LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. ®^U&* @Wi# ~$n3SOl> Shelf .....cTt UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. NATIVE LIFE IN LIBERIA, ASHANTEE, SIERRA LEONE, DAHOMEY, LAGOS, BONNY AND BAKUNDU. "GIVE A THOUGHT TO AFRICA." A CAREFUL Study of the Missionary Field IN AFRICA. BY REV. THOS. L. JOHNSON, A Returned Missionary. CHICAGO: THE CONSERVATOR PRINT, 162 AND 164 SOUTH CLARK STREET. .3-7. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1881, by THOMAS L. JOHNSON, in the office of the Librarian ot Congress, at Washington. INTRODUCTORY. Office of Corresponding Secretary of the Wood 1 River Baptist Association of Illinois, [- 12 Gano St., Chicago, III. ) The interest that is being awakened in Evangeli- cal Christian Missions in Africa, is an occasion of thanksgiving, and renewed diligence, perseverance and faith, on the part of those who have long prayed and labored for the spread of the gospel in that land of grossest heathenism and spiritual darkness. Other uncivilized and heathen coun- tries may, perhaps, present fewer and less destruc- tive barriers to the introduction and spread of the gospel, but none can have any higher claims, or present a more importunate plea to Christian peo- ple in all lands, and of all races, to furnish them with " the bread of life," than PERISHING MILLIONS IN AFRICA. But to her own children and their descendents, her appeals " to come over and help us," should awaken a deeper interest, and be the inspiration of a more abiding enthusiasm than has as yet been manifested. The Christian religion has lifted oth- er races and other lands from degradation and superstition into the highest civilization and ad- vancement. It can and will do the same for Africa. And of whom can she ask this boon for her sons and daughters at home, with more force, iv INTRODUCTORY. than of her sons and daughters in other lands, and especially in America, so far as they have the means and abiliiy to give it to them ? THE CHRISTIAN CIVILIZATION OF AFRICA is the one thing needed to estop the prejudgment that hangs over the heads of her descendents in every other land, and represses them in every ave- nue of endeavor. Its accomplishment will wipe out the reproaches wherewith they are now re- proached. I have known the author of this little pamphlet for many years as an earnest worker for the evan- gelization of his race, both in America and in Af- rica. He has encountered and overcome difficul- ties in the way of his advancement and the prose- cution of his much-loved work, to which a less determined and persevering mind would have suc- cumbed. THE W T OOD RIVER BAPTIST ASSOCIATION, OF ILLINOIS, has appointed him to superintend the missionary work within her bounds, with the especial view to the awakening of interest in African missionary work in the churches. I hereby endorse him, and commend him to the churches and the benevolence of christians everywhere. Rev R. DeBaptiste, Cor. Sec'y. PREFACE. The christian world is growing daily more inter- ested in the evangelization of heathen lands. This may not be apparent to the casual observer, but the diligent enquirer after truth will find, to his great joy, that spiritual welfare of heathen nations is becoming a matter of prayerful anxiety among all classes of true christians. After being abroad four years, the writer returned home in August, 1880. The following September I met the Wood River Baptist Association at Jack- sonville, 111. After laying before that body the claims of Africa, I was appointed superintendent of domestic and foreign missionary work. I at once commenced to travel from place to place, trying to awaken a deeper interest among colored people for African mission work, and lecturing to raise means to send missionaries to Africa. On my journey I met with many who wanted a copy of my lecture. Often after the lecture was over friends would ask me questions which had not been mentioned in my discourse. This suggested the idea that a small pamphlet, cheap enough to be in the reach of all, giving a few facts of Africa's former condition as collected from history, her present deplorable condition, the great success of missionary work on the west coast and my per- sonal experience, would not only meet this demand, vi PREFACE. but might awaken a deeper interest for African mission work. I know that Africa has many wise and noble ad- vocates. This little pamphlet is only a feeble ef- fort to help on the great work. Every nail driven into the building makes it that much strouger. In sending forth this little work my prayer is, that the information given may make many friends for Af- rica, and redound to the glory of God. My dear friends, please " give a thought to Af- rica." God seems now to be saying to the chris- tian world, "I have set before thee an open door" in Africa, " go, and lo, I am with you," to deliver that long oppressed race from darkness, degrada- tion and shame. It is our indispensable duty as christians, to do all we can to send the gospel to these benighted people. Yours for the evangelization of Africa, THOS. L. JOHNSON, Chicago, III. April 20th, 1881. GIVE A THOUGHT TO AFRICA. Give a thought to Africa ! 'Neath the burning sun There are hosts of weary hearts Waiting to be won : Many idols have they made, But, from swamp and sod There are voices crying now For the living God. Chorus — Tell the love of Jesus By her hills and waters ; God bless Africa, And her sons and daughters. Breathe a prayer for Africa ! God the Father's love Can reach down and bless the tribes From His Heaven above. Swarthy lips when moved by grace Ever sweetly sing ; Pray that Afric hearts be made Loyal to our King. Tell the love of Jesus, &c. 8 POETRY. Give support to Africa ! Has not English gold Been the gain of tears and blood When the slaves were sold? Let us send the gospel back, Since, for all their need, Those whom Jesus Christ makes free Shall be free indeed. Tell the love of Jesus, &c. Give your love to Africa ! They are brothers all, Who by sin and slavery Long were held in thrall. Let the white man love the black, And, when time is past, In "Our Father's house" above May all meet at last. Tell the love of Jesus, &c. Written by Miss Marianne Farningham, Northampton, England, for Rev. Thos. L. Johnson. AN UNKNOWN LAND. Of no country in the world has so little hith- erto been known as of Africa. Recent discoveries in Africa, however, mark the present as an in- teresting crisis in her history. No country in the world has stronger claims upon Christendom than Africa, which has for ages been the crippled limb of humanity. From century to century she has remained almost in sight of civilized nations, enriching them with her ivory, drugs, woods, and metals, receiving in exchange a few insignificant beads, and rum, which is a curse to the country. All these years she has remained uncivilized, and, for the most part, unknown. Up to the present day, there are thousands of people who know more about almost every part of the world than of Africa. From generation to generation it has lain a blank on the map of nations. For hundreds of years . the names of a few places around the coasts have been known, but not un- til the discoveries of 'Burton, Schweinfurth, Speak, Grant, Dr. Livingstone, whose name will live as long as Africa exists, and Cameron, Stanley and many others, did the world begin io AN UNKNOWN LAND. to know anything about the vast interior, with its neglected, perishing millions of heathen, knowing nothing of the one true God. But the dawn of a brighter day grows on apace. Thank God, a door effectual has been opened to the great interior, and Christians of every name and nation are at work sending the everlasting gospel to that long-neglected conti- nent. Our God, who is the God of the op- pressed, is about to reclaim an injured race. Africa is said to contain one-fourth part of the entire land area of the globe. It is five thousand miles in length from north to south, and four thousand six hundred miles in breadth from east to west. Bounded on the north by the Mediter- ranean Sea, separating it from Europe ; on the east by the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea and Asia, and on the west by the Atlantic Ocean, which separates it from the American coast. It is estimated to have a population of largely over two hundred millions of people. By giving a thought to Africa, we cannot fail to be struck with the magnitude and importance of this vast continent. We, as Christians, en- joying the blessed privileges of the gospel, "Who were not born as thousands are, Where God was never known ; And taught to pray a useless prayer, To blocks of wood and stone," should know more about this vast continent, and A N UNKNO WN LA ND. 1 1 its neglected, perishing millions of heathen. We should know more about the condition of the many tribes inhabiting this long-neglected continent, which has for ages presented nothing but desolation, ruin and misery. Oh, think of it ! For centuries the blessed gospel has been preached, and made most wonderful progress, while millions in Africa have lived and died, having never heard of the one true God, or of our blessed Jesus. Age after age they have been alllowed to sit in darkness and the shadow of Death ; no one to bring to them the message of eternal life. STORY OF NATIVE CONVERTS. While in England, I attended a missionary meeting with the late Kev. Alfred Sakes, who spent