|
Slessor, Mary Letter no. 70 27th April 1910
Altough Miss Slessor is worried that she has not heard from Mr Partridge
recently, her main reason for writing is to ask him to bear witness in the case of
Ekpe Ita, who is being asked to pay "that young scamp" Udo Antia £20 or to
become, with his household, Udo's slaves. The whole case seems to hinge on
actions taken 11 years earlier, with Mr Partridge the only possible witness for the
defence.
[Envelope addressed to]
C Partridge Esq
Badagri,[deleted] Abeokuta
via Lagos,
So Nigeria.
Use Ikot Oku
27th April 1910.
Dear Mr Partridge
If word does not come from you this mail, I shall try to write to
someone who will know about you from Lagos. Are you well enough? I'm
more than anxious.
But I am not to write about myself in this note. It is written in favour of one of
the best & most respectable citizens of Ntit Obio. At Ikot Inyan - Imuk's
village. Since I have left the Court Udo Antia is at it again, calling people from
here & there, with claims for women & etc, & he seems to have got the right side
of a boy whom I put in "Interem" for a sick member for Itu. The fellow hasn't
even a Warrant to sit, so I made a visit last week & spoke to the Jury about it, &
told them that fellow cant be foreman of Jury.
Udo Antia calls Ekpo Ita of Ikot Imien claiming him & all his House, as his
slaves. One part of the Claim rests on an act of 11 years ago, in which he
invocked Udo's help with his women. By the brother & other Chiefs this was
revocked by the sacrifice of a fowl etc. that part is easily disposed of. But he
says he has paid to Udo Afia Ikot Okpene [Note 1], - that is Mr Partridge, the
sum of £20 " " for redemption money for Ekpo Ita. in other words *he*
*bought* *him* *by* *paying this sum to you*. No one knows for what he
paid this. Ekpo Ita never had a palaver with you. You never told him, & you
never told me, & he does not know from what he redeemed him at your hands.
So he told the Court that he had no witness but you, & he asks me to write & ask
if you will tell the Court what he did that you took this money from Udo Antia.
As one A.D.C. [Note 2] is gone to Calabar sick, I have taken it on me to forbid
the Case going on till his, or a substitute returns, & untill Ekpo Itas question to
you, be answered. Will you tell him? It means his very life to him.
Now here is his, & Imuks statement about the £20. It may help your memory!
Udo Antia held a stubborn wife of Ekpo Ita's, one man seduced her. Udo took
60 rods [Note 3] from that man, & you fined him, Udo Antia, for taking the 60
rods - *i.e. He lost 60 rods of the womans a/c.*
You see I am not doing what I shd. do, were I taking up this Case i.e. writing to
Brooks. But the Dept. asks me to write *for* **him** direct to you, as he
knows nothing of any transaction on his behalf, between you & Udo Antia. &
that young scamp sitting in the foremans Chair without even a Warrant, said a
week or more ago, "You must either find £20, or be Udo Antias slave. We
know nothing of having a White Man for Witness". *He* *has* *got* *his*
*Answer* beleive me for that, & they will not think again of transferring a house
& a White Man never called. The Eniyon men were attending the Assizes at
Aro Chuku when this was spoken. Thats my burden, & if you can help this
man, as his Witness, please do so, in the fashion which is to your orderly &
official soul, the best one. Of course it shd. go from you pro the D.C. [Note 4]
but our swells from Itu seem to be able to do without a D.C. Hence the
[Defts?], fear & dread.
With every kind wish & regard I am
Yours Sincerely
M MSlessor
EDITORIAL NOTES;
1] Udo Afia Ikot Okpene. Charles Partridge's local name
2] ADC = Aide-de-camp
3] rods = brass rods were a medium for barter; local currency
4] DC = District Commissioner
TRANSCRIPTION BY: Leslie A. Mackenzie, 1997
DATA ENTERED BY: Ruth E. Riding, 1998Slessor, Mary Letter no. 71 23rd June 1910
Miss Slessor has had a long letter from Mr Partridge in which he would appear
to have thought that her earlier letter [No 70] was not so friendly. This Mary
takes seriously! He has also enclosed a statement which will resolve Ekpo Ita's
problem. Mary goes on to relate the circumstances under which she fell
seriously ill, of the love and care she has received from her friends, and of how
she will soon be back at Use. She has been impressed by the gardens at Itu, and
has resolved to establish a garden for herself on her return. While away Mr
Dickson has repaired her house, and established a system for collecting rain
water. She upbraids Mr Partridge for keeping secret the fact that he is author of
another book "King Edward's Ring", which she has just discovered, and asks to
know more of it before she reads it again in order to discuss it with him later.
C Partridge Esqr
The Residency
Abeokuta
*Nigeria* *W.P.*
[Postmarks show the letter left Calabar on June 25th 1910, arrived in Lagos on
June 29th, and was received at Igbein Hill Abeokuta on June 30th 1910]
Training Institute
Duke Town
23rd June 1910
O You Dear Duffer - will that do???
I never thought you could be so dense! Did you never hear that
"absence makes", etc & you never saw that I was writing for Ekpo Ita, & that the
letter might have to be shewn to some Magistrate you were to take oath before?
If I could not call you "Dear Mr" - & give *respectful* salaams, I would not care
so much when you were long silent, & you would have another letter between or
before that one which was not "Just like a woman". Did you not get that??
Well, Well! I'm properly glad to see the marks of your "fist" again anyhow, tho.
it *is* driven home with some force, but I am not so well pleased with your new
abode. Thousands of a population in one locality, does not meet my approval
under tropical African conditions, & I do hope your residence is far apart from
the madding crowd, - tho I dont know what "madding" means? [Note 1]-
You dont say one word about your health. I wish you had, but I take it for the
best as you say nothing to the contrary. Only you would not do that for
anything, if you were ever so uncomfortable or ill. You are a personification of
John Bull in this respect. I suppose I could put it in a finer way than that, but
this will do. It is time now I thanked you I think for your long letter, & for the
releif to that poor mans feelings, & to the deadlock in the Court in his Case,
which your paper brought. I sent it to the A.D.C.s [Note 2] Office at Itu, but
have never seen him, or our people. And that brings me to the reason I am here.
It will be five weeks tomorrow since I was away down the road on some
business about tree cutting, as the motor cd not pass, & I came home as well as
ever I was in my life. I had settled a palaver [Note 3] on the road, & so had a
long seat in the middle of my walk, & was reading after breakfast, when such a
vomiting which cd not stop came on, & the children got so frightened when I cd.
not speak any more that they told David, who got on his Cycle & off to Ikot
Okpene for the Dr., as we thought Dr Robertson was in Calabar at the Kings
Memorial service. At once Jean ran to Itu, & David had told his Master, so
before long 3 White Men, & then Dr Robertson were there with the motor, &
they lifted me in & took me to Itu, where Dr Robertson & his wife nursed me
with such tender care & affection & with such skill that in 3 weeks I could go
out my self to the verandah & sit about. The very day after the news got down
here, my dear old friend & Chief, Mr Bedwell, sent up a launch with ice &
chickens, & from then the brother & sister here who are among my most
intimate & loved friends from long ago, kept sending up such delicacies, & then
Mr Bedwell sent the *Maple* *Leaf* [Note 4] for me fancy that! While two
A.D.C.s one of them sick, went down in a small launch at the same time, & he
wanted me to live at the Hospital for a month, for rest & change, [ - ?]!!! This
child & her friends prevailed, so I have been spoiled here, with affectionate
nursing & am feeding up for the slaughter of all those dear innocents at Use &
neighbourhood, when I get back on Saturday. Mr Bedwell has gone for a tour
somewhere, but another old & valued friend, Mr Child came, & he is to send me
home in another launch on Sat. so I can have Sabbath with my people. Now
there's another episode!
I'm so sorry at causing such trouble to every body, but I have learned a great
many valuable lessons, & I have seen many "tips" for the material side, which
will maybe make the little bit in front more effecient [sic] in my small service.
