. Rev. Mr. Jones opened the service, and 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 285 
 
 addresses were made by Rev. Mr. Minor and Mr. Be- 
 dell. They were listened to by tlie people with the 
 deepest attention. 
 
 "At eleven o'clock the Convocation sermon was 
 preached by the Rev. Mr. Holcomb, from the text : 
 ' Rejoice, and be exceeding glad.' He was followed 
 in an address by the Bishop. In the evening at six 
 o'clock our missionary meeting was held. The Bishop 
 opened the service, after which the missionaries, teach- 
 ers, and visitors read the reports of their stations, and 
 each on ending, made an address in connection with 
 it ; some in Grebo, some in English. They were lis- 
 tened to with the deepest interest, and gave evidence 
 of a godly vitality pervading the work, which was 
 heart-cheering and reviving. It was past midnight 
 ere we ceased to speak or hear of the things which 
 God had wrought at our various stations. It was a 
 1 feast of good things, of fat things, of wine on the 
 lees.' 
 
 " The next morning at seven o'clock another meet 
 ing was held in the Epiphany, for the natives ; which 
 was addressed by Mr. Boyd, Mr. Valentine, and Mr. 
 Bedell. Our business meeting occupied about half an 
 hour before the service at eleven o'clock, when Rev. 
 Mr. Gibson preached from the text, 'But now hath 
 He obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much 
 also is lie the mediator of a better covenant, which 
 was established upon better promises,' Heb. 8:6; a 
 clear, earnest exposition of the covenant of grace in 
 contrast with that of works. He was followed in an 
 address by Mr. Hoffman. 
 
 " The evening again found our large school-room 
 
286 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 crowded, when Mr. Jones read the service, and Mr. 
 Hoffman preached from St. John 5 : 28-29. Sunday 
 was the great day of the feast. Morning prayers were 
 conducted for the scholars and villagers in the girls' 
 school-house, by the native Christians. At ten 
 o'clock the natives began to assemble in the Epiphany ; 
 we had about three hundred and fifty present. The 
 Bishop read the service in Grebo, and made an address ; 
 then followed Mr. Boyd, a native teacher. The great- 
 est attention pervaded the assembly. Mr. Hoffman 
 continued the services in an address, and was followed 
 by Gr. T. Bedell, who closed with prayer : the Bishop 
 pronounced the benediction. 
 
 " No stranger could have witnessed the sight without 
 observing the great interest and attention of the con- 
 gregation; l hanh-te-non'h, 1 (true, true,) could be heard 
 from native lips, as the speakers proclaimed the truth 
 of the Lord. 
 
 "At three o'clock P.M. we had confirmation and the 
 administration of the Lord's Supper ; twelve natives 
 ratified their baptismal vow ; among them four youths, 
 namely, Hening, Eandall, Neufville, and "Waterbury ; 
 one native woman, and the rest were men from the 
 heathen towns. The Bishop administered the Holy 
 Communion, assisted by one of the clergymen present, 
 when no less than sixty-eight came forth to partake of 
 it. Sixty-eight ! all but eleven of whom were native- 
 born ! Born in sin, too, and the children of wrath, 
 but now born anew of the Spirit ; children of God 
 and inheritors of glory. 
 
 " Rejoice, and be exceeding glad, brethren afar off. 
 Ye faithful ones, who hold up our hands by your 
 
DAY DAWN IX AFRICA. 287 
 
 prayers and gifts, rejoice, for the Lord is with us, and 
 the gates of hell shall not prevail against us. 
 
 " In the evening the last service was held. Mr. 
 Hoffman preached from Matthew 22 : 2-14 ; and the 
 Bishop followed with a parting address. The last 
 hours of the evening of the Sabbath were passed in 
 sweetly singing sacred music, accompanied by the 
 melodeon ; one after another joined us, until our little 
 parlor was filled with native Christian youths, all sing- 
 ing the praises of God, in chants, hymns, Te Deum, 
 and Gloria in Excelsis." 
 
 The following letter from a native convert, (who 
 was baptized about this time) to a missionary in the 
 United States, will not be without interest to the 
 reader : 
 
 "Cape Palmas, July 29th, 1857. 
 
 " Rev. H. R. Scott : Dear friend, what you told me 
 I must do before, I do now ; you told me I must mind 
 God, I do mind Ilim now. I take my house over to 
 Harris's place : before, I had two wives ; I give up one 
 now. 
 
 " That time you go home to your own country, and 
 I see no other man in your place, I can't be God man ; 
 I see one other man (Hoffman) come live your house ; 
 he do like you ; so I mind God's things now. When 
 I be baptized, I be glad to take your name. That day 
 I was baptized — it was in new school-house at Harris' 
 place — I feel glad that day. 
 
 "Hymias is gone back again ; Sugar is gone back, 
 too.* Other boys who live night-school first time, 
 
 * He here alluJi-a to two native companions, who at one timo 
 teemed to have serious impressions. 
 
288 DAY DAWN IX AFRICA. 
 
 only Taba and me ; we mind God's things. Tweble go 
 to sea, but lie no love God's things. 
 
 "Mlede, every time she come from bush country she 
 gives me good word about God. I never see her do 
 any bad thing. She live bush country long time. 
 Some time she come here see her people, then she 
 come church on Sunday. 
 
 " When I done build my house at Harris' place I go 
 tell old Mlede come from bush country and live with 
 me ; if she like, I give her little house for herself. I 
 go take my old mother to live with me. I want her 
 to do all the same as Mlede do. I want her do it. 
 
