The American Missionary — Volume 33, No. 04, April 1879 — John Shaqi
The American Missionary — Volume 33, No. 04, April 1879Various
History
The American Missionary — Volume 33, No. 04, April 1879
Various
Congregational churches -- Missions -- Periodicals; Home missions -- Periodicals
We have a very beautiful little chapel, and it is very well
filled each Sabbath by persons from the surrounding villages
as well as our own. For the most part, all appear attentive to
what is said to them, and when questioned seem to have quite a
clear idea. Through the blessing of Divine providence, three
of the chiefs have come into my church, and I think that they
are hopefully converted. They add very greatly to the interest
of the church, because where the chiefs go their subjects will
follow. By this means I am enabled to reach a great portion of
the heathen element. I have now about thirty-six enrolled upon my
church book, twenty-five of whom I have baptized. It is really
remarkable to see how readily they take hold of the truths of
Jesus. I am also glad to say, that in many of them one can see a
marked improvement in their lives. They are a people that delight
to engage in palavers or quarrels, and I mark a very great change
in many of them in this respect. They seem to desire peace,
and when a palaver comes up they frown upon it with seemingly
sincere indignation. They are also beginning to see the wrong
of polygamy. That of itself is one of the best signs of reform,
for polygamy is one of the prevailing sins of this country. Mrs.
Jackson has been holding meetings for the women, in which great
interest was manifested. So the Lord has been greatly blessing
both sexes.
Quite recently I had a pleasant tour in the Bargroo country. I
was very agreeably surprised to see everything so favorable. In
the first place, the people were as hospitable as one could wish,
and far more so than one could have expected in a heathen land. I
am persuaded to believe that the tribes further in the interior
are much more docile and far more industrious and a finer class
of people than those living on the coast. I visited eight of
their towns, and, with very few exceptions, their villages were
as clean and neat as any I ever saw. Their houses were made of
mud and sticks and covered with bamboo, but all seemed to have
been done in taste. Some of their villages were laid out in a
perfect system. One that especially attracted my attention for
its neatness, and the systematic plan on which it was laid out
was Do-do. It has a population of about fifteen hundred persons.
It is a very beautiful town, situated on a peninsula, with a
fine view of a large extent of country. It is densely populated
and the houses are built close together. Three tall lines of
barricade enclose the entire town, with only three large gates
through which persons can enter. I chanced to stop there all
night. I found the chief a very hospitable man. He entertained me
as best he could, and gave me my supper and a bed to sleep on.
Next morning he sent me my breakfast, which consisted of a goat,
chicken and some eggs. On going to the door I found three men
ready to slay and dress the goat. The interpreter of the chief
accompanied these gifts. He said that the king did not know how
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