Mary Slessor: Letters 31–40

Dear Mr Partridge

I did not answer your most welcome "book" [Note 2] when in Calabar, as I expected to see you there, for it was the first thing I heard of in Calabar, & I am proud & pleased at the preference given you; tho of course Im awfully sorry for the District, while the Court is so newly left, for the Chiefs will be afraid of a new man.

However I trust all will be well till Mr Bedwell comes back, & that you will enjoy the change & be the better for it, & it will mean for the future A STEP UP. We have fine company on board. Mr Gray did all he promised & more, & the Wilkies can never be thanked enough, & now Major Trenchard has taken charge of me & has been so helpful & kind that my every wish & want has been anticipated & I have not only been happy & comfortable, but well. I am leaning hard on my limbs, & after going up the stair can still fetch a bit of breath. Im hoping to be walking quite well in a week more.

The Judges on board, & I have talked a little. I made my confessions, & I think gave reasons for my decided & not over appreciative convictions regarding the office, but we are good friends & have some nice talks.

There is no news. We have lain here waiting for the Branch Boat, but it is slow in coming. We hope to be in Lagos tomorrow, & then there will be more company I expect, & perhaps a lady. As yet no other member of my sex has favoured us with her company. I wish you cd just have come up this estuary & lain with us this morning. The breeze has been delightful, & the water so calm & deep green & clear, & the lap, lap of the waves is most restful to wearied nerves. But your time is coming & we cant all be away at once. What awful rubbish you speak about *my work*. I wish I could see it, or that I could do one tenth of what I would fain do to help you. You dear dear friend. Instead of you speaking like this, it is for me to try to count up for tabulation all that you have helped me, & done for me. That I cant do, & am not to try. Im just taking it all & trust that *some* *how* & *some* *time* I may be able to repay. If Im not, my Father is, & He is quite Cogniscant of all you have done. O just look at your countermanding those C.Ms. [Note 3] as I said to Mrs Wilkie. You might have snubbed me & told me to mind my own business. Still I am sure you have done right. If you find it is not so, don’t think of me. Do just what is best in your own eyes.

I shall write when I have any news. I have not seen Davidson yet. I am not yet able to walk about, thats the reason I expect, but I shall be sure to see him soon. Now dear old Chief of mine, Goodbye for a bit. I shall *expect* you to be blest. I am yours most affectionately & sincerely & gratefully

M M Slessor

Do go & call on the Wilkies. They are worth knowing & they appreciate you MMS

My dear kind patient old Chief

How are you? & are you still at Ikot - Okpene? It seems years since I said goodbye to you, & last mail did not bring a word from Ikot Obon, so Im feeling rather "out of it" and very *far* *far* away. Is Mr Bedwell back? & is he better? And are you having a wetting every day or two on your journeys?

We have only had one fair day from the day before we reached Plymouth till now, that was last Sunday. It is rain, & bitterly cold winds all the time. Winter could not be much worse, & where are the Roses & the strawberries & the beauty of the traditional June? I'm not feeling patriotic at all, but we expect a visit to Edinburgh from the Prince & Princess of Wales in a few days, & it may come then. I am very very well all the same, & as fat & hungry as ever I was in young days. I shall be out again in no time if this goes on. I can walk, & go up & down stairs, like anybody. but they were awfully shocked to see me at first. What would they have been to have seen me at Ikot Obon? We had a lovely voyage. & very good company, & glorious weather. I *never* *lost* *one* *meal* all the way. Mr Middleton took such care of me, & cut himself off from company & fun & everything to keep me company. He also sat with me at a back table, as I could not walk up the long saloon.

I do not think you had any idea of how queer I felt for 6 weeks before I left. I was sure it was paralisis. I could not walk a dozen steps, & if I did so, I nearly fainted after it. And here I am now only waiting for the rain to go off to get on my cycle & go anywhere.