O I've forgotten to say, that by Mr Bedwells orders, my house has been all
repaired & rematted, & a spout put up to the roof to catch rain water & the
Mission sent a huge tank long ago , so now the connection is made: life will be
considerably less strenuous for the children, who had so much water to carry, &
better for me with the purer water. I *have* a filter mind, so dont preach! & I
was going on all the proper lines when this happened. Well now this is enough,
or, nearly so, about my precious self, and the 5 *teething* *Infants* - if they are
all spared, to whom I go, D.V. [Note 5] in a couple of days, will bring me to
Terra Firma [Note 6] again. I have not any news tho' I have been out to tea at
the Drs. His wife, a handsome & very pretty woman came out a few weeks ago,
& was very kind & gracious to us, a charming manner she has. She has three
lovely children at home, which added to her charm & winsomeness, as her
mothers-love was manifest in her conversation & manner. Mr Child is to come
up for a cup of tea this afternoon. There have been 2 or 3 deaths of a rather
sudden kind here among white men, but they are not among your acquaintance
or mine. A number of deaths have occurred also among my people since I left.
A letter has just come in from David, & he tells me Mary & all the children are
well, & that Use are repairing the Twin Mothers house & several other places in
the grounds. So I feel quite glad. This is a very lovely place! I have been able
to take a walk this week, every day, & am charmed with the whole thing. The
Drs garden, & all the gardens here, as well as that at Itu Hospital, are lovely, & I
am determined to have a garden the first thing I do.
I am not at all in love with either side of our Political District. We have got
such an ------------------------! of a man at Itu. I'm glad he was in a separate
launch, for there would have been a sparring match, & I'm not physically fit yet
for it, but it *will* *come*, if he is long enough there. The average length of
the A.D.Cs time there since Mr Dickson left, is about 3 weeks, &, "I am glad".
Thats from a Hymn refrain, but it is not meant to be irreverent, for it just came to
the pen point before I thought. Dont you think for a moment you are to "Pawn
my halo," My hair is growing in again, & I'm determined I shant give you any
opportunity.
There is a semi European Church at Ikot Obon now, & there is a surplus of
£20 " " after paying about £60 for it. They got help however from other
Congregations, Duke & Creek Towns. Itu is putting up a fine new Church, a
small tower, or whatever you call it, will be seen from far & near. It, the
Church, will cost about £400. & it is almost subscribed already by the *natives*
*themselves* who have a few boys out teaching in the bush districts, All at
Native Expence. So you can hardly call us heathen now. Trade is developing
wonderfully. There are Three factories at Itu, with seven white men in them.
Then Russell does well in kernells. I hear 100 puncheons are lying at Miller
Bros for shipment up there.
But I must come to my crack shot. Why did you never tell me that you were the
Author of "King Edward's Ring?" I found the book at Itu, & it had - that copy -
been read so widely that the Covers were torn off, & no one now can learn the
publishers name. You are a fine one! To have kept your secret so well! &
never to give one a chance of getting the book. Come now, 'fess up!! & this
time it will be my chance to "Pawn a halo". They say it is at Lowestoft the
publishing firm live. Let me know for I have no way of knowing. If you dont
tell me, dont look for grace any more. Did you do it while you were so long an
invalid? After you tell me, & I have another reading of it, we shall discuss it.
But here is the breakfast bell, so I shall stop. If I hear any news I may add it,
but we have to shop a little, & we have a visitor tonight, & I may not get time
tomorrow, as I am to get cuttings & flowers for taking up on Saturday. If there
is no more added, you will know I have not had time. If you are near Mr Fred
Darby, give him my best regards.
Bybye! dear old man! Keep well, & take care of yourself, & if it be only a line
let me hear now & then from you, I am Your affectionate friend,
Mary MSlessor
EDITORIAL NOTES:
1] Madding. Acting madly, or distractedly
2] A.D.C. = Aide-de-camp
3] palaver = usually denotes a discussion, consultation or Court Case
4] "Maple Leaf": probably a river launch
5] D V = God willing [Deo Volente]
6] Terra Firma - latin for "Firm Ground"
TRANSCRIPTION BY: Leslie A. Mackenzie, 1997
DATA ENTERED BY: Ruth E. Riding, 1998Slessor, Mary Letter no. 72 5th October 1910
A short note in which Miss Slessor anxiously enquires why she has not heard
from Mr Partridge lately - has she upset him, or is he ill?
[Address on envelope]
C. Partridge Esqr
Abeokuta
c/o Secretariat
Lagos *Nigeria*
[Postmarks show it was received in Calabar on October 8th, 1910; Lagos on
October 11th, and Igbein Hill Abeokuta on October 12th, 1910]
Industrial Institute
Duke Town
5th Oct 1910.
Dear Old Friend
If I have grieved you in any way: surely it is not beyond
forgiveness, & surely you will let me know, so that I can explain it, or try to. I
cant afford to lose your regard & respect, without making some effort to avoid
such a sorry debock - & I cant spell the word!! Guess it. Please! dear old
Comrade! Give me, if only a P.C. [Note 1] to say, "All right", & if it has been
sickness which has caused the silence.
Im here attending Presbytery, & am well. Tho' I was rather broken when I
came, as Mary - who was married last October to the Govt. Chauffeur ffrom
Lagos, got a baby girl on the day previous to our coming down. I shall not give
you any more personal news, as I fear you may not care for it, but I shall await a
reply of some kind with a little anxiety
I am your old friend
Mary MSlessor
EDITORIAL NOTE:
1] P.C. = Post-card
TRANSCRIPTION BY: Leslie A. Mackenzie, 1997
DATA ENTERED BY: Ruth E. Riding, 1998Slessor, Mary Letter no. 73 1st December 1910
Christmas greetings on a postcard of Town & Church, Calabar
[Postcard addressed to]
C. Partridge Esqr
Stowmarket
Suffolk
England
[Post marked 1 Dec 1910; then Calabar 3 Dec 1910]
"To Thank you & wish you a Holy Happy Xmas & growth in grace & the
Highest prosperity in the New Year. Yours gratefully & sincerely M MSlessor"
TRANSCRIPTION BY: Leslie A. Mackenzie, 1997
DATA ENTERED BY: Ruth E. Riding, 1998
Slessor, Mary Letter no. 74 22nd December 1910
Miss Slessor explains all the delays that have prevented her replying to his last
letter. She is at Ikpe supervising the building of her house there. Meanwhile
they are in rooms at the Church. She describes the town, and her plans for the
future supervision of Use and Ikpe. Word has spread that Mr Partridge is to
return to the area, and she recounts the resulting excitement and interest. Small
Pox has hit the district, and the people have agreed to be vaccinated, but only if
Mary or a white man carries it out as they distrust their own people in such
matters. A bell has been hung in Use Church, and the new Church at Itu has
been opened with no difficulty in meeting its costs. She refers again to the book
she discovered he had written, with more encouragement to continue his writing.
She gives news of her household, and concludes with her Christmas wishes to
him.
[Envelope addressed to:]
C Partridge Esqr.
District Commissioner,
Ibadan
Lagos, Nigeria
[This envelope was rubber-stamped on the back "Received at Okopedi 21st Dec.
1910". Postmarked Itu 22nd Dec, 1910, it was further postmarked Calabar
December 23rd and Lagos December 29th 1910]
Ikpe Ikot Nkon
My Dear Old Chief
I know you will not keep your threat. You will write to me
sometimes when you have got home & had a rest. I was so glad to hear from
you for I often feared you had had to go home, or that something had turned you
from me. I meant to write by return, but I began to take frequent fevers, which
did not take me from my work, but made me unable in the mornings to get up to
write. Then I came up to Ikpe, & as there is no post up here, I got careless of
writing in proportion to the pressure of work, & there was a whole week
between at Use, when wrote Xmas letters every day, & because you were nearer
hand, I let yours stand. I am at Ikpe again. We are building at last, & only that
my Carpenter has gone somewhere for medicine, the roof would have been on
my house today. However the walls will be finished to day I hope, except for
mudding, as all the work for the roof, which is to be of Iron, is done. How these
people have worked! & never did I have such material for building provided
before, not one single inferior stick in the lot, & there are loads of stuff left over
for out houses. We have got a hill about 7 minutes from the Market Place, away
from the dirt & noise, & we have a spring of good water inside the grounds. We
will land at the upper beach. It is always free from mud that road, but is a bit
farther on the river. I dont know whether I can get anyone to take over Use. I
rather think, I shall have to divide the time between the two places. A new
person could hardly take up this town, they are so heathenish, so brutish even, a
novice wd. find it more than he cd hold onto, besides, he wd never get to know
things under the suface. & then there is a Church & a hungry clamourous
people at Nkana, & ever so many other places want supply. So I must get the
roads cleaned & use my cycle among them till the spade work is done, when
some one can take it up. They were rejoiced to hear that [B - k? e?] had gone,
& O how every one was rejoicing up here & all Ikot Obon side when we heard
that you were coming back to us. I was inundated with visitors from every
where, to ask if it were true, & to tell you to come quick & not go away again to
any other place, etc.etc. My first informant was Mr Rosario, who came in one
day saying, "Ma what will you give me for my news? I know you will pay
highly for it. It is rare news today." & he kept me on tenter hooks till then he
said "Mr Partridge is coming to Ikot Okpene. The Native Clerks all knew it at
Ikot Okpene & were scattering the news broadcast. The thing called A.D.C.