 " Harris is good to me ; he is good to all our people. 
 He is strong to speak to country people about God : 
 all the same as before, when you live here, he do now : 
 he teach school-boy well. By and by we get settled, 
 we go to have night-school again. My father build 
 his town cross river from the old town (which was 
 burned in the war) at Cape, on beach — good place. 
 
 "I am well: my child, my wife are well. I hope 
 you be better — and wife and child be well. I hope 
 you send me God word all time. That is all. 
 
 "Deye, alias Hugh Koy Scott." 
 
 Before closing this chapter we will give an extract 
 from a letter which we lately received from a teacher 
 at Cape Palmas, Thomas Toomey, whose history is giv- 
 en in a preceding chapter. It gives a most encourag- 
 ing account of the demolition of idols : 
 
 " The Bishop and I went out to visit the towns 
 after dinner, (July 3d.) We went first to King Dana- 
 bo's town, and collected the people. The Bishop 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 289 
 
 preached, followed by Bedell. Then commenced the 
 question about giving up idols. One man yielded, 
 afterwards many more. The Bishop and I were ex- 
 hausted from pulling down those false gods. It was 
 night before we reached home. Mr. Hoffman, notwith- 
 standing he had been sick, had been engaged in the 
 same work at Tom Dick's and other towns. Had sup- 
 per, after which the Holy Communion. Selfish nature 
 asked for rest, and we all retired to bed, thanking God 
 for what He had wrought, in the destruction of the 
 gods, which made not the heavens. 
 
 " Friday found us all well ; rose, and again we all 
 bended our knees at His footstool in the school-house, 
 where we had a short address from the Bishop, on the 
 text: 'Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the 
 days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the 
 Lord forever.' It was the fourth of July, and the 
 twentieth anniversary of the Bishop's arrival at Cape 
 Palmas. Prayer was conducted by Mr. H. I felt it 
 was good for me to be there. Dismissed, had break- 
 fast ; and now for the windward stations, Middletown 
 and Fishtown. The Bishop thought it best to leave 
 Mr. Hoffman at Rocktown, to finish the destruction he 
 had commenced the evening before, and to take me 
 with him to the windward stations. When we arrived 
 at Middletown, the Bishop preached, after which I 
 spoke. Here we destroyed many idols, threw some 
 into the sea, and set fire to others. As we were leav- 
 ing Middletown, a kroo-boy collected a quantity of 
 gree-grees, and set them in a blaze ; and now for Fish- 
 town, where the greatest work of destruction took 
 place. It being late in the day, the Bishop preached 
 
 13 
 
290 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 only a short sermon, and the idol question again came 
 up. We were permitted (assisted by two native 
 Christians) to destroy the idols of thirty houses — also 
 the great town gree-gree. When we first went to the 
 great town god, they would not let us touch it by any 
 means whatever. However, the Bishop broke a piece 
 off of it, and so did I, upon which the people told us 
 to be gone. We obeyed, but they called us back 
 again, and said : ' You have broken it, take it away 
 altogether now.' The ark of the true God had arrived, 
 and Dagon's head had fallen off, and shortly he was to 
 fall and be doomed to the fire. Although very tired, 
 we felled Dagon to the ground. This was considered 
 their greatest idol, and the people were very much 
 afraid of it. It was growing late, and we had to stop 
 our delightful work. We went to the Mission-house, 
 and eat a few cassavas, some rice, and a piece of deer. 
 * * We found Mr. Hoffman also tired down from 
 pulling down idols. 
 
 " We had a prayer-meeting in the evening, attended 
 by a great many of the heathen. You know how I 
 can endure hardship. I never was, while in Africa, 
 so exhausted as I was on the evening of the last fourth 
 of July, fr om pulling down idols." 
 
Cljaptu t to mint ft. 
 
 " How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bring- 
 etb good tidings, that publisheth peace ; that bringeth good tidings of 
 good ; that publisheth salvation." — Isaiah 52:7. 
 
 In the early part of this year (1857) the Bishop 
 made a proposition to the Foreign Committee to estab- 
 lish a mission station on one of the mountains in the 
 interior, above the Falls of the Cavalla river. 
 
 He had long thought a station of this kind very de- 
 sirable, both for the sake of affording a place in the 
 highlands to which the missionaries might resort for 
 change of air, when worn down by hard labor in an 
 enervating climate ; and for the gradual extension of 
 the work in the interior. 
 
 The Bishop was agreeably surprised to find that 
 while he had been revolving in his own mind the ex- 
 pediency of establishing a station there, the native 
 Christians had been discussing the matter among them- 
 selves, and earnestly desired to have it undertaken. 
 This evident desire of the natives to have the work 
 more and more extended by their own efforts, among 
 their benighted people, is a most encouraging feature 
 in the history of our Mission, and is a cause of grati- 
 tude, on our part, to our Sovereign God, in whose 
 " hand are the hearts of all men." 
 
