Narok,
Masai Reserve, Kenya Colony
East
Africa, Apr. 12, 1931
My
dear Cora:
This
is to say Many happy moments on your birthday. They just will
come even tho we aren’t ready for more - Just think in one
more
week I’ll have done 50 of them in my short life time.
This
is Grandma Offerles birthday. Guess they don’t count birthdays
where she is. ‘twill be different, wont it, not to think in
terms
of days & years - but I guess we wont for “there is no
night
there” and then how can we tell about the days & how can
we
measure eternity by years!
I’m
sure you will enjoy the day - the 22nd - even if
this
letter doesn’t get there in time to tell you to. I’m sure I’ll
think about you even tho we may have company - we always speak
of the
date - usually at the breakfast table. But we haven’t the
Keswick
Calendar this year to read what you are reading but we read
“Daily
Light”. The boys have that. I suppose Edward had so many added
interests this year that he didn’t think about it. We have
other
nice calendars.
The
woods are so beautiful these days - been going out every P.M.
for
quiet time but pretty wet now. These yellow flowers are a vine
&
in full bloom now.
This
is a strange Sun. I must tell you about it before I go over
your
letter.
You
know about the young girl who was baptized last July so that
her
people would know she wanted to stand true to her
convictions
before God. Then she was forced to go thro the custom any way.
But
long ago Sitoya, the teacher, had begun paying for her. But
when he
stood with us on the circum- question the Christian (?) father
said
he couldn’t have her. The girl was determined tho to live with
him. The custom is that after circum- the girl goes to the
kraal of
the young man whom she is to marry - & just lives with the
family
til the dowry is paid. She did so about Xmas time but the
father
went after her & beat her for doing so - finally he said
if
Sitoya paid 9 head of cattle he could have her. That’s 3 times
the
usual Masai dowry. Sitoya paid it but still the father
withheld
permission. Then in Jan. the father went away & she was
given
into the custody of a kinsman who gave her permission to live
with
her husband. After 4 days of living together the father
returns &
was furious & beat her harder than ever and took her home.
This
is all wrong according to Masai custom & the teacher did
nothing
wrong but the elders upon hearing the girl is pregnant have
fined
Sitoya Sh. 250 for adultery! He & the others who stand
with us
have no show at all when it comes to a shauri here so this was
taken
to the elders at Narok & they too decided against him. We
know
they were bribed with beer & perhaps shillings too. But
they
said whether his words were true or not he stood against
circum- so
had to pay - & he did. But still the father wouldn’t let
the
girl go & last Sun. she attempted again to go & he
beat her
up so with a double strap that she had 5 open cuts on head and
one on
each leg & then he tied her wrists together all night. We
didn’t
hear much of it til Tues. Then Mrs S & I went to see her
&
brot her here & washed the places. and Jno called to see
some of
the elders - the father was at Narok - to see that the father
gave
the girl over at once & took the usual dowry only &
returned
the Sh. 200 or we’d close school & mtgs & leave. They
just
shrugged their shoulders & said its the affair of the
father. Upon that Jno came to school & sent us all home
& said he &
Mr S. wold go see the D.C. They did & he sent to have the
girl
brot. That night when the father found she had been up & I
dressed her head he was very mad & beat her again
reopening the
cuts & course making them show up good & plain for the
D.C.
next day.
We
had told our people there would be a shauri on May 2. to see
where we
could agree & if we could not agree to have fellowship
together
in the church & work of the Lord we felt we would better
pull up
& go elsewhere. These men are drinking so & taking 2nd
wives and carrying Kikuyu customs only - not Masai a bit -
that we
know it is the leading of Kikuyu Central Association they are
following & that’s anti-everything right.
(pg.
2) This affair has precipitated things so Masagondi the Chief
asked
for a shauri yesterday & today - but mostly today. The
D.C. said
its a Gov’t affair so we have no part in it. All the folks
from
here went - all males that are old enuf to be registered.
Course
having called off all school & mtgs we were not having mtg
anyway, only but that Masagondi called them - we’d have had
ours &
have gotten something settled among us.
I
know the 3 or 5 boys that are standing with us will be pulled
to
pieces - lied about and made the biggest scoundrels - tho none
of
them have done a least little bad thing. You may know we are
praying
that just what is right may be done. For we told the D.C. if
they
can’t stop the K.C.A. work from going on, we would have to
look for
another place. for they make life miserable for all
law-abiding
citizens. Course we’d rather stay & have peace &
fellowship but if we can’t have that we’d rather leave.
It
wont be hard to have a fairly comfortable house soon for we
have iron
roofing & boards. John can hardly put up another stone
house but
we wouldn’t need it. I’ll report on what the outcome is before
I
send this letter.
Had
a letter from the boys yesterday giving in the rough the plan
for the
summer. I want to write them so it reaches them at Placentia.
I wish
I were in your boots for those few days they are there.
Shaffers
came back from their itinerating; it was so rainy. The
children have
both been almost sick abed with stubborn sore throats &
coughs. And she had a breaking out on her limbs like mosquito
bites about 15
to the square inch. Course she’d scratch in her sleep & so
poisoned herself so many were festering. We hadn’t had any
rain
here so were surprised when they came back. Now it has been
raining
again some.