thirty years in Africa. He told a very TOUCHING STORY OF A NATIVE CONVERT. He said to the missionary : " There is one thing I want to ask, Where is my father? He died; he never heard of Jesus; your people have heard of Jesus for ages. How is it that you white people could send here for slaves, and not send us word about Jesus?" Dr. Living- stone says, when he told a South African Chief of the great white throne and Him who shall sit on it, from whose face the heaven and earth shall flee away, he said, " You startle me, these words make all my bones to shake ; I have no more strength in me. My forefathers were liv- 12 AN UNKNO WN LA ND. ing at the time yours were, and how is it that they did not send them word about these terrible things sooner?" For ages, t^he mothers and fathers by millions have been passing from time into eternity, know- ing nothing of the great plan of salvation, and that too almost in sight of civilization. No part of the world has stronger claim upon the Chris- tion Church to-day, than long-oppressed, long- neglected Africa. While attending the C. A, B. M. convention in Baltimore, Md., October, 1880, a gentleman asked me, " Why is it that Africa has been in the condition she is, for so many years?" This is a question which no doubt hundreds have asked. It is a question I have often asked my- self in years past. Why is it, that while other nations have risen and fallen, and risen again, and gone on successfully, Africa, the land of my fathers, has been going down, down, from bad to worse, from century to century ? Before I attempt to give what seems to me, at least, the reason why she has thus remained for the past four or five centuries, we will ask an- other question : Has Africa always been in this condition ? AFRICA OF THE ANCIENTS. The only knowledge we have of any country, nation or people, is what we gather from history. The historian tells us that Africa, of which so little is now known, not only flourished at one period of the world, but that she was the cradle of the arts and sciences ; that when Greece was yet young, and Rome unknown, before Abraham was, or the Jewish commonwealth had a name, Africa could boast of old and- civilized king- doms.* Africa once had her churches, her col- leges, her repositories of the sciences and learn- ing, her Cyprians and Bishops of apostolic re- nown, and her noble army of martyrs. f Africa, the land of my fathers, has indeed, been a high- ly-favored country. It was in Africa that Moses, the most extraordinary man that lived in the early ages, was born and educated. When all Europe and Western Asia lay sunk in deep darkness, there was light in Africa. And again, when in the "Dark Ages," the light of Greece and Rome had suffered an eclipse, and darkness once more settled down over Eu- rope, there was light in Africa. * Negro problem solved. tMoffatt's Southern Africa. 14 AFRICA OF THE ANCIENTS. The first permanent advance made by the world in literature, and for the perpetuation of science, was the invention of an alphabet ; this we owe to Egypt. The alphabet was a result of Egyptian hieroglyphics. Cadmus is said to have brought into Greece sixteen letters of the alpha- bet 1519 years before Christ. Learning, like the alphabet, traveled from. Africa into Europe through the Phoenicians, another branch of the family of Ham. The progress made by certain African states in the sciences of civil government indicates the advanced condition of these states. Systems of government imply the existence of wise statesmen, and institutions of learning and civil polity. These are never found except in an advanced state of civilization. CARTHAGE BEFORE ITS FALL. Carthage was a republic and enjoyed perhaps the most perfect system of civil polity which has fallen to the lot of any nation before Great Britain. Her government was far in advance of any other ancient government save the Jewish. She took the lead in all which exalts human nature, and confers the highest blessings on so- ciety. Her provinces were opulent and enlight- ened, including nearly the whole of North and West Africa and the islands of the Mediterra- nean. She could boast of renowned sages and learned fathers of the church.* 'Negro problem solved. AFRICA OF THE ANCIENTS. 15 "Carthage became one of the greatest com- mercial cities in the world ; the number of the inhabitants before its destruction amounted to 700,000."* Rev. H. Read, speaking of the African races as being pioneers and the first cultivators of the arts and sciences, says : " We would therefore seem to hazard nothing in the conclusion that commerce and the arts, science and learning, civilization and human improvement in general, were first identified with and developed through a race that has now for long ages been associated only with degradation and barbarous ignorance." Dr. Smythe says : "We may, therefore, as phi- losophical inquirers seeking after truth, admit the full force of any facts which may encourage the belief that there was a time when the black race of men were the pioneers, or at least the equals of any other races in all the arts and ac- quirements of man's primitive civilization." Af- rica has indeed presented some noble specimens of manhood, men who were profound thinkers and acute reasoners, men who were advocates of truth and equity, men who were able writers and zealous defenders of the christian religion. A FEW GREAT MEN. Cyprian, who lived in the third century, was an African, born in Carthage. He became one *Chambers' Encyclopaedia. 1 6 AFRICA OF THE ANCIENTS. of the fathers of the church in Africa ; in conse- quence of his profound piety he was made bishop of the church. History tells us that he was both a learned and eloquent divine. His writings were very extensive. Athanasius was born in Alexandria. He distinguished himself when quite a youth, on account of persecutions. He became an exile in the Egyptian desert, where he wrote several works to confirm orthodox christians in their faith. From this time twenty years of his life were spent in exile, or what was equivalent to it. He was the leading ecclesiastic in the most trying period of the history of the early christian church. His ability, his judi- ciousness and wisdom, his fearlessness in the storms of opposition, his activity and patience, all mark him out as an ornament of the age as well as the most influential public character in matters of Keligion.* ST. AUGUSTINE was born in the year of 35i at Tagaste, a town in Numidia, North Africa. At sixteen he went to Carthage to complete his education. He was a man of rare learning and very industrious ; it was recorded that he was the author of two hun- dred and thirty separate treatises on theological subjects. In the year of 397 appeared his con- fession in thirteen books. It is a deep, earnest and sacred autobiography of one of the greatest ♦Chamber's Encyclopedia. AFRICA OF THE ANCIENTS. 17 intellects the world has seen. Passages of it have no parallel except in the psalms of David. His work is one of the most profound and lasting monuments of human genius. No mind has ex- erted greater influence on the church than that of St. Augustine.* ARNOBIUS, an African, became a christian in the third cen- tury. He wrote several books in which he de- fended the christian religion. Origen, Clement, and many others we have not the space in this little book to mention, were as able teachers and advocates of the christian religion, as are to be found in the history of any other nation. Not only has Africa been the fatherland and home of the scholar, the philosopher, statesman, architect and learned divines. It was in Africa our blessed Jesus sought refuge, and when on His way up the hill of Calvary He chose that an African should help Him bear His cross. From what we gather from the historian, Africa of the Ancients was not one whit behind any other country on the globe. ^Chambers' Encyclopaedia. AFRICA OF TO-DAY. Native Africans have shown themselves mas- ters in every station in life ; but the light which shone so beautifully many centuries ago in Af- rica, has long since given place to great dark- ness. What Africa has once been, religious training can make her again, and when the christian family does her duty to Africa, her sons will not be found wanting when called upon in the future to take part in the great events yet to transpire. Now, then, to the question. How Africa (in such an advanced state of civilization) lost her position, degenerated and became enveloped in darkness, we cannot tell. i 'Whether it lies in the early and utter destruction of the primitive church of North Africa by the Saracenic con- quests, completely exterminating the faith of Christ in those regions, or whether in the uni- versal and long-continued apostasy of the church of the middle ages," we cannot tell. But why has she continued thus (for four or five centuries) in darkness and the shadow of death, while other nations have been making such progress in literature, the arts, sciences and religion. Of AFRICA OF TO-DAY. 19 all the long and dark catalogue of crime in Africa, the land of my fathers, we have only- space to mention one gigantic evil, which we claim to be the cause of her condition for the past four or five centuries. THE CURSE OF SLAVEEY. Slavery will degrade any nation upon the face of God's earth. It can be shown that in all ages and climes slavery and oppression has resulted in ignorance, degradation, carnage and