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Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre film6s A des taux de rdduction diff6rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour 6ue reproduit en un seul clich6, il est filmd i partir de Tangle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 REV. JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. MISSIONARY LIFE AMONG THE CANNIBALS: BEINO THE LIFE OF THE REV. JOHN GEDDIE, D.D., First Mitsionary to the New Hebrides; WITH A HISTORY OF THE NOVA SCOTIA PRESBYTERIAN MISSION ON THAT GROUP. BY THR REV. GEORGE PATTERSON, D.D., Aiit/ior of "Memoir of Rev. James McGregor, D.D.," etc. etc. "What I have done la as nothine compared with what In done bv a man, who gooa to Africa (or ^nth Seas), and laboun among a heathen tribe, and reduces their language to writing. I am not worthy to stoop down and loose the HhiH"* of surh a man."— Charles Hddoe, D.D. TORONTO: JAMES CAMPBELL k SON, JAMES BAIN & SON, AND HART & CO. Hamilton: D. MoLsLiiAN. Montreal: W. DRTSDAiiB & Co. HALrPAx, N.S.: D. McOrboor. Pictou, N.S. : Jab. McLfan & Co. 1882. >sJD /-^ 6^ Entered according to Act of Parliament of Canadz., in the year one thousand eight hundred and eighty-two, by the Rev. Geokor Patterson, D.D., in the office of the Minister of Agriculture. : thousand eight the office of the a £ •FX as o •< i ^ ■< 1 *< « O H c O X •-• c X 3 o c PREFACE. EVER Bince the death of Dr. Oeddie there has been a wide- spread desire through the Church he served, and among many beyond her bounds, who appreciated his work, for some permanent memorial of his life and labours. This has been considored called for as a just tribute to his memory, as a proper memorial of the Lord's work, and as fitted to deepen the interest of the Church in the great cause to which he had consecrated himself. Many, too, have felt that the early history of the New Hebrides Mission, which we regard as the commencement of an important movement in the Church of Christ, should be preserved for the benefit of succeeding generations. At the same time, the writer believes that the general sentiment pointed to him as the person upon whom, in the circumstances, devolved the duty of preparing a work that might accomplish these objects. It is unnecessary to consider the reasons why it has been so long delayed. At all events, time has passed, and the number living, who were personally familiar with the past of the enterprise, is dimin- ishing ; so that, if its early history is not written soon, it will either not be written at all, or must be prepared by persons having an imperfect knowledge of the subject, and that obtained at second-hand. Other circumstances have of late pressed the matter upon the writer's attention, and, having VI. t>RKFACB. Hi I given some time and labour to collecting materials, and shaping them into a biographical sketch, he now submits the results to the Christian public. In doing so, all that he feels necessary at this point is to say a few words regarding the materials from which the work is composed, and the mode in which he has used them. He has, of course, had at his disposal Dr. Geddie's letters to the Board of Foreign Missions and those to private friends, which were published in the periodicals of the Church at the time. It is known also that, in the early years of the Mission, he kept journals describing the leading incidents occurring in connection with it. Soon after his death, the author corres- ponded with Mrs. Geddie with the view of obtaining copies of them, but learned to his surprise that they had not been found since the Doctor's death, nor have they to this date. He has also been disappointed in obtaining access to his private correspondence. During his whole missionary career Dr. G. wrote frequently to his sisters, and his letters were by them carefully preserved. For some time the author had the hope of receiving them, but at length he has received 'nforma- tion that they cannot be found. We believe, however, that even if we had all these docu- ments, this history would not be materially different. As to Dr. G.'s journals, it is known that, during the most exciting times of the Mission, he was in the habit of sending home copies of those portions describing the most striking incidents of his work. These were published, and are in the writer's hand& Besides, during his visit home, he allowed the author a perusal of the originals, and the opportunity was embraced PBRPAOB. ▼tt. of taking note» of the principal items which they contained ; 80 $hat we believe our history will bo found to contain every- thing in them of importance, that it has been thought fit to give to the public. Then, as to his letters, it is possible that with them we might be able to draw more of a personal por- trait. But the letters to his friends, which we have seen, even tiiose to his children, are mainly occupied with his mis- sionary work, and, had we more of them, wc do not think our information would be very different, or much more extensive than it is. Indeed, in regard to his public missionary life, our materials are so abundant that our chief difficulty ha& been in selecting what was the most suitable for our object. Dr. G. made it a point to keep the Church informed of his work, and therefore embraced every opportunity of writing, however hurriedly. And, though he wrote with a rapidity which a newspaper correspondent might envy, yet his letters contain scarcely an erasure or interlineation, while his narrative style will bear comparison with that of the best English historian. Our work, therefore, has been chiefly to select and to condense. It is right to say that through his letters are many pious ejaculations and reflections, which we have frequently been obliged to omit for the sake of retaining his narrative in full. Further, we should add, that in some instances, where the same incident is recorded in two places, as in two letters, or in his journal and a letter, we have combined the two. With these slight exceptions, our readers have his writings as they came from his pen. Our readers may miss the record of private religious feel- VUl. pkrpaoil ings, which form so large a part of Christian biography ; but the omission is unavoidable, for the simple reason that he h»8 left no records on the subject. Our history, therefore, be- comes simply an exhibition of his public missionary life, and yet, perhaps, all the truer picture of the man, as in that his whole nature was engaged. While our work is intended specially as a life of Dr. Geddie, we have thought it proper to make it, at the same time, a history of the New Hebrides Mission. It has been thought desirable that those who may be seeking information regarding that part of the Church's work, might be able to obtain it in one place. At all events, for several years his life was the history of the Mission, and, during the rest of the time that he laboured on the field, the two were so mixed that it is impossible to write the one without, to some extent, giving the other. It will be seen that our story is told very much in Dr. G.'s own words. This we have done of set purpose. His narra- tives are so simple and graphic that, while we could not improve them, we might injure them by any change. Further, they so exactly reveal the man, that they form the best por- traiture of him we can obtain, while in this way, "he being dead, may yet speak," not only by his life and example, but by his very words, and that for a long time to come, on behalf of that cause to which he had devoted his life and his all. George Patterson. m>u New Glasgow, N.S., March, 1882. CONTENTS. Chaptkr I. Parentage and Sarin Fear*.— 1816-39. Paob Birth— Parentage— Early Dedication— Emigration— Boyhood— School Life— At College— Studying for Ministry— Licensure— Ordination — Pastoral Labours — Home Mission Worl. 17 Chaptkr II. Commencement of Miw .. — 1839-46. Concn^gational Missionary Societies— Early Co ributions— Agitates 1 jr Foreign Mission— I- otters— Overture 'o Synod, 1843, sent to Presbyteries— Reports, 1844— Memorial to Syuotl— Foreign Mission Board appointed— Action taken — Report, l.vtS — Contributions —Selection of Field — Accepted as Missionary— Separauen from Congregation :i9 Chapter III. Preparation for Mission ITorit.— 1846-47. Visiting Congregations— Mechanical Arts, Printing, etc.— Medical Studies — Deatft of Children— Opposition — Meeting of Synod —Teacher Associated with Him — Farewell Letter— Designation — Interest Excited— Departure from Nova Scotia — Visit to United States— Sailing for South Seas 61 Chapter IV. On the Way— Sandwich Islands and Samoa.- 1847-48. Sailing- Storm — Religious Services — Labour for Seamen— More Storms — Crossing Equator— Cape Horn Tempests— Scenes at Sea— Arrival at Sandwich Islands — Work there- French Schemes in Pacific — Voyage to Samoa —Reception there— Deliberations as to Field — Labours on that Group— Arrival of the John William* — Sailing for New Hebrides 72 X. CONTENTS. Chapter V. The New Hebrides and their InhabUanti. Paoe Islands of Pacific— Structure—Coral Workers— Volcanic Islands- New Hebrides Group— Number, Appearance, etc.— Climate— Trees — Animals, Birds, Insects, Fish, etc.— Races : Malay, Melane- sian— People ot New Hebrides : Physical and Intellectual Capa- city — Plantations — Houses — Customs — Degradation of Female Sex — Moral Condition— War, Cannibalism, etc.— Superstition- Gods- Worship, etc 106 Chapter VI. Pioneer Mission Work on the New fTcinrfe*.— 1839-46. Rev. John Williams' First Voyage to New Hebrides— Settlement of Teachers on Tana — Martyrdom on Erromanga— Voyage of Mr. Heath, 184(V-Settlement of Teachers on Erromanga, New Cale- donia, and Isle of Pines— Rev. Mr. Murray's Voyage, 1841— First Visit to Aneiteum and Settlement of Teachers— Trials of Teachers —Rev. Messrs. Turner and Nesbit's Settlement on Tana, 1847 — Disasters— Murder of Teachers— Abandonment of Tana Mission- Voyage of John Williams, 1845 — Settlement of Teachers at Anel- cauhat— Call to Efate—Sualo— Settlement of Teachers — Voyage in 1846 —Abandonment of Aneiteum proposed— Labours Resumed — DiiHculties of Field, Language, etc. — Evil Conduct of White Men , 134 Chapter VII. Voyage and Settlement on Aneiteum. — 1848. Voyage and First View of Aneiteum— State of Work there— Roman Catholic Missionaries — Nohoat— North Side— Tana— State of Work —Massacres — Volcano — Aniwa — Efate — State of Work — Massacre of Crew of British Sovereign— }la,\Mid\\ Harbour — Settlement of Teachers— Settlement on Aneiteum 155 Chapter VIII. First Year on Aneiteum. — 1848-49. Description of the Island— Coolness of Natives — Gaining their Confi- dence — Voyage around Island— Settlement of Teachers — Building Houses- Studying Language— Missionary Labours— DifEcultiea with the Natives— Superstition of Natives— Strangling Widows — CONTENTS. XI. Paob Printing— Hurricane— War -Peaca Restored —Another Hurricane -Visit to Roman Catholic Mission— Remarkable Escape— Un- healthy Season— General Sickness— Attempts at School Keeping. . 173 Chapter IX. Second Year's Labours. — 1849-50. Defection of Fellow-Labourer— First Visit of Bishop Selwyn— Arrival of the John Williams— Y of age among the Islands — Departure of Mr. Powell— Lonely Condition— Separation from Child— Persecu- tion from White Men— Attempts to Save Widows— Schools- Hopeful Enquirers, Namuri, Uumni, etc. —Opposition — Attacked by Sailor— Sickness— Visit to Neighbouring Islands — War among Natives — Review of Progress 209 Chapter X. Third Year's Labours.— 18^. V^isit of H. M. S. Havajiah—Visit of Mr. Inglis — Work Progressing — Departure of Roman Catholic Missionaries— Printing— Opposition —Boarding School — Trials of Friendly Natives— Cases of Strang- ling—Supplies of Clothmg— Threatened Attack on Christian Party Averted —Missionary Movements in Australia 238 Chapter XI. Third Year's Labours fContiiiued) —1851. Increasing Opposition— Death of First Convert— Personal Danger- First Burial of Womaa— Death of Rarotongan Teacher— War Declared Against Mission— Death of Child of Native Convert- Brightening Prospects— Deliverance of Self and Child from Drown- ing -Home Affairs— Why No Missionaries Sent 258 Chapter XII. Fourth Year's Labours. — 1851. Visit of Bishop of New Zealand — Accused Before Him— More Sickness and Strangling— Native Agency- -Accession of Leaders of Heathen Party— Feasting Among Natives— Threat to Destroy Mission Premises— Printing— Burning of Teacher's House— Attempt to Bum Mr. Geddie's House — Proceedings of Nohoat and other Chiefs -Violence of Sandal Wood Traders— Happy Death of Chief XU. OOKTBNfSi — Eacftpe from Plot for ttia Life— Murder of Waiwai, First Martyr on the Island, and Eating His Body 284 Chapter XIII. Fourth Year'' 8 Labours ( Continued)— \%5i2. Departure of White Men— Important Accesaions— Waihit in Danger- Interesting Enquirer — Severe Illness — Distressed Condition from Want of Food, etc.— Church Fonned— Voyage in John Willianu — Location of Teachers in Erromanga— Saving Woman from Strang- ling —Murder of Young Christian— Arrival and Settlement of Mr. Inglis— Nohoat Taking Christian Side— Efficacy of Prayer 315 j^;; Chapter XIV. Oathering the Harvest. — 1852-54. Rapid Progress — Brotherly Love — Burning of Meeting House at Out-station — Building a new Church — Heathen still raging — Building of Mission House — Threatened Attack averted— Visit to Inland Villages— Bible Society formed— Efforts for White Visi- tors-First Death among Church Members— Mr.* Geddie's efforts for Females— Breaking up of Tana Mission —Larger Press required — Missionary efforts in New South Wales— Earthquake— Gospel by Mark— Two Natives sent as Teachers to Futuna— Voyage round the Islands— Visits of H.M.S. ITeraW— Missionaries and Science- Visit to Interior- New Church at Aname — Circuit of the Island- Building another Church— Opening— Christian Marriages — Civil Affairs— Christian Law 339 Chapter XV. Continued Progress. — 1854-56. Census of Island — Disproportion of Sexes — Visit of Natives of other Islands— Arrival of John Williams— Te&chers Set Apart for Tana- Parting '.vith Children — Visit of John Williams to Neighbouring Islands— Settlement of Teachers on Tana, and Disasters at Efate — Settlement of Missionaries on the Loyalty Islands — Last Heathen District Invaded — Visiting Interior— Scenes on Futuna — Notorious Cannibal Coming In— Life and Death of Mary Ann —Various Visits—Attack on a Christian Band — State of Church- Labours of Teachers on other Islands— Appeal for Vessel — Schools and Teachers— Teachers' Institution— Visit of Natives of other Islands 371 CONTENTS. XUl. Chapter XVI. Building -up and Extension, — i856-60. Page State of Work — Deacons Ordained — Presents to Chiefs— -Anti-Tobacco Movement— Native Printers— White Men on the Island— Eflf oris for other Islands— Last Case of Strangling— Insane Person Drowned by his Relatives— Educational Institution- -Arrival of Schooner John Knox— Arrival of John Wifliamt— Arrival of Rev. G. N. Gordon and Settlement on Erromanga— Assault by White Man- Bishop Selwyn and Bishop Patteson— Visit to Tana and Narrow Escape — Hurricane — Arrival of Rev. J. W. Matheson — Arrival of Messrs. Paton and Copeland from Scotland- Settbment on Tana -Settlement of Teachers on Aniwa — N. H. Bible Society— Death of Mrs. Paton — Illness of Mr. Matheson — Death of Nohoat— Murder of Native Teacher on Aniwa — New Stone Church — Elders Ordained— Death of Namuri— Arrival of Rev. S. F. Johnston — Settlement on Tana — State of Church on Aneiteum — Native Contributions 405 Chapter XVII. Triah and /)Ma«ut them, r School at It was conse- tunce, among gentility and 1 829 37] I'ARKVTAOK ASn EARLY YKAR8. 23 * lowdvism. Life among them was of a much rougher character (liiiii would be now toicrated. Regular stand-up fights, some- tiiiKH on a Himpie challenge to a trial of strength or skill, or to settle a ditlerence, were as much an institution as cricket inatelu^s are now, were regularly conducted, and even the master judiciouHly shut his eyes to anything of tho kind out of s(lir)ol iiours. This, -vith other horse play developed a good (Iful of manliiu'ss, but also much wicked i« is. In such scenes ( 'owpcr himself would scarcely have been leas at home than Mr. (fcddie; and evi^n for the innocent sports of his compa- nions, whi(;h involv(;d severe physical effort, he showed little inclination. It may be noticed that Bishops Selwyn and Pat- tcson, who distinguished themselves on the same mission field, wvri} both forward in tin; athletics of school and college, show- ing how (}()d can serve Hims(!lf by the most opposite physical tei !;iiiniits, when consecrated to His service. Leaving the (irammar School, he took his collegiate course at the Pictou Academy, and thence entered upon the study of theology undi^r the Rev. Dr. Thos. McOulloch, then the only Professor of tlu; Presbyterian Church of Nova Scotia. His student lift! presents nothing remarkable ; in the classes he gav(s no indications of superior power, but he was noted for diligence and attention to his duties. He was always in his j)lace, his work was always con.scientiously done, and his exer- cisers were nevei Ijehind time. Outside the class, while shrink- ing from the rough and boisterous amusements in which his stontta- companions found vent for their superfluous physical energies, he was either in quiet retirement, seeking the fellow- ship of some kindred soul, or busy at work — sometimes at his studies, in which he was most diligent ; at other times in some mon; m(;chanical (unployment, such as the work of his father's shop, or bookl)inding, in which he had acquired some skill. Among his fellow-students he was respected by all, and loved hy the few who were intimate with him. Small in stature, the youngest in attendance, with a child-like face, and a voice which, though afterwards showing considerable power, could only be described as peeping, he appeared as a boy in a class of which some were already bearded men. Gentle as a girl, and guileless as a child, Johnnie Geddie, as he was generally called, except when the title was prolonged to " little John- T' 24 LIFE OP JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. [1829-3; illil^ nie," excited the kindliest feelings of all, while his blameless character and unquestioned piety won their best esteem. But while respected for his conscientiousness, and loved for his amiable qualities, even those who knew him best did not anticipate that he would ever act a prominent part in the Church or in society. Indeed, instead of that spirit of self reliance which is often regarded as essential to great achieve- ments, he rather seemed to cling with something like a femi- nine attachment to some loved companion, whose company he sought for study or quiet conference either in their private rooms or in rural walks, the subject of the latter, particularly as he advanced in his course, often being the great questions of personal religion. While engaged in the study of theology, he showed his interest in the missionary cause, especially in the students' missionary prayer meeting, which he was principally instru- mental in forming, and in the proceedings of which he always took an active part. At this period those desires of engaging in the work which had long been simmering in his mind, but had scarcely risen above vague wishes or hopeful fancies, crystallized into a solid purpose, which no change of time or circumstances could afterward shake. His health, for some time delicate, began to decline, and he had the prospect of being entirely disabled from prosecuting his purpose of enter- ing the holy ministry. At this time he anew solemnly dedi- cated himself to the Lord, vowing that if He would restore him to health and open up the way, he would give himself thoroughly to His work, and go with the message of salvation to heathen lands. His health improved, his studies advanced, and having completed his course of study, he was, after pass- if g the usual trials, licensed by the Presbytery of Pictou on the 2nd day of May, 1837, when he was just twenty-two years of age. At the same time was licensed an intimate friend, the Rev. John Campbell ; and it is somewhat singular that two men who have exhibited such shining examples of self-sacrificing zeal, the one in the Home and the other in the Foreign field, should thus have started together. A more cuiious fact, at least to the antiquarian, is that the Minutes of Presbytery represent that the vote being put by the Moderator, " Proceed [1829-3: 1S29-37] PARENTAGE AND EARLY YEARS. 25 ) his blameless b esteem. ss, and loved him best did nt part in the spirit of self great achieve- ig like a femi- se company he their private !r, particularly ;icat questions le showed his the students' cipally instru- lieh he always •ea of engaging I his mind, but )peful fancies, lige of time or ilth, for some 10 prospect of •pose of enter- solemnly dedi- would restore give himself fo of salvation iies advanced, |as, after pass- of Pictou on |t twenty-two lend, the Rev. phat two men jelf-sacrificing iForeign lield, ]iiou8 fact, at Presbytery •, " Proceed to license these young men or not," and being carried " Pro- ceed," an aged father "craved that his dissent against this decision be marked in the Minutes." We only mention this incident for its historical interest. The younger generation of the present day will scarcely credit that up to this time, and ■even later, the question of training a native ministry was the i subject, of fierce controversy — that among Presbyterians of the : Maritime Provinces, outside the Presbyterian Church of Nova [Scotia, the idea was not entertained for a moment, and that [even within her, not ignorant people merely, but venerable [ministers, attributed such virtues to Scottish training, or Scot- Itish l)irth, or the laying on of Scottish hands, that they looked [with coldness or even hostility upon measures for training natives for the ministry. Even later, native ministers were not [only held up to public ridicule, but found one of their severest I trials in the want of sympathy, if not worse, of fathers in the fChurch, for the sole reason that they had been born and educated in America. The fact which we have quoted was one of the latest manifestations of this prejudice, and we only give it as ftan example of what may now be regarded as an antiquarian '^curiosity in ecclesiastical sentiment. Scarcely, however, had he been thus authorized to go forth to )reach Christ crucified, than a cloud of thick darkness came )ver his soul. We must here observe that at important periods )f his life he had seasons of deep depression, which he and the )ious generally would ascribe entirely to spiritual causes, which aiany others would call nervousness or hypochondria, but which ft e believe in his case, as in many others, were of a mixed char- acter, exhibiting the mysterious interaction of mind and body. 7he manner in which the.se states were connected with impor- mt events in his religious life and work, precludes the idea of ^heir having altogether a physical origin ; and yet they did Iflect his health, and on after occasions were deepened l)y the rant of it. At all events, immediately on his licensure he ran overwhelmed with the idea, that he had undertaken an »tfice for which he was not qualified, and the duties of which |e would never be able to discharge. After a restless night, ^e next morning went to consult his pastor, the Kev. John IcKinlay, whether he should not yet relimjuish the work. [r. McKinlay gave him what consolation and encouragement ■3''^-» 'ClUfl 26 LIFE OP JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. [1829-3^ he could, but he returned home with his burden still pressing heavily upon him, and immediately took to his bed. Later in the day an intimate friend and fellow-student, who came to see him, found him disconsolate in mind and feeling sick in body. But after some conversation his spirits revived, and gradually he regained his cheerfulness. Our readers can form their own views of such feelings, but when we read how the most emi- nent of God's servants, as Moses, Isaiah, and Jeremiah, shrank from the responsibilities of the sacred office, we could wish that all our candidates for the ministry were exercised in some similar way. On the following Sabbath, Mr. Campbell and he both com- menced their public ministry in the old Prince Street Church, Pictou, and their appearance is one of the pictures most vividly impressed upon the memory of our boyhood. Similar as thfv were in spirit, it would be rare to see two men who outwardly presented a greater contrast. Mr. Campbell was sevr M years the senior, tall, dark-complexioned, while his thin cc ress< d lips, firm-set chin, and every line of his countenance indicated manly energy and determination. Mr. Geddie was small in stature and in features, boyish-looking, with modest and even seemingly diffident manner. Mr. Campbell, already discardini; all conventionalism of pulpit tone and expression, in the firm tones of his powerful yet melodious voice, spoke the truth in simplicity, but with a decision which bespoke a man who felt that he had something to say, and meant that you should listen to it. In speech, Mr. Geddie's doctrine distilled as the dew as he gently insinuated the truth, in those regular and pleas ing cadences, though of s lightly melancholy tone, afterwards so familiar to the Church. Each had his gift, and both have since left their mark on the spheres where their lots were cast, It may be added that they finished their work almost at the same time, and died within a few weeks of each other. After being licensed, he commenced preaching as a proba tioner in the vacant congregations of the Church. A few months later a charge was offered him, when the whole ques tion of his future course came before him. He felt that th' vows of God were upon him, and he had no desire to go back But the thought of the body to which he belonged undertaking' a Foreign Mission, had not been seriously entertained in any [1829-37 «838_45] pahektage and early years. 27 !n still pressing bed. Later in vho came to sf-t; tig sick in body. : 1, and gradually form their own V the most emi- eremiah, shrank we could wish 3re exercised in \(\ he both coni- ; Street Church, ir-s most vividly Similar as they 1 who outwardly vas sevf -I years thin c*. ressod enance indicattnl :lie was small in nodest and even Ircady discarding ssion, in the firm oke the truth in ! a man who felt yon sliould listen illed as the dt!\v igular and pleas- tone, afterwariU t, and both hjiv( ir lots were cast. k almost at tin- h other, ing as a proba !hurch. A f < w the whole que- iHe felt that tli' esire to go bael< ged undertakiiu; ■ertained in any luarter. Not that the members of the Church did not feel an iterest in the subject. The fathers in the ministry had, by Iheir instructions and their prayers, as well as by the circula- ion of religious intelligence, engaged their minds and hearts the work of Gospel ditFusion, For many years they had 3en contributing to the British and Foreign Bible Society. some instances collections had been taken up for missions to le heathen. Notably on the circulation of Mrs. Judson's irrative, liberal contributions were made by some congrega- ions in aid of the Baptist mission to Burmah, being, it is said, le first collection made in the Province for missions to the leathen. But a mission of our own seemed an undertaking pntirely beyond our r(\ach. To enter, therefore, upon missionary work then, would ohus ive involved a separation from the Church in which he had ?en brought up, and which was the Church of his affection. Jesides, he was young and inexperienced, and a few years' ibour in the home vineyard might render him better fitted for service abroad. He had a hope, too, that the Church might Ire long undertake a Foreign Mission, and thus the way be Opened for his engaging in the work on which his heart v/as set, coimection with the body to which be belonged ; and if not, he ould then be clear in seeking service in another. With these news, when a call was addressed to him by the congregation ^f Cavendish and New London, in Prince Edward Island, he Accepted it, and was ordained as their pastor on the 13th of [arch, 1838, the Rev. Robert Douglass preaching on the Iceasiou from 2 Kings iv. 9, 10: "Behold now, I perceive hat tliis is an holy man, which pa.sseth by us continually. jet us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall ; and ?t us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and candlestick ; and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he hull turn in thither." He immediately entered upon his pastoral work with great Energy and zeal. We cannot enter into details of his congre- jutioiial labours; but have merely to say, that he discharged ill the duties of the pastoral oflSce with great assiduity. None rould have imagined that his heart was in the foreign field, or ^('gavded him as other than the most devoted of home labourers, te was a man of incessant activity, who never seemed to rest, ! il lii LIFE OF JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. [1838-15 at least in his waking hours, and his gentle, kindly nature won the affections of his people. But besides labouring diligently in his congregation, he was active in the advancement of the Chui'ch around. The Presbytery consisted of a band of most excellent men, several of them advanced in years, dwelling together in unity, and each in his own sphere discharging faithfully and regularly the work of a pastor. Yet, while deeply interested in the work of Gospel diffusion in the world, they were apt to settle down in the conscientious discharge of their duties in their own congregations, after the model of a Scottish pastorate, without much effort for the destitute beyond. Mr. Geddit^'a coming iiniong them was the infusion of new life in regard to Home Mission work. He not only, in his quiet way, pressed the subject upon the attention of the brethren, but being the youngest and most active member of Presbytery, the largest share of missionary appointments fell to his lot, and in the fulfilment of them he never spared himself. At a time when railroads on the Island had not entered into the dreams of tli» most sanguine, he traversed every part of it, showing a thorough Scottish dourness, which allowed neither summer h heat nor winter's storm to prevent his punctually fulfilling his engagements, until, at least in every settlement where any of the inhabitants claimed connection with the Presbyterian Church, he was well known, and sure of a hearty welcome, his old horse, Sampson, being almost as readily recognized, with his carriage, in which a little later he often led about with him his wife, and sometimes one or two children, lit remarked to us that the more his mind was engaged in the Foreign Mission, his interest in Home Missions, instead of being lessened, was intensified. [1838 it) jSg38..43j COMMENCEMENT OF THE MISSION. , kindly nature i 29 regation, he was around. The mt men, several r in unity, and y and regularly iterested in the rere apt to settle duties in their ottish pastorate, 1. Mr. Geddie's life in regard to liet way, pressed [1, but being the tery, the largest I lot, and in the At a time when le dreams of tht f it, showing a either summers illy fulfilling his nt where any of le Presbyterian learty welcome, idily recognized, often led about o children, lie engaged in the iions, instead of Chapter J I. COMMENCEMENT OF THE MISSION. 1838-45. 