Api
Hill, Mahagi, Belgian Congo, Africa
Thur.
eve. July 18, 1912
Dear
ones all:
I
dont really know who all that includes but let it reach as
many as
possible. I started a letter to you mama, last night but after
I got
it well started realized it would be quite descriptive so
changed my
mind and will send Fathers a copy too.
This
is Raymond’s 4th birthday; we had a tea party this
P.M. Intended to have a joint supper but John and Mr. Haas
were so busy
laying out a new road that they didnt have time to come home
early,
so we women and children just had tea. Claudon is celebrating
by
having a spell of fever. This is the first he has had since we
are
here.
We
4 left Mahagi station June 26. We brot only such things as we
needed
- our tent, and a few tools and very few dishes, and little
clothing,
so as not to give the natives much chance to steal. We had
trouble
even coming this short distance - only two hours from the
station. The porters sat down twice on the way and refused to
come further
until they were paid. The last time they did it we were within
15
minutes from the place we were going; John went to a nearby
village
and asked for porters and they said they would come. For of
course
he told them they would get the pay the other men were to get
- a
spoon of salt - he came back to where we were and told the
other men
they could go that he had other men to take us on and you
should have
seen the men pick up their loads and march off like good
fellows. We
got our tent pitched and prepared a little supper then went to
bed
early for we were tired and Claudon had a little fever. He and
R.
were carried in the hammock and as we crossed a big stream the
carriers didn’t lift them high enough and they got into the
water
and Claudon was lying down so got quite wet and with the
porters
acting so silly about coming on he got chilled and that caused
fever. That was the last he has had until today. Think it
isn’t all out
of their systems yet and I didnt give them quinine for two
days
thinking that 5 days out of the week might be enough. Raymond
has
had some again too this week so I realize we cant stop quinine
until
we have been here at least 4 weeks. We still take 6 grains for
four
days each week; that will stop when we have been here a month
or so.
We
have a very nice camp here and near to the building that is
going up. We are putting up a two room house now that will be
used by the
girls and Haases, and when they move out it will be our
cookhouse and
store room. When that is finished John will go at one room of
our
permanent house and finish that so we can live in it while the
rest
is being put up; we hope it will all be done by Christmas and
then
John will go down to Kijabe for Conference and get all of our
things. We expect to put up our room - I am sending you a
drawing of the
house. What do you think of it? No spare room, is what you
think
but we have a guest house just a little way off so dont need a
room
in the house.
Don’t
know where these stamps came from but will send them as I
can’t use
them.
The
rest of the people couldn’t come when we did on account of
sickness; but they came July 9 and have their camp a little
ways away
under some nice trees. The day they came they brought the rest
of
our things too, so they had lot of porters. 90 in all. Miss
Harland was feeling well again but Mr. Haas had bad fever all
the
time and so was too weak to walk but was carried in our
hammock. He
is gaining right along now but yesterday was out on the road
and the
sun was quite hot so had a spell of fever again. Was better
today
but not at work. This was day of prayer but John couldn’t stop
very well as the soldiers are ready to make the road and John
has to
line it out first so they know where to go. The rest of us had
prayer meeting during the P.M. then Miss Harland went to the
station
and had school with the soldiers, and I did some copying that
I’ve
been working at for John and when that is finished I have some
more
to do for Doctor. This is the only typewriter in the crowd and
so I
get all the work in that line to do. I have had so little time
for
letter writing that I am way behind band with it. Father I
have been
wanting to write to the St. Paul people for a long time and
send them
our pictures but I just can’t get at it so when you write
again
tell them that pictures are coming some time, and they should
try to
imagine how busy we are with this new place to build up.
We
have quite a little garden going but we have done it all
ourselves,
for it is so stony that the natives wouldn’t dig it over
properly. We get out the big stones for the houses and then
rake and rake it to
get the stones all out. We intend making some gardens down in
the
valley too near the stream if the Government will let us have
some
ground there. When we work in the stones so to get a garden it
makes
me think of Grandpa and Grandma and I imagine it must be
something
like when they started farming in Penn. Didn’t you say mama,
that
they used to clear fields and pile the stones in piles?
Illinoisians
don’t know anything about stones and stony soil. Well we are
learning it here. But we will have the loveliest place when we
get
it fixed up a little. We can see the north end of the lake -
where
the Nile flows out - and then quite a distance south and just
a
little to the south of us is a big mountain that ends right in
the
lake. That is there is no beach there and often we can see the
shadow of the mountain in the lake - sort of a reflection -
that
looks so pretty. Then often they have quite a wind on the lake
and
there are several places where we can see the white caps come
rolling
up onto the sandy beach. It all looks so pretty from here. We
can
often hear it roar, especially at night. Then to the back it
is
almost as pretty but hills instead of the lake. Just hills and
hills
all shapes and sizes and so pretty especially at sunset. We
are sure
there will be no mosquitos here for we came when there were
heavy
rains and we have seen - not a half dozen. John sleeps without
a net
all the time. I keep mine up mostly for the children as we
have one
net for both beds and then too the rats have been awfully bad
and one
feels so safe from them when inside a net.
