LITTLE BASSA — AFRICA
Letter from L. K. Crocker, a native African
Mount Hope, Little Bassa,
September 24th, 1858
Rev. Jno. Day:
Highly respected Brother, — It was with unspeakable
pleasure I acknowledged the receipt of your kind favour dated
August 25th. I am happy that you have written to the Board for an
appropriation for me to labour in this part of the Lord’s vineyard.
Pray that the Lord may pour out his Holy Spirit upon me,
that I may study to show myself approved unto God, a workman
that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
It is, indeed, a great consolation to us that the Lord has inclined
your heart to remember this place.
Since the reception of your kind letter, I have sent for all
the native chiefs within my reach, and spoke to them about the
prospect of having a mission in this place and neighbourhood.
They are all elated with joy, and said, “We be very glad to hear
God word all time, and we want we sons to learn book, to be all
same you.”
Sir, the people are ready to listen to the truths of the
Gospel, and a great and fundamental change has taken place — id
est, the observance of the holy Sabbath. There are nine small
towns besides the one I reside in, which are under my immediate
supervision. The inhabitants of these never work on Sunday.
They have seen the disadvantage experienced by violating the
Sabbath; for many of them have come to me voluntarily to say that
in former times they used to work on their farms on Sunday
secretly, but when they found that I, who observed the Sabbath
strictly, would raise more rice or casawa than they, they
abandoned working on the Sabbath on their own accord — id est,
without compulsion.
No doubt you have heard of the death of the late king
Bargay of Little Bassa: and by Prince Zovle and my request
Saltwater, who was next to Bargar, has been made a head chief of
the country. He is a particular friend of mine; but though a
nominal king, the management of the affairs in the country