death. From the able work of the Rev. Hollis Read, who has given to the world a most interesting account of African history, I have collected the following : u Of all the nations that have cursed Africa, the Portuguese have been the direst curse. These people visited Africa during the early part of the fourteenth century, seized and made slaves of the natives. In the course of time they controlled the west coast of Africa. OTHEE CAUSES OF DEGEADATION. There is not a blacker page in history than that which records the atrocities of the Portuguese in Africa. One writer says the Portuguese were men of the basest behavior, cruel and corrupt above all men. Then Africa became a place of banishment for criminals convicted of various outrages ; a place where adventurers (who hated the restraint of the law) sought, freedom. The natives them- selves, in their lamentable condition, detested 20 AFRICA OF TO-DAY. the shameless atrocities of their visitors. Then came also the Dutch, introducing rum and other vices. Herds of pirates next infested the coast. They spread themselves over the whole coast, and there commenced and continued unheard of cruelties. Perfectly versed in all the vices of civilization, when not at sea, they committed the most remorseless depredations on shore. Following these came the Jesuits, who only perpetuated what the Portuguese had commenced. Their religion (says an officer who was on the coast) was a religion of money and blood ; it was without truth, without a Sabbath, and without mercy. It brought with it no truth-telling bible, no sacred rest. HOW SLAVES WERE CAPTURED. All of these classes had a hand in the slave trade. The cruelties of the capture are, in my opinion, what has broken the people up into so many clans and petty tribes. A trader contracts with some king for from one to five hundred slaves. He promises to assist the king in the capture. At night when all is quiet, this king, assisted by the trader and his men, surprises the inhabitants of some peaceful town or city. The work of plunder, murder and bloodshed is com- menced. Houses are at once set on fire. All the old men and women and young children are murdered, while the able-bodied young men and women are taken and made slaves. It is re- corded that on these occasions from 20,000 to 60,000 became victims to slaughter. Many would make their escape to the mountains and caves, where they were followed. If they could not be induced to come out, fires were built at the entrance, and they either suffocated or com- pelled to come out. One writer says : "I should think that in addition to the 7,000 or 8,000 taken captives, at least 15,000 were killed in defense or suffocation at the time of being taken. This has been carried on from age to age, district after district being broken up." 22 HOW SLAVES WERE CAPTURED. Speaking of the moral desolation of Africa by this trade, a writer says : "All moral virtue has been extinguished in the people, their industry annihilated by "this one ruinous curse. This trade, carried on for years, has destroyed all so- ciety, all confidence. Large cities having been burnt and districts broken up, the people live in clans in different parts of the country, each man suspicious of his neighbor. It has no doubt been the principal cause of war for hundreds of years." Governor Ashman speaks of large sections of country once fertile and under a high state of cultivation, but since completely depopulated aud reduced to a desert by the slave trade. For hundreds of years Africa has been brought in contact with the most outrageous and cruel class of men on the face of the earth. Can you wonder at the condition of Africa after having such tutors and such training? The question should not be, Why has Africa remained in this condition, but the wonder should be that there is a single redeeming feature left; that its people are not totally corrupt and sunk into the depths of human corruption. Deep, deep, indeed, has Africa's sons drank the dregs of human bitter- ness. Perhaps no nation has been compelled to pass through such a school, -under such tutors, as the people of Afiica. A LABOR OF LOVE. Knowing something of the sufferings of ray fatherland, I had an intense desire to go to Afri- ca. This was soon after my conversion in 1857. I felt anxious to go and preach the gospel. Be- ing a slave, no door was opened for me to pre- pare myself for this great work. For many years, therefore, it was my secret desire to go to Africa and preach the gospel to my own, long- benighted people. Long before I entered the ministry I often thought of it. After I was ordained in Olivet Baptist church, Chicago, 111., April 15th, 1869, I was called to take charge of a church in Denver, Colorado, where I remained for three years. The desire to go to Africa never left me. I resigned and re- turned to Chicago with the intention of prepar- ing myself for the African mission work. Friends persuaded me not to go. Even my beloved fath- er in the gospel, Rev. R. DeBaptiste, persuaded me to remain in the State of Illiuois, which I did for four years and five months. Having served over 28 years as a slave in Vir- ginia, deprived of the advantages of an educa- tion, friends in England sent for me to come to that country to pursue a course of study before 24 A LABOR OF LOVE. going to Africa. Mr. and Mrs. E. S. Smith had interceded for me after their return home to England. After a two years' course at Rev. C. H. Spur- geon's College in London, I was sent out by the Baptist Missionary Society of Great Britain as a missionary to Africa. November 6th, 1878, Rev. C. H. Richardson and his wife, my wife and myself bade farewell to the dear, kind friends in London. We arrived in Manchester in the afternoon, spent the night with our friends, Mr. - E. S. Smith's family, who were the means of our being in England. On Saturday afternoon, Nov. 9th, at 3:30, we sailed from Liverpool on the S. 8. Kinsemho. LIFE IN AFRICA. November 16th we came in sight of the island of Poto Santo. On awaking from sleep the next morning we found ourselves anchored at Fun- chal, the capitol of the island of Maderia, a beau- tiful little town with a population of about 30,- 000. After stopping at Grand Canaria and Ten- eriffe, on the evening of Nov. 22d we came in sight of Cape Yerde on the west coast of Africa, where there is a large French colony. As soon as I caught sight of the peak, nearly 30 miles off, I went into my stateroom for my telescope. For years my prayer had been that I might see Afri- ca, the land of my fathers, and now my prayer was answered. "Delight thyself also in the Lord ; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord ; trust also in Him ; and He shall bring it to pass." — Psalms, 37, 45- I can never describe my feelings of joy. I could not leave my stateroom without falling upon my knees and thanking my Heavenly Father for permitting me to see the land of poor, suffer- ing Africa. I was so delighted that I was near the coast of Africa, the land for which I had prayed and of which I had dreamed, I could 26 LIFE IN AFRICA. sleep but a few hours. On the morning of the 23d I was up at 4 o'clock to get another look at the land of my fathers. Soon I was informed that we had entered THE MOUTH OF THE GAMBIA KIVER. As we proceeded up the river I heard that a pilot was expected to meet us. Having been 14 days on the steamer, we were all anxious once more to get on land. Soon we saw a small boat. "There's the pilot, there's the pilot," cried out first one and then another. The little boat was quickly by the side of the steamer. The pilot came on board. He was a native. As scon as I could I had an interview with him. I found him to be a christian and quite an intelligent man. His name was Wm. Halfner. ON DRY LAND. Soon we found ourselves anchored at the beau- tiful little town of Bathurst on the Gambia river. This settlement was. formed for the suppression of the slave trade and the encouragement of legi- timate commerce. It is about 10 miles from the mouth of the river. It contains quite a number of fine dwelling-houses. Here we put our feet on African soil for the first time. The chief stores of European merchants front the river. I was quite surprised to find such fine stone buildings, a fine Government house and barracks and hospital on a line fronting the river. LIFE IN AFRICA. 