6^ ^/ aT**^! *i \jr<S^ '11 ore 1 ALFRED SAKER, A BIOGRAPHY. EDWARD BEAN UNDERHILL, LL.D., Ilonorarij Sccrctavij of Uie Baptist Missionary Society. PUBLISHED BY THE BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY, 10, CASTLE STREET, HOLBORN, E.G., AND ALEXANDER & SHEPHEARD, LONDON, ISSl. : LONDON PHIIfTBB BY ALBXANDBB AND 8 H B P H E A B Bv L0N3DALB BCtLDINGS, CHAJfCKBT LIIIK. Paul's love oF Christ, and steadiness unbribed, Were copied close in him, and well transcribed. He folloAved Paul : his zeal a kindred flame, His apostolic charity the same. Like him, oioss'd cheerfully tempestuous seas, ForsakiuL; country, kindred, friends, and ease : Like him, he laboured, and, like him, content To bear it, .suft'er'd shame where'er he went, COWPF.R. PREFACE. Alfred Sakeh wisliod to be known under no other designation than a " Missionary to Africa " ; and it is under that aspect of his character that the following pages have been compiled. All the energies of his nature were concentrated on that one object, and its fulfilment he held to constitute his one claim to our regard. But in otl^er respects he was a man worthy of admiration and of the deepest affection; and in the pursuit of his aim he never ibrgot the claims ..f family love, of Christian dut}^ or of the Master to whom with great joy he gave the life he had received at His liands. Tor the purposes of this biography, I have been much indebted to Mrs. Saker for many details of her hus- band's early life; and the (Jommittee of the Baptist Missionary Society, whose honoured servant he was, have freely placed at my command the correspondence in their hands. A comparison \\ith some pages of the Misdonary Herald will show that I have freely used many statements recorded there; Imt as tliey wore the X PREFACE. production of my own pen, and often derived from my own personal knowledge, I have not thouglit it neces- sary to make any distinct reference to the paragraphs I have quoted or used. I trust that, under the Divine Blessing, this sketch of a noble and useful life will contribute to deepen the interest of the Christian Church in Foreign Missions,, and more particularly in the salvation of that great Continent which still so lamentably needs the utmost devotion of the people of the Lord. EDWARD B. UNDEPvHILL. Hami'STEAD, Feb. 5th, 188.1^. — CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. VAGK. Early Life and Consecration—184M842 1 Birthplace—Childhood—Youth — Conversion — Devotion to Christ— In Devonport Dockyard — Marriage—Desire for a missionary life. CHAPTER II. Departure for Africa— 1843 8- Origin of the African Mission—The exploration—Commence- ment at Clarence—Objections to the Mission—Explorers diiven to Jamaica—The Chilmark engaged—Departure of ]Mr. and Mrs. Saker— Voyage to Jamaica—Voyage to Fernando Po Sufferings on the voyage—Arrival. CHAPTER III. Commencement of Missionary Labour—1844-1845 20 Reception at Clarence— First trials—Personal toil— First attempt.s at printing—Death of infant—Visit to Binibia and the Cameroons—Description of the river—Warm reception by the Dualla chiefs—The first week. CHAPTER IV, Pkkils AiioNG THE Heathen—1845-1846 2* The A'kwa towns—Barbarous practices—Witchcraft—Mr. Saker's residence— Its purchase— Quarrels of the chiefs- Learning the language— Review of the first year's work. — ' Xn COXTE^'TS. CHArXEK V. TAGE PekseveeaxjC'E in Laeove— 1846-1847 36 Listless attention of the people— Sufferings—Mr. Saker's first visit to England—His return to Africa—A busy life—Desire for books—Begins to translate the Scriptures—Visit to Clarence—Ba^itism of converts—Return to Cameroons— Cruelties of the heathen—Building of a school-house—Need of better dwellings. CHAPTER VI. Anxious Days— 1848-1850 44 Residence at Clarence— Illness and de[iarture of missionaries —Appeal for help—Work in Clarence—Arri%al of the Dove— A day of joy—Shadows retnm^—Death of Mr. Merrick—The work at Bethel—First marriage and baptism— Formation of a church—Health, and voyage to England. CHAPTER VII. The Dawn of Bkighter Days—1850-1852 56 Dr. jSTewbegin's death—Appeal to the Committee—Mr. and Mrs. Saker's return to Africa—Joyful reception—Visit to Bethel—Baptisms—Persecution of converts— ]\Ir. Saker again resides at Bethel—^Manufacture of bricks—How accomplished —Advance of the Gospel—Destruction of chapel at Clarence — Mr. "Wheeler's departure—Heavy toil—Triumph of truth. CHAPTER VI n. The MissioxAiiT at his Wokk—1853-1S56 69 Bimbia station—Causes of its decay—The work at Cameroons —The church—The sick missionary—A'isit to England Return to Africa—Persecution of convei-ts—Acquisition of Dualla langTiage—Books prepared and printed^The standard Alphabet. — CONTENTS. Xlll CHAPTER IX. I'.VOK The Home of Freedom— 1858 80 Claim of Spain to Fernando Po—The missionaries driven