,the ,cruise of the ,mary ,rose1 or ,here and ,there in the ,pacific1 by ,william ,h ,g ,kingston4 ,this book is very largely about the work of ,christian missionaries in the ,pacific4 ,there is a thin plot1 but otherwise we are treated to lengthy texts extracted from the reports of various missionaries1 and of ,naval officers who had visited the area4 ,the book is dressed up with a cover and a title that makes it look like a boy's adventure story from the second half of the nineteenth century4 ,i imagine that many a kindly old aunt1 searching for a ,christmas present for a favourite nephew1 will have bought a copy1 and been surprised when the thank-you letter didn't seem as effusive as she expected4 ,but don't let me stop you reading it if you are interested in the work of these brave missionaries4 ,kingston is generally quite pious in his writings1 so you can imagine how pious he is when trying to out-missionary the missionaries4 ,some of their more nauseous habits of their clients are described1 such as eating your enemy when you have killed him4 ,,the ,,cruise ,,of ,,the ,,mary ,,rose1 ,,or ,,here ,,and ,,there ,,in ,,the ,,pacific1 ,,by ,,william ,h ,g ,,kingston4 ,,chapter ,,one4 ,,uncle ,,john',s ,,journal4 ,my family had for centuries owned the same estate1 handed down from father to son undiminished in size1 and much increased in value4 ,i believe there had been among them in past generations those who feared the ,lord4 ,i know that my father was a man of true piety4 ,casting all your care upon ,him1 for ,he careth for you1 was his favourite motto4 ,what a world of doubt and anxiety1 of plotting1 and contriving1 and scheming1 does this trust in ,god save those who possess it4 ,on this blessed assurance my father took his stand in all the difficulties of life4 ,it never failed him1 and so we his sons had a good training and a godly example4 ,the younger members of each generation followed various honourable professions1 but they failed to rise to high rank in them1 owing1 ,i fancy1 to a want of worldly ambition--the general characteristic of our race4 ,altogether1 however1 ,i believe them to have been a simple-minded1 upright1 clear sighted set of people1 who did whatever their hands found to do honestly and with all their might4 ,such people ought to rise1 it may be said4 ,so they do1--but not to what the world calls the summit4 ,they generally rise to a position of independence1 where they may enjoy fair scope for the exercise of their mental and spiritual faculties4 ,there they are content to remain1 for a time4 ,this world is not their rest4 ,another world opens to their view4 ,in that they see the goal at which they aim4 ,there is the golden crown4 ,why then be distracted by the glittering baubles which are held up to draw their attention from the real jewel--the gem without price8 ,i am happy in the belief that such was the reason that my ancestors did not become men of much worldly note4 ,the occupant of the family estate had always attended to its cultivation1 and was properly called a gentleman farmer4 ,unostentatious and frugal1 he never lacked means1 in spite of bad harvests or unexpected losses1 to assist the younger members of the family in starting in life1 or to help forward any good cause which required aid4 ,my father1 ,paul ,harvey1 was a perfect type of the family--so was my elder brother1 his namesake4 ,john came next2 a daughter followed2 ,i was his fourth child4 ,he kept up a good old custom--never broken through from any excuse4 ,an hour before bed-time his children and the whole household assembled in the sitting-room1 when he read and explained a chapter in the ,bible4 ,a hymn was sung1 and prayers full of fervour were offered up to the throne of grace4 ,after this a simple supper was placed on the table1 and we were encouraged to speak on the events of the day1 or on what we had read or thought of4 ,that hour was generally the pleasantest of the twenty-four4 ,our father guided1 if he did not lead the conversation1 and generally managed to infuse his spirit into it4 ,although many of the subjects discussed even now rise up to my memory1 ,i will mention but one1 which had a powerful influence on the career of some of those present4 ,i had been reading an account of the ,crusades1 and my enthusiasm had been unusually stirred up on the subject4 ,i wish that ,i could have lived in those days6 ,i exclaimed 7,i was but a lad it must be remembered47 ,what a glorious work those warriors of old undertook1 who with sword and lance1 under the banner of the cross1 they went forth to conquer infidels1 to establish the true faith1 to recover the blessed land1 hallowed by the ,redeemer's footsteps1 from the power of the cruel followers of the false prophet of ,mecca4 ,how degenerate are we ,christians of the present generation6 ,who among us dreams of expelling the ,turks from ,syria8 ,on the contrary1 our statesmen devote their energies to keep them there4 ,i really believe that were ,peter the ,hermit to rise from his grave1 he would not find a dozen true men to follow him4 ,possibly not1 said my father1 quietly2 though he might find two dozen fully as wise1 and as honest1 too1 as those he led to destruction4 ,but has it not struck you1 ,david1 that there are other conquests to be achieved in the present age more important than winning ,palestine from the ,moslem2 that there is more real fighting to be done than all the true soldiers of the cross1 even were they to be united in one firm phalanx1 could accomplish8 ,sword and spear surely are not the weapons our loving ,saviour desires ,his followers to employ when striving to bring fresh subjects under ,his kingdom4 ,that they were to be used was indeed the idea of our ignorant ancestors1 when the teaching of a corrupt ,church had thrown a dark veil over their understandings4 ,christians only in name1 the truth was so disfigured and transformed among them1 that it exercised no influence over their hearts2 and though they believed the ,bible to be of value1 they regarded it rather in the light of a mystic charm than the word of ,god4 ,thus all the great truths of our most holy faith were so travestied and changed as to produce alone a degrading superstition4 ,they believed that the ,bible had the power of exorcising spirits of evil4 ,so it has2 but it is not the closed ,bible1 which they in their ignorance employed--not the mere printed paper bound into a volume--unread1 or if read1 misunderstood1 at which the devil and his angels tremble4 ,no2 it is the open ,bible--the ,bible in many tongues--read and understood through ,god's gracious teaching1 sought for by prayer earnestly4 ,it is the blessed gospel of peace which alone can put to flight debasing superstition1 gross customs1 murderous propensities1 cruel dispositions1 barbarism in its varied forms1 and all the works of darkness instigated by ,satan and his angels4 ,again1 ,i say that the ,bible1 and the ,bible alone1 is the true crusader's weapon2 armed with that sword of the ,spirit1 with the shield of faith on his arm1 and under the guidance 7never to be withdrawn while he seeks it7 of ,god's ,holy ,spirit1 he may go boldly forth conquering and to conquer the numberless hosts of heathenism arrayed for battle against the truth4 ,these weapons are dreaded by the spirit of evil more than all those iron implements of warfare on which man in his folly and blindness relies4 ,the victories won by the ,bible are lasting in this world1 and not only in this world1 but through eternity4 ,to drop metaphor1 what is1 and what long has been the condition of those lands the crusaders vainly boasted they had won from the followers of ,mohammed8 ,in what state do we find those vast territories of the ,new ,world conquered by ,spain8 both gained by sword and spear1 under a banner falsely called the banner of the cross4' ,compare these and similar conquests over heathenism with those victories won in pagan lands by the ,bible--the sword of the ,spirit4 ,how great the contrast6 ,our father spoke with far more animation than was his wont4 ,i listened respectfully1 though ,i confess that at first ,i did not comprehend the full meaning of his remarks4 ,still1 they considerably dimmed the bright halo with which my imagination had surrounded the crusades4 ,my second brother1 ,john1 however1 fixing his eyes attentively on our father1 drank in every word he uttered4 ,yes1 glorious indeed are the victories gained by the gospel of peace in heathen lands1 and happy are those permitted to fight them1 he whispered1 with a sigh1 after a few minutes' silence4 ,john was less robust in health than were most of us1 and it was intended that he should devote himself to mercantile pursuits1 for which ,i had long suspected that he had no great taste2 still1 at the call1 as he believed1 of duty1 he had begun the task of acquiring the necessary knowledge4 ,i suppose1 father1 that you are alluding to the labours of missionaries in foreign lands8 ,i observed4 ,but ,i have heard it said1 that in spite of all the money expended1 their preaching produces but meagre results4 ,in ,india1 for instance1 the ,company will not admit them4 ,in ,africa1 the climate destroys them4 ,the fanatical ,turks and other ,mohammedan nations will not listen to their message2 and it would be but time lost and energies wasted were they to attempt to preach to the cannibals of ,new ,zealand and the other islands of the ,pacific1 or to the almost baboons of ,australia and ,new ,guinea4 ,you have not1 ,i see1 given much thought to the subject1 ,david1 observed my father1 mildly2 ,god's grace is sufficient for all men4 ,the gospel is to be preached to all men1 without distinction of race1 or colour1 or nation1 or rank4 ,what says the ,bible8 ,go ye into all the world1 and preach the gospel to every creature4' ,who is to decide then from what depths of moral degradation the power of ,god's grace will fail to lift up a human being8 ,certainly1 we mortals1 fallible1 helpless1 sinful1 as we must feel ourselves1 are not capable of judging4 ,all we have to do is to receive the plain command1 and obey it4 ,oh1 there is scope1 believe me1 for the exertions1 not of one missionary only1 but of hundreds and thousands of the soldiers of the cross in those very regions of which you have spoken4 ,how can we dare to doubt how the gospel will in the end be received8 ,blessed are ye which sow beside all waters1' ,cast thy bread upon the waters3 for thou shalt find it after many days4' ,in the morning sow thy seed1 and in the evening withhold not thine hand1 for thou knowest not which shall prosper1 either this or that1 or whether they both shall be alike good4' ,our duty as disciples of ,christ is plain4 ,we are to sow4 ,god giveth the increase4' ,that is not to be our care4 ,we are to preach the gospel to every creature4' ,some will hear2 some will turn away from the truth4 ,with that we have nothing to do1 except to pray and work on1 awaiting ,god's time4 ,you have none of you seen more than the outside of my ,uncle ,john's journal4 ,indeed1 ,i had not myself till lately looked into it4 ,he was1 as you may have heard1 a seaman1 and he made more than one voyage to the ,pacific4 ,possessing more education than most officers in the merchant service in those days1 he seems to have carefully noted the observations he made as he sailed from place to place4 ,his descriptions are graphic1 and he was of an acute and inquiring mind2 his remarks1 too1 are of value4 ,i think1 therefore1 that we may glean from it both amusement and instruction4 ,we of course all expressed a wish to hear the contents of our relative's journal1 and it was agreed that the next few evenings should be devoted to its perusal4 ,i should observe that our father's interest in the subject of missions to the heathen in foreign lands had lately been awakened by the visit of an old friend1 one of that band of great and good men who were then endeavouring against contumely1 ridicule1 and every opposition which the prince of this world could raise1 to send the glad tidings of salvation to the perishing millions scattered thickly on the surface of the globe1 over which midnight--the midnight of heathen darkness--reigned4 ,i believe that the thought of our dear father's heart at that time was--,i have many sons given me by ,god2 surely not one of them have ,i a right to withhold from ,his service2 all1 all1 every one of them should be freely1 joyfully given if it be ,his will to accept their services4 ,i do not mean to say that he uttered these words1 but that such was the language of his heart spoken to heaven1 ,i am certain1 from conversations and circumstances which subsequently occurred4 ,of all the family our brother1 ,john1 appeared to be the most deeply impressed with the remarks which had dropped from our father's lips1 and as ,i watched his expressive countenance1 ,i observed the changes passing over it1 and am now certain that feelings were then working within his bosom too deep for utterance1 and which afterwards exerted a powerful influence on his career4 ,the following evening1 the word of ,god having been read and our frugal supper discussed1 the looked-for journal1 a dogskin-covered1 somewhat worn folio1 was produced4 ,john1 by a unanimous vote1 was chosen to read it1 and ,i am bound to say that the honest seaman's descriptions gained considerably by the spirit which our brother's animated voice threw into them4 ,,chapter ,,two4 ,supped at the ,three ,crowns with ,phineas ,golding our supercargo1 and so aboard1 my leave being up1 and work enough and over to get the ship ready for sea4 ,a long voyage before us of four1 or it may be of five years4 ,meeting our supercargo at the owner's1 ,i had deemed him a quiet1 well-behaved young man2 ,i now find him a slashing blade1 ever ready with his fist1 or his sword1 as with his pen1--hot in dispute1 and always eager to bring a quarrel to the arbitration of one of the former4 ,how differently do men appear when in presence of those they serve and when out of their sight6 ,there exists ,one out of whose sight we cannot escape4 ,how comes it that we do not always bear that truth in mind8 ,are we more afraid of a fellow-creature than of the ,maker and ,judge of all the world8 ,i said thus much to ,phineas ,golding4 ,he replied with an oath1 which caused me to feel that ,i had been casting pearls before swine4 ,and yet ,i was right1 surely2 for by speaking the truth boldly on fitting occasions1 ,i do hold that the truth will in the end prevail1 and may be conquer the unbeliever's heart4 ,on one thing1 therefore1 ,i am resolved1 to go on as ,i have begun1 and speak the truth always with earnestness of purpose4 ,of my other shipmates ,i will speak a word4 ,the master ,simon ,fuller1 is grave man1 the snows of nearly sixty winters settling on his head4 ,he has made many voyages1 and seems a fit man to command men4 ,the first mate1 too1 ,james ,festing1 is every inch a seaman1 but somewhat handy with his fist1 a rope's end1 or a marline spike1 or1 truth to say1 whatever lies nearest1 and withal not over choice in his words when angered1 or desirous of getting work done smartly4 ,of myself1 as second mate1 it becometh me not to speak4 ,i have been five years at sea1 am a fair navigator1 and an average seaman4 ,i fear ,god1 and strive to do my duty1 though not always succeeding4 ,our ship's company muster thirty-five good men1 ,i hope1 all told fore and aft4 ,the ship1 as is requisite1 is well armed1 with six guns with swivels on the quarters1 and muskets1 pikes1 axes1 and cutlasses for all hands4 ,we have to visit many strange places and strange people1 and we must expect often and again to fight for our lives with the savages4 ,phineas ,golding rejoices in adventure1 and says such chiefly induced him to leave home4 ,he has never before been at sea1 and dreams not of the troubles in store for him4 ,june4--,we have taken our departure from the land1 which is even now sinking astern1 a strong breeze blowing from the north-east4 ,july4--,we have touched at ,madeira1 belonging to the ,portingalls1 as the old voyagers call them4 ,they are a suspicious people1 though civil when not angered4 ,i witnessed some public exhibitions1 which ,i was told were religious4 ,i cannot suppose that such performances are acceptable to our ,lord and ,master1 or ,he would surely have ordered such4 ,but it becomes not me1 after so slight acquaintance with a people1 to pass much censure on their customs1 though ,i see not how to approve them4 ,crossing the ,line1 we had a usual ,father ,neptune and his ,tritons on board4 ,tony ,hinks1 our boatswain1 was ,neptune4 ,he and his mates severely handled some of the men who had shown ill manners or bad tempers1 tarring their faces1 and shaving their chins with rusty hoops4 ,phineas vowed that he would not be so treated1 but had to succumb1 escaping with a thorough sousing from a dozen buckets4 ,phineas vows vengeance on the boatswain2 but ,i warn him that ,tony ,hinks followed but the custom of the sea1 and is not a man over whom it would be easy to get an advantage1 for he boasts that he always sleeps with one eye open4 ,we have touched at ,rio1 the chief town in the ,brazils4 ,from what ,i saw1 ,i should take the people to be heathens1 such as ,i have read of in ,roman and ,grecian history2 but they say that they are ,christians4 ,one thing is certain1 that if they desire to keep the sabbath holy1 they have a curious way of so doing4 ,still ,i say1 it would be easy to sail from place to place and to condemn all we visit unheard4 ,one thought occurs to me3 ,look to it that we fall not into like errors4 ,proceeding south before rounding ,cape ,horn1 we again made the land1 and standing in1 anchored the ship in a sheltered cove4 ,it was the southern part of that region known as ,patagonia4 ,the captain1 with ,phineas ,golding and ,i1 with a crew of eight men1 well armed1 took the long boat and went ashore4 ,the aspect of the country was not pleasant2 rocks1 and trees1 and marshes1 but no signs of cultivation4 ,suddenly from among the rocks some creatures appeared watching us4 ,are they men or are they baboons8 asked ,phineas1 levelling his musket2 but the master held back his arm4 ,they approaching slowly and with hesitation1 we discovered that they were human beings1 though marvellously ill-favoured in aspect4 ,their skin1 which seemed of a dark brown1 was covered with dirt1 and their faces1 which were flat with high cheek-bones1 were besmeared with red and yellow ochre4 ,their long black coarse hair hanging down straight over their shoulders1 their small twinkling bleared eyes peeping out between it1 like two hot coals4 ,they had spears in their hands and short clubs4 ,they were nearly naked1 their chief garment consisting in a piece of sealskin1 which they wore on the side whence the wind blew4 ,again ,phineas was about to shoot in very wantonness4 ,what's the harm8 he asked4 ,we have no chance of trading with such people2 and if we were to kill a few1 what would it matter8 ,they have souls1 ,master ,golding1 said ,i1 for ,i could not keep silence2 and souls1 ,i have learned1 are precious things4 ,a scornful laugh was his reply1 and he still kept his musket ready1 as if to fire4 ,the savages1 however1 seemed in no way afraid1 but lifted up their hands1 and made as if they too had muskets2 and when we laughed they laughed1 and when we shook our fists they shook theirs2 and so we discovered that1 though hideous1 they were a harmless race1 and great mimics4 ,they readily accepted beads1 and knives1 and coloured handkerchiefs1 and such like things4 ,these people1 we learn from ,tony ,hinks1 who has before been on the coast 7indeed where has he not been87 are different from the tribes of ,patagonians who inhabit the country to the north as far as the ,spanish settlements4 ,these latter are a fierce race1 often of large stature1 though not giants1 as some suppose1 and dress in skins and ride on horseback4 ,again1 there are other tribes whose dwellings are among the marshes and inlets of the sea up the ,straits of ,magellan4 ,they move about only in their canoes1 living on shell-fish1 seals' flesh1 and fish1 their habits being more filthy and disgusting even than are those of our present friends4 ,phineas laughs at the notion of their being our fellow-creatures1 and says that they must have sprung from apes2 but ,tony1 who has seen many strange people1 says that he would not give a fig for the supercargo's opinion1 for that he has known white men become almost as brutish in their appearance1 and much more brutish in their manners1 just from living a few years among born savages1 cut off from all communication with their fellow whites4 ,a little practical experience often shows the folly of these would-be philosophers4 ,on the ,pacific coast of this end of ,america are found the unsubdued tribes of the ,araucanians in vast numbers1 so that in this one small portion of the continent are many hundred thousand savages1 all lying in the midnight of heathen darkness4 ,phineas observes that it is a pity they cannot be swept away1 and civilised men1 with whom it would be an advantage to trade1 introduced in their stead4 ,he esteems men in proportion as they are able to exchange gold dust1 ivory1 spices or precious stones1 not knowing their value1 for glass beads and ,brummagem knives and needles4 ,i cannot help thinking that all those savages have immortal souls1 and regretting that they should be allowed to pass away from this life without having the light of gospel truth set before them4 ,year after year passes by1 thousands are swept away1 and still darkness dense as ever broods over the land4 ,once more we are under weigh4 ,with a fair breeze gliding over a long heavy swell1 we pass ,cape ,horn1 which stands out boldly into the blue waters1 and enter the mighty ,pacific4 ,tony ,hinks tells us that1 though peaceable enough at times1 he has seen here as fierce gales and heavy seas as ever sent tall ships to the bottom4 ,grant that we do not encounter the loss and disaster met with by ,lord ,anson1 whose voyage ,i have been reading4 ,hitherto a kind ,providence has favoured us1 and we are standing up along the coast of ,chili1 the lofty ,andes rising blue and distinct against the sky in the distance4 ,,chapter ,,three4 ,,tahiti ,,in ,,heathen ,,days4 ,anchored in the ,bay of ,conception to obtain meat and vegetables1 and to refresh our ship's company4 ,the town whence we obtained supplies is ,talcaguana1 the old town of ,conception having been destroyed by an earthquake1 and the new town standing some way inland4 ,it is a wealthy place--no lack of silver and gold utensils in the houses1 and flocks and herds outside1 but the inhabitants lead uneasy lives1 for not far off beyond the mountains are found tribes of fierce ,araucanians1 who1 riding fleet horses1 now and again pounce down on the town1 and never fail to carry off a rich booty4 ,they care not for the ,spanish artillery and musketry1 they keep out of range of them2 but might not the power of gospel truth spoken in season change their savage natures8 ,could some ,christian men find their way among them1 they might tell them of happier employments than killing each other1 and robbing their neighbours4 ,yet ,i dream4 ,such seems to be the chief occupation1 not only of savages1 but of civilised people all over the world4 ,what power can assuage such a flood of iniquity8 ,there is one and one alone1 the bright light of gospel truth1 and the living power of ,divine grace4 ,having shipped our stores1 the boat was leaving the shore for the last time1 when a brown man1 dressed as a seaman1 with strange marks on his face and hands1 came down begging to be taken on board4 ,his name he said was ,taro1 and that he was a native of an island far to the west1 also that he had long been on board an ,english ship1 the master of which had left him here sick4 ,captain ,fuller believing his tale1 and well pleased to obtain the services of one who might prove useful as an interpreter1 consented to receive him among the crew4 ,our ship's company gave him at first the name of ,tar1 and hence he soon became known among them as ,tom ,tar4 ,he proves an amusing1 and seemingly a good-natured fellow till he is angered1 and then he will cast off his clothes1 and seizing a billet of wood or whatever comes to hand1 will flourish it1 threatening the lives of all near him1 exhibiting his body covered with strange devices1 appearing1 as he is still1 the fierce1 vindictive savage4 ,he comes from an island called ,new ,zealand1 where the inhabitants are terribly fierce1 and undoubted cannibals4 ,i asked ,taro whether he had ever eaten any of his fellow-creatures4 ,he nodded1 laughing1 and ,i doubt not1 from the expression of his countenance1 that he had often done so1 and would not hesitate in again indulging in such a practice4 ,though living so long among men professing to be ,christians1 he is still a heathen in all his thoughts and ways4 ,i asked him one day how this was4 ,his answer was simple3 ,they say and do just what heathen man say and do4 ,they no pray to their ,god2 they no care for their ,god2 they no love their ,god4 ,why should ,i8 ,taro spoke the truth2 ,i felt abashed4 ,how can we expect the heathen to become ,christians1 when those who call themselves so show so little regard to the religion of ,christ8 ,i see the same sad shortcoming on shore4 ,christians do not strive to bring honour to the name of ,christ4 ,for three weeks and more we traverse the ,pacific1 keeping bright look-out by night and day for rocks and reefs4 ,land on the starboard bow1 is the cry4 ,we haul up for it4 ,as the ship rises and falls on the long1 slow swell1 now the trees appear partly out of the water1 now they disappear looking thus at a distance like a fleet at anchor4 ,there are cocoa-nut palms1 pandanus trees1 and many shrubs1 growing on a low island1 fifteen feet at most above the level of the sea1 some twelve miles long1 and not a quarter of a mile wide1 with a deep blue lagoon inside4 ,this is one of those wonderful coral islands of which ,i have read1 formed by minute insects working upwards from rocky foundations amid the ocean1 and ceasing their work when they have reached the surface4 ,the waves have torn off masses and thrown them up so as to form an elevation above the water2 then birds have come1 dropped seeds1 and formed their nests1 and dwelt there2 and timber and plants floating about have been cast on shore1 and their vitality not yet destroyed1 have taken root2 and more coral and shells have been heaved up and ground fine by the toiling waves to form a beach2 and thus a fit dwelling-place for man has been formed4 ,nearing the sandy beach we heave-to for soundings1 but finding none1 the ship stands off1 while ,phineas and ,i1 with ,tom ,tar and our boat's crew1 well armed1 pull in with the intention of landing4 ,this the surf will not let us do2 and as we are lying off on our oars1 presently1 from out of the bushes1 rush a herd of savages with spears and clubs1 which they flourish furiously1 making signs to us to be gone4 ,we pull on1 however1 and find an opening in the reef1 through which we get close to the beach4 ,the natives shout and gesticulate more vehemently than ever4 ,they declare 7so ,taro interprets7 that we come for no good purpose1 and that they want no strangers4 ,phineas hopes that they may possess pearls with which to trade1 so we row in1 he standing up in the bows of the boat1 holding up a looking-glass and a string of glass beads in one hand1 while he keeps his musket ready in the other4 ,he is bold1 and leaping on shore1 approaches the natives4 ,at first the savages retire2 then one advances1 stops1 gazes at the supercargo1 and with a loud shout1 flourishing his club1 rushes towards him4 ,phineas1 flinging down the looking-glass and the beads1 springs back1 firing his musket in the air4 ,the savage is upon him4 ,in another moment that huge club will have dashed out his brains4 ,i see his danger4 ,i have no thought but to save him--no feeling that ,i am about to slay a fellow-creature4 ,i raise my musket to my shoulder and fire1 taking good aim4 ,the savage falls4 ,phineas1 shouting to us to give the ,indians a volley1 is hauled in4 ,the men obey as the ,indians1 with terrific howls1 rush towards us4 ,five more fall1 some in the water1 which is tinged with their blood1 others on the land4 ,our passions are up4 ,golding urges us to load and fire again4 ,having thus done1 we pull away4 ,says ,golding1 ,they'll not meddle another time with strangers who peaceably visit their shores to trade4 ,we leave ten or twelve poor heathens dead or wounded on their native strand4 ,my thoughts are sad4 ,the face of that hapless savage as he turned his eye on me when falling is still in my sight4 ,true1 ,i fired to save the life of a shipmate4 ,yet it is an awful thing to shed the blood of a fellow-being1 let it be in warfare or in any other way which men justify as from stern necessity4 ,are such1 too1 the blessings which we ,christian and civilised men distribute in our course round the globe8 ,the loud laugh of my companion sounds in my ear4 ,come1 rouse thee1 ,john ,harvey1 he says4 ,art down-hearted1 lad1 because we have not been more successful in our traffic8 ,not a good beginning1 but the ,pacific is wide1 and there will be no lack of customers4 ,standing on for three days we sight several islands4 ,on the nearest is a grove of fine cocoa-nut trees4 ,we require a supply of nuts4 ,two boats with crews well armed leave the ship4 ,an opening appears in the reef--we pull through it and land easily4 ,our men climb the tall trees and shake down the nuts in heavy showers4 ,while we are collecting the nuts1 the men in the trees shout that they see a fleet of large canoes crossing from another island4 ,we deem that it will be prudent to regain the boats4 ,the ,indians1 seeing the broken nuts strewing the ground1 and the heap we are carrying away1 shriek1 and shout1 and shake their clubs and spears1 and then furiously rush towards us4 ,golding1 as before1 cries out to the men to fire1 but ,i order them to shove off1 that we may escape without killing any1 for which ,i see no necessity4 ,we have stolen the savages' provisions1 and they have right on their side4 ,the men obey me1 and we strive to get the boat afloat4 ,no time to lose4 ,the ,indians draw their bows1 and the arrows fall thick around us2 some come on with stones1 and others plunge into the water with clubs and spears to do battle for their rights4 ,our lives are in jeopardy1 and one of our men is fearfully wounded4 ,the savages throng around the boat and try to drag her to the shore4 ,we keep back the savages with the stretchers1 and ,i hope to escape without bloodshed4 ,again ,golding shouts out1 ,fire1 lads6 fire6 ,why keep back the men from firing8 ,we shall all be murdered4 ,urged by his example1 the men fire a volley among the surrounding savages4 ,with fearful howls those grasping the boat let go2 others fall back killed2 the mass rush in terror up the beach4 ,we escape into deep water1 two or three arrows sticking in the arms of our men and in the sides of the boat4 ,golding cries out for vengeance2 and the men fire till every savage has disappeared4 ,we return on board4 ,it strikes me that we cannot appear very well favoured in the sight of these poor savages4 ,i say as much that day at dinner to the captain4 ,he is a man of few words4 ,you are right1 ,john2 the next comers will suffer1 he remarks4 ,that matters nought to us1 says ,phineas ,golding4 ,we shall not come here again4 ,scant kindness to the next comers2 as scant as that we have showed the natives1 ,i observe4 ,we must all look out for ourselves in these seas1 says the captain4 ,it will be our own fault if we are at any time caught unawares4 ,remember that1 ,master ,harvey4 ,i make no answer1 for the captain does not bear contradiction4 ,the first mate1 ,golding1 and the doctor1 keep always well with him4 ,so do ,i1 for this reason3 ,i heard him once say1 ,that ,john ,harvey needs keeping under4 ,on that1 ,i resolved1 as far as it should lie in my power1 to keep myself under--to do my duty1 and give him no occasion to find fault4 ,thus far ,i have succeeded--but not always with ease2 for ,simon ,fuller has had uncontrolled power as a sea captain for many a long year1 often over rogues and vagabonds1 whom fear alone will keep in order1 so he fancies4 ,i have heard say that the rule of kindness will work wonders4 ,i have never seen it tried as ,i could desire1 but ,i find that the worst of our ship's company obey me more readily than they do ,james ,festing1 and yet the first mate is an older1 and1 ,i truly believe1 a better seaman than ,i am4 ,i speak quietly to the lads1 eschew oaths1 and never handle a rope's end in wrath4 ,he swears loudly1 and uses both4 ,i was called forward to see ,tom ,collis1 the poor fellow who was wounded in the boat4 ,the surgeon can do nothing for him1 he says1 and ,i see that the man's countenance is marked by death's hand4 ,around us1 as ,i sit by him1 we hear laughter1 and oaths1 and gross talking4 ,collis is suffering great agony4 ,mercy6 mercy6 he shrieks out4 ,to die thus-- no time for repentance1 with hideous crimes weighing down my soul6 ,sometimes he raves1 and says things which make my blood run cold2 but ,i talk quietly to him1 and he grows calmer4 ,i tell him in few words of that simple plan ,god in ,his gracious mercy arranged before the world began1 by which sinners even great as he might be saved4 ,he drinks in every word4 ,i tell him how the loving ,jesus came on earth to live as a man a life of suffering1 that men might understand that ,he knows how they suffer2 that ,he was tempted1 that they might feel assured ,he pities1 and will help them when they are tempted2 that ,he was crucified1--made a sacrifice1 that ,he might take their sins on ,his shoulders2 that ,his blood was shed that it might wash away the sins of all who trust in it1 and look to ,him2 that ,he was buried1 and rose again1 that ,he might conquer death1 and show that all who follow ,him must conquer too2 and that ,he ascended up on high1 that ,he might present all who place their faith in ,him washed from their sins pure and undefiled before the throne of ,god4 ,but all that could not be done for such a wretch as me1 says ,collis4 ,if ,god would let me live1 ,i might repent1 and lead a different sort of life1 and do all sorts of things to please ,him2 and then perchance ,he might think me more fit for heaven4 ,oh1 my dear shipmate1 ,i say1 don't think of such folly4 ,you could never do anything to make you more fit for heaven than you now are1 vile1 sinful1 guilty wretch as you may be4 ,i then read to him how the ,israelites1 bit by the fiery serpents in the wilderness1 were saved from death and cured by looking at the brazen serpent held up by ,moses4 ,and then ,i read about the thief on the cross1 and then ,i say3 ,just look to ,jesus in that way4 ,feel that you are bitten by sin1 helpless1 and dying1 and deserving of death2 and ,he says to you1 as ,he said to the thief on the cross1 ,to-day shalt thou be with ,me in paradise4'--,thy sins are forgiven thee4' ,what1 sir6 exclaims ,collis1 you don't mean to say that the ,son of the great ,god who made heaven and earth1 and all those thousands of stars we see up there1 did all that for me1 and such as me1--that ,he says all that to me1 and such as me8 ,shipmate1 ,i answer1 solemnly1 ,he did do all that for you1 and such as you1--and ,he says all that to you4 ,take hold of but the hem of ,his garment1 so to speak1 by faith1 and you are saved4 ,as to satisfaction to ,divine justice1 it is done4 ,you have nothing to do with that1 you have but to feel that you are sinful and guilty4 ,you have to repent1 which1 may ,god the ,holy ,spirit help you to do4 ,you have to look to ,jesus as the only cure1 as the only ,saviour1--to ,his blood as the only means by which you can be cleansed2 and the holy word of ,god says it1 ,thy faith hath saved thee1'--,by faith ye are saved1'--,his blood cleanseth from all sin4' ,he doesn't say from little sins1 or slight sins1 but from all sin4 ,he doesn't say ,he will receive you by-and-by1 perhaps1 when you have done something to please ,him2 but ,he does invite you1 ,he does receive you4 ,no power of earth or hell can prevent ,him from presenting you faultless before the throne of grace4 ,shipmate1 if you only feel your guiltiness1 it is you ,he invites1 with all your sins upon you1 to come to ,him1--it is you ,he will present faultless and fearless before ,god's judgment throne1 welcomed as a son of ,god1--not crying out1 as numbers will be doing1 for the mountains to cover them1 for the rocks to fall on them4 ,this is news indeed1--glorious news6 says the poor fellow1 in a cheerful1 happy tone1 very different from what he had before spoken in4 ,i wish that ,i had known it before4 ,but ,i know it now1 and that's enough4 ,jesus died for me1 and ,i trust in ,jesus4 ,i have soon to leave him to attend to my duty on deck4 ,captain ,fuller would not hold it as an excuse that ,i was attending to a dying man4 ,after some time1 my watch on deck being almost out1 ,tony ,hinks comes to me and tells me that ,collis is dead2 but says he1 ,it was strange to hear him saying over and over1 again and again1 ,jesus died for me1 and ,i trust in ,jesus4' ,what does that mean1 ,mr ,harvey8 ,i tell him4 ,he goes forward1 muttering1 ,strange6 ,i never heard the like4 ,i see ,collis once more before he is sewn up in his hammock4 ,there is a smile on his features1 such as ,i had never before seen there4 ,six days more1 and we sight the high land of ,king ,george the ,third ,island1 called by the natives ,otaheite1 or ,taheite4 ,as we draw near it1 the prospect becomes truly pleasing to the sight4 ,lofty hills1 covered with beautiful flowering shrubs1 and fringed by pandanus1 cocoa-nut1 and various other trees which we see in these tropical regions1 rise up into the clear blue sky1 with green valleys between them1 and sparkling waterfalls rushing down their sides4 ,a line of white breakers intervene1 however1 foaming over a coral reef1 with a belt of deep blue water between it and the white glittering beach and the feathery fringe of vegetation which springs up close to the strand1 the trees overshadowing it with their branches4 ,never have ,i seen a more lovely picture2 and ,tony ,hinks1 who has been here before1 tells us there is no country1 to his mind1 more pleasant to dwell in4 ,a man may live here1 says he1 with nothing to do1 abundance to eat1 and plenty of people to tend on him4 ,he gives the first mate and me a hint to keep a sharp look-out on the ship's company1 or some of them may be missing when we sail4 ,no wonder1 ,i think1 if the place is such an earthly paradise4 ,he speaks of many other things likely to prove attractive to seamen4 ,i ask if the natives are ,christians4 ,christians8 no1 he answers1 with a laugh4 ,they would be spoilt1 to my mind1 if they were4 ,they are much better as they are1 as you'll agree1 ,mr ,harvey1 when you go on shore4 ,i am inclined to be at issue with ,tony on that point2 but still ,i would fain judge of the savage virtues of which he speaks before ,i condemn them4 ,we coast some way round the island1 till we reach an opening in the reef1 entering through which we moor the ship in a commodious harbour4 ,soon she is surrounded with native canoes1 laden with cocoa-nuts1 bananas1 bread-fruits1 apples1 figs1 and other pleasant vegetable productions4 ,the natives bring boughs with them1 which ,tom ,tar tells us we are to make fast to the rigging1 to show that we are friends4 ,we now drive a brisk trade1 giving beads1 and trinkets1 and looking-glasses1 and bits of cloth and coloured calico1 for fruit1 vegetables1 pigs1 and fowls2 but the captain will allow no one to come on board4 ,he says that they are arrant thieves1 and so we find them4 ,by-and-by ,phineas1 with the doctor1 ,tony1 and ,i1 having ,tom ,tar to interpret1 go on shore1 but take ten men well armed at our heels4 ,it is a hard matter to keep the men together3 but it is not safe to let them separate4 ,the natives are treacherous and revengeful1 at least if they are like those we have already encountered4 ,our men might easily provoke them1 especially by rude conduct to the women4 ,seldom have ,i seen more comely females4 ,their manners are attractive1 and they know how to add to their charms1 by dressing their glossy hair with flowers and shells1 and such like ornaments4 ,the country is as beautiful as it appeared a distance4 ,the houses are mostly open at the sides1 and thatched with palmetto leaves2 but some are enclosed1 and all are neat and clean4 ,a house is offered to us by the chief1 in which we may take up our abode while we remain on shore4 ,it is amidst a grove of trees1 with matting for the walls and floor4 ,a sparkling torrent1 rushing down the side of a hill1 flows in front of it1 cooling the air1 while afar off is seen the deep blue sea4 ,provisions of all sorts are sent us by the king1--baked pig1 and roasted bread-fruit1 and plantains1 and fish1 and other articles of food1 all served in large leaves4 ,the bread-fruit is about the size of a horse-chestnut1 and when baked is somewhat of the consistency of new bread4 ,it is not fit to be eaten raw4 ,the king and the people seem friendly2 but to my mind there is no dependence to be placed on them4 ,it is made clear to us that they are sadly depraved1 nor can ,i describe many of the scenes which take place4 ,suffice it to say that1 like other heathens who know not ,god1 they give themselves up to work all manner of abominations without constraint or shame4 ,we place a guard during the night2 but when we awake there is great shouting among our party for missing articles1 and it is found that we all have been robbed of articles of dress1 knives1 pistols1 handkerchiefs1 and pocket-books4 ,phineas declares that he will shoot the first savage he finds purloining1 chief or not4 ,we complain of our loss to the king1 who gets back some of the articles2 but ,taro surmises that he has got the remainder himself4 ,after a bountiful breakfast we continue our progress through the island4 ,our surprise is great to come upon a large edifice of stone among a people supposed only able to erect huts of leaves4 ,it is a pyramid1 nearly three hundred feet long and one hundred wide1 with a flight of steps on either side leading to the summit1 which is fifty feet from the ground4 ,on the top is a bird made of wood1 and a fish of stone4 ,this building forms one side of a court1 the other three sides being composed of a wall of hewn stone2 the enclosed area is covered with a pavement of flat stones4 ,in this court are several altars of stone1 on which are placed baskets of bread-fruit1 sweet potatoes1 cocoa-nuts1 and other food1 which we conclude were offerings to their ,eatuas1 or gods1 which they ignorantly worship4 ,not far off we come upon a figure of one of these gods4 ,it is made of wicker-work1 in the form of a man2 it is seven feet high1 and covered over with black and white feathers4 ,we learn that this pyramid is a temple1 and that the court is a burying-place1 called a ,morai2 the altars are called ,ewattuas4 ,while we are about to proceed on our journey we see a concourse of people collecting from all quarters1 and hurrying toward the morai4 ,we inquire of ,taro for what object they are assembling4 ,to offer a sacrifice to their ,eatua1 their god1 he answers4 ,of what will the sacrifice consist8 ,i ask1 thinking that it would be of the bread-fruit and other fruits we saw on the altars4 ,you will see1 he answered1 with one of those gleams of savage pleasure which ever and anon pass over his countenance4 ,we remark that there are only men and boys among the crowd1--no women nor girls4 ,the crowd increases1--there is expectation on their countenances1 as if something of importance is about to happen4 ,still we can obtain no information from ,taro2 he only says1 ,you will see1 you will see4 ,a very well-behaved set of people are these1 observes ,golding4 ,in ,england1 among such a crowd1 there would be fighting and squabbling4 ,i would as lief be one of these happy islanders as an ,englishman1 with all our religion and civilisation4 ,i have an idea1 begging pardon1 ,master ,golding1 that you are not yet very well acquainted with these happy islanders1 observes ,tony ,hinks4 ,it strikes me that ere long you will change your opinion4 ,wait a bit2 as ,tom ,tar says1 you will see--you will see4 ,,chapter ,,four4 ,a ,,narrow ,,escape4 ,the air is warm and balmy1 the blue sea sparkles brightly1 the lofty mountains1 glowing in the sunshine1 rise up majestically into the clear sky1 the graceful palm-trees gently wave their boughs2 all nature is smiling with life1 and health1 and beauty1 and all the perfections which a bountiful ,creator has spread over these regions4 ,what a paradise1 exclaims the surgeon4 ,i agree with ,golding1 ,i should be well content to remain here to end my days4 ,while watching for what is next to occur1 we see four chief men1 so they seem by their dress and bearing1 walking along the beach4 ,taro says they are priests4 ,there are several men in attendance4 ,they stop1 as if waiting for some one4 ,they are armed with clubs and knives4 ,among the crowd comes a young man taller than his companions1 and comely in his appearance4 ,he seems joyous and light of heart1 for he sings and laughs1 regardless of coming ill4 ,the priests1 watching him steadfastly1 slowly approach4 ,he stops and looks at them with an inquiring expression on his youthful countenance4 ,we require one quick of foot to bear a message to the ,eatua1 says the chief priest4 ,the youth starts4 ,before he can reply1 a blow from the priest's club lays him low on the sand4 ,the others fall on him with their clubs1 and drive out any life remaining4 ,the priests1 surrounding the corpse1 place it with the feet towards the sea1 and utter some long incantations1 each priest holding in his hand a bunch of red feathers4 ,then they rise and place the body of their victim parallel with the line of the sea beach1 and more incantations are uttered4 ,the king1 meantime1 and his principal chiefs have assembled1 and take their stand near the temple4 ,hair is now plucked from the head of the victim1 and one eye is taken out and wrapped in leaves1 and presented to the king4 ,with drums beating slowly the body is now borne up by the attendants of the priests1 and placed on one of the altars4 ,the tufts of red feathers are at the feet1 and rolls of cloth at the head4 ,after this1 for a quarter of an hour or more the chief priest addresses it1 and pretends to give the message it is to convey to the world of spirits4 ,the surrounding populace look on with stupid amazement1 no one knowing whose turn it may be next to be slaughtered as a sacrifice to their blood-loving deity4 ,while the priests are chanting round the corpse the attendants dig a shallow grave1 into which it is thrown with little ceremony1 and covered up with stones and earth4 ,fires are now lighted1 and dogs and pigs are slaughtered and roasted1 and these being placed on the altars1 the ,eatua is invited to partake of the feast prepared for him4 ,when we left the spot1 ,i shuddering with a horror ,i had never before felt1 the provisions remained on the altars4 ,taro tells us that the priests1 if angered with a person1 avenge themselves by selecting him as a victim1 and that for fear of offending them no one ventures to interfere4 ,the priests have thus gained more real power than the chiefs themselves4 ,they generally1 however1 select some of the poorer people as their victims4 ,we see arranged near the morai a pile of sixty skulls1 and that of the youth just slain is now added to it4 ,they appear but little changed by the air1 and ,taro says that they are those of victims who have all been offered up within the last few months4 ,he tells us that whenever one of the chiefs is about to commence an undertaking1 he selects some unhappy victim1 who is forthwith slaughtered and sacrificed4 ,we have undoubted evidence1 too1 that they often eat their enemies1 and they do this without shame or compunction4 ,we see many of the chiefs and warriors going about with human jawbones hanging as ornaments round their necks1 and we learn that they are those of enemies slain in war4 ,sick at heart ,i accompany my shipmates4 ,friend ,golding1 what do you now say of these pleasant-mannered1 happy islanders8 ,i ask4 ,i knock under1 says he4 ,england is a better place2 but there are thousands there who get on very well without religion1 so ,i say religion has nothing to do with it4 ,religion has everything to do with it1 ,i answer1 in a somewhat hasty tone4 ,religion influences those who have no religion themselves4 ,the heathen world of old1 with all its civilisation1 was not one jot better than are these cannibals1 equally given over to work all manner of uncleanness4 ,if it were not for the true faith of some1 influencing general opinion1 many ,englishmen would even yet be the same as these savages4 ,i may say1 as said a pious minister of whom ,i have read1 if it were not for ,god's grace1 we ourselves should be as are these poor barbarians2 we might well see ourselves in them4 ,a truce with your preaching1 ,john ,harvey4 ,you would make us all out blacker than we are1 says ,phineas1 walking on quickly4 ,that were a hard matter1 ,i say4 ,be not offended1 ,i include myself1 remember4 ,it is only as we see ourselves in ,christ ,jesus that we are otherwise than most black1 guilty1 and lost4 ,i understand you not1 ,john1 he answers4 ,but you shall not force me to acknowledge that ,i am not better than these half-naked savages4 ,i did not say that2 by ,god's grace1 or in ,his providence1 there are great differences1 but all are sinners in the sight of ,god's holy law4 ,but we will talk more of this another time4 ,this island of ,tahiti1 or ,otaheite1 is the largest of a group known as the ,society ,islands4 ,it is about fifty miles long1 consisting of two peninsulas joined by a narrow isthmus4 ,it contains a mountain rising twelve thousand feet above the level of the sea4 ,the other islands of the group are mostly lofty4 ,they are ,eimeo1 ,huaheine1 ,ulitea1 ,bolabola1 and others4 ,they are volcanic1 and mostly fertile in the extreme4 ,we visit ,ulitea1 a beautiful island where there is a vast morai4 ,numbers of priests reside here1 and it is looked on as the sacred island of the group4 ,in reality it is more given over to horrible wickedness than any other4 ,while on shore we witness another terrible human sacrifice4 ,not a week passes but some unhappy people fall victims to the bloodthirsty passions of the priests4 ,this my first introduction to savage life makes me feel doubly grateful to ,god that ,i was born of ,christian parents1 and in a land where the law of ,christ1 however imperfectly obeyed1 is acknowledged in some sort as the standard4 ,the wind being fair1 we sail north-east towards the ,marquesas4 ,we have been for ten days at the anchorage of ,taogou1 off the island of ,ohevahoa1 the most fertile of the ,marquesas4 ,we have been engaged most profitably in purchasing sandal-wood1 and hogs1 and fruits1 and vegetables of all sorts1 and ,phineas ,golding is in high spirits1 and declares that these are a people truly after his own heart4 ,their country certainly is beautiful1 for though the mountains are not so lofty as those of the islands we have lately left1 they equally please the eye1 as do the groves1 the valleys1 and the waterfalls4 ,the men are tall1 handsome1 and athletic1 and the women are scarcely inferior in beauty to those of ,tahiti4 ,alas1 that ,i can say no more in their praise4 ,both men and women are most depraved1 of which we have constant evidence4 ,hitherto we have been on good terms with these islanders4 ,we have a strict watch kept1 and whatever may be their secret disposition1 they have had no opportunity of taking us at advantage4 ,taro warns us to be on our guard4 ,he tells us that they are treacherous1 and that if they thought they would gain by murdering every man of our crew they would do so4 ,taro understands their language1 which is much like that of ,tahiti and his own country4 ,the men are much tattooed1 their only clothing being a piece of native cloth round their loins1 but the women wear a petticoat and a mantle over the shoulder4 ,this cloth is made of the fibre of a sort of mulberry tree--not woven1 but beaten into a consistency of paper4 ,when torn the rent is mended by beating on a fresh piece4 ,it will bear washing only once4 ,a garment thus lasts about six weeks4 ,the women are better treated than among most ,indian tribes4 ,their occupations are entirely domestic--they manufacture cloth1 cook1 tend the house1 and look after the children1 but from all we hear and see1 their morals are degraded in the extreme4 ,having completed refitting the ship as far as is necessary1 ,i have been able to go on shore4 ,we form a strong body1 twelve officers and men in all1 with muskets4 ,our chief object is to visit a valley where the sandal-wood grows1 to learn on what supply we can depend4 ,high up the valley we come suddenly on a platform on which grows a large grove of bread-fruit1 cocoa-nut1 toa1 and other trees4 ,amid them is a large idol of hewn stone of a man in a squatting posture4 ,the figure is not ill sculptured4 ,his mouth is wide1 and his eyes and ears large1 while his arms and legs are short and out of proportion4 ,there are numerous other idols1 of the same size and form1 made out of the bread-fruit tree1 arranged on either side and behind him1 as if they were his ministers and attendants4 ,to the right and left of these hideous idols are two obelisks1 about thirty-five feet in height1 built very neatly of bamboos1 with the leaves of palm and cocoa-nut trees interwoven4 ,at the base are hung the heads of hogs and tortoises1 offerings to the idols4 ,they are also ornamented with streamers of white cloth4 ,a few paces to the right of the grove we see four large war-canoes1 furnished with their out-riggers1 and decorated with ornaments of human hair1 coral1 shells1 and white streamers4 ,in the stern of each sits the figure of a man steering with a paddle1 and in full dress1 with plumes1 ear-rings shaped like whale's teeth1 and all the ornaments fashionable in the country4 ,these canoes are placed here to be blessed1 we suppose1 by the priests4 ,these priests have great power1 for they are looked upon as little inferior to the idols4 ,we see this same stone idol represented in a variety of ways1 made of human bones1 hung round their necks1 or carved on their clubs1 or making handles to their fans and walking-sticks4 ,we find that there is no lack of sandal-wood1 which raises ,golding's spirits4 ,mine sink when ,i see the idolatry of these poor people1 with no hope that they may be taught better4 ,on descending the valley we pass a morai1 or worshipping place1 ,i may call it4 ,on the ground is seated the chief1 with his sons1 and a large number of his attendants1 or courtiers4 ,in front of them are a number of little houses1 or sheds1 made of bamboo1 each about two feet long and rather less in height1 and ornamented with shreds of cloth4 ,there are a dozen or more1 forming a cluster like a village4 ,the chief and the rest are singing and clapping their hands1 and thus they go on for an hour or more4 ,this they call praying to their gods1--a fit homage to gods of wood and stone4 ,sometimes they stop1 and laugh and talk together1 as if they have forgotten what they are about4 ,we have seen no human sacrifices1 but we have reason to believe that they take place1 and from what we hear the people are undoubtedly cannibals4 ,there are several tribes on the islands1 in some instances two or more an the same island1 who carry on devastating wars with each other1 and who all slaughter and eat the captives taken in battle4 ,though they seem much attached to their country1 they firmly hold to the belief that there is a far better land to the east1 and numbers are seized with a strong desire to visit it4 ,year after year the largest canoes are fitted out and provisioned1 and men1 women1 and children crowding on board1 they set sail1 and away they glide1 never to return4 ,strange to say1 that although those who have gone have not again been heard of1 others are found equally ready to go in the same direction1 believing that their predecessors have reached the happy land4 ,the priests encourage this infatuation1 as those who embark leave their property to them4 ,this is faith1 but alas6 sadly misdirected4 ,it shows a yearning for something