27 Mr. Walcott, a colored lawyer, who had been educated in England, invited us to his house, as also did Mr. Brown, American Consul. We had quite a nice time going around the town, meeting with different native gentlemen holding office under the English Government. The Harbor Master, Postmaster, City Clerk, Queen's Consul and the Custom House officers were all native black men. Here we met native merchants, ship builders, men in almost every capacity of business, educated either in England or Sierra Leone. There were also two fine churches and a thriv- day school, which made my heart glad. Here we had the first opportunity of seeing the tall Man dingoes, Joloffs and natives of other tribes in their native dress. In the back part of the town we saw many native huts formed of bamboo, thatched with long grass. The Gambia river is a magnificent stream, and is said to be navigable for vessels to a distance of nearly 400 miles. What is better still, here the messengers of life have met with great suc- cess in proclaiming the everlasting gospel. On the morning of Nov. 27th" we entered the harbor of Free Town. LIFE IN SIERRA LEONE. The first British settlement formed on the west coast of Africa for the suppression of the slave trade and the encouragement of legiti- mate commerce was Sierra Leone. Free- town is the capital, and is indeed a beautiful place. It is situated on the south side of the river. The first view we got of this beautiful town was perfectly grand. The land in the neighborhood inclines gradually upwards into hills, covered everywhere with vegetation, pre- senting a most picturesque scene. Many of the buildings are of a very substantial character. Almost every house has its nice large yard and garden, in which the banana, orange, cocoa- nut, pineapple and many other kinds of delicious fruit grow. High up on the hill in the rear of the town are to be seen the Government house, barracks, hospital, the signal station and a fine church. At ten o'clock we went ashore. The first place we visited was the market-house. This was quite a large building, taking up over half a block. Fruits, vegetables and different articles were displayed for sale. There were also stalls filled with tinware, hardware, etc. LIFE IN SIERRA LEONE. 29 Many of the natives speak the English lan- guage well. I was delighted to meet with some who talked to me about our blessed Jesus. Close by the market-house stands the Episco- pal church, a fine building. A WEDDING IN AFRICA, A large gathering of people stood around the gates of the Episcopal church and were kept back by the police. We had been informed that a grand wedding would take place in this church at 11 o'clock. The daughter of a Free Town merchant was to be married to a merchant from Switzerland. We went to the gate and were at once admitted. A large company had assem- bled, among whom could be seen all colors, from black to white. Nearly all of them were fashionably dressed. Soon the bride and groom made their appear- ance, with their relatives and many friends. Mr. Broadhurst, the bride's father, is a wealthy mer- chant, and very popular among all classes in Free Town. On this occasion all the principal business houses in the town were closed. After the marriage we took a walk along the street leading from the church to the residence of the bride. Along the entire way flags were hanging out of almost every window. In many places ropes were stretched across the street with flags and mottoes. We were invited by the bride's father to his house. The bride had many valu- 30 LIFE IN SIERRA LEONE. able presents. A handsome silver set was sent to her from England. The most pleasing feature in Free Town, and from what I hear in the colony also, is the great progress made by the messengers of peace. Nothing has or can civilize and elevate like the word of God. Christian schools have long since been established, and for years have made most wonderful progress. There is hardly a trading post on the west coast that has not some business man, clerk or native missionary educated at Sierra Leone. High schools have been established for the training of native teachers and preachers. The advancement of the people is indeed astonishing. There, too, are native merchants doing a large business with some of the wealthiest firms in London. LIBERIA. Our next stopping-place was Grand Bassa. We had to anchor three miles out, so we could not see much of the town. I was much disap- pointed that we did not stop at Monrovia, but on my return to England I had the opportunity to' do so. The scenery along the coast of Liberia from Grand Cape Mount to the Gulf of Guinea, a distance of about 600 miles, is indeed grand. A few miles from the coast the country rises to hills, with gigantic trees, presenting a panorama that can only be described by a skillful artist. Monrovia is the capitol of the Republic. It rests on a beautiful hill overlooking the sea, sur- rounded by trees. There are many very fine buildings in the city, which are creditable to the Monro vian people. The President's house is built of brick, as are also many others of the buildings. Many are built of stone. The wharves . face the sea, where there are colored firms doing a large business with England, Scotland, Ger- many and America. While in Monrovia for a short time I ■ called, in company with Hon. John H. ., Smith, IT. S. Consul, to see Mr. Sherman, who does a large business, both with England and America. Af- 32 LIBERIA. ter my return to England I wrote to Mr. Sher- man for information regarding the articles of trade. This is the answer : "The articles of trade are palm oil, palm kernels, coffee, ivory, camwood, ginger and rubber. Many of our merchants do a business of $100,000 to $150,000 a year. One of Messrs. Gates & Porterfield's vessels left here for New York on the 7th inst., (April 7th, 1880) with a cargo of $50,000 worth, collected within two months. In this cargo were 118,000 pounds of coffee. The soil of Liberia is extremely fertile, and will produce all kinds of tropical fruits and pro- duce, sugar-cane, indigo, Indian corn, rice, cot- ton, cocoa, peanuts and coffee, the finest in the world. Vegetables are cultivated with great success. There are to be found the finest dye- woods, the ebony, the gum plant and the gigantic palm trees which produce the palm oil. On my way to England from Africa 1,500 casks were shipped on the same steamer to Liverpool, a good share of it being shipped from the coast of Liberia. Goats, swine, sheep, cattle and fowls all thrive in Liberia. This republic has a glorious work to accom- plish in the future. She will undoubtedly be in time the most prosperous State on the west coast of Africa. With the civil, social and re- ligious advantages she enjoys, she must succeed. The annexation of the kingdom of Medina, with LIBERIA. 33 FIVE HTTNDKED THOUSAND INHABITANTS, and her wide and fertile domains extending over two hundred miles into the interior, will no doubt inspire renewed energy in giving fuller opportunities for the advancement of the gospel, as well as an open door for civilization and com- merce. Above all, thank God! the truth is having "free course," and being "glorified" in the re- public. Much zeal and perseverance have been displayed throughout the republic. Fine church- es, school buildings and a nice college, are to be seen in Monrovia. Oh! see how many doors are being opened in Africa for Christian workers, who will go and tell the lost about our blessed Jesus ! November 30, at 6 o'clock in the morning, we arrived at Nifou on the coast of Liberia. I counted forty-nine canoes with two or three men in each, going out fishing. At twenty-five minutes to ten we stopped at Grand Cess, Li- beria. Here fifteen canoes came out, with from three to twenty men in each, some with cloth around their waists, others with nothing on. I saw one man with a string around his waist and a large straw hat on. These are the Kroo tribe, the Aborigines of a part of Liberia. They are a fine-looking peo- ple and very industrious. But for this class of people, I do not know what the European trad- 34 LIBERIA. ers or the African Steamship Companies would do. All the steamers reaching Sierra Leone and the .coast of Liberia take on board a gang of "Kroo-men" to do the work of the ship in the hot climate. One hundred and thirty were taken on board to go down the coast to work. Many of them speak the broken English well. It is quite a sight to see these people coming out to meet the steamer in their canoes. They are very light, carved out of one piece of wood, formed like a cigar. They are propelled by several of the men sitting down upon their heels in the bottom of the boat. Their yells as they approach the steamer are frightful when they come on board to work. Each man selects a name to suit himself, "Salt Water," "Coffee," "Shilling," "Glass Bottles," "Pea Soup," "Bottle of Beer," and the like, are common names among them. " Coffee " seems to be the most favorite. I wish I could say more about Liberia and its surroundings, but my space is limited. WESTERN COAST TOWNS. The more important towns on the west coast are Elmina, quite an important town of 18,000 to 20,000 inhabitants, also Cape Coast Castle, which is a beautiful place with its ports, light house, signal station and large castle. Around on the heights are to be seen beautiful houses of the wealthy natives and Europeans. Accra is another beautiful and important place. These are all on the gold coast. LAGOS is said to be the most populous town on the west coast. It has wide streets, nice stores and many fine dwellings. They have their markets, sol- diers, police force, churches, schools, court house, custom house, Government house and barracks. The population is estimated to be about 50,000. BONNY, one of our stopping places, was in past years a favorite rendezvous for slave ships. It has only been about 12 or 15 years since they were all cannibals. It is said that even now in some parts near Bonny the barbarous custom of bu- rying twins immediately after their birth, pre- 36 WESTERN COAST TOWNS. vails. It is so unhealthy at this place that Eu- ropean merchants live in hulks out on the river. Archdeacon Crowther, a native, who has charge of the mission work, invited me to dine with" him,* Princess Florance Siscelia Peble Pep- per being present. Here I had the great pleas- ure of DINING WITH AN AFRICAN PRINCESS. She and her brother, King George, were both educated in England. Mr. Crowther took me to the school, where I was delighted to hear the children repeat passages of scripture, give their opinions about them, tell who wrote them, then go through history, arithmetic and geography, all of which they were well acquainted with. I took a walk around among the native huts. I saw several huts having skulls hung up in them. I was told, by Mr. Crowther, that these were the skulls of captives taken in battle, that these people, years ago were cannibals, and had eaten the flesh of their enemies to make them brave. Thank God, through the influence of mission work and the spread of the gospel among these people, this custom has passed away, and the people are ashamed to be told that they once ate the flesh of their fellow-men. Not only has the preaching of the gospel done great good in Bonny, but far into the interior they arc giving up their idols, and bowiDg to the " one true God." *At some of these places we stop three or four days. WESTERN COAST TOWNS. 