'HILE Mr. Geddie was thus actively engaged in home work, his mind was deeply exercised with the state of le' heathen world, and from the time of his ordination he lanifested his interest in Foreign Mission work. In the year which he was ordained he founded a Missionary Society in |is congregation, which from that date forwarded annually a pntribution to some Society for the propagation of the Gospel heathen lands. On the 21st of September, 1839, he was larried to Charlotte, daughter of Dr. Alexander McDonald, Antigonish. But the important relation was formed under solemn engagement that if the Lord should open the way, ley would unitedly go forth to make known Christ's name Imong the Gentiles. To her it might have been that the Irospect of such a course seemed so slight, that it scarcely itered seriously into her calculations as to the future; yet, ^hen the time came, how well she dil her part will appear in le sequel. Affectionately received among the people of his large, to whom he was becoming fondly attached, and jlieving that he saw the pleasure of the Lord prospering in [is hand, he thought that, for the time, he was where his [aster would have him to be. But providential dispensations 3gan to disturb his mind. In particular, the accidental [liming of a dwelling-house that he had just erected, and was )out to occupy, seemed like the voice of God saying, " This not your rest." His zeal for Foreign Mission work was luickened, and he ceased not to urge upon his brethren in the rresbytery the claims of the heathen, and the duty of the [Jhurch to do something for their evansjelization. At his )lici ation they formed combined Bible and Missionary 11 I ;h 30 LIFE OF JOHN QEUDIE, D.D. [1838-43 Societies in all their congregations, which collected annually for these o1)jects. The first united contribution of these Societi(!s was sent to the London Missionary {Society in the year 1840, and amounted to j£17 lis. In (explanation of what may seem the smallness of the amount, we may say that at that time, although the peoph^ of Prince Edward Island had a fertile soil, and the farmers easily raised enough produce for their subsistence, yet they were without a market for their surplus, and found great difficulty in turning it into cash. Hence the system of barter was uni- versal. The farmer carried his wheat or other grain to the store of the merchant and exchanged it for goods, while the merchant relied for meeting his bills on the proceeds of pro- duce thus collected, s(;nt to the neighbouring provinces, where prices were often low and markets uncertain. The minister in most cases received his stipend mainly in produce, which he transferred to his merchant or his tradesman, but which sometimes he also had to ship to the neighbouring colonies to obtain a supply of the circulating medium. From the same causes the prices w^ere so low that farmers had often difficulty in raising the amount necessary to pay the small sum of rent (about $20 per hundred acres) ret|uired for their farms, and to provide n(>cessaries for their families. The tenure of land by leases rather than by freehold, then almost universal on the Island, seemed to have repressed their energies, so that they were very generally in arrears for rent, as well as in debt to their merchants. The currency had depreciated one- third, the British shilling passing at one; shilling arid sixpence ; and ministers' stipends, even those which had been fixed in sterling, were paid at this rate, and still all the congregations, except Mr. Geddie's, which was newly settled, were in arrears to their ministers. Under these circumstances, we need not wonder if the money contributions to a missionary object should seem small. But we may here say that, in proportion to the circumstances of the people, the liberality shown by the congregations of Prince Edward Island in the early days of the mission, was greater than it is now. A begiiming was thus made in supporting missions to the heathen, and in subsequent years the work made progr(!Ss. Mr. Ueddie preached to his own congregation annually on thi' 1838-43] COMMENCEMENT OF THE MISSION. 31 ioiigreeratioiis, subject, besides breatliing into his ordinary sermons and prayers the spirit of the missionary enterpi-ise. In the other congregations in the Island he preached on tlie sul)ject as occasion oHlcred. In most, if not in all of then), the plan was adopted of having an Jinnual missionary me«!ting, at wliich a sermon was preaclied, tiie report of tlie congregational Society read, and addresses delivered, with tlu; view oi diH'using infor- mation on the subject, and awakening or deepening interest in the work. These measures may at tin; present dat with whom he him, and ever. ict as visionary guments, and ii Perhaps tin ^i S. ;||ir8t man who came to fully sympatliize with him was the Rev. iJohn (afterwards Dr.) Keir, minister of Princetown, P. E. 1., and subsequently Professor of Theology to the Synod. In his early life, while a student of theology in Scotland, he had, in ^he purest spirit of the missionary enterprise, devoted himself the service of God in these Provinces. Settling in Prince Idward Island when nearly the whole population were in a Itate of spiritual destitution, he had spent the prime of his :e in traversing it as a missionary, preaching the gospel of ilvation amid toil and privation to the solitary dweller in \he wood. And his heart responded at once to any appeal laving for its object the evangelization of the regions beyond. .e was not a man, however, to be carried away by novel or romantic projects, but in his frequent intercourse with Mr. eddie, whose congiegation bordered on his own, his calm judgment led him to believe that the plan was practicable. The support of Dr. Keir gave great weight to the project, is age and experience, his wisdom in counsel, his tine Chris- tian character, and the remembrance of his past labours, had ^on for him universal respect, and commended any proposal hich met his approval especially to members of the Presby- sry of Prince Edward Island, and the laymen of that part of [he Church. As the members met in Presbytery, at .sacra- lental solemnities, or at their missionary meetings, the subject ^as discussed and frequently prayed over. As it was presented the people, they met, as was to have been expected, with a pod deal of prejudice and opposition, and sometimes great [uorance.* But on the whole their arguments and appeals let with such a response as led them to conclude, that when imething so considerable could be done to aid the funds of [ther societies, if the rest of the body would manifest the same lirit, the Church, small as she was, might have her own ;ents in heathen lands. Accordingly, he next proceeded to agitate the matter through le whole Church. In the winter of 1843 he published in the Wesbyterian BanneVy then the organ of the Church, a series of itters in which he set forth the claims of the heathen upon >^ * He mentioned to us that after addressing a meeting in what was con- iP^ one of the most intelligent congregations in the Presbytery, one man jRine to him with the pertinent inquiry, " What is a Missionary '" t V 34 LIFE OF JOHN OEDDIE, D.D. [1838-4,^ IIh i >■ • the Church, and endeavoured to show that the Presbyterian Church of Nova Scotia might and should engage in raissionan efforts in some part of the field, and combated the arguments that might be adduced against such an undertaking. 'W letters excited attention ; and while some looked upon the whole idea as visionary, and probably the majority read his letters with sympathy for him and his cause, yet with hopelessness as to it> practicability, still some were led to warmly espouse his views To test the feeling of the Church, and if possible to lead her to unite her energies in the work, it was agreed that an over ture should be introduced into the Synod, urging tha' immediate steps should be taken to engage in a mission to soim part of the heathen world. Here we must stop to point out what we regard as perhai" the most important service rendered by Mr. Geddie to tli' Church of Christ — that is, In working up the idea that a Colonial Church might and should engage in the Forcigi Mission work. Till this time, the Churches generally, in the British colonies, not only never thought of sending missionaiie> abroad, but were seeking aid for their own work from their brethren in other lands. There had, indeed, been in a few instances contributions sent to other societies for missions v. the heathen ; and at the same time that Mr. Geddie was agi tating the subject in the Presbyterian Church of Nova Scotia the Baptist body of the Maritime Provinces was taking up tht question, and a few months before Mr. Geddie sailed, sent oui the Rev. Mr. Burpe to labour in connection with the Ameri( at Baptist Mission in Burmah, the first missionary from a Briti.4 colony to the heathen. But to Mr. Geddie belongs the credi of first working up a Church to the idea of undertaking al the responsibility of a Mission of her own. And the manue! in which the flame kindled by him extended to other Churches and how widely it spread, will appear, to some extent at least in the sequel. In fact, we hold that he did a work for thi Churches of the great British colonial empire, similar to thai which Carey did for the Churches in England, and Mills am. his fellow-student for those in America, in awakening their zeal on behalf of the heathen. And, considering the state o; the Colonial Churches at the time, it equally manifested tha; faith which removes mountains. Ill [1838-4: ■l843] COMMENCEMENT OF THE MISSION. 35 he Presbyterian ,jTe in missionarv 1 the arguments lertaking. Th^ d upon the whole d his letters with elessness as to it^ spouse his views ssible to lead her jed that an over kI, urging that a mission to some jgard as perhap! r. Geddie to tli^ the idea that a 3 in the Foreigi generally, in tli'^ iding missionaiie« work from thtii , been in a f<'« s for missions t . Geddie was agi of Nova Scotia. vas taking up tb ie sailed, sent oui ith the Amerii ai ,ry from a Britisl lelongs the crcdi undertaking al And the mannw o other Churclieii e extent at least, a work for tht , similar to thai , and Mills aiw awakening tlui; ering the state oi manifested tha; To return to our narrative. Mr. Keir agreed to take charge [of the overture to Synod, and it was accordingly introduced it its meeting in July, 1843. But it did not come up for jonsideration till the last day of nieeting, and the last sitting, iny person who has ever attended a meeting of a deliberative issembly, civil or religious, can judge how much consideration it was likely to receive at that period of their deliberations, [n justice to the Synod, however, we may say that it had been very busy meeting — that the time had been occupied in the sonsideration of a number of very important measures, lesigned to promote the internal prosperity and external )rogre.s8 of the body. This will, in part at least, account for matter which we deem of such consequence seeming to be thrust into a corner. And yet we believe that we arts not far 'rong in saying, that by a large portion of the Synod the )roposal was scarcely deemed worthy of serious attention. Jy this time a few ministers, besides the members of the Pres- bytery of Prince Edward Island, had adopted Dr. Geddie's Mews, and were earnest in advocating them. But we believe lat the majority looked upon the proposal as a harmless jobby of " poor little Geddie," and smiled contemptuously at the idea of its e\ er becoming anything real. It was impossible, lowever, altogether to pooh-pooh a measure to which Dr. Keir lad given his deliberate approval. What debate ensued, or whether any, we have no information. We are certain that from the time of its introduction, and the amount of business M-ansacted at the same sitting, there could not have been much, ihe minutes .say simply : '* Transmitted through the Committee of Bills and Overtures, b(l read, an overture from the Rev. Mr. Keir, on the propriety ^f maintaining a mission abroad." " Ordered, that the overture be sent down to the several I'csbyterie.s for consideration, with instructions to report hereon to the Synod at its next meeting." So the matter was disposed of, as far as the Supreme Court |f the Church was concerned, for another year, with a half- H'lned expectation on the part of many that there would be ittle more about it, and very generally with little conception rhereunto this thing would grow. Indeed, the Presbyterian fannerf at that time the organ of the body, in noticing the m If w^^ 36 MPK OF JOHN (iKDDIK, n.t). [184.'^ '■ni B ■t;i ■; 1 |i!|i proceedingH of Synod, does not even mention tlmt the subject of Foreign MissionH had been before tlieni. But the men who had taken the matter in hand were not now going to look back. They had gained the tirst Htep in having the subject, by the act of the Supreme Court, brought before the whole Church, and it was not to be allowed to rest. During the year the Presbytery of Prince Edward Island, under the inspiration of Mr. Geddie, were not idle. They brought the matter before their respective congregations ; and, as the great difficulty on the minds of many regarding the undertaking was, that the liberality which might be evoked under present excitement might not continue, they appealed to their congre- gations to give pledges for such an amount, as they expected to be able to continue to give in subsecjuent years. In the circumstances this measure was probably advisable, and, indeed, almost seemed necessary. Without some pledges of this kind, the Church would scarcely have been persuaded, that they would be safe in assuming the responsibility of supporting a missionary. But Mr. Oeddie did not deem it necessary. If he could get the Church once embarked in the Foreign Mission enterprise, he had no fear as to future support, and he would have cheerfully gone forth to the work in the assurance that the Mission would maintain itself — that the progress of the work would deepen the interest of the Church, so that contributions would be increased. And he only went into the measure as it appeared necessary to encourage the weak faith of the Church, by showing some security for the future maintenance of the Mission. Events have since amply justified his confidence. The Mission went on, but, instead of the contributions falling ort in after years, they increased, so that it never became iiecessii) y to refer to these pledges. The total amount pledged wa, pbout j£50 stg., or $250, as follows : Princetown, £17 ; Cavendish and New London, £15 ; Western St. Peter's and Cove Head, £12 lOs.; Eastern St. Peter's and Bay Fortune, £11 4s. 8c/.; Bedeque, £4 10s.; Cascumpeque and West Point, £11 ; total, £71 4s. 8d. in Prince Edward Island currency, with Richmond Bay to be added. They also corresponded with the other Presbyteries of the Church. In them the subject was discussed, but not with the same zeal as %'■■'., isn rOMMKNOKMKNT OF THK MISSION. 37 in Prince Edward Island, l)ut still ainonjj niiniKtorsand people then' was int»»n'st nianifcstccl in the project. At tlie meeting of Synod in 18'H, tlu; whole subject came, nj) f(i • consideration, and as upon their decision depended results perhaps more important than ever depended upon any case befon! a Colonial .^ynod, wi> feel excused in referring to the meeting at length. It opened at Pictou on the 10th July, with nin<'teen ministers present and (deven elders. Five miniHter.s and a f(!W elders aft(!rwards arrived. Scarcely ever had there been a nieeting of the body which had gathered so large a pro- })ortion of the very flower of its eldership. There was John Patterson, of Pictou ; John (kirrie, of Tatamagouche ; William Matheson, of West River ; William Sutherland, of East River ; .lohn James Archibald, of Truro ; Alexander Archibald, of St. Mary's ; William McNeil, of Cavendish; and James McCal- Inm, of Cove Head — all men well known to the Church and in their respective spheres as pillars in Zion. The Synod opened under the shadow of a great bereavement. The Rev. Dr. Thomas McCulIoch, who had long occupied so commanding a position in her counsels, and been the moving spirit of all her operations, had been removed by death ; and the members, many of whom had been his pupils, were looking after him, in the spirit of those who cried, " My father, my father, the chariots of Israel, and the horsemen thereof." The consideration of the question of a Foreign Mission was not delayed. The subject came up on the afternoon of the sf'cond day, when the reports of Presbyteries were called for. There were then only three. " The Presbytery of Truro reported that they had considered the subject of Foreign Missions, and agreed to submit their views on that matter by overture." The overture was "to the effect that the Synod do recommend the congregations under their inspection to enter innnediately upon the subject of Foreign Missions, with the view of ascertaining the extent to which the Church is prepared to support such mis-sions." " The Presbytery of Pictou reported that they have taken the overture sent down to them into their serious consideration, and, after due deliberation, have issued the following deliver- ance, viz. : Whilst the Presbytery are fully alive to the vast importance of such an object, they cannot just now recommend the adoption of the overture." :tf 1-1 a ■$■" I w ill! I' ! i ill ! ill 11 I liil i! m 'I Lj, 38 LIFE OP JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. [1844 Thus the two largest Presbyteries of the Church, embracing four-fifths of its membership, and that which had hitherto been the most forward in contributions, had recommended a cautious course, while only the Presbytery of Prince Edward Island " recommended the Synod to endeavour to maintain one or more missionaries abroad." This recommendation was accom- panied with an eloquent memorial on the subject. In this, which might in reality be regarded as Mr. Geddie's, the case was presented most earnestly. It commences with a solemn appeal on the condition of the heathen, and then shows the solemn obligation resting on the Church to provide them with the Gospel, the only means of salvation. As to means, it represents that even if the rest of the Presbyterian Church of Nova Scotia would show liberality in proportion to what the Prince Edward Island Presbytery had done, she might easily support one or more missionaries ; while the liberality of the heathen to their false gods, and the instances of giving in Scrip- ture, afforded examples for our imitation, and reproof of our slackness. To the objection that charity should begin at home, it replies : — '* Far be it from your memorialists to utter a single senti- ment which would have a remote tendency to paralyze the energies or diminish the efforts of Christians for the spiritual well-being of those around them. Nevertheless, a little con- sideration must .satisfy every reflecting mind that this objection does not carry the weight thai is sojnetimes attachevv cannot plead for the fulfilment of His promise, 'Lo, I am with you alway.' Besides, the spirit of this objection is contrary to apostolic practice. Did the first ministers of the Cross make the evangelization of Judea the condition of their attemptint,' the conversion of the Gentiles 1 No. They were early 1844] COMMENCEMENT OP THE MISSION. 39 instructed to beware of confining to their own country labours that were intended for the world. Further, when it is said, charity begins at home, the very words imply that it is diffusive, and, instead of remaining at home, it only begins there. In this point of view, the duty of extending the Gospel is plainly implied in the language of the objection. At home let charity V)egin, but let it not end there. If genuine, indeed, it will not only water its own garden, but will enlarge its channel, and send forth the streams to fertilize and beautify other fields, till ' the wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad, and the desert rejoice and blossom as the rose.' The truth is, the ( 'hurch has a double duty to perform : the one towards its own people properly so called, and the other towards the world at large. If, therefore, while one of these is Attended to, the ()th<'r is almost or altogether overlooked, the duty is but half (lone, and the blessing cannot be claimed." Mr. Gedtlie had, by reading and correspondence, made him- self familiar with what was going on in the Mission field throughout the world, and with tlie nature of the work in dif fcrent places, and the memorial urged upon the attention of the Synod, Western Polynesia as a suitable scene for its oper- ations, and concludes with the following appeal : — "The motives which impel to action in this momentous tiiterprise, your memorialists feel, are numerous and weighty. The glory of God calls us to it. The command of God calls us to it. The reproaches of those who have gone down to per- 'Ution unwarned calls us to it. And last, not least, the spiritual "Icadness that prevails among our Churches, which is, perhaps, a judicial retribution for the indifference which we have so long shown to the spread of the Gospel, calls us to it. These considerations, your memorialists conceive, ought to stir us up as a body to take a part in those grand movements, which seem destined, in the arrangements of God, to be instrumental in achieving the redemption of the world. They would plead with your reverend Court, as if 600,000,000 of immortal souls were their clients ; and, under a conviction of the over- whelming importance of the subject, beg again to solicit for it that earnest attention which it so reasonably demands." A newspaper of the time says ; " A lengthy discus.sion fol- lowed, and the members in rotation were called upon to express I; J ,€ 40 LIFE OF JOHN CEDDIE, D.D. [184 their sentiments." Two motions were made. The first was, " That the overture be adopted and carried into effect as far as practicable, and that a Committee or Board of Foreign Missions be appointed for this purpose, and that the memorial just read be published for the information of the people." The second, or amendment, was, " That this Synod, feeling that in present circumstances they are not prepared to embark in the Foreign Mission enterprise, resolve to enjoin upon the congregations under their inspection to make an effort in be- half of such Missions, consistently with other claims ; and further, that in order to render present efforts available, the Synod will connect itself with the Society, through which their contributions may How, till they feel themselves able to embark in the cause by sending forth a missionary of their own." The same paper gives a report of part of the discussion, which is said to have been calm and moderate. None questioned the propriety of missions to the heathen. Indeed, we may say that there was no man in the Synod who did not heartily sym- pathize with that work. The Court had not to meet the objec- tions which in some Churches, and among many Christians, missions to the heathen had to encounter at their inception. There was, perhaps, no one who would have objected to our Church making some contribution for the object ; but the diffi- culty of one class lay in the idea of a Church so small, and with so little means, undertaking the responsibility of estab lishing and maintaining a mission of our own, or even support- ing a missionary. And when we look at the circumstances of the body at that time, we need not be surprised at this. The first year for which we have its statistics was the year following (1845). At that time the congregations numbered just thirty. Of these, twenty-five reported a membership of 4,825. Allowing for the five not reporting, the whole membership of the Church would not exceed 5,500. Some congregations were so ill organ- ized, or so illiberal, that one is reported as having paid the previous year to its minister .£23 9s. 8c?., and another £35 6s. 10c?., while the only congregation in Halifax had not been a year settled, had only seventy members, and was paying its minister $480 ! When we consider, in addition, the claims upon the Church at home, we need not wonder if some of the J IP [1844 he first was, iect as far as ign Missions •ial just read l^nod, feelinj; !(1 to embark )in upon the effort in be- claims ; and vailable, the sty, through 1 themselves nissionary of ission, which lestioned the we may say leartily sym ;et the objec- ^ Christians, ir inception. Bcted to our but the diffi- I small, and ty of estab ven support- imstances of this. The !ar following I just thirty. Allowing If the Church so ill organ - iig paid the kher £35 6«. not been a 8 paying its , the claims some of the 1844] rOMMENCKMENT OF THE MISSION. 41 wisest men in the Church shrank from the undertaking. We may add, that the chief fear was that the liberality evoked might be merely the effect of sympathy, and would not be maintained. Looking at the case simply as regards members, the asking of a Church of 5,500 members to support one mis- sionary was at least as much as to ask the Presbyterian Church in Canada, with her present membership, to support twenty ; or the former supporting two would be in the same proportion as if the latter supported over forty ; and yet this she was found able to do, and that at a time when the circum- stances of our people were far from being what they are at present. As we have said, none questioned the propriety of Foreign Missions ; but they argued against expending the means of the Church on such an object, while ministers at home were so ill- supported, and against sending away ministers when our home field was so imperfectly supplied. Perhaps there were some, as there were not a few through the Church, who would have gone the length of saying, that in these circumstances nothing should be done for Foreign Missions ; but more argued on the .same ground, that we should not engage in such an undertak- ing, but still that congregations should be encouraged to make contributions, as had been occasionally done, for the object, to be forwarded to some other Missionary Society. Their argu- ments they nailed with Scripture by quoting the words of the oonmu.ssion, "beginning at Jerusalem;" and one read the account of Paul at Antioch in Pisidia, turning to the Gentiles (Acts xiii. 45-47), not to prove our duty to go to the Gentiles, but to show that as the people of Nova Scotia had not rejected the Gospel, we ought not to send it abroad. Mr. Geddie had long fully considered all the objections that could be urged, and then, as before and after, was prepared to meet them ; and it was not easy to resist his calm and quiet pleading, and a number had already adopted his views. They strongly argued that instead of a Foreign Mission injuring any home interest, it would promote them all — that while, in natural economics, saving was acquiring and spending involved losintf, in spiritual often the reverse held : " there is that scat- tereth and yet increaseth, and there is withholding more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty." They held that the back- ! tary, and Mr. Geddie, (Jorresponding Secretary. They proceeded af once to carry out their instructions. They published the Memorial for general distribution, and requested all the ministers of the body to read it in their pulpits. They appointed agents in each Presbytery, to appeal to congregations and evoke their liberality. They also entered into an extensive correspondence with Missionary Societies, and individuals in Britain and the United States, regarding various fields of labour, the expense of supporting missions, etc. When the Synod met in July, 1845, the Board presented tlu^ir first report, with no small congratulations on the position which they and the Church occupied, in being reckoned among those who had a part in the Foreign Mission enterprise, and also on the encouraging progress made during the year. In the Prince Edward Island Presbytery £70 ($280) had been paid, with a pledge of the continuance of that amount annually. The congregations of the Pictou Presbytery had paid $230, and those in Truro $211, making £180, or $720 in all, which, '!' ' I I :!ii i 1 1 !''' 1 . -., . 1 li 44 LIFE OF JOHN OEDDIE, D.D. [1845 with the previous year's contributions of the Prince Edward Presbytery of $280, made the whole sum in the hands of the Board $1,000. This was from only twenty congregations, while such as Truro, Stewiacke, Windsor, Maitland, Halifax and Nine Mile River had not reported. These results they deemed sufficient to warrant the appointment of one missionary. In regard to a field of labour, they were able to lay before the Synod important information, with encouraging prospects of co-operation from other missionary institutions. " In every step of this incipient enterprise," they say, " prejudice and opposition have been found to give way, and everywhere have the Board had occasion to erect their Ebenezer, and to say, * Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.' " During the year the Mission had undergone much discussion in every part of the Church, and while there had been much interest ' xcited in the work, the feeling against the under- tak'iig, a... i'ash in the circumstances of the Church, had grown in intensity, not only among those who cared not for religion, bul amt"^<]f sei-^'- 's and well-disposed people. Many denounced the scheme as utter madness, while other epithets, scarcely less complimentary, were freely applied to it and its supporters. When the subject came up in Synod, the opinion was strongly expressed that the Board were " driving things too fast," and there was a determination, if possible, to put on the brakes. Accordingly, when it was moved, in accordance with the views of the Board, that they should " be instructed to select a field, and negotiate with candidates for occupying that field as soon as possible," it was moved in amendment, chat " the Board be instructed to use diligence in obtaining information respecting the most suitable field for Foreign Missionary operations, and the practicability of procuring suitable labourers for its occu- pation, and report to the Synod at its next meeting ; and if the information then laid before them shall be such as in their opinion shall justify the step, they pledge themselves to embark in the cause with all possible speed." After some discussion the vote was taken, when the motion was carried, but only by a majority of one, the vote being thirteen to twelve. Looking at the question as thus presented, we would say that the last course appeared the wisest. It was certainly committing a grave responsibility to the Board, to ^ -Uil [1845 'rince Ed wan I hands of the congregations, :land, Halifax e results they ne missionary, lay before the 5 prospects of " In every prejudice and ?rywhere have , and to say, uch discussion -d been much st the under- )h, had grown t for religion, ny denounced , scarcely less bs supporters. was strongly too fast," and 1 the brakes, ith the views select a field, field as soon the Board be on respecting >erations, and I for its occu- 3ting j and if ch as in their hem selves to n the motion e vote being us presented, sest. It was he Board, to '1845] COMMENCEMENT OP THE MISSION. 