MR. EFA EKPE ESIJK. 
97 
none more so than Mr. Efa's. As one of the 
leaders of the Christian community he felt his re- 
sponsibility, and as one who thoroughly under- 
stood the land-hunger of the country, the reserve, 
if not distrust, of the people of one town towards 
those of another, he was alive to the manifold diffi- 
culties of an emigration from the spot which was 
as dear to them as life. But it was impossible for 
him to keep silence. He faced the difficulties, and, 
what is more, made the meeting face them. Farms 
stood for food; no farms meant no food. At the 
same time he pointed out two things — namely, God- 
palaver came before farm-palaver, and that if they 
would put first things first, all other things would 
be added to them by their Heavenly Father. Every 
word of that speech was born of conviction, and 
naturally carried conviction with others. In 
the end the meeting appointed a number to 
go across with us to Afaha Eduok (Oron) 
to' see if they could lease, or buy out- 
right, land upon which they could build 
their new homes. After much discussion and bar- 
gaining they managed it, and eventually brought 
their families and followers in the wake of the 
Mission. Farm land was much more difficult to 
secure, and for several years God's people knew 
very acutely the pinch of poverty, but no murmur- 
ing or complaining was to be heard. They all 
believed Mr. Efa's word. God-palaver is more than 
farm-palaver, and the Bread of Life is more than 
yams and koko, their native foods. x'\nd in the end, 
the other things were added, and with helpful 
increase. 
It 
