"Dilger to Basel"

Translating a letter he has received from Kwabi, to the effect that (i) he was called to the bedside of a catechumen who thought he was dying and appealed for baptism - Kwabi baptised him Johannes in the presence of some of the Christians, although in the and he did not in fact die. (ii) The man thought he had been poisoned by two men - and Kwabi sent into the town to inform the chief of this. (iii) The town however is in uproar because of the number of deaths in the last 4 months – 115 or more - and regard the Christians presence as partly responsible, Dilger's comment is that it is sad to see a town where they once had high hopes. The whole town used to come to street preaching, and it was so quiet you could imagine yourself in a church in Europe - given over in this way – on the first onset of smallpox they brought the sore-ridden corpses into the town dancing around them. Though he also comments that there is news that a fetish priest has announced that he wants to attend baptismal instruction.

18.07.1885

18.07.1885

Text