away—The Mission abandoned—-Exploration of Amboises Bay —Description—Colony of Victoria founded— Its advantages —The exiles —Laws of the colony—The home of freedom—- Grateful retrospect. CHAPTER X. Days of Hope-1S59-1861 97 Progress of the work— Composition of hymns and tunes Visit of Mr. DiboU and Mr. Saker to England—Approval of the Committee—Return voyage—Trials of the Slission Intense activity of Jlr. Saker—Completion of New Testament —Classes for reading—Native i|uarrels—The Dualla language and people. CHAPTER XL Ascent of the Camerooxs ]\Iouxtaix—1861-1862 110 The start—The native population—The ascent—Encampment —Traces of volcanic action—The summit—Final ascent by Captain Burton—Return to Victoria. CHAPTER XII. In Peril on eveky Side— 1862-1863 117 Slow growth of Victoria—Description of it —Departure of hia family for England— Interruptions from native quarrels Savage life—Attempts to revive tlie slave trade—Additions to the church—Failuie of health—Another visit to England. CHAPTER XIII. Perseveking Toil— 1864-1869 125- Eeturn voyage to Africa—State of Mission—Death of Mrs. Smith—Perseverance in manifold labours—Death of Johnson —Obstruction from wars—Progress in translation—Danger of drowning—Growth of the work—Translation of Bible com- pleted— Baptisms—Visit to England. — ——— XIV CONTENTS. CHAPTER XIV. PAGE Visit of the Deputation—1869-1870 133 First steps of the Mission—Obstacles and difficulties Diversity of judgment among the missionaries—The Deputa- tion—The voyage—Causes of difference—Formation of local Committee—Secession of Mr. Saker—Secular work— Its necessity —Charges of extravagance and waste—Not sustained —Visit to Victoria—Growth of the colony—Mrs. Underhill's decease—Report of Deputation. CHAPTER XV. The Last Days in Africa—1870-1876 145 His great task completed—Study of the prophets—The steam- launch—Voyages up the rivers—Ravages of small-pox Arrangements for the Mission—A retrospect—Mr. Grenfellon effect of his labours^Leaves Africa. CHAPTER XVI. <Jlosing Days— 1877-1880 156 Arrival in England—Health of ]\Ir. Saker—The Congo Jlission—Speech at Cannon Street—Reception at Glasgow His address—His daughter's consecration to the work—Mr. Gust's testimony—Decline in health—Approach of death- Closing scene—Mr. Raynes on Mr. Saker's life and death The funeral—Reception of the news at Cameroons—Character of Alfred Saker—Dr. Livingstone's and other testimony. APPENDIX No. PAGE I. Regulations for the Colony of Victoria, Amboisks B.vy 169 II. —Resolution of the Baptist Missionary Society on the Death of the Rev. Alfred Saker 172 —— ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE FROXTIsI'IKiK— POJITH.UT OF TtEV, ALFRED SaKEU. 1. Arrival of the "Chilmark" at Clarence 20 2. —a a'lllage on the cameroon's 28 3. —KiNf; A'kava'.s House axd Street 30 4.— Bethel Chapel, Cameroox.s G4 — o. Bird's-eye View of Victoria 92 6.— Mission-house and School, Amboises Bay 96 7. Cameroons Mountain', kiiom A'ictoria ... no 8.—Victoria Charel, Amboises Bay lis 9-—CH.A,rEL AT Hickory, or Mortonville ... 12S 10. New .Mission-house, Victoria 144 11. On the Mungo River 143 12.—Map of Cameroons River, &c., &c. 16S ALFEED SAKEE. A BIOGEAPHY. CHAPTER I. EAKLY LIFE AXD CONSECRATION, 1814-1842. HE small hamlet of Borough Green, in the parish of Wrotham, Kent, was the birthplace of Alfred Saker. It lies in a richly cultivated district, below the chalk cliffs that rise to the north, from whence may be seen, looking over the (|uiet village of Wrotham, one of the most beautiful of the many lovely landscapes that the weald of Kent offers to the lovers of scenery. It is a district of meadows, cornfields, and hop-gardens, interspersed with shaws and orchards. Near at ha ad are the fine plantations and woods sur- rounding Mereworth Castle. Still nearer to the little Green, on the north-west, is Addington, with its numer- ous memorials of Druidical times in circles, broken cromlechs, and the remains of a great stone avenue that remind the traveller of the monumental lines of Carnac in Brittany. Not far from Borough Green, to the west, is the con- siderable village of Ightham, with its interesting relics 1 ; 2 ALFRED SAKER. of the Eoman occupation, consisting of a large intrench- ment and traces of a Eoman road, which appears to have run through Borough Green itself. Here Alfred Saker was born on the 21st July, 1814, and amid these scenes he spent the years of his child- hood. His father was a millwright and engineer, and the parent of a large family of children, many of whom died in infanc}'. Alfred was a weakly babe, and, m the opinion of the old nurse, " was not worth rearing." He grew an exceedingly sensitive child, a gentle, retiring boy, feeble in frame and caring little for the boisterous games of the children that gave life to the quiet village.