 When, a few months later, the Bishop was prepared 
 
292 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 to open a new station on Mt. Neiea, sixty miles in the 
 interior, lie found two young native Christians, ready, 
 willing, and anxious to go forth and engage in this 
 laborious but most blessed work. The account of their 
 adventures on the way, and of the opening and estab- 
 ► lishment of this mountain station, will be best given in 
 the words of Bishop Payne, who accompanied them to 
 the spot. In a letter to a friend in the United States, 
 under date of April 10th, 1857, he says : 
 
 "Ina number of one of our Church papers for last 
 year, I noticed an article on our African Mission, in 
 which the inquiry was made whether it was contem- 
 plated to establish missions in the interior. Had the 
 writer known the missionary Bishop's heart and his 
 principles of action, he would not have thought such 
 inquiry necessary. His heart takes within the sphere 
 of its longing aspirations and endeavors, Ethiopia ; and 
 his settled principle of action has been directed to 
 means most effectual, in his judgment, to make the 
 mission under his charge, according to grace given, the 
 instrument of spreading as wide as possible the glorious 
 Gospel throughout this portion of Africa. 
 
 " What has been that principle of action ? All ex- 
 perience had proved that with us, and more than in 
 other heathen countries, foreigners must be pioneers 
 and apostles to clear the way, and begin the work 
 which the natives must carry on. And, further, that 
 foreigners could only live as pioneers under the most 
 favorable circumstances, and thus live long enough to 
 effect something of consequence. To occupy the most 
 eligible positions then, and to raise up colonial or na- 
 tive laborers, has been the settled principle of action. 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 293 
 
 What would it have availed for the four or five foreign 
 laborers (for this small number has been the average 
 of foreign laborers connected with the Mission from its 
 origin) to have gone into the interior, and sacrificed 
 their lives in a year or two, as all who have attempted 
 this mode of action have done ?" 
 
 "Has the result justified our principle of action? 
 Four colonists and two natives are ministers ; two colo- 
 nists and three natives are candidates for orders ; sixteen 
 colonists and natives are teachers ; near three hundred 
 colonists and natives are communicants." 
 
 " But you will ask, with such an army are you not 
 yet in a condition to advance on the interior ? I 
 answer, Yes. And we have been doing so. But it is 
 necessary to proceed with caution and prudence. The 
 coast people are the commission merchants, or rather 
 the systematic defrauders of the interior tribes. For 
 articles obtained from the foreigner, they charge at 
 least one hundred per cent, often more, to the bush 
 people, as they are called. Hence the coast people op- 
 pose direct comnmnication between foreigners and the 
 interior people, lest the latter should be made aware of 
 the extent to which they are oppressed. The foreign 
 missionary, indeed, carefully states that he has no 
 business with trade ; but the people are slow to believe 
 this, and even regard with suspicion natives sent into 
 the interior by foreigners. But it is by this last means 
 that our efforts have been made, and are still being 
 made, in the direction of the interior. 
 
 " In the rear of Fishtown, Eocktown, and Cape Pal- 
 mas, our native catechists have gone publishing the 
 good news in adjacent tribes. But more especially 
 
294 DAY DAWN IN AFKICA. 
 
 from Cavalla, has this been done for the past two 
 years. 
 
 " The river Cavalla, emptying into the sea near my 
 station, and navigable for canoes sixty miles, with a 
 teeming native population on its banks, furnishes great 
 facilities for this work. And our native deacon Ku 
 Sia, (or C. F. Jones,) and catechists, Brownell, Yaughan, 
 and Valentine, have made frequent tours amongst 
 some twelve tribes living on and near the river. 
 
 We have made still further advances. About eight- 
 een months ago, we located a native catechist on the 
 Cavalla river, ten miles from its mouth ; and last week 
 I left a native catechist, T. C. Brownell, with an assist- 
 ant, sixty miles in the interior, on Mt. Netea, or Netea Lu* 
 
 " You will be pleased to have a brief account of 
 a journey to that interesting region. I left home on 
 Monday, 29th of March. Arrived at Diima Lu, the 
 place of our debarkation, and left at 12 o'clock. Our 
 mode of conveyance was a canoe, propelled by five 
 paddles. Unfortunately for my professions of non- 
 
 t 
 
 * In February last, Mrs. Jane Bohlen, of Philadelphia, a few hours 
 before her death, expressed a wish that part of her estate should go "to 
 the cause of the Bible and the Gospel." The wish was sufficient to 
 guide the action of her two children, Mr. John Bohlen and Miss Cathe- 
 rine M. Bohlen. After she was taken from them, they conferred to- 
 gether, and concluded that no better method presented itself for having 
 this desire answered, than by placing twenty-five thousand dollars, the 
 larger part of the money, destined for this purpose, in the hands of the 
 Foreign Committee, to bo appropriated by them to the opening of a new 
 station in Africa. 
 
 It is probable that Netea Lu, the place selected by Bishop Payne 
 for an interior station, will prove altogether suitable for the establish- 
 ment of a large mission. The mission established by this donation, will 
 be known as the Bohlen Mission. 
 
DAY DAWN IX AFRICA. 295 
 
 interference with trade, the natives who accompanied 
 me, had put in three palm oil casks, a large quantity 
 of native manufactured salt, and sundry other articles 
 of trade. 
 
 "At 2 o'clock, we encountered a terrible storm, 
 which lasted two hours, and so wet my clothes that I 
 had to haul up on a muddy bank and change them. 
 Passing four Babo and three Nyambo towns, which I 
 had previously visited, at 8 o'clock we stopped at a 
 fourth Nyambo town for refreshments. The head-man 
 of the town soon had all his wives beating out rice, 
 and cooking this with some fowls for us. While this 
 was going on, a doubtful friend brought me something 
 to eat, which he called some bush meat, but it had such 
 a human aspect that I laid it aside, and awaited the re 
 past which was preparing." 
 
