IN WESTERN AFRICA, 
145 
by sickness, and who was compelled to return to 
America to recruit his health soon after such relig- 
ious interest was commenced. Had there been a 
sufficient force there to carry forward the 
work so well begun, doubtless there would have 
been quite a number brought to Christ. At 
different times subsequently there were excel- 
lent prospects for a glorious revival of religion, 
but on account of the absence of the missionary for 
weeks together, and sometimes of his wife also, be- 
cause of his severe illness, the field so ripe for a 
glorious harvest of souls was not reaped. This 
was a source of deep regret upon the part of a 
number of our missionaries, and oft repeated by 
one of them in his letters from Africa, and 
frequently after he returned to America, 
when he often remarked, and almost with his 
dying breath, Don’t send any missionaries to 
Africa again until you are able to keep from three 
to four there all the time.” 
One thing is clearly established, namely: much 
was lost because we had so few laborers in Africa, 
and so little money to sustain them during the first 
fifteen years of our occupancy of that field. With 
but one missionary in the field, and part of the time 
a native helper only, much of the good done was lost. 
The responsibility of having so small a force there 
must rest with those who might have prevented it. 
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