[Note 1] at Itu, was wondering then where he wd. be, as *we* wd. run the show.
I wish we had got the chance. The District groans. Im never done up here
finding Blackmailers. The traffic is transferred from Aro Chuku to this Creek
now, & there is a rather nice old man from New Calabar at the Rest House here
on the Creek as Transport Clerk, & the Steel Canoe runs up & down, as the
whole site & buildings at Bendi are being changed to a better place. It seems
the old site is unhealthy. So this p - dont know what I was to say here. Folks
came with palavers [Note 2], & then I had to get on to the work place before the
sun got too hot. So I'm sitting under the palm branches they have rigged up
looking after things & the bairns are playing at my feet, while the bigger girls are
washing as they can spread their clothes out here on the bush. We live
meanwhile at the Church. There are two small rooms built on to the gable, & a
small bit of the market place is fenced in for a yard. So we are very
comfortable, but rather cramped, & there is no space for bairns. What a teeming
crowd pass & repass all the day long, & on market day it is simply sickening in
the heat. The noise & the smells are about enough to turn one over. But it is
wonderfully quiet at night. Small Pox is all over the place I hear, & we got a
motherless baby, whose Father has just got over it, but the mother & others have
died at one of the Ebariba Towns. S00000o the Drs are busy trying to overcome
the predguices [Note 3] of the superstitious frightened people & trying to get
them to submit to vaccination. I have just had a letter here from Mr Chamly,
the D.C. [Note 4] at Aro Chuku. He kindly invites me to spend a day or two
with him on my downward journey. It has made sunshine this cheery letter.
The people here are willing to be vaccinated if Ma, or a White Man will do it,
but they will not have it from these black boys, as they are full of mischief i.e.
sorcery & witch. The *Black* Man has no faith in his fellow black man, never
seems to beleive good of him, & he can hear evil. I have heard from Marys
husband at Ikot Obon Camp that my room window has been broken Use ran up
& told him, but I dont know whether the house is robbed. if it is, it is the first
time I have had that experience in all my life among black folks. That
Government Road is a pest House. All sorts of scoundrels from everywhere
skulk on it, & nothing is safe. I have sent down Annie's husband, who is up
here with me, to see, & to tell Use to live there till I come back.
Messrs Russells agent has sent up some boards, & a present of biscuits & a cake.
Isn't it good of him? Nobody I think gets so much love & service as I do all the
time. I just wonder at it. I think Mr Mann may come up & try to gain a place
for trade, while I am here. They have tried it for 3 years now but the people
wont hear of it. They dont want the white man at any price. I expect they want
to monopolise the market, at least Eniyon does. They are mad at my coming,
but eventually, they will have to give in, for it is coming fast. The Old Chief at
Itu is dead, & several others of some weight there, so I feared for the money due
on the new Church Itu has had put up. It has cost over £300 & as the funeral
rites & mourning & etc has cost so much I thought the £151 not gathered might
make Trouble, but I have a note from Dr Robertson saying the collection at the
opening was £113 - - . What do you think? All the Creek Congregations &
others were there & have done well. Asan, Akani Obio, & several others have
Ballances for building in 3 figures, Our own little Church at Use had a new Bell
out from Home costing over £8 - - & they have paid it from their offerings. It
is heard all over the farms and at Ididep. Mr Stephens & Dr Roach heard of our
not being able to hang it, as it has a pully and wheel, & they came up & with the
villagers hung it for us. So you see things are moving here. You wd. not know
Itu now. Factories all along the length of the beach, the Bungalow & Hospital
on the Hill. All the forest cut down, & the slope beautifully laid out. Alas! a
number of grave stones are there too, as the Xtians [Note 5] have a cemetery &
now the beautiful Church is up, with a tower & bell, & it is all like a picture.
What a land site it is for a Home?
Where is the copy of the Book you found for me? If I knew the Publisher I shd.
get it for myself, but the copy I had was so well read & lent that the Covers were
gone, & I was charged not to let any leaves be lost. Why dont you go on? It is
perhaps that sickening hatred of the pen that keeps you from doing it? Or is it
too much to do? & your brain is fagged? It is a pity any how that you dont go
in more for literary work, for you have the power to do it. However, you *may*
be doing, for ought one knows, or maybe better still, you are gathering material
for days of leisure. Any how I shall hope to see some more of your work before
I go to the "Halo Brigade". My! but this is a grand name!! Struck me as quite
distinguished! & I shall do my utmost to qualify for it.
This has been quite a series of interruptions Interviews, Palavers, advice,
complaints etc. & the last is the Head Man of the Town who has been giving me
a long list of the honours of his father, & his power, & of the determination of
the people to have himself succeed, of how he fought against the honour as he
was too young, & how he had fought but they thrust it on him, & now *his*
*Mother* has come to make things better for them than ever! He hopes she will
be his friend & tell him when he is wrong, & etc. & will she tell the young men
when they have done my house to carry sticks for him, so that he may have a
house worthy of the White Woman in his Town & high up in the roof like this,
& blarney without measure! now I'm hungry & am sending for Jean to get my
chop [Note 6] brought here, & as she is going to Nkana to open a school, I
expect there will be little time for writing as have only Maggie & Whitie with
me! There is a brace of big baby boys who are far too heavy for me. Annies
boy died not long ago. He was running about, & began to speak. Mary has a
fine little girl, & is immensely proud of it: David has been a good son in law, so
has Akpa Inyan. Jean is still the House Mother. The Dr has told her she cant
marry, & she is fain [Note 7] to keep the kids here. She may take the English
Class in school here. We shall see. As they scatter, I miss them for they did
my hard work. Dan will D.V.[Note 8] be home for Holiday from Duke Town
Institute, one of these days. He is not clever, but is thus far, a good boy, &
obedient & cleanly in all his habits & ways. Asogno, the little Adam, who wd
not wear his clothes, is at school there too, but is not at all satisfactory. He is a
young tatterdemalion & a regular man of CHOP.
This is tomorrow. I was not able to stay & tho' I had fever on me had to go out
& judge between some Uneme women & Ibibio men. This morning I have just
answered a very prudish epistle from a black clerk, asking me "to tell my Church
member women to cover their nakedness when they pass here, else I shall make
the boys *drive* them away". Rather a tall order, seeing Govt. has planted its
shed at the ford where the women cross the Creek to their farms, & which takes
a woman up to the arm pits. *Ive* *answered* *him*. Besides I have no
Church members yet up here. They are creeping up, but certainly this is not the
way to help them. The Chief called saying he had ordered all the men to make
mats & put up a cooking shed at once, thats more than I bargained for. I meant
to do this myself slowly. So thats an offset to the Govts. super refined chastity
& effort to shew off his power. But I know you will make capital of this, &
laugh at our work as providing these objects, & of course you know, that if you
were at Close Quarters I should shew you that these are not fair specimens, as we
have very sane & clean men men & women, who never come to the front & who
are thus unknown to officials. Miss Peacock & Miss [McM- ?] are still at home,
but I have two dear girls in their place at Ikot Obon, who are such a help &
comfort to me. Miss Amess & Miss Annie McMinn. Now I must stop this
rambling rubbishy talk. You will never have time to decipher it. Anyhow one
comfort is, your own calligraphy is about equal to it as an enigma. I do wish
you a very very Happy Xmas, & the best New Year you have ever had, & with it
every good & perfect gift. I never forget to ask Our Father for this, & I trust
you have the results of these whisperings in His Ear, in your experience many a
time. You will be going home into the cold, but I trust it will brace you, & that
your stay at home may be as pleasant & profitable in every sense as is possible,
to you & yours. I'm telling the girls round me that you are to get this & they all
send their Ekom [Note 9] to you. So do I, & so would many if they knew I was
writing.
