CHAPTER IV. 



THE UGANDA MISSION. 



The history of the Uganda Mission is so inter- 

 woven with that of the colony that a short account 

 of its past most interesting career could not be out 

 of place. It reads more like a chapter out of the 

 annals of ancient Rome than a true record of recent 

 events of these enlightened days, M^hen one turns 

 over the pages to learn how hundreds of zealous 

 Christians faced nobly the painful death of being 

 burnt at the stake rather than forsake Christianity. 

 At the time of the mission's birth, scientific explor- 

 ation had not dispelled from the popular mind 

 the ignorance which even up to a short time ago 

 prevailed regarding that mysterious land so aptly 

 termed the "dark" continent. It was not until 

 Sir H. M. Stanley, in 1875, sent home his glowing 

 description of the country, coupled with an earnest 

 appeal to the missionaries to embrace the golden 

 opportunities of such a promising field for their 

 efforts as Uganda had to offer, that steps were 

 eventually taken to Christianize the country. 



The story of the terrible privations of the first 

 party to be sent out — their sufferings on the line 

 of march through waterless deserts and fever-laden 

 swamps, attacked by hostile natives, plundered by 



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