45 entrust to them the whole matter of selecting a field and choosing a missionary. But the course adopted was ordered in the wisdom I of the Great Disposer of all events. The Rev. Messrs. Roy and Christie were added to the Board, aW Mr. John Wm. Dawson, who, in addition to his eminent services to science, deserves mention as having. In the infant stages of the Mission, taken an active part in the advancement of its interests. The Board accordingly advertised immediately for candi- dates, and met at Pictou on the 24th of September, 1845, to determine the two questions of a field and the choice of an agent. The occasion was felt to be peculiarly solemn and responsible. All believed that, under God, much depended upon the decisions to which they should that day come. Having the glory of God and the salvation of souls in view, they were yet totally inexperienced in the management of missionary work. They entered, therefore, upon the con- sideration of the question of a field in weakness and fear, and with a prayerful anxiety that they might be guided by wisdom from on high. The information received, and, we may say, the intimate acquaintance with the circumstances of every field that might be considered desirable, acquired by Dr. Geddie, cleared their way ; and while the advantages and dis- advantages of each were carefully and prayerfully canvassed, there was no difficulty in finally arriving at a decision. As to such fields as India and China, the way seemed shut by the great expense which they involved, the salaries of mission- aries being double of what they were in some fields, and the other expenses proportionate. The Board of the Presbyterian (Jhurch of the United States invited us to join with them in any of their fields, offering to adopt any missionary that we might select, and to be responsible for any deficiency in his salary. Kind as this offer was, a more independent position was considered desirable, and none of the fields to which they invited us seemed the most suitable. To Western Africa we were invited by our friends of the United Secession Church ; but the view then held, that, from the climate, missionaries going there must be first acclimated by residence in a tropical climate — for which reason they were looking for agents to their Missions in Jamaica — and the constant necessity there would be, if we joined in the work there, of foregoing the sending of ■M m . m If i lU ! J! 1 'i J II . . ihJiii ■'•L-il 'l ■ .i: llliiiHl Life of john obddie, d.d. an agent from among ourselves, seemed decisive against that field. South Africa presented greater attractions, but the South Seas still stronger. The triumphs of the Gospel in that field had formed one of the most fascinating chapters of missionary history, and the story had fired the heart of Mr. Geddie in his boyhood. Then the salary of a missionary there was less than half of what it was in some fields, while the cost of the other requirements of a mission was proportionately less. Then, as Mr. Geddie in his modesty put it, a missionary of less intellectual gifts would answer among a rude people, better than among the corrupt civilizations of the East, whiln the experience of Eastern Polynesia led us to expect, what has not been altogether realized in the New Hebrides, that these simple people would more readily yield to the influence of the Gospel. The condition of the people also strongly ap pealed to our sympathy, while the circumstances of the field seemed to make it the one most suitable for a small Church to occupy. But events in providence led them irresistibly to that quar ter. It would be interesting to detail these, but we must content ourselves with the leading facts. The Rev. John Williams, after his successful labours in Eastern Polynesia, had been longing to see a similar work going on in the large islands to the west, and when he last visited Britain, in 1838, some of the congregations of the United Secession Church became interested in the subject, and voted £300 sterling to him to explore Western Polynesia, and select n mission field for them in that quarter, — New Caledonia, or the Loyalty Islands, which were then reckoned as one group, being contemplated as a sphere of operations. It was while on his way thither, in the Camden, that he, along with a youiij^ friend, Harris, was killed on Erromanga in the year 1839. The missionaries who followed up his work of exploration succeeded in placing native teachers on the Isle of Pines, a few miles distant from New Caledonia, and other islands, ami wrote to the United Secession Church urging them to occupy the field immediately, and advising that operations should be commenced on the Isle of Pines, where there seemed a favour able opening. The London Missionary Society at the same time pressed the matter upon the attention of the Synod of Km I I'ili [18« ij 1845] COMMENCEMENT OF THE MISSION. 47 e against thut [.ions, but the Gospel in that ig chapters of I heart of Mr. issionary there while the cost rtionately less. tsionary of less people, better e East, while ) expect, what Hebrides, tliat ,0 the influence so strongly ap jes of the tield b small Church Y to that quar , but we must 'he Rev. John em Polynesia, ng on in the 'isited Britain, lited Secession id voted £300 I, and select a iledonia, or the as one group, It was while g with ayouiij,' he year 1839. of exploration sle of Pines, a ler islands, and bhem to occupy sions should be emed a favour y at the same \ the Synod of that Church, and promised to render them all the assistance in their power. The Synod accordingly, at its meeting in 1841, resolved to enter upon the work. But while adopting measures to carry the resolution into effect, they received a communication from the London Missionary Society, informing them that in consequence of intelligence received from the South Seas, especially the report that all the teachers on the Isle of Pines had been murdered, it wDuld be desirable to suspend the appointment of any European missionary to West- ern Polynesia. The Presbyterian Church of Nova Scotia had sprung from the Secession, and its members were thus naturally led to take an interest in this field. Mr. Geddie, and those having our Foreign Mission in charge, had followed these proceedings with deep interest. They felt the feebleness of the Church liere to undertake a mission of her own, and the prospect was naturally most gratifying to them, of entering upon that field in I onjunction with brethren with whom they were so closely associated in faith and fellowship. The communication from the London Missionary Society was therefore discouraging. In consequence of it, the United Secession Church abandoned the idea of a mission in the South Seas, and directed their attention to Old Calabar, on the West Coast of Africa. Our Board were therefore for a time in perplexity, as to the quarter to which they should direct their energies. In these circum- stances, the brethren of the Prince Edward Island Presbytery set aj^-irt a time for special prayer for Divine guidance. The result seemed to realize the Divine word — " Before they call I will answer, and while they are yet speaking I will hear." A communication was shortly after received from the Secretary of the London Missionary- Society, informing them that the reports which had deterred their friends in Scotland from entering upon that field had been contradicted — that the main- land of New Caledonia was still open to missionaries, and thpt it was still hoped the United Secession Church would take a part in a mission to that quarter. It was while matters were in this condition that the Board met, and after careful and prayerful deliberation of the claims of the different fields open to them, they unanimously resolved that " New Caledonia is the station to which our missionary should be sent." Very U'l It. m r !- m wXtSSactsn^aoit -. r.-»«" 48 LIFE OP JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. [1845 'S .1 .M^ I i I 1 'pi- i 1 I ill: soon after, a very urgent appeal came to the Secession Church from Rev. Messrs. Murray and Turner, who in April and May of that year had visited the New Hebrides and New Caledonia, urging them to send out six missionaries to the latter point. That Church, however, had become so occupied with the Mission to Old Calabar that they were unable to respond ; and while we were not able to do so to the extent sought, yet the friends of the Mission felt that Cod was call- ing us, and we rejoiced in the measure o* «».id we could give in response. The next question was, " Who shall go for us?" During all these proceedings, though Mr. Geddie was the life of the movement, he had carefully endeavoured to keep it free from any connection with his name. He sought to awaken the Church to her duty to the heathen, and to induce her to engage in missionary work among them, from regard to the will of Christ and from sympathy with the perishing, and not from any interest in an individual. Hence he had hitherto kept himself in the background, and while pressing upon the Church the claims of the heathen world, and the obligation of our Church to extend her benevolence to the perishing abroad, he had always expressed a wish to those who knew his feelings that his name should not be associated with the measure. Still, he had not concealed from his more intimate friends his intention to offer his services, when the time should come that a foreign missionary should be required. The Church was to be free, so that if an agent more suitable could be obtained he would cheerfully acquiesce, and in that case would recog- nize the voice of God in His Church, indicating that the time had not come for him to go abroad, and would endeavour to labour contentedly where he was. Accordingly, at the same meeting he came forward with a tender of his services. He stated how his mind had been occupied with the subject from his youth, as we have already described. The most of the members of the Board had had an intimate acquaintance with him, and those who knew him best felt the most confidence in his suitableness for the work, while all knew his zeal, his diligence, and his perseverance, and that he had at least some qualifications r«quired in a missionary to the heathen, and looking at the whole history of the ■ ''I ' [1845 m Churcli ipril and and New es to the » occupied unable to ;he extent was call- Id give in During all ife of the free from vaken the • to engage he will of i not from berto kept upon the (ligation of ng abroad, lis feelings measure, friends his come that urch was obtained uld recog- t the time eavour to rd with a had been ve already 1 had had knew him the work, ranee, and missionary ry of the 1845] COMMKNCKMENT OF THK MISSION. 49 1 'i I He was aecord- nicasuro, folt that the thing was of the Lord, ingly unanimously and cordially accepted. And now for the first time he was informed of the fact, wliich we have already mentioned, of his early parental dedi- cation to the service of God in the Foreign Mission tield. One of the things which pressed upon his mind in view of going abroad, was the parting from an aged, widowed, and enfeebled iiiothor, especially the pain that it must occasion her to give up an only son — no more to see his face in the flesh. Contrary to liis expectation, she received the tidings of his appointment witli calm resignation. On expressing his surprise to a dear friend, he was inforuKHl for the first time of the event in his early life to which we have referred. On inquiring of her, ho learned that it was even so. And much as she would feel the pain of parting, she was ready to say, "I have opened my mouth to the Lord, and I cannot go back ;" indeed, had no wish to do so ; yea, rejoiced that th(! Lord had heard her prayers, adding that, if his father were alive, their united voice would be — " We would have it so." The next step was his separation from his congregation. In the circumstances of the Church at that time, the giving up a minister to go abroad was a sacrifice involving a trial of faith, such as we can now scarcely realize. There were several congregations vacant, or with ministers so aged as to require colleagues, while the Synod had not a single probationer for the ministry under its charge, and very few looking forward to the work. The institi^tion to which it had formerly looked for the preparatory training of young men, had been for some time extinct, and though appeals had been made to Scotland foi* preachers, these had met with no response. Under these circumstances, to take a minister from a congregation and leave it vacant, was a serious step, and many were ready to coiulenm it as altogether wrong. Mr. Geddie was always ready to answer, "Whatever our wants at home, we -^ id not sutler by doing good to others. It is when churches endeavour to become a blessing to others that they are usually blessed them.selves." And so he would argue, if the Church give up one or more of her ministers for the sake of the heathen, the God of Missions could, and he believed would, give a more abundant supply of faithful men in their room. The arrival 4 iW «iH 1 " 1 1 '< ' 'i ' i . il 'KJ 4' •i ■ vA 60 LIFK OF JOHN (iKDDIE, D.I). [184; I m Mi i about tliat timo of a preacher from Scotland seeniod an earnest of the realization of his faith. Of course, the surrenchir was more trying to the peoph^ of his charge. When the Presbytery first met with them on the subject of separation, they universally refusf^d to entertain the idea. After explanations and remonstrances on the part of the Presbytery, the meeting adjourned for a week for praytr and deliberation. The congregation contained som :olleiit and very intelligent men, who, on consideration, itm that it was their duty not to oppose the call of the Church and what seemed the will of God, and that when they had been profess- ing a readiness to make sacrifices in money for tlui heathen, now if God called them to give up their minister, they ought to submit ; and all came to the state of mind of Paul's frienils at Cffisarea, "When he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying. The will of the Lord be done." 'J'he connection with his pastoral charge was accordingly dissolved, and he was placed at the disposal of the Board. i: ^^ \ mmm :;! !l if" 1 845] PUKrAKATION FOR MISSION WORK. Ol i. ClIAI'TER III. PHKI'AKATION FOR MISSION WOKK. 1845-16. m: M\{. (JED DIE iininetliately set himself vigorously to tlu; preparatory work of his Mission. Ho disposed of his property, real and personal, visitcid all tlu^ congregations of the Church in Prince Edward Island, and delivered a valedictorv address in each. In them all, his face was well known and his voice familiar ; the me((tings conse(juently were very touch- ini,'. The whole thing was so new -the sending a missionary of our own to the heathen was so much beyond what we had ever expected to see, and missionary life, p; rticularly among races so harharous as those to which he was going, in the idea of most people, involved so much hardship and (;ven danger— that naturally the keenest sympathy was excited, which was deep- ened by the remembrance of past intercourse, and the contem- plation of .such an apparently feeble little man venturing upon such an undertaking, and of his lovely wife and dear children going among such a rude and savage people. About the 1st of December he arrived at Nova Scotia. He then expected that, after a few months' attention to certain practical arts, a knowledge of whicli would likely be useful to him on the mission field, he would be on his way to the South Seas. When he arrived on the mainland, however, he found that the Church here was not so well prepared for the work as he had expected, judging from the forwardness of the Island congregations. The subject had not l)een so generally agitated. To a number of congregations he was unknown by face ; there was much ignorance and indifterence, and some opposition to the movement. Everywhere it was said that the Board were tlriving things too fast. Independently of these things, how- ever, as the undertaking was new, it was desirable that infor- 1 . -* : ft: . ■■ ■' ' ! :i: ill 52 LIFE OF JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. [1846 mation should be diffused and the sympathies of the Church enlisted in its favour. Accordingly, he spent the following winter and summer partly in visiting the various congregations of the body, and partly in acquiring a knowledge of medicine and some mechanical arts. In regard to the former, he thus reports his labours at the end of tlie year : " I have during the past year visited, in Prince Ed- ward Island, Nova Scotia, and Cape Breton, fifty different sec- tions of the Church. In the performance of these visitations I have travelled upwards of 2,000 miles (this was before there was a public railway in the Maritime Provinces); and while I trust that my visits have not been unprofitable to others, in general they have been refreshing to myself. In almost every instance, too, I have observed a degree of interest manifested in favour of our Mission, both by ministers and congregations, which 1 would have little expected." In these visits deep interest was awakened in the undertak- ing, although we doubt not that much of this interest arose more from sympathy with the man than faith in the cause. Nevertheless, it manifested itself in practical forms ; funds flowed freely into the treasury, while articles useful to the missionaries, and personal presents, might almost be said to be showered upon them. Among these may be specially noticed the gift of a superior medicine chest, abundantly supplied, by the late James D. B. Fraser, Esq., of Pictou, and another by the drug- gists of Halifax. Such was the liberality displayed, that the Board now became satisfied, that funds would be supplied suHi- cient to send two missionaries, and they began to look out for another labourer. As to his other employments, he says : " A portion of my time has likewise been devoted to the study of printing — a valuable art to the Christian missionary. It is to modern missionaries almost what the gift of tongues was to the apos- tles of old. A mission among a barbarous people cannot be conducted with any degree of efftciency without the aid of this art. To the proprietors of the Eastern Chronicle, I am nnioli indebted for valuable instruction in this useful art ; and I should now have no hesitation in taking charge of a press." As an exercise in printing, and with the view at the same time of advancing the inissionary cause, he published, in ^ [184() )f the Church the following congregations e of medicine )ur8 at the end , in Prince Ed- j different sec le visitations 1 3 before there ; and while 1 e to others, in 1 almost every 3st manifested congregations, the undertak- interest arose in the cause, forms ; funds useful to tlie t be said to be iiUy noticed the lied,by the late Br by the drug- )layed, that tlu; 3 supplied surti- to look out for i portion of my | of printing — a is to modern v^as to the apes- ople cannot be ; the aid of this icle^ I am much ful art ; and I B of a press." ew at the same published, in 1846] PREPARATION FOR MISSION WORK. .5^ ii pamphlet form, a sermon on Rev. xiv. 6, entitled " The Uni- versal Diffusion of the Gospel," doing all the mechanical work himself. " I have also given my almost undivided attention for some months to the study of medicine. Many diseases prevail in tropical climates which are unknown in more temperate regions. Now, unless missionaries, when placed far beyond the reach of medical skill, know something of the nature of these diseases, and the means to be employed in arresting their progress, they are in danger either of falling victims to them, or of being com- pelled to retire from the field with broken-down constitutions, liut a knowledge of medicine is valuable to missionaries, not only on their own account and that of their families ; if judi- ciously employed, it may be the means of gaining them favour in the eyes of the natives. If we can be instrumental in doing good to their bodies, 1 know nothing more likely to open up a way of access to their souls, and furnish an opportunity of recommending to them that Divine Physician, who alone can heal the soul from the malady of sin. " I have, besides, undertaken labours which to some may appear unimportant, but which have appeared of great import- ance to me. I refer to acquaintance with some of the most useful of the mechanical arts. I have attended to the theory of house building. A missionary in any of the New Caledo- nian Isles requires a good shelter for himself and his family. It would be at the peril of their health and lives to live in the grass huts of the natives, under a tropical rain of some months' duration. Missionariss who go there must be the erectors of their own habitations. I have attended to the theory of naval architecture. Should God in mercy permit ns to behold the establishment of a mission, I know that it will soon spurn the narrow limits of a single isle. We must have our little " mes- senger of peace," to carry native Christian teachers from one island to another, until the thirteen millions who inhabit the isles of the Pacific, have been made accpiainted with the name of Jesus. Besides, whenever I have had opportunities, I have vi.sited the workshops of mechanics, in order to pick up such items of mechanical knowledge, as might tend to augment my usefulness. I am of opinion, that a i.ussionary going among a barbarous people, should be to some extent versed in the most Sh nl iaii %^ ' . P 54 Life of john gedoie, d,d. [1846 ili! ill IIMI', i I ;;;j useful of the mechanic arts. It will recommend him more in the eyes of the people than profound learning or extensive literature. " In this manner have I been employed in preparatory work since my connection with our mission. The last year has been to me certainly the most oppressive (1), and I trust not the least useful, of my life, I deem it proper to state here, that while I have given my whole time to the service of the Church, I have received no remuneration in the shape of salary from the Mission Fund. The Board of Foreign Missions indeed wished to commence my salary at the time that I was loosed from my late charge, but I declined receiving anyth' except the travelling expenses which I might incur in viL.dng the congregations, and even these expenses I have borne in part myself. I make this explanation, that the actual state of things between the Board and myself, as regards pecuniary matters, may be known to the Church at large. If I can give up myself to the missionary cause, it is but a little thing to give what I may possess of the world's substance to the same noble object. After ve have done our all for the Redeemer's cause, we are still unprofitable servants." During the winter Mr. Geddie met with a painful trial, which, however, he accepted as of the Lord, and fitted to promote his work. He had three sweet children, the eldest five years of age. The taking of such a family was frequently made an objection to his going, partly on account of the expense and trouble of travelling with them, but especially on account of what was called the cruelty of taking them among brutal and disgusting savages. Friends entreated him to leave them behind. To this he would not listen, having faith in the care of Him in whose service he was going. Still, he must have had anxious thoughts regarding them. But now it seemed as if the Lord was determined, that this should not stand in the way of His work. The youngest child sickened, and after a few days' illness, on the 15th of February, entered into rest, aged one year and seven months. A few days after, his second daughter, Jane Fraser, took ill, from no sickness that could be known. From the first of her illness she neither sought nor cared for recovery, but constantly expressed her desire and expectation of going to her little sister, Mary [1846 m more in extensive Eitory work i,r has been st not the I here, that he Church, lalary from ons indeed was loosed ;i' except /it ling the irne in part al state of i pecuniary If I can little thing to the same Redeemer's linful trial, d fitted to , the eldest 5 frequently lunt of the specially on hem among lim to leave faith in the :ill, he must But now it should not d sickened, ary, entered V days after, no sickness 3 she neither :pre8sed her iister, Mary 1846] PREPARATION FOR MISSION WORK. 55 Sophia, and on the 10th of March she too passed away. The circumstances were remarkable, and awakened considerable attention. It seemed as if God was saying to those who were making his family an objection to his going, "That shall not hinder My work ;" and to himself, "Go to your work, and I will take your children under My own care." We may add, that before leaving Nova Scotia another child was born to them — Lucy, now the wife of the Rev. Thomas Neilson, missionary on Tana. While, however, prejudice was giving way, and deep and widespread sympathy was being excited, on the other hand the opposition became more decided, changing in some instances from contemptuous indiSerence to determined hostility. But this did not rutfle Mr. Geddie. Instead of regarding opposition, even when coming from good men, as any reason against the undertaking, he drew the very contrary conclusion. He argued that if there were no opposition it could not be of God — because if it were of God, Satan would not allow it to pass without tlirowing obstacles in its way, and amid the many tokens of approval he was receiving, every notice of opposition was received with cheerfulness, almost as if it were matter for congratulation. But the opposition now took a form which was peculiarly trying. Strong exceptions were taken as to his qualifications. Brethren of the highest standing proclaimed him entirely unlit for the work, as they expressed it, either in mind or body ; and one venerated father, accustomed to express himself in strong terms, wrote against the undertaking in the public press, stating this, among other objections to the movement, thiit " he did not know a more unsuitable person than Mr. G. ; that except zeal, which was the lowest of all, he did not possess one qualitication for the work." ITie idea was openly avowed that his weak bodily presence itself was sufficient reason to reject him as a missionary. As a mere reproach upon himself, all this would not have disturbed him, but as the Mission was involved in the question of his suitableness, it became a duty, most painful to any person of ordinary feeling, but especially to one of his modesty, to speak of himself. He could only say that if one better iiualitied were to offer, he had always been and was still ready i- ' t.\ V t m '-U Mi '.■l ngthen the arguments against the Mission, and, in the state of the C^'hurch at that time, might have proved an obstacle in the way of going forward. But now the Church was com- mitted to the work, and there was no retreat. Still, it did try our faith. Little remained for Mr. G. to do but prepare for his departure. But one important matter now engaged the earnest atteijtion of the Board, viz., the endeavour to- obtain a fellow-labourer. The desirableness, if not the necessity, of missionaries going out not singly, but in bands of two or more, might be readily seen on general principles. The commission which sent out the disciples two and two, gives the practir'' the authority of a Divine command. Up till this time the hope had been enter- tained, that the United Secession Church of Scotland might join with us in the enterprise ; but in reply to the appeal made to them for their co-operation, a letter was received, full of sympathy and encouraging counsel, but intimating, finally, that the engagements in which they had entered in other fields, would prevent their sending any missionaries to the South Seas. The Board had been for some time seeking a fellow-labourer, but found it impracticable to obtain a minister of the Chui'ch, and, failing this, had been advertising for an active layman, who might go out as a catechist or mechanic. And now they accepted a tender of service from Mr. Isaac A. Archibald, a young man of good character and promise, who had been employed as a teacher. It was thought that in Mi-ssion work among such g. class of people as the South Sea Islanders, such a man might be nearly, if not quite, as useful as a regularly t V m u. . '' i .1 ' BH . 60 LIFE OP JOHN ORDDIE, D.D. [1846 trained minister. The Board acted according to their light, and did what seemed best in the circumstances. But the result showed that it was a mistake. If missions among savage tribes do not require the same gifts and training as those among other races, they require other gifts, sometimes as difficult to be obtained. Experience is always desirable, and true piety and proved missionary zeal cannot be dispensed with. In October he issued a farewell letter to the Church. In it he gives an account of his labours during the previous year, which we have alre;ady quoted, and fully describes his inten- tions and plans. Part of the opening paragraphs we give as illustrative of the spirit in which he entered upon his under- takin<; : " In the prospect of leaving a part of the Church of Christ, in the bosom of which I have been nurtured from childhood, in which I have been honoured to labour as a minister for several years, and around which my best affections are entwined, I feel more than language can adequately express, but I cheerfully ;:mbmit to all for Jesus' .sake and the Gospel's. " The circumstances which have laid me under the necessity of addressing you as I now do, are known to you all. The King of Zion has been pleased in mercy to call us out as a Church, to unite with Christians of other names in the glorious work of evanu;elizing the nations of the earth; and it has fallen to my lot to be chosen as your messenger of good news to the heathen. My desire to ' go far hence unto the Gentiles' is not of recent origin. As soon as I could com- prehend the worth of the soul, and the duty of Christians to ' deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain,' it took possession of my heart. It has ever since grown with my growth, and strengthened with my strength. I rejoiced greatly when the Synod of our Church came to the conclusion, that the time had at last arrived when we ought to look beyond the limits of our own land, and send the messengers of salvation to ' the dark places of the earth.' When the question was asked, ' Who will go for us ] ' I felt constrained to say, though it was painful to flesh and blood, ' Here am I, send me.' In giving this response to so serious a call, I did not act altogether on the ground of my own judg- ment. Once and again I consulted the several fathers and 1846] PUKPARATION FOR MISSION WORK. 61 brethren with whom I had been associated in Presbytery, and among whom I have laboured for eight years. It was not until they had expressed themselves favourably in reference to me, and encouraged me to expect that I might be enabled to do something for Christ among the heathen, that 1 was encouraged to go on, and even then I came forward ' in weak- ness and in fear, and in much trembling.' I know that in many of the qualifications and attainments, which it is desirable that a missionary should possess, I am wanting ; nevertheless, I feel as though the God of nature and of grace had committed to my trust some talents which, if faithfully employed, may make me useful to my fellow-sinners ; and I go forth with a resolve in the strength of grace to devote my soul, my l)ody, my all, to my Redeemer's service and glory. And I am the more encouraged to proceed in the enterprise to which I have devoted myself, when I reflect that God can work by means however feeble, and that ' the race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong.' God is faithful who hath said, ' Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel, thou shalt thresh the mountains and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.' '*In associating myself with our Mission, I do not think I have acted without counting the cost. The step which I have taken has not been the result of momentary impulse, but the deliberate purpose of years. I trust that 1 have given to the subject a measure of that consideration, which the importance of the subject demands. I have contemplated and realized in part, what it is to break asunder those endearing ties that bind parents and children, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends. I have anticipated a voyage of 18,000 miles over the mighty ocean, through many latitudes and divers climes ; but there is One who * ruleth the raging of the sea, and stilleth the waves thereof when they arise ;' and there is safety under His watch- ful care. I have looked forward to the time when I must forego the blessings of civilization, the comforts of social life, and the sweets of home, and expose myself to tlie inveterate prejudice, the repulsive arrogance, and the deep-rooted super- stition of a barbarous people. I have beheld at a distance the drudgery, to which I may have to submit in acquiring a barba- rous lancruaire, and moulding into characters and determininir I .(tj 1' i^"^ I : IT 62 LIFE OF JOHN (JEDDIE, D.D. [1840 a > < n by fixed sounds, a tongue never committed to writing before. 