Monday, April 20, 2009

Congo (58) Luebo, Congo 12/25/1921 [BMS]

At the top of the letter is written, "Happy New Year to All, from Dot & B.M. You can see from this date, that we can't mail letters everyday. This letter mailed on Jan. 1st.

We have just received your 2 letters of 15th and 20th Oct. and card of 14th (Oct.), but as mail closes again at 2:00 P.M. will not have time to write more this mail. B.M. "

Luebo, Christmas Day, 1921

Dear Mother & Daddy:

If I were there I would say "Merry Christmas" to you both, and as the circumstance is, I write it with just the same spirit in which I would say it.

We celebrated our Christmas together yesterday evening, at which time all of us gathered at the Stegalls, had an Xmas supper and some entertainments of various kinds. We all report a splendid time; everything went off in good order. After the supper (or dinner, if you please), which was at 7:00 P.M., we had a few hymns together, a xmas selection by a mixed quartet in which the "missus" sang alto, a solo by Mrs. Wilds, a talk by Mr. Martin on the Spirit of Christmas, a Christmas reading from Thomas Nelson Page by Mr. Gilliam, and the distributing from the Christmas tree of stockings for everybody, filled with candy and nuts. So ended our evening, which was a very pleasant one for us all. Dorothy will tell you more about the little trinkets that passed around from the ladies, and the various presents the children received.

We are expecting the arrival of Dr. Egbert Smith, of our Executive Committee, about the latter part of January, along with some of our missionaries, probably the Stixruds and Allens, as we have heard that they are both coming and sailing date was fixed, and we feel sure they will be coming out with Dr. Smith. We are all very happy to learn that

Dr. Smith is to visit our field, for we feel sure he will have a different conception of our work, and will give our Church at home a different one, too. I think you heard him talk on his visit to China, and know what a powerful presentation he made of the conditions on that field. Then there are a number of problems that we want to discuss with him, too.

I forgot to tell you about the Christmas we had with our boys. As it is very difficult to make them understand the true meaning of Christmas by giving them presents, which is shown by past experiences, we have made it a policy not to indulge in any free presentation of presents. So we gave them each a small amount with which to get something at their market ,yesterday (the native market is held here every Saturday.) We have tried to encourage them to make a free-will offering for the needy on that day.

We have not had much success with our pigeons so far, on account of the house not being suitable. It was the upper part of our chicken house and was too easy of access for rats; not long ago I shot a fair sized snake up there. But we have just moved the pigeons to a new house, built for that purpose, and are hoping for better success. The young squabs certainly make a nice dish, and the variety adds to the taste as well. Stegall has some rabbits, Belgian hares, but they haven't been doing so well. If we could ever be successful with them, they would be a help. We have gotten to the stage out here when we must begin to prepare for some other meat supply than chicken, for the traders and various companies, as well as the state, have been creating such a demand for them that it is difficult to get them and the price is going up.

The people amongst whom we are working at the Baluba and Lulua tribes, and then at Bulape, (where the Whartons are working) , we have the Bakuba tribe, which is quite a distinct set of people, both in appearance as well as manners and customs. They are most aristocratic and striking in looks of all the people in this section, and realizing this peculiar condition, the State has been trying to preserve this kingdom as nearly as possible in their original state instead of trying to force them to adopt civilization as the others. The result is that we still see one of the old and one of the most powerful tribes practically as it has been living; they wear practically no foreign clothes, only their own native raffia cloth, generally dyed red. These people have a king, and a real "king" in the literal sense of the word. He is now stopping at Luebo, has been here some weeks. While he is one of the most powerful native chieftains in our section of the Congo, still he is a paralytic, and cannot raise his hands, or stand on his feet. He must be carried about everywhere; and it is interesting to see the care his men take of him. He is a very large man, fleshy and has a rather pleasing face. This is the people who have the best organized form of government among these natives. They have a regular Congress, with a Speaker; there is the Attorney-General, the royal surveyor, and so on.

Dorothy is calling me to get ready for our English service, so I'll have to say good bye for the present. With all of our best wishes for you both, and much ,love.

B.M.

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