White Queen of the Cannibals | Page 6

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volunteer for that section, I wish to go because my Master needs me
there."
At last the time had come for Mary to leave for Africa. For fourteen
long years she had worked at the looms in the weaving factory. As she
worked, she had dreamed of Calabar. Now her dream was going to
come true. Mary went to the city of Liverpool. There she went on board
the ship, the "S. S. Ethiopia." As she got on board she looked around.
Everywhere were barrels of whiskey.
"Hundreds of barrels of whiskey, but only one missionary," said Mary
sadly.
The boat whistle blew. The engines chugged. The "S. S. Ethiopia" was
on its way. It was August 5, 1876. Mary saw the shoreline of Scotland
become dimmer and dimmer. She looked forward to seeing the coast of
Africa and the land of Calabar.
"At last I am on my way to Calabar," said Mary Slessor as the "S. S.
Ethiopia," sailed southward. "How Mother would like to be with me!
How often she prayed that God would send more missionaries to
Calabar. I didn't think then that I would really be one of them."
It did not take Mary long to make friends on board the ship. Among the
friends she made were Mr. and Mrs. Thomson.
"So you are going to Calabar," said Mr. Thomson. "Aren't you afraid of
that wild country?"
"Oh, no," said Mary, "because God is with me. He will take care of me.
Jesus said, 'Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world,'
and I am trusting in His promise."
"Do you know what this country is like?" asked Mrs. Thomson.
"Only what I have read about it," said Mary. "You've been there before,
haven't you?"

"Yes, we have," said Mrs. Thomson. "My husband wants to build a
home where tired missionaries can rest and rebuild their strength for
their wonderful work. He has explored the West Coast and chosen the
Cameroon Mountains as the place for that home. We are going there
now to build this home for missionaries. Missionary work in Africa is
so hard that missionaries need a place where they can rest from time to
time."
"I think that's wonderful of you!" said Mary. "I know the Lord will
bless the work you are doing. Won't you tell me about Africa?"
"Well," said Mr. Thomson, "the climate is very hot. The sun is so
strong and hot that white people don't dare go out without a hat to
protect their heads. The rivers are very muddy and often flow through
dark, gloomy swamps that white people can hardly get through."
"But often," broke in Mrs. Thomson, "there are beautiful green banks
with the most beautiful flowers. You will see the prettiest birds in all
the world dressed in the brightest reds and greens and blues and purples.
You will see the long-legged cranes and the funny pelicans with their
big beaks."
"And don't forget the man-eating crocodiles that are swimming in the
river or lying on the banks. They look like an old log, but if you get
near them, look out! They seem lazy and slow, but they can snap off a
leg or drag you into the river as quick as a wink. Then in the jungles are
the lions, and elephants, and other wild animals."
"I am most frightened of the swift and terrible tornadoes," said Mrs.
Thomson.
"And, Miss Slessor," said Mr. Thomson, "don't forget that the natives
are wild and fierce and many of them are cannibals who would be glad
to eat you."
"I shall not fear," said Mary. "God is leading me. He is my good
Shepherd. He can protect me from fierce beasts and the wild people. I
am happy He has chosen me to bring the messages of the Saviour to

these wild people. He will call me home to Him when the work He has
for me is done. Till then nothing can really harm me."
Four weeks passed. The ship was plowing through the tropical sea. The
air was warm, but the sea breezes made it very pleasant. The ship
turned landward and soon Mary could see the shore of Africa. How
thrilled and happy she was--Africa at last! On September 11 the ship
entered the tumbling, whirling waters of the Cross and Calabar Rivers
which here joined and poured into the sea. Mary had read about these
rivers, and now she actually saw them. She saw, too, the pelicans and
the cranes. She saw crocodiles, about which Mr. Thomson had told her,
lazily slide off the sandbanks into the muddy waters of the river.
Mr. and Mrs. Thomson stood with Mary at the rail of the ship as it
sailed up the river. They would point