1 have glanced at the probability of being laid under the necessity to court the society of savage men, and assimilate myself in some measure to their disgusting habits of life, in (Wder to gain their ear and win their confidence. I cannot say that I have ever seriously considered the possibility of falling a prey, as some have done, to the capricious fury of barbarous men. Nevertheless, for so painful a contingency, missionaries who go abroad, and their friends at home, must not be unpre- pared. The servants of Christ go forth to heathen lands with their lives in their hands, not knowing what is to befall them. Now, after a careful review of all that is forbidding in a missionary life, I have no wish to retrace my steps. I feel as if I might say in the Apostle's words, ' None of these things move me, neither do I count my life dear unto me, so that I might finish my course with joy.' " But there is a bright as well as a dark side to the picture of a missionary life, and this I have not overlooked. It has its allurements as well as its trials and perils. I have thought of the dignity of labouring for Christ among the heathen. To be occupied in this work is the highest glory of men. It assimilates those who are engaged in it, to Him who ' came not to do His own will, but the will of Him that sent Him.' I can conceive of no employment so dignified as that of turning men from darkness unto light, and from the power of Satan unto the kingdom of God's dear Son, in those lands where Satan has established his dark domain. I have reflected on the honour of suff'ering for Christ. The servants of Jesus in heathen lands are exposed to sufferings which, in general, are not known to ministers at home. Now, I afiiirm that it is an honour and a comfort to those who have felt the Rec^emer's love, to bear the yoke which He niay see fit to impose on them. Peter and John rejoiced ' that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name;' and truly these sufferings cannot appear a small honour to any who discover in them *a manifest token ' that ' they shall reign with Him,' and know that they are ' working for them a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.' I believe, too, that missionaries are placed in circumstances peculiarly favourable for obtaining a victory over this world, and enjoying sweet communion with God. ^m 1846] PREPARATION FOR MISSION WORK. 63 They have left 'their country, th.D. [1846 (( i 1 1 1 1 ^' ill '9 .1 :! S ';■ On the following morning," Hays a paper of the day, " Mr. and Mrs. GecMi*^ took a final funiwcUl of their relatives and friends in this (juarter. Tlu; scene was most affecting — on the one hand, an aged parent howed down with infirmity, who had once and again devoted her only son to the missionary work, now parting with him with the prospect of never again meet- ing him on this sicU; the grave, and yet with a ready and almost cheerful faith, surrendering him to th(! service to which God in Hia providences appeared to be calling him ; on the other, Mr. Geddie and his int labours among the heathen, and such liberality to th aids of the Board, as removed all anxiety as to the support ui I he ii;..^sion- aries. At Halifax he was detained between two and three weeks, liiiul'il (iiir j> CIlgJlL !:l SKi] PIIKPARATION Foil MISHION WOUK. 60 waitiiij^ for a passage to Boston, th(* routu by tho Uiiitcul States having' \h'v\i coiisiilcrtMl as the most favoui-altlc;. I^uriii;^ this time, liowevci', lie was not idle, l>uL visited some con- j4i'ej,'ations that h(^ had not prcjviously visited. His tartht.T ])roj,'rtfSH we shall aUow himself to deseribe : "On tlie morn- iiig of Movoinbor the .{Oth we were unexpectedly summoned on Itoard the l)i'i^' Acadhui, till! vessel in whioh we had en^'Uged our passii,i,'(^ to IJoston. Tcj this summons \\v yielded a reluu- Lmt conn)lian('e, tor it was the Ijord's day ; l»ut We wen; obliged to sul>mit to arran^^ements over which we had no control. 80 conlident were we of spending this day in Halifax, that I had engaged to assist my l)rother, Mr. Mc(Jregor, in his labours. A sudden shift of wind in our favour, howeNcr, was a temptation too strong to be resisted, ami the .sanctity of the Sal)bath was matle to give way to the convenience.' and worldly interests of men, It was not to uh a day of holy rest, but of contusion and bustle. Those! of our friends who knew of our deparluri!, accompanied us to the ship an»^l Ijade us an ali'ection- at(; tai'ewell. " i trust that 1 may be pardoned, when I say that there is .something solemn antl impressive in tlu; (h'parture of mission- aries to the heathen. It is an (jvent peculiarly trying to tins linest sensibiliti(;s of our nature, and can Ije fully undeistood only by those who have known it themsehes I thank the Lord that we were all comfortably sustained, while rending asunder some of the t(md(;rest human ties, as we took our departure from the land endeared 10 us by many affecting ass(jciations. On the night after we .sailed, 1 went on ileck to take a farewell look of Nova Scotia, and bv the light of the moon I saw its blue mountains fast fadin<( from view, far in the distance. When 1 I'emembered the many dear friends whom we had left behind us, and whose faces we should see no nioie in the tiesh, I sighed ; and 1 felt as if it would have given relief to my feelings to weep, when 1 thought of my two dear children whom 1 liad devoted to the missionary work, but wliom an All-wi.se and merciful God was pleased to recall to Himself ere their work was begun. " Our voyage from Halifax to Boston occupied eight days. W(; experienced an almost uninterruptcjd succession of storms, fiom the time th.it we sailed until we reached the United States 5 if. p-^v 66 LIFE OF JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. [1846 I if »y b is i ■Si • "i : '• ^ r;- i ': "■■ ?, ■1 i ,!'■' 1 Iiii. ■■:■ ! ' coast. The manner in which the winds blew and the sea raged was a little terrific to us, who were unaccustomed to witness such displays of the Divine power on the mighty deep. On one occasion a sea struck our vessel, rolled along her whole length, removed the sky-light, and discharged a considerable portion of water into our cabin. With the exception, however, of one sail which was torn Vjy the wind, we sustained no damage. We cannot be too grateful for our preservation amidst the perils of the sea, for many vessels perished and many lives were lost in the same storms to which we were exposed. Our great- est danger during our voyage was from St George's Shoals. These lie to the south of the course from Halifax to Boston. They extend in length about fifteen miles, and vary in width from three to four miles. They are ninety miles from the American shore, and the water at some distance on both sides is from eighty tu one hundred fathoms deep. A rapid current sets in all around the Shoals, so that when a vessel gets within its influence her situation becomes dangerous. She is gradually drawn towards them, and unless she can put out suflicient anchors to enable her to resist the current's force till a propitious wind arises, her escape is impossible. In consequence of the heavy northerly blow we had experienced for several days, we were driven into the latitude of the Shoals ; and our captain found by sounding that we were actually on their borders. In these critical cir- cumstances the wind calmed off, and we found by every throw of the lead that the tide was fast drawing us towards the north- west and most dangerous part of them. At this moment a gale suddenly sprung up from the south, leading off' the Shoals ; every sail was unfurled to catch the wind ; our little brig for the time was almost buried in foam under the pressure of her canvas ; and in a few hours we were beyond the danger which was a cause of uneasiness to us all. Though our danger in this instance was considerable, yet by the good hand of God we were kept from harm, and ^we felt as if we were more than ever bound to consecrate ourselves anew to His service, whose protection we had so manifestly enjoyed. I had almost for- gotten to mention that, as a matter of course, our whole com- pany suffered more or less from sea-sickness. After we had been at sea two or three days we had all recovered from this most disagreeable complaint, with the exception of Mrs. Geddie, 1846] PREPARATION FOR MISSION WORK. 67 who bad occasional attacks to the end of our voyage. We reached Boston on the 7th of December." It had been expected that they would have been able to obti-'in a passage from the United States to Sydney, N. S. VV. ; but the Australian colonies might be said to be then in their infancy. The gold discoveries had not yet attracted popula- tion, and communication, either from Britain or the United States, was irregular and infrequent. Owing to the delay in their leaving Nova Scotia, partly from the time occupied in corresponding with the United Secession Church, with the view of obtaining their co-operation, and partly from incorrect lufcrmation as to the time of vessels sailing for that (juarter, they found that the best season for obtaining a passage had pu.-sed. Mr. Geddie visited the principal ports from which whaling vessels sailed, and found that those which passed through the islands, made thei.' arrangements to leave by the end of October, and at first they could hear of no suitable merchantman. At length they heard of a small brig to sail in January from Newl)uryport for the Sandwich Islands, and after making due inquiry it was deemed advisable to embrace the opportunity. In the meantime they were pleasantly and usefully employed. They had intercourse with the officers of Missionary institu- tions, especially the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, and the Presbyterian Board, from whom they received kind attention, hearty encouragement and valu- able information. They met missionaries of various denomi- nations, by intercourse with all of whom their spirits were refreshed and strengthened. They visited Princeton, where they received kind attentions from Dr. Hodge and tlu' other Professors, and spent some pleasant hours among the interest- ing and sacred scenes of the town and neighbourhood. They spent a short time in Philadelphia, where they were most kindly received by Dr. W. R. Grant, an old fellow-student of Mr. Geddie, and Professor of Anatomy in the Pennsylvania Medical College, who gave him a free ticket to the mc^dical lectures. At several places Mr. Geddie preached and gave Missionary addresses, and everywhere they were loadetl with kindness. ' M 1 '^1 <»' i lii ::';!li^ \u nm '' :' !. 1 r I 'I I 68 LIFE OP JOHN GEDDIE, D,D. [1847 He again writes : — " Our delay in the United States has been somewhat trying to our faith and patience, but we trust that it has been for the best. It has subjected the Church and ourselves to consider- able expense, but the good has perhaps been equivalent to the evil. It has enabled us to see more of men and things than ever we did before. It has furnished us with an opportunity of preaching the gospel and laying our undertaking V)efore many of Christ's friends in this country. It has put us in the way of seeing with our eyes and hearing with our ears mission- aries from various parts of the heathen world. We long much to be on our way to the scene of our future labours. The energetic movements of the Roman Catholics in the Pacific, render it desirable that no time should be lost." His departure we give in his own words : " We arrived at Newl)uryport, which is about thirty-five miles from Boston, on the evening of the 18th January. I lost no time in examining the vessel which is to be our home for the next six months. The EoeHne is a small brig of 197 tons burden ; she is oak built; her age is six years, and she ranks in the insurance offices as a first-class vessel. Her size is less than could be desired for so long a voyage, but she is as safe as a larger vessel. We have a small cabin entirely for ourselves, v/ith a large berth i>n each side and a curtain in the centre that we can draw aside at pleasure. On the deck there is a comfort- able cabin, which is to be occupied as our dining-room, and arountl this cabin, there ai-e eiylit sinifle berths for the accommo- dation of th-.j vessel's officers and one or two passengers. The captain's wife accompanies him. Since we came here we have been busily employed in g<;tting our things on board and fitting up our little cabin. It looks quite snug now, and 1 think we will be very comfortable in it. Our rough passage from Hali- fax has seasoned us a little for sea life, so that we do not anti- cipate; much inconv(Miience on this head. Our friends and the Church at homo must not give th(;ms(;lves much uneasiness about us. We have no feai's ourselves about our voyage, and we hope that those whom we loiv(> l)eliinil us will feel as easv as we do. Under the guardianship of Mini who holds the winds in His fists, and die waves in the hollow of His hands, we sIhiU be safe. 1847] PREPARATION FOR MISSION WORK. 69 " I cannot speak too highly of the attention paid us by the ministers of this place. As soon as our arrival was known, mil, isters of several denominations waited on us in a body, welcomed us to their town, and wislied God speed in our under- taking. I shall not soon forget the sweet intercourse wliich it has been our privilege to enjoy with our valued friends in this (juarter. Yesterday being Sabbath, I went to hear the Rev. John H. Bernhein, a converted Jew. He appears to l)e a devoted servant of Jesus Christ. It gave me some satisfaction when conversing with this son of Abraham, to reflect that I had once and again lifted mv voice in l>ehalf of God's ancient and chosen people, and that my late charge had contributed tlieir mite to promote the conversion of the Jew, as well as the salvation of the Gentiles. On the afternoon of yesterday I preached for the Rev. Mr. Dynmck, a Congregational mini.ster, and in the evening for the Rev. JN[r. Stearns, Presbyterian. The evening meeting was unusually large. The immense building was tilled to overflowing, and several retired for want of room. The church is tiie same in which Whiteticld was accustome 1 to pn^ach, and under the pulpit of which his ashes repose in the stillness of death. At the minist(n-"s request, I delivered an address on the subject of Mission.s. Our under- taking appears to have awakened considerable interest here. Many prayers have been ofb'red up, not for ourselves oidy, but for the litth; Synod of Nova Scotia, which sends two labourers to a heathen land, i have spent the most of this (lay in carpeting our little cabin, lashing our stove, tal»le, medicine chest, etc., so that we will be n'ady for the heavy storms, which we will probably encountt>r before we doul)le Cape Horn. The presence of some of our dear absent friends with us would make our litth i.p.irtment all that vvf; could desire. Our vessel, though smaii, is strong. She carries out in her a very safe cargo for a long voyage ; the load is made up of shingles, lath.s, l)ureaus, chairs, etc. Our captain and mate are experienced navigators, and have l)een several voyages to the Pacific Ocean. Our vessel is well manned with good hantls, and we will have passengers besides. There will bo between twenty and thirty souls on board in all. "The 28th of January, 1847, I may be permitted to rank among the eventful days of my life, and of its transactions I I i.> m * \i ' ., f/* M i i . mmmmmm 70 LIFE OF JOHN O EDDIE, D.D, [1847 IS I . p I li shall cherish a lively recollection as long as memory retains her seat. "After an early breakfast at the ' Merrimac House,' New- bury port, a carriage drove our little company to Greenleaf Wharf, where the brig Kreline lay. We found here the Rev, Dr. Dana, Presbyterian, the Rev. Mr. Stearns, Presby- terian, Rev. Mr. Dyniock, Congregationalist, and the Rev. Mr. , Baptist, ministers awaiting our arrival, together with a number of beloved friends in Christ who had come to witness our departure. The brethren had previously arranged to have religious services on board the vessel, suitable to the occasion of our leaving their shores to ' go far hence unto the Gentiles.' At seven o'clock a.m., the hour appointed for these services, the Rev. Mr. Dymock commenced by reading the 121st Psalm, which he followed by an impressive prayer. The Rev. Mr. Dana then delivered an appropriate address to my- self and those associated with me, to the officers and seamen with whom we were to be connected for a considerable time, and to the spectators around. The venerable appearance of this aged servant of Christ, together with the solemnity of the occasion, seemed to give much effect to his valuable remarks. I next made some remarks, in which I took the opportunity of thanking those around me, in my own name and that of those associated with me, in the name of our Board of Missions and of our Church at large, for the many expressions of kind- ness which had been shown to us during our stay in Newbury- port. I closed by giving a brief account of my own sentiments and feelings, and what I believed to be the sentiments and feelings of my companions in labour, now that the crisis had arrived, and that we were about to leave, perhaps forever, the realms of Gospel light, and take up our abode in the ' dark places of the earth.' The Rev. Mr. Stearns concluded the services by an appropriate prayer, in which he earnestly com- mended us to the guardianship of Israel's Keeper. "These solemn exercises were no sooner ended than all around us became a scene of bustle. Friends took their leave of us — friends whose C'hristian sympathy has greatly endeared them to us. The officers of the vessel now took their appro- priate stations, and issued their orders to get the vessel under way, which the sailors promptly obeyed. The lines which J rm 1847J PREPARATION FOR MISSION WORK. 71 hold our brig to the wharf were cast off, and in a few moments every inch of sail was unfurled to the wind. A thin covering of ice, which had formed on the harbour during the preceding nii^ht, prevented us from moving for a time ; by the aid of a rope, which was drawn in by a ship not far distant, we began to progress by degrees. As soon as our vessel got a little head- way on her, the slender ice offered but a feeble resistance, and we began gently to glide before the wind. Newburyport fast fad(;d from our view, and we soon lost sight of it, m.ost probably forever." Thus he went forth, literally like Abraham, not knowing whither he went, and in as true a spirit of faith as did ever mail since the Patriarch's time, and addressing the Church he was leaving in the following words of entreaty : "Dear brethren, now that we are about to encounter the perils of the mighty deep, and enter upon an arduous scene of labour, we would again entreat your prayers in our behalf. Remember us when wc are far from you, and you will not be forgotten by us. Our safety and success abroad depend much on the prayers of the Church at home. If you lift up your hands l)efore God in our behalf we shall succeed; if not, we mu.st fail." We should mention here that about this time the funds of the Mission received its first contribution from abroad, being from the congregation of the Rev. John Jennings, Toronto. It was accompanied by a letter from him, expressive of his sympathy with the Mission, and his desire that the Secession (yhurch of Canada (as it was then) should engage in the same work. This was only the first of an annual series of contri- l)iitions, and we notice it now as indicating the beginning of that widespread influence, which the Mission was to exert in t|uickening the missionary activity of other Churches. iW. >ii^ M 8,1' '• ■[; 72 LIFE OF JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. [1847 I I m * fj.' i '.I (i P' Chapter IV. ON THE WAY. 1847-48. ^OR nearly six months the missionaries were to he wearily J^ voyaging over the melancholy main. Mr. Geddie fur- nished the Church with a lengthy journal of his voyage, with observations on the objects met, which was read with deep interest. But we can only afford space for a few items : '•'' Januarji Slst, 18Jf.7. — The wind, which was an agreeable breeze when we left Newburyport, has been gradually on the increase, until at last it has heightened into a gale. After adding reef to reef, and furling sail after .sail, it has become necessary to strip the vessel almo.st entirely of her canvas, and allow her to scud before the wind. The wind howls dismally through the spars and rigging, and ev^ery successive wave, as it brciaks over our wcathur bow and sweeps along the deck, seems to endanger the vessel's safety. We are now sailing in the Gulf Stream, so noted for its storms; and the wind and current being iu directions nearly opposite, causes not only high and heavy, but rapid and irregular seas. Our little brig labours hard, as she mounts each successive wave and then plunges into the gulf belo^, but the wind is in our favour, and we make consideiable progress. We observe much around us to awaken our fears, but we are comfortable in the assurance that we enjoy His protection who 'commandeth the winds and the waves, and they ol)ey Him.' "This is our first Sabbath at sea, but in consequence of the storm we have been unable to engage in any religious exercises, and besides, we are all more or less indisposed by sea-sickne.ss. Our sanctuary this day must be the inner man, and cur worship of the heart. How inestimable the privileges of those '^I'bfl 1817] ox THE WAY. ■3 who are permitted to wait u])on God in the ordinance of His house ! I feel it liard to realize the tlioui^ht, that 1 am really on my way to those beniirhted reahns where no Sabbath sinik'S on the benighted people — where no congregations assemble to engage in the solemn services of religion, and where no preacher proclaims to theni the good news of salva- tion, and warns them to llee from the wrath to come. O for the time when Christ shall have ' the heathen for . His inhi.'ri- tance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for His possession.' " This day has becMi uncomfortable to us in every sense of the word. Several of the seas which have broken over the vessel, have disciiarged a portion of their content.s into our cal)in. This has arisen from want of a tarpaulin to cover our skylight, a defect which we expect to remedy liefore we are overtaken by another storm. Everything that we had in our cabin has been completely soaked with salt water — beds, clotiies, books, etc. '■'' Fnhrimry 2nd. — The storm which raged for the last few days has considerably abated, and our little brig l)egins once more to show her canvas to the wind. The sun has again made his appearance to-day. and we tind by the temperature that the late gale has carriful us into an agreeable climate. To-day wo have been busily engaged in drying our clothes and other articles, which to all appearance will be the work of several days. A covering for our skylight is also in hand, and when completed it will be a safeguard against a disa.ster similar to that which has befallen us. I had an interesting conversa- tion to-day with our cook, on matters of eternal importance. He is a coloured man, and having never enjoyed the privilege of an education, is consequently very ignorant. I was atfected to learn from him that, although he is now in the decline of life, he is unable to read. I furni.shfnl him with suitable elementary books, Avhich he thankfully receivcsd, and engaged to teach him during the voyage. I was pleased to see that he was as anxious to be instructed as I was to teach him. He appeared to be a man of fair natural endowments, and 1 hope soon to teach him to read the Bible. ^^ February 7th — Sunday.— 1l\\\h is a faint picture of the last Lord's day, as regards the weather. The wind blows a gale, and the ve.ssel is running under close-reefed topsails. At ten 1 It; ^1 II! 1' i iJUii li >f r" If in :fn, 74 LIFE OF JOHN (iEDDIE, D.I>. [1847 o'clock a.m. we met in the upper cabin for religious services. We were joined by Messrs. Clark and Jewitt, two young men from Boston, the formc^r of whom appears to be a pious man, and both promise to be comfortable companions on our voyage. I lectured from John iii. 1-11. Though our company was small, I trust we had the presence of Him who says, * Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.' At three o'clock p.m. we met and formed a Bible class, which we design to keep up during the voyage. None of the officers or men have been able to join us in any of the services of this day. The storm has kept them all on deck busy at work. In addition to the management of the vessel, they have been under the necessity of replacing some of the rigging, whicli had given way during the gale. I regret to observe that our seamen lightly regard the sanctity of the Lord's day, and make but little distinction between it and the other days of the week. I begin to feel a deep interest in this long-neglected class of men. The Sabbath which I spent in New York I preached in the Mariners' Bethel, where the Word of God is proclaimed every Lord's day in three different languages, to a concourse of seamen from different countries. I see that we have an ample field for usefulness in this vessel, and I trust that by the Divine blessing, she may become a little Bethel ere we -reach the end of our voyage." With some variety from weather, thus were all his Sabbaths on board employed, being able to preach on twenty of them. In similar ways he laboured to promote the good of those with whom he was for the time associated. His efforts were well received, and it is hoped were not in A^ain. '■'' Fehmary 11th. — AH our company have recovered from that most distressing and dispiriting of maladies — sea-sickness — with the exception of Mrs. Geddie, who still suffers a little at times. I begin to find that a sea life is not quite so dull as I had anticipated. Time appears to pass rapidly away. The day seems scarcely to have begun when it is ended. We are in the midst of agreeable society, and we find our time abundantly occupied in reading, writing, etc. We enjoy advantages for the improvement of our minds, which are not likely to occur again, and for this reason it is my wish that we should make the most of our time. 1 1 18471 OV THE WAY. '5 " February 14th — Sunday. — In the evening I went to the forecastle to see the sailors, and I was glad to find tiie most of them employed in reading religious books, which I had pre- viously given them. ^^ February 21st — Sunday. — I spent thisevenin*^ in conversa- tion with the sailors on the things which pertain to their eternal peace. I was much affected with their ignorance and error on the subject of religion. Some of thorn had indefinite notions of a God, a Saviour, a heaven, and a hell, while others cherished the pleasing but fatal error, that the troubles which they suffer in this life is the only punishment to which their sins expose them. I endeavoured to deal faithfully with them, in laying before them their guilt and danger, and directing them to * the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world,' so that, should they perish in their sins, I shall bo clear from their blood. I spoke to them on the subject of Sabbath- breaking, which I believe is a prevailing sin in most vessels. The plea by which they endeavour to extenuate this sin is, that it is their only time for making their clothes, mending and washing, studying navigation, etc. It is time that owners and captains should make such arrangements, as to relieve sailors from attending to any labour on the Lord's day, except that which is indispensable. '^^ March 3rd. — This evening I walked the deck till a late hour, and took a farewell view for the present of the North or Polar star. The sinking of the northern constellations in the horizon, reminds mo that I am fast receding from the land dearer to me than all others on earth. I find that the further we go from our beloved friends, the more dear do they become to us. for a meeting with those to whom our hearts are fondly attached, in that world of bliss where separations are un- known ! ^^ March '-Hh. — We crossed the equator last evening, and are now sailing in southern latitudes. It is now thirty-eight days since we left Newburyport, and during that time we have sailed about 4,700 miles. Our voyage so far has been more than an average one. The run to the line from Boston is rarely performed in less than forty days. May God speed us onward in our errand of mercy ! Most persons are aware of the ceremony usually performed at this point of the voyage on ti i m V -\ \ \ A\ HjV nr 76 LIFE OF JOHN (JEDDIE, D.D. [1847 Illi^'J u ^ ji. i ■■ il: persons, who cross the line for the first time. Noptune, the ima^'inary god of the ocnan, honours vessels with a visit to initiate novices into liis mysteries. Tiiis is done hy besmearing the person's face with tar, shaving liitn with a piece of iron hoop, and afterwards sousing him in a tub of water — the dirtier the better. Nor is it usual to exempt any on the occasion ; even missionaries have been subject to it in its full rigours. I must say, however, for the credit of our vessel, that it was performed in a manner unusually mild. At eigltt o'clock in the evening, Neptune, personified by one of our sailors in thorough disguise, haih^d us and made his appearance on deck, accompanied by his retinue of imps. He contented himself with the simf)lo process of initiation, which consisted in pouring a few buckets of water on his children, as lie was pleased to call the novices. The rite was performed on four sailors, and likewise on Mes.srs. Archibald and Jewitt, who, V^y the way, seemed to relish it. Mr. Clark, our other fellow- passenger, escaped by locking himself up in his cal>in, and I went free by the Captain's orders and Neptune's consent. The whole transaction was gone through with much good humour. " March 11th. — It is perhaps not generally known, that there is an interval of a tew degrees between the two trade winds. The intermediate space has been by some mariners called ' Swamp.' Tne reason of this appellation I have no' been able to ascertain, but it is by no means inappropriate. The haziness of the lieavens, the closeness of the atmosphere, and the prevailing stillness of everything around, all tend to give rise to sensations kindred to those which I should imagine the person to feel, who has been removed fr-^m some healthful spot and placed in tlie midst of a vast morass. These latitudes are dreaded by voyagers, as they are liable to be becalmed in them for many days and even weeks, and it is a situation by no means enviable, to be deluged in the middle of the torrid zone. As might be expected, there is much thunder and lightning in these latitudes. We occupied five days in sailing from the N. E. to the S. E. trades. " Our suffering from heat has been considerable. Our cabins below deck have become so intolerable, that we find it impos- sible to continue in them for any length of time. The air in ^ 1847J ON THE WAY. 77 them is so hftatod iis to bo insupportable for any It-ngtli of time, a id so foul that it cannot ho l)rc;ith(Ml with impunity. The thermometer has risen to 'JlJ deufrees in the shiile. Our sailors liave deserted the foreeastlt;, and eat and sleep on deck, whili^ the ollicers and passengers soek an asylum from the heat incur house on deck, or under the a\vnin<^ thrown over the after- part of the vessel. Our dear fri(,'n(ls woukl bo sonuwhat amused to witness our arrani^ements for passiiii; the nii^'ht. At ei^dit bells ima,i;in(! a general conunotion among our mat- tresses, and each person endeavouring to secure the coolest place, while our ingenuity is put to the test in devising means to promote a free circulation of air. Some who choose the canopy of heaven for their covering, an; not utifnupiently awalr(.'ast of the stranger our captani hailed her, and asked if they would take our letters, a reipn^st wh eh was cheerfully com})lietl with. A boat was soon lowered, and in a few minutes we had the happiness of seeing our letters on board of the whaliir. '■'March I'Jth. — We are now sailing along the coast of Brazil, at the di.stance of twenty or thirty leagues from land. For some days past the heat has been much greater than at any other part of our voyage. The thermometer sometimes '!|<' i «'l mh wismr 78 LIFE OF JOHN UKDDIE, I). I). [184: i|:.« ii'N'" ll'f^:- 1 "■,■ ■ III 1 : r-i 1 ]|ii stands as hif,'h as 98 dojrjrees in tho shade. In these burning regions a degree of lassitude is felt, wliieli it is difficult to ov(;reorae. The diirereut ejects of heat on difVeront constitu- tions is very p(!r<-e[)tihle now. Soniean^ still lively and active, while otb«!r8 arc? liui-'uid and motionless. In mv own case, its influence has Ix-eu lefes oppressive than T had imagined. "An iiundent occurred this ev«'uing which shows that life at sea is one of constant peril. The mariner may hv exposed to peril, even when the elements cea.se to rage. 