better1--to escape from cruel wars and practices and misgovernment1 to attain peace and quiet and rest4 ,it is certain that almost all who thus embark perish horribly at sea4 ,a few may be thrown on coral islands1--probably to die1-- certainly never to return4 ,i must speak of the sandal-wood in which we are trading4 ,it is a small tree1 with numerous irregular branches1 and which with the trunk are covered with a thick red-brown bark4 ,the leaves1 which turn inwards1 are of a very dark green colour4 ,the flowers1 growing in clusters1 are white1 with a red exterior4 ,the wood is of a light yellow colour1 and is very fragrant4 ,it is sold to the ,chinese1 who burn it as incense in their temples1 and manufacture from it a variety of articles4 ,candles are also made from it thus3 a thin sheet of the wood forms a wick1 which is surrounded by a mixture of its sawdust and rice-paste4 ,our traffic has continued without interruption4 ,tony ,hinks1 in command of a boat with ,golding1 is embarking the sandal-wood1 of which a pile lies on the beach4 ,i am watching from the deck through my glass what is taking place4 ,the vendor of the wood is a young chief3 he has been examining the articles given him in barter4 ,suddenly he seems discontented with them1 and refuses to put more wood into the boat ,golding1 who is on shore1 threatens him4 ,he lifts his club1 and ,i believe that the last moment of the supercargo has arrived4 ,tony ,hinks is in the boat2 he lifts his musket1 and before the club can descend on ,golding's head a bullet is sent through the chiefs shoulder1 and the weapon drops powerless4 ,howling with rage1 he retreats2 but it is to summon his countrymen1 who with threatening gestures rush on4 ,golding leaps into the boat amid showers of stones cast from the natives' slings1 followed by spears and darts4 ,while some of the men shove off others fire1 and load again and fire4 ,the boat is heavily laden1 and can with difficulty be moved4 ,i fear that my shipmates will be cut off1 and share the fate of ,captain ,cook1 and many others since his day4 ,i order another boat to be lowered1 and cry out for volunteers4 ,no lack of them4 ,i send down to the captain--there is not a moment to be lost4 ,i1 with eight hands1 leap into the boat4 ,away we pull4 ,the captain comes on deck and calls us back4 ,he points to a fleet of war-canoes coming round the point3 he fears that we also shall be cut off1 and that the ship1 with the loss of half her crew1 may fall a prey to the savages4 ,still ,i cannot without an effort see my shipmates destroyed4 ,we dash on1--the foam flies from our bows4 ,hinks has got his boat afloat1 but several of his men are wounded2 yet they struggle bravely4 ,we open fire1 and keep the savages at bay4 ,the war-canoes1 however1 approach1--,hinks' boat gets up to us4 ,it is doubtful whether we or our enemies will gain the ship first4 ,we pull for our lives4 ,simon ,fuller will fight his ship to the last4 ,our shipmates are casting loose the guns ready for action4 ,the savages in the war-canoes stand up ready to shower down their darts and stones at us4 ,give them a volley1--give them a volley1 shouts ,golding4 ,it were lost time1 ,i tell my men4 ,it were better get on board4 ,we keep ahead of the enemy1 and gain the ship's side4 ,the falls are ready1--we hook on1--the boats are hoisted up1 and we hasten to man the guns4 ,there is a favourable breeze out of the harbour1 the anchor is being hove up1 the sails are loosed4 ,the canoes gather round us2 the savages begin to assail us with all their weapons1 shouting and shrieking terribly4 ,the ship gathers way2 the savages1 grown bold1 are climbing up the sides4 ,depress your guns1 lads1 says the captain4 ,small-arm men1 give it them4 ,the shot goes crashing in among the canoes1 knocking many to pieces4 ,not a native clinging to the sides escapes the small-arm men4 ,again and again we fire1 leaving the natives terrified and amazed at the power of our arms4 ,our guns loaded with langrage commit great havoc among them4 ,they lose courage1--the ship is clear of them4 ,and so we bid you farewell1 says ,phineas ,golding1 firing his musket at a chief with whom he had the day before been lodging4 ,we sail out of the bay1 firing shot on either side4 ,we have a good supply of sandal-wood1 however1 observes ,phineas ,golding4 ,but we had a narrow escape from the savages4 ,not a word does he say of his merciful preservation from death2 and far be it from me to hint that by my promptness ,i had a second time saved him1 and all with him1 from destruction4 ,tony ,hinks1 however1 when we are clear away at sea1 comes up to me and says-- ,we owe our lives to you1 ,mr ,harvey4 ,if you hadn't come when you did1 it's my belief that not one of us would have escaped4 ,,chapter ,,five4 ,,among ,,the ,,cannibals4 ,afar off appears above the blue line of the horizon a silvery dome clearly defined against the sky4 ,it might be taken for a cloud1 but that it never moves its position4 ,it is the summit of the lofty mountain of ,mona ,roa in ,owhyee1 the largest of the ,sandwich islands1 now fully fifty miles away4 ,there are ten of these islands1 though eight only are inhabited1 the other two being barren rocks on which fishermen dry their nets4 ,as we draw near1 other mountain tops are seen1 those of ,mona ,kea and ,mona ,huararia4 ,mona ,roa is a volcano1 and the whole country round is volcanic4 ,it is said to rise above twelve thousand feet above the level of the sea4 ,it is night before we cast anchor in a sheltered bay4 ,next morning we are surrounded by canoes1 and many people come swimming off to the ship1 for they are as expert as other islanders of the ,pacific in the water4 ,we are plentifully supplied with taro1 yams1 cocoa-nuts1 bananas1 and water melons1 also with hogs1 which are of a large size4 ,friend ,golding1 however1 finds that he cannot trade with them on the same easy terms as with other savages we have met1 for many ships have visited them1 and they now require firearms1 and powder and shot4 ,these people are much in appearance like those we have before seen--they are tall and athletic1 and many of the chief people1 both men and women1 are of great bulk4 ,i cannot but remember that it was at this island the renowned navigator1 ,captain ,cook1 was slain2 and the people have long in consequence been looked upon as very savage and treacherous4 ,this we do not find them to be1 but they are heathens given up to gross superstition1 and are ignorant and immoral4 ,they carry on bloody wars with each other1 offer up human sacrifices1 and are1 it is reported1 cannibals4 ,but if so be they are all this1 and more1 surely it behoves us as ,christians to teach them better things4 ,what1 however1 do we do8 ,we sell them firearms and ammunition to carry on their wars1 we partake in their immorality2 so far from showing them any of the graces of our religion1 we make them by our lives believe that we have no religion at all1 while by all those who visit these shores not a voice is raised to tell them of the truth4 ,we find them more mild and gentle than the people of ,tahiti1 and very different from the fierce savages of the ,marquesas4 ,not far off is ,karakaka ,bay1 where ,captain ,cook fell4 ,we communicate with two other ships while lying here1 and the officers all speak in favourable terms of the people4 ,captain ,fuller1 therefore1 allows us to visit the shore more than he would otherwise have considered safe4 ,we find these people very different from the wild inhabitants of the coral islands we have visited4 ,they have attained considerable proficiency in many arts--their cloth is fine1 and beautifully ornamented1 as are their mats1 but they excel in feather work4 ,the helmets1 and mantles1 and capes of their chiefs are very beautiful4 ,the helmets are in the form of those of ancient ,greece1 and are covered with bright red feathers1 worked in to look like velvet1 with tall plumes1 and as their cloaks are of the same texture and colour1 and the wearers are tall1 powerful men1 they have1 when armed with dubs or spears1 a very imposing and warlike appearance4 ,the king alone is allowed to wear a dress of yellow feathers4 ,the common people1 however1 wear but scant clothing1 none being required in this favoured climate4 ,their great war-god is ,tairi4 ,to propitiate him human sacrifices are offered up1 and his idol is carried at the head of their armies4 ,lesser chiefs have also their idols carried before them4 ,one of their temples1 a morai1 merits description4 ,it is formed by walls of great thickness1 like that at ,tahiti4 ,it is an irregular parallelogram1 two hundred and twenty-four feet long1 and a hundred wide4 ,the walls on three sides are twenty feet high and twelve feet thick1 but narrowing towards the top4 ,the wall nearest the sea is only eight feet high4 ,the only entrance is by a narrow passage between two high walls leading up to an inner court1 where stands the grim god of war1 with numerous other idols on either side of him4 ,in front rises a lofty obelisk of wicker-work1 and inside this the priest who acts the part of the oracle takes his stand4 ,just outside this inner court is the altar on which the human sacrifices are made4 ,near it stands the house occupied by the king when he resides in the temple1 and numerous other idols fill the rest of the space4 ,all have hideous countenances1 large gaping mouths1 and staring eyes4 ,tairi is crowned with a helmet1 and covered with red feathers4 ,great labour must have been expended in rearing this vast structure1 and in carving all these hideous images1 and sad indeed is it to consider the object for which all these pains have been taken4 ,the king1 with whom we have been on good terms1 sends to ,captain ,fuller to beg that he will lend him some of his ship's guns and muskets1 and a few of his crew1 as he is about to make war on a neighbouring island4 ,i am on shore with ,golding and ,taro1 and while a message is being returned1 he invites us to witness the usual ceremonies which take place before war4 ,as we accompany him to the morai1 we see dragged on by the crowd no less than eleven men1 whose looks of terror1 show that something they dread is about to happen4 ,arrived before the temple1 there is a cry from the multitude1 who instantly set on them with their clubs4 ,taro tells us not to grieve2 that some are prisoners taken in war1 others guilty persons who have broken a taboo1 and others the lowest of the people4 ,while we stand shuddering1 a concourse of people arrive bearing fruits of all sorts1 and hogs1 and dogs4 ,the human victims are stripped of all their garments1 and placed in rows on the altars2 the priests now offer up some prayers to the hideous idol1 and then the hogs and dogs are piled up over the human bodies1 and the whole1 we are told1 are left to rot together4 ,sometimes1 on occasions of great importance1 twenty-two persons have been offered up4 ,the oracle is favourable1 we hear1 and the king sends round to all his subjects to collect at his camp with their arms--spears1 clubs1 javelins1 and slings--ready for battle4 ,no one dares refuse4 ,vast numbers assemble1 but a few only of his immediate attendants have firearms4 ,nothing can be more fittingly hideous than their idol god of war1 with his grinning mouth armed with triple rows of sharks' teeth4 ,a hundred war-canoes are prepared4 ,the army embarks1 and1 like a flight of locusts1 they descend on the opposite coast4 ,we see flames ascending from spots where lately stood smiling villages4 ,a few days pass1 and the army returns victorious with numerous captives4 ,some are forthwith offered up to the war-god1 others are kept to be sacrificed on a future occasion4 ,a great chief dies of his wounds1 and several victims are offered at his tomb1 while1 as a sign of grief1 his relations and followers knock out their front teeth1 and fix them in a tree in his morai4 ,his people also appear to have gone mad1 committing every species of abomination1 and we hear that many people lose their lives on the occasion4 ,the ,sandwich ,islanders have many more idols than those of which ,i have spoken4 ,there is ,mooaru1 or the shark god1 whose temple stands on almost every point or headland4 ,to him the fishermen offer1 on landing1 the first fish they have caught that day--for they imagine that he it is who drives the fish to their shores4 ,but the greatest of all their gods1 or1 at all events1 the most feared1 is ,pele1 the goddess of the volcano4 ,she resides on the summit of ,mona ,roa1 and descends in fire and flames to punish her enemies below4 ,she has many priestesses1 who appear in the villages with singed garments and marks of fire on their persons1 to demand tribute from the inhabitants to avert her vengeance4 ,i do not hear of one of their idols who has a mild or beneficent disposition4 ,all the sacrifices offered are simply to avert their vengeance4 ,the people have no love nor veneration for their idols1 and they believe that their idols' chief pleasure is in tormenting and punishing them4 ,one of the most remarkable objects ,i have met with in the ,sandwich ,islands is what may properly be called a city of refuge4 ,it is a sort of morai1 surrounded by strong walls1 with an entrance on each side4 ,in the interior are temples and numerous houses1 in which the priests and occasional occupants reside4 ,here1 whatever crime a fugitive may have committed1 if he can reach it he is safe4 ,a victorious enemy in pursuit of foes will come up to the gates1 but if the vanquished have entered they are safe4 ,during an invasion of the territory1 therefore1 all the women and children are sent in here1 where they may remain in security4 ,there are several such places of refuge in the islands4 ,the taboo system is also very curious4 ,the priests govern chiefly in this matter4 ,they settle what or who is to be tabooed1 and how long it is to last4 ,to taboo is not only to set aside for a particular object1 but to make sacred4 ,the king1 a hog1 or a house1 may be tabooed4 ,during that time people may not do certain acts1 and animals or things may not be touched or used4 ,so important are these taboos held1 that any person breaking through one of them is punished severely1 often with death4 ,is it not possible that some of the customs ,i have mentioned1 though barbarous and debased1 may have been derived from ancient tradition8 ,whence has sprung that strange expectation of the return of their long-lost god1 ,rona1 to bring a blessing on their nation8 ,what means that longing for a better land far away in the east1 entertained by the ,marquesas islanders8 ,the king of this island seems to have great power4 ,he is the owner of all the land1 and is the lord and master of all his subjects4 ,he rules wisely1 and has the affection of his people4 ,i might say a great deal more about these ,sandwich islanders--their history1 habits1 and customs1 and of the events which have taken place since we have been here1 but should ,i write all ,i might1 my journal would be soon filled4 ,to describe them briefly thus3--,their islands are grand and picturesque2 they are very intelligent1 and are physically powerful1 but they seem abandoned to a debased idolatry1 to cruel customs1 and to a gross licentiousness4 ,constant and barbarous warfare1 infanticide1 and the diseases introduced by their foreign visitors have so rapidly decreased their numbers that the population consists of one-third less now than it did at the time of ,cook4 ,captain ,fuller1 and the other masters and mates of the ships here laugh at the idea of their ever becoming ,christians or civilised1 and1 in truth1 unless they have faith in ,god's grace1 it would seem a hard matter2 but ,i know that ,he can order all things according to ,his will1 and that1 in spite of all man's theories and doubts1 ,he will find means to accomplish ,his work4 ,phineas ,golding has just come on board in high glee4 ,he says that he has just heard from ,taro1 who gets the information ,i know not how1 that there are to the southward of this several coral islands1 where abundance of mother-of-pearl and also pearls of great size are to be procured2 and thus1 instead of sailing west1 as we had proposed1 he has arranged with ,captain ,fuller to sail once more south towards the ,hervey group1 and to touch at the ,friendly1 ,fiji1 and many other islands1 ere we once more steer north-west towards our destination4 ,to complete our stores1 we take in a good supply of salt1 to be obtained here in abundance2 and then bidding farewell to our friends the ,sandwich islanders1 we make sail1 and steer south4 ,we find a young lad1 the son of a chief1 who had managed to secrete himself on board4 ,we ask him why he has done so4 ,he answers that he wishes to see the great country from which we come1 and promises to do everything we require if we will let him remain4 ,captain ,fuller consents2 but ,i fear sometimes that he will have a hard life of it4 ,i resolve1 however1 to protect him as far as ,i can4 ,he gets the name of ,charlie1 but no other4 ,we have sighted several low coral islands1 but at length we reach the neighbourhood of a group known as the ,penrhyn ,islands1 about six hundred miles due north of the ,hervey group1 which we also purpose to visit4 ,we sight a coral island1 which we estimate as fifty feet high1 nine or ten miles long and five broad1 with a deep lagoon in the centre4 ,it is as if a huge coral ring had been thrown down in the ocean4 ,at one end there is an opening1 through which a boat can enter the lagoon4 ,the island is covered with groves of cocoa-nut1 pandanus1 and other trees2 and1 from the number of huts we see1 and the people moving about1 it seems to be thickly populated4 ,while the ship is hove-to1 ,i take charge of a boat to carry the supercargo1 and ,taro1 and ,charlie2 with six men1 on shore4 ,we pull round1 but find that there is so heavy a surf running that we cannot land on the outside4 ,to save time1 ,taro and ,charlie swim on shore to communicate with the natives4 ,i anxiously wait off to receive their report4 ,after some time we see them running1 pursued by many natives4 ,they leap into the water1 and dash through the surf4 ,some of the natives attempt to follow1 but our shipmates distance them1 and are taken safe on board4 ,they say the natives1 though looking very wild and fierce1 were kind in their manners1 and invited them up to their houses1 and brought them food2 but that they soon pressed round them1 and began to strip off their clothes1 and to take possession of everything they had4 ,seeing them preparing some hot stones with which to heat an oven1 they believed that they were to be cooked and eaten1 and so starting up1 they rushed headlong for the shore1 so completely taking their entertainers by surprise1 that no one at first attempted to stop them4 ,they report1 however1 that they saw pearl-shell ornaments1 and even pearls1 worn by the savages2 which so excites ,golding's imagination1 that he insists on our attempting further communication with the people4 ,finding at length the opening into the lagoon1 we approach the mouth1 the surf breaking over the rocks on either side with great violence4 ,there is a narrow lane of clear water2 we pull in2 a strong current carries the boat along with fearful speed1 and several seas break into her4 ,it seems as if we were in a whirlpool4 ,the rudder has lost its power1 and we are spun round and round helplessly2 about every moment it seems to be hove on the rocks4 ,she violently rises and falls1 and then we are cast1 as it were1 into the smooth water of the lagoon1 though still carried upward for some distance4 ,it strikes me at the moment that we are like mice caught in a trap1 and that it must depend on the pacific disposition of the natives whether or not we escape4 ,at length we steer for the shore1 where we see several ,indians collected4 ,they retire as we draw near4 ,we again send ,taro and ,charlie on shore with looking-glasses and trinkets2 they go not very willingly4 ,the savages stop1 and cast at us glances of suspicion4 ,then they make a rush forward1 seize all the articles they can lay hands on1 and again run off4 ,our two interpreters now come down shaking their heads1 and saying that there is no hope of trading with these savages4 ,still ,phineas will not give up the attempt2 he has seen the pearls1 and is longing for them4 ,why1 such a necklace as that would be worth a hundred pounds1 or more1 he exclaims4 ,we must have the fellow dead or alive4 ,he stands up in the boat with his piece1 ready to fire4 ,i sternly draw him back1 crying out1 indignantly3 ,i will not allow murder to be committed2 for murder it would be1 if the men were ten times more savage than they are4 ,they have souls immortal as ours1 which we have no right to drive out of their bodies before their time4 ,souls or not1 mate1 you have made me lose my pearl necklace1 says the supercargo1 angrily4 ,it were better to lose a dozen pearl necklaces1 or all the pearls the bottom of the sea can produce1 than commit a great crime1 ,i answer1 more hotly than usual2 and then1 knowing that another sort of argument would have more weight with such a man1 ,i added1 ,remember1 too1 we are yet inside the trap4 ,if we kill one of these people1 their countrymen may assemble at the entrance1 and slaughter every one of us4 ,this silenced ,golding4 ,we pull some way up the lagoon4 ,the water swarms with fish1 and the shore seems more fertile than any of the coral islands we have visited4 ,in all directions we see signs of inhabitants1 and in some places small canoes hauled up1 but none approach us4 ,we now pull back towards the passage by which we entered2 but the tide still runs in like a mill-stream4 ,suddenly we run aground4 ,the men jump out and lift the boat off4 ,we are in a wrong channel4 ,we at length get into what we believe to be the right passage4 ,the men track the boat along1 but we make little way4 ,night comes on rapidly4 ,there will be a moon1 but it has not yet risen1 and without its light we cannot escape4 ,we secure the boat to the rock1 and wait anxiously for that time4 ,few of us can sleep1 for we know not any moment whether the savages may be upon us4 ,both ,taro and ,charlie declare1 from what they saw on shore1 that the people are cannibals4 ,there was also the remains of a wreck burnt on the beach1 and they declare their belief that some ship has been cast away there1 and the unfortunate crew destroyed4 ,we wait anxiously4 ,golding says very little2 he is evidently ill at ease4 ,i write it1 not to boast1 but my own mind is far more at ease2 for ,i can say1 ,in ,god put ,i my trust3 ,i will not fear what man can do unto me4 ,thus1 through ,god's grace1 ,i have always been allowed to feel when in positions of great peril4 ,my shipmates ,i have heard speak of me as the bravest man among them4 ,so ,i verily believe ,i am2 but then ,i am brave not in my own strength1 but in the strength of ,him who is strong to save4 ,there would be many more brave men in the world1 if all knew on whom they may leap confidently for support4 ,there is a kind of bravery that is natural to some1 and is a constitutional fearlessness2 but a far higher and surer courage belongs to those who have committed their souls to their ,god and ,saviour1 and who feel that whatever may befall them1 when in the way of duty1 must be for the best4 ,these thoughts pass through my mind as ,i keep watch while the men are sleeping around me4 ,still the night continues dark2 but as ,i peep through the obscurity1 ,i fancy that ,i see against the sky some objects flitting here and there over the rocks4 ,i step cautiously back into the boat1 rouse up the men1 who seize their arms1 and with the oars ready to shove off1 if necessary1 we wait prepared4 ,the figures approach silently in great numbers1 but cautiously stealing along1 as if not aware that we are awake4 ,we make no sound4 ,on they come over the rocks1 with more ease than we could advance in daylight4 ,in less than a minute they will be upon us4 ,i wish to save bloodshed4 ,there is a faint light in the sky3 it is the looked-for moon about to rise4 ,suddenly the silence is broken by loud unearthly yells1 and hundreds of naked forms spring up as it were from the ground upon us4 ,,chapter ,,six4 ,,saved ,,by ,a ,,storm4 ,never have ,i heard yells more terrific than those with which the ,penrhyn ,islanders set on us4 ,we are assailed also with showers of darts and stones1 which wound many of our people sorely4 ,golding1 brave as he is on most occasions1 utters a cry of terror1 and nearly leaps overboard on the opposite side of the boat ,i give unwillingly the word to fire4 ,many of the foremost savages fall--the rest hang back4 ,we shove off4 ,the oars are quickly got out4 ,the moon rises4 ,i distinguish the channel4 ,it is almost slack water4 ,we pull for our lives4 ,golding and ,taro stand up and fire4 ,the savages either do not see their comrades fall or do not dread the bullets1 for they rush along the rocks still within a few yards of us hurling their stones and darts4 ,i feel assured that if we strike a rock our lives will pay the penalty4 ,the rising moon gives me more light to steer1 and allows ,golding and ,taro to take better aim4 ,it shows us1 however1 more clearly to the savages4 ,there is still the narrowest channel to pass4 ,the savages are making for the point when1 ,golding and ,taro firing together1 two of their chief men fall4 ,it is as ,i thought1 they had not before noticed who had been struck4 ,now they stop1 and with loud howls lift up the bodies of their chiefs4 ,our men bend to their oars--we dart through the narrow opening1 and though many of the savages spring after us1 they fail to reach the point in time4 ,golding and ,taro continue firing without necessity4 ,the poor wretches have received punishment enough1 and why thus slaughter them when our own safety does not sternly require us to kill8 ,the lights on board our ship greet our sight1 and we pull gladly towards her--,golding still uttering his regrets at the loss of his pearl necklace4 ,we reach the ship1 and stand off for the night1 ,golding insisting that he will try his luck to-morrow4 ,the morrow comes1 but when we pull in the aspect of the people on shore is so hostile that even ,golding acknowledges that we are not likely to get pearls from them this visit4 ,captain ,fuller1 therefore1 resolves to steer south for the ,hervey ,islands1 according to orders1 although1 from the accounts ,i find in ,captain ,cook's voyages1 ,i doubt much whether our supercargo will be satisfied with the traffic we may chance to open up with the natives4 ,the first island we made is that of ,atiu1 the same which ,captain ,cook calls ,wateeoo4 ,it is about seven hundred miles west of ,tahiti4 ,we passed not far from the low island known as ,hervey ,island1 which gives its name to the whole group4 ,we now sail round this island of ,atiu1 in hopes of finding a landing-place1 but none appears--a coral reef surrounds the whole4 ,still our bold supercargo is anxious to land1 and so while the ship stands off and on1 ,i take him1 with ,taro as interpreter1 towards the shore1 in the long boat1 in which we have a gun mounted4 ,we pull in as close as we may venture outside the surf4 ,numerous natives are on the shore4 ,taro beckons1 and three small canoes are launched4 ,they paddle swiftly through the surf1 and come alongside4 ,those on the shore stand waving green branches as a sign of amity1 so ,golding determines to land with ,taro4 ,away they go1 and as ,i may not quit the boat1 ,i watch them anxiously4 ,they land in safety1 and vast numbers of the natives instantly close round them4 ,i see them borne up by the throng away from the beach1 and then lose sight of them4 ,two hours pass away1 and they do not appear4 ,i begin to dread that they have been cut off4 ,i wait another hour4 ,just as ,i am about to return to the ship1 the canoes are launched4 ,as they approach1 to my disappointment ,i do not see our shipmates4 ,the ,indians are just thinking that they will knock us on the head1 ,i hear one of my men say4 ,it will be our fault if we let them1 ,i answer1 not feeling1 however1 altogether satisfied that the man was wrong1 yet unwilling to show any fear2 we'll let them know what we can do if they play us tricks4 ,hand me the slow match4 ,there was a clump of palm-trees close down to the beach4 ,i step forward to the gun1 and have the boat's head put towards the shore4 ,on come the ,indian canoes paddling rapidly through the surf--the men shouting and shrieking1 and whirling their paddles round their heads4 ,i am unwilling to injure the poor wretches4 ,i aim instead at the trees4 ,the white splinters start off on either side from a palm-tree struck by the shot4 ,the effect is like magic1 the ,indians' threatening shrieks are changed to cries of terror1 and in hot haste they dash back through the surf towards the shore4 ,still we are left in doubt as to the fate of our friends4 ,it is clear that we cannot land to go to their assistance4 ,but ,i resolve not to give them up4 ,we rest on our oars watching the beach4 ,at length we see a concourse of people coming over a ridge of sand which shuts out the view of the interior from us4 ,golding and ,taro appear in the midst of them4 ,the savages seem to be paying them great respect1 and ,golding bows with infinite condescension now on one side1 now on the other4 ,canoes are launched1 they step into them1 and the obedient natives come paddling off to us through the surf4 ,golding steps on board and signs to the ,indians to return4 ,now1 ,harvey1 get on board as fast as we can1 says he4 ,it has been a question in my mind all day whether we were to be treated as gods1 or to be cooked and eaten2 and even now ,i don't feel quite comfortable on the subject4 ,your shot turned the scale in our favour1 for notwithstanding all ,taro's boastings1 they had no great opinion of us when they found that we could not bring our big boat through the surf4 ,taro at length bethought himself of boasting that we could make thunder and lightning1 and set off a few cartridges he had in his pocket to convince them4 ,the effect was considerable1 but not as great as was hoped for4 ,there was the lightning1 but the thunder was wanting4 ,on the hill-side were some ovens with fire in them heating4 ,taro looked at them suspiciously1 not quite satisfied that he might not before long be put inside one of them4 ,turning about1 he saw some warriors walking round and round with huge clubs in their hands4 ,he had no longer any doubt of their intentions4 ,golding saw them also1 and became not slightly uncomfortable4 ,just then our gun was fired4 ,many of the natives fell flat on the ground1 others rushed hither and thither1 while some of the braver examined the trees which had been struck1 and reported the effects of the white man's thunder and lightning4 ,instead of knocking our friends on the head and eating them as they had purposed1 the savages came crouching down before them in the most abject manner1 as if they were beings altogether of a different nature4 ,still1 as ,golding says1 the look of those ovens made him glad to get down to the beach1 lest the ,indians should again change their minds about him4 ,two days after this we sight another island4 ,again ,golding goes on shore with ,taro1 and the captain1 and ,tony ,hinks4 ,i cannot be surprised if some day ,golding is cut off by the savages4 ,he is bold and daring1 and far from cautious4 ,aitutaki is the name of the island4 ,natives come off to us in great numbers singing and shouting4 ,they are tattooed from head to foot4 ,never have ,i seen wilder savages4 ,some of their faces are smeared with ochre1 others with charcoal1 and are frightful to behold4 ,we keep on our guard1 for we know not any moment that they may venture to attack us4 ,as ,taro is on shore we cannot understand what they say4 ,festing and ,i allow only a few at a time to come on board4 ,they attempt to climb up the sides1 but we keep them off by striking at their hands with boarding pikes1 and pointing to the gangway1 showing that they may only enter there1 a few at a time4 ,still they persist1 when ,festing taking up a musket ready at hand1 fires it over their heads4 ,they look around for a moment1 as if not certain whether they are standing on their heads or their feet1 and then leap headlong1 some into their canoes and some into the water4 ,they paddle to a distance1 but then stopping1 look back and threaten us4 ,festing insists that the only way to make these countries of any use is to sweep the people off into the sea4 ,as to civilising them1 that1 he says1 is impossible4 ,i differ from him4 ,we wait anxiously as before for the return of the captain and our other shipmates4 ,hour after hour passes by4 ,however great the danger in which they may be placed1 we cannot go to their assistance4 ,we begin to fear that they have fallen victims to the savages4 ,you and ,i1 ,harvey1 will have to take the ship home1 ,i suspect1 observes ,festing2 ,i am sorry for the old man especially1 as we can do nothing to revenge his death4 ,that were small consolation1 ,i observe2 nor is that as ,god wills it4 ,festing looks astonished4 ,he would be very angry if he were accused of not being a ,christian1 and yet1 it seems to me1 that he encourages feelings and ideas very much opposed to the rules ,christ our ,master laid down for the government of ,his disciples4 ,evening approaches4 ,with thankfulness ,i see the boat putting off from the beach4 ,we stand in as close as the reef will let us to meet her4 ,she makes for a narrow channel between the breakers4 ,it is a question whether she will get through4 ,the spray1 as it curls upwards1 completely conceals her4 ,or--,i look through my glass--has she been capsized by the breakers8 ,no1 she is seen again4 ,her crew give way4 ,she is soon alongside4 ,all have come back safe1 though they have been in great peril of their lives4 ,captain ,fuller has a curious story to tell of the inhabitants of this lovely spot4 ,they are the wildest savages he has ever seen4 ,more like wild beasts than men1 yet not so cruel as some of the islanders we have met4 ,as an example4 ,it appears from what ,taro has learned on shore1 that a vessel calling off here but a few days back1 landed a number of natives from another island1 who1 instead of being killed and eaten1 have been kindly treated4 ,the name of the island is ,raratonga1 but whereabouts it lies ,taro could not learn1 for the vessel appeared off the coast at early dawn on the east side1 and no one saw whence she came4 ,they are young women1 and have a pitiable tale to tell of the cruel way in which they were kidnapped by these monsters in human shape4 ,probably to prevent disputes among his crew1 the captain landed these poor creatures1 certainly from no motives of humanity if the account ,taro gives of them is true4 ,the vessel only left the island three days ago1 so that we may chance to fall in with her4 ,both ,captain ,fuller and the supercargo declare that they will give the master a bit of their mind4 ,suppose1 say they1 we had chanced to call off that island directly after those fellows had perpetrated this rascality1 not suspecting harm1 what would have been our fate8 ,without doubt we should have been clubbed4 ,so we might1 indeed6 ,i observe1 but ,i think to myself1 what may other voyagers say who follow in our footsteps4 ,have we not shot down the poor savages1 who have been defending their own shores8 ,well may the islanders be ready to destroy any white men they can get into their power4 ,captain ,fuller says that he never was in greater danger of losing his life than on this morning4 ,if one of the party had wavered1 the savages would have been encouraged to rush in on them and club them4 ,he and ,golding talk of looking for ,raratonga in the hopes of trading with the natives1 but we can by no means learn in what direction it is to be found4 ,there is another group we hear of to the south of the ,society ,islands called the ,austral ,islands1 but it would take up too much time to visit them1 and so we shape a course for the ,tonga or ,friendly ,islands4 ,rumours have reached us that the people do not quite deserve the character given of them by ,captain ,cook4 ,steeling west1 we again sight land4 ,we stand in1 and heave-to off the coast4 ,it is ,savage ,island1 justly so-called by ,captain ,cook4 ,several canoes1 with uncouth1 fierce-looking savages1 come off to us1 with painted faces and long hair1 even more brutal than those of ,aitutaki4 ,taro ascertains from them that another vessel with two masts has just called there1 but gone away1--undoubtedly the brig which carried off the poor people from ,raratonga1 the unknown island4 ,we may therefore overtake her4 ,a calm comes on1--the savages surround the vessel1 and contemplate an attack on us1 it seems4 ,the guns are loaded with langrage1 and ,captain ,fuller issues orders to prepare for our defence4 ,their numbers increase4 ,taro warns us that they are about to commence an assault on the vessel4 ,he signs to them that they had better not make the attempt2 but by their gestures they show their contempt and boldness4 ,again with loud shouts they come on1 shooting their arrows1 and hurling darts1 and spears1 and stones4 ,depress the guns1 and fire1 cries ,captain ,fuller4 ,the order is obeyed4 ,in an instant the sea is covered with the forms of human beings1 some swimming from their canoes cut in two1 others having jumped overboard through terror4 ,the sea is red with the blood of those wounded4 ,the captain orders that the guns be again loaded4 ,shrieks1 and groans1 and cries rise from the water4 ,it is fear1 ,i feel sure1 prevents the poor wretches moving4 ,i wish that ,i might beg the captain not again to fire2 but he would not listen4 ,he is about to lift his hand when ,i see the topsails fill1 and the vessel glides out from among the crowd of canoes4 ,hold1 cries the captain2 they have had enough of it4 ,away we sail1 following the setting sun4 ,a pretty day's work1 ,i think to myself1 as ,i get into my berth4 ,yet how is it to be avoided8 ,i drop asleep4 ,i know that ,i am asleep1 and yet ,i fancy that ,i am looking over the side of a vessel1--not the ,mary ,rose1 though1--and ,i see the ocean covered with the forms of men1 their skins brown1 and white1 and black1 swimming towards all points of the compass4 ,they swim strongly and boldly2 each on his head wears a crown of gold1 and in his right hand carries a book1--an open book4 ,i look again1--it is the ,bible4 ,they read the book as they swim1 and it gives them strength to persevere2 for sharks rise up to threaten them1 and other monsters of the deep4 ,and now land appears1 the very island we have left1 and two or more swim towards it1 and the savage inhabitants come out in their canoes to attack them1 and ,i tremble for their fate2 but the swimmers hold up their ,bibles1 and the savages let them pass1 and follow slowly4 ,soon the swimmers land1 and numbers collect round them and listen attentively while they read4 ,weapons are cast away1--the countenances of the islanders are no longer savage4 ,they kneel1--they clasp their hands--they lift up their eyes towards heaven1--their lips move in prayer4 ,they soon appear well clothed1 parents with their children dwelling in neat cottages1 and lo6 a large edifice rises before my eyes3 it is a house of ,god4 ,a bell sounds1 and from every side come men1 women1 and children all neatly clad2 and then the words of a hymn strike my ear4 ,the music is sweet1 but the words are strange4 ,it grows louder and louder1 till ,i hear the cry of ,all hands shorten sail6 ,i spring on deck4 ,the ship has been struck by a squall2 she is almost on her beam-ends4 ,it is blowing heavily1 the thunder rolls along the sky1 the lightning flashes vividly4 ,not without difficulty the canvas is got off her4 ,once more she rights1 and now away she flies before the gale4 ,the sea rises covered with foam4 ,still she flies on4 ,we prepare to heave her to2 for thus running on1 with coral islands abounding1 may prove our destruction4 ,it is a moment of anxiety1 for it is questioned whether the canvas will stand4 ,it requires all hands1 and even then our strength is scarce sufficient for the work4 ,we1 under circumstances like these1 see the true character of men4 ,golding1 hitherto so daring and boastful1 trembles like an aspen leaf4 ,he believes that the ship is going down1 and dares not look death in the face4 ,i may write what ,i feel3 ,whoso putteth his trust in the ,lord shall be safe1 as says ,solomon1 and as his father ,david had often said in other words before him4 ,it is this knowledge makes the truly bold and brave seaman at all times4 ,this night is one truly to make a stout heart sink not thus supported4 ,at the main-mast-head appears a ball of fire4 ,now it descends1--now it runs along the main-yard-arm1--now it appears at the mizen-mast-head1-- now there is a ball at each mast-head4 ,the men declare that it is a spirit of evil come to guide us to destruction4 ,often while the foaming seas are roaring and hissing round us1 and the wind is shrieking and whistling through the shrouds1 and all is so dark that a hand held up at arm's length can scarcely be seen1 flashes of lightning burst forth making it light as day1 and revealing the pale and affrighted countenances of those standing around4 ,day dawns at length4 ,as ,i looked to leeward1 not half a mile away1 ,i see a vessel4 ,she is dismasted1 labouring heavily4 ,we are drifting slowly down towards her4 ,now she rises1 now she falls in the trough of the sea1 and is hid from view4 ,she is a brig1 as we discover by the stumps of her two masts1 and we do not doubt the very vessel of which we have lately heard4 ,a signal of distress is flying from a staff lashed to the main-mast2 but1 with the sea now running1 what help can we render her hapless crew8 ,we watch her anxiously2 even ,phineas ,golding1 his thoughts generally running on dollars1 seems to commiserate the fate of those on board1 especially when ,tony ,hinks remarks in his hearing that such may be ours ere long4 ,the men are at the pumps1 and we can see them working for their lives2 but1 by the way she labours1 there seems but little chance that they will keep her afloat4 ,we are gradually dropping down towards her2 we can distinguish through our glasses the countenances of the crew1 their hair streaming in the gale4 ,what looks of horror1 of hopeless despair are there6 ,they know that we cannot help them1 though so near4 ,the vessel is sinking lower and lower2 the crew desert the pumps1 and hold out their hands imploringly towards us as we drive down towards them4 ,their boats have been all washed away3 it were madness in us to attempt to lower one4 ,some with hatchets are cutting away at the bulwarks and companion hatch to form rafts1 others run shrieking below to the spirit-room1 or rush bewildered here and there2 not one do ,i see on bended knees imploring aid from heaven4 ,the vessel now labours more heavily than ever2 a huge sea rolls towards her1--she gives a fearful plunge4 ,many of our people1 rough and hardened as they are1 utter cries of horror4 ,i pass my hands across my eyes1 and look1 and look again4 ,she is gone6--not a trace of her remains but a few struggling forms amid the white foam4 ,one by one they disappear1 till one alone remains clinging to a plank4 ,we see him tossed to and fro1 looking wildly towards us for help4 ,not another human being of those who stood on the deck of the foundered vessel remains alive4 ,will this one be saved8 ,i feel a deep pity for him4 ,as ,i watch him1 ,i lift up my heart in prayer to ,god that he may be saved4 ,the gale has been decreasing1 and the ship lies-to more easily4 ,we hope in a short time to make sail4 ,the seaman still floats in sight4 ,at length ,i believe a boat would live4 ,i ask ,captain ,fuller leave to go in search of the man1 and sing out for volunteers4 ,no lack of them4 ,we must have drifted some way to leeward of the man2 but still1 as ,i took the bearings when ,i last saw him1 ,i believe that ,i can find him4 ,away we pull2 the seas are heavy1 but long1 and do not break much4 ,i look out in vain for the seaman4 ,he must have gone down before this1 ,i hear one of the crew remark4 ,but the plank would be floating still1 ,i observe4 ,that man has a soul1 whoever he may be4 ,if we save his body1 by ,god's grace his soul may be saved4 ,this thought encourages me to persevere4 ,often the boat is half full of water1 but we bail her out1 and pull on4 ,already we are at some distance from the ship1 when ,i see a dark1 speck rise on the crest of a sea and then disappear4 ,my hopes rise that it is the person of whom we are in search4 ,we hear a faint cry4 ,he is still alive4 ,the crew cheer1 and pull lustily towards him4 ,the stranger gazes at us eagerly3 he if a youth1 with long light hair hanging back in the water4 ,his strength is evidently failing4 ,i urge on my men4 ,even now ,i fear that he will let go his hold ere we can reach him4 ,again he cries out imploringly4 ,a sea striking the boat half fills her with water1 and ,i lose sight of the lad4 ,he is gone1 he is gone6 some of the men cry out4 ,but no2 ,i see his hair far down1 close under the stern of the boat ,i plunge in1 and diving1 grasp it and bring him to the surface4 ,the boat has forged ahead4 ,with difficulty ,i get him alongside1 and we are hauled on board4 ,the young man has still life in him1 but cannot speak4 ,we pull back to the ship1 more than once narrowly escaping being swamped4 ,it is some time before the stranger can speak4 ,even then he does not seem willing to say much4 ,he does not mention the name of the brig to which he belonged1 nor whether he was serving before the mast or as an officer2 but he speaks like a lad of education4 ,he is1 however1 so much exhausted1 that it would be cruel to ask him questions4 ,indeed1 from a remark he made1 ,i suspect that he believes himself to be dying4 ,i fear that he may be right2 but1 alas6 it is without hope that he looks on death1--only with dark horror and despair4 ,i speak to him of ,one who died to save all sinners who look to ,him for salvation and repent2 but my words seem to fall unheeded on the young man's car4 ,,chapter ,,seven4 ,a ,,land ,,of ,,horrors4 ,the young man we picked up two days ago is better4 ,he takes more to me than to any one else1 yet he is reserved even to me4 ,his name is1 he says1 ,joseph ,bent1 and the brig was the ,wanderer4 ,i suspect that he is one of those castaways who have fled from the restraints of parents1 or pastors and masters1 and that he has been reaping the fruits of his folly1 and found them bitter4 ,the brig undoubtedly visited the island of which we have heard1 and her crew were the men who committed those black deeds of which ,i have spoken1 but do not here again describe4 ,how soon are they all sent to their dread accounts except this youth6 ,great is his astonishment when ,i speak to him of what was done1 and of the poor natives so barbarously carried away4 ,the vengeance of a pure and just ,god quickly finds out the doers of such deeds1 ,i remark4 ,and1 ,joseph1 my friend1 where would you now have been had you not been rescued by the hand of mercy from the jaws of death8 ,in torment--in torment6 he shrieks out2 in everlasting torments6 ,rightly condemned--rightly condemned6 ,but1 think you not1 that the same loving hand which saved your life from destruction will preserve your far more precious soul from death eternal if you will but believe in ,his power and will to save you8 ,do not have any doubts on the subject4 ,the most guilty are entreated to repent and to come to ,jesus--the loving ,saviour--the ,friend of sinners4 ,these are strange words you speak1 mate1 said the young man sitting up and looking earnestly at me4 ,not strange1 friend1 say ,i4 ,thousands and thousands of times have they been spoken before to the saving of many a perishing soul4 ,let them not be spoken to you in vain4 ,thus do ,i continue for some time1 till ,i see tears starting into the eyes of the young man4 ,the knowledge of a ,saviour's love softens his heart1 while his sins still make him afraid4 ,i remember to have heard words like those you have been speaking1 mate1 long1 long ago1 he observes4 ,i forgot them till now4 ,they sound sweetly to my ears4 ,never forget them again1 friend1 ,i answered1 having now to go on deck to keep my watch4 ,joseph ,bent lives1 and is gaining strength1 but as he does so he seems to be hardening his heart1 and avoids religious subjects2 yet he speaks of the doings of his late shipmates at ,raratonga4 ,what must have been their feelings when their ship was going down1 and the thoughts of their late evil deeds came rushing on their minds4 ,if people would but reflect each morning as they rise1 and say to themselves1 ,for what ,i do this day ,i must most assuredly account before the judgment-seat of the ,almighty1 how many a sin might be avoided2 and yet1 surely1 the love of ,jesus1 the dread of grieving our blessed ,master1 will do more than that4 ,with me love is the constraining power--with some men the fear of judgment may have more effect2 fear may prevent sin1 but love surely advances more the honour and glory of ,christ's kingdom4 ,it is love to his blessed ,master which will make a man give up home and country1 and go forth to preach the unsearchable riches of ,christ to the perishing heathen2 fear will keep him strictly observant of his religious duties at home3 fear rules where the law exists2 love reigns through the liberty of the gospel4 ,yes1 ,i am sure1 that love1 and love alone1 will make a man a persevering missionary of the truth4 ,we bring up at length on the north shore of ,tongatabu1 at the same spot where1 many years back1 ,captain ,cook anchored his ships1 when he called the island ,amsterdam4 ,it is the largest by far of all the ,friendly ,islands1 being some twenty miles long and twelve broad1 and it is very beautiful1 though not rising anywhere more that sixty feet above the level of the sea4 ,its beauty consists in the great variety of trees and shrubs with which it is covered1 while few spots on the earth's surface are more productive2 added to this there is a clearness and brightness in the atmosphere which is in itself lovely4 ,captain ,cook bestowed the name of the ,friendly ,islands on this group1 on account of the friendly way in which the natives received him4 ,captain ,fuller says that he has heard certain reports which make him doubt as to the friendliness of the natives4 ,they come off to us in large double canoes1 unlike any we have before seen4 ,they consist of two canoes secured side by side1 though at some distance apart1 by a strong platform1 which serves as a deck4 ,in the centre is a house with a flat roof on which the chiefs stand4 ,the sail is triangular1 and formed of matting1 and long oars are also used1 worked on either side4 ,these canoes carry a hundred men or more1 and make long voyages1 often to ,fiji1 on the east1 and lo6 the ,navigators ,islands1 on the north4 ,when sailing forth for war covered with armed men1 blowing conch-shells and flourishing their clubs and spears1 they have a very formidable appearance4 ,many smaller single canoes came off to us ringing fruits and fowl of all sorts4 ,they are a very fine race of men1 taller than most ,englishmen1 and well formed and of a light healthy brown colour4 ,they come on board in great numbers1 and laugh1 and appear to be well disposed4 ,the ,captain's suspicions are soon lulled1 and so are ,golding's4 ,he wishes to trade with them for cocoa-nut oil and other articles4 ,several of our men ask leave to go on shore1 and the captain allows them4 ,just as they have gone off1 ,joseph ,bent comes on deck4 ,he has1 he tells me1 been living on shore here for some time1 and knows the people4 ,notwithstanding their pleasant manners and handsome figures and countenances1 they are treacherous in the extreme4 ,he tells that of which ,i have not before heard1 that missionaries have already been sent out to these seas2 that some were landed on this very island1 of whom three were killed1 and the rest driven away4 ,some1 strange to say1 were in ,king ,george's ,islands while we were there1 but we heard not of them nor they of us4 ,indeed1 ,i fear that our captain would have taken but little interest in the matter1 though he might have shown those poor banished ones1 as countrymen1 some of the courtesies of life4 ,thus ,i see that people may visit a place1 and fancy that they know all about it1 and yet be very ignorant of what is going on within4 ,other missionaries have gone1 so says ,bent1 to the ,marquesas ,islands4 ,we heard nothing of them2 indeed1 our captain laughs at the notion of such savages being turned into ,christians4 ,who can this ,bent really be8 ,i have asked myself more than once4 ,for one so young he knows much about these seas1 and what has taken place here4 ,while ,i have been thinking how good a thing it would be to have missionaries sent out among them1 ,i find that people at home have already done so1 though as yet to no purpose1 as far as man can see4 ,the people seem everywhere sunk in heathen darkness4 ,when ,bent sees that some of our men are going on shore1 he urges that they may be at once recalled2 but ,captain ,fuller says that the supercargo1 ,taro1 and ,tony ,hinks1 will take care they do not get into mischief4 ,the half-naked chiefs1 with their clubs in their hands1 and many other people are wandering about the deck1 examining everything they see1 and now and then standing and talking1 as if expressing their wonder4 ,i observe ,bent moving quietly among them4 ,soon afterwards he comes up to me4 ,mate1 he says1 in an ordinary tone1 as if there was nothing the matter1 ,these men are plotting to take the ship4 ,the fellows on shore will all be murdered1 and so shall we unless we manage well4 ,my advice is to get the chiefs into the cabin on pretence of giving them a feast1 and then seize them and hold them as hostages4 ,directly that is done1 run the after-guns inboard and clear the decks4 ,it will be better to knock away the bulwarks than to be clubbed4 ,the captain seems unwilling to believe this4 ,i have little to thank you for in saving my life if you do not now take my advice1 says ,bent1 earnestly4 ,you1 and ,i1 and all on board may be numbered with the dead before many minutes are over4 ,look at those men's arms1 and at their heavy clubs4 ,whose head would stand a single blow from one of them8 ,i urge the point with the captain1 for ,i am convinced that ,bent is right4 ,he is still irresolute1 when we see some more canoes coming off from the shore4 ,this decides him4 ,fortunately the men's dinner is ready4 ,the captain sends for it into the cabin1 and the steward covers the table with all other food he has at hand4 ,we then fix upon four of the leading chiefs whom ,bent points out1 and by signs invite them to feast below4 ,they look suspicious1 and1 we are afraid1 will not come4 ,bent stands by to hear what they say4 ,he whispers to me that one of them proposes coming1 as it will throw us more off our guard4 ,again1 by signs1 we press them to come below4 ,when at length they comply1 we endeavour not to show too much satisfaction4 ,we treat them with great courtesy seemingly1 keeping our eyes1 however1 constantly fixed on them4 ,we have the steward and two other men concealed with ropes ready to spring out and secure them4 ,the captain1 ,festing1 and ,bent1 go below1 while ,i remain in charge of the deck1 and ,festing hands me up a brace of pistols and a cutlass1 through the companion hatch4 ,the crew have been prepared1 and stand ready to run in the after-guns and to slew them round the instant the chiefs are secured4 ,i listen for the signal1 anxiously watching the proceedings of the savages4 ,now ,i see them talking together2 now they handle their clubs1 and look towards the cabin1 as if waiting for the return of their chiefs to begin the work of death4 ,they eye our men askance4 ,it is clear that both parties mistrust each other4 ,the suspense is painful in the extreme4 ,there is a sound of struggling1 and shouts from the cabin2 the savage warriors press aft4 ,just then the captain cries out that the chiefs are secured4 ,i order the guns to be slewed round1 and sign to the natives to keep back4 ,they are about to make a rush1 when ,bent springs on deck1 and shouts to them in their own language1 warning them that if they move our war-fire will burst forth on them1 and that their chiefs will be killed4 ,the men1 looking grim and fierce1 stand match in hand at the guns4 ,bent