 "By ten o'clock we had taken our supper, and were 
 ready to start. Start we must at that unseasonable 
 hour, because it was important to pass the next town 
 in the night, as its people had threatened to capture 
 any people that they might see coming from Cavalla 
 upon some slight pretext. 
 
 " It was now toward midnight ; and we were mov- 
 ing along for two hour3 through dark forests. I ob- 
 served the men were unusually silent, and that the 
 head-man whispered that he had a story to tell 
 about this place, after he had got through it. His 
 courage failed, however, even after he had passed it, 
 and it was not until our return, in broad day-light that 
 my head krooman, passing this beautiful part of the 
 river, gave the following fearful acoount : 
 
 " ' In that creek formerly lived the great dragon 
 
29G DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 Daside. He devoured men, women, and children, 
 every living thing which passed this way ; swallowing 
 canoes with their whole contents. Many were the plans 
 proposed to destroy the monster. This was at length 
 adopted : a canoe was prepared ; in it were put a goat 
 tied, and a pile of heated stones ; and then the canoe 
 was sent floating down the stream. As soon as the 
 dragon heard the crying of the goat, he darted at the 
 canoe, and in a moment swallowed it with its cargo. 
 The canoe and goat occasioned no difficulty ; but the 
 heated stones threw him into an agony. He at length 
 dragged himself on that bank, (a low strip of land one 
 hundred yards long,) and died. The tribes around 
 feasted on him, until they were tired. But so much 
 was left, and so much oil ran from him, that the trees 
 have never grown there since. See,' said my inform- 
 ant, growing animated with his subject, ' although no 
 farms are ever made in this region, (for fear of Daside' s 
 son, who still lives in that smaller creek,) no trees ever 
 grew where Daside died.' 
 
 "We travelled until two o'clock in the morning. 
 By this time the men were exhausted, and we hauled, 
 up by the side of a flat rock, some eight feet in diameter. 
 A little fire was kindled ; I gathered around me my 
 heavy blue blanket, and in a minute was fast asleep as 
 if on a downy bed. At four o'clock I was aroused to 
 proceed on my journey. It proved to be a wearisome 
 one. With only two hours' repose on the rock, the 
 men pulled wearily along under one of the hottest 
 African suns, until about one o'clock P.M. My sup- 
 ping and wetting the previous day, sleeping in the 
 malaria on the river, with the hot sun, created suffering 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 297 
 
 and nausea, which only found partial relief in profuse 
 vomiting. When, at one o'clock, we hauled up at a 
 small Buranh town, I was exhausted. The town itself 
 promised but little relief. It had been burnt in war 
 not long before, and temporary huts, not above six or 
 eight feet in diameter, and three or four feet high in- 
 side, were its only buildings, and not a shade tree was 
 to be seen. I soon, however, got a into hut ; and not- 
 withstanding the noise and crowding to see the kube, 
 (foreigner,) I lay down and slept, heeding them not. 
 After about one hour's repose, they brought me some 
 roasted corn, the only article of food to be procured in 
 the place. Thus strengthened, I sat up and preached 
 to the assembled people. My previous miserable feel- 
 ings prevented the inspiration which I had otherwise 
 felt at the sight of peaks of the mountains, which had 
 just before appeared towering upon the horizon. They 
 were the famous pair, Panh and Gero, (rising up amidst 
 lower peaks, and divided only by the Cavalla river,) 
 which we were approaching. 
 
 Until this time the river scenery, though every where 
 beautiful, had presented no great variety ; but now we 
 were entering the mountians, and sudden turns, with 
 bold cliffs, hill peeping over hill, and mountain over 
 mountain, every where clothed in verdure, rose in 
 quick succession. "We had hoped to get through the 
 mountain pass before night, but it was decided at last 
 to stop at the town of Dama, of the Baremurebo tribe, 
 for the night. 
 
 " The village in which we were to pass the night is 
 beautiful for situation. It lies on a table land, just at 
 the foot of Mt. Gero, on the north, while on the oppo- 
 
 13* 
 
298 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 site side, there is a range of commanding heights and 
 hills. King Damo was absent when we arrived, but 
 his brother and the people gave us the most lively re- 
 ception. The drums beat, and the women danced at 
 the kube's arrival. And soon after, Damo himself ar- 
 riving, he commanded them to beat more earnestly and 
 to dance, while he, with a trumpeter by his side, to re- 
 peat his words, gave expression to his own feelings." 
 
 " After the excitement had abated, the people were 
 called to hear the Gospel. It was gratifying, I said, to 
 be so kindly received ; but if they knew what manner 
 of message I had brought them, they would still more 
 rejoice. 
 
 " The services over, we sat out in the bright moon- 
 light night. Thomas Brownell, a native catechist, 
 proposed to sing from "Greenland's icy Mountains," 
 and, I am sure, with me he deeply felt the sad truth of 
 the lines: 
 
 " Every prospect pleases, and only man is vile." 
 
 " It was late when I placed my blanket and mat on 
 the mud floor of the little room assigned for the night. 
 I slept most soundly, until aroused by my self-import- 
 ant host, next morning, trumpeting his own praises. 
 About seven o'clock we had another service, and after 
 receiving a dash (present) of a goat from Damo, we re- 
 embarked in our canoe. 
 
