| Description | He sends the report on missionaries requested but cannot attest to the truth of all the charges made. He asks that it be used with discretion and his anonymity by preserved. He talked with Nylander, whose opinions largely agreed with his own but he told him nothing of this report.
Renner is addicted to drink and the others also indulge according to Leigh and Carr. Butscher is worldly and cares for little save money. He is respected by no one. At last he has started clearing ground at Leic. but his temporary huts will not survive the rains. He is only competent to assist.
Nylander is by far the best of them. He seems earnest, diligent and successful. He spends little time in S. L. and Macaulay has not been to Bullom. Wenzel shares some of Nylander's virtues and Macaulay knows nothing of Wilhelm.
Klein is much given to drinking and is the laughing stock of all who call at the Islands. Mrs. Klein rules him and is herself given to pride. She would have her husband made head of the missionaries on the coast and this causes enmity between him and Butscher.
Leigh set up the Kleins at the Isles de Los and they established a school (being paid £20 for a son of Charles Hopkins), but Mrs. Klein spread stories of Leigh and Carr engaging in the slave trade. Consequently the Kleins had to leave the Islands and an attempt to bring them back to S. L. failed. Butscher refused to entertain them anyway. They are now among the "wild Bagoes" opposite the Islands.
He has heard that Renner's church has been burnt down, thus demonstrating again the futility of the Rio Pongas mission. In S. L. there are 2000 children wanting education and many more in the populous villages on the river. Meanwhile the Mandingos spread Islam and in the last 3 years have infiltrated all of the Rokel river against the wishes of the chiefs. The Rio Pongas mission and all of their children could be moved to S. L.
Nylander told him that reports had reached Pratt of licentiousness amongst the missionaries. He cannot believe this nor that it is allowed amongst the children. |