THE following letter will interest our readers:—
“Nkanga, Pondoland.
“We had a very rough ride over the mountains at first. We had to cross the St. John's River where it was very broad, and then began a long climb up to the top of the hills once more.
“We reached Palmerton—a Wesleyan mission station—at sunset, having left here before sunrise. Palmerton is about sixty years old, and has been for some time in charge of a native pastor. However, there is one European over there now. It must seem strange to you to think that on such an occasion one simply rides up to the front door and introduces oneself, and takes it for granted that hospitality is offered. But, of course, there is nowhere else to go to for the night.
“We then went on to Emfundisneni (the word means `the place of the teacher’) where I once stayed some six years ago. We spent Saturday and Sunday there, and I spoke to the large congregation (about five hundred natives) on Sunday morning, and Mr. Green spoke at the children's service in the afternoon. Later on we had the joy of taking the Lord's Supper with the natives, when fully one hundred and fifty were present. It was a very interesting sight, and such a service as this makes one feel more than ever one with the people. At Nkanga we are only starting work, whereas Emfundisneni is thirty years old. So we only get raw natives here.
“We left Emfundisneni long before sunrise on Monday, and retraced our steps to Palmerton, where we spent a night. I spoke to the Christians at the early morning prayer meeting at 6 a.m., when fully one hundred natives were present. Then we got on horseback again, and reached St. John's at sunset.
“We spent a couple of days—or, rather, two nights—at St. John's, and then started off at 4 a.m. for here. On our way we called at a kraal where we are starting a new out-station, and found that the huts had not been commenced, though we had been assured that one was nearly finished. The natives here seem to have no idea at all of telling the truth. They lie without any motive for their deception. Indeed, they seem to be unable to tell the truth.
“When we got back here we found the people wanted us to pray for rain, as they needed it so much. So we had a meeting with the people, and I was asked to speak. I told them that they did not deserve rain, as when they had asked us to pray for it once before they got the rain, and when their crops were ripe they had made them into beer. But I added that I knew they wanted rain, and, as God's heart was not hard like theirs, we would pray; for He made His sun to shine on the good and the evil, and sent His rain to the just and unjust. I then quoted St. Paul's remarks, how that He 'left not Himself without witness in that He sent them rain from heaven, filling their hearts with joy and gladness;' adding that this rain which would come in answer to prayer would be one of God's witnesses against them if they did not yield their hearts to Him. Then Mr. Green told them that they asked for rain, but that he could not give them rain—only God could do that.
“So we prayed for rain, and by night the mists came on, and it rained a little. Next day and night it came down in splendid style. So after this we went round the kraals and called the people to come and praise God for the rain.
We numbered forty all told at this praise meeting, which was called at half a day's notice only. I spoke to them on John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16), and the passage in St. John's Epistle about loving in deed and truth, and not in tongue only. I pointed out that what God wanted from them was not merely the praise of lip, but a yielding of themselves to Him.
“The people listened most attentively, and yet when it was all over one old woman came up to Mr. Green and thanked him for sending the rain. Still, I think that many of the natives have been hearing God's voice in all this.
“It is surprising how I can start off on a long tour on horseback like this straight away after office work. I often think I was cut out for this country.”