 "Immediately after leaving Damons town, we turned 
 suddenly to the north, and our way lead us directly 
 between the towering peaks of Panh and Gero, to the 
 right and left. The pass here — about a mile long — is 
 grand in the extreme. Going through this, we again 
 
DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 299 
 
 turned to the east, and encountered the first rapids. 
 The river runs here along the base of the Panh, and in 
 some places has so strong a current, as to make it ne- 
 cessary to drag the canoes along. Safely above these 
 rapids, we again turned north, and now we are in full 
 view of the falls. The river here spread out about 
 three fourths of a mile, and, divided into five or six 
 separate streams, comes dashing and foaming over the 
 rocks, through emerald islands and islets, in indescri- 
 bable beauty. Making our way with difficulty just 
 below these cataracts, we reached the small town of 
 Vinhi, about eleven o'clock A.M. After holding ser- 
 vice here, we hastened to our place of destination, 
 Netea Lu. We arrived there at one o'clock. 
 
 "And now, in attempting to describe this place, I 
 shall be suspected, I know, of extravagance. But, in- 
 deed, it is difficult to commit this error in speaking of 
 a place where God has done so much. 
 
 "Netea Lu, or Mt. Netea, is an isolated hill, of some- 
 what a sugar-loaf form, rising abruptly three or four 
 hundred feet high, having on its summit a sufficiently 
 large space for a native town. It stands immediately 
 in the rear of the mountains Panh and Gero, through 
 which it looks down upon the river towards the sea. 
 But its peculiar beauty is, that it is one of those innu- 
 merable mountains or hills, over and through which it 
 commands a view as far as the eye can reach, north, 
 south, east, and west. And on and among these hills, 
 appears to be a country, which, for fertility and pic- 
 turesque scenery, your own valley of Virginia can 
 hardly surpass. 
 
 " It was on this splendid site that I passed my third 
 
300 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 night after leaving home. The next morning a scene 
 presented itself, which, though perhaps not uncommon 
 in mountains, was quite novel to me — almost sublime. 
 We appeared during the night, to have floated away 
 into the wide ocean, and our hill, with multitudes of 
 others, seemed like islands of various aj)pearances and 
 dimensions, crowned with towns and castles. It was 
 a dense fog covering all except the tops of the innu- 
 merable hills and mountains scattered around. 
 
 "The town of Netea Lu has a population of about 
 three thousand. It is the principal and capital town 
 of a tribe, with its branches, numbering fifty thousand, 
 while, in its rear, as far as the eye can reach, are nu- 
 merous other tribes, holding with it constant inter- 
 course. 
 
 " Such is the commanding position at which,' 
 through God's blessing, we have now commenced a 
 missionary station. Here, on Friday, April 3d, com- 
 mending them to God, I left Thomas Brownell, native 
 catechist and candidate for Orders, and his assistant, 
 Francis Hoskins. The people received them kindly, 
 and I am thankful to learn by a letter from the cate- 
 chist, received since this was commenced, that the 
 kindness rrnd interest of the people continues. An ex- 
 tract from this letter may not be uninteresting to you : 
 
 '"Netea Lu, Webo, April, 1857. 
 " ' Dear Pastor : Every morning and evening, in 
 Kanemds (his host's) house, prayer is never neglected. 
 I have been in the habit of calling the people together 
 in this house. A portion of a chapter is read, and then 
 J talk to them ; then offer up prayer to God that the 
 
DAY DAWX IN AFRICA. 801 
 
 seed sown may sink deep into their hearts, and may, 
 by the influence of the Spirit, bring forth fruit worthy 
 of acceptance. I always have a large congregation, 
 composed of many young men, and also a few old men 
 and children, and women. Last Sunday services were 
 held in the Yibadias' (head of the sedibo, or free citizens) 
 house, it being the largest in town. It was filled by 
 the people. I addressed them from John 3 : 14, 15. 
 The people were very attentive. And no doubt God, 
 who has said, " There shall be one fold and one shep- 
 herd," shall gather together some of His sheep who 
 have not been put into the fold, who are here in this 
 region. After this service was over, we went to an- 
 other town called Tiyide. The distance is about four 
 and a half miles. We had a large congregation, and 
 they listened attentively. After service, the head-man 
 of the town said we must sleep there, for some more 
 people were on their farms, for whom we must have 
 service at night. When I saw that they were very- 
 anxious to hear more at night, I granted their request. 
 Well, at night I had a larger congregation than I had 
 before. The seed was sown in their hearts, and our 
 eyes were unto God to give the increase. On the 
 morrow morning they came and begged me to have 
 service. But I was not able to do it at all. My head 
 was very sick on that day. So the thirsty people not 
 hearing the Gospel, went away without any spiritual 
 water. 
 
 " 'In thinking of this great work which God has set 
 apart for us, worms of the dust, frail to do good, I feel 
 three things: first, shame ; second, thankfulness ; third, 
 gladness. I feel shame because I am a poor, miserable 
 
302 DAY DAWN IN AFRICA. 
 
 sinner, a worm and no man, the outcast of noble and 
 principal men, And am I, such a miserable sinner, the 
 chief of sinners, chosen by God to go and look for His 
 lost sheep ? And second, I feel gladness, because God 
 has chosen me to this work. Now, if Queen Victoria 
 had chosen a poor person, and sent him somewhere to 
 take possession of some country, would not he feel glad 
 because he was chosen by the Queen to do that work ? 
 How much, then, if God has sent us forth to do His 
 work ? The work is now before us. And shall we feel 
 discouraged while the promise is : " He that turneth 
 many to righteousness, shall shine as the stars forever 
 and ever?" * * * "The gods that have not made the 
 heavens and the earth, they shall perish from under 
 the heavens and on the earth." 
 
 " ' Thomas Beownell.' 
 