'Those that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters,' eminently need the protection of Him, by whom the hairs of our head are numbered. The incident to which I rc-Acr, happiMied during the lirst watch on deck. The night was dark and cloudy, with a sulphurous and oppressive atmos- phere. Our brig was under full sail, running before an (Mght knot breeze. 1 was leaning on the weather bulwark, conversing with our first mate, and occasionally viewing the fireworks of nature, as the lightning issued from the surrounding clouds. Instantly we were aroused by the sight of a vessel under full sail, bearing dinictly towards us. Both \ (!SS"ls discovered each other in time to prevent a collision, which might have been fatal to all. yVs it was, the strange .sail passed close under our stern. 1 have no doubt that collision at sea is the end of some of the vessels, which are yearly chronicled in the marine lists as missing, when none are spared to tell the tale of woe. " We have just crossed the Brazil Banks. Our captain did not sound on them, but I see by the chart that the depth of water ranges between sixty and seventy fathoms. The differ- ence in the colour of the water on tho banks is very perceptible, changing suddenly from the deep blue of the ocean to a beautiful green. " Since coming into south^^rn latitudes, I have been much struck with the appearance of the heavens. It is altogether unlike that upon which I have been accustomed to gaze from my earliest years. A new order of celestial bodies has opened up to view, and many of those with which I have been familiar, are no longer to be seen. Already we have seen the Southern Cross, which is said to be one of the brightest constel- lations in the heavens. When gazing on the stars which compose it, a variety of sacred associations came liome to my 18t7] ON T»R WAY. ^0 mind. My bfist onjoynientg in tinip, and my prospects heyond the t^rave, centre in the cross, which is thc! emblem of rod('einin<,' love. " Mirr.h 2tst -Siindan. — A tino day. Our captain and liis wife jo'ned our Hihlo class this day. I was pleased to see them come forward now of their own accord, as they had hitherto kept aloof from tlio prolita))le ('xercise of studying (jrod's holy Word. Our captain, though he is a most agref^able man, yet 1 regret to say is lanumtably ignorant on the subject of religion, and lias never yet made any profession of it. He went to sea at a very tend(!r age, aniSth — Sabhafh. — This morning we were struck by a heavy squall; it did not continue long, but it was very severe while it lasted. It came up so suddenly that there was no time to take in a single sail l)efore it was on us. It was our second mate's watch on deck, and he had oiily time to run to the wheel and take it from the eailor, who was but a lad. Our brig, under the pressure of the wind, heeled over to an extent that alarmed us. Though the squall lasted but a short time, it continued long enough to leave the brig in a mess, as our seamen call it. A studding-sail boom was broken ; tlie gear which held the try-sail boom came down, in consequence of the principal block being spl't ; and the binnacle was partly torn away by the flapping of some of the loose ropes. These small \mm -a .'i Ji' iu\, Mi M 80 LIFK OF JOHN liEDDIK, J).l), [1847 I* I? 'If! i 11 !;;,iitj disasters, bowcn'cr, were soon ro|jaavj(J, and before the hour of iiUMftiui,' for divine service we wen; pursuing our course. '■^ April Jst.—h\n- some days past we liavc been otl' th(! llio d(! hi Pkita, on the coast of Sjuth America. This place is celebrated for its storms, which are sometimes very destructive, and we have just recovered from one of them. On the after- noon of Monchiy last, the usual premonitor of a stoi'm made its t.ppearance — a dark and dismal-lookiui^- cloud came rolling on from the south-wijst, out of which issu(;d bright Hashes of light- ning, accompanied by luiavy peals of thundtir. At four o'clock p.m., our cabin l)ecame so (.lark that a light was necessary. 'J'he most of our sail was taken in, and what was left was clo^.•e-reefed. . A dead calm followed the passing of the cloud, and we now began to congratulate ourselves with the prospect of a pleasant night. vSail after sail was unfurled, and our brig once more ran proudly on her course. But our hopes of tine weatlier soon proved delusive. Just befmH; retiring to rest for the niglit a gale struck our V(3ssel, and in a few minutes her lee bulwarks werc^ partly under wati'r. The cry of ' All hands on deck' soon soune wec^ks \\v have scarcely had anything like iiiO(*orat3 weathiu', and the wind has been almost continually ahead — all our gales have been from the 8. \V., which is the worst wnul in these regions. One of these I shall never forget; it was truly awful while it lasted. It happened on the 8th instant. When it was at its height 1 thought that tin,' masts, though stripptnl of tluur canvas, wt)uld have been torn out of the brig. ()ur oldest seamen declared that they never wit- nessed such a hurricane before. It was impossible to stand on the deck without having a tirm grasp of something. The vessel for a time ton; through the water with indescribable velocity, and from stem to stern sho trmnbled liki; a leaf. " Whenever the weather would permit, all hands were busily employed in preparing the vessel for the dreaded Cape. Old ^TTI^!'^.'^ m 1847] ON THE WAY. 81 sails were unbent and replaced by new; the round-house, boats, and other movable articles were fixed with additional lash- ings ; every doubtful rope removed, and new rigging rove, etc. The sight of these formidable preparations was calculated to produce any other feelings, than those of composure in the prospect of doubling the Horn. " The dreary regions through which we have been passing of late are not without their charms. Nothing can surpass the grandeur and beauty of a sunset in southern latitudes. The scenes we witnessed between the 50th and 54th degrees were truly lovely. Evening after evening I have stood on deck and exposed myself to the drenching spray that I might enjoy the spectacle. " At this point of our voyage we have had a fine view of the celebrated ' Magellan clouds.' These are first seen just above the horizon, soon after crossing the southern tropic. As you advance towards the Cape they gradually rise in the heavens, and now they are directly overhead. They consist of three small nebula?, two of which are luminous and one black, and they are stationary like the fixed stars. Their shape is oval, and to the eye they appear four or five feet in diameter. In their relative positions they describe a kind of triangle. The two luminous clouds bear an exact resemblance to the Milky Way, and are undoubtedly formed by clusters of stars so nume- rous, and contiguous, and so distant, as only to give a glim- mering light ; while the black one, which is of the colour of a highly charged thunder cloud, is considered by some to be the absence of all light. I have often gazed on these clouds, so novel to the natives of a northern clime, with wonder, admira- tion, and delight. The little wonders that we observe in the sea around us appear to sink into the shade, when I lift my eyes upward and look at the objects of contemplation, which the expanded heavens present," For three weeks he makes no entry in his Journal, during which time their little vessel was contending with th«; storms of Cape Horn. The dangers and difftculties of this route had given the missionaries serious thought when choosing, but ht^y considered that the interests of the Mission required that no time should be lost, and if they had lost that opportunity, they would not likely meet with another for some time. They 6 W\ ill- It 82 LIFE OF JOHN OEDDIE, D.D. [1847 Ili -I: mm' deemed the cause in which they were engaged, as justifying any amount of inconvenience, they might be called to endure ; and learning that the captain had doubled Cape Horn four times, and was familiar with its storms, they concluded that it was their duty, trusting in God, to take that route. But they found it worse than they had expected. Writing afterwards, he says : " We sighted Cape Horn on April 23rd, but did not succeed in doubling it till May 13th. In our efforts to get round it, we were driven into 61 degrees soutli latitude. Our worst antici- pations of Cape weather were fully realized. Our little brig was much injured in her conflict with the elements. Atlantic storms will give a per.son but a feeble idea of a Cape Horn tempest. Thanks be unto God, we have V)een mercifully pre- served amidst no ordinary perils. We saw much around us at times to make us fearful, but nothing to make us unbelieving. I felt as if I could say with the Psalmist, ' God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble ; therefore will not we fear,' etc. — Psal. xlvi. 1-3. The concluding words of the address presented to me by the Princetown congregation often brought tranquillity to my mind when all was disorder around : ' When thou passest through the waters I will l)e with thee,' etc. — Isaiah xliii. 2, 3. I can scarcely describe to you our feelings of gratitude and joy, when our vessel left the region of wind and tempest in her rear, and we were sailing on the placid waters of the great Pacific Ocean. The gloom, which had settled on every countenance for three weeks, gave way, and I can compare the change to nothing else than that of a captive, wiio has just been liberated from a gloomy prison." " June 25. — Crossed the Equator day before yesterday for the second time. It is just three months and fifteen days since we crossed the line in the Atlantic Ocean. During this short period we have encountered all kinds of weather, and passed through the torrid and temperate zones and advanced to the very verge of the frigid zone. "The south-east trade has forsaken us to-day, and we shall probably have variable winds for some time. Our voyage through the south-east trades has been truly delightful. From the time that we entered them not a sail or rope has been altered until this day. For the last fifteen days we have ^-•^■ITHHI 1847] ON TOE WAY. 88 found it hard to realize the thought, that we are really sailing in the boisterous deep, and not on the bosom of some placid harbour. " We begin to feel anxious for the termination of our voy- age. It is long since our fresh provisions have been expended, and we are reduced to the hard fare common on board of ves- sels at the close of long voyages. Our most interesting books have been read, and there is but little around us to excite attention. We have become; so familiar with the few faces on board, that we long for variety in our friendships and associa- tions. The monotony of a faa. voyage we feel more sensibly now than at any former period. ^^ July S. — We have just recovered from the effects of a tre- mendous storm. It has fallen to our lot to encounter one of those tornadoes which occasionally occur in these latitudes. It was truly awful while it lasted. I felt more concern about our safety during its continuance, than at any former part of our voyage. The perils of life at sea appeared to me in colours more vivid, than I had ever seen them before. " For some days past the wind has been blowing stronger rhfiU usvial. At twelve o'clock noon, yesterday, the wind was blowing a gale, which gradually increased in strength until midnight, when it exceeded anything that 1 had experienced before. I thought every moment that the bare masts would iiave been torn from the vessel by the fury of the wind. The storm was accompanied by rain, thunder, and lightning. So great was the noise occasioned by the howling of the wind and the roaring of the sea that the heavy peals of thunder as they passed over our heads were scarcely audible in our cabins. While the dense black clouds heavily charged with electricity rolled on above us, we were eye-witnesses to a phenomenon not unusual at sea. Fire balls, as sailors call them, were visible at the mast-head. " Our little brig strained so much during the storm that she sprung a leak. It became necessary when the gale was at its height, to keep the pumps almost constantly agoing. The cap- tain's orders were not to allov/ ten minutes to pass without pumping her. We sailed with a slight leak in her bow, which had greatly increased off Cape Horn, and this new leakage, which is supposed to be in the vicinity of the stern, has occa- hun M I 1:1! I: B"! !!!; m 84 LIFE OF JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. [1847 hm I'i sioned much uneasiness, and makes us more than ever long for the end of our voyage. " It was a happy circumstance for us that this violent hurri- cane was not of long duration. It raged from mid-day to mid- night, and then it became a dead calm. Our situation was about as perilous now as before. As there was no wind the brig became unmanageable, and was tossed about like a log of timber in the already agitated sea. She rolled on the swell in a manner that threatened to jerk out her very masts. ^^ July 4ih — Sahhath.—\ have of late commenced a Sabbath evening service among the sailors in the forecastle. My prac- tice is to expound a portion of Scripture, or preach from a par- ticular text, or address them on some subject of vital impor- tance. They appear to appreciate this service, and whenever the hour for meeting arrives, they send a messenger to the cabin to let me know. This, along with our forenoon service, and Bible class in the afternoon, keeps me busy on the Lord's day ; but this is indeed no task, but rather a luxury — to be engaged in the delightful employment of doing good to the souls of men. July 6th. — Took the N. E. trade wind yesterday, and we are sailing with a fine seven-knot breeze. The trade wind has brought along with it some delightful and refreshing showers of rain. Some of our water casks have been filled. This sup- ply of water has been most seasonable, and we should have been reduced to much inconvenience, if not suffering, without it. We had previous to this been using water five months old. and as much of our water had inconsiderately been put into oil casks, it became so nauseous that it could scarcely be used. Fortunately, by consenting to be put on allowance in time, we only used on cask of bad water ; but the timely rains will give us an abundant supply until we reach the end of our voyage. ^^ July lath. — At noon our captain marked the brig's course on the chart, and we found ourselves to be about eighty miles from the nearest of the Sandwich Islands. This caused a bright look-out for land to be kept up during the remainder of the day. At four o'clock p.m. the island of Hawaii was descried, bearing about S. W., and shortly after the island of Mawi, bearing W. by N. " July 17th.— At anchor. Our sail to-day has been most de- ightful. At daybreak we came on deck and found ourselves \m 1847] ON THE WAY. 85 ill':?! sailing along the north side of Mawi, at a few miles' distant from land. The scenery of these islands is highly picturesque. The eye of the gazer can only discern a succession of lofty mountains and deep ravines, and here and there a native hut. In the afternoon we passed through tlie Straits of Kaowi, which separate the island of Oahu from Molokai. Diamond Hill, a principal point on the south side of Oatui, soon caught our eye. After rounding this point a large semicircular bay opened to view. At the head of the bay, the town of Honolulu might be seen about four miles distant. As there was no pros- pect of getting into port to-night, our captain has come to anchor outside of the coral reef which forms the harbour of Honolulu. This is the first time that our anchor has touched bottom, since we left the United States. Our voyage has occu- pied 170 days, and during this time we have sailed 19,429 miles." Of this voyage we may say, that while his contented dispo- sition prevented his making any complaint, yet by others the accommodations were considered very inferior, and the discom- forts such as missionaries now are scarcely ever called to endure. Early next day the vessel was at the wharf. On Monday they waited on the Missionaries of the American Board, to whom they had letters of introduction from their Secretary. These? brethren gave them a cordial welcome, and were un- wearied in their attention to them during their stay. Of his intercourse with them Mr. Geddie says : " I cannot speak too highly of the attention and kindness of all classes to us during our residence here. The sweet season of Christian intercourse, which we have spent with the dear brethren of the American B'.ard, will not be forgotten by us. I thank God that He ha.s brought us on our way by this route. ] think that we have already learnt something from these men, whom Williams has pronounced to be ' Giants ' in the cause of missions." Here they were upon heathen mission ground, and with deep emotion they beheld what the Lord had done among a people so recently in savage barbarism. Of the work there, lie thus writes : *' Through the instrumentality of the American brethren a Sliiii: H.il :[ 'i ffflf III |i^ l| ft ;p '■ 86 LIFE OP JOHN OEDDIE, D.D. [1847 great work has been accomplished at this group. The Bible is now translated into the Hawaiian language, and not long ago there was an edition of 10,000 copies struck off at the Mission press. There are above thirty male missionaries labouring in the field, besides female teachers, secular agents, and a few native assistants. There is a seminary for the young chiefs, another for native young men, and another still for female natives, besides a number of common schools throughout the islands. The American Board expends on the Sandwich Islands about $38,000 annually. Though much has already been accomplished, very much still remains to be done in the islands. Though the body of the nation is professedly Chris- tian, there is still a great amount of error, superstition, and impiety to be found among them. It is a much harder work to elevate a people who, from time immemorial, have been living under the dark and debasing influence of heathenism, than most persons are apt to imagine. It is difficult for a per- son who has never been among the heathen, to form a correct estimate of the native convert. Where you find grace, it is usually amidst much corruption. A person converted from the pollutions of heathenism, is a very different character from the converted man, who has been educated from his youth in a respect for religion and morality. The churches in the apos- tolic days exhibited, after the departure of the apostles, the influence of old habits and prejudices ; and every church par- takes more or less of the previous character of its converts. The conversation and practice of native converts, in instances innumerable, come far .short of the pure standard laid down in God's holy word. Nevertheless, there have been bright examples of piety among them, and there will be still. Though the missionaries are constantly called on to mourn over back- .sliding professor.s, yet there are always some who are as a crown and joy to them. " The people of these islands bear a strong resemblance to our Nova Scotia Indians, only their features incline a little more to those of the negro. Thf y are simple, harmless, and good-natured. We have already been visitt'd by numbers, who shake liands with us and then point to their hearts, to intintate that we are welcome among th"m. Their improvement in the habits of civilized life is much less than might have been 1847] ON THE WAY 87 i i' expected from their advantages. Their grass huts are but little in advance of what they were in the days of heathenism. Their food is still the poi, which is eaten with fish, most com- monly raw. Their clothes are still scant, many of them wear- ing nothing more than a common shirt ; and I have even seen some few with the mai'o (a loose wrapper) only. The attire of the women, which is generally a loose gown, is in every respect modest. These remarks will not apply to the chiefs and rulers, who, in refinement and improvement, far exceeded my expectations." We need not say that great progress has been made among them since that date. We add a few particulars of their stay here from a letter of Mrs. Geddie's : "The brethren in town provided us with two houses on the Mission premises (used to accommodate the missionary families from the other islands). In a climate like this it will not do for many to live in the same house, or we should have con- tinued to live with them. The houses are built of sun-dried brick, plastered inside and out with coral lime, the roof being neatly thatched with grass. Ours consists of but one large i-oom, one end neatly curtained off' for a bed. They look very neat and clean, the plaster being perfectly white. Our friends supplied us with matting for the floor. There is also another house fitted up for Mr. and Mrs Archibald. We have mission- aries all around us ; at present they do not allow us to cook for ourselves, but send for us at meal-times. Honolulu is a place of some imj)ortance. There are about 600 foreign residents of all countries, but chiefly Americans. There is a great deal of business. The King resides here ; he is a fine-looking man, and is said to be intelligent. The men in office have a respect- able appearance. We spent an evening with a number of the young people under the care of Mr. Cook, with whom they live constantly ; they are the children of what may be termed th(! nobility, the heir apparent (a young man) is of the number. Some of the young females are very accomplished ; they speak English fluently; they also learn music, drawing, and all that is taught in our own schools. One of the young ladies, in par- ticular, we noticed as l)eing really elegant —her complexion, though dark, is clear, and her features l)eing good, we thought 8;.f :^ '•■] my' Si : I It :^^ iJi , " t. ■*-'m Ilii 1 11'^' 88 LIFE OF JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. [1847 her quite pretty. She interested us much ; we were told she was very amiable. The young men are smart also. The qu(^en has sent us a large mat for our room. The palace is a handsome building. Many of the foreign residents, too, have pretty houses surrounded by trees with walks under them. Here there are cactus plants as large as apple trees at home, with immense leaves and splendid flowers. Several choice geraniums, too, grow here to a great size.," Of his own work and prospects, he thus writes : "At present we are engaged in the study of the language, so that I regard our missionary work as begun. The resemblance between the dialects spoken in the several groups of islands, is much greater than I had anticipated. I have seen a portion of the Samoan Bible here, and by comparing it with Hawaiian, I see that the resemblance is striking. The missionaries are of opinion, that by studying any one of the dialects, it will greatly facilitate the acquisition of others. Our residence here furnishes us also with opportunities of studying native chai*- acter, and witnessing the mode of carrying on missionary operations. " I have been favoured with the perusal of letters written by the London Society's Mission to Tahiti and the Navigators Islands, in which they record painful intelligence, of the efforts of Roman Catholics to overturn Protestantism in the Islands of the Pacific, and to establish Popery in its place. They have planted their agents in almost every Protestant Mission, and with a zeal which ought to shame the coolness and indifference of many Protestant Churches, are endeavouring to bring the whole of Polynesia under the dark and withering influence of the ' man of sin.' A society has lately been formed in France, under the title of * La Societe Fram/aise de I'Ocean,' for ob- jects partly secidar and partly religious. Its object is to bring the Islands of the Pacific under the influence of France, and Popery too. It is proposed to colonize some of the islands with emigrants from France, and New Caledonia is spoken of as an island eligible for this purpose. As an evidence of the manner in which the Society of Oceania intends to accomplish its ends, it is designed not only to send out priests and Jesuits, but persons engaged in commercial pursuits, who are to under- «eli Protestant and American traders, until they monopolize uram 1847] ON THK WAY, 89 the business of the Islands to themselves. The capital of this association is proposed at one million of francs, to be divided into shares of 500 francs each. Already then; are at least three vessels in the service of this powerful organization in these seas. I have seen a copy of a letter written by the Minis- ter of Marine in .'ranee, from which it appears that this associ- ation has at least the countenance and patronage of Louis Philippe's Government. " The above items of information may be depended on as authentic, as I have gleaned them from a letter written by one of the London Mission at Tahiti, and he has extracted them from a pamphlet explaining the views and intentions of the Society. The whole affair is indeed a great scheme, and I doubt not will, in the end, prove a great failure. The truth must and will prevail over every system of error. "As to the influence which these events will have on our movements, it would be premature to speak. As to their in- fluence on ourselves, I have only to say, that they make us more anxious than ever to reach our field of labour, wherever it may be, and take possession before the enemy, that w«; may gain every advantage before the conflict commences, and I pray God that its influence on the Church at home may be, to awaken them to renewed zeal in the cause of Missions, and to send at least another labourer, who, by his presence with us, may strengthen our hands and encourage our hearts. I thank God that the present race of Papists in this part of the globe, evince but little disposition to face man in a state of nature, and that they are rather inclined to wait until the Gospel has beaten the battle-axe into a ploughshare and the spear into a pruning-hook. The Society, Sandwich, and Navigators Islands have far more attractions to the emissaries of the Pope, than the islands where man is still a prowling savage. I trust that the intelligence which 1 have felt it to be my duty to impart will not paralyze, but rather stimulate, the energies of the Church at home. Its influence is not discouraging on us. Remember that the contest between Papists and Protestants in these dis- tant islands of the sea is very unequal ; they lean on the patronage and sword of France, while we have Omnipotence and Truth on our side." From the little that has been heard of late years of Roman 1| ! 1 jj \m ■ i! '■f ■'i:i S i U'"m ^[^ " ;4 1 ; - w I'll* '■ 90 LIFE OP JOHN OEDDIK, n.D. [1847 fS 5' ii *: Catholic Missions and French power in tho South Seas, it might almost appear as if the friends of Protestant missions there had been at this time under the influence of groundless alarm ; but the danger was real. The wonderful triumphs of the Gospel among the simple natives of these islands had excited the attention of the Church of Rome, and in her revived Propa- gandist zeal, called forth her en(?rgies to check Protestant pro- gress and establish her own faith in that portion of the globe. Hence Protestant missionaries now found themselves followed or beset by Romish priests. But as Rome had always sought the aid of the secular power in the advancement of her schemes, the Jesuits at this time were seeking to make Franco the instrument of her designs. The king, Louis Philipp>e, perhaps cared little for the advancement of the Church, but his queen was devoted to the Jesuits, and he himself felt the importance of their support Besides, he sought to maintain his power by ministering to the vanity of the French people, and he himself was smitten with the idea of French glory, so that he was ready to embrace a scheme for making France once more a great colonial power. Though ready to avail himself of the advantage of an alliance with England, he was not unwilling to trade upon French jealousy of her, ])y taking a step which might seem opposed to her interests or an affront to her honour. The South Sea Islands seemed the sphere, where all these objects might be gained. There a new French colonial power might be raised, Protestant missions receive a heavy blow, and a check be given to English advance. Encoiiraged by the fact, that the charge of the English Foreign Office had passed from the energetic and watchful Palmerston to the feeble and peace- loving Aberdeen, the French Government had taken the first step by the establishment of a French Protectorate in Tahiti. It was not, therefore, without cause, that missionaries felt anxious regarding the future of these islands, and of missionary operations among their inhabitants. Mr. (ileddie saw the danger and felt himself the more urgently called to more zeal- ous efforts to counteract their influence, yet he showed the same faith that he ever did in the darkest hour. Looking to the word and promises of God, he believed that all such schemes must fail. And so this did. In one short year after Mr. Geddie wrote this, Louis Philippe and his queen, after an arics 1847] ox TnK WAY. 91 ignominious Hight, took refuge in England, which they de- sired to humiliate, and whose missions they had sought to thwart. Thus before Mr. < Jeddie entered upon his labours the wiiole scheme was brok<'n, and though partially revived under Louis Napoleon, never came to much. The n)issionaries sent out continued for a time to dog tlui steps of Prot(^stant mission- aries ; and when Mr. (Neddie commenced his labours, he found them on the ground befon; him. But they were not of the same stuti' with the old Jesuit nnssionaries of New France, who despised privation and braved all danger, in (Extending Fren{!h iuHuence and Romish ascendency among the savages on the St. Lawrence and the Mississippi. So that their labours have had little etfect, and their ettbrts have been of late reduced to a minimum. An interest was awakened among the Mission churches on l)ehalf of the new mission. Contributions were given to the amount of $66, and two natives offered their services to accom- pany our missionaries. Their offer was declined for the present, hut the hope was held out, tliat should there be a favourable opportunity for employing native labourers, the churches there would both furnish and support them. After a residence of seven weeks on these islands, they obtained a passage to the Navigators T.slands, now known as the Samoas. Their voyage was tedious. The first week was boisterous and their vessel lost two yards. Then for two weeks and a half, they were becalmed at the E(|uator. They then however caught the south-east trade winds, and after a voyage of thirty-eight days reached their destination. Of their arrival we shall give his own account. "On the 16th October, Manua, the most easterly of the Samoan islands, was seen far in the distance. On the morning of the 17th, we were abreast of it. The mountain tops of Tutuila were also visible in the distant horizon. As the day advanced, we approached before a delightful breeze. About three p.m. we found ourselves abreast of Pangopango, the only harbour in the island suitable for shipping. We had now reached the end of our voyage, for Tutuila was the island on which our captain had engaged to land us. As the trade winds blew directly into the harbour, and therefore rendered it diffi- cult to beat out, Captain Westfall proposed to heave the ship to IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 1.25 '^m 112.5 Ilia IIIIIZ2 m IIIIIM U i 1.6 m :-■ /. o;^ /A Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 Wr i/x <^^'\ cr ti[^ y li; I • i' S ip 92 LIFE OF JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. [1847 outside, and land us in boats. To this arrangement it would have been unreasonable to object, as the vessel was bound to New Zealand, and had come several degrees out of her course to land us. Four boats were soon lowered for ourselves and our baggage, and in a short time we found ourselves sailing on the glassy surface of Pangopango harbour. This harbour is small and winds at the mouth, so that when you get inside, it appears like a basin of water surrounded by land. On all sides of the harbour the land is high, and rises abruptly from the water's edge. Here and there are small patches of flat land, between the bases of the mountains and the shore, and these form the sites of little villages. Of these there are several on both sides of the harbour. The huts of the natives could be discerned through the dense foliage v/hich covered them, chiefly bread- fruit and cocoanut trees. At the head of the harbour a building might be seen larger than the others, and of superior structure. This was the house of the Rev. A. W. Murray, and to it we were wending our way. I will not attempt to describe to you the variety of emotions that I felt, as we sailed up the harbour of Pangopango. We were now more than 20,000 miles distant from friends and country, without a letter of introduction to any missionary brother in this part of the world, and we knew not but Mr. Murray was as ignorant of the Church that sent us as he was of ourselves. The death-like stillness, too, which pre- vailed around us, while it reminded us that we were far removed from the bustle of civilized life, tended only to aid gloomy re- flections. It was cheering to us to know, however, that it was no secular enterprise that brought us thither, but that we were embarked in the holiest of causes, and I felt a comfortable assurance, that the same God who had brought us thus far, would not forsake us now. We soon found ourselves under the hospitable roof of Mr. and Mrs. Murray, and from these dear friends we received an affectionate and cordial welcome." Mr. Murray never having heard anything of our mission or missionaries, their coming was so unexpected, that if they had dropped down from heaven, it could scarcely have excited greater surprise. In another letter Mr. Geddie says, " Our arrival was very unexpected, but most opportune j for the churches on this and the neighbouring islands, had long been entreating God for help to the dark islands of the West, and 1847] ON THE WAY. 93 regarded by many as a visible answer to our presence was their prayers." " Mr. Murray lost no time in sending word to the Rev. Mr. Bullen, the only other missionary on Tutuila to inform him of our arrival. We were soon favoured with a visit from this esteemed brother, who resides at Leone Bay, a place about fifteen miles distant from Pangopango. After consulting what was best to be done in our circumstances, it was concluded that for the present 1 should remove to Leone with my family, and that Mr. and Mrs. A. should remain at Pangopango. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Bullen, we found a comfortable and happy home. I may state that Mr. B. was a Medical Missionary, and my residence with him placed me in favourable circumstances, for gaining some knowledge of native diseases and their treatment. But, ah ! now little did I anticipate when I came on to Leone, that I should be an eye-witness to the dying agonies of this dear brother." The route which the missionaries had taken appeared cir- cuitous and excited enquiry, if not faultfinding through the church. To a letter on the subject from the Secretary of the Board, he replies that it was "the most speedy and direct that could bo found at the time," — that the route originally contem- plated by Sydney was scarcely less circuitous ; that he had not adopted it till he had ascertained that the probabilitesof a passage from the Sandwich Islands to Samoa, were much greater than from Sydney. Moreover that the cost had been materially less, independent of expense in Sydney, which in the event of detention, would have been heavy. Indeed, he says that " that route would have involved an expenditure, which would have thrown our infant cause into circumstances of extreme einlmrrassment at the outset." He adds, " the way in which we have been brought hither, contrary to our own views and feel- ings, is to me at least, an indication that we have some measure of direction from Him, to whose guidance our cause has been comraitted." Besides, the opportunity of becoming acquainted with the work of the American Mission at the Sandwich Islands was of no small value. We may mention here, as illustrating his economy and desire to save the funds of the Board, that he left the United States with only $100 in hand. To the remonstrance of the Secretary, m 1 \i'^. • lis -J ' I Hi 14 LIFE OF JOHN GBDDIE, D.D. [1847 t« M: ; I 1 i fe^i he now replies, " I learned before sailing that two or three times that amount would be needful (viz., for passage to Samoa), but as I was unacquainted with the state of your funds, I felt reluctant to draw more largely on you, until I should reach the Sandwich Islands." " A general meeting of the missionary brethren of Samoa, was advertised to take place in the month of November, on the island of Upolu. I felt anxious to attend it, in order to obtain advice as to our future movements. I was accompanied to this meeting by Mr. BuUen. We undertook to perform the voyage, of about ninety miles, in an open boat. Our crew consisted of a Portuguese sailor, who had the management of the boat, and some Samoans. The appearance of the weather was favourable when we sailed, but the wind suddenly changed, and we were overtaken by a strong gale. For some time we were in con- siderable danger. When we made the island of Upolu, our boat was running close on the wind, under double-reefed sails. Our safety seemed to depend much on our being able to weather a point of land before us. Everything was braced up for the attempt, and the boat lay over with her gunwale to the water's edge. The sea was running very high, and we were within a short distance of coral reefs, and an ironbound coast. Each successive wave, as it swept nearer the shore, seemed to threaten our destruction ; but God had mercy on us and delivered us. After a season of suspense, we barely succeeded in passing the dreaded place. Scarcely had we doubled the point of danger, when one of our masts went overboard. Had this casualty happened sooner, the consequences might have been fatal. Many are the perils of missionaries in these islands. How great has been the goodness of God to me in the instance re- ferred to. "I met with a cordial welcome from the missionary brethren convened at Upolu. That meeting was opened at Malua, Nov. 16th, and continued for three days. There were thirteen mis- sionaries present In compliance with instructions, I gave a full account of our mission to the meeting, and asked counsel and advice, as to our future procedure in reference to a field of labour. The subject was seriously and prayerfully con- sidered. "After deliberating on the subject for nearly a whole day, 1847] ON THE WAY. W two resolutions were passed." [These expressed gratification at the step taken by the Presbyterian Church of Nova Scotia, in adopting Western Polynesia as a field of missionary labour, but recommending the missionaries not to attempt to occupy New Caledonia, on account of inadequate instrumentality.] " There was nothing in the New Caledonian group, pecu- liarly unfavourable to missionary enterprise, that caused the brethren to decline recommending that field to us. It was genemlly agreed that on the islands of Lifu and Mare, the door is open to go in and possess the land. The reason assigned was the want of adequate instrumentality. Had there been another minister of the gospel associated with me, they would have strongly urged the occupation of tliis group, and sent one of their own number with us, to remain until a mission was fairly begun, or until our hands were strengthened from home. In almost every instance, where attempts have been made to evangelize in these islands, without a sufficient instrumentality, the result has been a failure. This is affectingly corroborated by the histories of the Marquesas and Tana missions. Three of the four brethreii connected with these missions were pre- sent, and expressed themselves strongly against the occupation of large fields with an insuflicient force, and they could speak from experience. " But while the missionary brethren declined to recommend the occupation of the New Caledonian group, they expressed their willingness, that we should act in conjunction with them in the commencement of a mission in the New Hebrides. The directors of the London Missionary Society have promised to send out at least two missionaries for this field, and they re- quest that a brother from Samoa bo appointed to join them." It was further recommended, that till the arrival of the John Williams, the London Missionary Society's mission vessel, expected in six or seven months, the missionaries should apply themselves to the study of the Samoan language, so as to be able on arrival to communicate with the native teachers. We may state here, that on further consideration there appeared other reasons against occupying New Caledonia or the Loyalty Islands. One was that the Bishop of New Zealand claimed that field, and expressed his determination to occupy it, irres- pective of all others, while he pledged himself, not only not to l = ! M. ;i !?S n I. El I i I f ■Si 96 LIFE OF JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. [1847 interfere with the New Hebrides, but to give all the aid in his power to missionaries labouring there. "Another subject, of no common importance, engaged the attention of the meeting — the appointment of a missionary from Samoa to join the band for the New Hebrides. Four of the brethren came cheerfully forward and tendered their services for this holy and arduous enterprise. The Rev. Mr. Bullen was chosen. In my peculiar circumstances, no choice could have been more congenial to my feelinga " After the business of the meeting was over, Mr. B. and I began to prepare for our homeward voyage. As strong reasons were urged by the brethren, for not returning in the boat that brought us, we engaged a passage in a small schooner. While waiting on the vessel, I had an opportunity of seeing something of Upolu. The principal harbour in Upolu is at Apiu. The British and American consuls reside at this place. Of late years whalers have been in the habit of touching at Apiu for supplies. There are about one hundred foreigners resident on different parts of the island, exclusive of the mission families and consuls, but most of them are absconded sailors. " As soon as our vessel was ready, we sailed for Tutuila, and reached our families in safety, after an absence of twenty-three days. My return was most seasonable, for Mrs. Geddie had all the symptoms of the fever, to which new comers are liable. In a few days she was confined to bed, and suffered most severely for about three weeks. Her attack was a very serious one. Our oldest child was next laid down, but her attack was slight and she soon recovered. Last of all, I was seized with the disorder, but my attack was also compai-atively slight. Our Heavenly Father has indeed dealt tenderly with us. It was in December that our sickness took place. This and the two fol- lowing months are usually unhealthy, even to the natives them- selves. At this season of the year, the sun is vertical and the rains are frequent. The baneful effects of a damp and heated atmosphere on the health may be easily conceived. " As soon as possible, I set about making preparations for entering on our contemplated mission. The brethren on these islands urged the importance of taking along with us house frames, and other materials for building, as there has been much sacrifice of health in new fields of labour, from mission- :M' 1847] ON THE WAY. 97 !!■ aries being compelled to live in the miserable huts of the natives. I instructed Mr. Archibald to procure wood at Pango- pango for two small buildings, while Mr. Bullion n)ade arrange- ments at Leone for a house to accommodate himself and the brethren expected from Britain. The wood purchased at Pango- pango, I regret to state, has proved a failure. It was lately inspected and condemned — only a few sticks are sound. In this climate wood is a very destructible material. The white ant, together with the heat and moisture of the climate, commit fearful ravages on it. A house does not usually stand for more than eight years. Mr. Bullen has been more successful with his wood. Great care was observed in the selection of it, and it has all proved good. I aided brother Bullen in the building of his house. We worked at it for several weeks without any assistance. After much hard labour, we succeeded in construct- ing a frame 50 feet long and 18 feet wide. Before leaving America, I devoted some attention to the theory of framing, and brought along with me several plans, which I now found to be of value to me. I may notice a little incident here con- nected with my framing operations. As our system of build- ing was a new thing in Samoa, we had many spectators. The i;hildren who came around would often make their little rhymes, of which we or our operations were the theme. I recollect liearing them singing words meaning, ' This is the house for the land of darkness.' The Samoans are much given to rhyming. If anything arrests their attention or excites their curiosity, it is likely to become the subject of a song, indeed the construc- tion of tho language, and the melody with which it abounds, invite the muse, while at the same time they render it emi- nently suitable for poetical purposes. "Along with framing, I directed my attention to another branch of manual labour. Just before our arrival at these islands, the New Testament, which had issued from the press at intervals, was completed ; but the several books were merely stitched in paper covers. I constructed an apparatus for the purpose of book-binding, and secured the services of an active native, to learn what little knowledge I could give him of this business. This department of labour has been going on, ac- tively and successfully, for some months. Books have been ^•rought from all parts of the island to be bound, and the natives 7 v; :,.■ ;Ml ■ '■ Xii •lil . ifl '•ffl it? 'I Jiff ^iii 98 LIFE OF JOHN OEDDIE, D.D. [1847 appear rejoiced, when instead of tliwr detached books, the Word of God is given to them in a form compact, convenient and durable. The native whom I taught is now able to carry on the work himself, but the materials are about done, and he must soon cease." In addition, it is mentioned elsewhere, that he employed the press in printing some elementary books and portions of Scripture, translated by native teachers into the language of New Caledonia. " But I have not overlooked the more spiritual and import- ant things connected with missionary work. I have studied to some extent the habits of the people, and the njodes of mis- sionary operations in a heathen land. Since my arrival in this inland, I have visited all the heathen villages on it, and nearly all the Christian. In the month of January, I accompanied Mr. Murray on a missionary tour throughout the division of the island under his care. "During my residence at Leone, I have had occasional oppor- tunities of visiting several of the villages in Mr. Bullen's divi- sion of the island. My last visit with this esteemed brother took place in March, when I accompanied him toAalaon,avillage about six miles from Leone. I shall long remember this visit, on account of the affecting associations connected with it. The road to Aalaon leads over a precipitous mountain, and is exceedingly bad. Our journey was performed under a drench- ing rain. We reached the village in the course of the evening, and were somewhat chilled with the cold. On the next day, Mr. Bullen preached to the villagers, examined the school, etc., and we returned to Leone in the afternoon. On our homeward journey, I observed a languor about Mr. Bullen, unusual in him. Whenever we came to any considerable ascent, he was obliged to avail himself of the assistance of the natives, who accompanied us. After our return, he began to complain seri- ously. His illness increased to such an extent that our fears were excited. There was no medical man on the island, so we sent for Mr. Murray, who remained with us for several days. Mr. Bullen's trouble assumed all the features of a confirmed case of angina pectoris^ to which he was no doubt constitutionally predisposed, but which was probably induced by his late jour- ney. He suffered most severely for two weeks. An interval of mo. She M 1847] ON THE WAY, 99 comparative ease succeeded, but alas I his trouble had done itR work. He was left in a state of exhaustion, from which his already debiliated constitution never rallied. On the 24th of March, he fell asleep in Jesus. He leaves behind him a widow and three small children. This painful event has been pecu- liarly trying to us all. My acquaintance with this dear brother was not of Icng duration, but sufficiently long to endear him to me. Seldom have I met with one in whom I have been more interested, and with whom I could enjoy more delightful and hallowed intercourse. The alliance of friendship thus formed cannot bo severed by the cruel stioke of death, and will I trust be renewed, enhanced and perpetuated beyond the grave. "After the lamentable death of Mr. Bullen, it devolved on lue, assisted occasionally by Mr. Murray, to wind up his affairs, and prepare for Mrs, Bullen';-! departure from Leone. This kept me busily employed for some weeks. Mrs. Bullen is now at Pangopango, where she awaits the arrival of the Jolin Wil- liams to go in her to Upolu, and from thence she will proceed to Britain. Her departure from this place was a deeply affect- ing event, and gave rise to much tVeling among th(^ poor natives. She was accompanied by more than one hundred persons half- way to Pangopango, as an expression of their love to her. Since Mrs. Bullen's departure we have been left alone at Leone. "I was enabled to deliver my tirst public address in the Samoan language on March the lOth inst., nearly live months after our arrival. Since the death of Mr. Bullen, I have had considerable practice in preaching to this bereaved people. It is uiy practice to preach twice, and occasionally three times (luring the week. I will not attempt to describe my feelings of gratitude to God, on being enabled to tell this people of the wonderful works of God in their own tongue. The Samoan is an easy language, and with the facilities now enjoyed may soon be acquired. " The annual meeting of the Missionary Society among this people took place in May. A brief account of it may not be unseasonable, as it forms a contrast to the manner in which such meetings are usually conducted at home. The whole business of the occasion occupied two days. On the morning of the first day the children's meeting was held. They met in the chapel at nine o'clock, and were addressed by Mr. Murray, 1 ; 1 1 100 LIFE OF JOHN (JEDDIE, D.D [1848 who also proposed a number of questions to them, which were satisfactorily answered. At the conclusion of the service, be- tween 400 and 500 children came forward with their offerings for the Redeemer's cause, which consisted of cocoanut oil and arrowroot. To prevent confusion, every teacher brought the children of his own land. It was truly delightful to see these little ones casting their mite into the treasury of the Lord. At 2 p.m. we met again in the chapel, to warm each other with addresses (as a Samoan would say). After devotional exercises, 1 delivered the first address, and was followed by several of the chiefs, teachers and Church members. The addresses occupied the whole of the afternoon, and they were in general impressive and suitable to the occasion. On the morning of the second day we met in the chapel at 9 o'clock. Mr. Murray preached from 2 Cor. v. 14 : " For the love of Christ constraineth us." There were upwards of a thousand persons present, and their appear- ance was solemn and devout. After the service was over, we proceeded to the Fale tale, or great house of the village, to re- ceive the contributions of the people. To preserve order and facilitate our work, it was arranged that each village should come separately and in order. Mr. Murray and I took our places in different parts of the building, to record the names of the donors and the amount of their contributions. It was arranged that he should receive the donations of the men, while I took those of the women. We had a foreigner standing beside each of us, to receive the contributions as they came in. After a short interval, the people, who had been allowed to retire to their houses, began to make their appearance. A scene of Samoan grandeur now burst open to view, which I little expected to see. The men and women came dressed out in their richest attire. The dress of the men was a piece of siapo (native cloth) tied round the waist, the upper part of the body being naked, but profusely rubbed with oil. In addition to the siapo round the waist, the women had a tipiUai^ — that is, a piece of siapo about two yards long, and a yard or more wide, with a hole in the centre large enough for the head. This, when on, covers the breast and part of the back. Each village seems to have chosen the colour and pattern of its own siapo. They approached in companies, carrying their contribu- tions of oil in hollow bamboos from twelve to eighteen feet 1848] ON THE WAY. 101 lon^. Their appearance was most martial, as they advanced, with their bamboos over their shoulders like muskets. Amidst all this external display, T trust that the hearts of many were rightly affected toward the cause of Christ. Much allowance must be made for a people just emerging from a state of bar- barism and heathenism. Instead of wondering to see some things of which we cannot approve, the wonder is that we see so little to condemn in a people, who but a few years ago were unlettered savages. " I have been much encouraged and profited by my visit to the island of Tutuila. This island was long celebrated for the ferocity of its inhabitants, who were a terror to navigators sailing in these seas. It was at a small bay about five miles from Leone, where De Langle, the companion of Le Perouse, and eleven Frenchmen were cut otf in the year 1796. After this tragical event, vessels would not venture to anchor at the island, until missionaries had settled on it. O, what a change has the (iospel wrought on this once dark island within a few years! The inhabitants, with few exceptions, have embraced Chris- tianity, and instances of exalted piety are by no means un- common among the people. This little island has been privi- leged with marvellous exhibitions of the grace of God. Of late yearSj both the stations of Leone and Pangopango, but especially the latter, have been visited with seasons of refresh- ing from on high. Though religion has not been in so lively a state, during our short sojourn on Tutuila, as at a former period, we have nevertheless seen much to excite within us feelings of wonder and gratitude to God." The arrival of the John Williams we shall allow Mrs. Gcddie to describe : — " The John Willuims arrived oflf Pangopango on the 27 th May, about 10 in the morning. Mr. Murray sent a mes- senger off immediately, but he did not arrive at Leone until 4 p.m., and we were to be ready at 5, as the vessel would at that time be off Leone. Though we had the principal part of our things packed up, still there were many that we were using that were not ready. We commenced immediately to pack. The news soon spread that theLa'a lotu (religion ship) had come, and we were going away. The house was soon filled — the teachers and their wives wishing to assist us, and express- ?r6t ^ *rf-.r \\ 1, ' ii 1 1 lot MPR OF JOHN UKDI)IK, t).l). [1848 ing their Horrow at our hound, the first having failed. May the Hearer of prayer answer their many and fervent petitions for our safety and success ! " Mrs. Geddie and I were now called on to encounter a severe trial in our separation from our eldest child, whom we leave behind us at Samoa. From what we have learned of the state of these islands to which we expect to go, we felt that we dare not incur the responsibility of exposing one at her tender age to the abominations, which we must every day witness. She will go home by the return of the John Williams to Britain. The most painful sacrifices which missionaries are called on to suffer in these islands is separation from their children, whose interest and welfare demand their removal to a less polluted moral atmosphere. '' After our canvas was spread, the John Williams glided out of the harbour of Apiu before a gentle but favourable l)reeze. Never did the vessel leave Samoa under circumstances more deeply solemn. She carries in her, I trust, the germ of many a Christian Church. Oh that this voyage may tell with hoppy effect on some of the dark islands of the Western Pacific ! " This evening we had a delightful missionary prayer meeting -a suitable commencement for such a voyage. We have com- mitted our way to God, and I trust that He will direct our steps." Of Mr. Geddie's residence in Samoa we may say, that he legarded it as the most valuable special training for his work that he could have had. Especially it gave him a knowledge of native character, and an acquaintance with the modes of conducting missionary operations among them, which were particularly important, when, as it happened, he was called to labour among the heathen without the aid or counsel of a single !nissionary brother. 'I 'f if 1 I. 5 iv I .1 I il* Pf 106 LIFE OF JOHN OEDDIE, D.D. Chapter V. THE ISLANDS AND THE PEOPLE. 1||' BEFORE following the missionary band further, we must give some account of the field to which they were going, and the condition of the people among whom they were to labour. The Pacific Ocean is the largest in the world, covering one- third of the earth's surface. It is chiefly interesting from the innumerable islands with which it is studded. These are formed in two ways — either by the working of the coral insect or by volcanic agency. There is perhaps nothing on earth that exhibits more strikingly the manner in which Infinite Wisdom accomplishes great results by feeble and unlikely instru- mentality, than the laying the foundations of islands, and raising barriers which resist the mightiest efforts of the ocean, by means of a creature so insignificant and feeble as the coral insect. This belongs to almost the lowest order of animated nature, and is of microscopical minuteness. There are nume- rous species, but all of them have the power, which seems to reside in the skin, of separating lime from water holding it in solution, and so forming for themselves a hard crust of carbon- ate of lime, mixed with a little animal matter. This crust, which differs much in form arid appearance in the diverse species, serves the polyp as a habitation and a protection for its soft jelly-like body. Of these creatures. Millions of millions, thus from age to age, With simplest toil and skill unweariable, are daily at work in the warm waters of the tropical ocean. And when one generation dies, their houses form the foundation for the dwellings of their successors. Thus slowly are built up those reefs, as they are called, which in many instances become the foundation of islands. grass n THE ISLANDS AND THE PEOPLE. 107 These reefs are of three kinds — Atolls, Barrier, or encircling, and fringing reefs. The first are circular, inclosing a lagoon or lake of shallow water, with one or more openings. Outside the water is deep, and often by ordinary means unfathomable; while within the water will vary from one hundred to three hundred feet in depth. The Barrier reef is like the Atolls, except that it generally either runs parallel with the coast, or incloses one or more islands. The largest of these in the world is that which guards the north-east coast of Australia. It is eleven hundred miles in length, and lies at a distance from the shore of from ten to one hundred miles, or a mean of thirty. A barrier of this kind at the station occupied by Mr. Geddie, at Aneiteum, one and a half miles from the shore, forms the harbour of Anel- cauhat, the only one on the island, and one of the few good harbours in the southern New Hebrides. Many of the islands of the Pacific are inclosed by reefs of this kind. Between them and the land are smooth and shallow waters of a bright grass green colour, the bottom of which exhibits a scene of busy life and exquisite beauty. The more delicate kinds of coral there rear their structures in every variety of form, as the Scripture says, "after their kind." In appearance they form a sort of marine shrubbery, with forms as various as any land shrubbery, and of the richest colours. In among their branches, like birds among trees, Hoat many beautiful lish, radiant with metallic green and crimson, or fantastically banded with black and yellow stripes. Two or three miles distant, the ocean beating upon the reef forms a glittering surf white as snow, while immediately outside is the dark rich blue of deep waters. Fringing reefs are those which skirt the margin of a shore, forming a sort of beaches. These are common to continents and islands. When these reefs rise to near the surface of the water, the coral insect ceases its labours. Then various agencies combine to deposit upon them the soil necessary for the support of animal and vegetable life. And in due time subterranean larces raise them above the level of the ocean. The other class of islands are volcanic in their origin. They exhibit no sign of stratification, but, on the contrary, in many IV i. ^1 •'N. WM %. 10ft LIFE OF JOHN OEDDIE, D.D. m places afford evidence of having been thrown up in a state of fusion. They are largely composed of lava in a decomposed state, with a mixture of scorise or ashes, pumice stones, and other matter commonly thrown up by volcanic eruptions. The structure of these islands determines their appearance. Those of coralline origin are flat, and generally do not rise more than a few feet above the level of the sea; while of the volcanic, some are mountainous, blending beauty, grandeur, wildness and sublimity in their scenery, while others are hilly, and though rich and beautiful, are not so grand and striking as the last. The islands of the Pacific are arranged in two great divi- sions — Eastern and Western Polynesia. These are separate not only by their geographical position, but by their inhabi- tants. The only exception to this is New Zealand, which, though by its position connected with Western Polynesia, is inhabited by a race similar to those which inhabited the eastern islands. Eastern Polynesia embraces all the islands eastward of the Fijis, where the two races seem to meet, and northward to the Sandwich Islands, thus embracing, besides these, the Society, the Austral, the Samoas or Navigators, the Friendly and the Harvey Islands. Western Polynesia includes all the islands from the Fijis on the east to New Caledonia on the west and south, and northward to the large islands in the neighbourhood of New Guinea. This division includes New Caledonia, the Loyalty Islands, the New Hebrides, the Solo- mon Islands, New Britain, New Ireland, New Guinea, etc. These islands, in their number, size and population, greatly exceed those of the other division. The two great divisions of the Pacific Islands, as just men- tioned, are inhabited by two distinct races of people. They have indeed many features in common, yet both in physical conformation, colour, language and habits, they show evidence of a distinct origin. The inhabitants of Eastern Polynesia are allied in all these respects with the Malay race. They have large and well-moulded frames, skin of a light copper colour, hair fine and glossy, with a Malay countenance. The inhabi- tants of Western Polynesia, again, are more allied to the Negro race, having very dark skin, with curly hair and somewhat of a negro cast of countenance. To them has been given the 'rfifl' THK ISLANDS AND THE PEOPLE. 