We landed at Liverpool at Midnight, & got on to the hotel at 1.a.m. and my Bicycle was amissing from the luggage. Mr Middleton made enquiries & by & bye it was found & sent on, but was so long on the Railway that I had to write about it again. However, it is safe enough now in the Cycle House, & the friends here are only afraid for the wind & rain for me. I am only afraid of the traffic, & these awful motor cars, but I am to go out in the *early* morning among these country roads, till I get over the fear. I was up in Edinburgh for the first time last Monday, & after getting in *somehow* to an Electric Car, I nearly shreiked from the pain at my back, just from the fear, but I was more afraid of a carriage, & refused it, as a Judge here had his caught between 2 cars, & barely escaped with his life. It is an awful country for bustle & movement. It is a splendid country for all that, & the achievements of Man are marvellous. I will be going to a Hydro for special treatment in a week or two. It is in a highland district, & used to suit me well, but my wardrobe is not yet complete for visiting or going outside. This address however will always find me. The cloak you gave me has been such a blessing. I could never have got home without it, & ever since I came, it has been my comfort in every outing. It is a beauty & my sister['s?] friend here who was at a concert last night asked for it in preference to her falderal thing, as the wind was very keen. Of course she was made welcome to it. Now it is breakfast time. I have written since 4 o/c am as I cant sleep for the daylight. I have just answered one letter from Mrs Rattray, who has invited us to spend a week with her, & one to Miss Darby, whose brother is out with you, also one to him. He has lost a brother out east, & one brother died less than a year ago at home, the two youngest of their family. I'm awfully sorry for him out there alone.

27^th June 1907

I did not see Davidson at first, as I was not able to walk, & could not find the road to the back of the ship, but Dan & he got into company, so he came along & we had a chat several times. I bade him call here, if he was near Edinburgh, & he gave me his address, so that I might call on him if I were in Aberdeenshire. A Missionary going to be Principal in the Training School in Calabar, called here with his young wife, before they left with last steamer. She is a very sweet pretty girl, a daughter of Dr F. Fergusson of Glasgow. He is an M.A. or B.A. of a University & is a great improvement on Luke. He has been out twice before in Calabar. Dr Rattray has bought a practice in Huddersfield, & after the summer months, will go there.

I read the novel "Fools rush in", & was rather disappointed in it. It is rather thin I think. The characters on the Government side are fairly consistent, but not original or striking in any way. *Any* man with ordinary gumption, could have been as tactful & clever & brave as the "Resident"--Who by the way was a scotsman.

What is Brooke entitled to fame for?? Because with the help of Addie, & the man he so foully wronged, he went to the rescue of a couple of women in a native town? Bah!! Addie, poor gamin was worth a score of him in resource & in everything. Brooke said to Addie "Im going to hang up this man". Addie nodded, "By the living jingo I should think so. What were you going to do? Pension him"? That I think made Brooke a ninny, specially as his business was to have done the same act at first without waiting to talk it over, & then with the help of the [Hons - ?], he actually strung up a beast, who had murdered a white man, & meant to do more than murder to a poor woman. Pollard having throttled the man with whom he was in grips "looked up to see who had called, "Barbara!" -- His own promised wife -- "They" Brooke & the girl "were locked in each others arms". If that a West African Hero, I give it up. As to the women!!! One had been a wife for twelve years, & in less than 2 days after her husband had been murdered before her eyes, she was turning to another man with her eyes saying "Help me". & in 3 days she cd have put her head down & cried,. because it was for *her* safety & of *her* the Resident was thinking. "I love you, I love you she whispered, Don't send me away from you". "He crushed her fiercely to him. She slipped her arm about his neck & pressed her face to his." That's one heroine! The other, the girl who chose & gave her promise to a man, Left her home to go to him in a foreign land for the highest of services & ere 2 days in that land had gone, she had given her heart once again to another who simply did her an everyday service. She saw that man (ie her promised husband) suffer. Saw him do acts of bravery yet never once had the grace to shew him even a glance of pity. far less of apology, & in the midst of carnage & death & worse she cd play with her hair & her bath & her surroundings, and before many hours were over gave herself with extacy [Note 1] into the embraces of an almost utter stranger who was as void of one spark of honour, or pity for the brave silent fellow whose pledged wife he was taking, as she was herself. & that is a British soldier & gentleman!!!

As for Webley!!! There *may* be such duffers among missionaries, but they are *not* *in* *charge* of Missions or of men's lives. He is *too* *palpably* a Creation of the Author's. This novel may suit the tastes of a few who feed on garbage in West Africa. It will disgust the Honourable, & so defeat its own end. The other book "White Capital & Coloured Labour" is a gem. Thats a book, & a *Man* to write it, if you like. I shall send it about as I have tried to do already, & will induce some to buy it. But my time is up. I am reading (Ha - throne? ) here, & find him good and restful as ever. Time is up, So for a time Goodbye. Shall have better news next time when I get about: I am yours most sincerely M M Slessor