37 ASHANTEE AND DAHOMEY. In traveling on the west coast of Africa you often hear of Ashantee and Dahomey, two very powerful kingdoms. The Ashantees are said to be the most numerous, warlike and powerful. This kingdom lies inland from the English set- tlements, between the rivers Assini and Volta, and has been estimated to have a population of four million people, and are noted for their skill in manufacturing cotton, earthenware and swords. GOLD IS POUND IN GREAT ABUNDANCE in this country. Information given by Bowdich, Dupuis and others, show how these gentlemen were struck with the display of gold years ago. They found the attendants of the King laden with with ornaments of gold. The common ar- ticles for daily use were made of gold. But, oh ! how repulsive to read of the barbarous customs of OFFERING HUMAN SACRIFICES. These gentlemen saw at the King's palace the royal executioner, with his hatchet on his breast and the fatal blood-stained stool before him, ready, at the sound of the death drum, to do his fearful work. They heard that the King had re- cently murdered, over his mother's grave, three hundred victims. On the death of a royal per- son many hundred people are massacred. In late years, through the influence of missionaries and the authorities at Cape-Coast Castle, there 38 WESTERN COAST TOWNS. has not been so much of this wholesale slaughter- ing of human lives, yet many are often murdered. DAHOMEY is another powerful kingdom in West Africa, separated from Ashantee by the river Yolta. The wholesale murder in years past, was one of the chief features in their religious and state cer- emonies. Abomey, the capitol of Dahomey, has been for many years the human slaughter- house, where the King, chiefs and people have found their greatest pleasure and excitement in sacrificing as many (it has been estimated) as 2000 human victims at one grand custom. These people not only murder a large number of peo- ple on the death of a great man, but believe that in the other world a King is still a King, a slave is still a slave ; hence they kill anuually so many slaves to send to the departed King. Also, whenever the King wants to send a message to his deceased relatives he delivers it to one of his slaves, whose head is instantly cut off, that he may carry the message to the other world, that the deceased may know that they are not forgotten. A few years ago when the King of Dahomey died, 280 of his wives were murdered. Thank God, through the influence of Chris- tian civilization, this is not so bad now as in past years. The King's palace at Abomey is said to be surrounded by a clay wall twenty feet high, the top of which is covered with human skulls. AT OUR DESTINATION. After stopping a short time at the island of Fernando Po, where we were entertained by the wife of the British Consul, we arrived at Victoria, Carneroons, on the afternoon of Saturday, De- cember 14, 1878. This was our destination. Victoria is a beautiful little town of 500 inhabi- tants fronting Ambas Bay, with a commanding view of both bay and sea. On the north, south and east are high hills. In the distance can be seen the Carneroons Mountains, 13,000 feet above the level of the sea. The town is beauti- fully laid out with broad streets. Each house has a large yard and garden, in many of which are to be seen the palm, lime, cocoanut, bread- fruit, custard-fruit, orange, banana and plantain trees. The cottages are neat and clean, built after the style of European cottages. These are occupied by the English-speaking people who are native Christians, and many of them have, for long years, been earnest workers for our blessed Jesus. The next day after our arrival being Sabbath, Kev. E.W.Thomson, missionary in charge, invited me to take the morning service. A few min- utes to 7 o'clock the bell rang, we were soon 40 AT OUR DESTINATION. at the church, a fine stone building capable of seating 350 to 400 people. In a short time quite a number of well-dressed, intelligent-looking people had assembled. I gave out a hymn and they sang as well as many congregations I have preached to in America and England. When I commenced to read, nearly all of them opened their bibles to follow me in the lesson. Here I had the opportunity for the first time in my life, to speak for my blessed Jesus in Africa, the land of my fathers. I took for my text : " Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts, 16: 31. I cannot remember of preaching to a more attentive audience. At 10 o'clock we all went to the Sabbath school. Rev. C. H. Richardson and myself were invited to take classes ; my class was of young men. All of them COULD BEAD THE BIBLE. At the close of the school I requested the chil- dren to sing "Come to the Savior." They sang it beautifully. The school was well attended and perfect order was observed during the ser- vices. For years Victoria has been a city of refuge. The late Rev. Alfred Saker, who labored in Af- rica about 30 years, established this station in the year 1858. He purchased from the natives (for the Baptist Missionary Society of Great Britain) a tract of land extending ten miles along AT OUR DESTINATION. 41 the coast and five miles inland. Yictoria is about the center. Here no natives are allowed to hold slaves or sell their daughters for wives, as is the custom. Here no one is allowed to be punished for witchcraft, etc. Each man is al- lowed to have as many wives as he is able to purchase among the natives. On my return to the coast from the interior I stopped with a chief who had forty wives. At Yictoria no man is allowed to have more than one wife. It often happens among the na- tives that when a child dies one wife will accuse another of having witched it. The woman is at once arrested and made to drink the juice of a wood called cass wood, which often kills them at once. Men also are often accused of witch- craft and are compelled to drink this juice. If they die they are guilty. If they recover (as some do who have strong constitutions) they are made to pay. If these people who are con- demned can make their escape to Victoria they are safe. The missionaries and christians have for years rescued many of these people who were on the very eve of being put to death. In one month I think that Rev. Q. "W. Thomson rescued eight from the hands of these people, who had been condemned to death. To-day there are over 400 of these refugees in Yictoria, where they are brought under the influence of the gospel and their children taught in the day school. Many of them have become christians. 42 AT OUR DESTINATION. For years there has been another repulsive custom. "When a mother dies and there are no relatives to take the infants or young children, they are PUT INTO THE GRAVE WITH THEIR MOTHER. I am sorry I cannot now remember how many children Mrs. Alfred Saker (who was a mother among the Cameroas people for years) rescued and brought up in her own house. Many of them lived to be men and women. Some be- came teachers, and two or three are now in act- ive service for the Master. Had it not been for the messengers of peace who went with undaunt- ed courage and unceasing faith, these men and women condemned for witchcraft would have been lost. Dear friend, you who now read these pages, you who were born in this christian land where you have the gospel, my prayer is that if you cannot go to Africa to preach the gospel or teach the people, you will at once resolve to do all you can to send others to teach and preach. While we are in this christian land enjoying gos- pel privileges, millions are slaves to superstition and witchcraft in Africa, perishing for want of the word of life. "Shall we whose souls are lighted By wisdom from on high, Shall we to men benighted, The light of life deny? God forbid. Give a thought to Africa." THE INTERIOR. We had not been in Victoria three days before I was taken with the fever. January 20th Rev. C. H. Richardson and Rev. Q. W. Thomas left for the interior, to select a new station ; I being ill, could not go. On the 4th of February Mr. Thomas returned. Mr. Richardson having suf- fered with fever had been left at Bakundu, 80 miles in the interior, with two native Christians. Bakundu had been selected as f the new mission station, hence he would remain there until joined by his wife, Mrs. Johnson and myself. The only roads through this country are narrow foot paths from town to town, sometimes in the tracks of the elephant. All provisions or luggage must be carried on men's heads. The account we had of