109 name of the Papuan or Austral Negro race. More recently, tlie title Melancsian has been adopted, and is now most com- monly employed. ** The origin of these races," Mr. Geddie writes, " is an interesting subject of inquiry. It now admits of absolute demonstration, that the copper-coloured, or superior race, are of Asiatic origin. They belong to the same family as that which peoples the East Indian Islands. The Samoans, indeed, trace the origin of their race to a large island situated to the north- west, called by them Puloto, or Buroto. Now, the easternmost island of the East Indian Archipelago, inhabited by the Malayan race, is Bouro, or Booro. It lies between Celebes and Ceram, and is inhabited in the interior by Papuans, and on the coast })y Malays. The correspondence between the language spoken V»y the Malays and the several dialects of the Polynesian tribes likewise proclaims a community of origin. And if more evidence is wanting, we have it in their conformation, colour, character, customs, etc. The progenitors of the present Poly- nesian tribes either left their original places of abode, influenced by a spirit of adventure, or el.se, as is more probable, they have been driven from their native shores in their frail barks, and been wafted by unpropitious winds to some forlorn island, and then spread from group to group. It is easy to conceive how the Malays, departing from their own coasts and following the several chains of islands with which the Pacific Ocean abounds, might have eventually reached the several groups where their descendants are now to be found. I met on the island of Efate, Sualo, a Samoan chief, who, with a number of others, was about twenty years before blown off from his native shores, and after a voyage of 1,500 miles in a canoe, landed on one of the northern islands of this group. " The history of the Negro race is not so clear as that of the Malays. It may be found that the origin and subaerjuent pro- gress of the Negro and Malay races inhabiting the islands of this great ocean are very similar. It is well known that the islands of the Indian Archipelago contain two races distinct in their origin, language, appearance, character and customs, and irreconcilably hostile to each other — the Malay and black races. The former of these races is superior to the latter, and usually occupies the shores and finer parts of these regions. IM'P '!l 'In H.4 i », !?: .' I il^ ( 1 <; m ■l! « Et'ate, they occupy different parts '\, It! ,1 1> 'I h 'f; 1 \ im 116 LIFE OF JOHN OEDDIE, D.D. ill 1 of the same island ; in others aj^ain, as Ilea, the Malayans occupy the shore and tlu5 Mt^lancsians the int«;rior. Taking them as a whole, tlu^y are not so fair, tall or intelli- gent as the Malays, nor so dark and degraded as the Australian aborigines. They are rather under the medium stature, well built, fleshy, active and expert in swimming and climbing. But on the Loyalty Islands and some of the northern New Hebrides are found races of superior physicjue ; wliile on islands still further north, Bishop Patteson says he found a race of the largest men he had ever seen, being, as he describes them, of " Patagonian proportions." As to their condition and habits, we .shall give the account prepared by Mr. Geddie, after lie had been some time on the island, with a few additions. Although it was prepared with special reference to the Aneiteumese, with slight variations, the descriptions will apply to the inhabitants of the whole group. "The skin is a very dark brown, .something of the colour of old copper coin, and in some cases approaches to a black. At birth, the skin is of a light brown colour, but constant exposure to the rays of a tropical sun adds to the darkness of its hue ; and I am not sure that dye is not u.sed for the same purpose. The skin, unlike that of the more eastern islanders, is thick and rough, caused by exposure to the weather without the protection of clothing. " In some cases the hair is short and crisp, but in general it grows coarse and long, and is of a brownish colour. It con- trasts unfavouraljly with the black and glossy hair of their eastern neighbours. Contrary to the order of nature as well as the letter of Scripture, the men wear their hair long, while that of the women is cropped short. The hair of an Aneiteum man is his chief pride, and the pains that he takes with it often excites wonder. It is divided into a number of very small locks, and each of these is wound round with the thin rind of a native plant, from the root to about two inches of the end, giving it the appearance of a piece of twine. They then cover it with a kind of red paint. A^s the hair grows, the winding is continued. As many as seven hundred of these locks have been counted on one head. The same pi'actice prevails on Tana, Aniwa and Eutuna. On other islands different prac- »;" m THE ISLANDS AND THE PEOPLE. 117 mm tices prevail. On Erroinan^a tlK^y woar tlu; hair in a bushy form, while on VAnU) they cut it close round the head, leaving it on the top stickinj* up like a cock's conih. "Another sin^^ular custom is the cutting of enormous holes in the ear. Men of rank have these holes tilled with tortoise- sh(!ll rini^s, many of them an inch and a half in width and ten inches in circumference. Of these tlu^y ofttsn wear four or live suspended from one ear. The common women wear flowers instead, and the mcjn sometinufs till up the spac(; with a round piece of wood two or thr(H! inches in diamet(!r; nor is it un- common to meet a native, with a tig of tobacco protruding through one ear, and a pipe with something to till up tlu^ vacant space tlirough the other. "The practic(! of boring ^^^e cartilaginous divisio!i of the nose, also prevails. A piet jf wood is placed horizontally through the opening formed, in order to distend the nose, which of course gives it a broad and flattened appearance. I ol)served a somewhat analogous custom among the inhabitants of Efate. Instead of the horizontal wood, they insert a round polished stone or piec(; of pearl about three cjuarters of an inch in diameter, which gives a most awkward [)rojection to the nose. " Painting the face prevails among all classes and both sexes. The colours most in use are black and red. Each one paints according to his fancy. One native paints one cheek black and the other red ; a second paints the upper part of the face of one colour and the lower of another; a third draws a line across his forehead, down tlie ridge of the nose, around the eyes, etc. It is almost needless to say that the painting gives to the face a hideous and sometimes a ludicrous appearance." " When any of their friends die," Mrs. Geddie adds, " they besmear their whole bodies with black. I have been often amused, to see them sit and rub their bodies with the soot from our pot, and appear to think it quite a treasure." "The men go naked — at least they wear nothing that admits of description. In their estimation it is efleminate for a man to wear clothe.s, and we find it difficult to keep a wrapper of cloth around those whom we find it needful to employ. It is only in cool weather that they can be induced to wear covering, and then a shirt is all that they wish. They place little or no HI '^1 III ' I; ll' m '!■ ' Sil 'i ' ■. it,-* M n-ii? 118 LIFE OF JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. lii flv; ! ■>' va', e on anything in the shape of clothing. The women are far in advance of the men, as regards covering. Their dress is a girdle made of the Pandanus leaf, which reaches from the waist to the knee. The leaf of which th(!y make these dresses is generally two or three feet long and quite stiff. They make it soft by chewing it for some time. This girdle, when new and clean, looks well, and is not inferior to any covering worn by females in the Polynesian Islands, in the days of heathenism." Mrs. Geddie adds, " They wear great quantities of beads, shells, teeth of various animals, etc., round their necks. They do not value very small beads. The larger they are, the more valuable to them, if they h^v^e but two or three on one string, which is often the case, but they string shells to make up the deficiency. I have often been surprised that they could bear such a weight about their necks, and often a child on their back. Their children are very small, but very lively. They nurso them until they are two or three years old. Besides ornaments about their necks, they wear others on their arms, wrists and legs." "As to their intellectual character, by what standard shall we judge them? I dare say, as Britons, we consider ourselves the most intellectual people on earth, but a South Sea Islander will often smile at our stupidity about many things, in which i:|il'| THE ISLANDS AND THE PEOPLE. 119 we are evidently inferior to them. It should be borne in mind, that the Most High ' hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on the face of all the earth.' The condi- tion of these islanders has been morst unfavourable to the de- velopment of their mental energy. Nevertheless, there are indications of a fair amount of intellectual power among them. They have a mythology, which, though absurd and false, is at least ingenious. They have their historical traditions, which are transmitted from generation to generation. They can express their thoughts in a humorous manner, and often in figures of speech, forcible and appropriate. Their language, too, is copious, and promises to become a good vehicle for im- parting instruction. Many speak two or more languages." On all the islands the language is found exceedingly rich, in all that pertains to the needs and habits of a people situated as they are, but poor in what pertains to civilized and religious life. It has since on trial been found, that they can be taught rapidly to read, write and cipher, and that they readily learn to repeat passages of Scripture. We may add that, like most rude tribes, they show that cultivation of the powers of observation, which renders them in their own sphere so superior to civilized men. They recog- nize every footprint they see, and of every pig or fowl they can name the owner. They have also much quickness in the discernment of character, in reading the countenances, and penetrating the motives of others. They cannot be said to have a history, and scarcely any antiquities are to be found on the islands. There is on Anei- teum a very large stone, on which are engraved representations of men, fishes, and the heavenly bodies, which the natives regard as the work of superhuman agents. On Efate there is a dome-shaped cave, round the sides of which are marks, sup- posed to be inscriptions. The.se, like some remains found on some other Pacific islands, may indicate, either that the present races have degenerated, or that the islands were previously occupied by a people more advanced in art. " In their plantations these islanders display much ingenuity and taste. These are small enclosures, beautifully encircled with a fence of reeds, which are interlaced or bound together by a cord made of the husk of the cocoanut. The fences are IIP.; w i i-i ? 120 LIFE OF JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. 80 very neat, that they would be considered ornamental in any land. The earth is dug with a sharp-pointed stick of hard- wood, and then it is crumbled in the hand, until it is perfectly fine. The banana, sugar cane, and taro, are the articles of food raised in these plantations. The spots usually chosen for the purposes of cultivation are the low and swampy grounds, but it is not uncommon to find them, on the sides of hills and on the high lands. Much skill is displayed in the irrigation of those places, where the ground is dry. Small canals are dug, and water conveyed to them from the nearest stream. The water-courses are so constructed that the native, by opening a small sluice at the head of his plantation, can in a few minutes water the whole. I have seen ridges on the sides of hills, in the form of terraces, under cultivation, and watered in this way. The cocoanut, bread fruit, etc., grow spontaneously, and do not require any cultivation. " The houses of the natives do them less credit than their plantations. They are of a small size and rude construction. Posts are put in the ground six or eight feet apart at the bottom and bound together at the top ; over this framework, reeds are placed at a short distance app,rt, as a foundation to the covering of thatch that follows. The one end is closed and the other left partly open to answer the purpose of a door. An ordinary-sized building is twelve or fifteen feet long, and six or seven feet high in the centre. From the shape of the house, it is of course impossible to stand in an upright position in any part of it, except the middle. The houses being small and closely thatched, are warm and uncomfortable. The mean- ness of native houses in many of the Pacific Islands, need not excite surprise, when we consider that they are hardly to be ranked among the necessaries of life. They are chiefly used as dormitories, and it is only during rain, that they are occu- pied in the daytime ; for the natives always prefer to eat and sit in the open air. The floor is the connnon bed of the house- hold, all of whom lie on coarse mats made of the bark of the cocoanut. There is nothing in the shape of furniture to be seen. Two or three coarse native baskets suspended from the roof, contain the valuable effects of the family ; but when the inmates are abroad, these are generally hid in the bush or buried in the ground for safety. ''^'n'''a THE ISLANDS AND THE PEOPLE. 121 *' The common food of the natives is vegetable, though they frequently have fish, and sometimes regale themselves on a pig. On ordinary occasions, one meal only is cooked in the day, and that towards the evening. A superstitious dread of eating before work exists, lest the Natmasses should blast their crops. The method of cooking is the same as that which prevails throughout all the South Sea Islands. A hole is made in the ground, in which a large tire is kindled, and a quantity of stones laid on the wood to heat. When the hole in the ground and the stones are sufficiently heated, the fire is removed. The article, or articles to be cooked, are then rolled up in leaves and placed in the hole and covered with the heated stones — a (quantity of leaves is laid over the stones, and a layer of earth over the whole. After an hour or two the oven is uncovered and the food taken out nicely baked. V^egetf ' and animal food is cooked by the above process. " As regards drink, the common beverage is pure water, or the juice of the cocoanut. On some of the islands the natives make a fermented liquour which intoxicates, from a liquid found in the bud of the cocoanut tree, but the practice is hap- pily unknown on Aneiteum. The natives, however, are not without the means of intoxication. They prepare a drink from the juice of a plant called Kava (piper methysticum). Nothing can be conceived more disgusting than the prepara- tion of this drink. The root of the plant, which is the most valuable part of it, is first cut in pieces, and then distributed among the attendants, generally boys and young men, who chew it in large mouthfuls. When it is thoroughly mixed with saliva, it irj put into a small wooden trough and mixed with water. After it has been strained, it is considered fit for use. The women are wholly prohibited from the use of the kdva. It stupifies rather than excites. " Feasts are connnon, and, in the estimation of the natives, are events of great importance. These feasts, however, are unlike social entertainments at home. One district gives a feast to another, and receives one in return, — but the two parties do not eat together. When a chief concludes to feast the people of another division of the island, a restriction is laid on several kinds of food ; and this often continues for six months or more. After the restriction is removed, an im- in 1 122 LIFE OP JOHN GEDDIE. D.D. ill mense gathering is made of cocoanuts, taro, sugar cane, pigs, fish, etc. The whole is collected on a spot prepared for the purpose, and piled up in large heaps. On a fixed day, the people to be feasted are invited to come to the place, where the food has been gathered. After a variety of ceremonies, most of them associated with the superstitions of the people, there is a transfer of all the food from the one party to the other, who carry it to their own land, where it is divided among the several families, who eat their respective portions in their own houses. The district thus entertained, is ex- pected to give a feast in return as a recompense. After all, the term feast conveys a very imperfect idea of this strange practice ; it is neither more nor less than an exchange of food. As the importance of a chief is judged of by the quantity of food collected on such occasions, the common people are most heavily taxed, in order to support his dignity. In con- sequence, they are very much stinted for want of food during a part of the year, while for a few weeks, they eat on a most magnificent and intemperate scale. Add to this, there is a great destruction of food caused by these feasts, as much that is collected spoils, before it can be eaten. " Among these islanders, as among all savages, dancing is a favourite amusement. It is usually practised by men, but women often join in it. The dancers keep time to slow and monotonous tunes, which they sing, and in which all are ex- pected to take a part. To aid the vocal music, each person carries in his right hand two or three sticks, with which he strikes a spear held in his left hand and resting over the shoulder. The dancing occurs at particular seasons, and then it is kei)t up for weeks and even months at a time. It is more commonly practised during the night than in the day- time. " In the mechanical arts the natives of this island are far in the rear. Their canoes are logs hollowed out, and are ex- tremely rude. Their spears and clubs, though well adapted for their intended purpose, display but little taste in their manufacture. They excel, however, in plaiting mats and baskets, making cords of various sizes, fishing nets and shell fish-hooks. They readily learn to pull an oar or handle the tools of the various mechanic arts, taught them by Europeans. View o 't! rill ^ Mill THE ISLANDS AND THE PEOPLE. 123 On the northern islands they still make a rude unglazed pottery, standing the tire suthciently to cook their food in it, and probably they had the same art on the others, previous to their intercourse with Europeans. They have one musical instrument like a flute, another like Pan's pipe. They are fond oi singing, especially when a number are doing some work, as carrying a log ; but it is monotonous, consisting only of a few notes, but they are exquisite timeists. " There are few places on the earth, where the female sex is more degraded than among these islands. As physical strength and personal valour are the qualities most admired by a barbarous people, the weaker sex are despised and trampled upon. The birth of a female child is accompanied by no demonstration of pai'ental joy, and in many instances its death-warrant is signed at a tentler age. Infanticide in- deed is not so prevalent here, as on many of the neighbouring islands, but it is by no means uncommon, both before and after birth. I know a man who killed and ate his own child ! Should the female child be spared, she has no voice in the article of marriage. All the arraiifjements connected with this relation are made l)y her parents during her childhood, when of course her inclinations cannot be consulted. It will not excite surprise, therefore, if in after life there is forever to be little correspondence of taste, feeling and sentiment between husbands and wives. The wife is to all intents and purposes the slave of the husband. Indeed, the words wife and servant, or slave, are interchangeable. She is not regarded as his com- panion, nor treated as such. If a woman meets a man in a narrow way, vshe rushes among the tall grass, and stands with her back to the path till he has passed. Before high chiefs they go on their hands and knees. From certain kinds of food the women are excluded, and it is u^'.al for her and her tyran- nical master to occupy different houses. While man, as the lord of creation, indulges himself in indolence, the drudgery and hird labour falls to the lot of his wife. It is not sur- prising if the marriage bond is but slightly observed by the female sex, who are thus treated. Wives are constantly deserting their husbands, and taking up their abode witli other men, and frequently they commit suicide. After this view of domestic life, it would be vain to look for domestic S' rii..' ii: 1 ii m ii " ii* 124 LIFE OF JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. u Fill- happiness. The spectacle of a father and mother with their children as one social happy band, is what 1 have never yet beheld in this dark region. *' The misery of woman does not end here. When her hus- band dies she is immediately strangled, that her spirit may ac- company his to the land of darkness, and all her children in the family unable to provide for themselves, share the same fate. If there is a son of competent age, he is expected to perform the murderous ceremony of strangling his mother." Hence when tlie missionaries landed an old woman was not to be seen. The strangulation of widows was specially charac- teristic of Aneiteum. It had begun, however, to spread to Tana and some other islands, but nowhere was it so universal and so firmly rooted as there. On Efate, in the case of the death of a high chief, a slave (for they have slaves, consisting of those who have been surrendered by one tribe to another) is slain and his body distributed, and one of his wives, usually the favourite, is buried alive with him. A deep grave is dug, in which his body is laid. She takes her place at his head and commences a low wail. Part of a canoe is then inverted over her head, and the earth thrown over them. Polygamy exists on all the islands, it being common for chiefs to have two, three or more wives, their wealth being estimated by the num- ber they thus have to work for them. " On the islands of this group, war seems to be the rule and peace the exception. The natives of this island have their War-god, or Natmass, whose countenance and aid they implore against their enemies. To this deity they carry an offering of kava, and pray that they may kill many of their foes. For their success in battle, they depend much on this sanguinary spirit. In their modes of warfare, there is neither a display of science nor system among the natives. The opposing par- ties, when they come within sight of each other, begin to throw their bodies into all the attitudes of defiance, and chal- lenge ''u' ' -riwour to make the most intimidating menaces, the "■' ■ >] ;:, v' ixinied with a most savage din and clamour. Thf - t." t .•.„). then advance from each party, and engage in comba-; ''■■' ;- conflict soon becomes general. But the natives, i£ \^n\j iuoality will answer, prefer bush fighting to general attacks. Their weapons are clubs, spears, bows and "IT'P THE ISLANDS AND THE PEOPLE. 125 arrows, the latter being tipped with bone, and believed to be poisonous (though this is disputed). They sling a stone, throw a spear, or shoot an arrow with great precision. The All the men go loss of life in their engagements is small. at: ac XT- JO-O g about armed. When at work on their plantations they have their weapons within reach, and they sleep with them at hand. Even the little boys have their tiny clubs, spears, bows and arrows, and go about ready for a quarrel. Of late years white traders have brought muskets among them. " The revolting practice of cannibalism is also common. The extent to which it has prevailed, is enough to api)al the heart. There is not an island of the group, so far as we know, exempt from this horrid practice. The natives do not hesitate to confess, that of all kinds of animal food, human flesh is the most savoury. The island of Efate is behind none of the others. Cannibalism has been much prac- tised on Aneiteum. All victims killed or takcni in war are considered the lawful food of the victors. It has also been common for chiefs to kill men merely for the sake of eating them ; many natives have been sacrificed in this way. Th<; practice is awfully depraving in its influence, and leads to the most serious evils. It tends to deaden every humane feeling, and to eradicate a principle which is the chief security of human life. Mortality must lo.se all its horrors in the eyt^s of a people who are accustomed to feed on the bodies of their ''W i ' >i\i rrf I .. 126 LIFE OP JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. fellow-men ; and when there is no horror of death, there will be no repugnance to kill. " The bodies of the dead, if we except the principal chiefs, are not interred, but thrown into the sea. As soon as life is extinct, the face is painted to conceal its ghastly appearance, the body wrapped tightly round with a bandage, and weights attached to the feet. It is then carried out a short distance from the shore and committed to the deep. A lire is kindled on land, opposite to the spot where the body has been sunk ; the spirit is then supposed to leave the body, and after warm- ing itself at the tire which has been made, takes its departure to the e.ppge nanpath (land of darkness), while Nengerain, the chief Natuiass of Aneiteum, devours the body. On the other islands, however, the dead are commonly buried. On Tana a grave is dug four or five feet deep, and a recess scooped out at the side, large enough to hold the body, which is deposited there, 'in the side of the pit'" (Ezek. xxxii. 22). On Aneiteum there was not what could be called a village. Two or three huts would be clustered together for the conve- nience of good soil, fruit trees, or a canoe harbour, but which might be speedily removed to another point within a limited district. " 1 come now to a dark chapter in the history of these islanders — their moral degradation. It is distressing to read accounts of the moral condition of the heathen, even at a dis- tance ; but ah ! how transcendently painful to be eye-witnesses of it. All society in these dark regions is indeed a dead sea of pollution. The Christian missionary who labours in a new sphere, is, from his peculiar circumstances, conversant with scenes revolting to the inmost feelings of his soul. Of the several trials to be encountered in the dark places of the earth, this is unquestionably one of the greatest. The Apostle Paul, in his Epistle to the Romans, chap. i. 29-31, gives a faithful and awful delineation of heathen character : ' Being tilled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, mali- ciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whis- perers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without under- standing, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implac- able, unmerciful.' This dark description of heathen character 'H!' TUB ISLANDS AND TUR PEOPLE. 127 is but very imperfectly understood in Christian lands. Much that might be affirmed of thos(? who inhabit these dark re<,'ions, must be witnessed to be believed. There are few missionaries who could not place emphasis on every sentence of the Apostle's dark description of heathenism, and clothe every word in capi- tal.s. Can we indeed expect anything good from the poor heathen, when th^ir deities are supposed to be such as them- selves, or rather, are conceived of as having attained to a more gigantic stature in every form of vice than man can possil)ly reach 1 Crimes of all degrees and of (;very kind are of constant occurrence among these islanders. Selfishness, treachery, and inhumanity are among the traits of character so prominent, that a short acquaintance with the people brings them to light. Falsehood is more common than the truth, and a native will often lie, when the truth wouUl seem better to ensure his pur- pose. Theft is not at all disreputable, and parents will teach their children to steal, and then applaud them for their expert- ness if successful. Licentiousness is a besetting sin, and soci- ety has become a p ^rfect chaos in consequence of its prevalence. Filial respect is not expected by parents from their children, nor is it given. Cruelty and bloodshed excite no more horror than events of the most common occurrence. Revenge is con- sidered a sacred duty ; means are taken to preserve the memory of an injury even to after generations; and gcnierally they have no word for forgiveness in their language. The language of impiety and impurity is so common, that a native can scarcely speak without blending his ordinary conversation with it. We have seen vileness enough to cause the heart to sicken, and yet, after all, it is only a surface view that we have been able to take of them ; time will bring to light new discoveries of evil. How immense the chasm that lies between heathenism and the religion of the Gospel ! " These islanders are the slaves of a most degrading super- stitious system. Whatever attention is paid by them to other things, all is regarded as inferior and subservient to the claims of their religion. If a man plants his vineyard, or goes in his canoe to tish, or undertakers a journey, or celebrates a feast, offerings are presented to his objects of worship, and their aid is implored. On their system of religion, every other pursuit is in a measure dependent. ■ ij'i ''^ lii! ■ 111;!* :*1. 'I 128 LIFE OF JOHX (JRDDIE, D.D, "The objects of worship are Natnaasses, inanimate objects, and living creatures. The chief Natinass of Aneiteum is Neu- gerain. If he is not the creator of Aneiteum, to him at least is ascribed the credit of finding it. The tradition is that he went out to fish, when something attached itself to his hook, and then he pulled until this island came up. After this he formed men, who were the progenitors of the present race. The supremacy of this deity is acknowledged throughout the island, and such are their feelings of reverence and dread, that the natives tremble to mention his name. "The fall of man is represented in a legend that this Neuge- rain, who had a shell like a tortoise, once left it behind him, when going to a distance. His children having found it, pierc(!d it, and afterwards burned it, and for this were doomed to die. Next in rank to Neugerain comes a variety of Natmasses, who, though inferior to him, are invested with attributes to which mortals have not any claim. They are supposed to take their part with Neugerain in the production of various things. One is said to be the maker of pigs, another of fish, another of co- coanuts, another of taro, another of bananas, etc. As nearly as I can learn, every division of the island has its Natmasses of this class. Besides the above classes, there are other Natmasses still, of inferior rjink, who are n^'^meless as well as numberless. If I mistake not, they are more numerous than the inhabitants themselves. I have never yet met with a native on Aneiteum who could enumerate its deities. " The second class of objects regarded with religious vene- ration are idols, made either of stone or wood. Idols of stone are very numerous ; many of them may be seen in the sacred groves. The stone is unhewn, and generally of a round or oval shape, with a smooth surface. Those which I have examined appear to have a small chip broken off, as a place of ingress and egress for the spirits who are sup])0sed to inhabit them. I have not yet learnt to distinguish between a common and sacred stone, or by what process they become invested with their character of sanctity. Idols of wood are less common than those of stone, and I have only seen two since my arrival on the island. They were the large posts which supported the roof of a house built on the feasting ground, in this district where I live. There was a girdle of leaves tied around the of pra t 1 [! \ All ; 144 LIPK OF JOHN OKDDIE, D.D. [1845 I ! 