Lusambo
May 31, 1925
Dear Folks:
You will no doubt be surprised to notice the above named station. We arrived Friday afternoon. It is almost as much a surprise to us to find ourselves here as it will be to you to know we have come. So I'll try to explain the circumstances that called us to Lusambo.
The yearly meeting of the Mission Ad Interim Committee was held at Mutoto station the latter part of April or first of May, and they found themselves confronted with the problem of supplying the Lusambo Station due to Mr. and Mrs. Higgins' departure. The Smiths were sent over here temporarily, but could not stay longer than May for family reasons. So in looking for someone to fill this place until the Annual Mission Meeting in October, they decided that since we had no paper for the printing office at Luebo, they would send us here temporarily. Of course it is inconvenient in a way, in that we are here only for four or six months at most, and then will have to return to Luebo. However, in some ways it is much nicer here than at Luebo.
As regards our trip, we had a good trip from Matadi to Luebo. We were in Matadi only one day -I think we wrote you this from Kinshasa. We went on board the "Lapsley" on the last day of April, and left early in the A.M. on the first of May. We had a lovely trip up the river to Luebo, arriving there on May 14th. If we are on the "Lapsley" the trip up river is really very pleasant, provided it is not crowded, and there were only seven of us counting Mr. (Captain) & Mrs. Wilds and little four-year old Ann. The Shives and Miss Farmer left Belgium on the steamer ahead of us, three weeks, but could get no boat for Luebo, so they waited for the Lapsley. So this makes three trips that we have traveled together; coming out, from Antwerp, in 1920, going home last year, and coming out this time.
We stayed at Luebo from Thursday afternoon until the following Tuesday afternoon, and then started for Lusambo arriving here Friday last. As the water is going down fast due to the approaching dry season, we had a rather slow trip up.
We found Mr. Smith (Plumer Smith), and Miss Fontaine, one of our trained nurses, here. Mrs. Smith and the baby went back to Mutoto the first part of last week. Also, Dr. Moore, of the Methodist Mission, and dentist, came over here with us from Luebo, as he had been making a tour of our Mission doing dental work. He will be here a week or so and then go on towards Wernbo-Niama.
Max is doing fine now; don't see how he could be much better. His two front teeth look pretty large and lonesome so far. He is happy nearly all the time; he still lacks a little training to learn to stay alone a little better, although he will do that a good deal already. It seems that he has almost lost that nervousness that he had so long, jumping at noises and fidgeting, of which you may be sure we are happy. He wakes up early in the morning about five to six, and that is the time when he is at his happiest. He will crawl around over the bed and spend a great deal of time standing up holding to the bed posts. His little legs no longer look so spindly and thin; he has filled out all around.
Referring to our trip up river, I sent you a map from Antwerp; this is not absolutely accurate, but fairly good. From Kinshasa to Kwamouth, the junction of the Congo and Kasai rivers, it is rather narrow for the Congo averaging only about a couple of miles, but above Kwamouth the Kasai spreads out, in some places nearly ten miles wide; in this
region there are a great many islands in the river, some flat grassy plots, and others large stretches of wooded land. For some distance the country is more or less flat with a long stretch here and there of plains on either side; but higher up the land begins to rise on either side to moderate hills, nearly always heavily timbered. We do not see a great many native villages close to the river, only a few 'fishing folk. When we get higher up, near the junction of the Kasai and the Lulua Rivers, the river narrows again somewhat, with ranges of hills on both sides, and always luxuriantly covered with trees, vines, and brush. This vegetation, all fresh and green, certainly makes a beautiful landscape; the vines are very energetic, and often cover many of the trees from top to bottom; then along the edge of the river it is thickly covered with large ferns, creeping vines or various kinds of grass. Then when we turn from the Kasai into the Lulua we have our most attractive part of the journey. Just at the mouth of the Lulua there are about seven small islands scattered about, all covered with trees and verdure, making a very beautiful picture. Then up the Lulua, which is a smaller
river, the banks are much closer together and we are generally close to the banks as the course is nearly always on the side; here we have the same thick growth of forest jungle, where nature is spreading herself without stint. Of course, the river winds itself in and out of these hills, each turn enhancing the beauty of the view.
We will have to write you more about Lusambo, our situation, the work, etc., later on. As I mentioned above, we will be really more free, and not under the strain here that we would be in Luebo. I failed to add above, that there is always a State doctor here, and a trained nurse at their hospital; then of course, we have Miss Fontaine with us, too. We have a much nicer house here than at Luebo, well screened with glass windows.
We will try to be more regular about letters, for this one no doubt is the first you have had in a long while, but of course, we have just finished our journey.
With love to all.
B. M.