now orders the savages to return to their canoes4 ,sulkily1 and with many a glance of defiance at us1 they stand1 unwilling to obey1 till ,captain ,fuller brings on deck1 bound1 one of their chiefs1 holding a pistol to his ear4 ,the chief speaks to them1 and one by one they go down the ship's side4 ,bent now tells them that unless all our companions return in safety the lives of the chiefs will be taken4 ,i bethink me of writing a note to the supercargo1 telling him what has occurred1 and urging him to return instantly4 ,i give it to the last savage who leaves the deck1 and ,bent explains to whom the paper is to be delivered4 ,we now use all haste to get ready for sailing4 ,we have for the present escaped a great danger1 but we tremble for the fate of our shipmates1 and we are convinced that fear alone will keep these savages in order4 ,the chiefs1 finding that ,bent can speak their language1 endeavour to persuade him to let them go4 ,when our friends return you will be set at liberty1 is his answer4 ,it seems at present very doubtful whether they ever will return4 ,bent says that these people are treacherous in the extreme1 worshippers of devils1 offerers up of human sacrifices1 and cannibals1 though not so bad as the people of ,fiji1 the next islands we are to visit4 ,the chiefs all this time are kept in durance below4 ,i have seldom seen four finer men in figure and feature4 ,the children1 ,bent says1 are often quite white1 like ,english children1 but as heathens they are born1 and as heathens they die1 without hope4 ,a boat is now reported coming off from the shore4 ,a large canoe follows4 ,in the boat are fewer men than left the ship4 ,what has been the fate of the rest8 ,they come alongside1 and we order the big canoe to keep off4 ,the supercargo and ,taro make their appearance on deck4 ,their escape has been most miraculous4 ,already had the clubs of the natives begun to play on the heads of their companions1 and five had fallen4 ,golding tells me that he expected every moment to be his last4 ,the man next him had been struck down1 and lay writhing on the ground1 when a cry was raised1 and the canoes were seen hurrying away from the ship1 the savages refrained from letting drop their uplifted clubs1 and watched the approaching canoes4 ,when the messenger with the note arrived there was a long consultation4 ,golding says he never felt so uneasy4 ,it was handed to ,tony ,hinks1 who1 unable to read1 gave it to ,golding4 ,he assumed a tone of authority1 and through ,taro told the savages that if all the survivors were not released their chiefs would be carried away captives4 ,they seemed to hesitate4 ,golding believed that they were balancing in their minds whether they loved their chiefs or the blood of the white strangers most4 ,at last they decided to let ,golding and ,taro with three other men go1 and to keep ,tony ,hinks1 whom they take to be a chief1 as a hostage4 ,tony was very unhappy at being left1 and tried to escape1 but the savages held him fast1 and ,taro1 it seems1 who owes him a grudge1 would not help him4 ,thus we are placed in a difficulty to know how to get ,tony back without first liberating the chiefs4 ,if it were not for the boatswain1 the captain says he would hang all four at the yard-arm4 ,at last it is decided that one alone shall go1 and ,bent is instructed to tell him1 that unless the boatswain instantly returns alive and unhurt1 the other three shall be hung up4 ,i put him on board a canoe1 which comes out to meet our boat as we pull in4 ,some time passes1 and at length ,tony appears on the beach4 ,we make signals that he must be brought off in a canoe4 ,as he steps into the boat1 stout-hearted fellow as he generally is1 he sinks down1 overcome with the terror he has been in4 ,several of the crew cry out that now we have got him back1 we must hang the savages we have in our power in revenge for our shipmates who have been clubbed4 ,the captain says that we are bound to let one go4 ,i plead that all should be let go1 that on the faith of this ,tony was returned to us1 and that it is both our duty1 and wise as a ,christian and civilised people1 to show clemency to the savages4 ,with difficulty1 however1 ,i prevail1 and ,bent tells the chiefs that they may order a canoe to come alongside1 and may go free4 ,they appear very much astonished1 and doubtful whether we are in earnest4 ,i watch their eyes when they fully understand that they are free to go4 ,savages though they may be1 there is human sympathy between us2 they are grateful for the way we have treated them2 and ,i feel sure that we should be far safer on shore should we return1 than if we had hanged them as proposed4 ,we are well quit of these savages1 observes ,golding1 as we get free of the reefs1 and stand out to sea4 ,there is another group to the north of the ,tongas called ,samoa1 or ,navigators ,islands4 ,the people1 ,bent tells me1 are very like those of the ,tonga group4 ,of this ,tonga group which we are leaving there are numerous islands--the first collection to the north1 called the ,haabai group1 while further north is that of ,vavau--all governed by different chiefs1 who spend their time in fighting with each other4 ,while ,i am on deck in charge of the watch that night ,i see a bright light burst forth to the north-east1 rising out of the sea and reaching to the sky4 ,there is a noise at the same time as if there was distant thunder4 ,i fancy at first that some hapless ship has caught fire1 and ,i send below to ask leave of the captain that we may steer towards her to pick up any of the crew who may have escaped4 ,the captain bids me come and examine the chart1 and ,i see several islands with burning mountains on them marked down4 ,the fire we see proceeds undoubtedly from one of them--,koa1 perhaps4 ,the matter is settled by finding our deck covered with fine ashes fallen from the sky4 ,four days after leaving ,tonga we find ourselves among islands of every size and shape and height1 many of them having lofty mountains in their centres1 while coral reefs are in all directions4 ,never has my eye rested on scenes of greater loveliness than these islands present2 they are apparently fertile in the extreme1 green gems dotting the blue ocean4 ,if men could be perfectly happy and gentle and contented1 loving each other and being loved1 it would1 ,i should think1 be here4 ,each island looks like a paradise--the abode of peace and innocence4 ,we are standing in towards a secure harbour formed by a coral reef1 a native town appearing on the beach1 with a hill covered with graceful trees rising above it1 down which a waterfall tumbles and glitters in the sunbeams1 forming a clear pool1 from which we expect to fill our casks4 ,i remark on its beauty to ,bent4 ,no doubt about that1 ,mr ,harvey1 he answers4 ,but we have more need to be on our guard against the natives here than in any islands of the ,pacific4 ,a more treacherous1 fierce1 and determined race of cannibals is not to be found4 ,of all the islands we see scattered around1 and of many score more1 the inhabitants of one dare not visit their nearest neighbours1 for fear of being entrapped and killed and eaten4 ,their great chiefs and warriors boast of the number of people they have killed and devoured2 and if they have no captives in their hands when they wish to make a feast1 they will kill some of their own slaves1 or will send a party of their warriors to any small island near1 to knock as many people on the head as they may require4 ,i fancy that ,bent is joking1 though it is not a lively subject to joke about4 ,the captain1 however1 says that he will be on his guard1 and a strong party1 well armed1 will alone be allowed to go on shore4 ,still1 as we require water and fuel and fresh meat and vegetables1 we must put in here to obtain them4 ,we drop our anchor in a calm bay1 with scarce a ripple on the surface of the clear blue waters1 while against the outer edge of the coral reef the sea rolls in and breaks in masses of white foam4 ,there is a town in sight1 surrounded by a ditch and bank1 and bamboo stockades1 and full of cottages with high-thatched roofs4 ,above the town1 on the hill1 is a separate tall building with an exceedingly high-pitched roof1 also thatched1 the ridge-pole extending out on either side4 ,it is a temple1 ,bent says1 where human sacrifices are offered1 and many other abominable things done4 ,the god may be a whale's tooth1 or a piece of cloth1 or a hideous wooden idol4 ,soon after we have furled sails1 two large double canoes make their appearance inside the reef1 running for the town4 ,they have vast mat sails1 and on the deck of each are fully a hundred black warriors armed with clubs and spears and bows4 ,they are painted hideously4 ,several have huge heads of hair1 and all are gesticulating violently1 as if recounting their deeds of valour4 ,they pass close to our vessel1 but do not seem to heed us much4 ,we have our guns run out and the crew at quarters ready for them4 ,as ,i look through my glass ,i see in the bows of each some twenty dead bodies arranged in rows--men1 women1 and children4 ,alas6 were these taken in war8 ,i ask4 ,the canoes reach the beach1 and crowds come down with loud shouting and wild leaps1 and the canoes are hauled on shore1 and then the dead bodies are dragged up the hill towards the temple1 all the men shouting and shrieking louder than ever4 ,they appear truly like a horde of evil spirits let loose on earth4 ,i accompany the captain and supercargo with ,bent1 ,taro1 and a boat's crew1 all well armed1 on shore4 ,taro explains that we come as friends1 and as the people see that we are well prepared for war1 no opposition is offered4 ,we enter the house of a chief who has just died2 his body lies at one end of a long hall full of people4 ,among them are some twenty women1 most of them young and fine-looking persons4 ,their hair is adorned with flowers1 and their bodies are oiled4 ,some look dull and indifferent to what is taking place1 others are weeping1 and others look well pleased4 ,taro tells us that they are the wives of the king4 ,several men stand near them2 ropes are cast round their necks1 and suddenly1 before we have time to rescue them1 as we feel inclined to do1 five of them are strangled1 and fall dead corpses on the ground4 ,their bodies are quickly carried off1 with that of the chief1 and all are buried in one common grave4 ,the new king now appears1 and the crowd come to do him honour4 ,he is a tall1 stout young man--every inch a savage4 ,we look with horror at what we witness--the bodies are dragged up the hill1 and thrust into huge ovens4 ,some of the captives not yet dead are blackened and bound in a sitting posture1 and thus1 horrible to relate1 are placed in the ovens to be baked alive4 ,it is too sickening to write what afterwards follows4 ,none of us can longer doubt that these people are the most terrible of cannibals4 ,i feel inclined to charge forward to rescue them1 but the captain orders us all to stand fast1 or we may chance to be treated in the same way ourselves4 ,we now1 through ,taro1 tell the chief that we require water and fruit and vegetables and hogs and fowls1 and that we will pay for all4 ,he receives the message somewhat haughtily1 and informs us with the air of an emperor1 that though he is one of the greatest sovereigns on earth1 and that all men bow down to and fear him1 he will grant our request4 ,there he sits1 a naked black savage1 benighted and ignorant in the extreme2 and yet such is his opinion of himself4 ,i cannot help thinking1 as ,i look at him1 that ,i have seen civilised men almost as well contented with themselves with as little cause4 ,we do not find any of our men inclined to straggle1 after what they have seen4 ,we hurry down to the beach4 ,the boat has been left hauled off at some distance1 under charge of three men1 well armed4 ,they pull in when they see us1 and say that they are not a little glad to find us safe1 for that many canoes with fierce-looking savages have been paddling round and round them1 the cannibals showing their white teeth1 and making signs that they would like to eat them4 ,whether this is only the fancy of our men ,i cannot say4 ,even ,golding1 when we get on board1 looks pale and says little4 ,it seems to me as if ,satan had truly taken possession of the people of these islands1 for ,bent tells me that the scenes we have witnessed are only such as occur constantly4 ,we keep a watchful look-out all night1 ready for action at a moment's notice4 ,again we visit the shore1 armed as yesterday4 ,preparations are making to build a house for the new chief4 ,the four uprights for the corners are already placed in large holes dug deep into the earth4 ,in each hole stands a living man bound to the post1 with upturned eyes gazing at the light of day4 ,what is our horror to see parties of savages begin to throw in the earth upon them4 ,it covers their breasts1 their shoulders1 and rises up1 the hapless wretches still breathing1 till the tops of their heads are concealed1 and then with eager haste the murderous wretches stamp down the ground over them4 ,taro tells us the savages say that the spirits of the dead men will guard the house1 so that no evil will befall its inmates4 ,truly ,i shall be glad to be clear of this land of horrors1 yet it is a fruitful land1 and one producing a variety of articles for barter4 ,with cocoa-nut oil alone we could quickly load our vessel1 and with the population these islands possess1 what numberless other tropical productions might they not furnish1 if means could be found to civilise the people6 ,,chapter ,,eight4 ,,in ,,perils ,,various4 ,again we go on shore1 armed as yesterday4 ,the men cast uneasy glances around1 and show no inclination to separate from each other4 ,we meet the chief1 who looks taller and fiercer than ever4 ,his black hair is frizzled out in the most extraordinary manner1 and on the top he wears twisted round it a piece of smoke-coloured native cloth like a turban4 ,he has rings round his arms and legs1 and a small piece of cloth round his loins1 but otherwise this great king1 as he believes himself1 is entirely naked4 ,he carries in his hand a richly carved black club--so heavy1 that to strike with it is to kill4 ,he receives us in the same haughty manner as before1 as if he wished to impress us with his importance4 ,as he strides along1 the people fly on either side1 or bow down before him1 though he does not in the slightest degree heed them4 ,he is on his way to witness the launching a large new war-canoe1 and which1 now decked with streamers1 we see at some distance from the beach4 ,conch-shells are sounding1 and there is much shouting and dancing4 ,as we draw near1 a band of prisoners1 with downcast looks of horror1 are driven along towards the canoe4 ,men stand ready with long ropes to drag her to the water4 ,before she is moved1 the captives1 bound hand and foot1 are cast down before her2 then loud shouts arise-- the men haul at the ropes--the canoe moves1 and is dragged over the bodies of the slaves1 crushing them to death4 ,no one pities them4 ,this night the cannibal chiefs will feast on their bodies4 ,even now the ovens in the great square are heating to cook them4 ,it strikes me that these people take a pride in showing to us the enormities they dare to commit4 ,as later in the day we are passing through the town1 we see two people1 a man and woman1 wrangling4 ,the man grows more and more angry4 ,a young child is near them2 it runs to its mother's arms1 but the man seizes it1 and in an instant he has killed the poor little creature1 and with a fierce gesture thrown the yet panting body on the ground4 ,he gazes for a few seconds moodily at the dead child4 ,the mother does not attempt to touch it2 then he orders her to bring a spade4 ,he digs a hole in the floor2 the still warm body is thrust in2 the earth is thrown back2 both stamp it down1 and then return to their seats as if nothing had happened4 ,we see another day a young man buried alive by his own parents4 ,taro says he had grown weary of life1 and they did it to please him4 ,we see very few old people1 and we hear that when people get weak and ill from age1 their children either strangle them or bury them alive4 ,bent tells me that human sacrifices are often made to their gods1 when the priests and chiefs feast on the victims4 ,we see many people with fingers cut off1 and we hear that they have been devoted as offerings to their chiefs who have died1 or may only have been ill4 ,no crime is more common than that of killing children1 especially girls1 indeed1 it is remarkable that these people do not seem at all sensible that they are committing crimes4 ,at all events they glory in their shame4 ,i might note down many more things we see and hear during our stay in this group1 but ,i feel sick at heart as ,i write and think of all that is told me2 and every day1 as ,i tread these blood-stained shores1 the very air seems polluted1 and the shrieks of the wretched victims of their fellows cruelty1 ring in my ears4 ,wars seem never to cease among them4 ,one tribe is always attacking another1 and those inhabiting islands within two or three miles of each other cannot live at peace4 ,the desire to retaliate is the great cause of all their quarrels4 ,if a man is killed by those of another tribe1 his friends are not content till they have killed some of that tribe2 then the people of that tribe do not rest till they have avenged the death of their relations2 and so it goes on1 each murder producing another1 till there is not a man among all their tribes who does not feel that there are numbers ready to take his life1 while he is also on the watch to kill certain people with whom he is at feud4 ,of another thing ,i hear1 which1 had ,i not seen so many horrible things they do1 ,i could scarcely credit4 ,if the people of a small island offend a chief1 he does not kill them at once1 but he takes away all their canoes1 so that they cannot escape4 ,then1 whenever he wants victims to offer in his temples1 or to feast any friendly chief who may visit him unexpectedly1 he sends and brings off one or more families1 or parts of families1 from the doomed island4 ,no one knows who will be next taken1 but they live on with the full consciousness of what their fate will be4 ,they see their relatives and friends taken and carried off to be baked1 and they know that1 perhaps1 their turn may come next4 ,bent was some time among them1 protected by one of their chiefs1 to whom he made himself useful1 yet he says that he never felt sure of his life an hour together2 and whenever he saw the chief handling his club1 he could not help fancying that it might come down on his head4 ,dreadful as these accounts are1 we can speak of little else on board4 ,it would be as easy to wash a blackamoor white1 as to make these men ,christians1 observed ,phineas1 one evening1 as we sit in the cabin4 ,what say you1 ,mr ,bent2 would you like to make the attempt8 ,bent casts his eyes on the deck1 and does not answer4 ,golding looks at me4 ,i'll tell you my opinion1 ,i reply4 ,if man alone had to accomplish the work1 ,i would say1 it is impossible4 ,but man works not alone4 ,god's ,holy ,spirit is on his side4 ,we are all by nature vile2 we have all gone astray4 ,all our natural hearts are of stone4 ,god's grace can alone soften our stony hearts1 can alone bring us back to ,himself1 and as ,he surely is all-powerful1 to my mind ,he can just as easily shed ,his grace on the hearts of these black heathen cannibals1 and soften them1 and bring them to love and worship ,him1 as ,he can work the same change in any white man2 and so ,i see no reason to doubt that if the gospel is put before them some will hear it gladly and accept it4 ,the captain1 as ,i speak1 begins to grow angry4 ,golding bursts into a fit of laughter4 ,you're talking ,greek to me1 says he4 ,how could these black savages1 who have never seen a book in their lives1 understand the ,bible1 even if you gave it them8 ,it's hard enough for civilised white people to comprehend1 eh1 ,captain ,fuller6 ,you find it a tough job8 ,i'm sure ,i do4 ,as to that1 ,i don't pretend to much learning in that line--like my second mate here1 but ,i always leave such matters to the parson4 ,what the captain meant ,i cannot tell4 ,on looking up1 ,i see ,bent's eyes full of tears1 and he says nothing4 ,i do not press the subject now as it will only provoke hostility1 but ,i resolve to speak privately to ,bent whenever ,i can4 ,yes1 ,i am sure1 by ,god's grace1 and through the instrumentality of human ministers and ,his book1 these dark heathens may become enlightened worshippers of ,him4 ,we hear that there is a port at the great island of ,vanua ,levu1 where sandal-wood is to be procured1 and we accordingly forthwith sail there4 ,truly it is dangerous work navigating these seas among coral banks in every direction1 some just above water1 others three1 four1 and fifteen feet below it4 ,it is only when the sun is shining and the sea blue that we can distinguish the coral1 which gives a green tinge to it1 under water4 ,one of us is always stationed aloft to pilot the ship4 ,we have hitherto escaped4 ,i pray we may1 for if we were to wreck the good ship1 these savages would spare the lives of none of us4 ,once more we drop our anchor1 and canoes come off to us4 ,we make known that we have come for sandal-wood1 and have axes1 and knives1 and nails1 to give in exchange4 ,the natives seem so ready to trade that ,golding is quite enamoured of them1 but the captain wisely will allow no one to go on shore4 ,we keep a careful watch as before4 ,the natives1 however1 seem very peaceable4 ,they tell ,taro that they wish to trade with us1 and be our friends1 and tempt us to come back again4 ,the first mate1 ,tony ,hinks1 and others1 declare that the captain's regulations are too strict1 and that they ought to be allowed to go on shore4 ,two days pass by1 and we are almost ready once more to sail4 ,i am below talking with ,bent and the doctor4 ,most of the men are forward at their dinner1 the captain1 and the first mate1 and the watch only being on deck4 ,there is a loud sound like a blow given on the deck1 then a shout and a piercing shriek4 ,something is the matter4 ,we seize cutlasses and pistols1 and any weapons we can lay hands on1 and spring on deck4 ,upwards of a dozen savages are collected there with heavy clubs in their hands uplifted1 and our men are righting desperately with them1 but almost overpowered4 ,the first mate lies dead on the deck near the companion1 and further forward are ,tony ,hinks and a seaman with their heads beaten in4 ,the supercargo is defending himself with a capstan-bar against several savages1 while the captain stands in one of the quarter boats1 which has been lowered partly down1 pointing a telescope at the savages1 who look at it as if they think it some sort of firearm4 ,most of the cannibals turn upon us1 and advance furiously with their heavy clubs4 ,we have1 ,i deem1 but little chance of contending with numbers so overpowering4 ,i hand a cutlass and a pistol to the captain1 who springs out of the boat on deck4 ,bent stands wonderfully cool1 and levelling his pistols kills two of our assailants almost at the same moment4 ,the rest hesitate2 they have not thought of putting on the hatches1 and to our great relief we see the crew springing up from the forepeak armed with axes1 knives1 and harpoons4 ,with loud shouts and threats of vengeance they rush at the savages1 some of whom they cut down1 others they hurl overboard2 we from aft join in the onslaught1 till the savages take fright1 and in another instant our decks are clear4 ,the guns are always kept loaded--the captain orders them to be depressed and fired at the canoes1 towards which our late assailants are swimming4 ,many are struck1 and several of the canoes are knocked to pieces4 ,the greater number of the people swim to the shore with the greatest ease1 diving when they see the guns fired1 or the levelling of the muskets4 ,we make sail and stand out of the harbour to the west1 intending to bury our chief mate and boatswain in deep water1 out of sight of these cannibal regions4 ,truly it makes me sad to think of these two men thus suddenly cut off1 utterly unprepared to go into the presence of a holy ,god4 ,they trusted not to ,him who alone could washed them clean4 ,they were good seamen1 but they were nothing else4 ,the captain comes on deck1 as their bodies lie near the gangway1 lashed in their hammocks1 with that of the other man killed1 and covered up with flags4 ,we read a portion of the burial service1 and commit them to the deep1 till the sea shall give up her dead4 ,the next island we make1 sailing north1 is ,tutuila1 one of the ,navigators'1 or ,samoan group4 ,the harbour we enter is ,pango ,pango4 ,it is the most curious we have seen4 ,it runs deep into the land1 and on either side are high precipices1 some a thousand feet high1 with two or three breaks1 by which the waters of the harbour are approached from the shore4 ,the people come off to us with great confidence in their large dug-out canoes4 ,they are a brown race1 like those of ,tahiti4 ,they are evidently a better disposed people than those we have just left4 ,we have no fear about going on shore1 and meet with civil treatment4 ,yet they are great thieves and beggars--the greatest chiefs asking for anything to which they take a fancy4 ,they are also debased idolaters2 and ,taro says they worship fish1 and eels1 and all sorts of creeping things4 ,they are also savage and cruel1 and constantly fighting among each other4 ,as to their morals1 they are undoubtedly superior to the people of ,tahiti1 yet1 from the style of their dances1 we cannot argue much in their favour4 ,there is much wild and beautiful scenery in the islands of this group1 and as far as we are able to judge1 the climate is good4 ,we keep as usual on our guard1 and from what we hear1 not without reason1 for numerous articles of dress1 and carpenters tools1 and iron work1 and chests1 and parts of a vessel1 have been seen among the people1 which leaves no doubt that some unfortunate ship's company have been wrecked on their shores or put off by them4 ,indeed1 it is worthy of remark that1 with the exception of ,tahiti1 there is not a single group at which we have touched where we have not had evidence that ships had been attacked or wrecked1 and a part1 if not the whole1 of the ship's company cut off4 ,in some1 only boats' crews have been destroyed1 as was the fate of ,captain ,cook and his companions1 but at several of the islands several ships' crews have been captured1 and the greater number of the people killed and eaten4 ,indeed1 such is the barbarous heathen and debased condition of the countless inhabitants of this island-world of the ,pacific1 that the navigation of these seas is indeed an undertaking of great peril4 ,no man can tell when he is safe1 or at what moment the treacherous islanders may not turn round and destroy him1 just as they did ,captain ,cook1 and just as they have treated many other unfortunate ,englishmen since his time4 ,truly1 it may be said1 that these islands lie in darkness and in the shadow of death4 ,there is but one means by which they can be changed--the sending to them the gospel4 ,yet my brother seamen and the traders laugh at such a notion1 and people at home1 who ought to know better1 call it fanatical nonsense4 ,i do not wish to set my opinion up against that of others1 but there are certain points where a man can feel that he is right and others wrong1 and this is one of them4 ,the gospel has power to change the evil heart4 ,nothing else can do it4 ,that never fails if accepted4 ,god has said it4 ,why should we doubt8 ,we hear that the people of this place are carrying on war with those of another island4 ,some of the chiefs come and invite ,captain ,fuller to help them1 but he replies1 that if they wish to fight1 they must fight among themselves4 ,i would rather he had tried to dissuade them not to fight at all4 ,we make sail out of the harbour1 and are becalmed not far off a fortress on the summit of a high cliff which is to be attacked4 ,it is crowded with the whole population of the island4 ,with our glasses we can see clearly what is taking place4 ,soon the canoes from ,pango ,pango1 and of other tribes1 their allies1 appear4 ,the people land1 and begin to scale the rock4 ,numbers are hurled down and killed1 but others climb up4 ,higher and higher they get4 ,they seem determined to conquer4 ,i tremble for the fate of the hapless defenders if they succeed4 ,we can hear their shouts and cries4 ,some of the assailants have gone round on the land side4 ,we observe the multitude inside rushing here and there4 ,those scaling the rock on our side have reached the summit2 several fall1 but now the rest break through the stockade1 and rush with their clubs and spears against the shrieking crowd4 ,the rest of the invaders have succeeded in gaining an entrance on the opposite side4 ,the work of death goes on4 ,all are indiscriminately slaughtered--men1 women1 and children4 ,the warriors hold together1 and fight despairingly4 ,one by one they fall before the victors' clubs4 ,a breeze springs up1 and we stand clear of the reefs and once more out to sea4 ,in the last glimpse we obtain of the fort the fighting is still going on1 and thus it continues till the scene fades in the distance4 ,such is the warfare carried on among these savages1 observes ,bent4 ,those who are victorious to-day will be attacked by other tribes before long1 and in like manner cut to pieces4 ,in a few years not one of these numberless tribes will remain4 ,war kills many2 but in war1 crops are destroyed1 and famine ensues1 and kills many more2 and disease1 with no sparing hand1 destroys numberless others also4 ,a few years hence1 those navigating these seas will find none alive to welcome them4 ,the carpenters declare the ship in such good condition that the captain and supercargo resolve to explore the ,loyalty and ,new ,hebrides1 and other groups in that direction1 before seeking our final port4 ,these islands are especially rich in sandal-wood1 with which it is resolved we shall fill up4 ,the first land we make is ,mare--one of the ,loyalty ,islands--a low coral island1 about seventy miles in circumference4 ,the inhabitants are almost black1 and a more brutalised savage race we have not yet seen4 ,there are four tribes constantly at war with each other-- the victors always eating their captives4 ,hence we steer north1 and bring up in a fine harbour in the island of ,fate1 or ,sandwich ,island4 ,it is a large1 mountainous1 and fertile island1 with great beauty of scenery4 ,the inhabitants are tall1 fine-looking people1 but most debased savages and terrible cannibals4 ,here sandal-wood is to be had in abundance1 and very fine1 so that ,golding is highly delighted1 and declares that it is the finest country he has yet been in4 ,more than once1 however1 our suspicions are aroused with regard to the natives1 who are1 we think1 meditating an attack on us on board1 or when we go on shore to bring off the wood4 ,while here ,i will write down a brief account of some of these numberless islands in the ,western ,pacific1 among which we are cruising4 ,the largest is ,new ,guinea1 to the north of ,australia1 the inhabitants of which resemble the negroes of ,africa1 but are more barbarous4 ,next1 to the south-east of it1 is ,new ,caledonia1 also a very large island1 with barbarous inhabitants4 ,to the south-east is the ,isle of ,pines1 and to the north-east is the ,loyalty group1 of which ,mare is one1 and ,livu1 and ,uea4 ,north-east again1 we come to the considerable islands of ,aneiteum1 ,tana1 ,eromanga1 and ,fate4 ,north again1 we fall in with the ,shepherds' ,islands and the ,new ,hebrides1 of which ,malicolo and ,espiritu ,santo are the largest2 and then there are the ,northern ,new ,hebrides and the ,santa ,cruz group1 and the ,solomon ,islands1 and ,new ,britain1 and ,new ,ireland1 between where we now are and ,new ,guinea4 ,then there are the ,caroline group--the isles as thick as the stars in the milky way2 and the ,ladrone ,islands1 and ,gilbert ,islands1 and many others1 too many indeed to write down4 ,i do not say1 however1 that the countless inhabitants of these islands do not differ from each other in appearance1 and manners1 and customs4 ,some are almost jet black1 and others only of a dark brown1 but in one thing they are similar--they are all equally fierce heathen savages1 and mostly cannibals4 ,we have now a full cargo1 and ,golding rejoicingly calculates that he will make several hundreds per cent1 on the original outlay4 ,he does not1 methinks1 reckon the lives of those who have been lost in the adventure4 ,having laid in a supply of yams1 taro1 bread-fruit1 cocoa-nuts1 and other roots1 fruits1 and vegetables1 we raise our anchor for the last time we hope till our voyage is over4 ,the captain and ,golding can talk of nothing but their plans for the future--how they will return and load the ship with sandal-wood and other valuables4 ,whether the captain is thinking more of his speculations than of our reckoning ,i know not4 ,he has insisted that we are clear of all danger1 and we are running on at night under all sail before a fresh breeze1 when the cry of breakers ahead makes me spring from my berth4 ,before the ship can be rounded to she strikes heavily4 ,again and again she strikes1 and ,i can hear the coral grinding through the bottom2 the masts go by the board1 and the ship lies a helpless wreck on the reef4 ,the wind has fallen1 and1 being sheltered by another part of the reef1 we have no fear of her yet going to pieces4 ,we wait anxiously for day1 not knowing whether we may not be near one of those cannibal islands from whose inhabitants we may expect little mercy4 ,another day has passed4 ,we find a sand-bank some eighty yards across1 close inside the reef4 ,on this1 having saved one small boat1 we are landing our stores1 and provisions1 and arms4 ,we set to work to build a small vessel4 ,the men labour diligently1 though they grumble4 ,we1 the officers1 keep watch over the spirit casks4 ,our great want is water4 ,we dig deep1 but the little we find is brackish4 ,the schooner is finished1 and ,captain ,fuller proposes steering for ,port ,jackson1 where there is a convict settlement4 ,the schooner is launched1 but when we search for a passage to take her over the reef1 none is to be found4 ,in vain we make the attempt4 ,everywhere we are baffled4 ,some of our people almost go mad with despair4 ,i propose building a large flat-bottomed punt from the deck of the ship1 which can pass over the reef4 ,all agree4 ,our punt is almost completed4 ,we see three objects in the distance1 which prove to be canoes4 ,we are discovered1 for they approach4 ,they are filled with black savages1 who keep at a little distance1 shouting and flourishing their spears4 ,we make signs of friendship1 but they still come on4 ,we stand to our arms1 and as they begin to hurl their spears at us1 we are compelled to fire2 several fall4 ,with loud howls they paddle off to a distance1 watching us4 ,we have little doubt that they will return4 ,the punt is completed and provisioned4 ,we get her over the reef1 and try again to get the schooner across4 ,in vain4 ,we abandon her on the reef4 ,it is time to be away1 for we see a fleet of canoes approaching from the north4 ,we hoist sail4 ,the sea is smooth1 and we glide rapidly over it1 but on come the canoes still faster4 ,they may overwhelm us with their numbers4 ,much of our powder has got wet4 ,the men do not know it though4 ,happily the savages catch sight of the schooner and our tent left on the sand-bank4 ,their eagerness to secure the plunder from the wreck overcomes every other consideration1 and they dash over the reef1 and allow us to proceed unmolested4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,we have been many days at sea2 frequent calms and little progress made4 ,the men are becoming discontented1 and several are sick4 ,we have avoided nearing any land4 ,several islands have been seen1 but were we to touch the shore1 our prospect of escape would be small indeed4 ,far better1 we agree1 to trust to the fickle ocean4 ,no1 strange as it may seem1 there is not among all these rich and lovely islands one on which we dare set foot4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,several of our men have died2 the rest are in a state of insubordination4 ,we are on a short allowance of water1 and we fear that our provisions will not hold out4 ,our frail punt has been so damaged by a gale that we can never cease baling4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,port ,jackson4 ,when almost despairing that one of our company would escape to tell the tale of our disasters1 a ship hove in sight1 took us on board1 and brought us hither4 ,thus ends our voyage1 and all the bright anticipations of wealth enjoyed so long by ,golding and our old captain--not a log of sandal-wood1 not a string of pearls preserved4 444 ,bent has told me his history4 ,he feels his heart warmed with gratitude to the ,almighty1 who by ,his grace has preserved him from death of body and soul1 and his whole mind is bent on going home with me forthwith1 and returning to carry the gospel of salvation to the perishing heathen of the wide-spreading islands we have visited4 ,surely he could not devote his strength and life to a more glorious purpose4 ,,chapter ,,nine4 ,a ,,noble ,,resolve4 ,i must ask the reader to return to the scene described in the introductory chapter1 where we commenced hearing the extracts from the sea journal of old ,john ,harvey4 ,it will be remembered that at our family gathering at my father's house my brother ,john was the reader4 ,father1 said my brother ,john1 pausing awhile after he had finished reading our uncle's journal1 ,god willing1 and with your permission1 ,i will go and preach the gospel to the heathen of those ,pacific ,islands4 ,go1 my son1 said our father1 promptly4 ,you shall have my prayers that your preaching may not be in vain4 ,what6 go off at once1 dear ,john1 and leave us all8 exclaimed several of the younger members of the family in chorus4 ,i think not1 answered ,john1 calmly1 with that sweet smile and gentle voice which gained him so many hearts2 ,i have much to learn and much to do before ,i shall be fitted for the office of a missionary4 ,it is not a task to be undertaken lightly and without consideration4 ,when a man charges among a host of foes1 he must be armed at all points4 ,a missionary1 too1 should be like a light shining amid the surrounding darkness2 he should be able to show the heathen how to improve their moral and physical1 as well as their spiritual condition4 ,he should be fairly versed in the most useful mechanical arts1 and possess especially some knowledge of medicine and surgical skill4 ,well1 it will take you a good many years before you can do all that1 and perhaps you will change your mind before the time comes1 said one of the younger ones1 who did not1 as indeed they could not be expected to do1 enter into ,john's thoughts and feelings on the subject4 ,i may say from that very moment ,john devoted all the energies of his mind and body to preparing himself for the high and holy calling he had undertaken4 ,long1 ,i know1 that night he knelt in prayer for grace1 and wisdom1 and strength to direct1 fit1 and support him for the work4 ,besides giving much time to his studies at the theological college1 he gained a considerable knowledge of medicine and surgery1 and was to be seen now with saw and plane labouring with a carpenter1--at the blacksmith's anvil1 with hammer in hand1 forming a bolt1 or hinge1 or axe1--and now at the gardener's1 with hoe or spade1 planting or digging1 or pruning4 ,many wondered how his mind could take in so many new things1 or his slight frame undergo so much labour4 ,few could comprehend the spirit which sustained him4 ,he grew indeed stronger and more robust than any one would have supposed he would become4 ,i had since my childhood wished to go to sea1 and my father allowed me to follow the bent of my inclinations4 ,i now and then thought that ,i ought to go forth as a missionary also2 but when ,i compared myself with ,john1 and considered his great superiority to me1 ,i gave up the idea1 which ,i had mentioned to no one1 as preposterous4 ,my first two voyages were to ,india and ,china1 and when ,i came back from the second ,john was still at college4 ,i remember thinking that he was losing a great deal of time in preparation4 ,he1 however1 said that he was gaining time4 ,a blunt tool can never properly perform the work4 ,i am getting sharpened1 that ,i may be used to advantage1 was his remark4 ,on my return home from my third voyage1 he had gone to the ,pacific4 ,where he was to be stationed was not known4 ,he had not gone alone1 for he had taken a wife to support and solace him4 ,i had never seen her2 but ,i was told that her heart was bound up with his in the work in which he was engaged4 ,having now become a fair seaman1 ,i determined to seek a berth as a mate4 ,an old shipmate and friend had just got command of a fine ship bound round ,cape ,horn2 and though ,i had had no previous intention of going to the ,pacific1 ,i was glad to ship with him as third officer4 ,my sisters had copied out our uncle's journal for ,john2 they now kindly performed the same task for me4 ,my ship was the ,golden ,crown a ,south-sea whaler1 and ,mr ,richard ,buxton was master1 belonging to ,liverpool4 ,things had changed greatly since the days of my uncle ,john4 ,we had a definite object3 no supercargo was required1 and every spot we were likely to visit was well known1 and mapped down in the charts4 ,we had several passengers--two missionaries and their wives1 newly married4 ,i thought them inferior to ,john2 but they were good men1 humble too1 with their hearts in the work4 ,we had also another gentleman1 a merchant or speculator of some sort4 ,what he was going to do ,i could never make out4 ,his heart was in his business1 and he seemed to consider it of greater importance than anything else4 ,this made him look down with undisguised contempt on the missionaries and their work1 nor could he comprehend their objects4 ,if people want to go to church1 let them1 he more than once remarked3 but ,i don't see why you two should be gadding about the world to teach savages1 who would know nothing about chapels1 nor wish to build them1 if you would let them alone1 and stay quietly at home and mind a shop1 or some other useful business4 ,the missionaries seldom answered his remarks4 ,they continued perseveringly studying the language of the natives among whom they were to labour1 and prayed with and expounded the ,scriptures to all on board who would join them4 ,i am writing an account of certain events1 and not a journal1 so ,i must suppose the ,horn rounded1 ,chili visited1 and ,raratonga1 where we were to land the missionaries1 reached4 ,this was the island whose very position was unknown when my uncle visited those seas1 and for long afterwards lay sunk in heathen darkness4 ,it had now become the very centre of ,christianising influences1 whence rays of bright light were emanating and reaching the farthest islands of the ,pacific ,ocean4 ,i have seldom seen a more attractive-looking spot than ,raratonga appeared as we came off it4 ,in the centre rise mountains four thousand feet above the level of the sea1 with lower hills and beautiful valleys around them1 clothed with every variety of tropical tree and shrub4 ,at the foot of the hills is a taro swamp1 and then a belt of rich country covered with cocoa-nut1 bread-fruit1 and banana trees2 and then a broad white sandy beach1 and a band of blue water2 and next a black broad coral reef1 like a gigantic wall1 against which the swell of the ,pacific comes thundering1 and rising majestically to the height of twenty feet1 curls over and breaks into masses of sparkling foam4 ,the openings in the reef are few and narrow1 so that no ship can anchor near the coral-girt isle4 ,canoes1 however came off to us with natives on board1 well clothed1 and gentle in their manners1 who welcomed the missionaries with a warmth and affection which must have been very gratifying to them4 ,i accompanied the captain on shore to obtain supplies4 ,we took with us a chest of suitable goods for barter4 ,an officer met us on the beach1 the appointed salesman of the place1 and putting out his hand1 said1 ,blessing on you4 ,he then led us to the market-house1 where we found collected a large store of all the chief productions of the island1-- cocoa-nuts1 bananas1 potatoes1 yams1 pumpkins1 hops1 fowls1 eggs1 and many other things4 ,we selected all we required1 payment was made1 and the salesman engaged four canoes to carry them off at once to the ship4 ,i was but a short time on shore1 but ,i saw enough to wonder at4 ,everybody was well clothed1--the men in jackets1 shirts1 waistcoats1 and trousers1 with straw hats1 and many had shoes and socks2 the women in gowns1 shawls or mantles1 and bonnets4 ,there were many stone cottages1 neatly furnished1 and others of a less enduring character4 ,there was a handsome stone church1 and an institution1 a substantial stone building1 for training native youths for the ministry1 surrounded by cottages1 the residences of those who were married2 while gardens and cultivated fields were seen on every side4 ,such1 ,i was assured1 was the condition of the whole island1 there being ample church and school accommodation for all the inhabitants1 provided entirely by themselves4 ,i saw also an excellent printing-press1 at which several editions of the whole ,bible had been printed1 as well as commentaries1 and numerous other works1 and issued well bound1 almost the whole work being performed by native youths1 whose fathers were wild savage cannibals1 as indeed were all the natives when first visited by the ,reverend ,j ,williams1 in #ahbc1 and such they would have remained1 had not ,christian missionaries arrived among them4 ,i have fallen in with many seafaring men who have abused the missionaries in no measured terms1 and ,i have read books written by educated men who have done the same1 and ,i was not quite decided whether they were right or wrong till ,i went to the ,pacific4 ,then ,i discovered why those men abused the missionaries4 ,where the missionary has laboured faithfully1 the natives will not desecrate the sabbath1 and will not pander to the gross desires of their civilised visitors4 ,that is the secret of their dislike to the missionaries4 ,again1 however1 ,i have met many masters of whalers and numerous officers of the ,royal ,navy who have spoken and written in the highest terms of the missionaries1 and acknowledged that the change which has been wrought through their instrumentality has been most beneficial to the cause of commerce as well as humanity2 and that whereas where formerly1 if a ship was wrecked1 the destruction of her crew was almost inevitable1 now through nearly the whole of ,eastern1 and a considerable portion of ,western ,polynesia1 they would receive succour1 and sympathy1 and kindness4 ,still there are many--very many--dark places both in ,eastern and ,western ,polynesia1 and no ,christian soldier need sigh1 like ,alexander1 that no more worlds remain to be conquered4 ,during our voyage to ,raratonga ,i learned a great deal more about the progress made by the missionaries of the gospel in these seas1 which1 while the ,golden ,crown lies off the island1 ,i will briefly describe4 ,the ,london ,missionary ,society was established in #agie1 and in the following year it sent forth1 on board the ,duff1 a band of twenty-nine missionaries1 who landed at ,tahiti1 one of the ,society ,islands1 ,march1 #agig4 ,some went on to ,tongatabu1 the chief of the ,friendly ,islands1 and two to ,christina1 one of the ,marquesas4 ,the savage character of the inhabitants of the two last-named groups prevented success4 ,at ,tongatabu three missionaries were murdered1 and the rest made their escape1 as did those at the ,marquesas4 ,at ,tahiti they were received at first in a friendly way by the chiefs and people2 but for several years very little real progress was made in instructing the people in the truths of ,christianity4 ,indeed1 at one time all the missionaries1 in despair of success1 in consequence of the unceasing wars of the natives1 sailed for ,new ,south ,wales4 ,favourable reports1 however1 reaching them1 some returned1 and from that time forward slow but steady progress was made1 though it was not till the year #ahae that ,christianity was firmly established1 and idolatry almost completely abolished4 ,the year #ahag was memorable on account of the arrival of two of the most distinguished missionaries who have laboured among the isles of the ,pacific--the ,reverend ,j ,williams and the ,reverend ,w ,ellis4 ,mr ,williams1 who combined a wonderful mechanical talent with the most ardent zeal for the propagation of the gospel1 soon after took up his abode at the island of ,raiatea where by his example he advanced the natives in the arts of civilisation1 at the same time that he instructed them in the truths of ,christianity4 ,the natives of the ,society ,islands having sincerely accepted ,christianity1 became anxious to spread the good tidings among their heathen neighbours4 ,a considerable number prepared themselves for the office of teachers4 ,some went forth to the ,paumotu ,group1 or ,low ,archipelago1 to the east2 others to the ,austral ,isles1 to the south2 and others1 among whom was ,papehia1 accompanied ,mr ,williams on a voyage to the ,hervey group4 ,his first visit was to ,aitutaki1 where some native teachers were left1 by whose means the natives became ,christians4 ,after paying a second visit to ,aitutaki1 ,mr ,williams sailed in search of ,raratonga1 of the position of which even he was uncertain4 ,he was accompanied by ,papehia1 and by some natives of ,raratonga1 who had been carried away by a trading vessel from their own island1 and cruelly deserted on ,aitutaki4 ,among them was ,tapaeru1 the daughter of a chief1 who had become impressed with the truth of ,christianity4 ,at length ,raratonga was discovered1 and the native teachers were landed2 but had it not been for the courage and constancy of ,tapaeru1 they and their wives would have been destroyed on the first night they were on shore4 ,sadly disconcerted1 they returned next morning on board1 and the enterprise was about to be abandoned1 when the devoted ,papehia stepped forward and volunteered to return on shore4 ,whether the natives spare me or kill me1 ,i will land among them1 he exclaimed4 ,jehovah is my ,shepherd--,i am in ,his hand4 ,clothed in a shirt1 with a few yards of calico in which he had wrapped some portions of the holy ,scriptures1 the intrepid pioneer landed alone among a host of heathen warriors1 who stood on the reef with their spears poised ready to hurl at him4 ,he had not trusted in vain4 ,he persevered1 and soon a powerful chief1 ,tinomana1 turned to the truth1 and burned his idols4 ,again ,mr ,williams came to ,raratonga--this time to remain for many months1 to see ,christianity established1 to erect a large place of worship1 and to perform one of the most wonderful tasks ,i have ever heard of a man single-handed doing4 ,it was to build in three months a schooner of eighty tons1 without one single portion of her being in readiness4 ,he taught the natives to cut down1 and saw1 and plane the wood2 then he erected a bellows and forge for the smith's work1 which he performed himself2 a lathe to turn the blocks1 a rope-making machine1 and a loom to manufacture the sail-cloth4 ,all the time he laboured1 he taught the wondering natives in the truths of ,christianity4 ,in three months from the day the keel was laid1 this prodigy of a vessel was safely launched1 and named ,the ,messenger of ,peace4 ,she proved a seaworthy1 trusty little vessel1 and from island to island1 across many thousand miles of water1 she was the means of conveying numerous missionaries of the gospel of peace to their benighted inhabitants4 ,first1 several islands of the ,hervey group were visited by her1 and then she sailed for ,raiatea2 whence1 after remaining some time1 she once more sailed with a party of ,english missionaries and native teachers on a long voyage1 calling at the ,hervey ,islands1 then at ,savage ,island1 where an unsuccessful attempt was made to land teachers4 ,next1 she called at ,tongatabu1 already occupied by missionaries of the ,wesleyan ,missionary ,society4 ,then she steered north for ,samoa1 known as the ,navigators ,islands4 ,here ,mr ,williams and his companions met with a most cordial reception from the chiefs and people1 and teachers were soon established on several of the islands4 ,the ,wesleyans had before sent some missionaries to ,samoa1 but in a truly ,christian spirit1 worthy of imitation1 they agreed to yield the group to the care of the ,london ,missionary ,society1 while they devoted their exclusive attention to the ,friendly and ,fiji groups4 ,they had made great progress among the ,friendly ,islanders1 and the king himself had become a ,christian1 when it was resolved to attempt the conversion of the ,fijians4 ,between ,tonga and ,fiji a constant intercourse was kept up1 and thus the way seemed opened to carry the gospel to the latter group4 ,there was also no lack of interpreters1 an important advantage at the first4 ,the first missionaries to ,fiji were established on the island of ,lakemba1 where1 in spite of great opposition1 they laboured on faithfully and steadily1 extending their efforts to other islands1 till finally the ,cross was triumphant even at ,mbau1 the blood-stained capital of the group1 where the cannibal monarch himself1 the dreaded ,thakombau1 became a ,christian4 ,in the meantime1 the inhabitants of the ,sandwich ,islands had heard of the gospel from ,english and ,american ships visiting the group4 ,no sooner did ,king ,rihoriho ascend the throne than he decreed that idolatry should be abandoned1 because he had discovered that his idols could not benefit him2 but he knew little or nothing of the ,christian religion4 ,at that very time1 however1 the ,american ,board of ,missions had sent out a band of missionaries to them1 who on arriving to their joy heard that the idols of ,hawaii were overthrown4 ,they were1 ,i believe1 chiefly ,episcopalians4 ,while these glorious events were taking place in ,eastern ,polynesia1 the ,church ,missionary ,society had sent forth missionaries among the fierce cannibals of ,new ,zealand4 ,they were joined by several ,wesleyans1 who together laboured with so much perseverance and success1 that a very large number of the inhabitants became acquainted with the truths of the gospel4 ,numerous well-trained native teachers have gone forth from ,tahiti and ,raratonga to the surrounding isles1 and many of them to the ,loyalty and ,new ,hebrides groups1 and other parts of ,western ,polynesia4 ,following this example1 the ,bishop of ,new ,zealand has brought natives from a large number of the islands in ,western ,polynesia1 which he has visited1 and having instructed them1 at a college he has established near ,auckland1 is sending them back1 to spread among their countrymen the truths they have learned4 ,thus ,christianity has begun to spread among the dark-skinned races of those almost countless islands4 ,to carry the gospel to them had been one of the energetic ,williams's darling schemes2 and it was while carrying it out that1 landing at ,eromanga1 he1 with a young missionary1 ,mr ,harris1 was barbarously murdered by the savage natives4 ,still the ,society persevered1 and missionaries have been established at several of the islands1 and many of the natives have become ,christians4 ,among these islands several ,presbyterian missionaries have been established1 who have laboured steadily and successfully in the ,lord's vineyard4 ,thus several sections of the ,protestant ,church have been engaged cordially together in instructing the heathen nations of the ,pacific in a knowledge of the truth1 and in many instances the ,holy ,spirit has richly blessed their efforts4 ,still there are many hundred islands the inhabitants of which remain in gross darkness1 while a large portion of those who have been converted require instruction1 support1 and the correction of errors4 ,much is done through native agency1 but still the superintendence of well-educated and well-trained ,english missionaries is required at even the most advanced settlements to act as overseers or superintendents4 ,having