The journey has been one of great fascination. From the point of view of the traveller it has been full of interest. From the point of view of a Secretary of a Missionary Society carrying on work in the lands visited, the outstanding impression has been that of the growing Christian Church. In Central Africa that Church is in its infancy, but it is an infancy full of promise. In South Africa and Madagascar the Native Church is nearly a century old. Its foundations have been well and truly laid, and it exhibits all the signs of healthy life and growth. As one travelled from station to station and came into contact with the Native Church in all stages of development and met the Native leaders of that Church, one looked into the future and saw a vision of a Church which would one day become not only self-supporting and self-governing, but so possessed with the missionary spirit that it would be an instrument in God’s hands for evangelising the peoples amongst whom it is now set as a lamp in the night. One hundred years ago and less these lands were in gross darkness; to-day the curtains of the night are being lifted and long closed doors are wide open to the light. The darkness has turned to dawning and the growing Church is becoming “a burning and a shining light” in the lands which aforetime sat “in darkness and in the shadow of death.” F. H. H. _31st January, 1914._ FOOTNOTES: [1] “South Africa”: Rev. W. A. Elliott (price 6d., post free 8d.); “Central Africa”: Mrs. John May, B.A. (price 6d., post free 7¹⁄₂d.); “Madagascar”: Rev. James Sibree, D.D., F.R.G.S. (price 6d., post free 8d.). I am much indebted to the “Ten Years’ Review” of the Madagascar Mission, edited by Dr. Sibree (L.M.S., price 2s. 6d. net), for much information embodied in the Madagascar section of the book. [2] Copies can be obtained at the L.M.S., 6d. net, post free 8d. Through Lands That Were Dark A.--SOUTH AFRICA CHAPTER I Darkness and Light A land of lights and shadows intervolved, A land of blazing sun and blackest night. JOHN OXENHAM. South Africa exercises a great charm over those who visit it. It is a land of sunshine. An unkind critic has described it as “a land of trees without shade, rivers without water, flowers without scent, and birds without song.” It is a land of vast distances and sparse population. The portion of the African Continent which is popularly referred to as “South Africa” is that part which lies south of the Zambesi. This great expanse of country is as large as Europe without Russia, Scandinavia and the British Isles, but its entire population is less than that of greater London.