Thanks
again for all enclosures. Also birthday & Easter card.
I’ve
tried the drums, until I was frantic with pain & then the
worst
pain of all was to get them out. but I did. & laid them
aside for
4 or 5 days then tried them again but could stand the left one
only 2
or 3 hrs. & the right about 6 hrs Wonder if I should keep
on
every day - for only an hr. if I can’t stand more - but
when
there’s such pain & no apparent help it is disheartening.
I’m
rubbing with the oil & shall keep trying the drums again
&
again. Perhaps if I didn’t leave them in too long it wouldn’t
be
so painful to take them out. I keep reading the directions to
see I
don’t do it wrong & maybe one day I’ll be able to adjust
them
so they will help.
Had
a letter from the Mrs Cook who has the 4 children. I told her
I had
had such a good letter form you & perhaps I said something
ab’t
she ought to get your letters then she’d see mine weren’t in
it
so she says - “I’d like much to write your sister Cora”. She
seems to think you’d have common interests. I may send you her
letter when I get it ans. & I’ll send her your address as
she
asks for it.
Tell
your girls the children at R.V.A. take cod liver oil too - a
malted
kind. Jno used to eat it on his pancakes at Davises when he
was
getting over flu. I tried to stop him for he seemed to be
getting
fatter.
We
don’t know just who we are having in May but Mr &
Mrs
Farnsworth for part of the time. They take care of R.V.A.
children. Your school too will be out by the time you get this
& I hope
Beths cough will be “finished”.
Don’t
Father Brunemeiers want to live in Calif?
There
are only 4 Shaffer children. 2 are in R.V.A. & Roy D. will
be
next year. She’s supposed to be teaching him here but its
awfully
hard for her to do anything with any regularity. She
isn’t
fleshy tho her face is full. her body is quite ordinary.
There
are radios here now that get U.S.A. - in Nairobi - but to get
much
you have to tune in at 1 or 2 A.M!!!
We
were at Clarkes last night for supper & music phono -
& how I
knitted. I’ve just got to get the sweater done this
week. One sleeve & cuff of first sleeve to do yet. I
always accomplish
a lot when there’s music on.
Carl
Hurlburt - recently known as Chas. died in Congo Mar. 21. I
want to
write his mother. Alta, the oldest of all died several years
ago &
now Carl is next in age & next to go. His first wife, a
Swiss
girl died some years ago in Congo too. Then he married the
sister -
they had a baby last year that didn’t live. Now she’s left
alone. Guess they were near Pauls - don’t know particulars.
only
‘twas heart failure. They were to go home last year. He was
always so lovely to his Mother - even as a child. I think
there’s
been a merger ‘tween Pauls mission and A.I.M. & Mr. H. is
Gen’l
Director Emeritus. Don’t know how far the merging has gone.
Agnes
was not under Paul but independent with headquarters some
place in
the south, Georgia, I think. Mrs Shaffer is calling for
supper. we
eat there tonight.
Next
night: Such reports as came in last night. Like Job, we got it
in
relays. (Wow its lightening & thundering) The last said
that
Masagondi said the Mission has to leave the Reserve!
(pg.
3) So you may know we did some thinking & praying too
& this
morning Jno & Mr. S. went to see the D.C. who didn’t know
anything about it apparently. but said he’d talk with
Masagondi &
let us know. A letter came this P.M. saying Masagondi
evidently
didn’t accomplish anything in his shauri yesterday and he (M.)
would come tomorrow and talk things over with us. My, how it
is
raining. So this letter will have to be like a continued story
-
stop in an interesting part, for I want to send for meat
tomorrow &
post these letters. It will be a big satisfaction to talk with
Masagondi himself - for these elders have been twisting things
up so
and lying especially about those who stand with us. Yesterday
there
were 7 who were dismissed from the shauri as standing with us
- but
they all say it was not Masagondi but his retinue or council
&
they saw the leader of our trouble here bribe them first with
drinks
of beer then with shillings - but evidently Masagondi nor the
D.C.
knew anything about it.
Well,
I think we can get a reasonable hearing here away from the
K.C.A.
leaders. The leader is the office boy at Narok. holds quite a
responsible position - & with him are Mulungit &
Tameno. I
don’t think ‘twill be difficult to round up the others &
get
them headed straight again. Both Tameno & Mulungit may
move
away. I’ll be sorry for Mrs. M. is my faithful stand by -
really
pure gold I believe tho her people in Kikuyu are ring leaders
in the
Asso.
Now
I’ll stop. O say, some time when convenient tell Mrs Burgi I
got
her Xmas card & greetings & I do mean to reply-- when?
well I
hope before next Xmas! That’s ab’t as much as I dare promise.
Did
I tell you the lavendar stocks are blooming & I daren’t
cut
them for I want seed. There are only 2 stems so far & J
cut one.
Alright,
have a nice time when you are 43! You old thing & you’re
the
youngest. Did I ever tell you I got the papers & mag.
&
enjoyed them all - Jno said last eve If we must leave Masai
lets go
to Anaheim!
Much
love. Flo S
|