WAIATA (COLYTON).

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 174, 24 June 1932, Page 12

WAIATA (COLYTON).

(From Our o\yn Correspondent.) WAIATA, June 23. On Tuesday evening another interesting travel talk was given by Rev. A Fotfieringham in the Waiata Presbyterian Church, on this occasion the speaker taking his hearers over that most interesting stretch of country between Dar-er-Salam and Aden. Zanzibar, the ono time centre of the slave trade, was graphically described. Its beautiful cathedral now stands on tho site of the old slave market. There are beautiful examples of Moorish architecture and eastern art to be seen, also splendid ivory and brass work and painted china. The speaker described a visit to tho Sultan’s palace, which was wonderfully decorated and lit by hundreds of brass lamps. There were no chairs in the palace, the visitors reclining on piles of rugs and skins while being entertained by dancers. Travel through tho rich Kenya country, with ite great cattlo herds and wild game reservations, was described. The colony is governed by a Governor and an executive council. A visit was next paid to a cotton estate in Uganda, a beautiful country with luxuriant vogetation of vivid colourings, and inhabited by very wild tribes of natives. The journey then continued through Bolgian Congo to Abyssinia, a country with its own king, supposed to be descended from tho Queen of Sheba and Solomon. The people of Abyssinia are Christians, worshipping at the “Greek” churches. They observe a3O day month and then have six days’ religious festival annually. From hero the speaker conducted his audienco through British and Italian Somaliland, noted for its frankincense and myrrh. Inhabited by very wild tribes though not cannibals as some peoplo believe, this country .was of interest because of its hords of wild animals, it being the homo of the long maned lion. The last place described was Mecca, the birthplaco of Mahomed, where ’ thousands of pilgrims visit, but where no Christian is allowed to go. The speaker then described the tribal marriage customs, which wore most interesting, and at the close of his address gave a short account of the history of some famous hymns, some of the most beautiful written by John Newton who was a one-time slave trader. In spite of the rough weather there was a good attendance and Mr Fothoringham was accorded a hearty vote of thanks from an appreciative audience. Tho serving of supper brought tho evening to a close.