I am dear old friend,
Yours affectionately
Mary MSlessor
EDITORIAL NOTES:
1] A.D.C. = Aide-de-camp
2] palavers = usually denotes discussions, conversations, or Court Cases
3] Surely "Prejudices"
4] DC District Commissioner
5] Xtians = Christians
6] chop = food. "man of chop" = editor suggests "a person who eats a lot,
enjoys his food."
7] fain = glad or joyful; eager
8] D.V. = God Willing [Deo Volente]
9] Ekom. Efik word, probably meaning "compliments, salutations of respect"
from "Dictionary of Efik" by Rev. Hugh Goldie.
TRANSCRIPTION BY: Leslie A. Mackenzie, 1997
DATA ENTERED BY: Ruth E. Riding, 1998
Slessor, Mary Letter no. 75 10th January 1911
This letter is in response to one from Mr Partridge's father. Miss Slessor tells of
her current situation - waiting excitedly, but nervously, with her family for a
canoe to come and take them to their new home in Ikpe. She relates something
of her early life when she first knew she wished to become a missionary. She
thanks Mr & Mrs Partridge for their kind thoughts and after relating the
circumstances of the arrival of a box containing a Christmas Pudding from their
son asks them to express her gratitude to him on his arrival.
She discusses current Christian life and goes on to describe how much life in her
area has changed for the better since the coming of Christianity. She closes on
good wishes for the New Year.
[Addressed on the envelope to Mr Partridge's father at:]
Chs. Partridge Esqr - senior
Stowmarket
Suffolk
England
[Post-marked Calabar January 14th, 1911 and Stowmarket February 6th, 1911]
Ikot Okio
10th January 1911
Dear Mr Partridge
I did not mean to write to you today, for I feel unsettled, as I'm just
expecting a canoe any hour with boys to take us up to our new station, &
somehow, it makes me a wee bit excited as to how we will get the babies down,
& how we will do for a covering in the canoe, & we have to get a warm meal
ready in a few minutes, for our journey means sleeping a night somewhere by
the river side. So I'm not in a writing mood, & feel better when going about
getting every thing cleaned up outside & in. In one - the main sense - I have not
a grain of anxiety, that is regarding the work itself, & the getting of it done. It is
just old age making me feel that I cant push up for the comfort of my little ones
now, & I am frightened that the milk & bottles & water & etc will be forgotten
or some thing. Then if I sit down under these circumstances I am apt to get
irritable with the bairns, which is not only unfair to them, but puts myself out of
touch with the Lord, & unhappiness is the result all round. I know that God is
able to give victory over nerves too, but somehow I take always the line of least
resistance & never put Him to the Test, as there is always plenty to do which
does not bother. Well, Im to put the test now & try to get one or two letters
done to leave for postage, & this is the first, & it is almost easy to write it,
because only an hour or two ago, we were all excited, & crammed into this room
opening a box with a Xmas Pudding from dear Mr Partridge, who is as one of
ourselves in this house, & all the talk since has been of him & I have had to read
your letter to the oldest girl as a result of rhe conversation. Then Dan is home
from school at Duke Town, & he has had a deal to ask as he has been away from
us for a year & a half, except at Holidays. So you see It is, as I said easy to
write to you today, for I want to thank you & Mrs Partridge too for the kind
thought, as well as for the gift from your son. How good of him, a young,
clever man, thinking of an old lady like me, & sending at such trouble to himself
such a seasonable gift. I do not know if he will be gone home, as his time is up
- for there is no letter yet, & he is so busy all the time, he may not get written till
he is on board, but if he is at home when this reaches you, will you give him our
very warm thanks, & return his wishes for the season, with compound interest.
I have been hearing a palaver by Proxy, all this time & ballancing a baby on my
foot. He is just begun to stand with a hold, & now I'm to shut the room door &
answer your letter to the best of my ability.
And it takes me back to old days. When I was a girl; I had a friend who, much
older than myself, nevertheless was a very intimate friend, & was my first
confidant regarding my desire to be a missionary. He was Manager in a Bank in
our Town, & he used to shew me the beauties of literature & etc, & when I wrote
papers for our Fellowship society, He criticised mine & read them in the
meeting, as ladies did not do these things in our stern Presbyterian Church
meetings. Well He & I were reading Dante & Milton together, He pointing out
all that I ought to know & etc, & one night he gave me Boardmans Higher Life
asking if I knew about Sanctification by Faith. The Term, staggered me, & I
said, no. Well read this he said, & etc & next time we met he asked what I
thought of it. My answer was "It is splendid, but there is nothing *new* to me
in it." He replied, "I was sure you knew," & that was the beginning of my
search after all the works on Sanctification, etc & the Higher Life as it was then
called. I never was sure of Pearsall Smith. We are great Heresy Hunters , we
Presbyterians, & Mother like most of those old Calvanistic Xtians
[Note 1] was afraid of anything like presumption: & felt surer of a Xtian who
was *very* conscious of sin, but all the names you mention are as fresh in my
memory today, & represent more to me, than those I heard of yesterday. Yes!
Noise, & fuss, & sensation, & a craving for something new, seems to mark all
Church life, as well in conferences, as in private meetings today, & the old
meditative spirit, & the old sense of sin, seems to be sadly lacking. But then the
unrest in the world no doubt helps to paralize the Church, & to keep God's
People from seeing "Jesus Only." "The Lord Reigneth", always stills the tumult
to me; & I feel always like adding, "Let the Earth be glad." The Pessimism is
not so great here, for God *does* work among us. Mr Partridge would tell you
what a miserable, dark ignorant little place this was first when he brought me up
to it. And now we have boys educated as far as the ordinary artizans child at
home, a reverent assembly worshipping regularly, & intelligently every Sabbath,
paying its own expenses, & living Xtian lives. The old drinking habits are gone,
& men are married, & men are buried, & are as sober & well behaved as they are
in your own neighbourhood. They do not shirk the Govts. work nor need to be
asked to do mine, & we have now a cemetery & our first Baptized Christian
woman is laid in it with Xtian burial, & this means a lot to them to leave their
dead in the bush, & the message I got from her family on arriving at the beach
was, "Our Mother has fallen asleep". Surely a change from old times. So does
Christ change by His own Personality the very thoughts & language of a people.
Several of our best middle aged men & women will be Baptized 2 months hence.
There is no need for further probation. I am sure the great saving change has
been undergone. But here is a call, so I shall stop. I'm sorry Mrs Partridge has
not been well, & your climate is hard & cold. I hope you will have a very
happy time while your son is at home. I thank you for all the papers. I have
been sending them farther on to native clerks, & to my son in law, who reads a
good bit of English. With every good wish for the New Year for all your family
circle I am yours very sincerely M M Slessor
This is really not worth sending, I am ashamed of it, but it carries a warm heart
mesage if the diction is poor. I shall tell you of the new Station later on.
MMS
EDITORIAL NOTE:
1] Xtians = Christians
TRANSCRIPTION BY: Leslie A. Mackenzie, 1997
DATA ENTERED BY: Ruth E. Riding, 1998Slessor, Mary Letter no. 76 12th April 1911
It is April and this is the first letter Mary has been able to write to Mr Partridge
to thank him for his gifts of the Christmas pudding and book. She has spent
most of the time in Ikpe where her house is nearly completed, her Missionary
work is already showing fruits, and where small pox has been a worrying factor,
but is now declining. A Court has also been started there. Udo Antia has been
up to mischief again, and there is news of friends, including an old girl friend
who will be coming out in the Autumn, presumably to assist her. Unfortunately
Mary's return to Use was marred by the necessity to clear up after a tornado had
ripped the iron sheeting from the roof, and caused other problems. She insists
she is well despite the Ikpe Fatigue.
