Between 1828 and 1842 the society sent to the West Coast of Africa seventeen ministers, ten of whom died within one year, two others in three years, and three returned to their native country confirmed invalids. Yet steadily they pressed from the coast into the still darker interior, working among the Ga, Chi and Ashanti negroes. In Africa there are few native tribes which have a written language, hence the first work of the substantial missionary is to create one. Wars among the natives and wars among the great nations disturbed the mission, but the work went on in spite of all obstacles. After thirty years of labor three hundred and sixty-seven Christians were counted, after sixty years eighteen thousand. Station after station has been founded, school after school established. A theological seminary trains the natives to preach, the famous Basel industrial enterprises train their hands and eyes, and medical missionaries heal their bodies and show them how to live in cleanliness and decency. [Sidenote: “The Door-Keeper of the Gold Coast.”] Among the most devoted heroes of this mission, was _Andrew Riis_, a Lutheran. At one time when three or four missionaries had died and persecution had dimmed somewhat the lamp of faith, he was advised to return to Europe. But he would listen to no such advice. Sending back the message, “I will remain”, he went farther into the interior. Presently there arrived two other missionaries and with them the young woman to whom Riis was engaged. When the two newly arrived missionaries died, Riis was left once more, the only “door-keeper” on the Gold Coast. Now he sailed for Europe, not to give up the mission but to rouse the home churches to its support. Successful in this effort, he returned to the field and the mission began anew, now quickly to become prosperous. The changed conditions in this dark land are described in a German missionary journal. [Sidenote: A City Transformed.] “In June, 1869, the missionary Ramseyer, of the Basel Missionary Society, was dragged as a prisoner into Abetifi, then a city of Ashantee, with his wife and child. They spent three days in a miserable hut, with their feet in chains. Human sacrifices were then common in Abetifi, which was under the tyrannical rule of the Ashantee chieftains. To-day, in the same streets, under the same shady trees, instead of the bloody executioner going his rounds, a Christian congregation gathers together every Sunday. Christian hymns, such as, “Who will be Christ’s Soldier?” ring joyfully through the streets. The people come out of their houses, the chieftain is invited; he comes with his suite and listens to the joyful tidings of salvation. And it is not vain; many have become the disciples of Jesus. Many even dare to tell their fellow-countrymen in the streets what joy and peace they have found in Him.”