“I AM going to a new tribe upcountry, a fierce, cruel people, and every one tells me that they will kill me; but I do not fear any hurt; only to combat their savage customs will require strength and courage on my part.”
The words I have just quoted form part of a letter written by Miss Slessor to a friend in Scotland just before going to live among the wild, lawless people of Okoyong. I will not linger over the cruel customs of the savage tribes of Okoyong, as were I to do so it would only shock and sadden my young readers. They were firm believers in witchcraft, and if any one died, from whatever cause, they made up their minds that they had been bewitched by someone, and the suspected person or persons must be sought out and killed. The number of babies killed every year was, Miss Slessor soon found, far greater than it had been in Calabar.
If ever a people needed the gospel, surely those among whom she longed to live and work did; but they did not want the gospel. Guns, swords and strong drink were the only things they seemed to care for. Rum and gin were in every house, given to every babe, and drunk by men, women and even little children.
A few attempts to begin mission work among them had been made, but without success. A native teacher from Calabar had gone to live among them, but after a stay of only a few weeks had been obliged to fly for his life.
But the more Mary Slessor heard of the darkness and cruelty of the people, the deeper grew her desire to go and tell them of "JESUS, the mighty to save." A good deal of time seems to have been wasted in trying to get leave to buy a piece of land on which to build a schoolhouse. Twice she had gone with a party for the purpose of making arrangements, but only to find the people sullen and unfriendly. At last, after much prayer, she decided to go alone and talk the matter over with the chiefs.
She went up the river in state. King Eyo again lent her his royal canoe: a hollow tree trunk, twenty feet long. She lay in comfort under a canopy of freshly cut palm branches. The journey was, as usual, made by night. Too anxious to sleep, she lay still and prayed, and before the morning dawned, found the rest and peace of leaving all in the hands of the One who was, she believed, sending her as His messenger to those wild, savage people.
When the landing-place was reached she went alone to a village four miles inland. The chief, who for once in his life was sober, seemed pleased at her courage in venturing alone, and said he was willing to sell her some ground, and that she might teach his boys. So she gathered the children together, and while the people stood round wondering, taught them hymns and texts.
It was late before she was taken to the hut where she was to sleep, but the women crowded round her, talking and asking questions, and it was past two in the morning before they would leave her to take the rest she so greatly needed. One, a sister of the chief, Ma Eme, interested her greatly. "She will, I believe, be my friend as long as I am in Okoyong," said Miss Slessor. And so she proved.
The next morning a walk of two miles further inland took her to another village, where to her great joy the chief also gave her a friendly reception. She told him she must return to Creek Town to make preparations for her removal, but promised not to remain away long.
When it became known at Creek Town that she was really going to live at Okoyong, she had a great number of visitors, as every one wished to hear from her own lips if what they had heard was true. Some pitied, while others blamed her. Many begged her not to trust the chiefs, who were, they said, not men of their word. But she only smiled, and went quietly on with her packing.
By Friday evening, August 3rd, 1888, all was ready, and she lay down to rest, but was too tired to sleep. On the morrow she was to enter upon the untried path; it would be one of danger and difficulty, but her faith and hope were in God. "I can," she said, "do nothing with those wild people, but my Lord and Master can do everything.”
The morning broke dull, gray and cheerless, and the rain fell in torrents. The negroes who had been sent to carry her packages to the canoe grumbled and disagreed among themselves. Mary felt weary and unrefreshed after her sleepless night, but to her great relief King Eyo himself came down to see that all that could be done for her comfort was done.
Few wished her God-speed. One young man said with a sob in his voice, "Yes, I will pray for you, but you are seeking death in going to Okoyong.”
When the landing-place was reached it was still raining, and a walk of four miles through the dripping forest lay before the little party. Miss Slessor went on first with the children, as she wanted to get them something to eat and put them to sleep. It was a strange procession that made its way through the dark African forest. The children were wet, tired and hungry, and Miss Slessor, whose garments were soaked with rain, was carrying a large bundle in one arm and a baby girl in the other. She kept singing and chatting merrily to the children, but to keep her own tears back was sometimes almost more than she could do.
Real work for God in Okoyong began with a little child. A poor little baby whose father had been beheaded, and whose mother died of grief shortly afterward, was brought to Miss Slessor. It was starved, dirty and sickly. She took it to her motherly heart, cared for and loved it. With proper food and care it seemed for a few days to be making good progress, but was too weak to recover, and died. To bury a baby was a thing unheard of in Okoyong. The bodies of little children who died were thrown into the bush to be eaten by wild beasts; but Miss Slessor had made up her mind that the infant she had nursed and loved should have Christian burial. She robed the cold, still form in white, and, with a flower in each hand, laid it in an empty provision box, and dug a tiny grave in a corner of the ground she had bought. Then while nearly all the people of the village stood looking on and wondering at the strange ways of the white woman, she offered a short, simple prayer, and spoke to them of the Savior who loved and blessed the little children.