P.S
Mr Maxwell had a letter lying waiting for me at Plymouth. An uncle of his was a fellow passenger of yours from Canary. Will write to him soon, not the uncle you know, but Mr Maxwell MM

Dear Mr Partridge

I havent a morsel of news, this is only to say "How do?" & that I hope you are well. It will be near your time to come home, & I am not yet able to come out, & I hear the Ladies at Ikot Obon are leaving too in August. What then about our home & bairns & people & Court? I wish I were able to come right away. Indeed I was intending to go off to Grand Canary & stay there for a month or two, & run back with any suitable steamer, for there has *not* *been* *one* summer day yet. Only one Sunday was dry, so I got a cold making my *first* Call; & have not been out of bed since till yesterday. I was in the Dining room for a little seeing an Aunt of Mrs Wilkies. I have fire on night & day, but there's no comfort, notwithstanding all this, they will not hear of my going anywhere till the weather changes, & then I shall go to the Highlands. I have *not* *once* had a run on my cycle. I never saw such miserable weather, but I can walk all right, that weakness has gone. My fur Cloak has been a great blessing to me I can tell you.

Are you back in Ikot Okpene? When do you leave? How is it with you? Are the people doing well? Miss Peacock wrote that there was a lot of firing somewhere near, but she could not learn what it was. Very likely it was a funeral or a feast.

I have been reading Mrs Humphrey Ward, & "N5, John St." I suppose you have read the latter. The book you gave me, "White Capital & Black Labour" has been constantly on loan since I came. I was to tell you what I thought of it, but have not been able to write the last 10 days. I hear Mr Watt is home, an Uncle of His, a clergyman was calling here. His brother has got a very good post in Edinburgh too just now, & a very intimate friend of his mother's lives near, & visits often here, so I'm sure to see him. Dr McDonald has not turned up yet. His home is in Edinh. The Prince & Princess of Wales were passing here 2 days ago, & again were opening an Art School or something yest, in the City, but they might have been in Africa for all I could go to see. There are not many tourists in the neighbourhood, the weather is so bad, but letters from far north say it is not so bad there. I do hope you will get something better than this. If August is not better sport will be poor.

I thank you for ordering off all male visitors from the Use house. The girls say no one bothers them, & that I am to thank you. Perhaps you will repeat the proclamation before you leave. Have not seen Mr Middleton yet, nor heard of Davidson, tho' he said he wd be coming to Edinh. He is hoping to get on to the Road works.

Now keep strong. Keep cheerful, & come home able to enjoy yourself & to give joy to your friends. When you come you will please let me know. Also your address. All good be with & about you. I am most sincerely Yours M M Slessor

Dear Old Chief
Your letter is a rare treat. But it makes me very Homesick, & the very idea of your going elsewhere, & a new thing, & a new person at the head, is alarming. I cant imagine it.

I have been visiting old friends, & am just overwhelmed with the love & kindness of *all*. It is just restful to be called by your Christian name, & to hear people say. "How like your mother you are." & etc - but it *is* *hard* on the dear old mater! - I *have* been revelling in "frocks & furbelows." It is simply lovely to see the shop windows, & to examine & very nearly *envy* the beautiful creations the girls wear, & to look at the "milk & roses" of complection, & the beauty & roundness of form they all possess. But of course this is most unbecoming in the senior member of a presbyterian Mission! & you must keep my weakness a secret, & I am trying to take the plainest & cheapest of frocks out with me. Only fancy them telling me that my costume is like a brides rigout!!!! Really the three junior mission ladies, Misses Bencock, Reid & Aimes told me so when we all met the other day in Glasgow, & I confess to feeling ashamed to be in grey & silk when they were so modestly & consistently garbed in Navy Blue & I could be the mother of the lot!! Well, it is my last shew off, so I may be pardoned. Anaemic & debilitated or not, I am *not* well pleased at their leaving the station, & I should like to see the man or the Church Council who could *make* me leave any place. But as you say "I get my own will with my usual skill." I do not for a moment beleive that you will leave your district for good, till "the approaching civilization" has *quite* arrived. It is far off yet I fear.

I am trying to get an industrial Home of some kind started for women in Ikibio. & my friends are willing to come to the rescue. I have the promise of £300. from 3 individuals, but only for the Home, not for ordinary Mission funds. I am hoping that *shoe* *making* be given them for an industry. as I beleive there wd be great demand for shoes, the Plant costs so little.

