African Bush, Calabar, Nigeria, ca. 1930-1940

Tinted lantern slide showing the bushes and tall trees of Okoyong forest. Mary Mitchell Slessor (1848-1915) chose to open up the territory of the Okoyong tribe as part of her mission work. In an often-retold episode, Mary Slessor was given a canoe and paddlers by King Eyo of Creek Town in 1888, despite being warned of the dangers of the area and likely hostility from its occupants. However, Mary Slessor managed to set up her base in Okoyong (in the town of Arochukwu) and gain the trust and respect of local people through her missionary work. This slide comes from a set on mission, culture and industry in Calabar, southeast Nigeria generated by the Church of Scotland and the United Free Church of Scotland (which was incorporated with the Church of Scotland in 1929.)