Piling up six packing cases of uniform size, and nailing round strips of native grass matting, we had a splendid “Liberty” bookcase. A “cosy corner” was made out of two more boxes turned upside down, stuffed with shavings and covered with cretonne. It _looked_ very comfortable but rather belied its name. Our dining-room table consisted of the lids of cases joined up and nailed to four posts planted in the mud floor. After a few weeks the legs took root, and the young branches supplied novel decorations. We framed a few large photographs in reeds and hung them where the walls were flat enough. The nights in Toro are cold, for although we are only 1·5 degrees lat. North, the capital is 5,000 feet above sea level. In consequence the houses are built with brick chimneys. With a bright log fire burning in the open hearth and a comfortable arm chair our sitting-room looked very cosy and bright. It is quite remarkable the amount of enjoyment one can derive out of things which cost nothing but a little hard work and a good deal harder thinking out. One learns sometimes from rather trying experiences that several things which have been regarded as absolute essentials in England can so easily be dispensed with out here. A lot of things brought out from home reached me in a hopelessly wrecked condition. As I have said before, on account of the scarcity of porters we had been obliged to leave several boxes behind. Three of the twenty-three I had left were never again heard of. As these were food supplies I hoped they nourished some of the half-famished natives we passed up country. But the cases that did arrive had been exposed without protection from the rains, and were absolutely rotten when they reached me; the zinc linings had been destroyed by rust, and the contents reduced to pulp. In a sort of mechanical way I sorted out the different things, throwing aside books, letters, clothing, and nick-nacks on the rubbish heap. Some things could never be replaced—little recollections of the past and home-links. How reluctantly were these cast out!—but God showed me that this was known and allowed by Him, and when once He shows us this, the sunshine bursts forth and the heart rejoices. It strengthens one all round when sometimes the temporal is shattered to allow the Invisible and Eternal to appear. I should not be at all surprised that our missionary example St. Paul had had all his loads spoilt by shipwreck when he wrote: “I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content; not that I speak in respect of want.” On another occasion when our annual supplies from England were within one day’s march of Toro the porters’ shed was burnt down and all our loads but two were destroyed.