October 3^rd
Dear Old Ruler I *am* sorry that this was left by mistake when I went from home, & that the whirl & constant engagements did not allow me the time or the mood to write another, & then comes your last letter with its woeful tale of sickness. & I could hit myself for my silence, tho' I thought really that you would not be bothered with my effusions. You wd be so busy enjoying yourself. This is MY turn now. I ought to be preaching to you. & telling you "it serves you right" for you are such an agnostic. & etc. etc. but I am too sorry to indulge in this, & I shall sing the *Other side* & remember all your constant & uniform patience & kindness to me, through thick & thin, & shall say that you are just a dear good old man, & that I *can-not* *beleive* that you will not go back to your work. I too had a severe month of it from a chill when I came home, and thought I should never get over the discomfort & the pain & fever & weakness, but here I am cycling all over the country & behaving like a young lady. So you lay aside that groaning & just "hurry up" & get better, & what if the days *are* growing shorter!!! You have the comforts of your own home, & you have the dearest ties earth holds, drawn tighter for your very sickness, & you have the prospect of bracing from the coolness! and you have !!! __________________!! Fill in this space as you know I should , & "count your blessings one by one", & think of the blessings that "might be" & ought to be, yours, if you * wd* take them, & then see if you are not brighter & more hopeful.

Have you good reading? It is such a good help to keep off nervousness & weariness to have a good book, & someone to read with.

I am home from a round of visits, & of small meetings down on the borders. and I called the other day on Mr Middletons parents. They were away from home, but he himself was at home with a young sister, & we had a good old Confab on the "dark Continent." His parents, like your own are Christian people, & very much interested in all Foreign Missions, & as they belong to our own Church are specially interested in Calabar, & they invited me some ago to stay with them. I was not able to do this, & was much disappointed at not seeing them. Mr Kirk the Engineer has passed away he tells me. He was all right, for time & for Eternity in any Case, for he was a devoted follower of our lord & saviour for all the 11 years I have known him. There is not much from Calabar this time. Just a note from Mr Wilkie, which tells of going to see the Use & Ikot Obon houses, & of not finding Jean there, as she had gone to Okpo at the request of the Old Chief there for a day. He found (Albuie?), & took her to Itu, & he means to take Jean Okogru, but I'm sure Jean will not go. It *wd* be better for them to leave things alone I think, for Jean has her side of the story, but I am sorely perplexed about it all, & cannot sleep at nights because of it. I intend to leave for Calabar by the boat leaving on 19th. the Mission Board are willing, though I have had a hard fight to get away. They were persisting in making me stay all winter "to get quite strong" on one hand, & on the other "To go through the Churches telling about Calabar & its needs." as if I could at my age do the one & gain the other. They are all (so?) very good though. They overwhelm me with kindness & with their confidence, & only trust I shall be worthy of it. I have very little news which would interest you. Mr Darlys parents & sisters keep asking me to visit them. His father is a Clergyman, & they are all such nice good people. Mrs (de-Rozwind?) also gives me repeated invitations, & I shall try to run down there. They are R Cs but He is a good man, & has ever been kind to me, & if they don’t mind being of a different faith, I am sure I don’t, for they & we have one and the same master & saviour, & I should like to give them any pleasure. if only to help pay back my debt to them. Mr Watt has not been here again. His uncle who is our Church secretary asked me to dinner last week but I was from home. I know many of his home peole here. Dr McDonald, who was at Ikot Okpene called one day in my absence to take a run with our cycles. He has not come back. I hear he has got engaged to be married, so he will be busy with his fiancee. A Mr Aldridge from Sierra Leone is writing a book - a sequel to a previous one, & he asked me to give him something in regard to a limited emigration scheme for the 200 odd miles of Railway which they have into a comparatively healthy & high hinterland. I simply cant get it done, as I am deluged with correspondence, but I would like to say something on the subject. Mr Middleton is to leave I expect about the beginning of November. Miss Aimess on the 23, or 30th of that month of fogs so I cd have company if I waited, but I cant see my way to wait, because of the empty station, & my big girls.

I don’t know Bedell, & don’t know whether I should do anything in the way of working with him, & may go farther on to find new ground. & leave the old place with the ladies who have done so well there. The governor leaves I hear with an early boat, about the 14th, I do hope Lady Egerton is again with him. It is so good for the country to have such a wife at ones right hand in times of perplexity & worry.