the route was anything but favorable to Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Richardson, — high hills to climb, large streams to cross. Although we knew that the traders along the river objected to interior mission work, we concluded we would go by water on account of the ladies. Mr. Greenfell, a merchant, volunteered to go with us. On Thursday, the 6th of February, before day in the morning (after a sweet season of prayer 44 THE INTERIOR. with Rev. Mr. Thomson and the native brethren) we left Victoria in an open row-boat propelled by four Kroo men, followed by a large canoe with our provisions and eight men. At night we came to Mungo Creek. Here our interpreter and guide lost his way. We had intended to get by Mungo and Mbungo, the two principal towns, in the night. We passed Mungo, but at daybreak we found ourselves between the two towns. About 8 o'clock we got under the bank of the river, took out our things and pre- pared breakfast under the palm trees. About one o'clock we found we had been dis- covered by the natives, and we accordingly left in the afternoon. As we passed Mbungo there were a few people at the beach, to whom we spoke, and passed unmolested. On Friday night a man passed us in a canoe, and commenced to beat his drum as he went on up the river. These people can TALK ,TO EACH OTHER ON THEIR DRUMS almost as well as we send a message in this country by telegraph. They have schools to teach their children this art. On this occasion this man said on his drum, " White man come to take our country." The natives with me (12 in number) did not tell me of this until the next day. Saturday morning at nine o'clock several canoes passed us, as we were taking our breakfast on the river, with from 15 to 20 men THE INTERIOR. 45 in each. Seeing they were well armed with guns and cutlasses, I began to feel suspicious. Soon we were off. About ten o'clock we came up to them. They had all stopped on the beach, put on their war caps and stood in line along the river. "We were ordered to come ashore. We told them we would not ; if they had anything to say come out in their canoes. They tried to make us leave our boat and go on the beach, but we re- solved to stay in our boat. I do not know of any hour in my life when I realized the promise of my blessed Jesus more than in this hour, "Lo, I am with you alway." I said to my wife and her sister, Mrs. Richardson, we leaned upon the Lord. At one time we were surrounded by nearly a hundred men armed with their cutlasses, ready to cut into us as soon as the young Prince would give command. We soon found that it was im- possible for us to proceed. Hence WE HAD TO RETURN" AS PRISONERS to Mungo. We were in six hours of Bakundu beach. Late in the night we arrived at Mungo. Here they wanted us to leave our boat and go into the town and see the King. We knew how superstitious they were about our English boat, so we resolved if we had to die, to die in this boat. There were many of the traders at Mungo who 46 THE INTERIOR. could talk English, and who knew how the Eng- lish protected the missionaries. Mr. Greenfel, who had been several years in Africa and knew something of the people, threatened them with English authority. After the king and his men held a consultation, he said to me : "You must pay for passing through my country." To this we agreed. I gave him a large overcoat, a bag of rice, a box of sugar, a blanket and a barrel of crackers. While he was admiring the coat (which he had put on) we shoved off. We arrived in Victoria on Sunday afternoon, having been three nights and four days on the water in this open row-boat. In one week from our return to Yictoria we commenced our jour- ney overland. Mrs. Richardson and Mrs. John- son were carried in hammocks when they did not prefer to walk. Our provisions and luggage were carried on men's heads. I have already mentioned that the best roads in this part of Africa are mere foot-paths through the forest, from town to town, on which the na- tives walk single file a few yards from each oth- er, each man with his load on his head and his cutlass in his hand, or at his side, to defend him- self against any beast or serpent that may be in the path. This was the way we started out 01 Yictoria when we commenced our long journey of 80 miles through the wilderness. As we ad- vanced into the interior we found the people THE INTERIOR. 47 along the route in a condition we had least ex- pected to see. They had their fixed dwellings, many of them built neatly of bamboo, well thatched with mats made from the palm fronds. They had their GARDENS AND FARMS, THEIR LAWS AND CUSTOMS, so that wherever we stopped at night we and our goods were safe. There are some eight or ten towns between Yictoria and Bakundu. We left Victoria on Monday morning. On the following Saturday afternoon we arrived at Bakundu, where we found Mr. Richardson well. We had a compa- ny of 30 men with us when we arrived. It cre- ated much excitement. The first thing I was most struck with was the joy of the old king. For years he had desired to have a missionary in his town to teach the people, as he had heard the natives were taught on the coast. Not only the king, but his sons and all his head men seemed delighted at our arrival. On Sunday we held a meeting in an old, unoccupied house. We found the people to be slaves to superstition and witchcraft, but not so bad as the other tribes around them. The custom of giving cass wood juice prevailed here as among the Bakwilli people, of whom I have made mention. The first case we heard of was a young man in the town who was accused of witching his sister's child. He was made 48 THE INTERIOR. very ill from the effects of the juice, but finally recovered. As soon as we heard of it, Mr. Rich- ardson, who was always fearless and ready on all occasions to admonish the people, went at once to the king and told him how wrong it was to allow such a practice. The king promised to put a stop to it. He kept his word. During the nine months I was in the interior I did not hear of another such case. When we first arrived at Bakundu we could hardly sleep at night, for the yells of the people in their dance and the beating of their drums. This was kept up day and night. They knew nothing of the Sabbath. Hence they continued their drum beating Sundays as on other days. Mr. Richardson went to the king to have a law passed that no work or drum beating or dancing should be done on the Sabbath. The old man at once agreed to do so. The people then want- ed to know how they could tell when Sunday came. Mr. Richardson had a trumpet which he would (walk up and down the street every Fri- day night) blow, telling the people that the next day was Saturday, that they must bring enough provisions from their farms to last over Sunday. THEY HAD G-RBAT FAITH IN WHAT THE BIBLE SAID. On one occasion while Mr. Richardson was away with men at Victoria, the women came to me to get me to ask the Bible if their husbands were safe. A DYING KING. Soon after our arrived in Bakundu we all com- menced to pray that God would convert the King. Soon the old man was taken sick ; he sent for us ; we attended him ; gave him medicine which seemed to do him good ; but we soon found that he could not recover. I think he must have been about 90 years old. One day he sent for me and I found him very ill. He had a wooden bowl sitting by his bed in which was a liquid thick and black : this he was taking once in a while as 1 talked with him. I asked him what it was. He said : ' 'Witch make me sick, tell me not to take white man's medicine, and I take this medicine, get my stomach full, old witch come in my mouth, go in my stomach, he get blind and come out." I tried to persuade him to be- lieve that all power was in the hands of God, that by believing and trusting Him all these fears would leave him. He had always listened attentively to what we had to tell him about the great plan of salvation. We continued to visit him, and day after day he would send for medicine. One Sabbath after- noon my wife and I both lay ill in bed. Mr. and 50 A DYING KING. Mrs. Eichardson went into the town to hold service ; our house was outside of the gate of the town. He found the king was very ill. The ex- citement was such that he could not hold the meeting, so he returned home. We were soon sent for. I was hardly able to get out of bed, but we were soon in his presence. The house was full of men. Women were not allowed to see him, not even his wives. One man sat at his back to hold him up, and two men on each side, three of them his sons. Ats soon as we entered the room they gave us stools to sit on. The old man was very weak, and looking as if he would soon pass from time into eternity, looked first at Mr. Richardson and then at me. His youngest son "Ngatee," about ten years old, was called to his side. He took one hand of the lad's and put it into Mr. Richardson's hand, the other into mine and said, "I give this boy to you. Take him and bring him up as your own child ; dress him like white man ; teach him to talk English and to read and write ; His brothers will get a wife for him." He re- quested that we should also take the girl whom they selected and keep her in the family and ed- ucate her. He then said, "Don't fear; I'm going now. THE TOWN BELONGS TO ME, AND I NOW GIVE IT TO YOU. My son Etau will succeed me. Take care of him ; be a father to him and the people." This son Etau was