Page:The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, vol. 1.djvu/267

 noticed the closeness and the stuffy air. The beds are all joined together, separated only by single boards. There was hardly space enough to walk.

They believe in no colour distinctions. The natives are accorded the same treatment as the whites. They are mostly children. They get the same food as the brothers, and are dressed as well as they themselves are. Whilst it is generally said, not without some truth, that the Christian Kaffir is a failure, every one, even the wildest sceptic, admits that the mission of the Trappist has proved the most successful in point of turning out really good Christian natives, while the mission schools of other denominations very often enable the natives to contract all the terrible vices of the western civilisation, and very rarely produce any moral effect on them - the natives of the Trappist mission are patterns of simplicity, virtue and gentleness. It was a treat to see them saluting passers-by in a huble yet dignified manner.

There are about 1,200 natives on the mission, including children and adults. They have all exchanged a life of sloth, indolence and superstition, for one of industry, usefulness and devotion to one Supreme God.

On the settlement, there are various workshops&mdash;blacksmiths, tinsmiths, carpenters, shoemakers, tanners, etc., where the natives are taught all these useful industries, in addition to the English and the Zulu languages. Here, it may be remarked, that it speaks volumes for the high-mindedness of the noble settlers, that though almost all of them are Germans, they never attempt to teach the natives German. All the natives work side by side with the whites.

At the sisters' cloisters, they have the ironing, sewing, straw hat manufacturing and knitting departments, where one can see the native girls dressed in clean costumes, working assiduously.

About two miles from the abbey is situated the printing department, and the flour mill worked by a water fall. It is a huge pile of building. There is also an oil machine, which is worked for pressing the oil from monkey nuts. It is needless to mention that the above mentioned workshops supply the settlers with most of their requirements.

They grow many kinds of tropical fruits on the farm, and the settlement is almost self-supporting.

They love and respect, and are in turn loved an respect by the natives living in their neighbourhood who, as a rule, supply them with the converts.