I wish I had sent the P.P.Cs [Note 1] I gathered from place to place, but I thought you would think them puerile. Would you have thought so? Had I known you were ill, I should have done so. Well, will you take this scrawl for today, & with it my apologies, & a great lot of sympathy, & hosts of good wishes, & prayers too for your wellbeing in every sense. & hoping that you will let me know how you are *very* *very* *soon* & that your Bulletins will be all good

I am Yours most sincerely

Mary M Slessor

I shall maybe write a book when we get to the other side of this world where the wicked cease from troubling & the weary are at rest. Certainly I shall not do so here.

MMS

so you can just take the time & place ( - ?) Mokop? [Note 2]

(Postcard post-marked "Aberdeen 11.20AM Oct 14 07)

Editorial Note:

1. "Fantee". Name of ship.

My dear old Chief and friend,

I *shall* pity you, because you are not on board this boat. - not because the boat is fine, or the company good, neither would be the truth, but the weather!! It is superb. The sea & the sky vie with each other as to which shade & depth of blue is finer. & I am at odds with myself as to which I should crown, till another gleam of sunshine comes & obliterates the former glory. We had it heavy on Sunday, but from monday on , it has been beyond expression lovely. The night being even lovelier than the day. We passed the Islands during the night & are now fairly started for Sierra Leone, which we hope to make by Thursday next. A certain man named [Pinnet?], a D.C.[Note 1] somewhere they say, is here, & a couple of Govt. doctors, elderly men, but with the exception of Lieut Meiklejohn, there is not a man I care to speak to. Indeed it is too tiring to listen to the empty froth, about sweepstake & Bridge and drink, & the noise is sometimes like what one would expect in a gang of Hooligans, or from a taproom in a [slum?]. It is degrading to a woman to have to bear it. Still we are being borne to home & bairns & work, & so it has its particular compensation. I am glad, not with standing the heartaches of parting, to be here again on my way out. Had you been out, I should possibly have stayed a steamer later, or even two steamers, but the fear for what may be is too strong. I shall go to Use first & see to the two houses. They will be sadly out of repair after the heavy rains. I have seen a little of both Miss Peacock & Miss Reid at home. The latter called on us in Edinr, [Note 2] the former travelled with me on a journey to Aberdeen, & once to Alloa. They both seem quite fit & will be out early in the year. All the friends as well as the church people tried to keep me at home for the winter, & when I would not stay, they tried to bind me to a 2 years term, but I hold that in my own option, & though it was good to be at home, & to enjoy many things, it is far too tame, & far too exacting, to be borne willingly. Life is so full of conventional duties, which are as hard in their way as the real things of life, but much less satisfactory. Still I have enjoyed it, the white washings & pullings about to get me into society shape, not with standing. & I hope I shall be more Civilised & Christian in my manner of life for it all.

The Wilkies are on their way home. I spent one day at Dr Robson's, Mrs Wilkies fathers', & they are looking for them early in Novr. I saw Dr McDonald, who comes by next boat, also Capn Grays people, & Mr Middleton's & Mr Watts, but have no news. Mr Maxwell says he is to come & meet me at Lagos. I shall give him your good wishes, for I know you like & appreciate him. I am not sure if I shall see Colonel Montanaro at Sierra Leone, but we have a Colonel & his wife on board going there, so I shall try to through them. They have kept to their Cabin most of the time, as she has been rather sick.

I have no other hope of a break in the monotony of the voyage till we reach Calabar. No one seems to know whether the Governor has sailed, tho it was reported he had early in the month. I shall let you know as I get on how I find things, but I do trust the doctors will prove false prophets, as they so aften are, & that you shall be back at your post with in the 6 months. Are you able to write? If so, you should make the short wintry days in your room memorable for more than the invalids fretful life. You have so much to write about. Write!!! It will only need a beginning. What has been done, What *may* be done, What should be done in the Protectorate, the native, His habits, Life & Laws, Etc the Country, its produce, its possibilities, etc. but please leave *religion* out this time, as I don't deem you fit to write on such a wide, & inward subject. I think one should be surer & more strictly *located*, if I may say so. Your ideas on that subject are too loose & disjointed, & take too little reck of such facts as Sin. You don't even put them scientifically, & though the science of God will evade definitions, as final. It should be scientifically studied before being written about. How do you like that for plain speaking? You are my Friend, so I *dare* do it. However no one who has been in the Protectorate can do better work for it than you can, & I trust your being laid aside will stimulate you in this direction. Perhaps the stimulus will react on the body, & give you power to subdue the illness to a great extent. I like your pluck, & determination to conquer & to do it gracefully. I wish you good speed, & if your past is any criterion for your perseverance I hope the best, & may welcome you at Use, or much further on before very long.

