AFRICA.

OUR NEW MISSIONARIES.

Arrival at Sherbro—A Hearty Welcome—First Impressions.

Our letters from the newly arrived band of missionaries at the Mendi Mission have been, of necessity, brief and hurried. We learn from them that the party arrived at Sierra Leone on the 19th of November, and landed the next morning.

In a letter dated Nov. 22, from Sierra Leone, Mr. White says:

“We had, as you know, fifty-seven days on our voyage. The sea is a bad road to ride. All of us were sick some, and Mr. and Mrs. Snelson, Mrs. James and Mrs. Pardoe’s little boy, we thought would not be able to make the voyage. The captain is a very fine man, indeed, and tried to do all for us that was in his power. We are very thankful to him for the kindness he showed toward us. We are very well pleased with Africa—that is, so far as we have seen, but we cannot compare Sherbro with this place, because the people here are not all native, and those at Sherbro are. The mission has a house in Sierra Leone, in which we will stay till we go next week, by steamer, to our station. I want to visit some of the Industrial Schools here before I leave, so that we can tell how they are carried on.

“The people here are very kind to us. The place looks like some old towns in America, which are going to ruin. The houses are all built in the old style. Some of the people will compare with any of our people in the States, while others are far behind them—some of them dress very well, while some only wear a piece of cloth around their hips. You can tell the natives because all of them bear some kind of a mark, as all the tribes mark their children while they are small, to distinguish them from other people.”

From Rev. Mr. Snelson, under dates of Nov. 28 and Dec. 1, we learn that during the week while they were compelled to wait for the government steamer, they were the objects of many kind attentions from the ministers, Governor and leading gentlemen of Sierra Leone. Mr. Kirk met them on their arrival there.

Under the later date, Mr. Snelson writes from Bonthe:

“I am glad to inform you that we have arrived here safely. We left Freetown Thursday evening, taking deck passage on the governor’s steamer, as cabin passage cost three times as much, and reached here yesterday (Nov. 30) afternoon. I found Mrs. Mair here making ready for us. As the boat returns to-day, I shall not be able to make any report. I like the place so far very well. The people seem very anxious to receive us. I have asked Mr. Kirk to come down from Avery next week, that we may all consult together as to what it is best to do.”

Mr. Burton (now in this country and retired from missionary labor), who was for so many years in our service in Africa, writes to us:

“I am very glad to hear of the safe arrival of the missionary company in Africa. I have been for many years looking forward to the time when the mission should be carried on by laborers taken from among the freedmen, and I believe that God will use them to bless Africa.

“I received a letter from Mr. Gomer (a colored missionary of the United Brethren) a few days since. He had just returned from a visit to Avery, and spoke of it as being in a very flourishing condition. I seem to be there in spirit a great part of the time, and I do not know as it is strange, for a generation has grown up under my care, who seem almost to be my children. My prayer is that these freedmen may be God’s instruments to bring them to Christ.”

KAW MENDI, SHERBRO, W. AFRICA.

LETTER FROM REV. J. M. WILLIAMS.

Mr. Williams is a native of Demerara, South America; was educated in the schools of the London Missionary Society, and was formerly in the employ of the United Brethren. He has been for some months at Kaw Mendi, once a mission station of the Association, and writes to assure us that our former labors there have not been altogether in vain.

Kaw Mendi, Small Boom River, Sherbro, W. A., 7th November, 1877.

Since I left Shengay, in May, I was directed by the providence of God, through chiefs Wm. and C. H. Tucker, to this, the first station of the Association. I opened a school, and commenced telling of Christ to the adults, in July, to the great joy of all who remembered the former missionaries who labored here. Chief C. H. Tucker has hitherto done nobly, in helping me in every way to prosecute my work. He defrays my traveling expenses, and, when his duties as a chief permit, he accompanies me, and interprets for me when I go to preach in the other towns and villages. I had up to last week twenty scholars, but one was sent home to be cured of a bad ulcer, and five others because their parents have not fulfilled their duties as promised—that is, to feed them while under our care. My plan is, that all who are able, pay something for the education of their children, or the children work to support themselves. Chief C. H. Tucker subscribes readily and largely to the support of the school. He is about erecting a large mission house, a children’s home for boys and girls, and a chapel and schoolhouse, all of country materials except the doors, etc. I fear it will be too much for him, but he does not think so. He hopes to be able to have all ready at the commencement of the ensuing year, God willing. Chief Tucker is one of the most intelligent men about Sherbro, educated by your missionaries, Brooks and White. There is another, a Mr. King, that is an excellent interpreter, and is of help to me.

The children are progressing very fast. Though I cannot yet boast of converts to Christ, yet I am cheered by the fact that here and elsewhere, among those who have attended the preaching of the Gospel, many are inquiring after the way of salvation. Last Lord’s day, an adult attended our Sabbath-school. Our present place of worship here is too small to seat the congregation who meet to worship with us. Thus, while we are called to suffer hunger and other inconveniences often, yet the signs of a successful future inspire me with hope and confidence, and nerve me to go on.

Let me have your prayers. I shall be glad to communicate as regularly as I can with you. I regard this as the Association’s field of labor. As soon as the buildings and chapel are completed, I hope to be more comfortable, and to be able to work more efficiently.

I have named this institution, in honor of my ever-to-be-remembered friend, Lewis Tappan, “Tappan Literary and Industrial School, Brooklyn, near Kaw Mendi, Small Boom River, Sherbro, W. A.,” to which place please direct my American Missionary paper for the future, and all communications.