 " Such, dear brother, is the Mission commenced ; 
 such is the agent employed. And now will you not 
 cooperate with us ? Would to God you could send 
 us some faithful co-laborer with this young but devout 
 African catechist. Yours in Christ, 
 
 " John Payne." 
 
 From this interesting letter, we find that the Mission 
 field in Western Africa is still widening. The day 
 dawn is now stealing over its borders, and if faithful 
 laborers will but go forth to the aid of the feeble band 
 in the field, now bending beneath their heavy burdens, 
 the "Sun of Eighteousness" will, ere long, shine in 
 noon-tide glory, into the very heart of this large, dark, 
 and unhappy continent. 
 
DAY DAWN IX AFRICA. 303 
 
 The traveller, the sailor, and the trader have long 
 been there, penetrating every accessible portion of that 
 mysterious land, and freely risking health and life in 
 the eager pursuit of wealth and fame. And shall the 
 soldier of the Cross be less courageous ? Shall he, with 
 the last, earnest, emphatic command of his ascended 
 Lord appealing to his conscience, turn a deaf ear, and 
 leave Airic's millions to perish in their ignorance, be- 
 cause in obeying his Master's behest he may probably 
 sustain detriment to his health ? Oh ! not so, reasons 
 the world's soldier. Trul} r , " the children of this world 
 are wiser in their generation than the children of 
 light." 
 
 "But," urge some over-prudent Christians, "it is 
 cruel to send people to Africa to sicken and die ; it is 
 an unnecessary waste of health and life." 
 
 Hear what one, who has for twenty years nobly de- 
 voted every energy of his mind and body to the work 
 of Africa's redemption, says to this view of the matter. 
 Our beloved Bishop, in answer to an objection of this 
 nature, thus writes : 
 
 " It is not cruel, notwithstanding all our losses, for 
 others to come, and to come more and more. For then 
 it were cruel for our dear Saviour to have come to 
 earth to suffer, bleed, and die. It were cruel for His 
 Apostles to have followed in His footsteps. Ay, the 
 labors, sacrifices, and deaths for Jesus' sake, of the 
 suffering Church through her long history, evermore 
 ; filling up that which is behind of the sufferings of 
 Christ,' have been one long system of cruelty. Nay, 
 verily, away with such principles. They are not 
 Christian. It is ignorant Peter selfishly rebuking the 
 
S04 DAY DAWN IX AFRICA. 
 
 Saviour, who would die for him — ' Be it far from thee, 
 Lord, this shall not be unto thee.' It is the hypocriti- 
 cal economy of the world, only manifesting itself when 
 expenditure for Christ's sake is the object, saying, I To 
 what purpose is this waste ?' Nay, more, it would de- 
 stroy the name of Christian ; for Jesus said: 'Whoso- 
 ever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take 
 up his cross and follow me.' It would rob him of his 
 present blessedness and his future glorious reward. 
 ' They that leave all shall receive manifold more in 
 this life ;' 'if we suffer with Him, we shall also reign 
 with Him.' Ay, such principles are cruel, for they 
 would leave countless numbers of heathen to perish ; 
 for how can they call on Him of whom they have not 
 heard, and how shall they hear without a preacher, 
 and how shall they preach except they be sent ?" 
 
 There are two significant facts in the history of Afri- 
 can Missions, which should encourage laborers to go 
 forth. One is, that, "constrained by the love of 
 Christ," men of the most cultivated minds, and women 
 of the highest refinement, have gone to that barbarous 
 land, that outcast of the nations, and made for them- 
 selves not only homes that they could merely tole- 
 rate, but such as they could love and cherish ; and 
 there, year after year, have continued patiently and 
 cheerfully to labor for their Master ; esteeming it their 
 greatest earthly privilege to spend and be spent in His 
 service. The other is the undeniable fact, that in no 
 other part of the heathen world is there evinced so much 
 willingness to hear the Gospel, as in Africa. " Ethiopia 
 is now stretching forth her hands unto God," whom, 
 through the mists of superstition, she sees, as yet, afar 
 
DAY DAWN IX AFRICA. 305 
 
 off. Happy and honorable, in the eternal Kingdom, 
 will they be who shall aid her in taking even one feeble 
 step towards her unknown Saviour. And surely, 
 while God and the heathen are loudly crying, " Ad- 
 vance — tell to the countless thousands still sitting in 
 darkness," the story of redeeming love; the Church 
 will not say : "Hold back, retrench; it is an unneces- 
 sary waste of men and means." She will rather, with 
 the aggressive spirit which distinguished her glorious 
 Founder, and his long succession of Apostles, bid her 
 sons go on, and on, and on, to battle with the powers 
 of darkness, until, from earth's remotest corner, shall 
 go forth myriads of redeemed souls, to swell the chorus 
 of the " Song of the Lamb." 
 
 " Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood, 
 Out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation ; 
 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests." * * * * 
 
 " Blessing, honor, glory, and power, be unto Him that sittcth upon the 
 throne, 
 And uuto the Lamb forever and ever." 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 WITCHCRAFT.-S ASS A-WOOD . 
 
 " I will break up this system, at the risk of life," 
 said a beloved brother missionary as he returned from 
 the midst of an enraged mob, who were killing a fel- 
 low-creature by the poisonous gidu, and dragging him 
 about on the beach. 
 
