"Werner to Basel"

A letter for general publication, obviously intended for the public. On the right en route from the town of Abetifi to the Mission Station is a sacred wood with huge trees, in which are a number of apes, also sacred. On left is mission land. The path is bordererd by low bush and tall grass (in an earlier letter one of the Missionaries states that they found themselves clearing an old farm when they began on the clearing of the mission station, and that most of the land around Abetifi had been farmed and would be again). There are few large trees on the mission land – 100 paces from the mission house stands a huge silk cotton tree. The chapel will stand 50 paces to the south of the building, shingled roof, stone walls at least for the lower storey. The building of a Christian community is not proceeding very fast. People are avoiding any sort of positive commitment. The great fetish Atieam has forbidden the children from attending school, and the adults from attending services. The morning service on the mission station is very little visited, and this is even the case with the Christan workers who have come to Abetifi from the south; they seem to be the throw-outs from other Christian communities, and give the local people a very bad example. The attendance at Sunday street-preaching in the town is not very striking. During the week the Catechist holds a school for five boys. Three are house-boys of the missionaries, two are sent by the king who wants them to be given instruction. They seem to be very gifted.

25.10.1876

25.10.1876

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