[The envelope is address to]
Chas Partridge Esqr - Junr
Stowmarket
Suffolk
*England*
[This address has been scored out and letter readdressed to "At Blo' Norton Hall,
Thetford *Norfolk*"]
[Post-marked for Calabar April 15th, 1911; Stowmarket May 9th; re-posted at
Stowmarket on 10th May, arriving at Thetford on the same day]
Use Ikot Oku
12.4.11
Dear Old Friend
You will be thinking Im a fine friend grateful woman, never
thanking you for my Xmas Pudding nor for the book you so kindly sent me.
The fact is, I've been at Ikpe most of the time, & building, & school & 4 evening
meetings a week, with the Sabbath School & Services, Visitors, Palavers, & a
Panic Stricken people with Small Pox taking its toll, & its numerous patients, &
the babies the dead mothers babies & vaccinations, all made my first visit in this
year a very hard time, & I came down broken in mind & body. This last
month's stay has been as busy, as every Minute came fill in, but the Pox is a bit
slacker. I have got well on with my new House. Two bedrooms *upstairs*, are
ready for a visitor, & the Hall on the ground floor is almost ready, over 2/3 of
the floor cemented. It is hard to get stones up there & the girls had a deal else to
do. This time we have never got to Nkana at all, but the lads held Services there
on Sunday last, & at other villages as the time allowed. There has been a Court
started, since I went up, but Ive never heard or seen an Ikot Okpene D.C. [Note
1] not even the mark of a pen. I'm thoroughly discredited since Brooks thanked
me in the name of the Govt. [Note 2] for my services. The People are hard at
work at farms, & the new Road to the Court House has been a big work between
times. It is making a new & fine Road. The Court is at Itu Ikpe, & clerks &
C.Ms [Note 3] from Ikot Okpene work it. They are very respectful, & have a
wholesome fear of my overlooking. The people are greatly pleased at being
releived from the long journey to I- Okpene. But Eniyon dont like the opening
of Ibibio. Major Cockburn, has been to Calabar sick ever since he came out till
last week, he passed up again. Mr Rising going to releive Chamley at Aro
Chuku. How few gentlemen there are nowadays among these. The Governor
& Lady Egerton were here when I went up. But they were to call I beleive on
the morning after I left. So I did not see them. I hear it is his last visit. Who
will be next? I hope the next will be as good as they have been. I got a real
surprise, & a lot of anxiety on coming down to find that David & Mary had been
sent on to Ibadan, as the motor is to be off all this wet season. I'm hoping the
rumour is right that they are still in Calabar. Fancy her going to a strange land
alone with a tiny baby. She is only 18, & was never out in the world before.
David is careful & kindly, but I shd. have liked to see them, & have given her
things, & a letter to the Missionary where she is gone. All the others are well.
Dan & Asogno still at school at Duke Town Institute. Dan brought the 1st prize
in his Division at Xmas. I have not seen a White Officer here for ever so long.
Mr Mann at "Russells" is very kind, & far above the average merchant in
manners & culture. He goes this month. Dr Robertson is going by this mail.
A lad from Edinr. [Note 4] has come to fill his place, a fine fellow. Miss
Peacock came out 2 months ago, & is well. She is a good woman & a good
neighbour. We had an awful thing in uniform at Itu. A German named Falk.
The people wd. not have borne him much longer. I dont know who is there
now, he went this month. Udo Antia has again been the pet of Ikot Okpene
under Brooks, who wont hear that his record is bad, & he has been [chasing?]
the Old Chiefs & etc, till they went to Duke Town about it. I dont know the
upshot, I only came down night before last. He is the Head of that side & keeps
a Clerk. The tornados have been specially heavy, & I got wreckage everywhere
to come to. All the town houses and Church have suffered. The Iron [Note 5]
from my verandah was blown down the hill, & the boxes on the verandah were
blown into the bush. I was on the roof all day yest., & today have been
vomiting Bile, so am sitting quiet, for Ive not slept the last 2 nights, & the Ikpe
Fatigue is not gone yet. But I'm very, very fit. I do hope they will make roads
up yonder which can be cycled on. As yet, it is not possible. I'm expecting a
dear girl friend to come to me this Autumn. She is a fine woman, & not merely
ornamental in her qualifications either. Ikpe cd not be properly worked by one
person, the school is large, & the Xtian [Note 6] lads are insatiable in their desire
for meetings & classes. I got 19 names of candidates for Baptism, & a number
of women & girls are attending, tho' I wont put their names down till I see their
parents. Some of them are betrothed to the boys in Church. It is a hopeful
place for work, & the Chiefs are old friends & very good tho' heathen.
I hope you have had a good time at home, but it has not been a very healthy
winter I fear. You will soon be coming out again! How the time flies! I
wonder if I shall ever see you again! O how splendid it wd be for us, if you
came here, but *you* might not like it. I saw Mr Maxwell when I was down at
Presby.[Note 7], no one else. He is the same old cheery lad he ever was. Did
you know Mr Wordsworth? You wd hear of his death in India & his leaving a
young wife & a baby a few days old there!! It is particularly sad. I had a great
opinion of him. He was a good man, from a good home. I have a long letter
from Mr [Darby?] of the Rd's Dept - He & his wife & two boys are in India, but
he has taken the Nigerian Malaria with him. Mr Rosario has gone home, & I
dont know anyone else. Have you been writing that you have never sent me a
line? or are you paying me out? You wd not do that! Do send me a wee bit
just to say how you have been & if you know where you are to be stationed next
term. Now I must close, as the day wears on, & the children are fretty. I thank
you for your goodness to me, & tho' Jean ran of with the King's Ring, & I got it
only second hand, I got it & will treasure it. When is the next one coming? Do
something about the Country & its peoples. You know enough now to take any
tack, only dont meddle with Xtianity. You've no experience there. My halo
gets grayer & grayer, but no boils live this year on my head. I'm renewing my
youth, working like a navvy. God bless you. Will you convey to your parents
my best regards? I get papers by mail from Mr Partridge. It is so kind of him
to remember me.
All the bairns wd send Comps. [Note 8[ were they at hand, for they often ask if
Mr Partridge is never coming back. SO DO I! I am Yours ever affectionately
Mary M Slessor
EDITORIAL NOTES:
1] D.C. = District Commissioner
2] Govt. = Government
3] C.Ms = Court Messengers
4] Edinr = Edinburgh, Scotland
5] Iron. Corrugated iron, used on roof
6] Xtian = Christian
7] Presby. = Presbytery Meeting
8] Comps. = Compliments
TRANSCRIPTION BY: Leslie A. Mackenzie, 1997
DATA ENTERED BY: Ruth E. Riding, 1998
Slessor, Mary Letter no. 77 4th September 1911
Miss Slessor explains why she is writing from Itu - not because she is ill
[although she has suffered heart trouble and has been forbidden to ride her cycle
until fully recovered!] but because she was needed there. She gives her usual
news of her family and friends. She is particularly excited to tell of a new
friend, Dr Hitchcock, who actually comes from Mr Partridge's part of the
country, has read his letters etc in the local newspapers, and has gained a great
respect for him. He is young, very enthusiastic and hard working and has gained
the confidence of all, as well Miss Slessor's high approval. The situation at Itu,
arising from the behaviour of Udo Antia, and the Court Messengers is not a
happy one; and it seems the former German A.D.C. at Itu, Mr Falk, who has
earned her thorough disapproval, is to return. She wishes Mr Partridge well in
his new post.
[Envelope addressed to}
Chas Partridge Esqr
District Commissioner
Jebn Ode
Via Lagos
S. Nigeria
[Postmarked Calabar September 8th, 1911 and received in [Lagos?] on
September 14th 1911]
Itu
4th Sep. 1911
My Dear Old Friend.
