When the sun arose the following morning, the canoe carrying Mary Slessor arrived at King Okon’s village.  A great shout went up from the people when they heard the white Ma had come.

“You have my room,” said the chief.  “It is the best room in the village.”

It may have been the best room, but it was not a very comfortable one.  Rats and big lizards were running back and forth across the floor.  There were insects and fleas and lice everywhere.

The people were much interested in the white Ma.  They had never seen a white woman before.  They crowded into the yard.  Many of them touched and pinched Mary to see if she were real.  Some were afraid.  Their friends laughed at them and pulled them into the yard.  They watched Mary eat.  They watched everything she did.  Mary did not care.  She used their interest in her to tell them about Jesus who loved them.  She told them that they must love Jesus and trust in Him for salvation.

Twice a day she held services and great crowds came to hear her.  She cut out clothes for the people and taught the women how to sew.  She gave medicine to the sick and bandaged the wounds of those who got hurt.

“King Okon,” said Mary, “I would like to go into the people’s homes in the jungle.  May I go?”

“No, white Ma, I cannot let you go.  This is elephant country.  The elephants go wild and run over everything in the jungle.  These stampedes have been so bad my people have had to leave off farming and make their living by fishing.  I cannot let you go.  You might get hurt or killed.”

One night Mary saw that the people looked very angry.  Some were sad.

“What is the matter?” asked Mary.

“Two of the king’s young wives have done wrong.  They have broken a law,” answered one of the natives.  “They thought nobody was looking and went into a room where a young man was sleeping.  Each of them will be hit a hundred times with a whip.”

Mary went to the king.  She asked him to be kinder to these girls.  She begged him not to beat them so much.

“Ma, you are right,” said the king.  “I will call palaver of all the chiefs.  If you say we must not whip girl, we must listen to you as our guest and Ma.  But the people will say God’s Word be no good, if it keeps the law from punishing those who do wrong.”

Mary saw the king was right.  She turned to the girl-wives of the king.

“You have brought shame to the king and the tribe by the silly foolish things you did.  God’s Word teaches men to be kind and merciful and generous, but it does not pass over sin or permit it.  I cannot ask the king not to punish you.  Ask God to help you in the future, so that you will not do bad or foolish things.”

All the chief men of the tribe grunted their approval of what Mary had said to the girls.  But then Mary turned to the chief men and said: 

“You are to blame.  Your custom of one man marrying many wives is wrong and cruel.  These girls are only sixteen years old and still love fun and play.  They are too young to be married.  They meant no real harm.”