We
had a new experience the morning of the 9th. We
were
arranging our things for annexing the store tent for our boxes
and as
we were working all at once there was the funniest thunder for
a few
seconds that got louder and louder and all at once the ground
shook
so hard that the bell on the alarm clock jingled. It lasted
full
three minutes, the doctor said. I didn’t time it but I’m sure
I
never felt anything like it before. Mr. Joris said there was
one
here once before. He said we put up stone houses to protect us
from
wind and fire and think we will be safe and then here comes an
earthquake and shakes our stones all down. But it didn’t fall;
of
course the walls weren’t up very high but John said he thot he
was
a pretty good stone mason.
But
we have had a time since we are here with the natives. They
haven’t
attempted to steal anything yet so far a we know - the girls
have had
thieves two different nights but it was always days when
someone from
the station had been around and hadn’t gotten what he wanted.
Miss
Harland had her nice raincoat hanging at the back of the tent
and it
was taken by reaching through an opening at the back of the
tent for
ventilation; also a bath towel and two umbrellas. Night before
last
someone came into their tent and carried off Doctors safari
bag in
which she kept such a lot of odds and ends that were handy to
get at. All her underwear and three cases of medicines well as
shoes and
stockings and other things. The man who took that or who we
think
did is now in prison for Miss Harland saw him at the station
and the
officer had him shut up til he can talk to him; he really was
after a
bag of trade goods but the bags had been exchanged after he
left and
so he got the other bag instead which was of no earthly use to
him
and yet they wont return it. They seem to know there is no man
there; I shall be so glad when the house is finished so they
can feel
more protected.
I
am writing this on Sat. P.M. Wrote the last page last night
and the
first the night before. Mr. Haas is again very sick. He had
fever
yesterday but would take nothing not even precaution. He kept
outdoors all the time and was sweating all the time and no
doubt gook
cold and this morning his temperature was 104 and the last
time I saw
the Doctor she said it was still going up was then
106.;;-these are
Claudon’s marks while I was away. But I haven’t told you yet
about the time we had when we first came. All around the
hilltop was
high grass and the first morning we wanted to get some men to
help
clear it off. It grows in bunches which are very easily pulled
up
and little boys and all could help. They all said they would
come
and work; and they did work for an hour then wanted pay for a
day but
finally John got them to work another hour and then they
wouldn’t
do any more; so John got each 6 beads but they were quite
disgusted
and laid them all down again and wouldn’t have them. He let it
go
til evening when there were a lot of women and children as
well as
men around, and then gave each a little salt - we didn’t want
them
to think we wanted them to work for nothing. The next morning
there
were a lot around again but none would work; so John went at
it
himself and soon some little fellows helped who got some salt;
and so
it went on for a few days when John thot he would try another
scheme
for he wanted to get started at the house and did need help so
much
so he paid a few for four days and they said they would work;
it was
an experiment but we saw what the trouble was - they were
afraid they
would not get pay, so we ventured. I think most of them worked
all
but half a day.
One
day since then John has worked alone, raking mud, carrying
water, and
laying stone but almost every day there have been many more
that want
work than we need or can use.
Mr.
Haas seemed to be gaining so fast we thot he could help with
the
house next week and it would be ready for the roof in a few
days but
I suppose this will knock him out again. It is after four
o’clock
and he isn’t back yet nor none of the men either and he thot
he
would be back by noon. If the men would come back then I’d
think
John has gone to the government station for that Mr. Forbes is
there
again and they always have something to talk about. I wouldn’t
think so much about it but he had trouble with the men
yesterday and
I feel a little worried. Now I have sent the boy to the
station with
a note and that will no doubt ring him.cc------vvvvbcc xxss
--This
again is Claudon’s doings. After supper; John finally came
back at
dark. He was sitting with Mr. Forbes and Mr. Joris talking and
didn’t realize the time. Like some old women. Don’t know when
he has ever done that before. Of course he didn’t think I
would be
anxious.
I
think I’ll leave this til morning to finish as I cant see well
by
lantern light.
Yes,
I left this last night because it was too dark to see and now
it is
Sun. night and just as dark as last night; but the day was too
full
of other things to do much at letter writing.
Jno
and the two girls went to some far off villages and it was
almost two
o’clock before they got back and we waited dinner for them, so
we
were pretty hungry when they came and made some big holes in
the
chicken stew and dumplings.
Tomorrow
is the day for someone to go to the station to teach the
soldiers and
Jno. is going to meet the boat so the girls suggested that I
go with
him and teach and they would take care of the children; so I
think we
shall and take our lunch along and not have to hurry so much.
Mr.
Haas was really to do this work but he has done it only once
and has
fever again tonight so can’t go tomorrow.
[typing
changes to handwriting] This old paper got curled back and
made a
3rd copy below so I’ve decided to finish with pen
as I
wanted to finish separately anyway.
While
eating supper tonight a man came in to tell us that Keta, the
chief
had come. I’m glad of it for I think Mr. Joris, the officer
called
him to see about the stolen things. Today they took doctors
towel &
some bananas & Haases tent is just back of the girls and
they
[rest
of letter is missing]
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