H. Frances Davidson and Adda G. Engle.SOUTH AND SOUTH CENTRAL AFRICA
MISSIONARY LABORS AMONG
PRIMITIVE PEOPLES
BY
H. FRANCES DAVIDSON
PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR BY
BRETHREN PUBLISHING HOUSE
ELGIN, ILL.
1915
H. FRANCES DAVIDSON
1915
Books may be obtained through
H. R. DAVIDSON
Auburn, Ind.
Route 3
or
M. L. HOFFMAN
Abilene, Kans.
DEDICATED
TO
MY FATHER'S LIFELONG FRIEND
DR. W. O. BAKER
And to All Others, Who, Like Him, Are Deeply
Interested in the Evangelization of the
Dark Continent
INTRODUCTION
With utmost confidence and pleasure, I give anintroductory expression for this intelligible, authentic,and most valuable little volume, the product ofgreat sacrifice and long experience, by one who wasfavored and honored with lucrative educational positions,being a classic.
I have been acquainted with the authoress formany years, and am a member of the Foreign MissionaryBoard under whose auspices she has mosteffectually labored during an unbroken period ofone and one-half decades; therefore I speak withgreat assurance of the merits and hope of her book,destined to be prolific and incentive to active missionaryoperations in foreign lands.
The photo-engravings have special interest, havingbeen taken from real life and nature as shefound them in dark Africa—places, people, environments,customs, habits, and religion, which she sawwith her own eyes and mind. Having thoroughlymastered various dialects of tribes among whomshe has labored so many years, having gatheredmany historical facts relative to uncivilized races,and also having special tact, instinct and God-givenability through the gift of the Spirit, making hervery efficient in her call to these dusky tribes, she isqualified in a very proficient sense to compile thestory of this strange people.
On meeting Sister H. Frances Davidson, one isquickly impressed with her modest and unassumingdisposition, the rare gift that characterizes allthe truly noble and great.
Her heroism and unfaltering faith in Jehovah is[6]most remarkably demonstrated in her adventure—accompaniedby Sister Adda Engle (Taylor) and anative boy—into the wilds of Central Africa, unfrequentedby the tread or touch of any Gospel missioner,among a class of raw natives that were veryshy, rather hostile, and of another tongue, and acountry infested with wild, vicious animals.
When the planning of this adventurous trip washeard by the Foreign Missionary Board, steps weretaken to discourage it, on the ground that no whiteman was available to accompany them to the newprospective mission field; but before the Board'