Now don't be angry when I call your attention to a way which I have *proved* *often* & which it is well worth your while trying. It is an old fact & promise given in the Old Book which professes to be more than a human document. It says "I am the Lord Who Healeth Thee", & centuries later, the "Son of Man" verified the same fact & promise, & has been doing it still every where & at every time, where & when He has found a believing heart. *Try* *it*. I am always asking Him to do this for you & more. This is of course between ourselves, but I'm serious.

You think I should take a Bicycle out with me! Do you think for a moment that I shall ever part with the Bike you gave me?? How dare you think so? I have been all over the country on it, & at the last I was taking the hills as well as other elderly ladies did, & my precious Bike is packed & in the hold of this ship & will be my companion as long as it will hold together. I took it by train wherever I went, & I love it, & could be on it all the time. I got a carpenter to pack it in the same case as it went home in. I only wish I could get you for a race. I think I shall be able now to keep step with you. O do hurry up & come out, & I shall accompany you to Ikot Ekpene any day.

Now I must stop, as there are so many interruptions, & it gets cooler, so I must obey your advice & get on a wrap. What a comfort that cloak has been!! *&* *is*.

29^th
We expect to make Sierra Leone tomorrow morning, so I just finish of [Note 4] this in a sweltering heat. It is simply unbearable down in the cabin. I have no news. I have been writing a lot, as I must make up arrears. They had games Yest., which took up all the time & the interest on board. I am rudely healthy. My appetite is the wonder of all who sit at my table I think. I wish I could give some of it to you. Now "Hurry up" & get well, for one at least will be watching & waiting for you at the old district. I shall send on all news when I arrive. Good bye. God bless you, & thus pay some of the debt I owe you. Remember me to your family circle.
I am yours very sincerely
Mary M Slessor

Editorial Notes:

1. "Book". Probably a local term for an official document or statement
2. C.M. = Court Messenger
3. palaver = usually a discussion, consultation, Court Case
4. presumably "prejudice"

Dear Old Workfellow & Boss,

How are you on this bright morning? Im hoping to hear something from you by this mail, for truth to tell Im rather anxious. It seems a year already since I left Britain. Yet I have not done anything. The last week I set off by canoe from Okpo, for Ikpe, the big market town at the head of the Anyan Enen Creek. How I have wished that you were at hand, with all your knowledge of roads & places to help me. I mean to seek pastures new, when the ladies come, which will be before very long, & as Ikpe have come so often to beg for a teacher & a visit, I went before beginning the Court work. I found that it was a very large market. That it is a monopoly of Eniyon & Efik have been strictly kept out. That from Abiti Okpenyon's farm I can get a road to Ikot Obon, that from Asua Abasias farm I can get a short road to Ikpe which wd suit my cycle in the dry season. That the Nkana town was a little over an hours walk from Ikpe, & 3 hours faster than our canoe was, that from the latter 2 places & from Ikpe, one can make Ikot Okpene in one long days walk. That from Ikpe my policeman - whom I met there, had gone to Amamowo, - Aro - & walked over in the afternoon, & that six hours takes one to Bendi. While our bad & hostile members of Use & Aka & eversomany more, are all on its borders & attend its market. That there is a Church built, & 21 names of full grown men are to join as Xtians [Note 1], & 20 lads at least, with a sprinkling of women, who were not guaranteed as they may succumb to pressure. that they have advanced some distance in the knowledge of Xtianity, tho' no one can read, & that they regularly meet for worship, & keep the Sabbath. - This thro' the Eniyon Xtians, who wish the Sunday market stopped. The Chiefs were riled at the Xtians not hunting for, & offering sacrifices, lest they should all die thro' the neglect. But they were pleased that I gave command to obedience in all unessential matters. They gave me plenty of chop [Note 2] & fowls, a sheep & etc, & if all goes well, I shall stay in the vestry of the Church till I build a House, & make that my head quarters, when the ladies come. How will you like to meet me there?