Your letter was a great joy to me, for I was very wearied to hear
from you. Im glad you have got a place you like, & among nice people. I dont
know that it is best for you to be so alone, although I enjoy it myself. I hope
you will not be shifted about any more. It is more satisfactory to be a whole
term in one place, if the place is good at all. You will wonder at the heading of
this. I came from Ikpe very tired, & found the Use House spoiled by the
tornados, & had to begin work on it at once. Then - after all, David & Mary
were stayed at Calabar, & the White Chauffeur was sent to Lagos, & Mary came
up to see me. When she was going back, with her baby, I was so frightened
about them not getting a place & shelter in the always crowded launch - that I
went down to Kings Beach with her, & that was the last straw. I had an over
strain of the heart, & was forbidden to go to Ikpe; then I had to come over here
to be with the Dr for a bit, as the anaemia was so pronounced, & I was having
fever every day. I got perfectly well, & went back to Use, but as Mr & Mrs
Wilkie were passing last week in the Str.,[Note 1] & had to stay & see the D.C.[
Note 2] here about the Boundary of this land - save the mark since you were here
- !!! I came down at the Dr's invitation to meet them, & he cd. see how my
heart was, & at the same time I cd be here with Mrs Wilkie, as Dr Robson, her
father has died, & she was having her letters about the passing: by this mail
here; the word having come at first by cable. I stayed over yesterday to let the
Dr go up to see Miss Peacock, as she has not been very well lately, & he has a
couple of very serious cases in the Hospital. I took the Service here, & was in
the house if any thing were needed. Now why I am telling you this is not only
to let you know that it is not sickness which keeps me, but because I have found
out that Dr Hitchcock, our New Dr here is very specially glad that I know you, &
that you are my friend, for he hails from about your side! He knows about your
name from long & has always read with much interest any thing you have
written in your local Newspapers. He heard me speak of you, & started! &
asked, thats not Mr Partridge of Stowmarket is it? "Yes, I said, Do you know
him? & then he told me of his connection with that district, that his grandfather
was preacher there in the Baptist Church, & that he had an uncle there still -
perhaps not in Stowmarket - but in the neighbourhood, & etc etc, & he loves that
whole countryside, & when Mr Partridge Senr., sent my papers last time, I was
here, & sent the packet asking him to read the postmark, & he said, from the hall
where he was sitting, "O that warms my heart!" Well, in him, we have a man of
culture, of fine calibre, & one of the most excellent & enthusiastic Surgeons &
Physicians I have ever met, or any one else here. The Hospital is always full &
from everywhere. He works all day long, & often in the night too, & has cases
to be operated upon, which counting 3 a week, will keep him going to the end of
the year. & the Dispensary fills up from 7.15a.m. till 11.30 then from that he
reads & rests, when they dont bring things between, & visitors, till 1P.M. when
he is off again till 3P.M., when he comes -*sometimes*- for tea, then the
Hospital till *Dark*. Do you wonder that 5 months has nearly killed him, & we
are all glad that a wound on his hand has given him a rest from the operating
table. He is one of the best of Edinburgh's best students for his year, & tingling
to the tips of his fingers with enthusiasm for his profession. He is young, & was
ready to go to Manchuria, when friends at home begged him to come to the
Mission during Robertsons furlough, & he came, & he has conquered, & from
far beyond Bendi, from all parts of Aro Chuku men & *women* crowd, &
Calabar swells are here galore, with the north country people. Dont write me a
sentimental Enthusiast, there are deputations always here begging me to beg the
Mission to send the other one somewhere else, when he comes, & let this one
stay. He has not as yet lost a patient, & I'm glad for the "Slessor Hospital" that
it has at last come into its own. Well Im going home tomorrow D.V.[Note 3]
One of the 4 boys who should have been back from Aro today & who is a
Hammock boy has not turned up, & the rain has been persistent, so I waited, &
am writing this to leave here for Postage. I thank you for all your news. I had
an hour or two chatting with Mr Maxwell just before he left. I also saw Mr
George Grey, & put him up one night, a Tornado came on & the dark as he
passed by. Im glad to hear once more of Mr Fitzpatrick. He was a kind friend
always to me. You would not beleive such a lot of hard good work had ever
been done in this district. Last week I lost 3 nights sleep, Just through Court
Messengers, & their little ways in our village. We have had a year & a half of
it, & we hear that Falk the German who strained the loyalty of the villagers his
last term, is due here again this mail. Pity Me!! Unless things better
themselves, I shall have to *stay* at Ikpe or elsewhere, as it takes my sleep. Do
you know that Udo Antia rules in the Court, - Brooks created - from the Ntit
Obio beginning till past Itu Ndo. Ntit Obio Chiefs have gone to Calabar, &
spent money on Str for passage, & lodging & helpers[?] & Books, & have stayed
weeks & weeks there, but with no result, except it be a letter to the D.C. Udo is
a hero to some White Men, who utterly deny his record. It is most distressing.
I met Brooks leading his Cycle, & walking with Russells clerk, as I was coming
here. He bowed very politely, but I answered & passed on in the Hammock.
My girls said they saw him on market day, so expect he is on special business. I
think the Judge is here. Mr Bedwell passed up in the Jackdaw [Note 4] the
other day. I have not seen him this term yet. We have also Mr C- Crawford, so
we have splendid men at the Top here. I am not to get to Ikpe for 7 weeks yet,
so the Dr told the boys who were sent to ask when the canoe wd come for me.
Thats because of the *mud* I think. I have no news. One of our Old Chiefs
"Obon" has been here in the Hospital for a long time. His was a marvellous
cure, & 3 other patients from Eniyon, these too send their best Compliments to
you, & then the talk was WHY you did not come back & save them from this
sort of thing, the reign of the C.M.[Note 5] The Two Itu Chiefs also who came
in to see Obon were talking of it, & they too, said our rule was bad. They black
men had a continuous, consistent Policy, bad tho it might be, but the White Man
changed constantly, as witness now, & then, & then, things were new to them &
hard to us, & now it was all smooth & confidence complete, White Man went
back to confusion. Well, I'll try to stop grumbling. The kids were all proud to
be remembered. Jean is at home. Mary & David are at Ikot Ekpene for some
reason, the work motor has not been here all the wet season, & they want the
road rested & bottomed. O the loads of metal laid on, but the undersoil still
sinks with the transport motor. The small motor carried passengers & mails but
is Hors decombat [Note 6] just now. Annie is with her husband at Use, Alice &
Maggie & Whitie are here with me. The boys at the Institute, Dan had almost
the full 100 o/o for all his classes except writing, that was low, but he brought
the first prize in his division last year, & [this?] Principal says his conduct is
good. But the light is going, & I must get ready for dinner. This pen does not
spell well, but I have not had over an hours rest today from visitors & palavers,
so I suppose Im tired a bit. Do send me a line now & then -O Im forbidden my
cycle in the meantime, & I'm *MAD* over it, but he says it is only for a time. I
must not walk either, or *motor*, as I'm so frightened in the motor. Now Good
by dear old boy whom I revere & value as a friend, very much. God bless &
keep you in that strange place, & be your environment in every sense. I am ever
Yours Very affectionately
Mary MSlessor
EDITORIAL NOTES:
1] Str. = Steamer
2] D.C. = District Commissioner
3] D.V. = Deo volente = God willing
4] The Jackdaw - "quite an institution on the river" - a government gun boat;
described and illustrated in Charles Partridge's "Cross River Natives"
5] C.M. = Court Messenger
6] Hors de combat. Out of the running; unfit.
TRANSCRIPTION BY: Leslie A. Mackenzie, 1997
DATA ENTERED BY: Ruth E. Riding, 1998Slessor, Mary Letter no. 78 1st January 1912
Miss Slessor writes after a very successful service at Ikpe, and gives various
news of Church activities. She tells of her first European visitors there - three in
one day. Amazingly one of these is Mr Brooks, the District Commissioner, and
after a long discussion they put all differences behind them, to Mary's great
relief, and Mr Brooks demonstrates his helpfulness. Mr Partridge's kindness and
thoughtfulness in sending her Xmas puddings and chocolates is warmly and
thoroughly appreciated. News of her household is given, including two offers of
marriage for Alice. There is news of other people, and the delivery of a
staircase for the new house at Ikpe, which means she will no longer have to
climb a ladder to bed. Mr Partridge is again encouraged to continue with his
writing.
