The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1931, Page 184

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184

THE LUTHERAN PIONEER.

inches during the night. This was the first drop
for about three days. After breakfast E. hired
a boat for the morning in order to do some of her
shopping. Rey. K. and I had decided to make a
trip about seven miles beyond Hankow, where we
are taking care of about 250 refugees. We had our
lunch prepared and were on our way at about nine
o’clock. When we got into the native city, the water
reached the depth of about five to ten feet. Many of
the houses out there have already fallen, and others
will tumble within the next month. On not a few
huts we saw half-starved dogs waiting for a chance
to snatch some food. If only the police had enough
sense to kill them. As we got a short distance
beyond the native city, a rather strong wind began
to blow, so that at times four of us had to paddle
the boat in order to make any speed. Soon we
began to see large whitecaps dashing against the
railway embankment in the distance. By this time
we knew that it was entirely impossible for us to
make the trip, and so we turned back. Before re-
turning to the navy-yard we visited two of our
chapels. One of these is located in the only dry
district.in Hankow. It certainly seemed strange to
see rickshaws instead of boats, or sampans, as we
call them.

“This morning (Saturday), Rev. K. and I again
went over to Rev. R.’s home to look after the books
and also to do some more packing. The books which
were taken out of the water about a week ago were
dry enough to be taken to the bookbinder. At
present I have Sunday-school books which need

View from Front Window of Our Concordia
Seminary, Hankow, China.

binding. It is a pity to see those nice books in

such @ condition.

_ “This afternoon we again went to the houses
to see what damage had been done. Houses Nos. 5
and’6 are still standing, but they will not last much

‘longer. In order to save the other four residences,

the contractor is building a breakwater. He ex-
pects to do this by anchoring some reeds. We
noticed that some of the other residences of for-
eigners in that section are also beginning to

Hankow Flood Victims Ready for Hasty Burial.

crumble. Some people are a bit doubtful as to
whether the water will ever flow off that section of
land. We hope that dry land will again be visible
by about December.

“As far as we know now, we shall be ere
for Shasi next. Monday. Our stay there depends
entirely on the time it takes to repair the houses
in Wanhsien. It is possible that this will not -be
until the new missionaries arrive.” F. J. L.

Our Work in Anaikarai, South India.

I enclose a small snap-shot of our congregation at
Anaikarai.

Anaikarai lies somewhat off the main road to-
wards Uvari, on the southeast coast of India, and is
the last village in which we are laboring before
one reaches Uvari. Two years ago a house for the
teacher-catechist was built. The picture shows the
congregation lined up in front of it.

These outcaste Christians as well as the heathen
in the surrounding locality live a very miserable and
wretched life. Since the soil is rocky and the rain-
fall very scarce, rice-fields are rare, and thus this
class of people, who work as coolies, can find very
little work at home. This forces some to seek work
at a great distance from their homes. Some hope to
eke out an existence by joining a transport company
and becoming bandymen. All the credentials re-

* quired are a pair of bullocks and the well-known

two-wheeled bandy wagon. This job forces them to
be on the road and away from home for days and
weeks at a time. During the daytime they may be
nodding their heads in sleep or utter forgetfulness