I have not yet seen Mr Bedwell! He was on patrol so I was judging him hastily, still I think he might have written a note. He called while I was away, but left no note, & as he did not send to say he was coming, I was not to blame for being out. His A.D.C. [Note 3] came up one day. The day I came from Okpu service, & he saw my cycle. He had just come up at my back. I was not yet in the house. Sidney I think his name is. The men came - at this busy season from their farm work to attend the Court on Thursday but found Halliday was at Ikop Okpene, but no word had been sent. I'm glad I did not make a fool of myself by going to find no Court. In fact I had fever that day, so did not attempt it. I found Okono Nguo the C.M. [Note 4] at that distant market, & he said the Consul at Ikot Ekpene sent him. If he did, He did a greatly indiscreet thing. It is too big a temptation to the man, & it is an infliction on peoples who only partly belong to this Court, & it is besides too far away from supervision for a boy to have a roving Commission - with Blue Clothes and Brass Buttons.

I could not buy a penny worth with English money. They lied like Troopers. Every thing was either sold, or they had just bought them. However I did not say anything. The C.M. came to tell me some men called him "Dam fool" when he asked them what they did with a gun, & they threatened to kill him, which they cd. easily have done & escaped. I went to seek them, but they hid, & I told the boy to forgive because of the master of the house, as they only lodged their things in his house on market days for the few hours they were there, & I am sure they, the Culprits, were hearing me, so I did as diplomatically as I could, assuring the C.M. that when they knew us better, they wd. act differently. The Chiefs here said, the White Man had done a few good things, but had done many bad things to them. I met that too, as tactfully as I could, trying to let in light. Esien is to be tried at the Assizes I hear. For raping 14 young children, *for* *holding* *communication* *at* *least* - if nothing more, with Slaves & Murderers, & etc. It is a dreadful indictment.

I had to stop here as my provisions came up. Mr Rosario kindly sent to Itu for them, & then before I got them opened Fever was on again. Ive had a fine night of it, but it does not reduce me to the weakness it used to. I'm staying in bed tho' & am sending the Children to help in the service. However it has put an end to my writing, for the whole day was lost, & I'm afraid to attempt anything more. - Jean saw a White Man whom she did not know, go down the beach road yesterday. Mr Fosbery sent his kind regards up, saying he did not know I was coming else he wd. have come on board, but I have not had a chance yet to speak to him to convey your message. If I could get a way back, I wd. go to Duke Town on business, but there is only the weekly str. [Note 5] & that is a long time to wait. There is no news. Did I tell you of the mad man's attack on the store at Russells? & of Mr Underhill's personal bravery in tackling him? His wound is quite healed. He has turned out much *finer* than we thought. He is not a bad fellow, & is a prime favourite with the people, so very kind hearted, & loved by the poor. He has a young clerk named Jones, a fine lad, who has been having fever like myself lately. Robertson says he is going home by March boat. I wish March were tomorrow. Now. I must get my letter sent down to the beach. So say good day, with an apology for such a shabby letter. God bless you & supply your every need, as He *only* can. I am ever yours faithfully & sincerely