 "And the system, in theory and practice, is horrible 
 enough, no doubt. To assume that a deadly poison is 
 a test of crime, and to subject any one to its influence 
 whom suspicion, prejudice, or the word of a deya (de- 
 mon-man) may bring under accusation ; to treat all 
 such as are so accused as guilty until they have cast 
 off the imputation by drinking the deadly poison, and 
 to rail upon, drag them about, and insult them, when 
 under its influence, and after their death — all this is 
 certainly very bad. 
 
 "But the Greboes say it is more horrible still to con- 
 fine men, as foreigners do, in jails for months and 
 years, and then to hang tJiem tip by a rope, or to cut 
 off thtir heads. 
 
 "It is true, in these last cases they are told that the 
 case is fairly tried, and guilt proved by sufficient evi- 
 
308 APPENDIX. 
 
 clence, before the punishment is inflicted. And so, the 
 Greboes will say, are those whom we treat, on our 
 principles, guilty ; or if not actually so proved to be, 
 we give them an opportunity to escape if innocent. 
 
 "Without admitting such principles or conclusions, it 
 would be well for those who are suddenly transplanted 
 from Christendom to heathendom, before proceeding to 
 judge or act in reference to the latter, to attend dili- 
 gently to such inquiries as these : What is witchcraft ? 
 How far it is practised ? and how far the checks to it 
 should be interfered with, while the system is believed 
 and practised ? 
 
 "One of the most enlightened Grebo kings we have 
 ever known, in endeavoring to rescue a man who was 
 about to be subjected to the trial by gidu, was heard 
 thus to preface his address : " Every man and woman 
 who comes into the world is a wedia, (literally, eater of 
 witchcraft,) though every man does not practise it to 
 his fellow's injury." Here then is the theory. Every 
 one possesses the power by some peculiar gifts, natural 
 or acquired, of injuring secretly in various degrees, 
 even unto death ; or of benefiting in the same manner. 
 He who exerts it for the good of himself, or his people, 
 or to the injury of the people's enemies, is a good man. 
 He who exerts it to the injury of his people, is a bad 
 man. Wonderful are the powers of these mysterious 
 wcdioh, (witchcraft eaters.) They can affect the air, 
 earth, sea, vegetable, bodies, and souls of men. They 
 blight vegetation, cause the sun to shine, give or re- 
 strain rain, afflict bodies with boils, diseases of all kinds, 
 bring devils into the souls of men. 
 
 "How this power is exerted, all are disinclined to 
 
APPENDIX. 309 
 
 explain, because probably all nearly practise the system 
 in one way or other. But the more unguarded do 
 sometimes declare it. An evil eye, preparation of 
 leaves, or mud, or rock, placed near the house or farm 
 of the party to be affected, running naked through the 
 villages, dancing in the same state at the graves of 
 those whose death they have caused, throwing stones 
 at the houses of those who are already sick and dying 
 under their potent spells — these, by common consent, 
 are some of the ways and means of witches and wizards. 
 
 "In these acts many are caught, and therefore subjected 
 to trial by giilu. But can they by such means produce 
 the effects they seek ? Except in a few cases — where 
 the imagination produces fatal effects upon the bodies 
 of the objects of witchcraft — certainly not. But if the 
 intention 'is thus to injure and to kill, are actors not as 
 guilty as if they actually accomplished their designs ? 
 
 "And that there is a very common practice of such 
 witchcraft, there is every reason to believe. There are 
 few fights — scarcely any open murders — amongst the 
 Greboes, or Africans, generally of this region. And 
 yet they are almost universally jealous, envious, quar- 
 relsome, malicious, and revengeful — revengeful in every 
 case possible. How otherwise do they gratify these ma- 
 licious, revengeful, murderous feelings, except by 
 witchcraft ? 
 
 "And if so, until they become, through the influence 
 of Christianity, changed in the spirit of their mind, and 
 in the absence of other modes of punishment, may not 
 the administration of gidu exert a salutary influence in 
 restraining crime ? Can it be wholly laid aside until 
 the people are prepared for the introduction of civilized 
 modes of trial and punishment? 
 
310 APPENDIX. 
 
 PHYSICAL CHARACTER OF THE INTERIOR OF AFRICA, BE- 
 TWEEN CAPE PALMAS AND MONROVIA. 
 
 "The explorations of foreigners, and information de- 
 rived from natives, enable us now to determine, almost 
 "with perfect precision, the physical character of this 
 region, to the distance of one hundred and fifty miles. 
 
 "From the St. Paul's river, emptying into the ocean 
 five miles above Monrovia, to the Cavalla, which finds 
 its outlet fifteen miles below Cape Palmas, there are 
 perhaps a dozen considerable streams. These streams 
 are navigable for canoes or boats, to a distance averag- 
 ing from ten to sixty miles, when they uniformly meet 
 with obstructions from hills and mountains of greater 
 or less elevation. 
 
 "The general aspect of the country within this range, 
 is almost uniformly undulating, beautiful, and fertile. 
 Where the obstructions are found, the hills and moun- 
 tains increase in number and elevation, some of them 
 rising to several thousand feet. They form a well- 
 defined chain along the whole region above designated, 
 running east and west, and in several places are dis 
 tinctly visible from the coast. 
 
 " This is the case all along from Monrovia to New- 
 Cesters, a distance of a hundred miles. Also at several 
 other points between the last place and Cape Palmas. 
 Much higher mountains than those seen from the coast 
 are reported by native travellers from the interior. 
 Thus the mountain Gede, referred to in another place, 
 towers proudly above all his neighbors, giving rise, by 
 his preeminent height, to many strange, mysterious 
 ideas. 
 