now given a very brief account of the progress of ,christianity since those midnight hours when my uncle sailed in these seas1 ,i may commence my personal narrative4 ,it must be understood that ,i have somewhat anticipated events in the above account4 ,at the time my narrative commences1 ,christianity1 though advancing1 had not made the great progress it has since done1 and many of the islands which are now entirely ,christian1 were then only partially so1 heathen practices prevailed1 and the heathen chiefs had still influence and power4 ,it is daylight over these regions1 but nearer the dawn than noon4 ,many a year must pass away before the full blaze of the light of truth will shine from east to west across the vast ,pacific4 ,i must not forget to mention the impediments which the priests of ,rome1 chiefly ,frenchmen1 endeavour to throw in the way of the progress of the pure faith in ,christ4 ,to gain an influence with the natives they wink at many of their vices1 they teach them an idolatrous faith1 and try to prejudice them against the ,protestants4 ,having performed our contract at ,raratonga1 landing the missionaries and their goods1 we sailed for our fishing ground in the south1 where we were tolerably successful4 ,whale catching is very hard work1 and at length it became necessary to return north1 to obtain fresh provisions and to recruit our crew4 ,our captain had resolved also to try his fortune on the fishing grounds in the neighbourhood of the ,new ,hebrides and the other ,western ,archipelago4 ,a sail on the starboard bow1 cried the look-out man1 from aloft4 ,i was officer of the watch4 ,we were far away from land1 and meeting with a strange sail is always a matter of interest in those seas4 ,i went to the mast-head with my glass1 and made out that the sail was that of a large double canoe4 ,we kept away for her1 not doubting that she had been driven far out of her course4 ,of this the sad spectacle which met our eyes as we drew near convinced us4 ,on her deck were numerous savages--some grouped together in the after part1 others lying about in different places1 or leaning against the mast1 and some apart in every variety of attitude4 ,many appeared to be dead or in the last stage of existence4 ,some few lifted up their hands imploringly towards us4 ,others shook their spears and clubs1 which they held in their fast-failing grasp1 possibly unconscious of what they were doing--the ruling passion being1 with them as with others1 strong in death4 ,the ropes of their mat sail had given way1 and it no longer urged them on4 ,it was necessary to approach them cautiously1 for1 though the savages had but little strength left1 they might1 in their madness1 attack us4 ,we lowered two boats1 and1 with our men well armed1 pulled up to them4 ,as we got nearly alongside1 some of the people in the after group rose from their seats1 and one endeavoured to drag himself towards us4 ,he was a young man--a light-coloured ,indian--tall and handsome1 and1 unlike most of the rest1 clothed in jacket and trousers4 ,the others moving1 showed us a young girl of the same light hue1 reclining on a pile of mats4 ,she was clothed2 her head was adorned with a wreath of coral1 and her arms and ankles with strings of beads4 ,she struck me at once as being very beautiful1 though1 as ,i saw her nearer1 ,i perceived that her eye had lost its lustre1 and that her face was wan and emaciated4 ,the canoe was a very large one1 capable of carrying a hundred and fifty people1 though not more than sixty were on board1 and of that number nearly half lay dead or dying on the deck4 ,it was easy to divine what had become of the rest4 ,the young man made a sign that he would speak1 and pointing to the girl1 he said1 in a husky voice1 ,save her1 save her6 she ,christian6 and then sunk exhausted on the deck4 ,,chapter ,,ten4 ,,the ,,destruction ,,of ,,the ,,idols4 ,the canoe1 it was evident1 had met with some severe weather1 and she could scarcely1 we considered1 have held together had she encountered another gale4 ,we lost no time in getting the survivors into the boats4 ,the suspicions of the warriors were soon calmed by the explanations of the young man1 and they allowed us without resistance to lift them on board4 ,the chief's daughter1 or young princess1 she might have been called1 was less exhausted than many of the strong men4 ,i lifted her up with care1 and placed her on her mats in the stern sheets1 and pulled back as fast as we could to the ship1 that the sufferers might have the advantage of our surgeon's assistance4 ,having removed the sinnets1 mats1 and other articles with which she was loaded1 we abandoned the ill-fated canoe1 and stood on our course4 ,i asked the doctor what he thought of the state of the ,indians4 ,the princess and her attendants require careful nursing1 and so does that young man1 but for the rest who are still alive ,i have no fear1 he answered4 ,the greater number died for want of water4 ,they had no lack of food1 ,i suspect4 ,i looked in his face1 and shuddered at the answer he gave4 ,several days passed by before the young man who had addressed us in ,english was again able to speak4 ,he spoke but a few words of ,english1 but enough to let me understand that his name was ,john ,vihala1 that he was related to the young girl1 daughter of the chief or king of one of the islands2 that her name was ,alea2 that she had become a ,christian2 but that her father and most of the family remained heathens4 ,she had been betrothed 7as is the custom1 at an early age7 to a powerful chief of a distant island1 still a heathen and a cannibal2 and1 notwithstanding all her prayers and entreaties1 her father insisted on her fulfilling the contract4 ,she1 in due state1 accompanied by several of her relations and female attendants1 was placed on board the canoe1 which sailed for its destination4 ,at first the wind was propitious1 but a fierce gale arose1 which drove the canoe out of her course for many days before it1 till those on board were unable to tell in what direction to steer to regain their own island4 ,another gale sprang up1 which drove them still farther away1 and then famine began1 and sickness1 and then water failed1 and death followed1 and despair took possession of even the bravest4 ,alea's chief relations died1 but she and ,vihala were wonderfully supported4 ,while their heathen companions lost all hope1 they encouraged them1 spoke to them of their own religion1 and endeavoured to teach the truths of the gospel4 ,much to my satisfaction1 ,captain ,buxton agreed1 on hearing their story1 to take them back to their own island4 ,i do not mention the name of the island for reasons which will appear4 ,it took us some days to beat up to it4 ,it was a lovely spot1 of volcanic formation1 with lofty mountains in the centre1 and in most parts clothed with the richest vegetation4 ,alea and her female attendants were by this time able to come on deck4 ,her astonishment at seeing her native island was very great1 but her satisfaction was less than ,i expected4 ,i asked ,vihala the reason of this4 ,she expects to be sent again to her intended husband1 he answered1 in a melancholy tone4 ,i suspected that ,vihala loved his young cousin1 nor was it surprising that he should do so4 ,they were of the same faith1 and pity for the sad condition to which she would be reduced if the wife of a heathen chief1 would have made him wish to free her4 ,we anchored the ship in a secure harbour1 and at once sent ,vihala and several natives on shore as a deputation to the chief1 to inform him of the arrival of his daughter4 ,after some time1 they returned with the announcement that the chief would receive us1 and that his daughter would be welcome4 ,we found him seated under a wide-spreading tree1 on a bundle of mats1 in great state1 with numerous lesser chiefs and attendants standing on either side of him4 ,his only clothing was a piece of native cloth wound round his body1 and he looked every inch the savage4 ,we expected ,vihala to act as interpreter1 but when we approached the chief1 a person whom we supposed to be a native1 though he had a rougher and more savage appearance than the rest1 and had on as little clothing as they1 advanced a few steps1 and informed us in undoubted ,english1 or rather ,irish1 that he had the honour of being the king's prime minister1 and that it was his duty to perform that office4 ,his name was ,dan ,hoolan 7a runaway seaman1 we found71 and he had been fifteen years on the island1 and was married and settled with a family4 ,after we had made our statement1 poor ,alea was allowed to approach her father1 which she did in a humble posture1 with fear and trembling4 ,he manifested very little concern at seeing her1 and directed her to be conducted to her mother's cottage4 ,i was anxious to know how ,alea and ,vihala had become ,christians1 and asked ,dan if he had taught them4 ,no1 indeed1 ,i have not1 he answered drawing himself up4 ,i hope that ,i am too good a ,catholic to teach them the sort of religion they know4 ,there is a sort of old missionary fellow comes over here who has taught them1 and he has left a native teacher here1 who does nothing but abuse me because ,i do not make the king here lotu1 and do not lotu myself1 as they call it1 and give up my wives1 and make myself miserable4 ,from this speech of ,dan ,hoolan's1 ,i had no difficulty in understanding the state of the case4 ,the wretched man would not give up his own sins1 and1 therefore1 tried to keep the chief in heathen darkness4 ,it would1 however1 be impolitic to quarrel with him1 or1 rather1 wrong1 because the so doing would have increased the difficulty of bringing him round4 ,i should explain that the term lotu means becoming a nominal ,christian4 ,but ,i thought1 friend ,hoolan1 you said that you were a ,christian1 ,i remarked quietly1 looking fixedly at him4 ,so ,i am inwardly1 of course1 mate1 he answered1 with a wink he could not suppress4 ,that is to say1 a right raal ,catholic1 as my fathers were before me1 with nothing of your missionary religion about me2 but just on the outside1 maybe1 ,i'm a heathen1 just for convenience sake1 you'll understand4 ,i did not press the subject then1 but being interested about poor ,alea1 ,i inquired if he could tell me how her father would treat her4 ,why1 send her on to her husband1 of course1 mate1 he answered1 with the greatest unconcern2 it's the right thing to do4 ,but the chief to whom she is to be given is a heathen and a cannibal1 and old enough to be her grandfather1 ,i remarked4 ,maybe1 but it's the rule2 we don't set much value or women in this part of the world1 observed the prime minister2 ,i might have married her myself for that matter1 but it would have brought on a war with the old chief for whom she is intended1 so ,i did the right thing1 do ye see1 mate1 and let it alone4 ,i now turned the subject1 and asked what assistance he could give in refitting the ship and supplying fresh provisions4 ,he was immediately in his element1 and showed himself in worldly matters a shrewd1 clever fellow4 ,everything now seemed to go on smoothly1 and the repairs of the ship progressed rapidly1 while we had no lack of fresh provisions4 ,we soon discovered that another double canoe was fitting out to carry ,alea to her intended husband4 ,my heart bled for the poor girl1 and ,i would have done anything to save her1 ,i thought over all sorts of plans4 ,they were1 however1 needless1 for the next morning ,i heard that she had disappeared4 ,no one knew where she had gone4 ,at first ,i feared that her father had sent her off secretly2 but ,hoolan's rage and undisguised fears of the consequences which might occur when the old chief discovered that he had lost his bride1 convinced me that such was not the case4 ,i suspected that ,vihala might have had something to do with it when ,i found that he had disappeared about the same time4 ,we were at first suspected1 but ,i convinced ,hoolan that we had had nothing to do with the matter4 ,several days passed1 and not a clue was gained as to what had become of the young princess4 ,one evening1 when the men had knocked off work1 as ,i was sitting under an awning on deck1 ,i saw a large canoe entering the harbour4 ,it struck me that it might contain the old chief come to claim his bride2 so1 as it was not my watch1 ,i jumped into a boat and went on shore to see what would happen4 ,as the canoe drew near1 however1 ,i saw that instead of her deck being crowded with tattooed1 naked1 and painted warriors1 dancing1 and shouting1 and sounding conch-shells1 all the people on board were well clothed1 while in the after part stood a venerable-looking man with long white hair escaping from under his broad-brimmed hat1 and by his side a young lady1 both evidently ,europeans4 ,i at once naturally walked towards the part of the beach where they would land1 and waited for them4 ,no sooner did the canoe touch the shore than several natives from the crowd rushed forward1 and lifting the strangers on their shoulders1 bore them1 with every demonstration of respect1 to dry ground4 ,i at once went forward and addressed them in ,english1 and was warmly greeted in return4 ,the old man said he came from a station about fifty miles off4 ,the young lady was his daughter4 ,they had come over on a periodical visit to the ,christian converts of this island1 and were much concerned to hear that ,vihala and the young princess had disappeared4 ,they should have abided the storm1 the old man remarked4 ,i will go see this heathen chief1 and try again if by ,god's grace his heart may be softened4 ,i undertook to get ,pat ,hoolan out of the way1 as it was evident that all his influence was exerted to prevent his master from becoming a ,christian4 ,i had fortunately arranged to transact some business with him about this time2 so1 leaving the missionary addressing the people under a cocoa-nut tree1 ,i hurried up to the king's village1 and without much difficulty persuaded ,hoolan to accompany me on board4 ,i kept him there as long as ,i possibly could4 ,meanwhile the missionary sought out the chief1 and found him willing to listen while he unfolded the story of the gospel4 ,a long time the two conversed2 and for the first time the benighted savage heard the message of salvation4 ,gradually the truth interested him1 and he began to turn a more favourable ear to the missionary's exhortations than he had ever before done4 ,ah1 would that ,i had ,vihala with me1 he would frequently exclaim to the missionary4 ,when you are gone he would instruct me further in the wonderful things ,i hear4 ,but neither ,vihala nor ,alea were to be found4 ,he had driven them forth1 there could be no doubt1 by resolving to unite his daughter to a heathen chief2 and yet was ,vihala free from blame in carrying off the young princess8 ,the heathens said that they had committed suicide1 and were drowned1 but judging from ,vihala's generally consistent character1 ,i felt sure that that was not the case4 ,from the first ,i had felt myself drawn very much towards the venerable missionary4 ,his gentleness1 yet firmness of manner1 his utter negation of self and devotedness to his ,master's cause were very remarkable4 ,his tender love for his daughter1 too1 was very beautiful4 ,she returned it with the deepest affection and devotion4 ,accustomed as ,i had been to the endearments of a happy1 well-ordered home1 ,i was sensibly touched by it1 and took every opportunity of being in their company4 ,it may appear curious that three days had passed before ,i learned the name of the good old man4 ,everybody called him the missionary1 spoke of him as the missionary1--thrice-honoured name6 ,in the same way he knew me only as the mate4 ,he had a house assigned to him by the chief1 which1 by being partitioned off into three chambers1 was made tolerably habitable4 ,i was one evening drinking tea there with him and his daughter1 when ,i happened to mention my name4 ,what6 are you any relative to that devoted missionary1 ,john ,harvey8 he asked4 ,when ,i told him that ,i was his brother1 ,ah1 that accounts for your having so friendly a feeling for missionaries1 he observed4 ,i learned to respect missionaries1 and to see the importance of their work1 long before my brother became one1 ,i answered2 and ,i then told him of my uncle's journal1 which ,i promised to bring on shore to show him4 ,he was evidently much interested1 and made many inquiries about it4 ,does he mention the name of ,joseph ,bent8 he asked suddenly4 ,i remembered well several circumstances connected with that person4 ,i am the very man1 he exclaimed1 grasping my hand4 ,oh1 how much do ,i owe to that excellent man6 ,he saved my life2 but he did far more1--he brought the truth before me1--he showed me my own vileness by nature2 and thus1 by his instrumentality brought by grace to trust in ,jesus1 has my soul been saved4 ,can one man owe a greater debt to another than ,i owe to him8 ,i had begun to like you for your own sake1 and for that of ,john ,harvey ,i shall ever regard you as a son4 ,your uncle was an example of the good a true ,christian layman can effect in his ordinary course in life4 ,those on board every ship in which he sailed benefited by his presence1 not so much from what he said as from what he did1 from his pure and bright example2 for he was a man of few words under ordinary circumstances1 though he could speak on occasion1 and well4 ,many by his means were brought to know ,jesus1 and to serve and love him as their ,lord and ,master4 ,when ,john ,harvey left the sea and went to live on shore1 he devoted his whole time to doing ,god's service1 and great has long since been his reward4 ,this was indeed an interesting discovery4 ,it was gratifying to me to hear the fine old man speak thus of my uncle1 as ,i was sure the praise was not undeserved4 ,as ,i looked at him1 too1 ,i felt how great is the power of grace4 ,i saw before me the drowning youth snatched from the very jaws of death1 and of eternal death1 too1 and allowed to spend a long life in making known to the heathen the inexhaustible riches of ,christ4 ,from that day ,i naturally looked on ,mr ,bent as an old friend1 and was more than ever with him4 ,indeed1 ,i confess that ,i was thus drawn into a more intimate acquaintance with his daughter ,mary than would have been otherwise the case1 and to discover and admire her many excellences4 ,the missionary was never idle during his visit to the island1 and in a week after his arrival the king declared openly that he could no longer withstand the arguments he brought forward in support of his religion1 and that he was resolved to lotu4 ,hoolan1 who had been tipsy for some days1 or as he called it1 enjoying himself1 was very indignant when he recovered and heard this1 and hastily going to the king1 advised him to wait till the arrival of some ,roman ,catholic priests1 who were the proper persons to whom to lotu2 but the king replied1 that the advice of a man who had been making himself no better than a hog was not worth having2 that he had heard what he was sure was true from the missionary1 and that therefore he should become of the missionary's religion4 ,to show his sincerity1 he resolved to destroy his gods and burn their moraes1 or temples4 ,his great regret was that his daughter and ,vihala were not present to see the work done4 ,the missionary urged him to lose no time4 ,it was impossible to say what a day might bring forth4 ,it was not a thing to be done lightly4 ,the missionary visited the king the evening before the ceremony1 and many hours were passed in prayer and in reading the ,scriptures4 ,the next morning the king1 attended by some of his principal chiefs1 and all those who had already professed ,christianity1 assembled at an early hour1 armed with axes and clubs1 and firebrands1 and ropes1 and proceeded to the principal morae1 or temple4 ,the heathens also assembled1 and stood at a distance trembling1 in the expectation that something dreadful would happen4 ,as the king approached the morae1 some of his own followers even drew back1 and formed a knot at a distance4 ,they had been taught that their gods were full of revenge and hatred1 delighting in doing harm to mortals4 ,as ,mr ,bent considered it to be most important that the natives should destroy their idols themselves1 we also stood some way off watching proceedings4 ,the king advanced1 exclaiming1 ,jehovah is the true ,god--these are but senseless blocks of wood4 ,see6 ,as he uttered the last word he struck the principal idol a blow which brought it to the ground4 ,he then rushed at another1 several of his chiefs following his example1 and in a few minutes every idol was overthrown4 ,see ,note #a4 ,all the time it was interesting to watch the attitudes and gestures of the heathen1 who were evidently under the expectation that fire would come down from heaven1 or that the earth would open and destroy their impious chiefs4 ,their astonishment was proportionably great when nothing of the sort happened1 and when the iconoclasts1 fastening ropes round the senseless logs1 dragged them ignominiously forth1 while others of the king's followers applied their torches in all directions to the morae1 and set it on fire4 ,while the conflagration was at its height several of the idols were thrown into it1 and speedily consumed2 others were dragged down to the sea1 where blocks of coral were fastened to them1 and they were put on board canoes1 ready to be carried into deep water and sunk2 while the remainder we secured1 to be sent home as trophies won by the soldiers of ,christ4 ,the king and the chiefs dragged them up to us1 shouting as they did so1 ,the reign of ,satan is at an end--the reign of ,satan is at an end4 ,so far ,i could agree with them that his kingdom was shaken to the foundation1 as it always is where the free gospel is introduced4 ,just at this juncture ,hoolan1 who had remained on board all night1 came on shore4 ,his astonishment gave way to rage1 and walking up to the king1 he shook his fist in his face1 and asked him how he dared lotu to the missionaries1 and not wait for the arrival of the ,catholic priests whom he expected8 ,the chief1 accustomed to the eccentricities of his late prime minister1 answered calmly3 ,because the reign of ,satan is over4 ,the missionaries told us news which we know to be good1 and we have believed them4 ,when the priests you speak of come1 will they tell us better8 ,hoolan had nothing to say2 he soon got calm again1 and observed1 as he turned on his heel1 ,well1 ,i only hope that you'll be after getting on as well under your new system as you did under mine1 that's all4 ,the king made no reply4 ,he steadily progressed in his knowledge of the ,scriptures1 and gave very hopeful signs that he was really converted4 ,no men could be more scrupulous as to receiving converts in name as really converted than were all the missionaries ,i met2 and ,i boldly declare that very many of the newly converted could give a better reason for the faith that was in them than can1 alas6 a very large number both of young and old with whom ,i have conversed on the subject in ,england4 ,there still remained1 however1 a strong heathen party in the island1 under the leadership of a warlike and fierce chief1 who was very likely1 we feared1 to give the king a good deal of trouble4 ,it was necessary1 however1 for ,mr ,bent to return to his station4 ,he says that1 although called by the natives a missionary1 he was not employed by any society1 but felt it a privilege to help on the good work1 supporting himself by trading1 and supplying necessaries to the ships that touched at the island where he had fixed his residence4 ,on asking him about some of the places mentioned in old ,john ,harvey's journal1 he said he could tell me of wonderful works of ,god which he had either witnessed himself1 or of which he had heard from those in whose reports he could place the fullest confidence4 ,i need scarcely say how much ,i felt the idea of being parted from him and his daughter1 and ,i bethought me that ,i would ask permission from the captain to carry them back in our largest boat4 ,it was at once kindly granted1 as a much safer mode of conveyance than a native canoe4 ,i was very happy at being able to pay this last mark of attention to those ,i so much esteemed2 and having made every arrangement ,i could think of for their comfort during our short voyage1 ,i received them on board at the earliest dawn1 in the hopes that we might reach the station before night fell4 ,how true is the saying1 ,man proposes1 ,god disposes4 ,oh that men would therefore throw all their cares on the ,lord1 remembering alway that ,he careth for us4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,note #a4 ,in the early ,missionary ,reports wonderful narratives are given of the speedy destruction of idolatry in many of the islands4 ,with too sanguine hopes1 some of the missionaries spoke of these revolutions as the result of religious zeal1 and even quoted the prophecy of a nation being born in a day4 ,a few years' experience taught them that in many instances the first profession of ,christianity was due to various influences1 and that the people with impetuous impulse followed the example of their chiefs4 ,not without prayerful labour and long patience did the missionaries at length obtain precious fruits of spiritual conversion from the good seed sown in these regions4 ,the statement in our narrative only expresses what was often true as a historical fact4 ,in ,brown's ,history of ,missions1 volume two1 will be found some of the more remarkable instances of the sudden overthrow of idolatry4 ,,chapter ,,eleven4 ,,vihala',s ,,narrative4 ,the missionary and his daughter were on the beach attended by a number of natives1 among whom was the chief1 so lately a fierce heathen1 now deeply affected at the thought of parting from his friend4 ,as the boat drew near1 they all knelt down and offered up prayers1 reminding me forcibly of the departure of ,paul the apostle from ,miletus4 ,it was a deeply interesting sight4 ,in the centre was the venerable missionary with his silvery hair1 his daughter kneeling by his side1 while around were the king and other chiefs and people1 with many women and children4 ,my men without my orders lay on their oars till the prayers had ceased4 ,we then pulled in1 and my friends embarked1 when the natives burst forth into a hymn1 and as we rowed away from the land1 we continued to hear it still growing fainter and fainter1 till the sound was lost in the increasing distance4 ,we then set our sails and glided swiftly and pleasantly over the sparkling waters4 ,i felt very happy4 ,i would not think of the separation to take place1 and determined to enjoy the society of my friends to the utmost4 ,this1 perhaps1 prevented me from observing as carefully as ,i might have done the signs of a change in the weather4 ,i believe1 however1 that ,mr ,bent1 who had more experience as a seaman in this ocean than ,i possessed1 had perceived but he said nothing4 ,the wind suddenly dropped1 then it sprung up again1 then once more dropped1 and the boat scarcely moved through the water4 ,at last it fell altogether1 and the sun's rays struck down with intense violence4 ,my men1 however1 willingly took to the oars1 and we proceeded slowly on our course4 ,still the island was far away1 and ,i lost all hopes of reaching it before dark1 though ,i could not persuade myself that there was any danger to be apprehended4 ,mr ,bent1 however1 more than once cast a look round the horizon1 anxious more on his daughter's account than his own4 ,we had lowered the sail1 for it was useless keeping it set4 ,suddenly ,mr ,bent exclaimed1 ,here it comes1 round with her head1 ,david4 ,i looked up1 and saw a foam-covered sea rolling towards us4 ,i placed the boat's head so as to receive it1 while the men pulled on steadily as before4 ,the question was whether they would be able to continue so doing4 ,the gale was coming from the west1 and should it blow with the same fury for any length of time1 we might be driven far away to the east without falling in with any land where shelter could be found4 ,i was thankful that my friends were not on board a native canoe4 ,it would have fared much worse with them4 ,we had the means of finding our way1 and might beat back when the weather moderated4 ,mary behaved with beautiful composure when the sea came seething and hissing up alongside us4 ,this is only one of the trials and dangers to which missionaries are exposed1 she observed4 ,we should bear it patiently and trustfully4 ,trustfully6 ,how seldom employed1 how still less frequently made a practical use of4 ,that one word described much of her character4 ,the gale soon reached its height2 the sea1 lashed into fury1 seemed one mass of foam1 and broke over us so frequently that every instant ,i expected the boat to be swamped4 ,two men baling could scarcely keep her free4 ,our only chance was to run before it1 for the strength of the crew no longer availed to keep our small craft's head to wind4 ,the danger of getting her round was very great2 should a sea strike her on the beam1 it would have rolled her over helplessly4 ,i gave exact orders what was to be done--one man to hoist the foresail1 two to pull round with the starboard oars1 the rest to spring aft so as to throw the greatest weight into the stern of the boat1 thus allowing her head to come round more rapidly4 ,i waited till a heavy sea had rolled past1 and then before we had sunk to the hollow ,i gave the word4 ,for the first time ,mr ,bent and his daughter turned pale4 ,the boat flew round1 and seemed to be climbing up the ascent towards the crest which had just hissed by1 and then on we darted with the small patch of sail we could show to the gale4 ,on1 on we went1 the huge seas rolling up astern of us1 and appearing as if they would come down and overwhelm us4 ,during all my nautical career ,i had never been in an open boat exposed to such a gale1 though frequently in a big ship1 and even then ,i have felt the helplessness1 the nothingness of man4 ,still more sensibly now was it brought before me--,he commandeth and raiseth the stormy wind1 which lifteth up the waves thereof4 ,they mount up to the heaven1 they go down to the depths2 their soul is melted because of trouble4 ,then they cry unto the ,lord in their trouble1 and ,he bringeth them out of their distresses4 ,the missionary was repeating those lines1 which come so home to the ,christian sailor's heart2 and at his exhortation1 we offered up our united supplications for protection in our sore distress4 ,to the few solemn words which he spoke1 the seamen listened earnestly4 ,they knew that at any moment they might be summoned away4 ,i felt an unusual calmness4 ,i may say that ,i had no fear3 ,i knew the danger1 and yet ,i believed that we should be preserved4 ,on1 on we drove1 farther and farther to the east1 our view now confined to the sides of the two seas1 in the dark trough between which we floated1 seemingly about to be swallowed up1 and now lifted on the summit of a foam-crested billow to the tumultuous mountain masses of water which madly leaped and danced one beyond the other till lost in the line where the murky sky sunk over the seething caldron4 ,we had an abundance of provisions on board1 but for many hours anxiety prevented any one of us from wishing to partake of them1 even the rough seamen seemed indifferent about the matter4 ,at length1 however1 ,mr ,bent and ,i agreed that ,mary ought to take some food1 which1 after a blessing had been asked for1 she did1 the rest of the party following her example4 ,we all felt wonderfully refreshed1 and hope revived in the hearts of the most desponding4 ,still we could scarcely dare to conjecture by what means we should be saved4 ,we could not conceal from ourselves that the gale might continue to blow for many days1 and that we might be driven far away to the east1 whence a long time would be occupied in returning1 or that we might be thrown on one of the numberless coral reefs of those seas1 or hurled against some rocky shore and be dashed to pieces1 while we knew that any moment some cross sea might strike us and send us to the bottom4 ,i have heard of people's hair turning grey in a single night4 ,the anxiety ,i began to feel the moment ,i allowed myself to dwell on our too possible fate would quickly have turned my hair grey1 and yet directly ,i turned my gaze upward1 and put my trust in ,him who said to the waves1 ,peace1 be still1 all my anxious fears vanished1 and hope came back strong as ever4 ,the missionary all the time maintained the most perfect and beautiful equanimity1 not speaking much1 but occasionally offering a few words of encouragement to his daughter4 ,she looked up in his face and smiled4 ,i have no fear1 she said1 calmly4 ,we cannot be separated1 dear father4 ,should the ocean overwhelm us1 we shall together begin a joyful eternity4 ,you have taught me that our ,redeemer liveth4 ,i know in whom ,i have believed1 and am persuaded that ,he is able to keep that which ,i have committed unto ,him against that day4' ,this hope gave her courage when others would have shrieked with fear4 ,the gale continued1 the boat driven before it4 ,the night approached4 ,darkness came down on the face of the waters4 ,oh1 the horrors of that night4 ,the sea roared and hissed1 and we knew that those mountain waves were following us as before1 though the sight could scarcely distinguish the vast watery masses which1 in the obscurity1 seemed doubled in height4 ,that a delicate girl should exist through the time appeared indeed surprising2 yet1 anxious as ,i was1 ,i could discover no failing of strength or energy in her4 ,when the sun went down1 the missionary had called on us all to join in prayer4 ,at midnight he did so again1 thereby comfort and consolation being brought to the souls1 ,i believe1 of all of us4 ,he then offered to take the helm1 to allow me a short sleep1 which nature much required4 ,the instant my hand was off the helm1 ,i dropped down and was fast asleep1 too soundly even to dream4 ,i was awoke by a cry from the men1 and starting up1 ,i beheld a sight sufficient to alarm the stoutest heart4 ,before us in the direction the men were gazing1 as we rose to the summit of a sea1 appeared in the grey light of morning a long row of breakers unbroken apparently for miles1 the sign of a coral reef4 ,the sea1 hurled against it1 rose to a height so great in a wall of foaming water that it was impossible to see beyond whether there was land or not2 indeed that was a matter of indifference ,i felt1 as the boat must be dashed to pieces and overwhelmed the instant it reached those fearful breakers4 ,these were the thoughts which flew rapidly through my mind as with the first impulse of waking ,i looked ahead4 ,my next was to turn round1 when ,i saw the venerable missionary standing up on the after seat gazing earnestly ahead1 while his daughter clung to his legs in her anxiety lest he should be thrown overboard with the violent movement of the boat4 ,i could not help being struck1 even at that moment1 with the appearance of the old man1 so calm and collected1 and so earnest as he kept his eye fixed on some object ahead4 ,courage1 courage1 friends6 ,god will find us a way to escape1 he cried out1 at length4 ,an opening appears in the reef2 yes1 yes1 the boat is heading in for it4 ,as he spoke1 ,i observed a dark spot in the wall of foam which an unpractised eye would not have discovered4 ,as we rushed on towards the breakers1 it increased in width till ,i felt assured that it was indeed an opening1 and now beyond it appeared the tops of palm1 pandanus1 and other trees of those regions1 giving us the assurance that we should find land and a haven where we might rest secure from the storm4 ,still1 humanly speaking1 our peril was fearful4 ,the greatest skill and judgment were required to guide a boat in a direct course across the tumultuous sea on which we floated4 ,but looking up at the calm countenance of the missionary1 as he called me to his side1 ,i had no doubt about the result4 ,on we flew4 ,on either side appeared those walls of foam2 one narrow space alone was to be seen where the waves rushed in unbroken by the resistance of the reef4 ,we mounted to the summit of a vast billow--it seemed as if it were about to hurl us on the reef4 ,in another instant we must be struggling helplessly amid that foaming mass of water ,i heard a cry of despair from more than one of my men4 ,but no1 the boat's head again turned towards the opening1 and gliding down the billow we dashed through it1 and saw on either side a comparatively smooth lagoon extending between the reef and the shore4 ,the sheet was immediately hauled aft1 and we ran along parallel with the beach in search of a favourable place for landing4 ,we could scarcely judge of the size of the island1 but we supposed it to be about three miles in length1 and a mile or two in width1 but ,mr ,bent did not know its name nor the character of its inhabitants4 ,the question now arose as to whether they were the treacherous savages and cannibals most of the islanders of those seas were till the introduction among them of ,christianity1 and would attempt our destruction as soon as we landed1 or whether they would receive us with kindness and hospitality4 ,as yet we had seen neither houses nor people2 but a smooth beach appearing1 with a natural quay of rocks1 we resolved to land4 ,we stood in towards the shore1 and soon found a calm dock1 into which we ran the boat and secured her4 ,with thankful hearts we stepped on the dry land1 when the missionary exclaimed1 ,let us1 dear friends1 return thanks to ,god for the merciful deliverance ,he has vouchsafed us4 ,following his example1 we all knelt in prayer1 bursting forth at the end in a hymn of thanksgiving4 ,while we were thus engaged a sound made me look up1 and ,i saw emerging from among the cocoa-nut trees a band of unclad ,indians with long hair and beards1 and armed with spears1 and bows1 and clubs4 ,that they were still savage heathens there could be no doubt4 ,however1 as emerging from the wood they saw us kneeling1 they stopped1 apparently watching us with the greatest astonishment4 ,not till we rose from our knees did they again advance4 ,flourishing their weapons1 however1 with frightful gestures1 they rushed towards us4 ,happily they did not shoot their arrows4 ,mr ,bent called out to them1 but so loud were their shrieks and cries that his voice was not heard4 ,we had a couple of muskets and a fowling piece in the boat2 but so completely wetted had they been1 that ,i doubted if they would go off1 even had there been time to get them4 ,we waved our handkerchiefs and lifted up our hands1 to show that we were unarmed1 and desired their friendship2 but they disregarded all our signs1 and came rushing on4 ,our destruction appeared inevitable4 ,it's hard lines to lose our lives by these savages1 after escaping all the dangers of the seas1 exclaimed one of my men near me4 ,friend1 ,god knows what is best for us1 said the missionary1 calmly4 ,his will is never really hard1 though we may think it so4 ,trust in ,him4 ,mary was clinging to her father's arm1 ready to share his fate4 ,i stood by her side1 resolved to defend her to the last4 ,the savages were close upon us1 when another person appeared from the wood1 flying at full speed towards us1 shouting at the same time in a loud voice to the savages4 ,he was fully clothed in native fashion1 and at first ,i thought that he was a chief1 till1 as he came nearer1 ,i recognised in him our missing friend ,vihala1 the ,christian teacher4 ,the natives stopped when they became aware of his approach1 and1 finding that we made no resistance1 contented themselves with standing around us1 till he1 rushing through them1 cast himself down at the feet of the missionary1 sobbing with joy at again seeing him4 ,he then turned round to the natives1 telling them that we were their greatest friends1 and had left our homes and come from a far-off land to do them good4 ,he spoke in a manly1 authoritative tone1 and greatly to our relief the savages at once retired1 watching us at a distance4 ,mary's first inquiry was for ,alea1 in whom she took a great interest4 ,she is here1 and safe1 answered ,vihala2 and he then briefly recounted the way in which they had been brought to the island4 ,when first escaping1 their intention had been to visit ,mr ,bent1 and to get him to intercede with ,alea's father1 and to try and conciliate the heathen chief to whom she was betrothed3 but the small canoe in which they had embarked being driven out of its course1 they were unable to find their way back1 and finally reached this island4 ,the weather had greatly moderated before they got near it1 or their frail canoe would in all probability have been dashed to pieces on the reef4 ,they found a passage similar to that by which we entered1 and with fear and hesitation approached the beach4 ,still they had no choice2 their water and food was expended1 they were suffering from hunger and thirst1 and their limbs were cramped and chilled1 and they must land or perish4 ,their chief hope was that the island was not inhabited2 for they knew too well the savage character of the people of most of the islands surrounding their own to have much hope of escaping without being either killed or made slaves4 ,they had little doubt that there were inhabitants1 from the fertile appearance of the country1 and as their canoe touched the beach a number of savages darted out of the wood and surrounded them4 ,they cried out that they had come with no evil intent1 and that they had some news of great importance to announce to them4 ,notwithstanding this1 the savages showed an inclination to maltreat them1 and were proceeding to rifle their canoe1 when another party appeared on the stage4 ,vihala at once saw that they were chiefs or people of consideration1 and immediately thereupon cried out1 and entreated that their lives might be spared4 ,the chiefs1 for such they were1 came forward1 and with some interest asked numerous questions in their native tongue1 and soon there commenced a most affectionate rubbing of noses all round1 and ,vihala discovered with great satisfaction that the chiefs were his own relatives1 who had left their native island some years previously1 and were supposed to have been lost4 ,alea1 as the daughter of the king1 they treated with even more consideration than ,vihala4 ,most providential was the influence the young people were thereby enabled to gain over their savage countrymen2 nor did they fail to endeavour immediately to exercise it for good4 ,this was clearly one of ,god's ways of working1 and one which has been more than once employed in ,polynesia4 ,they had glorious tidings to give1--to describe the new and beautiful religion brought to them by people from a far-off country1 who had left their native land1 their homes1 and their families for love of their souls1 in obedience to the loving1 merciful ,god whom they served4 ,some listened1 rejoicing in the news2 others would not understand1 and many turned aside altogether4 ,a small band had1 however1 been taught by the ,spirit to acknowledge ,jesus as their ,saviour1 and they now welcomed heartily the missionary who had at first brought the glad news into that region4 ,vihala was able to repeat many of the words of truth1 which were dropped as seeds in the hearts of the people4 ,the conduct of ,alea1 even in her living in a different part of the island from ,vihala1 excited their curiosity and gained their attention4 ,so admirable an example had they set1 and assiduously had they laboured1 that many of those who had become ,christians were already well instructed in the faith1 and could give a reason for the hope that was in them4 ,even the heathen party appeared to have no enmity towards them2 when they heard that we were people of peace1 and anxious only to do them good1 they showed their friendly disposition by bringing us provisions1 and in preparing a house for our reception under the direction of ,vihala4 ,alea was on the other side of the island when we arrived1 so that we had been on shore some time before she appeared4 ,the meeting between ,mary and her was very affecting4 ,she threw herself into ,mary's arms1 and sobbed aloud with joy1 exclaiming1 ,oh1 my sister1 my sister1--my more than sister1--my teacher1 my mother1 my soul's friend6--and have ,i found you again8 ,do ,i once more hear that dear voice1--do ,i once more kiss those sweet lips which have told me such holy truths8 ,ah me6 ,i have gone through much pain and terror1 and sorrow and suffering of the spirit1 and ,i have done very wrong1 ,i fear2 but ,i think that ,i am forgiven1 because that ,i am allowed once more to see you in this wonderful way4 ,often have ,i since thought of the words uttered by that young unsophisticated child of nature1 so lately a child of ,satan1 and the remarks made by the venerable missionary to me3--,my soul's friend6' ,do we1 with all our learning1 and knowledge1 and religious privileges1 thus measure the value of our friends8 ,how many of our friends are our soul's friends8 ,oh1 as we value our souls1 let us try and find out and cling to those which are so4 ,do we value most the lips which tell us holy truths or those which speak to us pleasant words1--flattering words8 ,let us seek1 my friend1 those only whose lips ever speak to us holy truths1--who will tell us of our faults1--who will not flatter with their tongues4 ,i will not repeat more of his remarks1 but ,i may mention that1 like all faithful pastors of the ,lord's flock1 he never lost an opportunity of inculcating the truth1 of exhorting of advising4 ,he knew the value of a soul in his ,master's sight4 ,the chiefs assured us that our boat would be safe2 so having unloaded her1 we hauled her up on the beach1 and left her in charge of some natives1 with whom it was arranged my men should lodge till we were again able to put to sea4 ,i took one of them with me well armed1 as ,i was myself2 for ,i own that ,i did not like altogether to trust the missionary and his daughter alone among the savages1 the greater number of whom were still heathen in all their notions and customs4 ,,chapter ,,twelve4 ,a ,,loving ,,welcome4 ,we now set off with ,alea and her friends through the woods to the other side of the island4 ,the natives kept at a respectful distance1 the children peeping at us out of the entrances to their huts or from behind the trees1 we being the first white people they had ever seen4 ,we reached at length the shore of a beautiful sandy bay1 where in a grove of cocoa-nuts we found ,vihala busily employed in forming divisions in a large native hut to suit our requirements4 ,so assiduously had he and his ,christian converts worked1 that it was almost ready for our reception4 ,the people began immediately to assemble round us1 expecting that the missionary would address them1 as ,vihala had been accustomed to do1 but he told them that we were weary from our long voyage and needed rest1 as indeed we did4 ,no1 no1 my friend1 said ,mr ,bent1 do not send the people away till we have bestowed on them some portion of the bread of life4 ,on this1 greatly fatigued though he was1 the missionary spoke to them in plain and simple1 yet in tender and glowing words1 of the great love of ,god for a perishing world1 which caused ,him to send ,his only ,son down on earth1 that all who believe in ,him should not perish1 but have life everlasting4 ,many wept and cried out that they were sinners1 and entreated that he would talk to them again of this matter as soon as he was able4 ,after an ample repast1 provided by the natives1 we retired to rest without fear1 for we felt that we were watched over by ,one who never slumbers nor sleeps4 ,i do not believe that ,i ever slept more soundly in my life4 ,the next morning the people again assembled to hear the missionary deliver his message1 his glad tidings of great joy1 and glad tidings indeed they were to many of those long-benighted beings4 ,they had never dreamed of a ,god of love2 their only notion of a superior power was one which inspired them with awe and terror4 ,i have frequently observed that the unsophisticated minds of savages grasp the simple and glorious truths of the gospel with an avidity and a power of comprehension which would be surprising to those who have been accustomed week after week and year after year to set the same truths before those to whom they are familiar4 ,as ,i heard ,mr ,bent and ,vihala addressing the people1 whose upturned eager earnest countenances ,i watched1 my heart glowed within me1 and ,i longed to be able also to spread the same glad tidings among a race so eager to receive them4 ,mary ,bent was not idle either1 for she had collected round her a number of young women and girls1 to whom she was telling the same truths in a way calculated to fix them on their memories4 ,i deeply regretted that we could not remain on the island till some at least had been thoroughly instructed in the doctrines of ,christianity1 but it was clearly my duty to return as soon as ,i possibly could to my ship4 ,find out what is right and do it1 independent of all other considerations1 was a maxim in which ,i had been instructed4 ,mr ,bent1 although more anxious to remain for some time longer even than ,i was1 saw things in the same light ,i set to work1 therefore1 with my crew to prepare our boat for sea1 so as to commence our return voyage directly the storm should cease and the sea become calm4 ,a week1 however1 elapsed before ,i considered that we might safely venture to put to sea4 ,when the natives heard that we were about to take our departure1 they entreated with tears that we would remain some time longer4 ,finding that they could not prevail1 they then of their own accord begged that ,vihala might be left with them4 ,this was a sore trial to him1 for ,alea had been convinced that it was her duty at once to return to her father1 and the separation was grievous to both4 ,still the path of duty seemed clearly marked out for them4 ,there was no hesitation4 ,vihala felt that he could not abandon those who had been so lately taught to know the truth1 and who so much needed further instruction4 ,the young people consoled themselves that they might soon again meet to be united for ever4 ,fear not1 dearest1 said ,vihala4 ,let us put our trust in ,god4 ,we are doing our duty4 ,he always protects those who do that4 ,still1 though they thus bravely spoke1 they were both deeply affected at parting4 ,a large multitude of the natives accompanied us to the beach1 and earnest prayers were offered up for our safety4 ,mary and her friend were already in the boat1 when there was a cry among the crowd1 which opening in the centre1 several men appeared dragging by ropes what looked like logs of wood4 ,here1 take these things1 they shouted4 ,these were once our gods--we are ashamed of them2 but they will serve to show the people of other lands that we are no longer what we were1 trusting to blocks of wood and stone1 but disciples of the true ,god1 who made the heavens1 and the earth1 and all things therein4 ,take them-- take them with you1 or cart them into the sea1 so that we may never behold them again4 ,the boat was already fully loaded2 but we could not refuse this request1 so fixing one at the stern1 and another at the bows1 and some smaller idols under the seats1 we1 thus freighted1 pulled out through the reef and made sail for the mission station4 ,the wind was light1 and we could scarcely expect to accomplish the voyage within three days4 ,as however the boat was large1 we were able to fit up a small shelter1 in which ,mary and ,alea could sleep with tolerable comfort while the weather was fine4 ,the conversation of ,mr ,bent ,i found of unspeakable advantage4 ,he and ,i kept watch and watch1 though ,i insisted on keeping five to his three1 not to run the risk of fatiguing him overmuch4 ,i remember1 during a midnight watch1 feeling some uneasy sensations come over me with occasional shivering1 but at the time thought little of it4 ,the second morning dawn had just broken1 when ,i saw in the distance an object1 which1 as we neared it1 proved to be a large double canoe4 ,where she could have come from1 and what was the character of the people on board ,i could not tell1 and this caused me no little anxiety4 ,still1 without going much out of our course1 it would be difficult to avoid them4 ,i awoke ,mr ,bent1 and we agreed to sail directly on1 taking no notice of them1 unless the people showed a friendly disposition4 ,in a short time we got near enough to ascertain without doubt that she was crowded with heathen warriors1 who were indulging themselves in every conceivable variety of violent gesticulation4 ,we had too much reason to believe that they would attack us4 ,our men loaded the firearms1 but ,i hoped that we might avoid having to fight for our lives4 ,providentially the wind was light4 ,under sail the canoe could beat us hollow1 but we could pull faster than she could4 ,i accordingly ordered the oars to be got out1 so as to avoid her if necessary4 ,suddenly1 however1 as she got close to us down came her sail1 and all the warriors prostrated themselves on the deck1 where they remained as we glided by4 ,had we been alone we should have boarded them1 but with ,mary and ,alea on board1 we felt it more prudent to avoid them4 ,the wind soon again springing up1 on we sailed1 and as long as we could distinguish the people on the deck1 they were seen still lying down as they were when we passed4 ,the cause of this strange behaviour did not till then strike me1 when my eye fell on the hideous idol in our bow1 and ,i found many months afterwards that ,i was right in my conjectures1 when ,i met with one of the men who had formed the crew of the canoe4 ,he and his companions were among the most ferocious of the cannibals of the ,pacific4 ,on seeing us they had borne down upon us intending our destruction4 ,when1 however1 they saw the two hideous idols stuck up at either end of the boat1 they were impressed with the idea that some powerful gods were on a cruise1 or about to visit some new country1 and completely awestruck1 they dared not examine us further4 ,thus were we delivered from another great danger4 ,it was not till we were out of sight of the war-canoe1 that ,mary and ,alea awaking1 we told them of what had occurred4 ,the ,indian girl trembled1 as well she might1 for there was much reason to suppose that it belonged to the heathen chief to whom she was betrothed1 and that had she been discovered she would have been carried away as a prisoner4 ,again a feeling of illness came over me1 for which ,i could not account1 but ,i exerted myself and succeeded in overcoming the sensation4 ,our voyage continued prosperous though our progress was slow1 and it was not till the morning of the fourth day that we sighted the high land above the missionary station4 ,as we sailed in through an intricate passage1 under the guidance of ,mr ,bent1 we saw people collecting on the beach4 ,he stood up and waved to them with his daughter resting on his arm4 ,a minute passed1 when it was evident that he was recognised1 for there was an immediate hurrying to and fro--numbers rushing down to the beach from all quarters1 clapping and stretching out their hands1 and leaping1 and dancing1 with other demonstrative gesticulations2 and as we got closer we could hear them shouting forth their welcomes1 and then a song of gratitude and praise arose from the mouths of the many hundreds collected together4 ,the reception was truly touching and gratifying4 ,oh1 how they love my father6 said ,mary4 ,those words spoke volumes4 ,i did not propose allowing myself more than an hour on shore1 intending to start immediately for my ship4 ,scarcely1 however1 had ,i walked ten paces than ,i tottered1 and should have fallen had not ,mr ,bent and some of the natives caught me2 and ,i found myself carried away to his house4 ,my impression was that ,i was dying1 and ,mr ,bent insisting that he would not allow me to undertake the voyage1 ,i begged that my men would return to the ship4 ,as the coxswain was a steady fellow1 and the wind was fair1 ,i had no anxiety as to their finding their way4 ,the boat1 therefore1 immediately sailed1 and ,i was left alone at the missionary station4 ,i have ever felt that it was providential my illness seized me when it did1 for had ,i embarked1 ,i do not believe1 humanly speaking1 that ,i should have survived4 ,i use the term providential1 at the same time that ,i believe nothing happens to us which is not subject to ,god's providing care4 ,for many days ,mr ,bent believed that my life hung by a thread1 as the expression is1 and it was owing1 as far as human means were concerned1 to his and his daughters watchful care that ,i recovered1 and to his knowledge of medicine4 ,i do not wish to trouble the reader of this narrative with more than is seemly of my personal affairs1 but ,i must briefly refer to what proved the happiest event of my life4 ,after having seen so much of ,mary ,bent1 ,i felt that no pain could be greater than that of having to part from her1 and ,i found also to my joy that she had given me her affection4 ,we at once told all to ,mr ,bent4 ,my only regret1 if ,i have one1 ,david1 is1 that you are not a missionary1 was his reply4 ,i had wished ,mary to have become the helpmate of one entirely devoted to the glorious service of our ,lord and ,master4 ,but1 sir1 surely without being set aside exclusively for the work of a missionary1 ,i may labour not without effect in the ,lord's vineyard1 ,i answered1 promptly1 for ,i had often read and often felt how much might really be done by a ,christian layman in the cause of ,christ4 ,true1 true1 ,david1 and ,i pray ,god that you and many more like you may thus labour in whatever course of life you are called1 answered the missionary4 ,i believe you1 indeed ,i may say that ,i know you1 to be 7as far as one man can judge another7 a true and sincere ,christian1 or no consideration would induce me to entrust my child to you4 ,i do1 however1 give her to you with confidence that you will watch over her spiritual1 as ,i am assured you will over her temporal welfare4 ,i will not repeat more that ,mr ,bent said to me on the occasion4 ,the exhortation he then uttered ,i have repeated often to others4 ,husbands and wives1 do you watch over each other's spiritual welfare8 ,are you each jealously watchful over every word and action which may lead the other into sin8 ,with whom do you associate8 ,in what sort of amusements do you indulge8 ,what sort of places do you prefer to visit8 ,in these matters your consciences do not accuse you4 ,very well4 ,but do you pray together1 and pray aright8 ,do you read the ,scriptures together8 ,are you constantly pointing out to each other the heavenward way8 ,do you more earnestly desire each other's salvation than all the wealth the world can give1 than all earthly blessings8 ,have you assured yourselves that you will meet together before the great white throne clothed in the bright robes of the ,lamb8 ,surely those alone are truly happy and fitly matched who can answer yes1 yes1 in a joyful chorus1 to such questions4 ,it would be profitable if ,i could repeat many of the remarks made to me from time to time by ,mr ,bent4 ,how sad it is that seamen are generally so ignorant of their awful responsibilities1 and of the immeasurable amount of good they have it in their power to effect in the ,christian cause during their visits to foreign lands1 he one day observed to me4 ,ay1 alas6 and to think of the immeasurable amount of harm they by their too general conduct produce4 ,thousands and thousands of professed ,christian seamen are found every day in the year at seaports inhabited by heathens4 ,into what disrepute do they too generally bring ,christianity1 instead of exhibiting its beauty and excellence by the propriety and correctness of their lives--,i will not say1 as ,i could wish1 by their purity and holiness4 ,it is impossible to calculate the amount of harm nominally ,christian seamen have produced among these islands of the ,pacific4 ,there have been bright exceptions1 especially among the ,british ships of war happily commanded by ,christian officers2 ,sir ,everard ,home1 ,captain ,waldegrave1 and others--names that will ever be honoured among the isles of the ,pacific4 ,several masters of whalers and merchantmen also have come here and done credit to the ,christian character2 but the larger number1 with their crews1 have done incalculable mischief to the hapless natives1 and when they have found their evil practices opposed by the missionaries of the gospel1 they have wreaked their revenge by spreading on their return home reports intended to injure them1 and to prevent the spread of ,christianity among the isles of the ,pacific4 ,god ever protects those labouring earnestly in ,his cause2 and although these reports have done little harm at home1 they will have to render up a tremendous account for their own doings among the inhabitants of ,polynesia4 ,the missionaries and their supporters only desire that those at home should read their statements as well as the reports of their traducers1 feeling assured that every impartial judge will pronounce a verdict in their favour4 ,the missionaries to the ,pacific desire that their fellow-men should approve their proceedings1 not for their own sakes 7for to their ,master they joyfully and confidently commit their cause71 but that their so glorious cause may not suffer1 and may obtain the required support4 ,but to return to my narrative4 ,,chapter ,,thirteen4 ,,the ,,romance ,,of ,,missions4 ,i have not described the mission station where ,i had spent the last few weeks4 ,it was beautifully situated on gently rising ground backed by lofty hills wooded to their very summits4 ,here and there dark and rugged masses of rock might be seen peeping out from amid the trees and streams of sparkling water falling down their sides far away below into basins of foam1 and then taking their course in rapid1 bubbling rivulets towards the blue sea4 ,the windows of the house1 which were very large to admit a free current of air1 and were shaded by a deep-roofed verandah1 looked on one side up towards the hills1 and on the other over the boundless ocean4 ,the interior was a pattern of neatness4 ,the furniture1 though simple1 was pretty and well made1 with snowy white curtains to the windows and beds1 and green blinds to keep out the glare of that hot clime4 ,the verandah ran completely round the house1 and a thick thatch of leaves formed a roof which effectually prevented the sun's rays from penetrating below4 ,in front was a pretty flower-garden1 and in the rear a well-stocked kitchen garden1 producing in perfection all the native vegetables1 fruits1 and roots1 as well as many from ,europe4 ,the islanders there saw even their own fruits and roots increased in size1 and improved in flavour by careful culture4 ,near it was a cool grove of cocoa-nut palm and bread-fruit trees1 through which a fresh current of trade wind was continually blowing4 ,the church1 although built by the natives of wood--under the direction of course of ,mr ,bent--was a commodious and imposing edifice4 ,the school-house was also a large and neat building4 ,in its neighbourhood was a long street of cottages inhabited by natives1 constructed after the plan of the teachers' dwellings--some of stone or rather rock coral1 and others of wood--all having both flower and kitchen gardens1 while round the settlement were extensive fields where the chief food for the support of the community was produced4 ,of the many missionary stations which ,i have visited1 all are more or less like the one ,i have described4 ,the missionaries have thus not only taught the natives of these wide-scattered islands the truths of the gospel1 but by practically showing them the very great advantages which civilised men possess over savages1 they have induced them to become industrious1 and to learn those elementary arts by which alone their civilisation can be advanced and secured4 ,however1 it must be remembered that very few communities are so favourably placed that they can advance far in civilisation unless they have the means of exchanging the produce of their labour with that of other people1 and on this account ,mr ,bent was very anxious to obtain another vessel in lieu of one which had been lost1 so that he might enable the natives under his special charge to trade with other islanders1 and might at the same time convey missionaries and teachers wherever they might desire to move4 ,i offered to assist in building such a craft--a schooner which could be easily handled--and afterwards to take command of her should the ,golden ,crown not return for me4 ,in the event of her appearing1 ,i hoped that still ,captain ,buxton would give me my discharge2 but should he be unwilling to comply with my wish ,i purposed returning out to the island as soon as possible1 that ,i might marry ,mary ,bent1 and then commence the very important undertaking ,i had proposed4 ,that no time might be lost1 we forthwith drew out the plan of our vessel4 ,i was still unable to move about to assist ,mr ,bent2 he1 however1 at once set the natives to work to cut down the necessary trees1 and to prepare the timber4 ,when we remembered how much that great and good missionary1 ,williams1 had accomplished single-handed1 we agreed that we ought not to be daunted by any difficulties which might occur4 ,we had already an ample supply of tools1 a carpenter's and a blacksmith's workshop1 and several of the younger natives had become1 if not perfectly skilled1 at all events very fair artisans2 indeed1 fully capable of performing all the rougher work1 both of wood and iron1 which would be required4 ,indeed1 ,i may say1 that in a great degree they made up for their want of skill by their teachableness and anxiety to do their work in a satisfactory manner4 ,they understood as clearly as we did the importance of the undertaking1 both on account of the worldly advantage it might prove to them1 and the benefit of a religious character the vessel might convey to others4 ,the more ,i saw the work progressing as ,i lay helpless on my couch1 and the more ,i thought of the benefit1 not one alone1 but a fleet of such vessels1 might prove to the ,pacific isles1 the more eagerly ,i prayed for my recovery1 that ,i might take my share in it4 ,it was indeed a joyful day when at length ,i was able to go out and join the rest1 even although only for a short time1 in the work4 ,i had brought my uncle's journal with me that ,i might lend it to ,mr ,bent1 as ,i felt sure that he would be interested in reading it4 ,the perusal of that manuscript has caused me tears of joy and thankfulness1 he observed1 as he returned it to me4 ,wonderful1 under ,god's providence1 are the changes which have been wrought among the inhabitants of a large portion of ,polynesia since the time of which he wrote4 ,they have indeed truly been called from out of darkness into light2 and even those who have not been converted1 benefit by the light which shines among them4 ,the description he gives of their spiritual condition and of the scenes which were constantly enacted among them is indeed most true4 ,you see what they have become2 you see order and civilisation prevailing among those who were considered the most savage and debased2 places of worship1 educated and enlightened ministers1 well-regulated schools1 a large proportion able to read the word of ,god in their own tongue2 but you are not acquainted with the means by which this glorious change has been wrought--with what may be called the transition state' of ,polynesia4 ,one of the chief reasons why people at home are incredulous as to the present condition of these islands is1 that they are ignorant of the events which have occurred1 and of the nature of the instrumentality which has been employed4 ,they say that man could not have done it1 and1 therefore1 that it cannot have been done4 ,they are right in saying that man could not have done it1 but it has been done by the ,holy ,spirit of ,god working by means of human agency2 weak things have indeed been employed to confound the strong4 ,i was seated with ,mr ,bent and his daughter at our evening meal--the labours of the day being over--enjoying the cool sea breeze1 which blowing through the room afforded us that strength and refreshment which our frames1 exhausted by the heat1 greatly required4 ,i assured him how thankful ,i should be to have the account he offered1 confessing that except with respect to the islands at which we had touched1 and where ,i could judge of the changed state of the people1 ,i was still very ignorant of the condition of the principal part of the inhabitants of ,polynesia4 ,indeed1 ,i owned1 that had ,i believed the accounts given in two works we had on board1 ,i should have supposed that the inhabitants had rather suffered than benefited by the advent of missionaries among them1 and that from being light-hearted1 happy beings1 they had become morose1 discontented1 and inhospitable4 ,i mentioned ,kotzebue's ,voyage round the ,world1 in which work the author abuses the missionaries in unmeasured terms1 and another by a ,mr ,beale1 the surgeon of a ,south-,sea whaler1 who1 in a book full of valuable descriptions of whales1 and the mode of catching them1 loses no opportunity of showing his dislike to missionaries1 and the principles they have inculcated on their native converts4 ,yes1 indeed1 said ,mr ,bent2 ,i might mention several other works of a similar character1 which1 ,i believe1 have prevented many persons from supporting missions to these seas1 or served as an excuse to them for not doing so2 but ,i also have many works written by men of high standing1 and thoroughly unprejudiced as witnesses1 who do full justice to the labours of my missionary brethren1 or rather1 ,i would say1 to the results which by their instrumentality have been produced4 ,the ,hon4 ,captain ,keppel 7now ,admiral ,yelverton71 of ,,hms ,meander1 who visited these islands in #ahej1 will1 ,i know1 speak in favourable terms4 ,captain ,erskine1 of ,,hms ,havannah1 has done so in a very interesting work on the ,islands of the ,pacific' ,captain ,wilkes1 of the ,united ,states navy1 in his ,voyages round the ,world1' speaks most favourably of the result of missionary enterprise2 and so indeed do many other naval officers of both nations4 ,i myself must be considered as an impartial witness to the magnitude of the work which has resulted from the labours of the agents of the various societies which have sent the gospel of peace to the islands of these seas4 ,on being rescued from more than death by your uncle ,i was received back as a returned prodigal by my family1 and was enabled to pursue a course of studies which would fit me for the work to which ,i had resolved to devote myself4 ,my father1 when he consented to my wishes1 made the proviso1 however1 that ,i should not connect myself with any religious body for the purpose1 or act as the agent of any missionary society1 but that ,i should go forth by myself1 relying on the funds which he would place at my disposal4 ,while he lived he supported me liberally1 enabling me to marry and to bring out a wife to be the sharer of my toils1 and on his death he left me an income which has been sufficient1 with that derived by my own labours1 for all my wants4 ,i have thus been able1 by means of the little vessel ,i spoke of1 to move about among the islands as ,i judged best1 and often to render assistance to brother ministers of various denominations1 whose work had become too great for their strength4 ,i do not speak of the mode of proceeding ,i adopted1 to induce others to follow in the same course1 but simply to explain how it is that you find me unattached to any missionary society1 and yet acquainted with the transactions of all those labouring in this part of the world4 ,i propose1 my young friend1 that you may the more clearly understand the present spiritual condition of these ,pacific isles1 to give you a brief sketch of what ,i consider the four great prominent events which have taken place connected with them1 and almost immediately1 ,i may say1 under my own eye--events of importance unspeakable1 as marking the signal overthrow of ,satan's power4 ,first1 the declaration by the king of ,tahiti1 one of the ,georgian ,islands1 of his conviction of the truth of ,christianity1 and of his desire to become a servant of the true ,god1 on the #abth ,june1 #ahab1 just fifteen years after the arrival of the missionaries in that group1 followed immediately by the open profession of several natives of ,tahiti4 ,the second event occurred in ,november1 #ahai1 when ,king ,rihoriho1 of ,hawaii1 one of the ,sandwich ,islands1 in one day breaking through the most revered of heathen customs1 set fire to the temples1 and destroyed the idols1 a few months before the arrival of the missionaries1 who were then on their way to attempt the conversion of his people4 ,the third event occurred in #ahbi4 ,it was the conversion of a powerful chief of the ,friendly ,islands1 who afterwards became ,king ,george of ,tonga4 ,some time before this1 two ,tahitian teachers connected with the ,london ,missionary ,society1 on their way to ,fiji had resided with ,tubou1 chief of ,nukualofa4 ,under their influence and instruction ,tubou gave up the ,tonga gods1 destroyed the spirit house1 and erected a place for ,christian worship1 in which he and his people1 to the number of two hundred and forty1 assembled to listen to ,divine truth in the ,tahitian language1 on the #dth of ,february1 #ahbg4 ,he was not1 however1 baptised till #ahcj4 ,a fourth event1 which appears still more wonderful to those who know the man than any ,i have before mentioned1 was the conversion of the fierce and proud cannibal1 ,king ,thakombau1 of ,bau1 the most powerful among the chiefs of ,fiji1 on the #cjth ,april1 #ahed4 ,he may1 indeed1 be considered the king of all ,fiji1 for all the other chiefs are either his vassals1 or vassals to those who acknowledge him as their chief4 ,although a large number of the inhabitants of the group1 of all ranks1 had embraced ,christianity before the king1 yet his conversion more especially marked the triumph of the truth in ,fiji1 and proves the power of the gospel to change the heart of a man1 however benighted1 savage1 and bloodthirsty he may have been4 ,to these more prominently important events may be added the establishment of a church at ,raratonga1 in ,may1 #ahcc1 ten years after the landing of the first native teacher1 which went on increasing till the entire population had been brought under ,christian instruction4 ,still more important than the former events was the arrival of ,messrs4 ,williams and ,barff at ,samoa1 with a band of native teachers1 in #ahcj1 at the moment when ,tamafaigna1 a despot1 who united the supreme spiritual with great political power1 and whose boundless sway presented a most formidable barrier to the introduction of the gospel1 had just been slain1 and their cordial reception by ,malietoa1 a chief of an acute and inquiring mind and amiable disposition1 who himself1 with his sons1 and their wives and children1 soon afterwards renounced their superstitions1 and destroyed the only idol found in ,samoa4 ,the population1 when the missionaries landed1 amounted to forty thousand1 who1 though not so cruel and bloodthirsty as that of other groups1 were still sunk in the lowest depths of pagan ignorance and misery4 ,i have watched too the partial establishment of ,christianity among the native inhabitants of ,new ,zealand1 and its extension thence northward1 as also from the east among the islands of ,western ,polynesia--the ,new ,hebrides1 ,new ,caledonia1 and the ,loyalty and ,britannia ,islands4 ,still the great work is progressing4 ,new labourers are appearing in the field4 ,from all directions the heathen are crying out for instruction in the wonderful gospel1 and more and more labourers are required to supply their urgent wants4 ,a very remarkable feature in this great work is the mode in which it has been accomplished4 ,the number of educated white men engaged in it has been comparatively very small4 ,the most unexpected results1 the greatest triumphs have been brought about through native agency4 ,the natives of the ,society ,islands and ,hervey group especially1 instructed by ,english missionaries1 and inspired by the ,holy ,spirit1 have1 with love in their hearts for their perishing brethren and a burning desire for their conversion1 gone forth1 braving all perils1 some to the surrounding1 others to far distant islands1 and their language being similar1 they have at once been able to address their heathen inhabitants4 ,many have died from sickness1 others have been murdered by those they came to help1 but the remainder have persevered till they have seen the cause of the gospel triumphant4 ,oh1 ,mr ,harvey1 ,i wish that others were impressed as ,i am with the awful thought that day after day thousands upon thousands of heathen are perishing in darkness and sin who might1 did their ,christian fellow-men use more exertion1 have had the glorious gospel preached to them1 and have been brought to see the light4 ,i will illustrate the remarks ,i have made1 said ,mr ,bent1 by examples as they occur to me1 keeping1 as much as my memory will allow1 to the sequence of events4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,to the testimonies referred to in the foregoing chapter may be added that given by ,dr ,seemann1 in ,viti3 ,an ,account of a ,government ,mission to the ,vitian or ,fijian ,islands in the years #ahfj-fa4 ,he was sent out by the ,english ,government to ascertain the fitness of the group for the production of cotton4 ,he was absent only thirteen months from ,england1 and had time not only to sow the seed1 but to pluck the cotton which it produced4 ,speaking of the missionaries to the group1 he says3 ,it was all up-hill work2 yet results have been attained to which no right-minded man can refuse admiration4 ,according to the latest returns1 the attendance on ,christian worship in #ahfa was #fg1dhi1 and there were #ca1eff in the day-schools4 ,for the supervision of this great work the ,society had only eleven ,european missionaries and two schoolmasters1 assisted by a large class of native agents who are themselves the fruits of mission toil1 and some of whom1 once degraded and cannibal heathens1 are becoming valuable and accredited ministers of the gospel4 ,dr ,seemann is a naturalist1 and certainly is not prejudiced in favour of the ,wesleyans1 or of any other religious body4 ,his evidence is therefore of more value4 ,a description of the condition of ,fiji as it was is sickening2 and yet it is necessary to show the depth of depravity to which human nature can sink1 and the glorious change which the gospel can work even in savages such as these4 ,they were constantly at war with each other1 and often fought for no other purpose than to procure people for their ovens4 ,they have been known even to bake men alive4 ,often a town was attacked1 and all the inhabitants1 sometimes four or five hundred in number1 were slaughtered4 ,when the son of a great chief arrived at manhood1 it was the custom to endue him with his toga virilis on the summit of a large heap of slaughtered enemies2 and the whole population of a town was ruthlessly murdered for no other purpose than to form such a heap4 ,when a chief received a visit from a brother chieftain1 if he had no captives ready to kill1 he would kill some of his own slaves1 or send out to catch some men1 women1 or children from a neighbouring island1 or from among his own people4 ,indeed1 no man1 whatever his rank1 was safe2 and hundreds thus lost their lives every year1 that the cannibal propensities of the chiefs might be gratified4 ,infanticide was common among the chiefs as well as among the lower orders2 and mothers1 abandoning all natural affection1 considered it no crime to kill their children4 ,it was an ordinary matter for children to bury their aged parents alive2 and fathers and mothers have been known to bury alive their grown-up sons who might complain of illness1 or have become weary of life1 stamping down on their graves with the greatest unconcern4 ,on the death of a chief his favourite wives were invariably strangled with him4 ,numerous slaves also were killed1 to form his band of attendants to another world2 and a great cannibal feast was also held4 ,human victims were offered to their obscene deities by their priests in their temples1 groves1 and high places4 ,when a house was to be built for a chief1 four live slaves were placed in deep holes to support the corner posts1 when the earth was filled in on them1 that their spirits might watch over the edifice4 ,when a large canoe was to be launched victims were clubbed1 or the canoe was drawn over their living bodies like the car of ,juggernaut1 crushing them to death4 ,for the slightest offence a chief would club to death one of his wives1 or any of his people1 and feast afterwards on their bodies4 ,but enough has been said to show the character of the people of ,fiji4 ,they are1 especially the chiefs1 tall1 handsome men2 and though their skin is black1 they have not the features of negroes4 ,they are also very intelligent1 active and energetic4 ,dr ,seemann says1 page #gg of his work1 ,until #ahed1 ,bau1 which is the name of the metropolis as well as of the ruling state1 was opposed to the missionaries1 and the ovens in which the bodies of human victims were baked scarcely ever got cold4 ,since then1 however1 a great change has taken place4 ,the king and all his court have embraced ,christianity2 of the heathen temples1 which by their pyramidical form gave such a peculiar local colouring to old pictures of the place1 only the foundations remain2 the sacred groves in the neighbourhood are cut down2 and in the great square1 where formerly cannibal feasts took place1 a large church has been erected4 ,not without emotion did ,i land on this blood-stained soil1 where probably greater iniquities were perpetrated than ever disgraced any other spot on earth4 ,it was about eight o'clock in the evening2 and1 instead of the wild noise which greeted former visitors1 family prayer was heard from nearly every house4 ,to bring about such a change has indeed required no slight efforts1 and many valuable lives had to be sacrificed2 for although no missionary in ,fiji has ever met with a violent death1 yet the list of those who died in the midst of their labours is proportionately great4 ,the ,wesleyans1 to whose disinterestedness the conversion of these degraded beings is due1 have1 as a society1 expended #ge1jjj pounds on this object2 and if the private donations of friends to individual missionaries and their families be added1 the sum reaches to the respectable amount of #hj1jjj pounds4 ,dr ,seemann describes a visit to the island of ,lakemba1 hallowed as the spot on which the first ,christian mission was established4 ,mr ,fletcher1 the resident missionary1 conducted him and his companions through a grove of cocoa-nut palms and bread-fruit trees to his house1 a commodious building1 thatched with leaves1 surrounded by a fence and broad-boarded verandah1 the front of the house looking into a nice little flower-garden1 the back into the courtyard4 ,the ladies gave them a hearty welcome1 glad to look once more upon white faces1 and to hear accounts from home4 ,though the thermometer ranged more than #hj degrees ,fahrenheit1 the thick thatch kept off the scorching rays1 and there was a fresh current of trade wind blowing through the rooms4 ,it was pleasing to see everything so scrupulously neat and clean2 the beds and curtains as white as snow1 and everywhere the greatest order prevailed4 ,there are the elements of future civilisation1--models ready for imitation1--hallowed homes which no ,romish priest can afford1 observes the ,doctor1 the yard well-stocked with ducks and fowls1 pigs and goats1--the gardens replete with flowers1 cotton shrubs twelve feet high1 and bearing leaves1 flowers1 and fruit in all stages of development4 ,these missionary stations are fulfilling all the objects of convents in their best days1 and a great deal more2 for their inmates are teaching a pure and simple faith in ,jesus1 which those of the convents did not4 ,mr ,fletcher showed them over the town1 the first spot in ,fiji where ,christianity was triumphant and a printing-press was established1 from which was issued an edition of the whole ,bible in the language of the people1 and several other works4 ,there exist1 indeed1 two versions of the ,bible in the language of ,fiji4 ,the church in the town is a substantial building1 capable of holding three hundred people4 ,there are some thirty other churches in the ,lakemba district alone4 ,from ,lakemba1 occupying a week on the voyage1 they proceeded to the island of ,somosomo1 till lately one of the strongholds of idolatry and cannibalism4 ,golea1 the king1 was a heathen1 but his chief wife1 ,eleanor1 was a ,christian1 and they believed a sincere one1 judging from the almost frantic manner in which she endeavoured to obtain a ,fijian ,bible seen in their possession4 ,she exhausted every argument to get it1 and her joy was indescribable when her wishes were acceded to4 ,dr ,seemann writes3 ,if the ,wesleyan ,society had more funds at its disposal1 so as to be able to send out a greater number of efficient teachers1 a very few years would see the whole of ,fiji ,christianised1 as all the real difficulties now in the way of the mission have been removed4 ,on my representing the case in this light1 his ,majesty the ,king of ,hanover was graciously pleased to subscribe his first gift of #ajj pounds towards so desirable an object1 at the same time expressing his admiration for the labours of the individual missionaries ,i named4 ,,chapter ,,fourteen4 ,,from ,,darkness ,,to ,,daylight4 ,my dear young friend1 said ,mr ,bent1 addressing me1 in continuation of the subject on which he had before been speaking1 we should never despair while ,god is with us of the success of our labours among the heathen4 ,in my experience ,i have known numerous instances in which1 when it appeared that profound darkness rested on the land1 light has burst forth and spread far and wide around4 ,i believe that thirteen years had passed after the ,duff had made her most successful voyage to these seas in #agif1 and landed a large body of missionaries at ,tahiti1 before one single acknowledged convert to ,christianity was made4 ,still the diminished band of missionaries laboured on4 ,they obeyed ,god's express command to preach the word to all creatures1 and they knew that ,his word would not return to ,him void4 ,god works through human agency1 and it must be confessed that many of these missionaries were not fitted by education for the work they had undertaken4 ,it may be said with justice that therefore they did not succeed4 ,still they laboured on1 teaching many the principles of ,christianity although none turned to the truth4 ,pomare1 the king of ,tahiti1 although he was friendly to the missionaries1 for long remained as determined a heathen as any of his people4 ,at length1 however1 attacked by his own subjects1 he could not protect the missionaries1 and the larger number were compelled to retire to the island of ,huahine1 where they hoped to be in safety4 ,so little progress did they appear to be making even here in their undertaking1 that1 with one exception1 the following year they left ,huahine and retired to ,new ,south ,wales1 thus bringing the once promising mission to the ,society ,islands to a termination4 ,i refer to this time to show you how necessary it is that missionaries should not under any circumstances despair of success4 ,nothing could be more hopeless than this mission now seemed4 ,pomare1 although he befriended the missionaries1 remained still seemingly as dark and determined a heathen as at first1 and he had now indeed no longer the power of helping them4 ,he had1 however1 received a considerable amount of instruction from them4 ,he had acquired the arts of reading and writing his own language1 and had learned the first principles of ,christianity4 ,the seed had not1 as was supposed1 been sown on stony ground1 though it took long in growing up4 ,adversity caused ,pomare to think4 ,he had been told that ,jehovah is a ,god of purity and holiness1 and he began to reflect that the life he and his people led must be very distasteful to such a ,god1 and might be the cause of the sufferings he was enduring4 ,the ,holy ,spirit seemed to apply the truth1 so that he at length comprehended the nature of sin1 and especially felt his own great sinfulness4 ,he1 therefore1 wrote letter after letter1 entreating the missionaries to return4 ,with joy they accepted his invitation4 ,on their arrival1 the king and several of his people professed their belief in the new religion2 but a coalition of heathen chiefs being formed against them1 some severe fighting took place4 ,the heathens were defeated4 ,pomare treated them with great leniency1 allowing no one to be injured1 and even sending the body of a chief killed in battle back to his own people to be buried4 ,so great was the effect of this conduct that the heathen party became anxious to know more of the new faith1 and in a few months the idols of ,tahiti were thrown to the ground4 ,although ,pomare and some of his chiefs1 as well as the lower orders1 had embraced ,christianity in spirit as well as in name1 the mass of the people remained1 as might have been expected1 ignorant of its principles1 and indulged in habits the very reverse of those it inculcates4 ,still the true faith went on taking root downwards and bearing fruit upwards4 ,in #ahag a large number of missionaries arrived from ,england at ,eimeo4 ,among them came two whose names are known far beyond their spheres of action--,william ,ellis and ,john ,williams4 ,the following year some of them removed to ,huahine1 the principal of the ,leeward or ,society group1 and soon after ,john ,williams and ,mr ,l ,threlkeld1 invited by ,tapa and other chiefs of ,raiatea1 settled in that island4 ,similar invitations were received from the chiefs of other large islands1 while native teachers were sent to the smaller islands which were also occasionally visited by the missionaries4 ,thus in a few years the entire population of the ,georgian and ,society ,islands had renounced idolatry1 and were in general outwardly very strict in their religious observances4 ,i say outwardly1 because many of those who attended religious worship and refrained from all work and amusement on the sabbath1 still continued in the practice of heathen vices4 ,yet ,i believe that at that very time the great mass of the people were not more ignorant of ,christian truth1 nor more vicious1 than are too many communities of like size in so-called ,christian ,europe4 ,we should judge of people who have lately been brought out of a savage state1 not by a standard which we should wish them to attain1 but by other people who have long been considered civilised ,christians2 and thus judging of the inhabitants of ,tahiti and the neighbouring islands1 ,i am certain that they will not lose by comparison with many of those who have claimed for centuries to be civilised1 and whose religion has long been nominally ,christian4 ,i say this with confidence1 but after all it is not saying much in their praise4 ,one thing1 however1 is very clear4 ,a few years ago they were ignorant barbarians1 savage and debased1 not knowing right from wrong4 ,now they abstain from their former cruel and sanguinary practices1 they go about clothed and live in neat cottages1 and industriously cultivate the ground2 they can generally read and write their own language1 and have learned many mechanical arts2 they understand the principles of ,christianity1 attend ,divine worship1 and respect the sabbath1 while undoubtedly some1 and perhaps many1 have been created anew in ,christ ,jesus unto good works1' and not a few have risked their lives1 and laid them down for the gospel's sake4 ,a large number of the native teachers who have gone forth among the savage tribes of the wide-scattered islands of the ocean to carry to them the glad tidings of salvation1 have come from ,tahiti and other parts of the ,georgian and ,society ,archipelago4 ,great as was the change1 after all allowances are made1 in the islands of which ,i have been speaking1 that produced by the promulgation of the truth in ,raratonga was still greater4 ,you know how ,john ,williams1 after founding the church in ,huahine1 moved to ,raiatea1 in the ,hervey group1 and thence sailing forth1 discovered the then savage ,raratonga1 where the devoted ,papehia landed to commence the work which he was afterwards enabled to perfect4 ,papehia began his ministrations by telling the people about the power and purity of ,god1 and ,his love to mankind1 and contrasting ,his attributes with those of their idols4 ,by teaching both old and young portions of ,scripture1 and the latter to read1 they began to perceive the follies of heathenism4 ,thus the old religion was undermined1 and a way prepared for the introduction of the new faith4 ,the priests were the most inveterate opponents of ,christianity1 yet the first person who destroyed his idols was a priest4 ,several others followed his example4 ,soon another native teacher from ,tahiti joined ,papehia to aid in the work which so rapidly progressed4 ,the first chief converted was ,tinomana4 ,after a lengthened conversation with ,papehia1 in spite of the expostulations of priests and people1 saying1 ,my heart has taken hold of the word of ,jehovah1' he ordered a servant to set fire to his idol and his temple4 ,the ,christians now united1 with ,tinomana at their head1 to live together in one community1 numbering four or five thousand4 ,not fifteen months after ,papehia landed1 they erected a chapel three hundred feet long1 with a pulpit at either end1 from which each teacher addressed nearly fifteen hundred wild1 naked savages at once1 without inconvenience4 ,this wonderful change had been effected1 you must remember1 by two native teachers alone1 in less than two years and a half from the day of their landing in ,raratonga1 and who were themselves born heathens and trained in idolatry in an island nearly seven hundred miles away4 ,four years after the discovery of the island1 ,john ,williams took up his abode there with the ,reverend ,c ,pitman1 they being afterwards joined by the ,reverend ,a ,buzacott4 ,laws were now formed1 and the first ,christian community divided into two separate villages4 ,a chapel of a substantial character was next planned4 ,a site was cleared1 large trees were cut down1 coral lime was burned1 the timber was sawn1 and in two months from the commencement an edifice an hundred and fifty feet long and fifty-six feet wide1 the thatched roof supported on either side by seven iron-wood pillars twenty-five feet high1 was erected4 ,there were ten doors1 three at each side and two at each end1 and twenty windows1 with large ,venetian blinds4 ,this chapel was a substantial proof of the zeal of the ,christian converts2 but the heathens were still numerous and powerful1 and at length1 hoping to overthrow the new faith1 they attacked the settlement1 and burned the chapel and many of the ,christians' houses4 ,a fearful storm and flood and a severe epidemic followed1 carrying off hundreds of the natives4 ,though severely tried1 the missionaries were not cast down4 ,the heathen retired1 the epidemic ceased1 the damage caused by the storm was repaired1 and the work of civilisation proceeded4 ,it became expedient to form a new village for the immediate followers of ,tinomana4 ,a site was fixed on1 the land was cleared1 and in a few months the village was completed4 ,it was nearly a mile and a half in length2 a wide and straight road1 gravelled with sea-side sand1 was made from one extremity to the other1 on either side of which were rows of the tall and beautiful tufted-top ti' trees4 ,the houses were built of lime and wattle1 each about forty feet long1 twelve high1 twenty wide1 and divided into three or four rooms4 ,they stood back some fifty yards from the road1 and were that distance from one another4 ,about the centre1 on one side of the street1 was the chapel1 and on the other the school-house4 ,a belt of trees protected the settlement on the sea-side1 while inland rose ranges of picturesque mountains1 the intervening space being occupied by pastures and fields cultivated or in the course of cultivation4 ,i remember the scene well4 ,it gave me an indescribable feeling of satisfaction when ,i first saw it1 for it proved that a very great change must have been wrought in the habits of the people1 and ,i trusted that their spiritual condition had likewise been much improved4 ,this was the first on the same plan of many villages which were erected as ,christianity spread among the people4 ,at each village1 or even where there was a chapel alone1 a school-house was erected1 where the elements of reading1 writing1 arithmetic1 and geography1 were taught to adults as well as to children1 and only eight years after the landing of ,papehia1 two thousand children and one thousand six hundred adults were under instruction4 ,although many of the adults could never be taught to read1 they learned portions of ,scripture1 and as they willingly listened to the teachers1 the truth gradually spread among the whole population4 ,a printing press was during this year of #ahca introduced into the island1 and the first native ,raratongan teacher went forth to carry the glad tidings of salvation to the people of the ,samoan group1 then lying in darkness4 ,teava' was one of the first converts made by ,papehia1 and a devoted imitator of the noble example he set4 ,he wrote earnestly1 praying to be allowed to go ,samoa1 thus expressing himself3 ,my desire is very great to fulfil ,christ's command when ,he said1 ,go ye into all the world4 ,my heart is compassionating the heathen1 who know not the salvation which ,god has provided4 ,let me go4 ,why this delay8' ,he was conveyed to ,samoa1 and gained a position among its then savage people at ,monono1 where he has proved one of the most consistent pioneers to the ,european missionaries1 and one of the best native assistants both in the schools and in translating the ,bible and other works4 ,a letter he wrote to his friends in ,raratonga a few years afterwards is worthy of note4 ,in it he says3 ,when ,i left you1 the good work had not taken much root1 but now ,i hear it has spread over the land4 ,all the people have received it4 ,my friends1 be diligent in the use of the means1 in learning1 in reading1 in hearing1 in prayer2 search the word of ,god4 ,but ,i will ask you1 ,do you expect to be saved by your works8 ,no2 no man can thus be saved4 ,salvation is obtained through ,jesus4 ,there are two kinds of scaffolding1 one of banana stalks and the other of iron-wood3 those who trust in their own works are resting on the banana stalks1 and will fall2 but let our minds be fixed on ,jesus alone1 and we shall be safe4' ,such are nearly the exact words he used4 ,they prove the soundness of his knowledge and faith4 ,the glorious work progressed wonderfully in ,raratonga4 ,churches and schools were built at all the settlements1 and several works printed by natives1 under the superintendence of the missionaries1 issued from the press4 ,i was present on the arrival of the ,camden from ,england with an edition of five thousand copies of the ,new ,testament in the language of the people1 and several missionaries4 ,crowds came from morning till night to purchase the book1 and for many days the missionaries house was more like a bazaar than a private dwelling4 ,one day a messenger at full speed arrived from the old chief ,tinomana4 ,seating himself cross-legged on the floor1 he asked if a missionary had arrived for his part of the island4 ,on one being pointed out to him as destined to labour in his settlement1 he sprang up with an expression of joy1 and hastened back at full speed with the intelligence to his chief4 ,this was at ,avarua1 where a chapel had been erected worthy of description4 ,it was built in a frame1 a hundred and forty feet long and forty-five feet wide1 filled up with wattle and lime plaster1 white as snow4 ,it was well floored1 surrounded by a gallery1 and had a pulpit and desk at one end4 ,on the day ,i was there it was filled with sixteen hundred natives1 mostly clothed in home-made cloth1 the greater number really thirsting for religious knowledge4 ,next to the chapel stood the school-house filled in the morning with seven hundred children1 each class of ten or twelve having its teacher4 ,near it was the missionaries' cottage1 neat1 clean1 and commodious2 and not far off that of the chief1 which was large1 well-built1 and convenient4 ,it was thoroughly furnished with chairs1 sofas1 tables1 and beds1 and the floors covered with mats2 while on the tables were several books1 which he could read with fluency4 ,ten years before this he and his people were naked savage cannibals4 ,missionary meetings were held in the island to assist in sending the gospel to other lands4 ,thus spoke an aged native at one of them to the young people3 ,exalt your voices high in praise of ,god4 ,he has saved you from the pit of heathenism4 ,we your fathers know the character of that pit2 some of us were born there4 ,the place on which we are now met was once a place of murder2 spears and the sling and stone were our companions2 we ate human flesh1 we drank human blood4 ,let us do what we can to send the word of ,god to those who are as once we were4' ,that year three thousand pounds of arrowroot were subscribed for missionary purposes4 ,more effectually to carry out this object1 it was resolved to establish a missionary college4 ,a piece of ground was purchased1 a number of neat stone cottages for the students and a house for resident missionaries1 and lecture-halls1 one of which was for female classes1 were erected4 ,the latter were under the charge of the missionary's wife4 ,here one hundred men and women have been instructed1 a considerable proportion of whom were married couples4 ,some have been employed on the home stations1 and others have gone forth to the ,western ,islands to prepare the way for ,european teachers4 ,a boarding-school was also established1 where some forty boys have received instruction4 ,at the college the students go through a course of theology1 church history1 ,biblical exposition1 biography1 geography1 grammar1 and composition of essays and sermons4 ,for three hours in the morning they are employed in the workshop1 and in the afternoon in study1 in class1 or examination4 ,in the ,hervey group ten or more stations are well worked by these native teachers2 in ,samoa four of them have stations2 they have introduced the gospel to the ,maniiki group2 and in ,western ,polynesia they have successfully preached the truth in the language of the inhabitants1 and braved1 and several have suffered1 martyrdom for the gospel's sake4 ,what should you suppose is the total expense of instructing1 clothing1 feeding1 and lodging these most valuable missionaries8 ,only five pounds a year2 while the entire outlay of their providing for twenty students does not amount to the sum of three pounds a week1 or less than a hundred and fifty pounds per annum4 ,comparatively very few of those educated at the college have fallen away or proved unworthy of the confidence placed in them4 ,of course there1 as elsewhere1 the faith of the missionaries has been tried4 ,storms1 and floods1 and disease have visited the island2 evil-disposed persons have come from other lands and endeavoured to introduce drunkenness1 and to turn the unstable to their own bad courses4 ,still ,i may safely say1 that there are not twenty persons in the island1 and very few in the whole group1 who do not attend ,christian worship4 ,a large edition of the whole ,bible has been purchased by them2 and ,i may also venture to assert that1 in consistency of conduct1 in civil and social propriety1 in commercial industry and honesty1 and in zeal and liberality1 they are not behind any other community in the world4 ,the gospel has been introduced and completely established in the ,penrhyn ,islands1 or ,maniiki group1 as they are more properly called1 entirely by native teachers from ,raratonga4 ,but ,i wish to describe to you the progress made by the gospel in ,samoa4 ,before ,i do so1 however1 ,i will give you a sketch of the way in which some of the missionaries ,i have met1 whose duties require them to be stationary1 spend their time4 ,the missionary in some instances attends the early morning adult service1 those present having then to go forth to their daily duties in the field or on the water4 ,in other instances he devotes the hour from six to seven o'clock in dispensing medicine to the sick2 from eight to nine he is either at the children's general school in the village1 or attending to private advanced classes at home1 or discussing public matters with neighbouring chiefs4 ,from nine to eleven he lectures in the class-room2 thence till noon he is in the workshop1 where the students or the boys at the boarding-school are learning the use of carpenters' tools4 ,until dinner time1 at one1 he is in the printing-office1 where the natives have been composing1 printing1 and binding for several hours4 ,during the next hour the students dine and read4 ,from two to three the missionary holds private conversation with members of the church1 candidates for church fellowship1 or inquirers4 ,four days in the week ,bible-classes are held1 and at most stations public services take place three days in the week1 from five to six4 ,the missionary and his wife generally walk out from six to seven1 visiting any who are sick or unable to come to them4 ,for an hour afterwards he is in his study reading1 translating1 writing sermons1 or looking over proof-sheets4 ,the next half hour is occupied in family prayer1 and the last in pleasant and instructive conversation with his family and the natives in his household2 and thus closes his day of labour4 ,the missionary's wife is as busy with the women and girls as is her husband with the men and boys1 and her influence and example are calculated to produce a lasting effect on the rising generation4 ,with this succession of occupations the missionaries have found time to write and to superintend the printing of numerous works in the language of ,raratonga1--works which are eagerly sought for and read by all classes of the community1--the elder of whom were once naked cannibal savages4 ,when you write home1 mention this with your own experience1 and ask whether they do not consider missionaries worthy of support1 and the results they have produced an encouragement to perseverance4 ,one remark more4 ,you have often heard of the fearful decrease in the population of these islands4 ,raratonga has been no exception to the general rule1 and yet its circumstances are very different from most others4 ,its climate is perfectly healthy2 no foreigners reside on it2 and1 as it possesses no harbour1 the crews of ships can never land on its shores1 as they merely call off for supplies and proceed immediately on their voyage4 ,before the introduction of ,christianity1 when the islanders had not the slightest intercourse with ,europeans1--were1 indeed1 entirely unknown1--the deaths must have been as six or eight to one in excess of the births4 ,as ,christianity spread1 the deaths were as four to one1 then as two to one1 then but slightly in excess2 and now ,i rejoice to say that the births slightly exceed the deaths4 ,it is easy to account for their decrease while they were heathens1--their wars1 and famine consequent on it1--disease1 produced by immorality1 and infanticide destroyed many1 and prevented increase4 ,christianity at once mitigated these evils1 but the effects of many of them still existed1 and it has taken years before the population could gain that health and strength which is the reward in this world of virtuous and industrious lives4 ,i find it stated that a hundred ships touch at the islands of the group annually1 and receive produce of native labour for manufactured wares1 amounting to not less than three thousand pounds4 ,we have here a notable example of the way in which civilisation1 industry1 and commerce result from the establishment of ,christianity4 ,the commanders of many of those ships must remember the time when they dared not set foot on these shores1 from which they now are sure to obtain the supplies on which the health of their crews and the success of their voyage so greatly depends1 and will1 ,i trust1 be ready to bear witness that thousands on thousands of the once savages of ,polynesia have become ,christian in name and character1 and truly and completely civilised4 ,,chapter ,,fifteen4 ,,passing ,,on ,,the ,,blessing4 ,when describing missionary enterprise1 we cannot dwell too much on the value of native agency1 and should therefore endeavour to show the importance of establishing training colleges for native youths1 continued ,mr ,bent1 who1 once having entered on the subject to which he had devoted his life1 showed no desire to drop it4 ,humanly speaking1 not one-third part of the work which has been done could without native help have been accomplished4 ,mangaia is a notable example4 ,that island is about twenty miles in circumference1 and contains about three thousand inhabitants4 ,when ,williams visited them in #ahbb with a few native married missionaries1 who went on shore for the purpose of remaining1 the latter were so barbarously treated by the savage people that they were compelled to return on board the mission ship1 thankful to escape without loss of life4 ,two years afterwards1 however1 he returned with two zealous ,tahitians1 ,davida and ,tiere1 who swimming on shore through the surf1 as did ,papehia at ,raratonga1 with their books and clothes in a cloth on their heads1 landed among the fierce natives4 ,god had so ordered it that their reception was very different from what they had expected4 ,an epidemic had attacked the island1 carrying off chiefs and people1 the old and young alike3 and believing that it was a punishment sent by the white man's ,god in consequence of the way they had treated the former missionaries1 the inhabitants hoped to avert the evil by behaving in a more friendly manner to the new comers4 ,the way was thus providentially prepared for ,davida1 who laboured on alone for fifteen years1--for ,tiere was soon afterwards removed by death1--till assistance was sent him from ,raratonga1 itself lying in darkness when he commenced his ministrations4 ,he received1 however1 occasional visits from the missionaries at ,tahiti4 ,twenty years passed by before the ,reverend ,william ,gill arrived to spend some weeks among them4 ,he found1 with but few exceptions1 that the whole population had renounced idolatry4 ,several large churches and schoolrooms had been built4 ,in one school-room from eight hundred to nine hundred children and young persons were present1 who1 after singing and prayer1 were led in classes to attend public worship4 ,the church was very large1 and really handsome4 ,the numberless rafters of its roof1 coloured with native paint1 were supported by twelve or fourteen pillars of the finest wood1 carved in cathedral style4 ,it was crowded1--those unable to get in looking through the windows1--not less than two thousand being present4 ,still many at that time were very ignorant with regard to scriptural knowledge1 though many even of the heathens could read4 ,a few years have passed by1 the heathens have one by one turned to the truth1 and sound scriptural knowledge is possessed by the population generally4 ,a ,european missionary lives among them4 ,they have built a handsome stone church with a gallery1 capable of seating two thousand persons4 ,there exist two other large stone chapels and three stone school-houses1 each about seventy feet long and thirty-five feet wide4 ,but what is far more important1 there are one thousand six hundred children and adults under daily instruction1 besides five hundred members in consistent church communion1 leaving but one-third of the population who1 though educated and nominal ,christians1 must be looked on as yet not earnest in spiritual matters4 ,of the former1 some seven or more are at the ,raratonga training college1 and several have gone forth as evangelists to the heathen many thousand miles away2 while there are more than one hundred native teachers in the schools1 gratuitously employing themselves in instructing the rising generation4 ,the excess of births over the deaths is very considerable1 so that the population1 which at one time was diminishing1 is rapidly on the increase4 ,davida is dead4 ,he departed just twenty-five years after he commenced his missionary labours4 ,is it right1' he asked1 in a humble tone1 for me to say1 in the language of ,saint ,paul1 ,i have fought the good fight1 ,i have finished my course8 ,these people were wild beasts when ,i came among them2 but the sword of the ,spirit subdued them4 ,it was not ,i1 it was ,god who did it4' ,davida and ,papehia1 and many other dark-skinned sons of these fair isles of the ,pacific1 themselves born in darkest heathenism1 have gained their crowns of glory in the heavens1 never to fade away1 which the highly educated inhabitants of civilised ,europe may have cause to envy4 ,people in ,england are1 ,i hear1 astonished at the rapid progress made by ,christianity in these islands1 and assert that either the accounts are exaggerated1 and that the great mass of the people remain heathens as before1 or that if they have become nominal ,christians1 it is because they have been compelled by their chiefs to embrace the new faith4 ,to this last objection ,i reply1 first3 ,you well know how slight is the influence exercised by the chiefs over the people1 and in no island with which ,i am acquainted would a chief be able to compel his followers to abandon idolatry and embrace ,christianity4 ,in the greater number of instances by far1 a considerable proportion of the people have become ,christians before the chief has given up his idols4 ,pomare was still an idolater when many of his subjects had been converted4 ,there were numerous ,christians in ,samoa before ,malietoa became one2 and services had been1 held in ,tongatabu before any of the chief men turned to the faith2 and already numerous churches had been established in ,fiji before ,thakombau1 the most despotic and fierce of the rulers of the isles of the ,pacific1 bowed his knee in worship to the true ,god4 ,people who know how utterly savage and barbarous the natives had become will easily understand that numbers among them were pining for a purer faith1 for some system which would relieve them from the intolerable burdens1 from the utter misery under which they groaned4 ,when ,rihoriho overthrew his idols and burned his temples he knew nothing of ,christianity2 but he had discovered that his idols were no gods1 and that the religion of his fathers was utterly abominable and foolish4 ,in many islands1 when a chief lotued before his subjects1 he did so at the risk of being deposed by them2 and in every direction there are instances of rebellions being raised by the heathens against the chiefs who had professed ,christianity4 ,for many years the fact1 that whole communities of once cannibal savages had become civilised ,christians was denied2 and now that the fact can no longer be denied1 certain so-called philosophers in ,europe are at pains to invent explanations to suit their own theories4 ,the natives might answer them as the blind man restored to sight by ,jesus did the ,pharisees of old3 ,why1 herein is a marvellous thing1 that ye know not from whence ,he is1 and yet ,he hath opened mine eyes4' ,the explanation which should best satisfy ,christians is1 that ,god has worked with us4 ,in ,his infinite compassion and love ,he has presented instruments exactly fitted for the work to be accomplished2 and though ,he has thought fit in many instances to exercise the faith and patience of ,his servants1 ,he has at length made the way clear before them4 ,if ,i desired a particular proof that man has fallen from a high estate1 and that he came forth pure and bright1 and with a mind capable of rapidly acquiring knowledge1 from the hands of his ,maker1 ,i should point to these savages1 among whom1 debased as they are1 so many have a yearning after a better existence1 a consciousness of sin1 a desire to propitiate an offended deity1 a weariness of their degraded condition1 of the state of anarchy1 of the bloodshed and immorality amid which they live4 ,if these and other facts were known in ,england1 though people might still wonder at the great change which has taken place in these islands1 they would cease to disbelieve the statements which have been made by missionaries and others on the subject4 ,but ,i must go on with my account4 ,i was going to tell you how ,christianity was introduced into ,samoa1--and here the guiding hand of ,god can especially be traced4 ,when ,john ,williams sailed from ,tahiti on his first long voyage in the ,messenger of ,peace1 after visiting the ,hervey group1 and many other islands1 he touched at the ,tonga1 or ,friendly ,islands1 many of the inhabitants of which had already become ,christian4 ,the history of the group ,i will give you presently4 ,at ,tonga1 a chief of the ,navigator ,islands1 called ,fanea1 was met with1 who had been eleven years away from home4 ,his wife had become a ,christian1 and he himself was favourable to the new religion4 ,he offered to accompany ,mr ,williams1 and to introduce him to his brother chiefs4 ,his account of himself being found correct1 his offer was accepted1 and he and his wife embarked4 ,the voyage was prosperous1 and ,sapapalii1 or ,savaii1 an island two hundred and fifty miles in circumference1 was reached4 ,fanea now showed how especially fitted he was to assist the missionaries in their task4 ,calling them aside to a private part of the vessel1 he requested them to desire the teachers not to commence their labours among their countrymen by condemning their canoe races1 their dances1 and other amusements1 to which they were much attached1 lest in the very onset they should conceive a dislike to the religion which imposed such restraints4 ,tell them1' said he1 to be diligent in teaching the people1 to make them wise1 and they themselves will put away that which is evil4 ,let the word prevail1 and get a firm hold upon them1 and then we may with safety adopt measures which at first would prove injurious4' ,fanea was related to ,malietoa1 one of the principal chiefs of the island1 and was therefore1 by his influence with his relatives1 able to render great assistance to the work4 ,he expressed1 however1 his fears that a powerful and perhaps an insuperable opposition would be offered by a still greater chief1 who was besides a sort of pope or high priest1 the head of such religious institution as they possessed4 ,his name was ,tamafaigna4 ,fanea asked after him in a trembling voice4 ,he is dead1-- killed ten days1--clubbed to death1 as he deserved1' shouted the people1 in evident delight1 showing that they dreaded more than respected him4 ,the devil is dead1--the devil is dead1' cried ,fanea4 ,there will now be no opposition to the lotu4' ,this was found to be the case4 ,had the event occurred a few days before1 there would have been time to elect a successor4 ,this man was supposed to have within him the spirit of one of the principal war-gods4 ,the tithes of the two large islands had been given him1 and in pride and profligacy he had become a pest and a proverb4 ,he had1 however1 his supporters1 who took up arms to avenge him1 and among them were his relatives ,malietoa and his brother ,tamalelangi1 who1 although they rejoiced at his death1 were compelled1 according to the custom of the country1 to endeavour to punish those who had killed him4 ,tamalelangi from the first showed himself a warm friend of the missionaries1 and1 while his brother was engaged in fighting1 assisted them to land with their effects and stores1 and to establish themselves on shore4 ,malietoa afterwards proved their warm friend1 and four teachers were left with him1 and four with ,tamalelangi4 ,their people showed the teachers the greatest kindness1 and1 as a mark of it1 each man who could get hold of a child carried it off to his own cottage1 killed a pig for its food1 and stuffed it to repletion before he carried it back to its anxious parents4 ,fanea1 too1 was unwearied in explaining the advantages of ,christianity and the wonderful knowledge possessed by the missionaries1 which enabled them to communicate their thoughts merely by making marks on a bit of paper4 ,it is possible that he was somewhat influenced by ambitious motives1 and the credit the introduction of ,christianity would bring to him4 ,his wife1 however1 appears to have been a sincere believer1 and by her example and exhortations greatly to have forwarded the cause of truth4 ,malietoa1 who inherited all ,tamafaigna's political influence1 exerted it to the end of his life in favour of the ,christians4 ,the truth was not1 as it might be expected1 to be established without opposition2 and on one occasion a large heathen party approached the dwellings of the teachers1 resolved on their destruction4 ,their friends turned out completely armed in native fashion1 with clubs1 and bows1 and slings1 and spears1 for their defence1 not unfrequently expressing in their tone and gesture the untamed ferocity of their nature by their appearance and loud shouts1 even when kneeling in the attitude of devotion4 ,thus the night was spent in expectation every moment of an attack2 but when the morning came it was discovered that their foes had disappeared4 ,the native teachers1 who could preach as well as instruct in school1 made rapid progress4 ,the people began to eat the fish and other creatures which they had formerly worshipped as gods1 and dreaded to injure or even to touch4 ,some daringly devoured them1 others cautiously put the dreaded morsels in their mouths1 while the awestruck spectators waited as did the people of ,melita when ,saint ,paul was bitten by a snake1 expecting to see them swell or fall down dead4 ,from this the natives concluded that ,jehovah was indeed the true ,god1 and were about to cast their war-god ,popo1 a block covered with a piece of matting1 into the sea1 and had tied a stone round it to sink it1 when the teachers rescued the image1 that they might present him as a trophy of the triumphs of the gospel4 ,the ,samoans1 though not such gross idolaters1 and certainly not so inhuman in their practices1 as most of the other islanders in the ,pacific1 were much degraded both in mind and morals4 ,they are perhaps the finest people in a physical point of view of any1 yet they had more pharisaical pride and less consciousness of sin2 and this1 it is possible1 prevented them from adopting some of those cruel practices prevalent among their neighbours4 ,the teachers left by ,williams laboured perseveringly4 ,still they could not persuade ,malietoa to abandon the war4 ,he went on one occasion to ,upolu with all his fighting men1 and three of the teachers resolved to follow him1 hoping thus to influence him the more4 ,he had allowed his son to join them4 ,on their way they preached the word at several villages through which they passed1 and the people heard them gladly4 ,malietoa was unmoved1 and they had to return2 but their journey had not been so bootless as they supposed4 ,scarcely had they reached home1 than a messenger arrived from the chief of a village they had visited at ,apolulu1 begging them to return in haste1 as he and his people were waiting to hear from their lips the truths of the gospel4 ,three of them set out for the settlement1 where they were warmly welcomed by the chief and a thousand followers4 ,after the usual salutations1 the chief turned to the teachers and said1 ,have you brought a fish spear8' ,surprised at this strange inquiry1 they replied1 ,no6 why do you ask for that8' ,i want it1' he answered1 to spear an eel4 ,this is my etu--,i will kill1 cook1 and eat it4 ,i have resolved to become lotu4' ,he then added that he would afterwards spear and eat a fowl1 as the spirit of his god was supposed to reside in that also4 ,and these bold designs were no sooner formed than executed1 though none of his followers supported him1 nor was it till they saw that no evil results were the consequence1 that they ventured to imitate his example4 ,numbers then declared that they wished to become ,christians1 and to be instructed in that faith4 ,returning from this expedition1 they saw the stronghold of the heathen party in flames4 ,malietoa treated the conquered party with great leniency1 and on one of their battle-fields erected a church to the service of the true ,god1 while ,popo1 the god of war1 was banished for ever4 ,many other chapels were built in different directions1 and the new faith made great progress1 though at that time1 probably1 many of the converts were very far from enlightened ,christians4 ,while these events were taking place in the larger islands1 a large canoe with some ,christians on board was driven on ,tau1 the most eastern island of the group1 having embarked at ,ravavai1 one of the ,austral group1 two thousand miles distant1 intending to proceed to some neighbouring island4 ,their lives and their health had been providentially preserved1 and they received a friendly greeting from the natives1 to whom they imparted a knowledge of the faith they professed4 ,several joined them1 and the little congregation thus formed without a teacher1 was looking forward to the arrival of a missionary ship1 which they had heard would bring one1 when ,williams himself touched at their settlement4 ,soon after this three ,english missionaries visited the group1 and one remained till the arrival of a considerable number1 who came out direct from ,england for especial service in ,samoa4 ,the first care of this most efficient body of men was to master the language1 and when this was done they lost no time in commencing a translation of the ,bible4 ,a printing-press was set up in #ahci1 and in ,july of that year printing was commenced in ,samoa4 ,the natives took a deep interest in it1 and called it the fountain whence the word of ,god flowed to all ,samoa4 ,the native youths quickly learned to work it1 and surrounded by numbers of their countrymen1 standing as if riveted to the spot1 and gazing with intense interest1 now speechless with wonder1 now shouting with delight1 they endeavoured to show with what dexterity they could throw off the sheets4 ,numerous works were printed by them--sermons1 catechisms1 hymn-books1 works on geography1 astronomy1 arithmetic1 ,bunyan's ,pilgrim's ,progress1 and a native magazine4 ,upwards of #b1jjj pounds was paid by the purchasers of the ,scriptures and these books4 ,in #ahdd1 the ,samoan ,mission ,seminary' was commenced4 ,it was on a far larger scale than that ,i have described at ,raratonga1 though conducted on a very similar plan4 ,it was for a group1 it must be remembered1 of considerable extent1 containing not less than #cd1jjj inhabitants4 ,special attention is paid in the institution to the instruction of the wives of the students1 and so highly are the labours of these female teachers prized in the islands1 that inferior men are sometimes chosen on account of the high qualifications of their wives4 ,i believe that nearly a hundred and fifty teachers have gone forth from the institution1 some to labour in ,samoa1 and others in the ,loyalty ,islands1 ,new ,hebrides and ,savage ,island--many with their devoted wives having died from the effects of climate or fallen by the murderous hands of the savages to whom they carried the gospel4 ,a high school is attached to the institution1 as well as one for the children of the students4 ,there are1 ,i find1 fifty boarding-schools in the group1 having #hjj scholars2 #baj children's day-schools with #f1jjj scholars1 and #baj adult sabbath and day-schools with #g1jjj scholars4 ,when first ,williams landed at ,samoa1 the natives wore no clothing except the most scanty of leaves or native cloth4 ,now ,i find it stated1 that apart from all other articles of foreign manufacture1 the demand for cotton goods alone amounts to #ae1jjj pounds per annum1 and is every year increasing4 ,see ,note #a4 ,i mention these facts because they are beyond dispute1 and ,i beg that you will repeat them when you write home1 as they may convince some who deny that the ,polynesian savage can comprehend the spirit of the gospel1 that at all events he has made considerable advances in civilisation1 and that his connection is worth cultivating4 ,you and ,i1 and all who take the trouble of observing1 know that he is as capable as the most highly educated ,european of understanding the whole scope of the gospel in all its beauty and holiness1 and accepting it in all its fulness4 ,we must never forget the saying of our blessed ,lord1 who knew what was in man1 that many are called but few chosen1' and that this is true in ,samoa as elsewhere4 ,of the many thousands who have become nominal ,christians1 we have every reason to hope that some--,i might dare to say many--have accepted ,christ to their eternal salvation4 ,and ,samoa forms but one group out of the many thousand isles of this ocean4 ,let us take a glance at ,tonga1 at which ,williams called1 as ,i told you1 on that first voyage1 so peculiarly blessed to ,samoa4 ,you have heard how a body of missionaries so far back as #agig were landed at ,tongatabu1 from the ship ,duffy by ,captain ,wilson4 ,they were all ultimately compelled to leave the island1 very much in consequence of the conduct of some white runaway seamen or convicts1 who set the natives against them4 ,several were ultimately murdered1 the rest escaped to ,new ,south ,wales with the exception of one1 who1 sad to say1 apostatised1 and lived as a savage among the savages for some years4 ,more than twenty years passed by1 and the savage character of the wrongly named ,friendly ,islanders prevented any further attempt being made to offer them the gospel of peace2 when ,god put it into the heart of the ,reverend ,w ,laury1 a ,wesleyan minister residing in ,new ,south ,wales1 who had been interested in the people by a widow of one of the early missionaries1 to attempt their conversion4 ,he sailed from ,sydney in ,june1 #ahbb1 on board the ,saint ,michael1 a merchant vessel1 with his family1 accompanied by a carpenter and blacksmith1 both pious young men4 ,he reached ,tonga in safety1 and remained for upwards of a year1 gaining the language of the people1 and protected by the chiefs1 but without making any converts4 ,on his return to ,sydney he left the two young mechanics1 and they were afterwards joined by the ,reverend ,john ,thomas1 a young ardent missionary from ,england4 ,they had indeed need of faith and patience4 ,the chiefs who at first protected them proved themselves fickle and treacherous1 robbing them of all they possessed1 and it was evident that they valued their presence among them on account of the property they brought1 not for the sake of the religious instruction they would afford4 ,just before ,mr ,thomas's arrival at ,hihifo1 on the west side of ,tonga1 two native teachers from ,tahiti1 on their way to ,fiji1 had landed at ,nukualofa on the north coast4 ,the preaching of these devoted men had awakened such a spirit of inquiry1 that when ,mr ,thomas preached at ,hihifo1 numbers came over a distance of twelve miles to hear him4 ,tubou1 the chief of ,nukualofa1 appeared convinced of the truths of ,christianity1 had a chapel built1 and attended service2 but tempted by his brother chiefs1 who promised to make him king of the whole group if he would adhere to the old faith1 he declined for the present to make a profession of ,christianity4 ,the work thus commenced at ,nukualofa by the ,london ,society's ,tahitian teachers1 was carried on in a spirit of brotherly love by the ,reverend ,n ,turner and ,william ,cross and their devoted wives1 sent out by the ,wesleyan ,missionary ,society in #ahbh4 ,they began schools there1 which were well attended1 while ,mr ,thomas opened one at ,hihifo1 at which1 in spite of the opposition of the chief ,ata1 some twenty boys attended4 ,in two years ,mr ,thomas could preach fluently in the language of the people1 and congregations for public worship were formed and well attended4 ,mr ,thomas had gone over to ,nukualofa to preach1 when the king ,tubou1 who had been absent for six months1 attended1 with two hundred of his subjects1 the chapel which he himself had built1 and where he now heard in his own tongue from the lips of an ,english minister the gospel clearly explained4 ,other chiefs from the two groups of islands to the north1 ,vavau and ,haabai1 in the course of the year sent to petition for teachers1 or rather1 one sent1 being indifferent about the matter2 the latter1 ,tui-,haabai1 as he was called1 came to ,tonga in person4 ,though he earnestly pressed the point1 there was no one to send2 and so on his return home1 finding an ,english sailor who could read and write1 though sadly ignorant of the truths of religion1 he made him his teacher4 ,his perseverance and earnestness were to be rewarded4 ,a sick lad1 a step-son of ,ata's1 was the first convert at ,hihifo1 but on his death1 the chief still more hardening his heart1 it was agreed by the missionaries that ,mr ,thomas should remove from that station to ,haabai4 ,they however first sent one ,peter1 a native convert1 to prepare the way1 a plan which has been almost universally successful4 ,the missionaries now spent some time together at ,nukualofa1 where the field appeared so promising4 ,so indeed it proved2 often so crowded was the chapel1 that the missionaries went out amid the encampments of their visitors on the sea-side1 that they might preach to them the words of eternal life under the free vault of heaven4 ,it was at this time that ,king ,tubou was baptised with his family and nearly thirty men and sixty women of his tribe4 ,it was indeed a day to make the hearts of the long persevering and faithful missionaries rejoice4 ,to many readers of missionary reports these statements may not be new1 but it was pleasant to have such testimony amidst the scenes themselves4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,note #a4 ,see ,turner's ,nineteen ,years in ,polynesia4 ,of an evening1 says ,lieutenant ,walpole1 ,,rn1 writing of ,samoa1 when1 taking advantage of intervals of fine weather1 we went for a ramble in the delightful woods1 the quiet of the grove was often disturbed by a ruthless savage1 who would rush out upon you1 not armed with club or spear1 but with slate and pencil1 and thrusting them into your hands1 make signs for you to finish his difficult exercise or sum4 ,dr ,coulter1 surgeon of ,,hms ,stratford1 has given this testimony3 ,the power of religion has completely altered the naturally uncontrolled character of the natives1 and effectually subdued barbarism4 ,the former history of these islanders is well known to all readers4 ,they were guilty of every bad and profane act4 ,infanticide and human sacrifices1 in all their horrid shapes1 were common occurrences4 ,utter abandonment and licentiousness prevailed over these islands 7the ,friendly ,islands74 ,what are they now8 ,the query may be answered in a few words3 ,they are far more decided ,christians than the chief part of their civilised visitors4 ,,chapter ,,sixteen4 ,,how ,,the ,,light ,,came ,,to ,,fiji4 ,tui-,haabai ,tuafaahan1 or ,george1 the name he assumed when he became a ,christian1 the chief or king of the ,haabai ,islands1 was no ordinary man4 ,he possessed great influence over his people2 and in this instance there can be no doubt that1 in consequence of his embracing ,christianity1 great numbers of his subjects immediately professed it4 ,so much was this the case1 that out of eighteen inhabited islands of which the group consists1 the people of all but two called themselves ,christians when ,mr ,thomas arrived in #ahcj4 ,of course they were very ignorant of religious truths2 but at the same time they were aware of their ignorance1 and desired to be taught1--and what more could a missionary pray for8 ,they consequently made great progress1 though the work nearly wore out the missionary4 ,a second1 however1 the ,reverend ,peter ,turner1 joined ,mr ,thomas the next year4 ,their wish at once was to extend the sphere of their labours4 ,in ,april1 #ahca1 ,king ,george1 now himself well able to expound the gospel1 with twenty-four sail of canoes1 visited ,finau1 chief of ,vavau1 who had once sent for instruction to the missionaries at ,tonga4 ,with the king went the faithful missionary ,peter1 bearing a letter from ,messrs4 ,thomas and ,turner4 ,king ,george1 too1 endeavoured to convince ,finau of the truth1 and at length he promised to join in worshipping the ,lord on the next sabbath4 ,this he did accompanied by several chiefs and others2 and when ,monday came he directed that seven of his principal idols should be placed in a row4 ,he then addressed them3 ,listen to my words1 that you may be without excuse4 ,i have brought you here to prove you4' ,commencing with the first1 he said1 ,if you are a god1 run away1 or you shall be burned in the fire which is ready for you4' ,the idol made no attempt to escape4 ,in the same manner he addressed the next1 and the next1 till he came to the last4 ,as none of them ran1 he directed that their temples should be set on fire4 ,the order was at once obeyed1 and some eighteen or more with their idols were consumed4 ,george and all his people capable of explaining the truths of ,christianity1 were employed in preaching and speaking night and day during their stay1 so eager were the people to be instructed4 ,all ordinary occupation was suspended4 ,the reply to any expostulation was1 ,we can labour when you are gone3 let us while you stay learn how to worship ,god4' ,afterwards two native teachers were sent to ,vavau1 till a missionary could be spared for them4 ,finau1 who had himself once strongly opposed the ,christians1 now met with opposition from one of his own chiefs1 who had been absent at ,fiji4 ,this chief threw himself into a strong fort2 but it was surprised by the ,christians1 and the insurgents being brought out1 it was burnt to the ground1 without one person being killed4 ,mr ,cross was soon afterwards appointed to ,vavau1 and on his voyage there from ,tonga his canoe was wrecked1 and his wife was drowned besides twenty other persons4 ,it was about this time that the ,reverend ,william ,yate1 of the ,church ,missionary ,society1 visited ,tonga from ,new ,zealand4 ,he had heard much of the great change among the people1 and was disposed to regard part at least as too strange and too good to be true4 ,he therefore went much among the people1 observing their domestic habits1 and their attention to their religious duties1 and he assured the missionaries that what he saw exceeded all that he had heard4 ,christianity was making progress in all the three groups1 though in ,tonga a powerful body of heathens1 under ,ata of ,hihifo1 still remained1 when ,finau1 king of ,vavau1 died1 leaving his government to ,king ,george of ,haabai1 who thus became sovereign of both groups4 ,he and his wife gave full evidence soon after this that they were ,christians not only in name1 but in spirit and in truth4 ,they were made class-leaders1 and the king was appointed a local preacher4 ,he did not presume on his high civil dignity1 but always conducted himself in the house of ,god with becoming humility4 ,one who heard him preach his first sermon told me that the great court-house1 more than seventy feet long1 could not contain the people who thronged to hear their king4 ,every chief on the island and all the local preachers were present4 ,the king led the singing4 ,he preached with great plainness and simplicity1 and in strict accordance with the teaching of ,god's word2 dwelling on the humility and love of the ,saviour1 the cleansing efficacy of ,his atoning blood1 and the obligations under which we are laid to serve and glorify ,him4 ,but a few years before part of this very congregation might have been seen in this same house preparing guns1 spears1 and clubs1 in order to slay their fellow-men1 and waiting to be led forth to battle by the great warrior who was now the royal preacher4 ,he proved his ,christianity in another way4 ,hearing that the ,english had abolished slavery and that it is abhorrent to the character of the gospel1 he that very day called all his slaves together and forthwith gave them their liberty4 ,he next employed himself in building a church upwards of a hundred feet long and fifty wide1 the largest building that had ever been erected in ,tonga4 ,he also exhibited his wisdom by framing a code of laws1 by which all chiefs as well as people were to be equally bound4 ,they were most judicious1 and admirably fitted for the wants of the people4 ,not one professed heathen now remained in the two groups governed by ,king ,george1 and the blessings he had received he was anxious to send to others4 ,a missionary and several native teachers therefore went forth and established churches in ,samoa1 as well as in some small islands lying between the two groups4 ,the missionaries were afterwards removed1 it having been agreed between the ,wesleyan and ,london ,missionary ,societies that ,samoa should be left entirely under the charge of the ,london ,missionary ,society1--a wise resolve1 the object of which does not appear to have been very clearly comprehended by the ,samoan ,christians1 accustomed to the ,wesleyan form1 or by ,king ,george1 who made a voyage to ,samoa to consult about the matter4 ,the reason of the arrangement was1 that the ,wesleyan ,society might be able to devote all their means and energies to the promulgation of the gospel in the ,fiji ,islands1 a work which they forthwith commenced and have carried on with unsurpassed vigour and success4 ,i will describe it to you presently4 ,josiah ,tubou1 the king of ,tonga proper1 or ,tongatabu though a consistent ,christian1 was a man every way inferior to ,king ,george in energy and talent1 and the heathen chiefs and other ill-disposed persons set his power at defiance4 ,they even went so far as to take up arms1 in the hope of deposing him4 ,in this1 however1 they were disappointed2 for ,king ,george1 with a large body of warriors1 came to his assistance1 and they were compelled to take refuge in certain strongly-built forts in their native districts1 where they continued to hold out against his power4 ,the war thus commenced and carried on for some years1 proved a sad hindrance to religion and the advancement of civilisation4 ,two ,roman ,catholic priests were also landed from a ,french ship of war1 and took up their residence with the heathens1 whom they undoubtedly supported against their chief4 ,it was while endeavouring to negotiate with the rebels in one of these forts that ,captain ,croker of ,,hms ,favourite1 who had with him a party of his ship's company1 was shot at and killed4 ,another officer and several men fell on the occasion1 while many were badly wounded4 ,several forts were taken or yielded1 and the defenders pardoned2 but the rebels were still holding out in the strongest1 that of ,bea1 where the ,romish priests resided1 when ,sir ,everard ,home1 in the ,calliope1 arrived at ,tonga4 ,several times the fort had been summoned to surrender1 and ,sir ,everard ,home had now the satisfaction of witnessing the way in which it was captured1 and the leniency with which the rebels were treated1 while he and ,king ,george himself were instrumental in saving the property of the ,romish priests from destruction4 ,from that time ,king ,george has been employed in consolidating his power1 and in advancing the material as well as spiritual interests of his subjects4 ,the success which attended the exertions of the missionaries at ,tonga encouraged them to commence the work at ,fiji1 with which extensive group ,tonga has for years been intimately connected1 although the inhabitants are of a totally different race and character4 ,i must go back again from the time of which ,i have just been speaking to the year #ahce4 ,utterly debased and savage as were the people of ,fiji at that period1 the mission was commenced under peculiarly favourable circumstances4 ,it was especially supported by ,king ,george of ,tonga1 who was much respected by the inhabitants of ,lakemba1 the spot which had been fixed on as the residence of the missionaries4 ,many ,tongans also resided there1 who could at once be addressed in their own language1 which was also understood by the chief and many of the people of ,lakemba4 ,as many ,fijians were living at ,tonga1 the missionaries were able likewise to prepare and print some books in ,fijian4 ,king ,george's introduction insured them a favourable reception from the chief of ,lakemba1 who at once gave them ground for the missionary premises4 ,house-building is short work in ,fiji1 and a large body of natives1 having prepared posts1 spars1 reeds1 etcetera1 assembled at the chosen site1 and commenced operations4 ,on the third day all the furniture1 articles for barter1 books1 clothes1 doors1 windows1 and various stores were landed1 and carried to the two houses1 of which the families took possession that evening4 ,lakemba is thirty miles in circumference1 and contains1 besides the king's town1 eight other towns and three ,tongan settlements4 ,many of the people inhabiting them1 on their visits to head-quarters saw the mission premises1 and went home to tell of what had excited their own admiration4 ,thus the number of visitors increased1 and many becoming dissatisfied with their own gods1 and tired with the exactions of the priests1 came regularly on the sabbath to worship at the chapel4 ,as they had to pass the king's town they were observed1 and abused for presuming1 though common people1 to think for themselves in the matter of religion1 and even daring to forsake their own gods for the new ,god of whom the strangers spoke4 ,threats were used1 and the ,christians would immediately have been persecuted1 had not a chief from ,tonga1 who had come over to protect the ,christians from the people of ,mbau1 himself adopted the new faith1 letting it be known that he would protect his co-religionists4 ,they did not escape altogether3 their houses were pillaged1 and many had to fly for their lives4 ,they however went to other islands1 carrying1 as did the ,christians of old1 their religion with them1 and were the means of spreading it to other parts of the group4 ,many of the ,tongans heard the word gladly1 though hitherto known for their evil doings1 and returned home changed in heart and manners4 ,the king of ,lakemba even pretended that he wished to become a ,christian1 though his profession was not sincere1 as he continued to persecute the converts4 ,he at last said that he would lotu if some other powerful chiefs would do so2 and suggested that the missionaries should go to ,mbau and see what change they could effect in the rulers of that notorious cannibal island4 ,mr ,cross took the king at his word1 and with his wife and family embarked for ,mbau4 ,on his arrival there1 he found that war had been raging1 that two bodies were in the ovens1 and that very little attention to his preaching could be expected4 ,though ,thakombau1 the king's son1 promised him his protection and a spot of ground for a house1 he considered it wiser to proceed to ,rewa1 a town about twelve miles away on the main island1 where the chief promised to protect him1 and to allow as many of his people to lotu as desired it4 ,at first ,mr ,cross preached in the open air2 but a chief of some rank and his wife becoming ,christians1 they opened their house for worship1 and a hundred hearers would sometimes assemble there to listen4 ,off the island of ,great ,fiji is another small island1 that of ,viwa4 ,the chief1 ,namosi1 and his nephew1 ,verani1 had captured a ,french brig and destroyed the crew4 ,the captain1 it was proved1 had allowed his vessel to be used in the native wars1 and had even suffered the body of an enemy to be cooked and eaten on board4 ,to punish ,namosi1 two ,french men-of-war appeared off the coast1 and the crews landing1 burned down his town and destroyed his crops4 ,this misfortune seems so to have affected him1 that he begged a teacher might be sent to instruct him in the new religion2 and to show his sincerity1 he built a large chapel1 where many of his people joined him in worshipping ,god4 ,thus were two centres formed in ,fiji1 where two men single-handed battled with almost incredible difficulties1 cheered1 however1 by no inconsiderable success1--that is to say1 ,mr ,cargill at ,lakemba1 and ,mr ,cross at ,rewa4 ,in #ahch three missionaries arrived from ,england4 ,one of them was the devoted ,john ,hunt1 who at once volunteered to go to the assistance of ,mr ,cross1 who was already breaking down with his labours at ,rewa4 ,with them also came a printer1 a printing-press1 and book-binding materials4 ,early in #ahci ,saint ,mark's ,gospel and a catechism in ,fijian were printed1--an important event in the history of a people who three years before had no written language1 and who seemed sunk in the utter depths of darkness and moral degradation4 ,fiji was indebted for ,mr ,hunt to the ,christian liberality of a lady--,mrs ,brackenbury1 of ,raithbury ,hall1 ,lincolnshire1 who offered to pay all the expenses of his outfit and passage1 and #ej pounds a year for three years1 provided the committee would send another missionary1 and thus raise the number to seven4 ,the mission establishment at ,rewa drew many visitors1 especially the people from ,mbau1 who came to make inquiries about the lotu4 ,to this place the printing-press was moved1 and it was made the head-quarters of the ,fijian mission4 ,on an island off ,vanua ,levu1 or the ,great ,land1 was situated the town of ,somosomo1 the chief of which1 who had considerable power1 begged that missionaries might be sent to him4 ,accordingly ,mr ,hunt and ,mr ,lyth1 with their families1 went there1 and took up their quarters in a large house provided by the chief4 ,he showed clearly1 however1 that he only required their goods2 and not only were the families neglected1 but the most horrible cannibal practices took place close to them1 encouraged by the chief4 ,his son was wrecked on an enemy's shore1 when he and his followers were killed and eaten4 ,in consequence a number of women were murdered1 in spite of the entreaties of the missionaries that their lives might be spared1 while captives were constantly dragged before their windows to be killed and baked4 ,ultimately the station was abandoned1 and the chief was murdered by one of his own sons1 who was himself murdered by a brother2 and such anarchy and confusion reigned1 that ,somosomo was laid almost desolate4 ,after a time the remaining chiefs and people1 brought low by distress1 turned to the ,god of the strangers1 and great numbers became ,christians1--showing that the seed had been sown and taken root1 though when the missionaries left the island they were disposed to fear that no good had been effected4 ,the truth spread by a great variety of means4 ,a chief named ,wai1 of the far-off island of ,ono1 tributary to ,lakemba1 came to that island to pay his dues4 ,he there met with ,takai1 another ,fijian chief1 who had visited ,sydney and ,tahiti1 and had become a ,christian4 ,with such knowledge as he could thus pick up he returned home4 ,he there taught his people2 and so great a thirst for further instruction sprang up among them1 that a whaler calling at ,ono for provisions1 they engaged a passage in her for two messengers who were to beg the missionaries at ,tonga to send them a teacher4 ,a long time must have elapsed before one could have reached them2 but the ,lord knew the desire of their hearts1 and took ,his own means for giving them the spiritual food after which they hungered4 ,early in #ahcf a canoe1 on board which was ,josiah1 a converted ,tongan1 with other ,christians1 sailed from ,lakemba for ,tonga1 but was driven out of her course to ,turtle ,island1 about fifty miles from ,ono4 ,hearing when there that the people of ,ono were seeking after religious instruction1 ,josiah hastened there to tell them all he could of the gospel4 ,in a short time forty persons became worshippers of ,god1 and a chapel was built to hold a hundred4 ,in the meantime their two messengers reached ,tonga1 where they were told that as missionaries were now stationed at ,lakemba they must apply there for the help they sought4 ,a teacher was found1 once a wild youth1 who had been converted at ,lakemba4 ,here he remained two years preparing for his work1 till he had an opportunity of going to ,ono4 ,on his arrival he found that one hundred and twenty adults had become ,christians4 ,a strong heathen party was1 however1 formed against them1 and they had more than once to fight for their lives4 ,even the king of ,lakemba threatened to destroy them because they would not give up a young ,christian girl who had in her infancy been betrothed to him4 ,a gale drove back the king's canoe1 and some of those of his followers were lost2 so that he was persuaded that the ,god of the ,christians frowned on his design4 ,the island was visited several times by ,english missionaries1 and at last one was appointed to reside there4 ,all the people have now become ,christians1 and probably fifty agents have been raised up there to carry the gospel to other parts of ,fiji4 ,christianity spread among the islands in the neighbourhood of ,lakemba subject to ,somosomo4 ,this was in spite of the belief in a threat of the king1 that he would kill and eat any of his subjects who should lotu4 ,the king arrived1 and hearing of the tale indignantly denied it4 ,he ordered1 however1 that tribute should be paid to him on ,sunday4 ,this the ,christians refused to do1 but the following day they appeared with their offerings4 ,this produced a favourable impression on the king1 showing as it did1 what was the genuine effect of ,christianity when carried out4 ,no one was punished1 though unhappily the king seemed to remain as complete a heathen as before till his death4 ,in ,lakemba the ,christians multiplied1 and the whole population of one town1 that of ,yaudrana1 lotued in one day4 ,they had been ill-treated1 and two of their number had been killed by the king or his people4 ,suddenly they came to the conclusion that their own gods could no longer protect them1 and they resolved to pray to ,jehovah the ,god of the ,christians4 ,they accordingly sent to ,mr ,calvert1 the missionary4 ,the chiefs of the town met him to speak on the matter1 in the principal temple in the place1 and after singing and prayer they bowed down to worship ,god4 ,the following ,sabbath the whole population1 by agreement1 openly abandoned idolatry4 ,the king sent to forbid them1 but his message arrived after the ceremony had been performed1 and they replied that they would pay him lawful tribute1 but would not abandon their new faith4 ,after this movement of the larger number of his subjects1 the king himself became a ,christian4 ,i can with difficulty recollect the numerous events connected with missionary work as they occurred in the wide extending group of ,fiji4 ,of the most important ,i have not yet spoken4 ,it is necessary to remember the names of three important places3 ,mbau1 though a small island1 contains the capital of the powerful chief ,thakombau1 now called the king of all ,fiji4 ,twelve miles off1 on the mainland1 is ,rewa2 and on another small island two miles from ,mbau1 is ,viwa1 the residence of ,namosimalua1 who had become nominally ,christian1 or was at all events favourable to the ,christians4 ,here ,mr ,cross took up his abode1 when ,thakombau refused him admission to ,mbau4 ,thakombau was the son of ,tanoa1 the chief of ,mbau4 ,mbau had obtained the influence it possessed over other parts of ,fiji in consequence of its having become the abode of ,charles ,savage1 a runaway seaman1 a horrible ruffian1 a ,swede by birth1 who managed to obtain a large supply of firearms and ammunition1 and led her armies for many years against her neighbours of the larger islands1 compelling them to become tributary to her4 ,at length1 being defeated in ,viti ,levu1 by a party of natives against whom1 in conjunction with the master of an ,english trading vessel1 the ,hunter1 of ,calcutta1 he was carrying on a war for the sake of procuring a cargo of sandal-wood for the ship1 he was1 together with fourteen of the crew1 put to death and eaten1 his body being treated with every mark of detestation1 and his bones converted into sail-needles1 and distributed among the people as a remembrance of the victory4 ,namosimalua was looked upon as the ,ulysses of those regions4 ,he in conjunction with other chiefs1 weary of the exactions of ,tanoa1 rebelled against him1 and compelled him to fly1 also advising that his young son ,thakombau1 whose talents he had discovered1 should be put to death4 ,this not having been done1 he resolved to gain the friendship of ,tanoa without committing himself4 ,he therefore offered to go in pursuit of the king1 but secretly sent a messenger to warn him of his danger4 ,when ,thakombau restored his father to his possessions1 ,tanoa saved ,namosi's life1 though the former never forgave him his intentions towards him4 ,among the greatest warriors and fiercest cannibals of ,fiji was a nephew of ,namosi's1 called ,verani1 who was a firm friend of ,thakombau's4 ,at ,rewa a mission had been established1 but its chief ,ratu ,nggara remained a heathen1 and was a powerful rival of ,thakombau4 ,some time after the establishment of the missions at ,viwa1 ,namosi its chief became a ,christian2 and as visitors from ,mbau and other places visited the mission-house1 the knowledge of the new faith spread in every direction around4 ,the fierce warrior ,verani even listened to what the missionary had to say1 and hopes were entertained that he too might lotu2 but his friend ,thakombau urged him to remain firm to the old faith1 and to join him as before in his wars4 ,at first1 ,verani yielded to evil counsels2 but1 happily1 again and again he visited the missionary1 till he declared his conviction that ,christianity was true2 and from that day he became as resolute and bold in promulgating the truth1 as he had before been in supporting the customs of heathenism4 ,for several years he held a consistent ,christian course of life1 and his example had probably an influence on his friend ,thakombau4 ,his good influence was1 however1 opposed by some of the abandoned white men1 resident on neighbouring islands1 who dreaded1 should the king turn ,christian1 that a stop would be put to their own evil doings4 ,they even went so far1 when they thought this possible1 as to join the natives in carrying on war against him2 and so successful were they that on every side he found his power decreasing4 ,what force or persuasion could not effect1 affliction accomplished4 ,during the time of his greatest distress he received a letter from ,king ,george of ,tonga1 urging him to delay no longer1 but to turn to the ,god of the ,christians4 ,this letter seems to have decided him4 ,on the #cjth ,april1 #ahed1 at nine o'clock the death-drum was beaten--the signal for assembling in the great ,strangers' ,house' for the worshipping of the true ,god4 ,ten days before1 its sound had called people together to a cannibal feast4 ,three hundred persons were present in the ample lotu dress1 before whom stood ,thakombau1 the chief1 with his children and wives4 ,the missionary1 who had so long watched for this event1 was deeply moved1 and could scarcely proceed with the service4 ,it was indeed a day to be remembered in the annals of ,fiji4 ,after worship1 the people crowded round the missionaries1 to ask for alphabets1 and gathered in groups to learn forthwith to read4 ,the king1 after this1 caused the ,sabbath to be observed4 ,his deportment was serious1 and his own attendance at preaching and prayer-meetings was regular4 ,his little boy1 about seven years old1 had already learnt to read1 and he now became the instructor of his parents1 who were both so eager to acquire knowledge1 that their young teacher would often fall asleep in the midst of his lesson4 ,among the most implacable enemies of ,thakombau was the king of ,rewa4 ,elijah ,verani undertook a mission to that chief1 in the hopes of bringing about peace1 when he and most of his companions were traitorously murdered and eaten4 ,not long after this the king of ,rewa himself died1 and his people sued for peace4 ,thakombau1 the once cannibal and homicide1 was not allowed to remain quiet4 ,he had enemies on every side2 some of them he conquered in war1 but often his life was in danger from his own former associates and relations4 ,the effect1 however1 was good1 as it made him turn more and more to ,god for pardon through ,jesus ,christ and to the consolations of religion4 ,at length he triumphed1 and his enemies were subdued under him4 ,he had from the first prohibited cannibalism2 murder was now declared to be against the law4 ,the first two murderers guilty of the crime before the law was promulgated were pardoned1 but the next1 though a chief1 was tried1 and being found guilty of the murder of his wife1 was publicly executed by his countrymen at ,mbau1 the missionary wisely absenting himself at the time4 ,in the same year three chiefs of rank were publicly married1 each to one wife1 a step afterwards taken by the king himself4 ,churches were now built in every direction1 and thousands of the people of ,fiji abandoned their horrible customs1 put away their idols1 and turned to the true ,god4 ,,chapter ,,seventeen4 ,,the ,,courage ,,of ,,kapiolani4 ,although the change in ,fiji is very great1 much remains to be done4 ,it is not more than we may justly say1 that cannibalism and the more abominable crimes once common have ceased to exist wherever ,english missionaries reside1 and in most places where native teachers have gained a footing4 ,the kingdom of peace is making daily progress4 ,the gospel has firmly established itself in the heart of ,fiji4 ,thakombau remains firm and consistent in his profession of ,christianity1 and though certain chiefs rebelled against him1 he has dealt as leniently with them as the maintenance of authority and order will allow1 and has striven as far as possible to avoid bloodshed4 ,it is satisfactory to see the way ,captain ,erskine1 of ,,hms ,havannah1 speaks of those who have contributed to bring about this state of things4 ,i cannot refrain from touching on a circumstance which he mentions1 redounding as it does so greatly to the honour of the wives of two of the missionaries1 ,mrs ,lyth and ,mrs ,calvert4 ,it occurred while old ,tanoa was still alive1 and of course long before ,thakombau became a ,christian4 ,a powerful tribe had sent a deputation to ,mbau with tribute1 and it was necessary to provide them with a banquet1 a portion of which must1 according to custom1 be human flesh4 ,the chief whose business it was to provide for the occasion1 not having any enemies1 set forth by night and captured a number of women belonging to a village along the coast1 who had come down to pick shell-fish for food4 ,immediately ,namosimalua1 the ,christian chief1 heard of it1 he hastened to the missionary station2 but the missionaries' wives alone were at home4 ,these heroic women1 however1 resolved to go themselves1 and to endeavour at all risks to save the lives of the captives4 ,accompanied by the faithful ,christian chief they embarked in a canoe for ,mbau4 ,each carried a whale's tooth decorated with ribbons1 a necessary offering on preferring a petition to a chief4 ,as they landed near old ,tanoa's house1 the shrieks of two women then being slaughtered for the day's entertainment chilled their blood1 but did not daunt their resolution4 ,ten had been killed2 one had died of her wounds2 the life of one girl had been begged by ,thakombau's principal wife1 to whom she was delivered as a slave1 and three only remained4 ,regardless of the sanctity of the place1 it being tabooed to women1 they forced themselves into old ,tanoa's chamber1 who demanded1 with astonishment at their temerity1 what those women did there8 ,the ,christian chief1 presenting the two whales' teeth1 answered that they came to solicit the lives of the remaining prisoners4 ,tanoa1 still full of wonder1 took up one of these teeth1 and turning to an attendant1 desired him to carry it immediately to ,navindi--the chief who had captured the prisoners--and ask1 ,if it were good8' ,a few minutes were passed in anxious suspense4 ,the messenger returned4 ,navindi's answer was1 ,it is good4' ,the women's cause was gained1 and old ,tanoa thus pronounced his judgment3 ,those who are dead1 are dead2 those who are alive shall live4' ,the heroic ladies retired with their three rescued fellow-creatures1 and had the satisfaction besides of discovering that their daring efforts had produced a more than hoped-for effect4 ,a year or two ago1 no voice but that of derision would have been raised towards them1 but now returning to their canoe1 they were followed by numbers of their own sex blessing them for their exertions1 and urging them to persevere4 ,captain ,erskine1 who heard this account from the ladies themselves1 and gives it much as ,i have done1 adds1 ,if anything could have increased our admiration of their heroism1 it was the unaffected manner in which when pressed by us to relate the circumstances of their awful visit1 they spoke of it as the simple performance of an ordinary duty4' ,he continues3 ,i could not fail to admire the tolerant tone of the missionaries when speaking of these enormities4 ,accustomed for years to witness scenes such as few believe are to be seen on the face of the earth1 and to combat the wildest errors step by step1 with slow but almost certain success1 these good men know well that a constant expression of indignation1 such as must naturally arise in the mind of a stranger1 would not produce the desired effect on the unhappy beings to whose loftiest interests they have with much self-sacrifice devoted themselves4 ,navindi1 the cannibal chief of the fishermen1 whose natural disposition they describe as kindly and confiding1 was received quite on the footing of a friend1 and ,thakombau was also spoken of as a man of great energy and good intentions1 by whose instrumentality much good might yet be effected among his numerous subjects or dependants4 ,the wisdom of their conduct has been proved4 ,these men have been won over to the truth4 ,when our blessed ,lord walked on earth ,he reproved in strongest language the scribes and ,pharisees who knew the law1 but not the publicans and sinners who knew it not4 ,captain ,erskine describes the missionaries as engaged in the translation of the ,scriptures and other religious works to be completed before a given time--a labour to be carried on in the midst of constant interruptions1 to which the members of this mission and their families are liable at all hours of the day4 ,besides being referred to in cases of quarrels and disputes1 the care of the sick and the distribution of medicines are duties which they have undertaken1 and carry out with unremitting attention4' ,i wish that people in ,england knew of the efforts made by the priests of ,rome to impede the progress of the pure gospel4 ,their mode of proceeding is very clearly described in a few words by ,captain ,erskine4 ,he says1 ,there are two ,french ,roman ,catholic missionaries stationed at ,lakemba1 but1 as at ,tongatabu1 it is to be feared that their presence will tend rather to retard than advance the improvement of the natives4 ,the practice of this 7,roman ,catholic7 mission1 in availing themselves of the pioneer-ship of men of a different sect1 for the purpose of undermining their exertions1 cannot be too severely reprobated4 ,being very irregularly furnished with supplies from their own country1 these two are sometimes dependent for the common necessaries of life on the ,wesleyans1 for whom they entertain the strongest dislike1 and who cannot be expected to treat them otherwise than as mischievous intruders2 nor are their privations in any way compensated by success in their objects4' ,he describes a visit to the fortress of ,bea1 in ,tonga1 where two ,roman ,catholic priests reside1 and which is inhabited partly by ,roman ,catholics and partly by heathens4 ,the appearance of the people in this fortress was not such as to impress one favourably1 compared with the others of their countrymen we had seen4 ,they were more scantily clothed1 and apparently less cleanly in their persons and houses1 a natural consequence of living in a more confined space2 and the absence of that cordiality which we everywhere met with from persons connected with the ,protestant missions was very apparent4 ,i heard also among the younger officers of pockets picked and handkerchiefs stolen1 showing a more lawless state of life1 and a retention of their old habits1 which were so obnoxious to their early ,european visitors4' ,the priests complained to ,captain ,erskine of the way the missionaries spoke of them1 on which he says1 ,it is perhaps sufficient to remark that1 even if the ,wesleyans were guilty 7which ,i do not believe7 of all the improper conduct attributed to them by ,m ,calinon1 it has been occasioned entirely by the obtrusion of the ,society to which he belongs into ground previously occupied by others1 who would undoubtedly1 had their efforts remained unopposed or unassisted1 soon have numbered the whole of the population among their fellow-worshippers4' ,the priest also wrote to ,captain ,erskine1 repeating his accusations of intolerance against the ,wesleyans1 and expressing his fears that their efforts to disparage him would be renewed on their departure1 and the flight of the pope from ,rome1 of which they had heard1 represented as the downfall of the ,catholic ,church4 ,the captain says1 ,i thought it right to answer his letter1 as ,i could exonerate the missionaries from any charge of having attempted to prejudice us against the ,roman ,catholic priests1 nor did ,i believe that they would make use of any unfair argument against their faith1 founded on the political position of the pope4' ,i must also express my conviction that the charge against the ,wesleyans made by the priests of adopting as proselytes all who offer without examination is quite unfounded4 ,the putting away of all but one wife--no small sacrifice on the part of a people who have practised polygamy for ages--is always insisted on as a first step1 and regular attendance on religious worship is also expected4 ,among the older ,christians ,i saw every evidence of their having adopted the new faith from conscientious conviction1 and the chiefs of the highest distinction are probably better read in the ,new ,testament than any of the ,english met with among the islands4 ,captain ,erskine also bears testimony to the character of other missionaries4 ,describing the work at ,samoa1 he says3 ,the first circumstance which must strike a stranger on his arrival1 and one which will come hourly under his notice during his stay1 is the influence which all white men1 but in particular the missionaries1 exercise over the minds of the natives4 ,no unprejudiced person will fail to see that had this people acquired their knowledge of a more powerful and civilised race than their own1 either from the abandoned and reckless characters who still continue to infest most of the islands of the ,pacific1 or even from a higher class engaged in purely mercantile pursuits1 they must have fallen into a state of vice and degradation to which their old condition would have been infinitely superior4 ,that they have been at least rescued from this state1 is entirely owing to the missionaries2 and should the few points of asceticism which these worthy men1 conscientiously believing them necessary to the eradication of the old superstitions1 have introduced among their converts1 become softened by time and the absence of opposition1 it is not easy to imagine a greater moral improvement than will then have taken place among a 7once7 savage people4 ,with respect to those gentlemen of the ,london ,mission1 whose acquaintance ,i had the satisfaction of making in ,samoa1 ,i will venture1 at the risk of being considered presumptuous1 to express my opinion1 that in acquirements1 general ability1 and active energy1 they would hold no undistinguished place among their ,christian brethren at home4 ,the impossibility of accumulating private property1 both from the regulations of the ,society and the circumstances surrounding them1 ought to convince the most sceptical of their worldly disinterestedness1 nor can the greatest scoffers at their exertions deny to them the possession of a virtue which every class of ,englishman esteems above all others1 the highest order of personal courage4' ,see ,note4 ,but ,i need not quote further from ,captain ,erskine1 nor from other unprejudiced writers1 to convince you1 and through you your friends1 of what has been accomplished through the instrumentality of missionaries4 ,you will have many opportunities of judging for yourself4 ,there is1 however1 another subject to which ,i would urge you to draw attention1 that is1 the attempts made by ,french priests of the ,church of ,rome to counteract the efforts of the missionaries4 ,you know what has been done at ,tahiti4 ,you hear from ,captain ,erskine what is doing at ,tonga and ,fiji4 ,the same attempts are being made at ,samoa and elsewhere1 wherever ,english missionaries have pioneered the way1 and there are good harbours1 but not otherwise4 ,this almost looks as if their designs are political as well as religious1 and that the object of those who send them is to establish ,french posts across the ,pacific1 so that in time of war they may have coaling stations and harbours of refuge in every direction4 ,as they have by means of these priests a party in each group1 they will never want an excuse for interfering in the affairs of the islands whenever they may have occasion to do so4 ,but ,i must tell you more of many other islands brought under ,christian instruction4 ,savage ,island offers a notable example of what can be done in a short time4 ,captain ,cook gave it that name1 on account of the savage appearance of the inhabitants4 ,when ,williams first visited them in #ahcj1 they appeared to be in no way improved4 ,several at length were induced to visit ,samoa1 where at the training college they gained so sound a knowledge of ,christianity1 that in #ahdf two of them were well fitted to impart it to their long-benighted countrymen4 ,they narrowly1 however1 escaped with their lives1 and some time elapsed before they could gain the confidence of those they came to instruct4 ,when visited by the ,reverend ,a ,murray in #aheb1 about two hundred converts had been made1 and many others had learned to look at the teachers with affection4 ,unhappily that very year several of the natives were killed by the crew of a man-of-war which had called off the island1 because one of them had stolen a carpenter's tool1 and among them was the chief who had protected the missionaries on first landing4 ,still they were already too well instructed to wish to return evil for evil1 and with simplicity complained that the punishment was rather severe1 especially as the innocent suffered1 though not altogether undeserved4 ,from this time forward1 under their native teachers1 the people made great progress in their knowledge of religious truth1 and so rapidly were numbers added to the ,church1 that in a few years not a heathen remained on the island4 ,it was not indeed till quite lately that an ,english missionary was placed on the island1 and he found five large churches built1 one of which was capable of holding more than a thousand people2 and many young men were anxious to be trained1 that they might carry the gospel to other lands4 ,i might give you a similar account of the way ,christianity has been introduced into many other islands1 and small groups of islands in this part of the ,pacific2 but ,i have a very different one to give of the western part1 or of those islands which form what is called ,melanesia4 ,they consist of five groups1 and not only do the inhabitants of each group speak different languages1 but frequently those of neighbouring islands4 ,we will begin with the large island of ,new ,caledonia1 on which the ,french have lately formed a convict establishment4 ,to the south of it is the ,isle of ,pines1 and to the east the three islands of ,mare1 ,livu1 and ,uea1 forming the ,loyalty group4 ,at ,mare and ,livu chiefly1 ,christianity has made progress1 and ,protestant missionaries have for some years been residing on them1 while the people of ,uea have gladly received the word2 but the ,isle of ,pines has been stained with the blood of several native missionaries2 and not only did the savage people reject the offer themselves1 but they impeded its progress on ,new ,caledonia1 by threatening all who became ,christians1 till the ,french arrived and put a stop to the promulgation of ,protestant truth among the people4 ,altogether1 the influence of ,romanism has been most pernicious in these islands4 ,to the north-east of them are the ,new ,hebrides1 the most southern of which is ,aneiteum2 next ,tanna1 ,eromanga1 ,fate1 ,malicolo1 ,espiritu ,santo1 and many others4 ,the next group is that of ,banks' ,island1 with ,santa ,maria1 and many small isles4 ,the ,santa ,cruz group is the fourth in the list2 and to the north-west of them the ,solomon ,isles1 consisting of many large islands1 make the fifth group4 ,the ,london ,missionary ,society have made every effort to carry the gospel to the inhabitants of the two first named groups1 and in some instances successfully4 ,it was at ,eromanga that the devoted missionary ,john ,williams fell1 with his young companion ,mr ,harris1 struck down by the club of a chief4 ,this sad murder did not prevent the ,society from making further efforts to send the gospel to the benighted inhabitants4 ,those efforts have been blessed1 and among the converts was the chief who committed the deed1 and who gave up to a missionary the very weapon with which the fatal blow was struck4 ,on ,aneiteum1 ,english missionaries are located1 ,christian ,churches have been established1 and1 with few exceptions1 the whole of the population have in name become ,christian4 ,these five groups are now called ,melanesia4 ,they have for some years past been regularly visited by the energetic ,bishop of ,new ,zealand1 who has induced young men from most of them to accompany him in his mission vessel to ,new ,zealand1 where at the ,auckland training college they are prepared to carry back the gospel to their savage countrymen4 ,a missionary bishop has lately been appointed to superintend the work1 which1 if carried on in the spirit with which it has been commenced1 must with ,god's blessing prosper4 ,these islands were long noted for the deeds of blood committed on their shores1 for the number of vessels cut off1 and both white and native missionaries murdered1 and the natives have been looked on in consequence as of the most fierce and sanguinary character4 ,that they deserved it in a degree there is no doubt2 but at the same time it is very certain that their conduct towards foreigners was caused by the unjust1 cruel way in which they were treated by the crews of vessels which came to procure sandal-wood on their shores4 ,these men shot them down1 cheated them1 and ill-treated them in every possible way1 sometimes carrying off chiefs and people from one place to exchange them as slaves for sandal-wood in another4 ,over and over again natives have been shot both on board vessels and on shore by the traders4 ,such was the cause of the death of the lamented ,john ,williams and young ,harris4 ,a trading vessel had touched at ,eromanga a short time before their arrival1 her crew having shot several natives1 among whom was the son of a chief1 who afterwards confessed that it was in retaliation he had instigated his countrymen to the attack1 and had himself struck the fatal blow4 ,but time will not allow me to give a further description of this portion of the ,pacific4 ,i have as yet told you nothing of the ,sandwich ,islands1 or1 as they are now called1 the ,hawaiian ,islands1 with their capital ,honolulu1 in the isle of ,oahu1 and their late sovereign1 ,king ,kamehameha the ,fourth4 ,they consist of several large and beautiful islands3 that of ,hawaii 7,owhyee71 containing two mountains1 ,mouna ,kea and ,mouna ,roa1 said to be eighteen thousand feet in height1 and by far the most lofty in the whole ,pacific4 ,the inhabitants are a fine and handsome race4 ,their religion was one of gross superstition1 and so overloaded with restrictions1 constantly increasing1 and curtailing the liberty of all classes except the priests1 that the chiefs and people at length became utterly weary of it4 ,even when visited by ,captain ,vancouver in #agic1 some of the chiefs requested him to send them instructors in the ,christian faith1--a prayer to which little attention appears to have been paid4 ,it was not till the year #ahbj that the young ,king ,rihoriho1 who had ascended the throne established by his victorious father1 no longer believing in the power of his idols1 and weary of the restraints of the old religion1 at one stroke broke through the hitherto sacred taboo and the entire system of priestcraft4 ,just before this eventful time it had been put into the hearts of ,christian men in the ,united ,states1 who formed the ,american ,board of ,missions1 to send missionaries to the long-known savage murderers of ,captain ,cook4 ,a band of devoted men1 admirably selected1 arrived on the #cjth ,march1 #ahbj1 in sight of ,mouna ,roa4 ,they were received in a friendly way by the king and many of the chiefs1 and three stations were soon occupied by them and their families4 ,two years afterwards1 ,mr ,ellis1 of the ,london ,missionary ,society1 was invited to come from ,tahiti to aid in the work1 which he was happily enabled to do4 ,he came accompanied by some native ,tahitian teachers1 who were of the greatest assistance to the missionaries4 ,he remained until the ill-health of ,mrs ,ellis compelled him to return to ,england4 ,the king of the ,sandwich ,islands and his excellent queen1 after they had become ,christians1 paid a visit to ,england1 where they soon died from the measles1 which they caught on landing4 ,king ,rihoriho1 who had assumed the title of ,kamehameha the ,second1 was succeeded by his younger brother1 the islands being well governed in the mean time by his mother and one of his chiefs4 ,the missionary stations were increased in number1 many schools were established1 and the natives began to understand the truths of the gospel1 and to accept its offers1 when there came a rude interruption from an outbreak of heathen chiefs1 set on by their priests4 ,after some severe fighting the rebels were defeated1 and the insurrection completely put down4 ,christianity and civilisation once more again made progress2 but the missionaries had to contend with opposition not only from the heathen natives1 but from so-called ,christian strangers1 who were furious at finding that they could no longer indulge in the gross licence in which in former days they had been accustomed to revel4 ,not only were they insulted by masters of whalers1 but the ,american missionaries complain that they were ill-treated by the commander of one of their own men-of-war1 and by all his subordinates4 ,from such sources have arisen the numerous calumnies current against the missionaries in the ,south-,sea4 ,see ,note #b4 ,in about ten years from the landing of the first missionaries one-third of the population were under instruction1 and there were no less than nine hundred native teachers2 but even at that time1 and much later1 there were many heathens1 and vice and immorality were very prevalent among professing ,christians4 ,still among all classes there were notable examples of true piety1 and ardent zeal for the propagation of the truth4 ,the excellent queen-mother1 ,kaahumanu1 by her precept and example did much to advance the cause of religion4 ,i must tell you of another native lady1 ,kapiolani1 the wife of ,naike1 the public orator of the kingdom1 by whose courage and faith one of the most terrible of the old superstitions of ,hawaii was overthrown4 ,the old religion was coloured by the awful volcanic phenomena of which these islands are the theatre4 ,the most fearful of all their deities was ,pele1 a goddess supposed to reside in the famous volcano of ,kilauea4 ,here1 with her attendant spirits1 she revelled amid the fiery billows as they dashed against the sides of the crater4 ,to the base of this volcano the old heathenism1 driven from the rest of ,hawaii1 slowly retreated1 though the priestesses of ,pele several times ventured even into the presence of the king1 to endeavour by threats of the vengeance of the goddess to induce him to support the faith of his fathers4 ,these impostors still exercised considerable influence over the uneducated masses4 ,kapiolani1 bold in the ,christian faith1 resolved practically to show how utterly powerless were these supposed fiery gods4 ,after a journey of a hundred miles1 as she neared the side of the mountain1 a prophetess of the supposed goddess met her with warnings and denunciations of vengeance4 ,but undauntedly she persevered1 and as she stood on the black edge of the seething caldron she addressed1 in words of perfect faith1 the anxious bystanders watching for the effects of ,pele's wrath3 ,jehovah is my ,god3 ,he kindled these fires4 ,i fear not ,pele4 ,if ,i perish1 then you may believe that she exists1 and dread her power4 ,but if ,jehovah saves me1 then you must fear and serve ,him4' ,as she spoke1 she cast with untrembling hand the sacred berries into the burning crater1 quietly waiting till the spectators should be convinced that no result was to follow4 ,thus she succeeded in breaking through the last lingering remnant of the long-dreaded taboo2 and while the priests and priestesses were compelled to support themselves by honest labour1 their votaries abandoned their heathen practices1 and in many instances sought instruction in the new faith4 ,the examples ,i have given will show you the mode in which ,christianity has spread over the isles of the ,pacific4 ,but there are still numberless dark spots to which the gospel has not been carried1 and in all1 the ,churches still require the support1 strengthening1 and instruction which in general white men can alone afford4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,note #a4 ,journal of a ,cruise among the ,islands of the ,pacific1 by ,captain ,j ,elphinstone ,erskine1 ,,rn1 page #ajj4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,note #b4 ,the ,quarterly ,review1 #ahec1 in noticing accounts of voyages in the ,pacific1 after quoting the favourable testimonies of some writers1 thus refers to others3 ,there is one circumstance which produces a very painful impression3 it is the extreme unfairness which has been brought to bear against the missionaries and their proceedings1 even by reporters whose substantial good intentions we have no right to controvert4 ,surely their work was one which1 whatever exception we may take against particular views or interests1 ought to have excited the sympathies1 not only of those who belong to the religious party1 as it is commonly called1 but of all who do not take a perverse pleasure in contemplating human degradation as a kind of moral necessity4 ,the object of these devoted men was to redeem the natives from no mere speculative unbelief1 but from superstitions the most sanguinary and licentious4 ,even those who were careless as to the great truths which the ,polynesians had to learn1 must feel1 upon reflection1 that merely to unteach the brutal and defiling lesson of ages of darkness was to confer a priceless blessing4 ,every prejudice should surely be in favour of the men who have by general confession accomplished the first and apparently most laborious part of this task2 instead of which a large class of writers find a species of satisfaction in thinking nothing but evil4 ,,chapter ,,eighteen4 ,a ,,hazardous ,,exploit4 ,mr ,bent had been waiting for my recovery to restore ,alea to her father1 and to revisit the newly-established ,christian community in her native island4 ,it was important to lose no time in doing this4 ,mary ,bent would have accompanied us2 but as her father proposed being absent only a short time1 and as the inconveniences of voyaging in a native canoe were very great1 he wished her to remain at home4 ,she was1 however1 not alone2 for the widow of a missionary resided with her1 and shared her onerous duties in instructing the native girls1 an occupation in which both ladies took the greatest delight4 ,all the inhabitants of the island now1 it must be understood1 professed ,christianity1 and might justly be called thoroughly civilised4 ,many also were true and sincere believers2 so that these two ,english ladies1 left alone on a small island of the ,pacific1 felt as secure as they would have done in the centre of civilised ,england4 ,as we drew near her father's island1 ,alea showed considerable trepidation and anxiety as to the way in which she would be received4 ,she could not persuade herself that one from whom she had fled so short a time before1 and left a fierce1 ignorant heathen1 would be willing to forgive her1 and treat her with kindness4 ,might he not also1 after all1 compel her to become the wife of the cannibal chief to whom she had been betrothed8 ,that was the most dreadful thought4 ,mr ,bent used every possible argument to calm her apprehensions4 ,although the poor girl had felt the influence of grace in her own soul1 she scarcely as yet comprehended its power to change the heart of men4 ,i had entertained a sincere interest in the fate of the young princess from the day we had found her and her perishing companions on board the canoe4 ,i was now able to exchange a few words with her1 and there was one subject on which she was never tired of dwelling1--the praise of ,mary ,bent1--in which ,i could always join4 ,believing that my future lot would be cast among the people of these islands1 ,i had begun seriously to study their language1 and ,i took every opportunity of practising myself in speaking it4 ,we had two native teachers on board1 who were to be left among the new converts1 and all day long ,i was talking to them1 so that ,i found myself making rapid progress in their somewhat difficult language4 ,with a fair wind1 the missionary flag flying from the mast-head1 we entered the harbour4 ,the shore was crowded1 and more and more people came rushing down from all quarters4 ,it was evident that they would not receive us with indifference4 ,mr ,bent had wished to prepare the king for his daughter's return2 but she was recognised before we reached the beach1 and several people hurried off to inform her father of her arrival4 ,as the vessel's keel touched the strand we saw the people separating on either side1 and between them appeared the old chief hurrying down towards us4 ,we instantly landed with ,alea1 and no sooner did her father reach her than1 contrary to all native customs1 he folded her in his arms1 and kissing her brow1 burst into tears8--but they were tears of joy4 ,forgive you1 daughter6 he answered to her petition4 ,it is ,i have to be thankful that ,i could not succeed in ruining your soul and body as ,i proposed4 ,what agony should ,i now be feeling had ,i cast you into the power of the child of ,satan1 to the destruction of your soul and body alike6 ,these words made ,alea truly happy1 and still more so when her father gave her free permission to become the wife of ,vihala4 ,during their first interview we stood aside2 but now the king came forward1 and invited us to come up to his abode4 ,he had evidently some reason for wishing us to come at once4 ,what was our surprise to see on the summit of a hill a building beyond all comparison larger than had ever been erected in the island4 ,the king pointed it out to us with no slight pride4 ,it was a church built entirely by the natives1 according to the descriptions given them by ,vihala1 and the assistance of two or three of them who had seen ,christian places of worship during their visits to other islands1 though they were at the time themselves heathen4 ,often have ,i since seen heathens sitting at the porch of a place of worship1 or standing outside the circle of eager listeners2 and ,i have hoped1 not without reason1 that those men were imbibing some portion of the seed thus scattered1 to bring forth fruit in due time4 ,this fact alone is encouraging2 indeed there is every encouragement to persevere in missionary labour throughout the ,pacific4 ,where1 indeed1 is it not to be found1 if waited for with patience8 ,the missionary1 too1 feels that he goes not forth in his own strength1--that a far higher influence is at work1 and on that he places his confidence of success4 ,nothing could be more satisfactory than the reception afforded us by the chief2 but ,i need not describe the number of hogs and fowls1 of bread-fruit1 of taro1 of the sweet potato1 and of numerous other articles of food which were collected to make a feast in honour of our arrival4 ,mr ,bent lost no time in carrying out the object of our visit1 in addressing the people1 and in installing the teachers in their office4 ,one of our first works was to plan a school-room and houses for the teachers1 and to suggest certain alterations in the church to make it more suitable for public worship4 ,it had been arranged that we should return before the next ,sabbath2 but as it was possible to complete the building by that day1 ,mr ,bent resolved to remain and open it in due form1 the natives redoubling their efforts1 and working almost day and night to effect that object4 ,i lent a hand1 and in sailor fashion erected a pulpit1 which1 as there was no time to carve1 ,i covered with matting and native cloth1 which had a novel1 though not unpleasing1 appearance4 ,i did not before speak of my ship3 ,i scarcely expected to find her here on my arrival4 ,indeed the captain1 ,i understood1 thought that all on board the boat had been lost4 ,he had waited1 however1 day after day1 till losing all patience1 he had sailed at length the very day we had reached the missionary station4 ,i was most concerned to hear that my boat had not reached the island1 though ,i had a hope that she had fallen in with the ,golden ,crown1 and been picked up4 ,if1 on the contrary1 she had been lost or captured by savages1 ,i felt how grateful ,i should be for having escaped destruction4 ,captain ,buxton1 fully believing that ,i was lost1 had left no message for me1 so that ,i could not tell where the ship had gone1 nor what were his intentions4 ,i must now return to the subject of the church4 ,the opening was one of the most interesting sights ,i ever beheld4 ,it was crowded at an early hour with people1 old and young1 all clothed in native cloth1 and with their hair cut short1--signs that they had lotued1 or become ,christians2 while numbers were seen approaching from all directions1 many of whom1 being unable to obtain seats inside1 crowded round the doors and windows4 ,mr ,bent's address was most fervent1 and1 though ,i could understand but little of it1 yet1 judging from the way in which the attention of every one present was absorbed1 it must have been deeply interesting4 ,of course but comparatively a small number of those present were really ,christians1 or understood even the great principles of ,christianity4 ,they now required the instruction which man can give1 and the work of the ,holy ,spirit to change their hearts4 ,i may here remark1 that ,i have often heard missionaries accused of over eagerness to increase the number of their flocks2 but ,i should say that ,protestant missionaries are never willing to consider those converted who are not really so1 and that no ministers of the gospel are more strict in the tests they apply to ascertain the fitness of converts for baptism4 ,mr ,bent well knew the character of his congregation1 and addressed them accordingly2 but surely it was glorious progress to have some hundreds of persons1 not long ago untamed savages1 listening attentively to the truths of the gospel4 ,no work of man could thus have progressed1--no mere civilising influence would have produced such an effect4 ,when the morning service was over1 the people assembled on the hill-side and in open spaces in the neighbourhood of the church1 and there1 while eating the provisions they had brought with them1 they eagerly discussed the subject of the discourse they had just heard4 ,the teachers ,i observed went about among them1 now sitting down with one group1 now with another1 and were thus able to answer questions1 to give information1 and to correct the erroneous notions which were likely to be entertained4 ,alea scarcely ever left her father's side1 and was continually engaged in imparting to him the instruction which she had received from ,mr ,bent and ,mary2 and it was interesting to observe the avidity with which the old man received the truth from the lips of the young girl4 ,i heard reports1 however1 that the heathen party1 still numerous1 were mustering strongly in another part of the island4 ,it had been ascertained also that a canoe manned by heathens had left the island some time back1 but where they had gone was not known4 ,these circumstances ,i thought suspicious1 and ,i feared foreboded evil4 ,the meeting at the service in the afternoon1 of the natives professing ,christianity1 was fully equal to that in the morning1 but there were fewer heathens4 ,the service continued with prayer and songs of praise1 and an address full of instruction and exhortation from ,mr ,bent4 ,it was almost concluded1 when a heathen chief1 an old friend of the king1 ,i found1 rushed breathless into the building1 announcing that a large fleet of double canoes was approaching the island1--that it was that of the cannibal chief to whom ,alea was betrothed1 coming undoubtedly with hostile intent4 ,how far off are the canoes8 asked the king4 ,some distance as yet1 was the answer4 ,then we will pray for protection from ,one mighty to save1 exclaimed the king4 ,we shall now judge which is the most powerful1--,jehovah1 whom we have lately learned to worship1 or the false gods whom we have cast away4 ,none of the people moved from their places4 ,the missionary concluded his discourse1 and then offered up an earnest prayer for protection from all dangers1 to which every one present repeated a loud ,amen4 ,they then moved in an orderly manner out of the church1 when the greater number hurried up the hill1 whence they could see the approaching canoes4 ,of these there were some fifteen or twenty of different sizes1 but most of them large enough to contain a hundred men at least4 ,they were making for a sandy point some way from the town or settlement1 where we concluded the enemy would land4 ,i could see with my glass the warriors dancing1 and shaking their spears1 and gesticulating violently1 in a way intended to insult those they had come to attack1 and to strike terror into their hearts4 ,a council of war was now held4 ,it was believed that the enemy would not attempt to make an attack that night1 but would wait till the morning2 still it was necessary to be prepared4 ,the warriors accordingly armed themselves1 and assembled in strong bodies under their different leaders4 ,it was a difficult position for ,mr ,bent and me4 ,he1 however1 at once stated that he could not assist our friends except by his advice and prayers1 but he told me that ,i might act as ,i thought fit4 ,should ,i fight1 or should ,i not8 ,there was a sore conflict within me4 ,my inclinations prompted me to fight1 but my new-born principles taught me to pray rather than to fight1 where not called on positively by duty to do so4 ,in either case1 my example might be of service4 ,i prayed 7as all men in a difficulty should pray7 to be guided aright4 ,i decided to remain with the missionary1 and use every means to stay the fight1 or to mitigate its horrors should it take place4 ,i am glad1 my son1 that you have so resolved1 remarked ,mr ,bent1 when ,i told him of my determination4 ,surely the prayers of a believing man are of more avail than the strong arm of the bravest of warriors4 ,it is a trial of your faith1 certainly2 but oh1 pray that your faith may not waver4 ,while ,i had been consulting with ,mr ,bent1 ,i found that a herald from the enemy had arrived with a demand that the ,princess ,alea should be forthwith delivered up to his master1 and threatening the king and all his adherents with utter destruction if he refused compliance4 ,tell your chief that once ,i was in the dark as he is4 ,then ,i thought it no sin to give him my daughter2 now ,i have light1 and see my wickedness and folly4 ,when he has light1 he likewise will see as ,i do4 ,my daughter cannot be his wife4 ,this bold speech seemed to astonish the herald1 who1 having repeated his threats1 took his departure4 ,active preparations were now commenced for the defence of the settlement1 and such fortifications as the natives use were thrown up on all sides4 ,slight as they may appear1 they are capable of offering a considerable resistance1 and on one occasion1 in the island of ,tongatabu1 a brave ,english naval officer and several of his men lost their lives in an attack on one of them held by a rebel and heathen chief who had set at defiance the authority of ,king ,george4 ,as evening drew on we could see the enemy on the sand-bank1 dancing round large fires which they had kindled1 the sound of their war-shrieks and shouts1 and the blowing of their conch-shells reaching us through the calm night air4 ,meantime the missionary repaired to the church1 which during the night was visited at intervals by the whole ,christian population4 ,the king also sat frequently in council with his chiefs4 ,one of the youngest1 who had1 however1 greatly distinguished himself1 arose and proposed leading a band of chosen warriors to attack the enemy before they commenced their march in the morning4 ,while they are singing and dancing1 they will not keep a good watch1 and thus we may approach them without being discovered4 ,jehovah will aid us4 ,it is ,satan fights for them4 ,we will prove which is the strongest4 ,all approved the words of the young chief1 and he had no lack of volunteers4 ,about two hundred men were chosen and well armed2 they at once set out on their hazardous exploit4 ,they had resolved to conquer and save their brethren or die1 and yet1 perhaps1 there was not one who did not expect to be victorious4 ,i had not seen ,alea for some time4 ,while ,i was with the king1 who was surrounded by several of his chiefs1 she unexpectedly made her appearance among us4 ,she was weeping bitterly4 ,father1 she said1 ,i am the cause of all the bloodshed which is about to occur4 ,let my life be sacrificed rather than that of so many of your friends4 ,give me up to the chief4 ,he can then have no cause to complain4 ,i will never be his wife4 ,i may make my escape or ,i may die1 but the lives of you and your friends will be preserved4 ,on hearing this noble resolve1 the chiefs to a man exclaimed that nothing should induce them to abandon the princess4 ,prayers from all sides were in the mean time offered up for the success of the band of warriors who had gone forth to attack the enemy4 ,no one1 however1 slackened in their efforts to fortify the town1 and all1 from the king1 when not engaged in council1 down to the slave taken in battle1 carried baskets of earth or posts for stockades1 during the greater part of the night1 to those parts of the fortifications which required strengthening4 ,as the hours drew on we waited anxiously for the result of the expedition4 ,i could not help feeling how critical was our position4 ,i was not anxious1 however1 on my own account1 but ,i could not help reflecting on the sad condition to which ,mary would be reduced should her father and ,i be cut off1 as we might too probably be if the heathens gained the victory4 ,then came the blessed and consoling thought that ,god cares for the orphans1 especially of those who serve ,him2 what strength and courage does it give those who rest on ,his sure promises--a comfort which people of the world can never enjoy4 ,i went the rounds of the fortifications a short time before dawn1 and found all the warriors at their posts4 ,i then rejoined ,mr ,bent1 and was conversing with him1 when a loud shout from a distance reached our ears1 followed by a confused sound of shrieks and cries mingled with the shouts1 which continued without cessation for many minutes4 ,scouts were sent out to ascertain the cause1 but no one returned before day broke4 ,the light then revealed to us the fleet of the enemy shoving off from the land4 ,some of the canoes had already got away1 others were hoisting their sails1 while a body of the enemy were defending themselves on the beach1 hard pressed by our friends4 ,on seeing this the warriors in the town rushed from their trenches1 but before they could reach the scene of action not an enemy remained on their strand1 with the exception of three or four slain and some thirty or more taken prisoners4 ,the rest sailed away in hot haste1 seized with an unusual1 if not an unaccountable panic4 ,as their sails had become mere dots on the horizon1 the victors entered the town singing1 not as before songs of triumph in honour of their idols1 but praises to ,jehovah1 to whom they ascribed their victory4 ,mr ,bent and ,i1 with the women and children and aged men who had not gone forth to the fight1 met them1 when the king1 in set form1 recounted what had occurred4 ,the first band had remained concealed till near daylight1 when the enemy appeared to be getting drowsy after all their feasting and dancing4 ,at a signal from their leader they dashed forth on the foe1 who1 totally unprepared for them1 were seized with a sudden panic1 and the greater number1 leaving even their arms1 fled towards their canoes4 ,the few who were killed had refused to receive quarter1 and as many as could be seized were taken prisoners4 ,these latter fully expected to be slaughtered immediately1 and to be offered up to idols1 if not to be eaten4 ,they had been somewhat surprised in the first instance to see that their friends who had been killed in the fight were decently interred where they fell1 instead of being dragged ignominiously by the heels to the town4 ,they only concluded that this was one of the new customs of the lotu people1 and had no expectation in consequence of escaping the common doom of captives4 ,several of them were chiefs who had attempted to defend the rear while their countrymen were embarking4 ,they stood with downcast1 sullen looks1 prepared for torture and death4 ,the king now approached them4 ,why1 ,o chiefs1 did you come to attack my island and my people8 he asked calmly4 ,we are now among those who wish to live at peace with all men1 to have enmity towards no one4 ,why did you desire to do us harm8 ,we came against you because our king and master ordered us1 answered one of the prisoners1 looking up with a fierce scowl of defiance on his countenance4 ,our object was to carry off your daughter to become our king's wife2 the rest of you we should have killed and eaten4 ,and ,i1 ,o chiefs1 let you go free because my ,king and ,master orders me to be merciful1 that ,i may obtain mercy1 answered the king4 ,you1 ,o chiefs and people1 are free to return to your own island1 but before you go you must learn something of the new religion which we have been taught1 that you may go back and speak of it to your people1 or wherever you may go4 ,the astonished captives could scarcely believe their senses1 the treatment was so unlike anything those they had known taken in war had experienced4 ,they consulted together and expressed their willingness to accept the offer4 ,they were completely overcome when the king promised them a large canoe and ample provisions for their return4 ,the people having taken some refreshment1 assembled at the church1 where hearty thanksgivings were offered up for the deliverance they had experienced4 ,the captives attended4 ,i watched their countenances4 ,they seemed lost in amazement4 ,all the sentiments were so new and strange4 ,the reign of the ,prince of ,peace was spoken of4 ,they soon after came to the missionary desiring that they might be allowed to serve so good a ,master4 ,they never seemed tired of receiving instruction in the new doctrine1 and ,i was struck with its wonderful adaptability to unsophisticated man1 and its power of satisfying his heart yearnings1 from the avidity with which they seized each point as presented to them4 ,it was now time to return to the mission station4 ,we bade an affectionate farewell to ,alea1 promising to send her intended husband back to the island as soon as possible4 ,the now liberated captives agreed to embark on the same day4 ,their chief entreaty was that a missionary or a teacher might be sent them to instruct them in the way of eternal life1 that way which1 by a wonderful combination of circumstances1 they were now anxious to follow4 ,thus the ,almighty works often1 and thus ,he has thought fit in an especial manner to work throughout the ,pacific4 ,the difficulty was to obtain a teacher4 ,mr ,bent had several under training at the station1 and he told the captives that if they would accompany us he would endeavour to find one who would return with them to their island4 ,they were delighted with the proposal1 and exhibited an extraordinary eagerness to set forth4 ,their hurry was at the time unaccountable1 as they were evidently sincere in their expressions4 ,anxious to please them1 we accordingly had our canoe launched1 taking several of them on board1 the remainder going in the canoe given by the king4 ,the wind being fair1 we had a quick run till more than half way across4 ,just then1 through our glasses1 we caught sight of a canoe1 which1 on discovering us1 as it seemed1 paddled off at right angles to avoid us--her people evidently mistrusting our character4 ,we instantly altered our course to cut her off1 and approached her with our missionary flag flying4 ,no sooner was this discovered than the canoe turned again towards us4 ,she soon drew near1 when we recognised the people in her as belonging to the station4 ,by their gestures and countenances we had too much reason to believe that they brought us evil tidings4 ,haste6 haste6 haste6 they exclaimed1 leaping on board4 ,a heathen fleet has arrived at the island1 and the chief threatens to attack the station4 ,even now he may have begun the onslaught1 for his fury was great4 ,haste6 haste6 haste6 ,,chapter ,,nineteen4 ,,the ,,launch ,,of ,,the ,,olive ,,branch4 ,we now understood more of the dangers to which the families of missionaries have often been exposed in all parts of the world4 ,i must own that in my fears for ,mary ,bent's safety1 my own faith and fortitude were well nigh giving way4 ,mr ,bent retained his calmness in a wonderful manner4 ,all things are in ,god's hands1 he observed4 ,he will guide them as ,he knows to be best4 ,we have to go on labouring to the utmost of our power1 leaving the rest to ,him4 ,i felt that ,i must be in action1 and hauling the canoe on board with the aid of her crew1 we got out the paddles and urged our craft ahead somewhat faster than the wind was doing4 ,every moment might be of consequence4 ,as the cannibal chief1 exasperated at having been deprived of ,alea1 might attempt to carry off ,mary1 the very thought drove me almost distracted4 ,i had had few or no trials in life1 and was not prepared for this one4 ,mr ,bent wished to ascertain whether1 if required1 we could depend on the assistance of our new friends4 ,they had heard what had occurred1 and at once volunteered to use every means in their power to prevent their chief from doing harm1 even to turning against him4 ,he will live perhaps to thank us1 one of them1 a young and intelligent chief1 observed4 ,at all events you have bound us to serve you4 ,all now seemed to depend on our arriving before the attack had begun4 ,we trusted that if not begun we should be able to prevent it4 ,meantime all we could do was to offer up constant1 earnest prayer for the protection of one so dear to us1 and for all those at the settlement4 ,the wind1 hitherto blowing a strong breeze1 now fell light1 and our progress was slower than before4 ,all is for the best1 depend on that1 my son1 repeated the missionary several times1 when he observed my look of anxiety4 ,god's loving mercy endureth for ever4 ,pray against doubt--pray against doubt4 ,put on the armour of faith4 ,in that you will find strength to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one4 ,my venerable friend spoke the truth1 and already my fears began to subside1 although ,i could in no way see the mode of deliverance4 ,i expressed the same to ,mr ,bent4 ,nor did we the other day1 but ,god clearly fought for us as ,he did in days of old for the children of ,israel1 by putting fear into the hearts of their enemies1 and so can ,he now find some means for the protection of those who serve ,him4 ,on we glided over the calm blue water4 ,now the breeze freshened1 and as the surface became rippled over1 it sparkled brightly in the sunbeams4 ,as the island came in sight my heart beat quicker and quicker1 and with difficulty ,i could restrain my impatience4 ,i stood at the bows with my glass at my eye directed constantly at the spot where the station was to be found4 ,as the sun then was1 objects close in under the land were not distinctly discernible1 but as my glass every now and then swept the horizon on either side1 the sails of a fleet of canoes came into view4 ,the instrument almost dropped from my hand4 ,we were too late4 ,the attack had been made and the victors were sailing away with their captives4 ,my first impulse was to give chase1 and to attempt their recovery4 ,i did not consider how powerless we were even should our new allies remain faithful4 ,for some time ,i could not bring myself to tell my fears to ,mr ,bent2 but it was necessary to alter our course if we were to pursue the enemy4 ,at length1 therefore1 it became necessary for me to tell him what ,i had seen4 ,he took the telescope1 and after a severe scrutiny of the horizon in every direction1 and especially of the island1 he asked1 in a more cheerful voice than might have been expected3 ,can you not assign some other cause for the flight of the foe8 ,look again4 ,i did so2 and now1 the sun having come round a little1 ,i saw close in with the missionary station a large ship at anchor4 ,she might be the ,golden ,crown1 come to take me away4 ,i hoped not4 ,my heart again sunk4 ,as we drew nearer ,i saw that she was much larger--a man-of-war4 ,the station was safe4 ,otherwise she would have been sailing in pursuit of the canoes4 ,with one voice we burst forth in the native tongue with songs of praise and thanksgiving2 and now the canoe seemed to glide more swiftly over the glad blue sea4 ,we entered the harbour1 where lay a fine ,english frigate4 ,as we passed her ,i hailed and inquired if the station was safe4 ,yes1 yes1 all right1 was the answer4 ,we came in just in time to prevent mischief4 ,our eagerness to reach home prevented us from stopping to make further inquiries4 ,no sooner did our boat's keel touch the strand than we leaped on shore4 ,even then before leaving the beach the missionary knelt down and offered up a few words of thanksgiving for the mercies vouchsafed us4 ,we reached the house4 ,mary and her companion did not come out to welcome us4 ,voices reached our ears from within4 ,one ,i thought ,i recognised4 ,we looked in4 ,mary was doing the honours of the tea-table with some other ladies4 ,there were three naval officers and two gentlemen in black coats4 ,one of the latter turned his face4 ,it was that of my brother ,john4 ,i had time to greet him while ,mary was receiving her father and introducing her guests4 ,then came my turn to be received by her4 ,i need not describe that4 ,i was very happy4 ,the whole scene was so different from what ,i had but a short time before expected1 that ,i was perfectly bewildered4 ,i felt deeply grateful that ,mary had escaped all the dangers ,i apprehended1 and which had really threatened her4 ,the frigate had appeared off the station just at the very moment that the cannibal chief and his followers were about to land4 ,she brought up with her guns commanding the approach to the town4 ,the captain1 suspecting mischief1 instantly despatched an armed boat to warn the chief that he would allow no warlike demonstration to be made in his presence1 and that if he attempted to land he would blow his canoes to pieces4 ,the warning had had at first very little effect1 and the chief1 in defiance1 leaping on shore with his followers from the largest canoe1 left her deserted4 ,the officer in charge of the boat immediately fired the gun in the bows right into her1 and almost knocked her to pieces4 ,the interpreter then shouted out1 ,if the small gun of this little boat will do all this mischief1 what would all the great guns of the big ship do8 ,the argument was irresistible4 ,the chief1 leaping on board another canoe1 begged that no more damage might be done1 and offered to sail away immediately1 promising never again to come near the settlement4 ,this he was allowed to do on condition of his returning directly home without committing further damage on the way1 and he was compelled to leave two hostages as a guarantee that he would perform his promise4 ,all this was told in a few words1 and ,john now introduced me to his devoted wife2 and as ,i heard of some of the many trials and dangers they had gone through1 and how calmly she had endured them1 ,i felt how admirably she was fitted to be the helpmate of a missionary4 ,the captain of the frigate was1 ,i discovered1 an old family friend--one who1 convinced of the importance of missionary labour1 was zealous in aiding and supporting missionaries of the gospel wherever he met them engaged in their ,master's work4 ,he had found ,john suffering from hard work and anxiety1 and had persuaded him and his wife to take a trip among several of the ,polynesian groups1 to visit as many of the missionary stations as could be reached1 in the hopes that he might return home with renewed strength for his work4 ,one of the ladies was his wife's sister1 who had come out to assist her in her labours--not the only example of self-devotion to a glorious and thrice blessed cause4 ,the other gentleman in plain clothes was the chaplain of the ship4 ,while conversing with him an idea occurred to me which ,i took an early opportunity of communicating to ,john1 who highly approved of it1 and undertook to broach the subject to ,mr ,bent while ,i mentioned it to ,mary4 ,it was one which concerned us both very nearly1 for it was a proposal to take the opportunity of marrying while a legally authorised person was present to perform the ceremony1 with my own brother and our naval friend as witnesses4 ,mary had no objections to offer1 and we soon overcame those ,mr ,bent suggested4 ,the benefit of the visit of the ship-of-war to the different missionary stations was very great1 besides having preserved ours from almost certain destruction4 ,the admirable discipline of the crew had a great influence on the minds of the heathen natives1 so different from what they had been accustomed to witness on board many whalers2 the perfect order of everything on board the ship1 and the mighty power of her guns1 awed them still more1 and showed them the folly of offending people who had in their possession such instruments of punishment4 ,i will not say that the appearance of any ship of war would do good4 ,unless discipline is strict and no licence is allowed1 they might do1 as some have done1 a great deal of harm4 ,one of the worst of this kind1 was that of ,captain ,kotzebue1 commanding a ,russian exploring expedition4 ,wherever he went he outraged decency by the licence he allowed his crew1 and on his return home malignantly abused the ,english missionaries whom he found nobly struggling1 against innumerable difficulties1 to reclaim the hapless natives from the sin and corruption which he had done his utmost to encourage4 ,others1 from ignorance or from vicious dispositions1 followed his line of abuse1 though happily the greater number of their publications have sunk into deserved oblivion1 while the glorious result of missionary labour1 evident to all who will inquire1 proclaims the falsehood of their accusations4 ,to the honour of the ,british navy be it said that by far the greater number of captains who have visited the isles of the ,pacific have rendered essential service to the missionary cause while on the spot1 and have spoken and written heartily in its praise on their return home4 ,we had very little time to prepare for the wedding as the frigate could not remain long4 ,i employed the interval in getting assistance from the ship's carpenters in building a vessel1 and instruction1 with the necessary plans for continuing the work after the frigate had gone4 ,i had some knowledge of the art to begin with1 so that ,i knew exactly what information ,i required4 ,my ambition was to have a fine1 serviceable little vessel1 and ,i had every hope of succeeding4 ,i was thoroughly up to rigging and fitting her4 ,the time passed very rapidly1 and my wedding-day arrived1 and ,mary became my most loving and devoted wife1--a bright example to those among whom our lot was cast4 ,i have not dwelt on the visit of my brother ,john1 or the enjoyment and benefit ,i derived from his society4 ,our station was healthy1 but the surgeon of the ship recommended his continuing the voyage1 and with reluctance ,i parted from him1 hoping1 however1 to visit him when my schooner should be completed4 ,once more the missionary station was left in its usual quiet state2 but1 though quiet1 no one was idle4 ,there were schools both for adults as well as children1--the males1 under the superintendence of ,mr ,bent1 with native teachers2 the women and girls under ,mary and her friend4 ,classes also assembled during most days in the week for religious instruction4 ,mr ,bent was also frequently engaged in teaching the young men and boys various mechanical arts3 house-building in its various departments1 agriculture and gardening1 and last1 though not least1 printing and book-binding4 ,it is wonderful with what rapidity many acquired the art of printing1 and many learned to bind books with great neatness and strongly4 ,i meantime1 aided by my wife1 was making fail progress in the language1 so that ,i was able to talk without difficulty to the men who assisted me in building the vessel4 ,she was at length ready for launching4 ,i proposed calling her the ,mary1 but to this my wife would not consent4 ,we had a discussion on the subject round our tea-table during that pleasantest of all meals in most missionary1 indeed in most quiet families4 ,the ,ark was proposed1 and then the ,olive ,branch4 ,the latter was the name decided on4 ,it was made a day of rejoicing and prayer and praise on the occasion of launching the little ,olive ,branch4 ,formerly one1 or perhaps several1 human victims would have been offered up to their idols by the then benighted inhabitants4 ,the vessel herself was decked with flags and garlands1 and surrounded by high poles1 from which gay-coloured banners were flying4 ,a feast was prepared also1 at which the chief1 who came in state1 presided4 ,we had limited the quantity of provisions1 or else1 according to custom1 far more than could have been consumed would have been collected4 ,a large bower or tent of boughs and flowers had been erected for the chief and his principal attendants1--a very elegant1 though a rapidly created structure4 ,mary named the vessel as she glided down the ways1 and a hymn of thankfulness1 combined with a prayer for the safety of all who might ever sail in her1 was sung by the children of the school at the same time1 the effect being admirable4 ,i was somewhat anxious till ,i saw the little craft floating safely in the water4 ,we had purposely avoided anything savouring of heathenism1 such as breaking a bottle of wine on her bows1 taken evidently from the ,greek custom of pouring out a libation to ,neptune2 nor would we make a mockery of the rite of baptism1 by pretending to christen her4 ,living among heathens1 it was our duty to be especially circumspect in all our proceedings4 ,the natives are very acute1 and are accustomed to make enquiries as to the meaning and origin of everything they see4 ,how unsatisfactory would have been the answer we should have had to give1 had we1 without consideration or thought1 adopted the practice generally followed in ,england4 ,the missionaries have endeavoured as much as possible to abolish all heathen customs1 so that the evil-disposed may have no temptation to return to them4 ,in this they show wisdom4 ,even the sports and pastimes of heathenism1 though they may by some be considered harmless in themselves1 are generally adverse to the spiritual life of a ,christian1 and therefore they have been discouraged4 ,the missionaries have in consequence been accused of being morose and narrow-minded4 ,far1 far different is their real character4 ,as a class1 they are zealous1 earnest1 devoted men1 full of life1 activity1 and energy1--courageous and persevering1--gifted with high and varied attainments1 which would enable them to shine among civilised communities1 but they have joyfully abandoned home and country1 and1 in obedience to their ,lord and ,master1 have gone forth to teach the heathen