THE BLACKS AND THE WHITE BABY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 312, 26 September 1908, Page 13

THE BLACKS AND THE WHITE BABY.

A delightful story is told in Sir Harry Johnston's book " Georgo Grenfell and the Congo," of how the natives of the Bolobo district, who were very hostile to Europeans, wore won over by the Bev. W. H. Bentlcy, who, with his wife, infant, and nurse, was on tho mission steamer Peace. They were roughly ordered away, when an idea occurred to him. Mrs. Bentley and tho nurse were bathing the baby. As if by accident the little white child was held up in view of tho angry and oxcitod people. Suddenly a hush fell on tho assembly of armed men, which gradually gave way to a shout of delighted surprise. In responso to urgent invitations, the baby, in a dainty white dress, was paraded through tho town, nursed and dandled by warrior after warrior. Mrs. Bentloy was equally an object of interest and admiration, as she ivas tho first white woman ever seen in those regions. Up to that timo the white man had been looked upon as a sort' of unnatural creature, that was not born and bred like any other human beings—a semisupernatural being without a mate. Tho Bentley baby practically created the Baptist Mission Station at Bolobo, Grenfell's principal residence from 1888 to 1906, the year of his death. This story proves that the Congo natives are easily influenced for good. The same thing is shown by tho progross of'the missionaries among the black men. From being barbarians of tho worst typo—cannibals, and given over to witchcraft and the grossest'superstitions—they became in a few years civilised and respectable mechanics, craftsmen, servants, and teachers. The dc»,th-roll of the members of the Baptist Missionary Society was heavy. Between 1879 and 1900 36 missionaries, 28 men and 8 women,-died either on tho Congo or shortly after leaving it; and from 1900 to 1907 10 more died, or 46 altogether out of 153. Mr. Grenfell says that after having lived 19 on tho Congo his digestion was well-nigh" ruined, and ho felt an old man at 50. Ho attributes this in some measure to drinking too much tea.