72 
THOMAS J. COMBER. 
better farther on.’ Failure now perhaps, success sure 
and certain soon ; sickness now, but health and 
strength before ; a closed path now, horrid darkness 
of sin and ignorance, hateful spirit of greed, avarice, 
and selfishness, abominable acts of cruelty and 
brutality ; but the promises are so full and complete, 
and I look away from sickening sights, and barren 
hard soil, and feel like singing Isaiah’s song, ‘ The 
desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose, the 
wilderness and solitary place shall be glad.’ The 
Lord will ‘ hasten it in His time.’ 
How are you getting on with Tennyson ? Have 
you read the ‘ Idylls ’ ? How great an admirer of 
simple duty Tennyson is. Duty, Honour, Purity, 
Faithfulness, — these are the virtues he extols, and 
sings about. I don’t know any poetry so healthy as 
his. I always carry his works into the bush with me, 
in my roughest travelling, and many a long weary 
Sabbath (don’t be shocked) has been enlightened by 
them, while lying in my hammock in some African 
hut. Read his ‘ Burial of the Duke of Wellington.’ 
‘ Not once or twice in our fair island story, 
The path of duty was the path of glory.’ ” 
As the Zaire was running up to Musuka, the 
missionaries were able to proceed thither, — a place 
with a trading factory, about a hundred miles from 
the coast. At Musuka much valuable knowledge 
was obtained as to the route to San Salvador, the 
people of the country, carriers, &c. Necessary 
arrangements were also made with the Dutch trading 
house ; and a letter translated into Portuguese was 
left for the King of San Salvador, who was expected, 
telling him who the missionaries were, and that it 
was their intention to visit him. 
This trip was not only useful in regard to future 
movements, but it was also very beneficial to Mr. 
Comber ; his health was greatly improved, and the 
small ulcers on his legs and feet entirely disappeared. 
On their return to Cameroons, Mr. Comber and his 