about 30 years old. He then requested A DYING KING. 51 Mr. Richardson to take the names of all the boys in the royal family and head men, and com- mence school at once. Some 60 names were taken the next day. Mr. Richardson then told again the story ,of God's great love, that if he would believe and trust iu the word of God we would meet him in heaven. At this there came a groan and nodding of the heads of the suns and several present, as if to say yes, or amen ! I then said "Ta Ta Nambulee," (for that was what he was called) "you say you are going now, are you pre- pared to meet God ?" "Ah ! " said the old man, "I have been ill these ten days, and he has taken care of me; I can still trust him." We then wanted to pray with him, but his sons requested that we should let him rest as he was so weak. We left our interpreter to hear what he could after we had gone. After we had gone he said to his son who was to succeed him, " Etau, whatever these men tell you, believe it, I have found them to be true men. I have seen God. See all those people there, (pointing to the wall of his mud house) they have come after me ; they are a rejoicing people." Oh how we all rejoiced to hear this, so often we had prayed for the conversion of this man. One evening we sent our cook up to tell his expe- rience to the old man, and also to pray with him. He was a native convert. The old man enjoyed it very much, and said : "Tell white man (they 52 A DYING KING. all called us white) to pray to God and ask Him, if it is His will, please spare me a little longer. If not, please prepare me to meet Him." For years tins old man had heard of the work of the missionaries on the coast, 80 miles away. A year before we settled at Bakundu, Kev. Q. "W*. Thomson had visited him and promised to send a missionary to labor among his people. After we had settled among them he was anx- ious to see how we would succeed. He sent for the women, who do nearly all the work on the farms, and charged them not to work on the Sab- bath, as it was God's day ; that they must attend divine service on that day. He was taken to his farm, where he died in two or three days. We arrived in Bakundu Feb. 2Sd, 1879. The king died in the latter part of June. Here was a hea- then who had only met the missionaries twice as they passed through his town. Then after hear- ing us about four months, he dies, as I really be- lieve, a convert to Christianity. And yet there are thousands in this christian land who never give this all-important matter a prayerful con- sideration. Oh what gratitude we ought to feel that we have been favored with the gospel. I believe there are to-day in west Africa thou- sands like Ta Ta Nambulee who have beard through traders and travelers something about the great mission work and the one true God, who are anxious to hear more, who are not sat- A DYING KING. 53 isfied in their condition, who want to know, but have no way to know, their souls craving some- thing to rest upon, something stronger, better and firmer than idols of wood and stone. In this condition they toil on from year to year like the beas in the cage, ever walking up and down, trying to escape, but never able to succeed. How can they hear without a preacher ? Come o'er and help us, is their cry, Come now, oh do not pass us by. We are seeking truth, we are seeking light, We seek deliverance from dark night. Can you who have the gospel fail To hear our cry, our doleful wail? 1 believe God is now preparing the hearts of the people to receive the truth. Let us send it to them. The attention the people gave to the preached word Sabbath after Sabbath was very encourag- ing. The men and boys always attend in the morning, the women in the afternoon. One Sab- bath afternoon it was found that some of the wo- men had gone to their farms to work. The young king at once left the meeting, called a meeting of his brothers and the head men, passed a law that "if any man or woman worked on the Sabbath they should pay a cow. If they had no cow their house should be pulled down over their heads." In Bakundu, as in all the towns along the route, 54 . A DYING KING. THE CHILDREN ARE ALL NAKED. Men and women have a cloth around their waists. The men generally dress more than the women. As soon as they became more acquaint- ed with us they wanted us to give them clothing. Tobacco and cloth is the only currency used in the interior. Some of the people on the Mungo river raise corn and sweet potatoes. The staple food of the country is plantain. This you can stew, bake, fry or roast. It is a very good substitute for bread. The yam and cocoa are plentiful, the latter very much like potatoes when cooked. These they raise on their farms. They have fowls, goats, sheep and cattle all through the country. The sheep have hair like goats. The Bakundu people are not a savage people, or not as cruel as their neighbors and other tribes. You never hear of any murdering among them as you do among other tribes. They are very kind-hearted, and in every way differ much from" the surrounding and coast tribes. Many of the west African tribes are continually at war. You hear of their DRINKING THE BLOOD AND EATING THE HEARTS of their enemies ; of walls covered with human skulls; of a pavement made of human skulls, to walk on ; of human sacrifice. To this we have already referred. Truly, "The dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty." A DYING KING. 55 Some tribes pay homage to lakes, rivers and mountains, believing that their gods live there. In some places large houses are kept for ser- pents. To these miserable reptiles they pay homage. At Dix Cove, on the west coast, it is said they have a crocodile which they worship. At Duketown, on the old Calabar river, in 1859 human flesh was sold at market as we sell beef in our markets here at home. I saw nothing of this at Bakundu. These people have queer superstitions, and one must be among them to realize what slaves they are to them. When it rains they beat their drums to make it stop. There is a bird which makes a noise at night something like an owl. This is called a witch bird. When it is heard the children are afraid to go out, and guns are fired to frighten it away. In passing their farms you often see a stick stuck into the ground, split at the top, with a piece of cloth or wood put crosswise in it. I was told that this was to keep off thieves. One night a man came to me to get medicine for his child, and soon after he left the house he cried out in the most piti- ful manner, " Witch come to take my child." During the rainy season food generally be- comes scarce, the elephants destroy the plantain farms, and the continual heavy rains keep them from hunting. One day I heard the natives shouting and singing near our house while it 56 A DYING KING. was raining very hard. I looked out and saw a crowd of men at the gate putting up palm branches over the gate, and burying something under the gateway. I was told that the palm branches were to keep away famine, and that what was buried was to draw game near the town. It was indeed remarkable to see the earnestness and the excitement of these people while they were going through this performance. After seing us light a match, the news was soon spread through the country that we could carry fire in our pockets, and take it out and make it burn when we wanted to. One day r some ten or twelve men and boys came to see us light a match. When I took the box out of my pocket, they ran as though I had taken out a pistol to shoot them. " That's it, that's it," cried the knowing ones, and their consternation seemed to have no bounds. These people have their Ju Ju Houses or Fetish Temples like the rest of the tribes ; there are three in Bakundu. Here they have their secret meetings. What they do, and how, I could never find out, but this I do know, that the preaching of the gospel and the untiring zeal of Mr. Richardson, fighting against error, has been the means of many of the young men losing faith in Ju Ju. Before I left Bakundu, Mr. Richardson had commenced to hold divine services in the Ju Ju Temples. A DYING KING. 57 THEY BELIEVE IN A SUPEEME BEING. They believe that there is a great being who has great power, but make no connection be- tween Him and themselves, neither expect any- thing from Him; neither do they attribute to Him any qualities, good or bad. Their gods were many. The name of their general pro- fession is "Ekodde;" when they are performing some custom they will tell you they are "doing Ekodde." Certain medicines have certain names, and certain powers attributed to them. They will take a certain medicine and use it, then ask the Ekodde God, or power governing that medicine, to give it power. They have a wooden man in their Ju Ju temple called "Mos- ango," upon which they take oath, believing that any person who puts his hand on the head of this image, who has told a lie or done wrong, will be exposed. I was told by a native Christian that men often hold out until they get to the Ju Ju house, but so great is their fear of "Mosango" that they will confess before putting their hand on his head. They used to think that after death they would roam about in some unseen form, often troubling those who possessed the property they left behind. Eev. Mr. Wilson, a native missionary, told me that the lives of many of the Bakwille peo- ple were miserable all the time, nothing but one 58 A DYING KING. continual dread of the