Kalaka was a great man among the Suto people. He was not a chief, but he knew two languages, the French and the English, besides his own and several other dialects. He had been educated to translate the Bible, and he taught his people much of the true God.

One day, in the year 1889, there came to his hut in Basutoland, Africa, a missionary who had come from faraway America to talk with his people. Kalaka knew this from a letter the missionary carried from some Suto people whom the missionary had met. "We are very anxious," they said, "that Pastor Stephen N. Haskell, who carries this letter, should talk to you about God and His word. He knows God, and he can tell you much."

Kalaka was glad to see Mr. Haskell, and after talking with him awhile, he said, "I will take you to the high chief, and have you talk with him." Mr. Haskell had a letter to this man, who was called the Paramount Chief, as he was chief over all the chiefs of Basutoland. Whenever anything had to be decided about their country or their people, they would come together in a council, and make up their minds together about it. Sometimes they didn't agree, and sometimes they all agreed against the Paramount Chief. This troubled the old chief. He thought they all ought to see alike, and to be alike.

When Mr. Haskell came and talked with him, the Paramount Chief told him how bad it was that his council would not agree with him. Mr. Haskell could not understand the Suto language, but Kalaka interpreted for him. That is, Mr. Haskell would say something in English, then Kalaka would tell it to the chief in Suto; then the chief would say something in Suto, and Kalaka would tell it to Mr. Haskell in English.

When the chief told his troubles, Mr. Haskell pointed to a tree under which they were sitting, and said, "Look! Look at that tree, and tell me how many branches on it are just alike."

The chief looked. "Why," he said, "there are no two just alike."

"And yet they are all good," said Mr. Haskell, "and the tree needs them all to make leaves for shade, and fruit for eating. If they all were just alike, the same size and shape, and growing in the same direction, they would not be nearly so useful, nor the tree so beautiful. If the fruit is good, you do not care what is the shape of the branch. That is like your council of chiefs. If they were all alike it would be very bad. You could not do so much, nor so well."

"Yes, yes," cried the chief, "I see. That is very true, Pastor Haskell."

The old chief was delighted with this illustration, which explained to him how men can be different and yet be doing the same work. And he remembered it well for many years, as you shall see.

Kalaka also was much struck with Mr. Haskell's illustration, and with his talks. After this he traveled for six weeks with him through the country, to find different tribes whom Mr. Haskell wanted to visit. Driving along in their covered wagon, they read the Bible together. Mr. Haskell did not tell him anything of the faith he held, but when they would read the verses that taught such truths, he would just emphasize the words. And Kalaka saw and believed. Still he would not say so. Thus they read about the Sabbath, and the coming of Jesus, and baptizing. They read the story in Acts 8 of Philip's baptizing the eunuch, where it says they went down into the water. Kalaka belonged to a society that believed in sprinkling, not in immersion. But here it says the eunuch went into the water to be baptized. Kalaka did not say anything about it, however, and Mr. Haskell did not ask him. But one day as they were driving along on their way toward home, they stopped by the side of a stream to let their horses graze.

Kalaka and Mr. Haskell sat down on the grass by the stream. Suddenly Kalaka spoke up. "'See, here is water,'" he said; "'what doth hinder me to be baptized?'

And in the words of Philip, Mr. Haskell replied, "'If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest."

And Kalaka at once replied, "'I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.'

He decided to keep the Sabbath, and accepted all the faith, and was baptized. Afterwards he translated Mrs. White's book, "Steps to Christ," into his language, and thus the way was prepared for the message to go to the Suto people.

Nine years afterwards J. M. Freeman was sent to Africa to work for these people. When he came into Basutoland he went to the chiefs to get some land on which to build a mission. But the chiefs had all been instructed by the French not to let him have any, and they said no, he could not stay. But the old chief asked him some questions, and soon found out that he believed what Pastor Haskell believed.

"Are you of the same religion," he asked Mr. Freeman, "as that missionary who came here some years ago, and talked to me about the trees? "

"Yes," answered Mr. Freeman, "I am." For he knew the story of Mr. Haskell's illustration.

" Then you can have any piece of land in my country you want," said the old chief. So the Basuto Mission was established, and it has been there and has done a good work ever since.

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