CHILDREN OF AFRICA [Illustration: BOYS HUNTING] CHILDREN OF AFRICA BY JAMES B. BAIRD AUTHOR OF “NYONO AT SCHOOL AND AT HOME” WITH EIGHT COLOURED ILLUSTRATIONS [Illustration] FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY NEW YORK CHICAGO TORONTO PRINTED BY TURNBULL AND SPEARS EDINBURGH CONTENTS CHAP. PAGE I. INTRODUCTORY 9 II. THE DARK CONTINENT 10 III. THE GREAT RACES OF AFRICA 14 IV. AN AFRICAN HOUSE 17 V. THE AFRICAN CHILD 22 VI. AN AFRICAN VILLAGE 25 VII. GAMES 32 VIII. FAIRY TALES 40 IX. ANIMAL STORIES 43 X. FINGER RHYMES AND RIDDLES 49 XI. FOOD AND ORNAMENTS 56 XII. THE AFRICAN’S BELIEF 62 XIII. THE AFRICAN IN SICKNESS 66 XIV. MAGIC MEDICINE 72 XV. THE DANCE AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS 76 XVI. HINDRANCES TO THE GOSPEL 80 XVII. METHODS OF MISSION WORK 84 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 1. BOYS HUNTING _Frontispiece_ PAGE 2. A VILLAGE HUT 18 3. HIS FIRST SUIT 22 4. AN AFRICAN VILLAGE 30 5. A BATHING POOL 60 6. DRILL REPLACES THE DANCE 78 7. A MISSION SCHOOL CLASS 88 8. ATTACKED BY A LEOPARD 92 _In preparing his coloured pictures, the artist has received much help from photographs kindly supplied by Mr J. W. Skinner and Mr A. J. Story._ CHILDREN OF AFRICA CHAPTER I INTRODUCTORY “From Greenland’s icy mountains, From India’s coral strand, Where Afric’s sunny fountains Roll down their golden sand, From many an ancient river, From many a palmy plain, They call us to deliver Their land from error’s chain.” There is not one of you, my dear boys and girls, who does not know this oft-sung missionary hymn. But if there is, then of this I am sure, there is not one who knows it who does not love it, for it is one of the most beautiful of all our hymns. Since it was written many years ago by Bishop Heber, hundreds and hundreds of young voices have sung it; hundreds and hundreds are singing it to-day; and hundreds and hundreds will yet sing it.