the unsearchable riches of ,christ4 ,let those who may fancy that ,i overpraise these men1 read their memoirs1 and they will be convinced of the truth of my statements4 ,the native carpenters worked admirably4 ,i had spars1 rigging1 and a suit of sails ready1 supplied me by the frigate1 with a compass and such nautical instruments as ,i required1 so the ,olive ,branch was soon ready for sea4 ,i proposed in my first experimental trip to pay a visit to ,vihala1 to leave two more native teachers on the island1 and then1 on my return1 to see ,alea1 and to ascertain the progress made by her father and fellow-islanders in religion4 ,mary begged that she might accompany me1 and1 as her father made no objections1 ,i was too glad of her company to refuse4 ,for several days1 however1 ,i first made frequent trips out of the harbour1 to exercise my native crew1 who1 although they had never before been on board a vessel1 became efficient hands in a wonderfully short space of time4 ,the reason of this was that they gave their minds thoroughly to their work1 and were anxious to learn everything ,i could teach them4 ,the ,olive ,branch was completed to my satisfaction and to that of all who saw her4 ,i was indeed very proud of her1 as chiefly the work of my own hands2 and yet when ,i compared the slight difficulties ,i had had to overcome with the great ones conquered by ,mr ,williams at ,raratonga1 when building the ,messenger of ,peace1 ,i felt sensibly how little cause ,i had to boast4 ,as ,mr ,bent had promised to relieve ,vihala of his charge as soon as possible1 two teachers had been trained for the purpose1 and these we now took on board4 ,we had with us a number of axes and knives1 and other articles most prized by the natives1 both to pay for provisions or whatever we might require1 as also to bestow on ,vihala1 hoping that1 if he were thus richly endowed1 the old king would not refuse longer to give him his daughter4 ,two of the men who had come as heathen enemies now remained as friends1 and earnest searchers after truth4 ,the remainder1 deeply imbued with the spirit of ,christianity1 had returned to their own island1 we hoped to pave the way for a missionary among its still heathen and cannibal inhabitants4 ,thus during the few months since ,i had left my ship ,i had seen a way made for the entrance of the gospel into these thickly-inhabited islands4 ,thus it has pleased ,god to work through human agency among a large proportion of the isles of the ,pacific2 nor has ,he ever failed to afford1 after a time1 superabundant encouragement to ,his faithful labourers4 ,oh that some of the many thousands and thousands of young men and women who read this would consider the noble1 the glorious nature of missionary work1 and esteem it as a high privilege to be allowed to employ their energies in the cause6 ,how different was our voyage from that which ,mary1 ,mr ,bent1 and ,i before took in the same direction6 ,but where were our companions8 ,were we the only ones alive out of the whole party8 ,at all events1 we had ample reason to be grateful4 ,the wind was fair1 and our passage promised to be as calm and pleasant as we could desire4 ,on getting near enough to the island to distinguish objects on shore1 we saw a number of people hurrying down to the beach1 from among the trees1 while some launched their canoes and paddled off through the opening in the reef towards us4 ,their object was to welcome us1 and to pilot the schooner into their harbour4 ,they knew that the schooner was a missionary vessel from her flag1 but they had not guessed who was on board4 ,their delight1 when they recognised ,mr ,bent and ,mary1 was excessive2 and so completely did they forget all about the vessel1 that had ,i not kept a good look-out she would have run right on to the reef4 ,on our enquiring for ,vihala1 the answer was1 ,he is well1 and we all ,christian4 ,the glorious news we found on landing to be true4 ,vihala received us with joy unfeigned1 and it was some little time before we could proceed1 from the number of people who crowded round us to express their satisfaction at our arrival4 ,great also was ours when1 at length moving on1 we saw before us a handsome structure1 a church erected entirely by the natives1 under ,vihala's superintendence1 capable of holding seven or eight hundred persons1 and near it a school-house and two neat residences for teachers4 ,your church is indeed large1 observed ,mr ,bent1 after expressing his admiration of it to ,vihala4 ,yes1 was the quiet answer2 but all desire to hear the word1 and why should any be excluded8 ,the kingdom of heaven is wide enough for all4 ,alas6 that any should so mistake the gospel message as to think differently1 and to act as if all should be thrust out who do not conform to certain rules and regulations of man's invention1 although they with deep repentance trust in the blood of ,christ alone for salvation4 ,many a once heathen savage will rise up in the day of judgment to condemn those men4 ,would that1 for their own sakes1 they could even now voyage amid the isles of the ,pacific1 and behold the glorious work wrought by the instrumentality of true ,christian men of various branches of the one ,church1 and ,i believe that they would be compelled to acknowledge that an unction from on high is of more avail in saving souls alive than any mere official and external qualification1 such as the ,romish priesthood with its pretended apostolic succession claims4 ,the means are best judged of by the result1 and that can be known of all men4 ,by their works ye shall know them4 ,it was remarkable that1 except for the few days ,mr ,bent had preached on the islands1 none of the inhabitants had heard the truth from a white missionary1 and yet the majority of them had cast away their idols1 and become nominal ,christians1--while many of them were really converted4 ,we had a most delightful time on the island4 ,the two new teachers we brought somewhat reconciled the people to the loss of ,vihala1 though their grief was most unmistakable when they were told that he must leave them for a time at all events4 ,again we were on the ocean1 and approaching the island where ,vihala expected to meet his promised bride4 ,he had long been separated from her4 ,he acknowledged that it had been for his good1 and he hoped that1 with the spiritual benefits he had received while engaged as a teacher1 they should the better be able to walk together on their heavenward way1 and lead others on to the same happy goal4 ,,chapter ,,twenty4 ,a ,,fearful ,,hurricane4 ,but a few years ago1 before the power of ,god's word was felt among the inhabitants of the fair islands of the ,pacific1 to the numerous dangers usually encountered by mariners1 that of being attacked and cut off by cannibal savages was to be added throughout its whole extent4 ,now1 throughout the eastern portion1 the greater number of the islands may be visited1 not only without fear1 but with the certainty of a friendly reception4 ,there are still some1--like the ,marquesas and parts of the ,pomautau group1 or ,low ,archipelago1--which still remain in the darkness of heathenism2 but on the western portion of that mighty ocean1 the bright spots on which the gospel shines are the exception to the general rule1 and over the widest parts the spirit of evil reigns supreme4 ,it was here that true soldier of ,christ1 the energetic ,williams1 fell2 and here1 too1 ,mr ,gordon and his wife and family were lately murdered by the savage inhabitants4 ,it was towards a group of islands in the eastern ,pacific that the ,olive ,branch was now holding its course4 ,we had seen ,vihala happily united to ,alea1 with the full consent of the old king1 and they had devoted themselves for missionary labour wherever they might be required4 ,this was surprising to many1 and to the heathen perfectly incomprehensible4 ,it was as astonishing to them as it would be to people in ,england1 if a young noble of high rank were to declare his resolution of going forth as a missionary of the gospel to these heathen lands4 ,yet what undertaking more glorious1 what work more pleasing to the ,lord and ,master1 whom ,christians of all ranks1 rich and poor1 profess to serve4 ,we had likewise visited the island of the once cannibal chief1 who had heard of the new religion from his countrymen1 had confessed its vast superiority to his own1 cast away his idols1 and gladly received the two teachers we had brought with us4 ,all this had been most cheering and encouraging4 ,we had landed ,mr ,bent at the station1 and now we hoped shortly again to meet my brother ,john and his wife1 and to convey them1 and some other missionaries and their wives1 to a general meeting to be held shortly at the central station4 ,we had received on board a variety of stores1 and books1 and numerous articles to distribute among the various stations at which we were to touch4 ,indeed1 it was highly satisfactory to me to find how useful my little ,olive ,branch could be made4 ,hitherto the little vessel had not encountered a single storm4 ,it was like the rest we might suppose the ocean enjoyed after the subsidence of the waters when the ark rested on ,ararat1--not a calm1 though2 for gentle breezes filled our sails1 and rippled over the blue surface of the sea with glittering wavelets1 laughing joyously in the sunbeams4 ,a lovely island hove in sight1 with blue mountains1 and rocks1 and sparkling waterfalls1 and green shrubs1 and pastures1 and graceful palm-trees1 and yellow sands2 and we sailed in through an opening in the never absent reef1 and dropped our anchor in a sheltered and beautiful harbour1 and numbers of canoes surrounded us4 ,but we had no boarding nettings up1 no guns loaded1 no pistols in our belts1 no cutlasses and pikes ready at hand2 for the gospel ruled here4 ,the canoes were filled with well-clothed1 intelligent natives4 ,not an oath was heard1 not a man showed an angry temper1 and not one who could not read the word of ,god1 and understood it too1 and could give a clear reason for the hope that was in him1 and who was not probably1 even in secular matters1 far better educated than the larger portion of the watermen of any port in ,england1 or other long-civilised country in the world4 ,provisions of various sorts had been brought in the canoes2 but when ,i enquired for ,john ,harvey1 and announced that ,i was his brother1 and that my wife was the daughter of ,mr ,bent1 not an approach to payment would any one receive4 ,when we landed they lifted us up in their arms1 and carried us thus to the mission house1 where our appearance was a pleasant surprise to our sister-in-law1 who had not been made aware of our arrival4 ,my brother was away1 but every hour expected back4 ,i had looked upon ,mr ,bent's station as a model of neatness2 this was larger1 and superior in many respects2 nor was it inferior in respect to spiritual things4 ,the church1 built entirely of stone1 was a large and handsome building1 and the most conspicuous object from the sea4 ,running parallel with the shore were two rows1 facing each other1 of neat cottages1 many of stone1 with verandahs round them1 and gardens both in front and in the rear4 ,between them was a broad hard road1 with two rows of trees1 and a stream of sparkling water led through the centre1 fed by a waterfall which came foaming down the side of a rocky hill at a little distance inland4 ,several streets of equal width had been commenced at right angles with the main street1 and on the same plan1 and new houses were in course of erection in several directions4 ,here it was evident1 indeed1 was the commencement of a large town4 ,the cottages were all very fair copies of the mission-house1 though on a smaller scale4 ,those of some of the chiefs1 however1 were of good size1 and were arranged so that they could enjoy all the privacy of domestic life4 ,and why1 it may be asked1 was this congregation of natives in one place8 ,what could be the attraction8 ,my love and admiration of ,john suggested the answer1 and ,i was right3 the power of ,god's word put forth through ,his faithful servant4 ,the inhabitants of this town had been collected by concern for their soul's welfare1 and the belief that the nearer they were to the preacher the more that welfare would be cared for4 ,they displayed a wisdom which is foolishness to the world1 and is1 alas6 too often neglected by those at home1 by those who profess to be seeking after the food which perisheth not4 ,i write this1 as well as other comparisons ,i have made1 not to find fault with my countrymen at home1 but that 7should my journal ever be read by any of them7 ,i may excite in them a holy emulation with these so late savage heathens1 that they may examine themselves1 and ascertain whether they are using all the means in their power to attain to holiness of life and conversation1 and without which their spiritual life will too probably languish4 ,i found my sister-in-law actively engaged from morning till night in her household duties1 and in affording instruction of every description to native women of all ages4 ,she declared with perfect sincerity her belief that she was one of the happiest of her sex4 ,she retained the most perfect health1 though her figure was slight and delicate1 and she had been most gently and tenderly nurtured4 ,not only that1 but she had been what is called highly educated1 and was not a stranger to the gay and brilliant assemblies of civilised life4 ,it was not that she knew no other lot1 and therefore esteemed her present one the best2 but she had weighed it with many others she did know1 and found it immeasurably superior4 ,she knew from experience that worldly rank hides many a heavy or vacant heart where ,god is not acknowledged1 that wealth cannot give peace of mind1 and that gaiety and dissipation most assuredly quench spiritual life4 ,she had found1 too1 that even a decent church-attending style of existence may be unprofitable to the soul1 and as certain to lead to spiritual death4 ,my sister-in-law was not entirely alone4 ,there were two other stations on the island1 which was large1 and the missionaries and their wives enjoyed frequent intercourse1 thus encouraging and supporting each other4 ,indeed1 ,i have as a rule found the stations the most prosperous both spiritually and physically where two missionary families have been living together1 or where they are near enough to meet frequently4 ,a missionary's wife has to attend to her household duties1 often not slightly onerous when she has children requiring instruction4 ,then she has the female schools to look after1 adult classes to receive at her own house1 to afford advice to all who ask it1 to call on the sick and to administer medicine1 and to visit often from house to house4 ,she must correspond with friends at home2 she has her private devotions1 and must take time for reading and self-examination1 or she will find that she can ill perform her other duties4 ,i do not believe that ,i have overstated the amount of work ,i have known my sister-in-law and other missionaries' wives perform4 ,indeed1 my own wife was in the habit of getting through not less daily1 for weeks together4 ,although the greater number of the inhabitants of the island had become ,christians in name1 there was still a large district the powerful chief of which remained a stubborn heathen4 ,he seemed to hate the gospel with a deadly hatred1 and threatened to club any of his subjects who should venture to lotu4 ,notwithstanding this1 several who had heard the truth1 either directly or through their friends1 had secretly escaped to ,christian villages4 ,many of these persons had become really converted1 and were of course longing to induce their relatives and friends to become ,christians likewise4 ,such was the state of things when the ,olive ,branch arrived at the island4 ,a more beautiful picture could scarcely be found than that presented by the calm bay on which our little vessel floated1 with her mission-flag flying1--the glittering sand1 the tall cocoa-nut and bread-fruit trees1 the wild rocks and fantastic-shaped hills1 the green fields1 the foaming waterfalls and shining streams1 and the rows of neat habitations1 the church and school-houses1--all showing that the gospel had indeed here found an entrance1 and made it doubly beautiful in our sight4 ,we had been some hours on shore when we saw the natives hurrying out of their cottages and assembling in the chief street1 and the cry arose that the missionary was coming4 ,i was scarcely prepared for the warm and affectionate greeting with which they welcomed him4 ,there was no adulation and nothing cringing in their manner2 but it was evident that they knew him from experience as a sincere and loving friend4 ,great as was our mutual satisfaction at again meeting1 so multifarious were his duties that we had but little time for private conversation4 ,i was able1 however1 to ascertain that ,john's heart was in his work1 and that he infinitely preferred being a missionary in the ,south-,seas to holding the highest secular office at home4 ,the ,sabbath came4 ,it was a day of toil to the preachers and teachers1 and yet a day of refreshing to them as it was to hundreds of others1 who collected from all quarters to worship the true ,god1 and to hear ,his word expounded4 ,many came with their wives and little ones1 bringing their provisions1 to spend the day of rest in obtaining spiritual food for their souls' welfare4 ,the service over1 numbers collected round my brother and the native teachers1 and almost the whole interval between the services was devoted to affording advice and consolation to these seekers after life eternal4 ,but the faith of the young ,christian community in the especial providence of ,god was sorely to be tried4 ,all things were prepared for our departure1 and we were about going on board the ,olive ,branch1 when the somewhat threatening appearance of the weather made me resolve not to sail before the following morning4 ,i was convinced shortly that a gale of more or less strength was coming on1 and leaving ,mary at the mission house1 ,i went on board to secure the vessel and make all things snug4 ,scarcely had ,i got out a second anchor and two fresh warps than dark clouds were seen rushing across the sky1 the wind howled among the hills and trees1 lightning flashed brightly1 and the thunder roared and rattled fearfully4 ,i was in hopes1 however1 that the vessel would1 notwithstanding1 ride in safety1 when it struck me that the sea outside was roaring louder than usual1 and in an instant a huge roller appeared rushing with fearful violence into the harbour1 while before ,i could look round ,i found the vessel lifted up1 cables and anchors dragging1 and warps giving way1 and on we drove helplessly towards the shore4 ,my crew held on to the bulwarks with affrighted looks1 for we could expect nothing else than that our little vessel would be dashed to pieces1 and if so1 that we ourselves should be swept out of the harbour by the receding wave4 ,another dread seized me1 that the roller might sweep up to the mission house and overwhelm those so dear to me4 ,this feeling made me forget all fear for my own life1 or for those with me4 ,as ,i gazed landward1 ,i saw the devastation the hurricane was already committing4 ,several cottages were in view4 ,now the wind lifted the roof of one and bore it in shattered fragments to a distance4 ,now the walls of another trembled and fell2 tall trees were bending and breaking1 or being torn up by the roots and laid prostrate2 house after house was thus destroyed2 whole groves of trees1 as it seemed to me1 fell to the ground2 darkness appeared to be coming down like a thick mantle to add to the horrors of the scene4 ,on drove our little vessel2 the rocks against which ,i expected to be dashed appeared2 these were covered1 and over them we were carried by the raging tide1 above even the sands1 and lifted high up on to a soft bank amid brushwood stern first1 where she hung while the waters rushed back leaving her uninjured on the shore4 ,we were mercifully preserved from the sudden death we expected1 and were grateful2 but yet1 though not cast down1 knowing all would be for the best1 ,i felt most anxious to assure myself of the safety of my dear wife and her companions4 ,we had come on shore1 as far as ,i could judge1 half a mile or more from the mission house1 a distance which it would be not only difficult but extremely dangerous to traverse while the storm was raging and tall trees were being hurled about like straws4 ,one of my crew--a true ,christian man--volunteered to accompany me4 ,the ,olive ,branch had already been made snug aloft1 so when ,i had seen her securely shored up1 trusting and believing that no second roller would come to move her1 ,i set off1 leaving the rest of the people on board to attend to her4 ,my companion and ,i provided ourselves each with a stout pole4 ,i led the way1 he to help me should ,i fall1 and ,i promising to turn back should he cry out4 ,the noise of the tempest prevented our having anything like conversation with each other1 indeed it was only when we shouted at the very top of our voices that they could be heard4 ,the darkness had increased1 and as ,i began to move on ,i felt that the attempt was almost beyond my power2 still the incentive was so great that ,i resolved to persevere4 ,i prayed for strength and protection4 ,in my own arm ,i knew that ,i could not trust4 ,there were no stars to guide me1 and the flashes of lightning sadly confused and dazzled my eyes1 so that it was only by keeping as near as possible to the shore that ,i could hope to keep in the proper direction4 ,this way was longer1 however1 and very rough where rocks covered the ground1 and ,i dreaded a return of the roller1 when we might have been swept helplessly away4 ,the dangers to be encountered by keeping inland were equally great4 ,we might be struck by lightning1 crushed by falling trees1 or losing our way1 fall into some gully or chasm4 ,feeling the ground before us with our poles1 my companion and ,i began our hazardous march1 ,i desired him to keep as close behind me as he could1 and to shout frequently to assure me that he was following4 ,the tempest increased in fury1 the rain came down in torrents1 causing such floods as in some places almost to sweep us off our feet4 ,we had made good some five or six hundred yards1 when ,i thought that we might make faster progress on the higher ground1 where the water would not be so great an impediment to our progress4 ,i knew also that we should be able to steer our course more or less directly by feeling the direction the water was flowing1 so that we might always regain the sea by following down the streams4 ,accordingly we attempted gradually to gain the higher ground1 but as we ascended1 we felt the wind blowing with greater force1 and were again nearly carried off our legs by it4 ,i had to exert all the energies of my mind not to become totally bewildered4 ,over rough rocks we climbed1 and fallen trunks of trees1 and through the beds of streams1 down which the fierce waters now rushed foaming and roaring with fearful force1 and across swamps and marshes1 till at last we reached a grove of tall trees4 ,we could discover no way round it1 so ,i resolved to push through it by a path in which we found ourselves4 ,the trees were bending and writhing1 and the loud crashes we heard told us that every instant some were hurled to the ground4 ,now one fell directly before me1 and impeded my progress4 ,i climbed over it1 my companion followed1 and we continued our course1 guided as before by the way the rain beat on our heads and the waters flowed past our feet4 ,again the thunder rolled loudly and the lightning flashed with startling vividness1 casting a horrid glare over the whole scene1 now darting amid the lofty boughs1 and then snake-like running with loud hisses along the ground4 ,how utterly helpless and insignificant ,i felt amid the war of the elements4 ,still onward we must advance4 ,how much farther ,i could not tell4 ,my companion's frequent shout cheered me4 ,perhaps trusting to the aid of another made me more careless1 for neglecting for an instant to keep my stick feeling the ground before me1 ,i stumbled forward1 and found myself floundering in a foaming stream4 ,my cry prevented my companion from falling likewise4 ,descending more cautiously he rushed into the flood after me1 and seizing me by the jacket just as ,i was being borne down1 assisted me to regain my feet1 and helped me across1 the water being scarcely up to our middles4 ,in another instant ,i should have been carried helplessly down the stream beyond my depth4 ,we struggled out1 ,i scarcely know how1 and pushed on4 ,again1 ,i took the lead4 ,we were passing through a second grove of bread-fruit trees4 ,another tall tree fell directly before me4 ,i climbed over it4 ,crash succeeded crash4 ,i prayed for preservation from the fate which might any moment overtake me4 ,i began to hope that we were approaching the station4 ,still we were not out of the wood4 ,i was working my way on when it occurred to me that my companion had not sung out to me for a longer time than usual4 ,i called to him4 ,there was no answer4 ,eager as ,i was to push on1 ,i could not desert him4 ,i turned back4 ,again and again ,i called4 ,there was no answer4 ,i reached a fallen tree4 ,was it the one ,i had climbed over1 or was it one which had fallen after ,i had passed8 ,i felt along it4 ,my foot struck against a soft substance4 ,i stooped down4 ,there lay a human form--quite still though--the hand ,i lifted fell powerless4 ,my companion was dead4 ,one shall be taken and the other left4 ,god in ,his good providence had thought fit to spare me4 ,my companion was trusting wholly in ,christ's blood4 ,i could not mourn him as one without hope4 ,it was no time to delay4 ,once again ,i was straining all my energies to find and follow the right way4 ,it appeared to me that far more than double the time had passed which ,i had believed would suffice to reach the station4 ,i almost ran against the gable end of a house the greater part of which was in ruins4 ,i heard a loud moan4 ,it was repeated4 ,i hunted about till ,i came on a native crouching down and endeavouring to find shelter under part of the building yet standing4 ,i asked him if he would guide me to the mission house4 ,my voice roused him1 and he said he would gladly do so4 ,he sprang to his feet1 and led me on by the hand4 ,here it is6 he exclaimed2 but1 alas1 it was roofless and deserted4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,note #a4 ,in the course of this volume the author1 it will be observed1 has transcribed much from the actual reports of missionaries1 and from the journals of naval officers who have visited the ,south-,seas4 ,even in the connecting thread of narrative1 and in descriptive scenes such as this of the storm1 the writer has stated nothing for which he has not ample authority in published works4 ,in a most interesting book1 ,gems from the ,coral ,islands1 by the ,reverend ,william ,gill1 volume two1 chapter #i1 an account is given of the fearful hurricane of #ahdf1 which devastated the island of ,raratonga4 ,dr ,bourne1 son of the ,reverend ,r ,bourne1 one of the founders of the ,tahitian mission1 the friend and associate of ,williams1 thus writes concerning the illustrations which accompany our letterpress1 proofs of which he had seen3 ,the engravings represent the tropical aspect of the vegetation with great correctness4 ,many are not aware of the grandeur of the mountain scenery in some of the islands4 ,dr ,darwin1 who was with ,captain ,fitzroy's expedition1 says of ,tahiti3 ,until ,i actually visited this island1 and tried to penetrate its mountain fastnesses1 ,i could never understand the statement made by ,ellis1 in his ,polynesian ,researches1 that after the great battles of former times the defeated party took refuge in the mountains1 where it was impossible to follow them4' ,mr ,darwin then describes the rugged ravines and forest-clad precipices1 wilder than anything he had witnessed in the ,south ,american ,andes or ,cordilleras4 ,raiatea1 ,eimeo1 and others in the ,society group1 are composed of vast and abrupt mountain ranges1 rising almost abruptly from the sea1 and having very little habitable ground1 but all covered with the densest vegetation4 ,the most stupendous volcanoes in the world are those of the ,sandwich ,islands1 compared with which ,etna and ,vesuvius are mere hillocks4 ,,chapter ,,twenty ,,one4 ,,the ,,ruined ,,village4 ,for an instant the horror of finding the house in ruins1 and being unable to discover my wife and the dear ones with her1 almost overcame me4 ,i should have sunk to the ground exhausted1 had not the native supported me4 ,trust in ,jehovah1 friend1 he remarked1 quietly4 ,he knows what is best for us all3 your wife and our good missionary are in ,his hands4 ,how long have you been a ,christian8 ,i could not help asking4 ,two years1 was the answer4 ,before that ,i was a gross idolater and cannibal2 there was no wickedness ,i did not do4 ,but1 praised be the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 ,i was1 through the teaching of the ,holy ,spirit1 brought out of darkness into the light of ,his glorious truth4 ,i felt rebuked1 and grasping my staff once more1 braced myself up to continue my search4 ,the native accompanied me4 ,they may have escaped to the mountains1 he observed4 ,we will go there4 ,i can find the path even in the dark1 and there is a cavern not far up1 where they may have taken shelter4 ,once1 when we were devil's people1 we dreaded to enter it1 thinking it the abode of evil spirits2 now that we are ,god's people1 we know that ,god is everywhere1 and have no fear4 ,again ,i felt how the remark of this babe in ,christ1 this late savage heathen1 would rebuke many of those in our own dear ,england who1 even in this professedly enlightened nineteenth century1 yet tremble at the thoughts of ghosts1 witches1 and other similar phantoms of their foolish imaginations4 ,it appeared to me that the hurricane was subsiding2 but still our progress was slow and painful4 ,it was1 however1 an advantage having a beaten path1 though that in many places was cut up by the water1 and in others1 trees and roofs of cottages had been blown across it4 ,i found that we were ascending1--higher and higher up the mountain we got4 ,lofty rocks appeared on every side1--the lightning seemed to be more vivid1--the crash of the thunder1 as it reverberated in rattling peals amid the cliffs1 was even louder than before4 ,i remembered my companion's remark1 and felt no fear4 ,there is the cavern1 he said1 at length4 ,i hurried in through a narrow opening1 following closely at his heels4 ,a light was shining at the farther end3 it was from a fire1 round which a number of persons were collected4 ,on the opposite side1 with the light shining full on his countenance1 stood my brother ,john4 ,a book was in his hand1--the book of books undoubtedly4 ,his eyes were turned toward heaven3 he was praying for the safety of all those exposed to the fury of the tempest4 ,my own name was mentioned4 ,i advanced1 and knelt down by the side of my own ,mary4 ,god hears prayer1 ,i whispered4 ,he has preserved me4 ,she soon lay in my arms1 weeping tears of joy4 ,i now learned that no sooner had the signs of the coming tempest appeared than several of the principal natives came to the mission-house1 and advised ,john to remove his family1 with his books1 and such articles as the water might spoil1 to a place of safety1 offering to assist him4 ,of this kindness he gladly availed himself2 but the journey was not performed without great danger and difficulty1 as the tempest broke before they had proceeded far1 and the wind and floods impeded their progress4 ,mary suffered most1 from her anxiety for me4 ,now we praised ,god together joyfully for the preservation he had awarded us4 ,it was daylight before we were able again to set forward to return to my brother's now desolate home4 ,still we could rejoice1 and be thankful that none of those most dear to us had been lost4 ,we hoped that the poor natives might have escaped as well2 but we had not descended far through the lower ground before we found one crushed by a fallen tree1 and another drowned in a water-hole1 into which he had apparently stumbled4 ,the lightning had struck a third whose blackened corpse we found beneath a tall tree stripped of its branches4 ,these were beyond human help4 ,grant that they died in the ,lord1 observed the missionary1 as we noted the spots where they lay1 that we might send and bury them4 ,the numbers wandering houseless and without food most claimed our sympathy4 ,our worst apprehensions were realised4 ,in the late neat and pretty village not a cottage retained its roof1 and by far the greater number lay levelled with the ground1 some mere heaps of ruin1 while of others not a remnant was to be seen1 the whole building having been carried off by the floods or wind4 ,of the church only part of the walls remained standing2 and even the heavier timbers of the roof lay scattered about in every direction4 ,this destruction naturally deeply affected the missionary4 ,still ,i pray that the faith and trust of the people will not be found wanting under this trial1 he murmured as we passed on4 ,the school-houses were much in the same condition2 but happily the printing-office1 a strong stone building1 had escaped any serious damage1 as had its valuable contents4 ,here not only was printing carried on1 but the ,bibles and other books were stored1 as were the machines for binding1 a work performed very neatly by the natives4 ,this circumstance again raised my brother's spirits3 ,while the ,book of ,god remains1 we have nought to fear4 ,it was sad to see the natives collecting from all points to which they had fled to escape the flood and storm1 as they first caught sight of their ruined habitations4 ,the village must be rebuilt on ,christian principles1 said my brother with a smile2 and going among the people1 he called them around him1 and advised them to lose no time in collecting food and rebuilding their houses1 urging those without young children or unmarried to assist those with families1 or the sick and aged1 before attending to their own wants4 ,the reply was most satisfactory1 and all agreed to follow his advice4 ,we now repaired to the mission-house1 and1 clearing out the rubbish from within the angle formed by two walls1 were soon able to obtain some shelter and privacy for the ladies and children4 ,it was melancholy work hunting about for the furniture1 crockery1 and other articles1 among the ruins4 ,however1 we obtained a sufficient number of things to furnish our make-shift abode1 though it was long before we could get the bedding sufficiently dry to be of any use4 ,the flour and many other articles of food1 were spoilt1 or had disappeared2 but we raked up sufficient for the present wants of the household2 and as we assembled round a table once more together1 we returned our grateful thanks to ,heaven that we were still preserved to each other4 ,among the ruins a chest of axes1 and some saws1 and other carpenters' tools was found1 and these my brother distributed among the chiefs and other principal people1 that they might the better be able to rebuild their abodes4 ,when assembled to receive these valuable gifts1 their answer was3 ,we accept them with thanks1 on one condition1--that we may first be allowed to rebuild our missionary's abode4 ,they would take no denial2 and forthwith forming themselves into gangs1 some set to work to clear away the ruins1 while others went off to cut fresh uprights and rafters to replace those that were broken4 ,it was gratifying1 as being so purely spontaneous1 and showing the high estimation in which they held their missionary for his work's sake4 ,thus1 aided by zealous friends1 the work proceeded rapidly4 ,i meantime hastened back to my vessel1 taking with me some natives to aid in launching her4 ,on our way we came unexpectedly on the spot where lay the body of my poor companion who had been crushed to death4 ,we buried the remains not far off on the hill-side1 while ,i offered some prayers and a short exhortation for the benefit of those present4 ,as ,i went over the ground again ,i was more than ever surprised that ,i had been able to accomplish the journey on such a night1 and deeply thankful that ,i had been preserved from the numberless dangers ,i had encountered4 ,on reaching the ,olive ,branch1 ,i found that my mate had been making most judicious preparations for getting her off4 ,he had formed a strong cradle1 with rollers under her keel and posts ahead1 to which to secure some strong tackles4 ,by hauling on these tackles he hoped to get her off several feet every day4 ,slow and steady wins the race1 you know1 sir1 he observed4 ,his hopes of success were not without foundation4 ,day after day we toiled on1 aided by the indefatigable natives1 who gave every evidence that they were working from pure ,christian love4 ,you have brought us the blessings of the gospel1--ought not we1 who highly estimate its blessings1 labour to enable you in your ship to carry it to others8 said the chief of the party1 when ,i was one day thanking him for the energetic way in which he and his people were working4 ,their satisfaction when the ,olive ,branch at length floated securely in the harbour was nearly equal to mine4 ,little time as there was to spare before the meeting would take place1 at which my brother wished to be present1 he was anxious to see the people housed before he would leave them4 ,they meantime were working most heroically1 and ,i was surprised to see the rapid way in which they put up their houses1 and set to work to replant the fields of taro and other roots1 which had been destroyed by the flood4 ,at length we were ready to continue our voyage4 ,it had been intended that our wives should accompany us2 but as1 in consequence of the delay1 ,john's absence would be shorter than had been expected1 it was thought better that they should remain and restore order to the establishment4 ,as we were about to go the chief men of the island sent to beg that we would receive certain gifts which they had stored up to increase the funds devoted to sending missionaries to the other islands of the ,pacific yet lying in heathen darkness4 ,had it not been for the storm1 they would have been far greater1 they observed2 but1 though we are feeling a want just now of this world's goods1 we are rich in gospel blessings2 nor can we make our present condition an excuse for denying those blessed privileges to brethren in other lands1 for whom our ,lord died as well as for us4 ,surely1 ,i thought1 these remarks1 were they known at home1 would put to shame too many who are ready to make any slight decrease of income an excuse for not assisting the cause of the gospel either among the ignorant around them or in other countries4 ,since ,i went among these so late heathen savages1 ,i have often had to think with grief and shame of the very low standard of ,christian excellence considered requisite by many at home who profess1 and probably have a wish1 to be religious4 ,often and often ,i have wished that ,i could paint to them in their true and vivid colours the self-denying1 laborious lives of the devoted missionaries1 and the humble1 zealous1 faithful1 truth-searching behaviour of the converts4 ,with a fair wind we sailed1 praying that ,god would protect our dear ones1 and bring us back to them in safety4 ,we took up several missionaries who were going to the conference1 and who had been waiting for the ,olive ,branch1 and also some native teachers1 who were destined to act as pioneers in islands where the light of the gospel had not yet penetrated4 ,without any adventure especially worthy of notice we reached the head station1 where a considerable number of missionaries were collected awaiting our arrival4 ,all had more or less felt the storm at their respective stations1 but few with the violence that we had4 ,the discussions which took place at the meeting were most important and interesting1 and encouraging to all to persevere in the work2 but ,i must not now report them4 ,although only in a certain sense a looker-on1 ,i felt greatly refreshed1 and my spiritual life renewed by the exhortations delivered and the prayers engaged in4 ,i had the privilege of attending all the meetings4 ,several had taken place1 when the subject of the new stations to be occupied was brought forward4 ,john was named to fill one of them4 ,the inhabitants were looked upon as among the fiercest of the savages of the ,pacific2 the climate was far from salubrious4 ,but ,john did not hesitate a moment2 on the contrary1 his countenance was radiant with satisfaction4 ,it was an important post1 and it was believed that a large accession might be made to the kingdom of ,christ by the establishment of a mission there4 ,wherever my overseer and brethren consider our holy cause can most be advantaged by my presence1 there ,i am ready to go1 answered my brother1 after the offer had been made him4 ,the ground had already been broken by native teachers1 who had earnestly petitioned for an ,english missionary4 ,our passage to my brother's station was somewhat circuitous1 as we had to leave several missionaries at their posts1 to carry stores and books to old stations1 and to leave native teachers at new ones4 ,we had brought with us the missionary who was to succeed ,john1 whom ,i was directed to carry on to his new station4 ,we were received on our return to my brother's home with unmistakable signs of pleasure by the natives1 who collected to welcome him4 ,i expected1 however1 that when he came to announce to his wife the proposed change1 that it would be a sad damper to her happiness2 but she simply observed3 ,wherever you are called to go1 dear husband1 it will be my joy to go also4 ,how much better am ,i off than the wife of a soldier serving in the army of some earthly monarch4 ,she may not accompany him to the war2 if he falls wounded1 she may not be near to tend him2 if he is slain1 no reward is of value to him4 ,where1 too1 is her assurance that they will be reunited8 ,where my husband goes ,i may go1--if he is ill1 ,i may watch over him1--if spirits and strength fail1 ,i may support him4 ,when death separates us1 ,i know that we shall be reunited2 and ,i know1 too1 that a glorious crown1 the prize of his high calling1 will assuredly be his1 and that that crown ,i shall share with him1 and full draughts of joy unspeakable for ever and ever4 ,these words were spoken in so low and gentle a voice by my dear sister-in-law1 that a stranger would scarcely have understood the firm faith and high resolve they indicated4 ,the packing up occupied but little time4 ,john's household goods were few1 nor did his library fill many boxes4 ,but you will sell your cattle and poultry8 ,i observed4 ,i do not consider them mine1 he answered4 ,i look upon them as belonging to the ,society1 and as necessary to my successor4 ,a missionary should have as few worldly incumbrances as possible to draw him away from his work4 ,he should labour solely for the ,lord1 and to the ,lord leave the care of his wife and little ones4 ,a missionary sent out by a ,society should feel secure that they would provide for his worldly wants while he can work1 would support him in his old age1 and care at his death for his widow and children4 ,thus with perfect faith my noble brother went forth in the gospel's glorious cause to conquer souls for ,christ's kingdom4 ,the grief of the people among whom he had ministered since his arrival in the ,pacific1 when they heard that he was to leave them1 was excessive4 ,at first they threatened to put a restraint upon him1 and not to let him go4 ,would you then selfishly deprive others of the blessings you enjoy8 he asked4 ,would you1 who know the gospel1 keep back the instrument which brought it to you from presenting it to others8 ,no1 no2 surely you1 dear friends1 have not thus learned ,christ4 ,go1 go2 our prayers will ever be lifted up for your safety and success4 ,,chapter ,,twenty ,,two4 ,,martyred ,,for ,,the ,,truth4 ,scarcely a native in the settlement who was not present to bid farewell to their beloved missionary1 and amid tears and prayers1 he embarked on board the ,olive ,branch4 ,my wife accompanied me1 and though the little vessel was much crowded1 we had a very happy party4 ,the weather was fine1 and as we had numerous places to touch at1 we were not more than twelve days without obtaining fresh provisions4 ,formerly1 when the islands of the ,pacific were little known1 crews starving or suffering from scurvy must often have passed just out of sight of land1 where they might have obtained an ample supply of fresh provisions2 but now1 very much through the instrumentality of the missionaries of the gospel1 scarcely an island remains unknown1 and entirely through their instrumentality the greater number may now be visited1 not only without fear1 but the voyager is certain to receive a ,christian welcome on their shores4 ,an instance came under my notice where the natives did not only return good for good1 but good for evil4 ,the master and crew of a large ,english ship had grossly misbehaved themselves and ill-treated the people of an island4 ,scarcely had they sailed when a gale sprung up1 and their ship was driven on shore and lost4 ,the cargo and other property in the ship was taken possession of by the natives1 who considered that they had a right to it4 ,on the captain1 however1 claiming it through the missionary1 the chiefs met and decided that it should be given up1 which it was forthwith without a word of complaint4 ,here the brown ,christian set an example to the white man1 virtually a heathen4 ,the new post to which my brother was appointed was on a lovely island1 fertile in the extreme1 and thickly populated4 ,indeed it might have been said of it1 that only man was vile4 ,no natives appeared on the shore to welcome him1 but after a time the teachers came off in their canoe1 and gave us accounts which were far from cheering4 ,chiefs who had appeared friendly had turned against them1 and some had prohibited their people from listening to the ,word of ,god1 or attending school or chapel4 ,i suggested to my brother that under the circumstances it might be wiser not to land4 ,what1 because the enemy begins the fight shall the soldier desert his standard8 he asked1 with a look of surprise4 ,no1 ,david1 you would not counsel such conduct4 ,i could say nothing4 ,the teachers were of opinion that he would be treated with indifference rather than actual hostility1 at first1 by the great mass of the people1 and that his life at all events would be perfectly safe4 ,they mentioned one chief who appeared to be more friendly disposed towards ,christianity than the rest1 and to him accordingly1 we at once went to pay our court4 ,the chief looked like a perfect savage1 with his hair long and frizzed out1 his eyes rolling wildly1 and with scarcely any clothing on his dusky body4 ,still he received us politely1 and not without a certain dignity1 and promised if the missionary now remained he would be answerable to me for him1 should ,i again visit the island4 ,the man was still a heathen1 and ,i felt very unwilling to put any confidence in his promises4 ,it was too evident to me that he wished for a missionary for the sake of axes and saws1 and other articles he expected to obtain1 rather than for any spiritual benefit he hoped to derive from his presence4 ,i had1 however1 no alternative1 than to land my dear brother with his wife and little ones1 and household goods4 ,my only consolation was that ,i was able with my crew to assist in putting up a house for him1 many of the parts of which we had brought with us4 ,the teachers were good carpenters1 and had already1 with the aid of some natives whom they had instructed1 prepared some stout uprights and beams and planks4 ,notwithstanding this1 the rapidity with which we got up the house1 dug up a garden and fenced it round1 caused great astonishment among the people4 ,before we left1 my brother had already begun a school-room1 to serve also as a chapel till a larger edifice could be erected1 while he received inquirers at his own house4 ,my sister-in-law had also two female classes of adults and children1 to whom she imparted such religious instruction as they would receive1 and some of the arts of civilised life1 while round the station resembled a busy hive1 all the natives who had professed ,christianity being actively employed as sawyers or in some other mechanical work4 ,his aim at this early stage of the mission was to show the natives the advantages the ,christians possessed over the heathens1 and thus to make them look with favour on ,christianity4 ,he never failed while they were thus engaged to impart so much religious instruction as they could receive4 ,everything appeared now to be going on favourably4 ,when ,i remarked that ,i now had reasonable hopes that he would succeed-- ,who can doubt it8 was his answer4 ,if ,i do not my successor will4 ,the gospel will most assuredly cover the earth as the waters cover the sea4 ,god has said it4 ,one of the saddest moments of my life was that when ,i parted from my devoted brother as he stood on the beach while ,i returned for the last time to my vessel4 ,yet ,i asked myself more than once1 ,why should ,i grieve8 why should ,i be anxious8 ,he is engaged in the noblest cause in which the energies of a human being can be employed--gaining subjects for the ,redeemer's kingdom4 ,still ,i was his brother1 and as such ,i could not contemplate without fear the dangers to which he was exposed4 ,i was now to return direct to ,mr ,bent's station1 where ,i proposed refitting the ,olive ,branch to be ready for any work she might be called on to perform4 ,we found that great progress had been made at the station1 both spiritual and material4 ,there were many new converts1 and several excellent little houses built1 surrounded by neat gardens and fields4 ,it had not been done without cost1 and it was too evident to ,mary and me that her father's health and strength were failing4 ,she spoke to him1 and suggested a change of scene4 ,here ,i have been planted by the ,lord of the vineyard1 and here let me1 if ,he so wills it1 wither and fall1 dear one1 he answered4 ,it was too evident to us that his body was withering1 but not so his spirit--that was expanding more and more1 ripening for heaven4 ,it seemed to burn with a deep and unextinguishable love for the conversion of all the islanders among whom he had so long laboured--not those of his own group only1 but for the inhabitants of all the isles of the ,pacific1 ay1 he would finish1 as if there had been a shortcoming of his love for the souls of his fellow-men1 of the whole heathen world4 ,may they all come to know ,thee1 ,o ,lord1 and accept ,thy great salvation4 ,still his more constant prayers were for his own people4 ,gradually he sunk--evidently entering into the rest prepared for those who love ,christ--his joy increased1 his end was peace4 ,thus has many a missionary died1 and who would not change all the world can give to be assured of such a death4 ,mary felt her father's death severely1 but yet as one who mourned with assured hope of a joyous resurrection4 ,my brother had earnestly petitioned to have another missionary or a native teacher of superior attainments sent him1 and while ,i was debating what course to pursue1 ,i received directions to carry the teacher ,vihala and his wife to him1 and to visit many other stations on my way4 ,vihala and ,alea were delighted to see us again1 but when they heard of ,mr ,bent's death they shed tears of unfeigned sorrow at the thought that they should see his face no more4 ,they both had advanced greatly in ,christian knowledge1 and ,vihala appeared to me equal to the taking entire charge of a station1 however large4 ,he was delighted to hear that he was to join my brother1 and made all his preparations with alacrity4 ,as ,i was preparing to sail1 a ship hove in sight4 ,she was from ,england direct1 and brought letters for me and ,john4 ,i opened mine with trembling hands4 ,all were well at home2 but they contained news and of importance too4 ,a distant relative had died and left a considerable fortune to my father's second son1 but in the case of his death it was to belong to the next1 and so on4 ,it could only descend to the children of the brother who had possessed it for five years4 ,thus ,john was to be the first possessor4 ,it at once occurred to me1 would it prove a snare to him8 ,would it induce him to abandon his high and holy calling8 ,would the man of property be unwilling to remain the humble missionary8 ,still ,i thought ,i knew what ,john would do4 ,i felt that ,i was wronging him by having any doubts on the subject4 ,the delay was providential1 for a gale sprung up as we were weighing anchor1 and again dropping it1 we remained safely in port till the storm had subsided4 ,we had several places to call at1 and baffling winds still more prolonged our voyage4 ,at last we anchored in the beautiful bay opposite my brother's station4 ,i looked out anxiously expecting him to come off to us4 ,i was then about to land with ,mary1 thinking to take him and his family by surprise1 when a canoe appeared with one of the native teachers on board4 ,his first words were1 ,i am the only one left alive4 ,my heart sunk within me4 ,i put ,mary again on board and went on shore4 ,on the way the teacher told me the sad tale4 ,at first the natives in the district had been friendly1 but instigated by the heathen chiefs1 they had1 after a time1 refused provisions or assistance4 ,even some who had professed ,christianity were afraid to come openly to receive instruction4 ,a little band was faithful1 and many came at night to hear the word of ,god1 and brought food1 or the mission family might have been starved4 ,still my brother persevered1 and not without effect4 ,fresh converts were made4 ,children were allowed to come to the girls' school1 and when it was discovered what useful arts they learned there in addition to reading and writing1 even some chiefs became desirous of sending their daughters for instruction4 ,this unexpected progress1 made1 in spite of opposition1 by the missionaries1 exasperated the heathen chiefs still further1 and a plot was formed to cut off all the ,christian teachers4 ,their safety was1 however1 watched over by their converts1 and all attempts defeated4 ,treachery was next attempted1 and one of the most savage of the heathen chiefs pretended to be desirous of hearing the truth4 ,he sent to my brother1 begging him to come to him4 ,he was urged not to go4 ,what1 and run the risk of allowing a soul to be left in ,satan's power which may be rescued6 was his answer4 ,he went1 accompanied by a teacher and two ,christian natives4 ,they were unarmed4 ,day after day passed1 and no tidings came of them4 ,at last the bodies of all four were found4 ,they had been barbarously murdered2 but whether or not they had reached the old chiefs residence could not be ascertained4 ,he sent a message expressing his regret that the missionary had not come to him4 ,my sister-in-law was supported in a way the ,holy ,spirit can alone support a person in distress4 ,her longing desire was to meet him in heaven1 and to prepare their two boys to follow in his footsteps4 ,notwithstanding all that had occurred1 ,vihala undauntedly resolved to remain4 ,if ,i fall1 it is in ,god's cause1 and to advance ,his glory1 was his only remark4 ,having done all ,i could1 with a heavy heart ,i quitted the station with my sister-in-law and her children1 and returned to head-quarters1 where ,i had the satisfaction of presenting the ,olive ,branch for the service of the mission4 ,i persuaded my sister-in-law to accompany ,mary and me to ,england1 where ,i have devoted a certain portion of the fortune of which ,i so painfully became possessed to her support and the education of her children1 and at ,mary's urgent request1 another1 what the world would consider a no inconsiderable portion1 to the support of missions4 ,we live in a humble way1 but are far more happy than we should be did we spend our wealth on ourselves4 ,our nephews1 too1 are amply rewarding us1 and will1 ,i trust1 prove efficient soldiers in that glorious army which goes forth under the banner of the cross to fight against idolatry1 ignorance1 vice1 and all the foes ,satan can array against the truth as it is in ,christ ,jesus4 ,,the ,,end4