APPENDIX. 311 
 
 u This mountain range uniformly turns the rivers 
 referred to, and their tributaries, in an easterly and 
 westerly direction. Thus branches of the Cavalla and 
 Sinoe rivers have almost a common source. And there 
 can be no doubt that this water-shed bears the same re- 
 lation to the rivers which have been referred to, and the 
 great Niger, with its tributaries, as do the Rocky Moun- 
 tains to the rivers emptying into the Pacific on the one 
 side, and the Mississippi and its branches on the other. 
 
 "Between this mountain-chain and the sea, the people 
 in their main features of language and physical appear- 
 ance, manner of life, and government, are much alike ; 
 and there is generally intercourse between them from 
 the coast to the mountain, though it is not so general 
 latterly. But in no case do the coast people, or indeed 
 any others south of the range, (except, perhaps, some 
 near Bassa Cove,) have intercourse beyond the moun- 
 tains. 
 
 ''There is no doubt, however, that immediately be- 
 yond this ridge there is intercourse amongst the people 
 along its entire extent. A curious but most conclusive 
 proof of this was furnished quite recently. An insane 
 emigrant landed at Monrovia, was under the delusion 
 that he was called to go thence on a pilgrimage to Je- 
 rusalem. Setting off with his son and wife, (the latter 
 soon turned back,) he pushed straight forward into the 
 interior. Three months or more passed when the 
 Governor at Cape Coast Castle informed the Governor 
 of Liberia, that this man and his son were at Coonaissc, 
 in the Ashantee tribe. The father died soon after 
 reaching that place, but the son was taken back safely 
 to Monrovia." 
 
312 APPENDIX. 
 
 AFRICAN PROVERBS. 
 
 1. Save me from my friends. 
 A hede nd pambwe ah jd biyo. 
 
 "He takes him from the trap after the manner of the 
 black ant" 
 
 The trap ja is set to catch rats. The black ant 
 pambwe finds the rat in the trap, and offers to help him 
 out. It begins to pull at his tail, then eats it ; and so 
 with the legs and body, until all is consumed. 
 
 2. Deliver from trouble before you punish. 
 Ha hya ai, pie ne pe nd kpanh ke. 
 
 " Take the child from the water before you slap 
 him." 
 
 A child wantonly goes into the sea, and is in immi- 
 nent danger of drowning. But punish him not in the 
 water, lest you, instead of saving him, aid in his de 
 struction. 
 
 3. Answer an enemy warily. 
 A yeola mo nd, gi ah brubwe. 
 
 "He inquires of me, as the leopard inquired of the 
 bird brubwe." 
 
 The bird brubwe, of sedentary habits, was found to- 
 wards evening by the leopard, who asked : " Will you 
 sleep here to-night?" Brubwe answered : " Oh ! yes ; 
 here, or any where." The leopard returned, and 
 pounced upon the place, supposing brubwe was there. 
 But she had taken care to sro elsewhere. 
 
APPENDIX. 313 
 
 DEATH OF MRS. ANNA M. PAYNE. 
 
 Since this work has gone to the press, the painful 
 intelligence has reached us that the beloved wife of 
 our Bishop has passed away from earth. Mrs: Payne, 
 after many months of patient suffering, died, in great 
 peace, at Cavalla, Dec. 4th, 1857. 
 
 We feel that a work of this kind will not be com- 
 plete without some notice of the gifted and devoted 
 woman, who for more than twenty years so faithfully 
 sustained her husband in his arduous labors ; and now 
 that her modesty can no longer be pained by human 
 praise, we hesitate not, in announcing her death, to 
 speak of her many virtues, her eminent Christian 
 graces. Few women have ever possessed a more self- 
 sacrificing spirit ; few have been enabled for so many 
 years — during which consumption was making ravages 
 upon her delicate frame — to persevere, as did she, in a 
 regular course of laborious duties, in the most enervat- 
 ing climate on the globe. How determinedly she re- 
 pressed every symptom of languor and pain, and went 
 about with cheerful face and willing hands " to do all 
 that she could," her brothers and sisters in the Mission 
 can never forget. Her noble resolution to remain 
 alone and labor in a heathen land, while her husband 
 crossed the ocean, (at the call of the Church to be con- 
 secrated Bishop,) will long be remembered in her praise 
 by those who surrounded her, and saw how bravely 
 she combated with pain and trials during the lonely 
 hours of separation. It was hoped when, three years 
 since, she returned in renewed strength from her visit 
 
314 APPENDIX. 
 
 to the United States, that she would be spared many 
 more years to brighten her husband's pathway and to 
 labor for the Mission ; but God, in His providence, has 
 ordered it otherwise. The happy Cavalla home is no 
 longer cheered by her presence. The tones of her 
 sweet melodeon are no more heard at eventide to soothe 
 the minds and bodies wearied by the toils of the day. 
 Her companion has now no friend to whom, assured of 
 sympathy, he can in every emergency turn. Her peo- 
 ple sadly come to the place " which will know her no 
 more forever," and long in vain for her cheering words 
 and her benevolent gifts. Truly their loss is great, but 
 how blessed the exchange of the one who has gone to 
 hear from her beloved Eedeemer the welcome words : 
 " Well done, good and faithful servant ! Enter thou 
 into the joy of thy Lord." 
 
Date Due 
 
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BUS Africa; or, Progress of the 
 Princeton Theolog.cal *****£ J Jjjjjf, 
 
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