30 
GOD'S BLACK DIAMONDS. 
river journey to reach a place we had often talked 
about. Some of the Archibong people went with 
us in their canoes. During the night it came on 
to rain very hard. In the pitch darkness our boat 
ran ashore on a sandbank, and we had to change 
to one of the canoes. We arrived at daybreak, 
and after getting our breakfast in a fashion some- 
thing like our soldier friends got theirs in the 
trenches, we went into the town, whose name we 
did not then really know. 
Our first object was to find the Etc," or head 
chief. He was not at home, but was expected any 
time. So we walked round the town, had a look 
at the land all round about, and then waited. By- 
and-bye the Ete " arrived. As soon as all his 
family and friends had greeted him, we told him 
who we were, and what was our business. He 
listened very politely, and then asked the other 
chiefs gathered round him what they thought about 
our words, at the same time giving them his 
opinion. 
After some argument amongst themselves, and 
two or three questions to make certain things better 
understood, they all with one voice declared they 
held the same opinion as their Ete (head chief). 
And that was this : Three times before had they 
had visits from missionaries asking them for admis- 
sion into their town and district, and as many times 
had they refused. Now for a fourth time had come 
the same request — only this time from a different 
mission. Surely God was thinking about them, and 
knocking at the door of their town for admission. 
To keep the door shut any longer would be wrong, 
and would bring them plenty trouble,'* so we 
