"Henke to Basel"

Henke is sick. Details about his disease. Extracts from his diary: Monday 11th May: Palaver in the castle about a man shot by accident during funeral celebrations. Wednesday, 13th May: The palaver could not be settled by the governor who gave the accused to the parties to settle it on their own. The family of the man shot does not want money, but thirsts after the blood of the man who shot him by accident. Thursday 14th May: The palaver settled: Oath, that the matter dead, guilty man must wear chains in the fort for a year. Governor makes a law for future such cases. Instead of 8 servants they have now two Mulatto boys whom they teach in religion and reading and writing. Perhaps they may one day be schoolteachers. They also have a cook and a washerman. From the 9th to the 11th June he was with Mr. Schwanekier on his plantation. To begin a school on a plantation is not suitable, since there are but few Africans on each plantation. The rainy season was late this year, and a fetishwoman from Accra went to Frederic Davunnah in a trance and told him, that they were guilty of this. Happily rain fell soon afterwards. On the 19th June the fetishpriest and three fetishwomen came and thanked God for the rain. He told them that do account of our sins God often had to punish us, but if we prayed to him with the decision to rectify our life, he would be gracious again. They thanked for this lesson and departed after a sort of blessing. If only they knew the language people would listen to the gospel. The fetishpriest from Ussu visited them and got a glass of brandy according to the bad local custom. He poured out libation to jongmo (God) and the sea. He told him rather to give his heart to God and that it was a sin to sacrifice to a fetish who could not speak etc. he should worship God alone. He said that the fetishes had given them the victory over the Ashantis. He proved to him the nothingness of the fetishes. He said, that he had 10 sons whom he wanted to become Christians, but that he was too old himself to learn how to read and to write. He told him, that he only had to learn to believe in Jesus Christ, who had come down from heaven for their sake etc. He said that he wanted to listen to this every day, but we were not sure whether he was not after the brandy and told him to wait till we knew enough of their language. As far as their health permits them, they endeavour to learn the language. But they have no proper teacher. With brother Salbach he alternates with the Danish service and on Sunday afternoon every fortnight from 3-4 p.m. he catechises the mulatto soldiers and the mulatto lads and girls from the town. Frederic Davunnah has been employed by the Governor as teacher on the Danish school, translates, since many of the Mulattos do not know Danish, especially the girls. On the 2. Easterday he baptised 4 children of Mr. Schwanekier. The Europeans and the Governor regularly attend service and seem to have improved somewhat morally. Surgeon Schönning intends to marry in church the Mulattowoman with whom he has been living together, once she knows some Danish and has been confirmed. The governor is a rationalist, but the truth of the gospel seems to make him uneasy in his rationalism. Daily from 3-4 p.m. he teaches the confirmation lessons to 10 girls and 13 boys (mulattos) in the fort. He intends to apply for the post of the preacher to the fort from the king. The job is extremely difficult, and one has to know the Accra language to do it well. But there is a need for it, and the Europeans have required him to apply. The brethren agree. He would like to know a fatherly advise from Basel on the matter. Greetings to various people.

02.08.1829

02.08.1829

Text

4 pages