[Envelope addressed to]
Chs Partridge Esqr
District Commissioner
IJBU ODE
Via Lagos
Nigeria
[Postmarked Ikot Ekpene 4th Jan; Calabar 6th Jan;]
Ikpe Ikot Obon
1st January 1912
My Dear Old Friend
At last I have got a quiet moment for the Church people are
having chop [Note 1] prepared for the many visitors who honoured our Service
today, a big crowd of well - *not* *over*dressed men & women from Iwere,
Abam, & the villages round, who, not having service or teachers themselves
came to begin the year at ours, & as our school has a holiday, & the Xtian [Note
2] portion of the town are keeping holiday too, they invited those from across the
Creek to wait & have chop, & then the sun would be gone down. Jean & her
scholars, & several of her congregation were here too, but she did not wait. I
think you know she is teaching at Nkana as I have no boys, & they have been
clamorous for a teacher for years. She was once there before, & as Eniyon from
the upper part of the Creek go to her on Sabbath, I'm glad the people asked for
her, as she is a *very*, good, smooth intelligent reader, & will not murder the
Scriptures as half, or imperfectly taught boys do.
You would not know Ikpe now. Tho' the Chiefs dont ask for the Gospel
personally, they dont hinder their Households from coming, & the boys from the
headmen's yards are among the most diligent scholars. But there is a great
difference in their manners & behaviour, & they are much more sober, & less
quarrellsome, & the market does not now have bigger or more frequent brawls
than that of Itu or Ntan. The town is very much cleaner & they have brought
quite a half of it out of yon pit of black mud, & made big compounds on the
higher land at the beach road. They are going in more for farming too, & the
produce is not now sold by them to traders, the canoes are going down every day
in the week with produce to the firms at Itu. Every young man buys a canoe
now, & all the boys are being taught to punt & to steer. They got a minor Court
up at [to?] Nudu Ikpe, 5 miles or so from here, & all the Chiefs round are
members, & this has had a very steadying effect too on the district. From all the
towns & villages round, they have come with their presents when I got better &
was able to come up, & not only do palavers & sickness come now, but they
visit me from friendship & seeking advice. I need not say they are all wanting
teachers, & it makes my heart ache because I cant give them even one. Dont
you bother to moralise here. I know what you would say, but they need
teachers all the same.
I have sent home for a small carriage of some kind, which can take me over bits
of the road on which I cant cycle so that I can cover a larger area, & in a small
carriage I shall only want 2 boys & I can take my lunch, & a baby or two inside
with me. The Dr has not said no to my getting my cycle again, only I must not
try hills. I am so thankful, for it is not only a pleasure but a means of health to
me whatever he says, & I'm not a fool to try a hill that wd. hurt my heart, though
Im quite sure Ive got over that bit of overstrain, & my heart is as good as ever it
was. I still love my old cycle best, & no lady on the road can keep up with me
on it. It just runs itself. It is a dear companion & friend to me. But in the dry
season, the sand is very loose on some of the levels here, & I fear skidding in it,
because I once saw a lady fall in it on the Ikot Ekpene Rd.
Now I come to my news! I shall want it put in Capitals. You wont be able to
take it in, in its simplicity & breadth. A fortnight ago when I had come from
school & was getting my breakfast, the girls called out "Ma here is a White
Man" & sure enough coming over the hill were 2 White Men, the first visitors
Ive ever had here, except when an officer passed in March, & I've sent after him.
They turned out to be Dr Hitchcock & a Mission Man from Aro Chuku. The Dr
was afraid about me, & came to see! What do you think of that? Well they
brought heaps of mails which had been accumulating, & among them your
parcel, which was exclaimed over & more than that -- for you know Dr
Hitchcock is from your part of England & has read your letters & articles from
of old & etc, & he thinks of you as a hero. Well, then, that was laid over, & we
had got breakfast & they were making for going off again, when the cry got up
again, "A White Man!" It never rains but it pours, & here running up the hill to
the door was ------------------Mr Brooks!!!!!!!! Had I been alone , I should have
done, or said - What?? surely something!! But with introductions & the whirl
of talk & the guests who know of no disagreeables, Well! he was a - success! &
the Dr begged him to try to help him with Miss Slessors Mails & etc. etc. etc.& it
was all promised & offered & done in a perfect torrent of pleasure & desire to do
more than all that. Then there were offers of Carpenter - your old one,
Diabolos or something like that, & then they all went off. Mr Brooks to the
Creek Rest House to meet Major Cockburn - from whom I had forwarded a letter
that morning to the Court! The others to walk to Aro Chuku. Well on his way
back Mr Brooks came in again, & we had a long talk trying to disentangle
several things which are "on" in the district & he offered to send me fowls from
the Court here at Court price, & to get & take my mails from Itu, & to help me in
any & every way, & I was to go & occupy the Rest House which is on high land
at 4 or 5 miles distance, if I wished for a change at any time, as he says it is a
good house. Since then he has sent me mails, 3 fowls for Xmas, & a letter
which is better than all, as it speaks well of some of my friends, & is desirous of
making all things straight & good in the District. & I'm just expecting Mails
again over land from him at any hour. I may say that for long David & Mary
have been staying at Ikot Ekpene with the small motor, & David was, & is, a
great favourite of his, & he has been very good to Mary & her baby. So it may
not have been a sudden impulse on his part, to come as he passed, seeing we
were both strangers here - It may have been waiting for a chance to speak. I am
mean enough, or you may call it presumptuous & egotistical enough, to
sometimes connect it with a recent tour made by an old DC of mine, who is now
at the top of the tree, & who never forgets me. But that just proves the doctrine
of our original depravity - which - whatever you say - explains a lot, & as the
negro said, "is a good doctrine if only we could walk up to it." Well, now, What
do you think of that, after over 2 years utter silence & SNUB -?? I can hardly
call it less than that, tho' once or twice when Governor or Act Govr. were
visiting me, He gave Comps [Note 3] when I went out side, & once or twice on
the road he lifted his hat. Well, it came with Xmas, the season of peace, & I am
glad that the ugly hateful thing is out of the way, for nothing hurts me like
faction, or a feeling of estrangement even from an outsider. I'm not to say what
it would be from a *friend*: for my friends are all too good to me to make any
estrangements. There have been few in my life I am thankful to say.
Now do you think there is room for any one else in West Africa than Miss
Slessor, & herself, & her own affairs? I wonder if she will ever even have time
to say "Thank you" when she gets a Xmas Box, thought over so long before the
time, & planned for so that it comes at the very nick of time? You dear old boy,
to think of me so, while your work is so wide, & your world so young &
modern. Have you got a glow of feeling that you have done a kind thing?
More than kind, a beautiful thing! & a thing which will I am sure make our
Heavenly Father well pleased, for He does care a bit for this old worn out thing.
My birthday was in Decr., & do you know, I'm now travelling between 60 & 70?
& yet a Xmas Box comes from the heart of the African bush, where a brave
young cultured Englishman is spending his festive season alone, except with the
visions & the dreams of Home & achievement which are his real world & life.
God bless you! You constant & UNDERSTANDING Friend, & give you back
again into your own life a thousand fold.
I have sent your kind message on to Ikot Obon. Those ladies never forget to ask
for you, & Miss Peacock takes a great pleasure in reading the Papers Mr
Partridge sends me, as she is a disciple of the Keswick School & she is a helpful
kind neighbour to me. She is very sane in her dealings with the natives, & she
has a wide influence on the boys of her district, as she has bush schools with
about 200 scholars in all in them, sending pupil teachers out. She has a big
Church now at Ikot Obon, & it is crowded at afternoon service from the bush
schools. A lady who was here, & left for a few years, has come out again, & we
are trying to get a house built for her near 12 miles, in order to get hold of the
Ibianang people, as we wd then build a semi European house midway between
Itu & Ikot Ekpene, & get a clergyman to take all those stations over seeing there
are many baptized Xtian members now in the Churches. But between you &
me, *no* *man* will work them better than these mere women have done. The
ladie's name is Welsh. Miss Annie McMinn has gone up there for the
Dispensary last month. My Use house is empty. The Church people are
looking after it. They are keeping on their schools & services themselves.