witch, what he can and may do at any time. I believe it to be the same to a great extent among the Bakundu people. But, thank God, the everlasting gospel is gradually making a great change in the people, even in this short time. I was greatly impressed with the great ANXIETY OF THE PEOPLE TO BE TAUGHT. One of their chief desires seemed to be, while I was there, to see their children taught how to read and write and to talk the English language. Mr. Richardson had not commenced the school more than two days before he had over a hun- dred boys. The men, among them and the young king, wanted me to teach them while Mr. Rich- ardson taught the children. I was much moved one Sabbath morning while Mr. Richardson was telling about the love of our blessed Jesus, a man asked if their children could tell them the same story out of the Bible, when he had taught them to read and talk English. "They love to hear the old, old story Of Jesus and His love." One Sabbath evening after service some 15 or 20 came to our house to be more fully informed about the plan of salvation, and this, too, with out having been invited to come. It is remark able to see how fast the children learn. But it A DYING KING. 59 will take many years to get them out of their superstitions. WHAT THEY EAT. In reference to their food we may say they eat everything, from a snake to an elephant. Dogs are quite a delicacy among them. One of the king's sons brought in a serpent one day. I think it must have been 16 feet long. They had quite a feast over it. Monkey is another favor- ite meat. They are great hunters ; sometimes they have wonderful tales to tell about the mon- keys and baboons. The Bakundu people are very clever. They make their own fishing and hunting nets, and baskets and beautiful bags out of grass. I have a few with me. We had not been in Bakundu long before we found they were anxious to have clothes, especially shirts. We would buy meat of them with shirts. Soon quite a number of them, especially the head men, had shirts. One Sabbath morning, just before service, a man came in with his shirt folded under his arm. Just as service was about to begin, he put it on. It was, indeed, extraordinary to me to see the attention these people gave when telling them the good news. A woman came to Mr. Rich- ardson one day, and said : " I have never stopped praying since you first told us what the Bible said." This was several months after his talk with her. IN MEMORIAM. About the first of March, 1879, my dear, faithful, good, loving, christian wife (after nurs- ing me until I got better,) was taken down with the fever. We hardly thought she would live ; but she got better. From that time until her death, she was never well. About six weeks before her death, she became so much better that we all thought she would soon be well ; but she insisted that she would noo live long. During the months of May and June, we were building our new house. I would often say how much better we would be in the new house, and what we would do. She would say : ' ' Yes ; that's if I live to see it." After the rainy sea- son set in, I said we must be careful about our provisions (we had to send to England for our provisions), as it will be a long time before we can get any more. "Yes," said my dear wife ; u but I am going to enjoy these that are here. I WILL NOT BE HERE LONG/." Her Bible was her daily study. Mr. Spur- geon's sermons, which were sent out monthly, by Mr. Wigney, from London, she would read and reread. Day after day, from morning till night, and from week to week, she would find no greater comfort than reading her Bible. On Sunday morning, June 29th, I lay in bed, ill. Mr. and Mrs. Richardson had gone to hold services in the town. She sat down near the bed IN MEMORIAM. 61 and commenced to talk over our married life of fifteen years and seven months. The following Friday, July the 4th, she was taten down with the fever. The following Monday she slept nearly all day. At night she said : "All of this day has been lost ; I have not read my Bible any." I read for her. Monday night she was delirious nearly all night. Soon in the morning she said : "Al- though my mind leaves me at times, I have not lost sight of that rest, that rest! " He that the Son makes free shall be free indeed. Her favor- ite text was (and she often repeated it) : "I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness." — Psalm 17 : 15. About noon she lost her speech. In this state she ]ay until 8 o'clock Wednesday evening, July 9 th, when MY BLESSED JESUS CALLED HER HOME from the land of our fathers to "that rest," there to be crowned. The house was soon filled with the natives, who showed great sympathy. Late in the night Mr. Richardson told them they could go home (king, queen and head men were all present). They said : " No. This is a be- reavement in which we are all concerned. It is our grief as well as yours." Thus they remained all night. Though she could not speak but a few words of the language, she was indeed dear- ly beloved by the men, women and children of Bakundu. They all called her "mamma." RETURNING HOME. From the time I arrived at Bakundu to the death of my wife, I had never been well; from this time I commenced to get worse. In No- vember Rev. Mr. "Wilson, native missionary, came up from the coast to accompany me to Yictoria. I was so ill and weak that I had to be carried 80 miles in a hammock by the natives. Soon I returned to England, where medical men advised my return to America, on account of my health. Rev. C. H. Richardson was ap- pointed by the Baptist Missionary Society of Great Britain to take my place, where he is now laboring successfully. He has long since been without an interpreter, and PREACHES TO THE PEOPLE IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE. He and his dear wife are 80 miles into the in- terior, with no assistance of native Christians from the coast. While he is laboring at this new station, there are also many of God's mes- sengers at new stations on the West Coast and in Central Africa, who need our prayeis and help. Pray for them. A great work is going on in that benighted land. We in this land of light must do all we can to send more help. A few years ago the great interior was closed to the Christian world and enveloped in mys- tery. But, thank God, the great work of ex- plorers has opened a door to the interior. Mr. Stanley, in following up the great work com- menced by Dr. Livingstone, has pointed out to the Christian world that vast tract of land lying between the West Coast and the Lake Moun- tains — a district of 860,000 square miles. u Once above the falls," says Mr. Stanley, 14 We have the half of Africa before us, with one RETURNING HOME. 63 vast populous plain teeming with life and thickly inhabited. In fact, I know of no place in Afri- ca, after Ugogo, so thickly populated." Thank God, since these discoveries a great work has commenced in Central Africa, and the name of my blessed Jesus is being published among thousands who for years have sat in darkness. Stations have been opened and are working with great success at Lake Nyassa, Ujiji, Ugan- da, San Salvador, and on the Great Congo or Living Stone River. And yet we hear the cry : u Come over and help us." Millions are yet without the Gospel. The last words of our blessed Jesus were : " Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved ; but he that believeth not shall be damned." — Mark 16:15-16. /'Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." — Rom. 10 : 13. In the great commission our blessed Jesus says he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. Paul says, Rom. 10:14: u How shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard ? And how shall they hear without a preacher?" Oh, my dear friend, "Give a thought to Africa." It has indeed been well said that Africa is the most profoundly interest- ing of missionary lands, because it is God's greatest providential mystery. Great in its an- tiquity, great in its colossal wickedness, great in its hideous wrongs, great in its tremendous dif- ficulties as a mission field, great in its costly mis- sionary sacrifices, great in its future possibilities for Christ and the world." Let us undertake great things for Africa, with all of our hearts and souls, and we shall have a great blessing. 64 POETRY. "AFRICA FOR JESUS." Africa for Jesus Is the burden of my song ; But methinks it draweth near, And shall not tarry long. Africa for Jesus, For nothing else will do ; No other power can save From their wretchedness and woe. Africa for Jesus, Shout the words along, Till the christians everywhere, Echo the gladsome song. Africa for Jesus, Till they work with might and main, To win fresh victories for His cross, New trophies for Him gain. Africa for Jesus, Till all her chiefs shall own The right of Him o'er them to reign, Who sits on heaven's throne. Africa for Jesus, Till each battle ax and spear Be of the past, no more to make Each other dread and fear. Africa for Jesus, That her cannibal sons, too, May be taught to see the wickedness Of the dreadful things they do. Africa for Jesus, For Satan doth oppose, And in that land he raiseth Many, many foes. Africa for Jesus. Yes, he shall surely win, He is the Lord, the conqueror O'er every woe and sin. Written for Thomas L. Johnson, by Mrs. E. Shrewsbury, Northampton, England. 3S j / i J / LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 022 168 967 7