M M Slessor

Dear old friend,

The first letter of 1908 shall be to you. I am truly glad to hear at last that you are better & getting up a bit. I trust that by this time you are getting out for a little, & that the festive season has been a happy one. I had Miss Chalmers from Duke Town when the last mail went, & so could not get a bit written to you. She went the other day, & I am alone. Mr Rosario came up with his asst. engineer, & spent a couple of hours with me in the morning, which was exceedingly kind of them. Mr Underhill was to have come up last evening, but cd not get away, & the whole of the Europeans at the beach are dining tonight with the Robertsons at Itu. The Doc is so very much at that beach, that I suppose he is bound to give them a night in return. He will be going home in March. The Engineers have just been putting bridges all the way up the Creek side, for an expedition of 800 men who are going far up into the Aro Country, to a place where no European has yet been, & it is partly I hear to avenge the death of a man named Smith. I do hope & pray, that no harm or Killing may come of it. It is such a long & unknown road. The bridges are the palaver [Note 1] of our Court, are they not? There was some disturbance in the market a fortnight ago. A Major something from behind Bendi came & took rods [Note 2] from people in the market, & gave English money, & the Aro Policemen caught a number of our boys, & Enyon boys on the road to & from farms, & threw them into their steel canoe, our boys don’t know how to paddle any small canoe, much less those great things, & some of them were hurt, & their clothes torn, & their things all scattered & lost, as were the goods of many women. So the next market was attended by about 50 women, & they wd. not accept rods, & all the villages are expecting to have the white man come & take their rods from them. The one cry I heard was for Udo Afia Ikot Okpene [Note 3], who flogged - this is a parabolic term in their tongue - them for dirty roads, but took care of them from strangers. I have been trying to conciliate them all round, but it is a pity it happened all the same, the market shd. be free from panic, if the country is to prosper. The Ikot Okpene folks have been out on patrol again I hear. Halliday has been on holiday since before Xmas & is not home yet. I have never heard a sound, or had a scrap of a pen from Beddell, so am snubbed for true, & the natives are wondering why I cant help them. However, I am not out of employment. The old Chiefs at Ikot Obon & at Use are always asking when you are coming, so are Itu & Eniyon. If you saw your road, I tell them, they would not like to see you. But they say, O we would soon clean it. It is harvest time, so they don’t take any notice. I have no news. There is little trade doing at the beach. In fact, almost nothing, & 2 companies are begun at Itu with factories, or Houses of trade. Mr Underhill works out fairly well, & is very obliging. He kept my little thief boy well for me, but it is not a reformation yet. My girls are all at home, & all doing well, & have forgiven the slanders, & wilfull misrepresentations heaped on them. They are all cutting bush for farms. I will be going to Ikot Obon, this or next week to repair & prepare for the two ladies. Mr Rosario says there is a fine camp which they are done with with good clearings, & good water, if we want to open a school. It is 8 miles from Ikot Okpene, but I am to go up to Ikpe I think as soon as the ladies come out. There is nothing to hinder me seeing the Court is out of my hands. I shall go out on my cycle too to see this Camp, but not till the House is ready for the ladies, as they should be out in 2 steamers more. I am thinking of building more here, but cant get labour yet - & making this the Industrial home for women. Getting the artizan to live at Ikot Obon, & the two ladies who will take charge of the home, here, & let the teacher ladies go on to that Camp, or somewhere farther on. I have written this home, but it will take some time, even if it is recommended. I had a young lad in on his way to Ikot Okpene. He is for the telegraph. It was on Sunday, & he came to Church. He did not get much of a Xmas welcome from anyone in Calabar, nor an invitation to the sports or regatta or anything. He seemed a nice lad, & will be going out & in every month he says. I do not intend he shall lack a welcome at this side. I took Miss Chalmers round the Eniyon towns. We spent a night at Akani Obio. We got a great welcome every where. Aro Chuku has a fine fellow, according to the natives, in place of Mr Cotton. They are highly pleased, but the Interpreter will follow yours I fear. Esien has sent thro his lawyer letters to Eso, & Udo Ekandem, & Ofon Ikot, for £100, from each, for bail, but it is preposterous, they can no more give £300 than they can give the moon. His poor Mother is heartbroken, no one knows the charges made against him. Poor Esien!! They all say, "O if his master were here when he is tried!" but you cant be. Eh? The trial is to be at Ikot Okpene I hear, & by the Judge. I hear there are quite a crowd of ladies in Calabar. Mr Fosberry sent his Comps. & said had they known I was on the str,[ they wd have called on me. His wife is there, & very nice I hear. I have not heard from Lagos yet, but expect to by this mail. There has been some kind of a fight at Xmas in Calabar, between Kroo & Efik men, & 2 K Bs [Note 4] were killed. But I have no particulars. Nor have I news. A white man passed on Monday as I taught school at Use. I bowed, & He lifted his hat & walked on. Mr Rosario is my only friend here & the factory folk & they are most kind. Rosario cd. not be kinder if he was my brother. He brought up all my provisions, 19 boxes, without any asking, or giving me any trouble, & the roadway & every thing he has seen to. He came up on Xmas day & sent me a ham & Plum pudding, & here he is today again, lest I shd be lonely. But I'm wearying to see you again, for your place cant be filled by any of the others, good as they are.

Now let me thank you for the book you sent. I have not read it since I was a girl, & I have enjoyed the oldworld gentlewomen, who, after all are more to my taste than the new woman. Im too old for the new clever independent brand I fear. It is so --- no! I shall not enter on any dissertations, for the mosquitoes are really agravating even if they don’t bite me. Now I'm off to bed. Wishing you the very best year that ever you have had. God be near to you, & reveal Himself to you in all His Fatherhood & love, & make you strong in body for farther & even better service than ever. My Best regards to your family circle, & believe me ever Yours Faithfully & sincerely
Mary M Slessor

Saturday, 4^th. Latest news. On their way down to Calabar from Ikot Okpene today, there passed, - & came in - Colonel MoorHouse, Major Trenchard - & a couple of Capns. who are engaged more or less if not actually going to the front, at this big Expedition. Middleton is gone to the East, & is therefore not of us any more. aurevoir

Yours truly

MMSlessor