. t anew in Christian purity. This interfer-ence of Christianity with polygamy is one of its most unpopularfeatures in Africa. But the directness and nearness of Christianapproach to God, the setting aside not only of their customs,but of their superstitions, is a still greater difficulty. Most conspicuously among the Bakwains was their faith inthe art or power of the rain-maker. Their country borders onthe desert; frequently they need water; the rains are withholden;there are men who profess to bring rain; they administer medi-cine
. t anew in Christian purity. This interfer-ence of Christianity with polygamy is one of its most unpopularfeatures in Africa. But the directness and nearness of Christianapproach to God, the setting aside not only of their customs,but of their superstitions, is a still greater difficulty. Most conspicuously among the Bakwains was their faith inthe art or power of the rain-maker. Their country borders onthe desert; frequently they need water; the rains are withholden;there are men who profess to bring rain; they administer medi-cine to the elements; they claim the rain, if it comes, as broughtby them; if it does not come, then they argue, No man isexpected to succeed in every particular matter. Now, Religionsays, Ask God for rain; they prefer to ask the rain-doctor; theycannot see God; they see the rain-doctor; they see his medicinebag; they are in trouble; they think their ancestors got rain is hard for them to decide; they cling to the superstition. Hill! I 4: ! SmW m MM -imm, d. THE DROUGHT AND HOPO. 63 During the three years—the earlier years of Livingstonessettlement—there was almost a continuous drought. Sechelehad been a noted rain-doctor; now he would not do felt that Christianity was to account for their parchedfields and famished herds and their own great suffering. Theywere slow to embrace Christianity. To Dr. Livingstone theywould say, We like you as well as if you had been bornamong us, but we wish you to give up that everlasting preach-ing and praying. You see we never get rain, whilst thosetribes who never preach and pray have plenty. Indeed, withsuch impressions, there is no difficulty in comprehending theirfeelings, if we can only realize their distress during those threeyears—the rivers running dry, the leaves dying on the trees,needles retaining their polish perfectly lying in the street, themercury standing at 134° three inches under ground. Only thelong-legge
Size: 1214px × 2059px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, bookpublisheretcetc, bookyear187
