"Eisenschmid's Report for 1864"

Kromer has had a wife on the station since early in the year - she was seriously ill at first, but otherwise they have been in good health with fevers, but not seriously. Concerning Catechist Asante Eisenschmid writes that ‘he has experienced the power of Christ in his heart' - while Burckhardt does not really seek God. Eisenschmid’s picture of their impact is gloomy - the response is if anything less – ‘deep thinking is not the concern of the local people, they are too much embedded in their beliefs about fetishes and consider that with a few eggs or a hen everything can be settled to their advantage'. The Okyenhene is further sunk in drunkenness, and holds himself more distant than he did before - indeed be has tried to interfere in a savage way, though these have been mitigated by the elders who were usually on the side of the mission, like to have them living in Kibi, and made up damages or appealed the missionaries to forget what had happened. Life in Kibi is constant lies and deceit and quarrels and brawls. The annual festival was held on Christmas Day, and passed off reasonably on that day, but the next day Kibi people quarrelled with the people of two other villages and they had many wounded to attend to in the evening. They have preached regularly in Kibi and the surrounding villages, visited Kukurantumi many times, Asinkwa a few times, and Begoro at least once. Outside Kibi the doors are open. A particularly heavy rainy season has made travelling very difficult for much of the year. The Kibi community stands at 39 - they have baptised 11 during the course of the year, about half from the school, 2 were children, of the rest 7 were from Akim, 1 from Accra, and one an Akropong servant-girl of Kromer's. Several people moved away from Kibi, especially those who had been involved in the building, including an elder called Abraham, an Accra carpenter. Though the Christians have not been perfect (avarice is mentioned especially as a problem), obviously Eisenschmid is fairly at peace with them. Most have a spiritual life, and their child-like contributions at the weekly prayer meeting please the missionaries. Kukurantumi is in a state of crisis - little further is said other than that the Chriatian youths of Kukurantumi want to come to Kibi There is a project for Kromer to move when Christaller comes to Kibi.

07.02.1865

07.02.1865

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