David, Mary's husband, was called to Duke Town some time ago. They are
soon going back to Itu or Ikot Ekpene. I have 2 proposals for Alice, of
marriage, last month. One from the Bendi interpreter. The other from one of
Mr Russell's clerks, a Gold Coast man. Neither are to my mind. The interpreter
she will not have. The other she does not yet know of till I see Mr Russell or
Underhill to see about his antecedents. Janie wont hear of it, as she wd. be lost
to us if she went to Gold Coast. David - is from Lagos, so that is nearer, tho' it
was far enough when they were called to go. I hope Annie has another baby by
this time. I'm longing for news. Her husband is a fine lad in the Church at Use.
So they are all going out into the World. Dan does well enough at school. His
last report in Novr. was, "Passed Govt. Inspector with flying colours." He is
quiet & grows apace.
Mrs Wilkie lost her Father lately, Dr Robson - now Mrs McGregor has got the
same news from her home. Dr F Fergusson has passed away. Our dear Miss
Young has word of the sudden death of her Mother while Miss McKinney's
father is just in life but no more. So there is a lot of mourning this Xmas in our
midst now may every good thing be yours today & all through this Year & that it
may be the best you ever have known in every sense is the prayer, often, & often
uttered from this place, by Yours very affectionately
M MSlessor
I hurried up with this thinking I wd get a messenger, but it is past time now. So
this mail will be lost I expect. I could not get written sooner, as I got a bilious
attack, & school twice a day takes up some time, but one of the Plum Puddings
was opened almost at once, as it seemed to appeal to me, having no sweet thing
left up here, & you may be sure it did not last long, nor did the chocolates, for by
the time every one gets one, there's a hole in the pan. Ive kept one pudding in
the hope that some one might come up, but as yet, Alas! No. Miss Peacock
meant to, but got some ailment or another, & the Dr made her go & stay at Itu
instead, as he cant go up to Itu & run the Hospital - which is always full now.
Dr Robertson is expected at end of this month, but every body dreads the change
from this man. His year of service is almost up, & we hope he may come back,
but he is promised to Manchuria I fear.
Here are the girls back from seeing the playing of the scholars in town so I must
bestir myself for dinner. All of them say Kom Etubom O! Kom Enye O! Ma
Kom Enye for us O! [Note 4] & I want you to take it all, with a heap from
myself of warm gratitude
I am again
Yours M.M.S
2nd. January
Here early morning is a stair from Ikot Ekpene. The Carpenter has not
come yet, nor "a book" [Note 5] but when Mr Brooks was here, he & the others
wondered at my going up a ladder. The reason was that the Russells people had
failed to send up the material to make the Stair - for you must understand that
my bedrooms here are up stairs, & the ladder was a real trial to me & not very
safe, so here comes a stair of 11 steps made & ready to put on. I expect the
mails will come with the Carpenter, so Im to shut up this at once lest the school
be there to hinder me getting it sent if a chance comes. Again I wish you every
joy & good for the New Year
& am Yours Affectly
M MSlessor
Miss Welsh has your book as a help to her in her entrance on the Anan District.
You have a most minute knowledge of details of the trees & their names etc. &
*NO EMBROIDERY.* Almost a miracle for a W. African writer. Come on
with the next book. It will do *yourself* a world of good to write. When do
you go home? Surely it is not long now till your time is up.
Yours again
MMS
EDITORIAL NOTES:
1] chop = food
2] Xtian = Christian
3] Comps = Compliments
4] "Kom" means to give thanks, salutations or compliments to. We hope to
obtain a proper translation of these phrases.
5] "Book" = Probably a local term for an official statement or document
TRANSCRIPTION BY: Leslie A. Mackenzie, 1997
DATA ENTERED BY : Ruth E. Riding, 1998Slessor, Mary Letter no. 79 26th December 1912
Once again Mr Partridge has sent Miss Slessor plum puddings at Christmas, and
she thanks him for them particularly as she has not heard from him for a long
time, and they tell her that she is not forgotten. She has been to Ikot Ekpene
[where she is stayed with Mary and her husband] and describes the scene as it
now is while recalling all the work he put into the area when he worked there.
Udo Antia is in prison at last. Various bits of news.
[Address on envelope reads]
Chs Partridge Esqr
Ijebu Ode
Via Lagos
Nigeria
[Post-marked Itu December 27th, 1912; Calabar Dec 27th; and Lagos 2nd Jan]
Use Ikot Oku
26th Decr. 1912
Dear Old Friend
Your gifts of Xmas Card & Plum Pudding are safely come, & have
been a great joy to me. I have been very sore about your long & complete
silence, & have often wondered if I had hurt or offended you in any way. I have
not many real friends on the Coast. I think I can nearly count them on the
fingers of one hand. And when of these withdraws his countenance, my heart is
sorely troubled. There are not so many of this kind that I can afford to lose one.
*You* especially. This kindly thought at the Festive Season lets me know you
have not forgotten. I am just back from a months holiday at Gr- Canary [Note
1], & you passed in the boat before me. Had I known I should have met you
somehow, whether you should have liked it or not. I thank you for this
message, & return all your kind wishes a hundred fold. I often remember you in
my prayers, & tho' you may laugh, **I** **beleive** in it.
I have been for my first visit to Ikot Ekpene yest-. Mary - is married to the
Motor Driver & lives there, & she was ill last week. Mr Brooks had to get the
Dr for her, so I was anxious, & when I was at Calabar I was told that I cd. have
the Motor at any time, & must just ask for it, so as it passed with a passenger, I
got a drive out, & came back in my wheel chair yest, stopping at Ibiaku at Miss
Welsh's for an appointment for a Service (Xmas) there for the Chiefs of the
district & the school boys. What a big station Ikot Ekpene is! Brick buildings
& offices of all kinds, motors & motor bicycles. If they could have taken my
Bike I shd have ridden back, the officer's luggage took up all the room however,
so it was left here. I thought a lot about you, & of those lonely strenuous
journeys & labours, when there were not even roads, & of all the work &
workers which went to the making of this. The Motor went off to Odot Ikpe
after we got to Ikot Ekpene, about 3 o/c P.M. & David was back home by 6 o/c
for his dinner. So now I can get the Motor from Use to Odot Ikpe, & there are
only 5 miles then to to Ikpe. I have not gone up yet, as there is a lot to do here,
and our new Church is ready for opening here. They have paid all material up
to now. There is a Mission from England at Ikot Ekpene, & there were 2 ladies
from James Town there for Xmas. I called on them, & am invited to go back.
Mr Brooks pressed hospitality on me also, but he had 4 white men for Xmas, & I
went to stay with my Children for the night, & cd not disappoint them if I would.
There is one lady of our Church at Itu Ndo, or Ibiaku she prefers to call it, & a
big Court & station place, & they begin where Miss Peacock's Bush schools end
at Ikot Nsen. So things move quickly, but the old days were charged with a
different type of work & association & I like to keep that as a precious memory.
Pluck & patient perseverance & tactful administration laid these picnic
possibilities, & God does not forget.
Udo Antia has been in prison for months & months at Ikot Ekpene - the scene of
his exploits. Their eyes are opened at last, & he gets his deserts & the land
which groaned, rests. I had a big welcome from the Chiefs - your old friends.
Imuk has slackened in prosperity, & drinks far too much. The Itu Court holds
now the district out to Ntre Obio, on this side the Ikot Obon Court judges, but O,
what a travesty!! The D.C. [Note 2] has never been there yet since he came - 3
months past - & you can guess the kind of work done. Now the Post will be
gone if I dont hurry up, so this must go as it is. I shall probably be here for a
week or so, then on to Ikpe by motor, & farewell to Hippos & Mosquitoes &
flies in the Creek. Now dear old friend, dont feel as if you must answer this. If
you have time & feel inclined to send a note, I shall be very happy indeed. I
wish you all joy & blessing for the New Year, & that it be the best year you have
ever have had is the prayer
of Yours affectionately
M MSlessor
EDITORIAL NOTES: Enclosed with this letter is a photograph of Mary
Slessor, the back of which is inscribed "A snap shot taken at Canary [--?] Have
no Xmas Cards
1] Gran Canaria, one of the largest of the Canary Islands off the N.W. coast of
Africa
2] D.C. = District Commissioner
TRANSCRIPTION BY: Leslie A. Mackenzie, 1997
DATA ENTERED BY: Ruth E. Riding, 1998 |