11 pcMjple nil keop to t\unv lieathcnism, and are more inclined to go to tlifur plantations on a Saljhath, than listen to a st^rnion. When the grown-up pcoph; found, that the childnui were getting wiser than themselves, they ordtinnl tlu^ tc^aclmrs to give up the day school. Driven from tlu; day, they tried the night, and at present there aie eleven true sons of Nicodemus, who go pri- vately to the teachers' house at night for instruction. " April I7th. — Hearing that souie white men had taken up th(ur aViode on a small sand bank on the other side of the is- land, and also that a chief there has long been wishing to have a teacher, we determined to visit both parties. Taking Simeona with us, as our pilot and interpreter, wo left the ship this- morning at daylight. For a time we kept inside the nsef, and tlien had to strike out to sea, and along the bold shore. By nine we were at the little island, quite a sand bank, and with another one forming a pretty good harbour between them and the mainland. The position of this harbour is 20'^ 15' South latitude and 1G9^ 44' East longitude. There we found a jetty, flag-staff, weather-boarded houses, piles of sandal wood, a rusty swivel mounted here and there, and every appearance of a foreign settlement. A Mr. Murphy came down as we landed, and conducteil us to the store, where we sat for a little. He said that Capt. Paddon, who was at the head of the concern, was absent ; that they came here in January ; that they have two vessels collecting sandal wood, and that they have adver- tised the place in the colonial papers as a convenient harbour for whaling and other vessels. He says they have bought the island from the natives. Our teachers conHrmed this, and add that they paid for it with an axe, a rug, and a string of beads. It is little more than a mile in circumference, without a cocoanut, and hardly a blade of grass. It was considered by the natives a haunted spot, and hence they never planted anything upon it. They had no objections, however, to sell it to the white men. At present there is only one white man there, in addition to Mr. Murphy, and tive Chinese. We saw the Chinamen at work sawing wood. Spoke a word or two to them. They are from Macao, and are not unlike some of our Eastern Polynesians. " Taking our leave of Mr. Murphy and his romantic little settlement, we got up our sail and crossed to the main island. Not a house was to be seen, but after landing and going into ol.j. Tht ISlf)] IMONKKI! MIHMION WORK ON TllK NKW IIKIUUDKS. 115 liic Itush, \\v, caiiKi U[)()M somii luits, which were .siiid to ho th«', iHiuhiuartcrs of the chief Nohoivt. Ifc was not at hand, hut a iiu'ssago was sont for him." We iiviy m(M\tioii licro that this is the point at wliioh Mr. (lc(M L., afterwards located, and tliat tht; natives numo of the harhour is Anclcaiihat. and that this chi(^f, Nolioat, was after- wards a conspicuous fi-^urc in the history of the Atission. "Presently Nohoat came, a littk* nHchUe-aged nmn, in scanty 'i'anose costume, hair twisted in a multitmh' of cords, etc., and a dark Jewish countenance'. Sini(?ona was our interpreter at tiist, hut liearing that Nohoat liad lived at Tana, I took six'ccli in hand in Tanose. H(? wondered how I could (iv«'r s[)('ak tliat dialect, shook his arms, and cracked his tin<{ers in amazement, as if 1 had dropped from thi^ clouds. I liad to tell liim all ahout it, and then went on to say, that w«! had come to locate on his division of the island, two tcaclu^rs, who wou' I instruct him and his people in the knowledge of tlie true God and Jr ^ Christ, the way to heaven. He opencnl liis mind to us all uce, said sad things about the doings of wliite men on their siiv^ics, which led us to assun; him, that ine had an entirely (littiTcnt object in view from that of the sandal wooders. His coididence was complete. He rejoiced in the offer of teacliers, acceded to our proposal that lie would go with us to the vessel, where we could select his teacliers, and commit them to his care, and in a few minutes we were all in our boat, with the addition of Nohoat, outside the reef and sailing back to our \(!ssel. Chatted with him the most of the way. Says he is a disease-maker, and the dread of the place where he is chief. Tried to tell him of immortality, heaven and hell, sin and sal- vation. He listened as if for the first time, expressed his ainazemcnt, but soon tried to change the subject with, ' What a line boat this is ! How she flies!' " Though he zealously aided us in the accomplishment of our object, he had no proper conception of what that object was. The supposed temporal advantages were then all he looked at, nor did his view of these rise very high. To get from the ship a pig with ' long ears ' was the all-absorbing desire of Nohoat, and ever and anon as we passed along in the boat, Nohoat's hands would be lifted up to the side of his head, to remind us of his desire to get the pig with long ears. 10 . 1 }V' 146 LIFE OF JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. [1845 " Reached the ship by 3 p.m. Arranged at once for the location of the Samoan teachers, Simeona and Pita, in the district of Nohoat. Gave him a present, begged him to be kind to the teachers, and listen to their instructions. He re- plied promising a number of things, such as a plot of ground, help in house-building, protection against tliieves, and a supply of food. Uumru sat listening attentively to Nohoat, and when he had done, got up and said, ' Nohoat, all that is very well ; but you must attend to the Word of God.' Arranged also to leave another teacher with Apolo, at the station off which we were anchored. The chief lata has of late been unkind to the teachers, and jeering them as castaways. We have rendered good for evil, have given him a present, and have had his acknowledgment of shame and regret, and promises of amend- ment. ^^Api'illSth. — Mrs. Murray and Mrs. Turner accompanied us on shore to-day — -the first European ladies, I suppose, who have ever set a foot on Aneiteum. The teachers' house is wattled and plastered, and its middle room serves at present for the chapel. The burning of the coral and the wonders of lime, plaster and whitewash, made the natives declare the teachers to be gods, not men." At Erromanga all seemed dark, though they held some inter- course with the natives, who in this way were learning to dis tinguish the Mission ship, as the vessel which "showed kindness and did not want sandal wood." But while the vessel lay at anchor at Dillon's Bay, and the missionaries felt discouraged, their course was directed where they had not thought, and by a singular train of circumstances. A sandal-wood vessel came to anchor alongside of them. It was about the last quarter from which they would have expected an invitation for mis- sionaries. But the captain came on board, and told them that when recently at the island named by Cook, Sandwich Island, but by the natives Efate, he had met there a Samoan, whom he named " Swallow," but whose name the mis3ionaries after- wards learned was Sualo, who had drifted there with somo Tongans and Samoans, about twenty years before. He had been on board the sandal-wood vessel, and through a New Zealander on board, the captain had informed him of the introduction of Christianity into his native group, and of th<' :! 1845] PIOVEER MISSION WOllK ON THE NEW HEBRIDES. U7 changes, social and religious, among his countrymen in conse- (juence. Sualo became deeply interested, and engaged the captain, if possible, to obtain teachers for that island, promis- ing, that as he knew the language, he would assist in doing for the people there, what had been done for the Samoans. The missionaries were delighted with the intelligence. They had just felt the difficulty in communicating with the natives of Erromanga, for want of knowledge of the language. But here was an interpreter provided for them. They had four teachers on board intended for Erromanga, who, finding them- selves precluded from that field, were ready to risk their lives to introduce the Gospel into a heathen isle. Assuredly gather- ing that the Lord was directing their way, they set sail the next morning, and early the day following cast anchor in a fine bay, in one of the most lovely and fertile islands of the Pacific. The natives at first were shy, as was afterwards ascertained, in consequence of fat^l afi:rays, which had recently taken place lietween them and white men. But at length Sualo came on Ijoard, attended by a number of savage companions. As the missionaries could converse with him in Samoan, he told them his history, part of which may be given, as illustrative of some points in the peopling of these islands. He had left Samoa about twenty years previous, in company with about fifty others, mostly Tongans, in two double canoes, bound for Tonga. They, however, missed their destination, and were driven to the westward, until they reached the island of Tongoa, to the north, a distance of fifteen hundred miles from Samoa. On this island they landed and remained two years, and then started for Tonga, but again failed and made the bay, where the vessel now was. Death had thinned their numbers, so that there were now only nine living. Sualo had married a daughter of a chief, besides two other wives, but was further known as one of the most daring war- riors on the island. The terror of his name had spread far and wide, and his assistance was eagerly sought in every war, so that he became for the place a man of wealth, as well as a hero. As he stood before the missionaries in Efatese costume, and with his long-handled tomahawk concealed as well as he could, lie appeared as finished a savage as the missionaries had ever , • 1 ' 148 LIFE OF JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. [1846 seen. Yet he now acknowledged the wrong of his past life, and promised to begin a new one. He was delighted to see his countrymen from Samoa, and professed a desire for instruc- tion, and promised to aid the teachers in their work. Pomare, his father-in-law, and other chiefs, professed the same desire. Accordingly the four Samoan teachers were settled, two at Pango and two at Erakor, both villages situated on the bay mentioned. The John Wilfiams returried in the month of September of the following year, 18 46. At Efate they found everything encouraging. Sualo had throughout befriended the teachers, though he as yet gave no indication of having felt the power of the truth. The teachers had been treated with uniform kindness by the people. Each teacher had built himself a house, a portion of which was set apart as a place of assembly. Religious services were held at several places on the Sabbath, and attempts had been made to establish a school for both young and adults. More than a hundred persons at each of the villages occupied by teachers, had renounced the gross practices of heathenism. The progress made had indeed excited opposition, and war, with cannibalism, had been the consetjuence. Still, prospects seemed encouraging, and five more teachers, making nine in all, were settled in five stations. This was the latest intelligence received from this quarter pre- vious to Mr. Geddie's sailing from Samoa, and it was so favour- able that this was regarded as his destined field of labour. On Futuna and Erromanga all was yet darkness, and the attempt to open Tana, which in the previous year seemed so hopeful, had been quenched in disaster. For some time after the conmiencement of the Mission, the teachers prosecuted their work diligently, and they seemed to be exerting a favourable influence in various quarters, when an epidemic of fever and ague broke out. Many died. Most of the teachers were pros- trate. The superstitions of the people wen' roused, and mat- ters were brought to a crisis by the death of a daughter of a chief of one tribe, the son of a chief of another, and the chief of a third, and vengeance was vowed against the servants of Jehovah. The Christian party, at th(^ head of wliom was a chief named Viavia, did what they could to frustrate their designs, and the 1846] PIONEER MISSION WORK ON THE NEW HEBRIDES. 149 disease having abated, their wrath for a time cooled. But disease having again broken out, the storm rose higher than before. One of the teachers was clubbed, and though he recovered from the injuries, carried the marks of them as long as he lived. Another was killed, and it appeared that the destruction of the whole was intended, when a vessel put in, which offered them a passage to Aneiteuni, and they accord- ingly removed thither. VVhen the missionaries now visited the scene, there appeared no hope of resuming operations. There remained only Anei- toum, but the intelligence received here was little more encouraging. The teachers at Anelcauhat had left their station and joined their brethren on the north side of the island. All had been subjected to many trials, and even their lives had been in peril. The suspension of the Tana Mission, and the arrival of the teachers, increased their difficulties. Food was scarce on Aneiteum, and the support of so many was regarded as a heavy burden, and the hostility of the heathen was increased by the accounts from Tana. They determined to kill the teachers, and on two occasions bands of men headed by lata went for the express purpose. But through the pro- tection of Him who rules all things, their hands could not per- form their enterprise. They suffered, however, from disease, want of food and other causes, and besides their work was at a stand. Hence, when the vessel arrived, they presented a united request that they might be removed. The request was complied with, the teachers taken on board, and the island abandoned. Before sailing away it was thought advisable to visit the harbour, with scarcely, however, a hope of doing anything there. While, however, the vessel lay at anchor, Mr. Nisbet remarked to the teacher, Simeona, " What a pity it is to leave this tine place without a teacher, and let go our hold upon the island ! What would you think of staying and giving it an- other trial?" Simeona replied that he was willing to remain if another would join, and of course if the chief of the district would promise them protection. Just as this conversation was going on. Pita, another Samoan teacher, joined them. The question of remaining was submitted to him. He ex- pressed himself willing to remain. I'-r, n m m' I 'i 150 LIFE OF JOHN OEDDIE, D.D. [1846 It not being deemed advisable that the- missionaries should land, an invitation was sent to the chief and some of the ])eople to come on board the ship ; and the next morning a conference was held with them squatted on her quarter-deck. The ques- tion was, Should the teachers remain or should they leave ? " It was an anxious hour with us," writes one of the missionaries ; " hope and fear alternately took possession of our minds as we reviewed with the people our past connection with them, and argued on the probable future results of that connection. Sometimes the chief spoke encouragingly about re-occupation, and at others hesitatingly, until at last he decided the matter by saying, " Let the teachers remain ; I will do my best to protect their lives as long as they dwell in my district ; but if they rove abroad into other tribes they will be murdered. But listen to me," continued this heathen chieftain, " here is the great evil, your shij) goes away, and moon after moon, moon after moon, rises and sinks, but you do not return to us. Other ships " — sandal-wood vessels he meant — " come here and go away, and in two or three moons come back again ; but you go away, ami," putting his head on the deck, he emphatically continued, *' we sleep, sleep, sleep, but you do not come back again. The teachers again landed, and the door was kept open. Such was the state of matters seven years after Williams first reached the New Hebrides. During this time God was on the opposite side of the globe preparing His agents for carrying on the work more efficiently, and at the very point at which we write, as we have seen, Mr. Geddie was in the bustle of prepara- tion for leaving Nova Scotia ; and having traced his history till his leaving Samoa, we have now to describe the arrival of the mission famili(;s in the New Hebrides, and the commence- ment of their labours of love. Before doing so, however, we must notice some s})ecial features of mission work in this group, as already revealed in the pioneer work which we have described. Enough has been adduced to show that the field was a hard one. The climate is unho Ithy, though not more so than many other tropical situations, and it has been proved that by proper care in the selection of sites for residences, and due regard to the laws of health, a fair measure of health may be enjoyed '-> I! ! !li m 1846] PIONEER MISSION WORK ON THE NEW HEBRIDES. 151 for the ordinary period of human life. The people are low, barbarous and degraded, though perhaps not much more so than the inhabitants of Eastern Polynesia originally were ; we think not more so than the Fijians, and not so much so as the Australian aborigines. In these respects the difficulties were such as were common to other missionary fields, and were not regarded as a barrier to commencing operations. But acquaintance with the state of the people showed others of a peculiar nature. In the first place, nowhere was there found the inhabitants even of a single island (unless a very small one) united as one people under a single chief. Islands comparatively small were divided into districts, perhaps from two to four miles long, inhabited by tribes lumbering, in some cases, not more than from one to three liundred, and these in such a state of hostility that it might be death, for a member of one to cross the boundary which divided their territory from the next. This had already been once and again the cause of the breaking up of the Tana Mission. The tribes at Port Resolution had been anxious to receive the missionaries and teachers, and did what they could to protect them; but the hostility of tribes only a few miles distant rendered it impossible for them to continue their labours, and the same thing has occurred since.* In connection with this, another difficulty must be men- tioned — the variety of languages and dialects on the group. In Eastern Polynesia the inhabitants of a whole group of islands will be found speaking the same language. But in the New Hebrides every island, at least in the southern part, has * On the island of Efate a curious system of clanship or tribal relation exists, resembling what was found among the Iroquois and other American Indians. Each has its totem or symbol, only that while among the latter it is some animal that is chosen, as the beaver or the otter, among the former it is some plant, as the cocoanut, the bread fruit or the taro— a difference which may be explained from the scarcity of animal life on the islands, and abundance of vegetable. These clans do not live in separate districts, but are intermingled in every part of the island. The tie between the members of a clan is very strong. A person from one district visiting any other will be at once entertained by any member of the clan resident there ; and if he commits any crime, hh clansman will hold himself responsible and make reparation. Curiously enough, the relationshu), like the chieftainship among tlie Iroquois, descends in the female line. This has some singular effects (in family arrangements. Thus the brother of the mother will have more authority over children than their father will. We are not aware of this system being found on any other island. U;i Ml H'! 152 LIFE OP JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. [1846 III:: i its own tongue ; and even on the same island there will some- times be found not only a variety of dialects, but even distinct languages. On the northern part of the group, however, one language, with some dialectic differences, is spoken on several — it is said as many as ten — islands. These circumstances, though hindering rapid progress, and rendering greater patience and labour necessary in order to success, were by no means such formidable obstacles to mis- sionary labours as the conduct of unprincipled white men. In many of the islands of the South Seas are found cases of such — perhaps runaway sailors or old convicts — who have joined themselves to the natives, and are sunk in the most degrading practices of heathenism. As Western Polynesia is nearer to the Australian colonies, it naturally attracted a larger number of these. Mr. Ceddie knew two white men on Aneiteum, one an Englishman and the other an American, who were canni- bals, and in appearance, as in reality, most degraded beings. But the influence and example of such men was limited, compared with the obstacles raised to mission work, by the conduct of traders, especially those engaged in the sandal wood business. This tree is of small size, with numerous irregular branches, and covered with a thick brown bark. The wood is of a light brownish-yellow colour, and of a very fragrant odour. It is much valued both in India and China, being used for the manufacture of various fancy articles, and in the latter it is used for burning as incense, in their dwellings and their temples. It is sold by weight, and brings in the Chinese market from $150 to $300 per ton; and it is a heavy wood, so that the profits on carrying it from the N(?w Hebrides, where it is — or was — abundant, were enormous. These have excited the cupidity of unprincipled white men, and hence, before the arrival of missionaries, a trade was estab- lished, which for a time was marked by atrocities on the part of those engaged in it, such as can scarcely be equalled among the most degraded savages on earth. Sometimes they would get a chief on board, and then require the people to bring boat- loads of wood off for his ransom, and after getting the wood, they would carry him away still, and deliver him up for more wood to the people of another island, where he would form a roast for tJ.e next meal. At this place perhaps they would 1846] PIONEER MISSION WORK ON THE NEW HEBRIDES. 153 pick up some other man, and carry him off. Such was the state of things on Tana and Erromanga, that a native of the one could not be expected to live five minutes, if landed on the beach of the other. Yet sandal wood traders have been known to land natives of the one upon the other, although knowing that many hours would not elapse till their V)odifc would grace a cannibal feast. The remuneration given to the natives employ- ed was very small, and even that was often entirely withheld. Constant disputes thus arose, in which the traders used firearms and shot the natives, as they v/ould wild animals. Mr. Turner relates the following conversation with some of them with whom he was remonstrating : " Mr. Turner,'" said one, seriously, "you do not mean that these Erromangans are meni " " Not men ! and what do you suppose they are] Nonsense! Don't you know that our own forefathers were just such naked painted savages as these? " "Well, well, we paid them at Erromanga, at any rate, for killing Mr. Williams, and that we did." But one well- authenticated instance of their conduct, which took place on Ihe island of Efate a short time previous to the first visit of the Mission vessel, will be sufficient to show the horrible nature of the deeds committed by these men. Toward the close of the year 1842, three sandal wood vessels (and we will give their names) — the Sultana, Captain Scott ; the Ose Ramnnd, Captain Deniston j and the Sophia, Captain Hervey — ■ came to anchor in a beautiful bay."**" The crews were sent on shore, and having quarrelled with the natives, they used their firearms freely, killing a large number of the islanders. About thirty, consisting principally of old men, women and children, took refuge in a cave, when the white men gathered brush- wood at its mounth, set fire to it, and kept the fire burning until the whole company within were silent in death. The foreigners being thus left masters of the district, supplied them- selves abundantly with wood, yam.:, and pigs — it was said to the number of nearly a hundred — and sailed away in triumph. Fierce as these savages were originally, such deeds could only have the effect of exciting them to fiendish ferocity, and the result was fearful retribution on their part upon the white men. Boats and vessels were captured treacherously, and their crews * NoM' known as Havanah harbour, the station of Rev. Mr. McDonald, l>r. (Jeddie's son-in-law. 'Hi' « ■ iiti '■li! •: M '!■ ! 5 ■ ■ , >' hi, ,'\: :! ir^ii 154 LIFE OF JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. [1846 massacred and eaten, and some islands were the scene of fre- quent conflicts, in which numbers of white men lost their lives. Cruelties of this kind, however, were not the only obstacles on the part of white men to the entrance of the Gospel. The vessels engaged in the trade were the abodes of brutal licen- tiousness. Amffcig the heathen, young women could be pur- chased for a trifle. A chief would sometimes sell his daughter for a saw or a hatchet. Hence there was a regular traffic in females, who were kept on board these vessels for the vilest purposes. We need not say how hostile such a state of things must have been to all missionary work among the natives. Perhaps even at this time there were some honourable men in the trade. At all events, in after years a great change took place in regard to the class of men engaged in it. The mission- aries made such strong representations, and their efforts being seconded by Bishop Selwyn, of New Zealand, the British Government took up the matter, and passed an Act giving autho- rity to their naval officers to arrest and bring to punishment any British subjects guilty of such cruelties. Captain Erskine and other naval officers took the matter up with energy, and those engaged in the trade were given to understand, that they would have to answer for every criminal information lodged against them for cruelty on these islands. This was followed by the trial of a captain for shooting three natives of Mare, and of another for shooting a Lifu native. Although it was difficult to obtain evidence that would secure conviction in a colonial court, such measures as these stopped, or checked, the outrages de- scribed. A better class of men have since been employed in the business, some of whom have rendered essential service to the Mission. But at the time we write, nothing had been done to arrest these (ivils, and the missionaries who visited the field thus raised their doleful lament : "The evils committed by the white man on these shores, who can estimate? As we approach, we find them red with blood, spilt through the cupidity and avarice of the foreigners. The iiatives, after the first visit of the white man, know him only as a savage, and, standing at a distance, terrified at our approach, bid us begone from their shores ; or, bent upon revenge, they allow us to come nigh, and devise a thousand schemes to en- snare us as their victims. Alas ! what can be done? " 1848J VOYAGE AND SETTLEMENT ON ANEITEUM. In5 Chapter VII. VOYAGE AND SETTLEMENT ON ANEITEUM. ^ 18 4 8. WE left the Mission party fairly on their way from Samoa, the expectation then being that operations would be commenced on the island of Efate. We must omit all extracts from their journals, till the night before their arrival at Anei- teum, but shall give nearly in full Mr. Oeddie's account of their visit to the various islands : '^ July 12lh. — Capt. Morgan informed us to-day, that we shall probably reach the island of Aneiteum to-morrow. It was agreed, that a special meeting for prayer should be held this evening, in the prospect of the work before us. The season has been to us all deeply solemn, and I trust profitable too. *' 13th. — At day-break this morning the island of Aneiteum was seen in the distance. This is the most southerly island of the New Hebrides group. About 2 p.m. we came to anchor in a beautiful harbour, on the south side of the island. Some anxiety was felt for the teachers left at this place, during the last visit of the vessel about two years ago. Our minds, how- ever, were soon relieved, for, when they recognized the vessel, they came off in their canoe. Their names are Pita (or Peter) and Simeona, both Samoans. "The account which they gave of their work, was by no means encouraging. Simeona had but acquired the language, and Pita's acquaintance with it was very imperfect. They had not yet attempted the formation of schools, and they found it impracticable to collect the people for the worship of God on the Sabbath day. From all that we heard, we had no reason to believe, that any of the natives had been brought to under- stand the nature of the Gospel, or to feel its saving influence. "We were grieved to learn from the teachers, that little kind- II ■:«! ji'ii ;! |i : i I'll i m^ 15(V Life op john geddie, d.d. [1848 ne8s hud been shown to them by the natives. They had been obliged to neglect their Mission work, and labour hard for a scanty subsistence. Not only had the natives given them no food, but they stole what they attempted to raise for themselves. At times they received presents of taro from another part of the island, where one of them had been formerly stationed. They were frequently reduced, however, to great straits. At one time their fears for their personal safety were excited. A fatal epidemic had broken out, and raged through the length and breadth of the island. Now, a general impression prevails throughout many of these islands, that foreigners, and especially missionaries, are the cause of disease. About this time, a party of Tanese visited Aneiteum, and urged the people to kill the teachers, in order that they might get rid of the disease. Though the people had not been kind to them, yet they refused to hurt them. " It was with deep regret, also, that we learned from the teachers, that two divisions of the island had for several months been engaged in war. Hostilities had ceased some time before our arrival, but there was no intercourse between the contend- ing parties. During the war, the persons and property of the teachers and foreigners, were held sacred by the natives. " As we sailed up the harbour this afternoon, we were sur- prised to observe an iron house in course of erection — a novel sight for such a place. It looked dark and dismal enough for an inquisition. By the aid of a spy-glass, we noticed some persons walking in front of it, dressed in long priestly robes. In this we recognised at once the mark of the beast. We were soon informed that there were eight priests and the same number of lay brethren on shore. They arrived here about three months ago. It is reported that a number of them will leave for the New Caledonia group, on the arrival of a vessel which is expected soon. It is probable that Aneiteum has been chosen as the head-quarters for the Romish Missions in this part of the Pacific, on account of its excellent harbour. The work of Missions in this part of the world will be more difficult in time to come than in the years that are past. A new enemy has now entered the field. The battle is no longer to be fought with Paganism alone, but with Paganism and Popery combined. Tlie struggle may be long and severe, but 1848] VOYAfJK AND HKTTLKMKNT ON ANKITKUM. 157 victory to tin; cause of truth is certain. The? priests have not yet made any attenipt to extend their influence among the natives, but they will no doubt commence as soon as they acquire the language. It is reported that a mercantile estab- lishment will be connected with this Romish Mission. " i^i*(!, made their appearance after a time. We were fthi'l to tind thein w<>ll, l>ut were grieved to learn that their labours wen; confined to a narrow sphere, and tliat few were disposed to listen to their instructions. The chief, to whose care they had been com- mitted, was kind to them. They had endeavoured to extend their labours to surrounding tribes, but their lives were threat- ened. They have been unable to form schools, nor can they collect their people on the Habbath day. It has been their practice to ferret out the natives on their plantations, or wherever they can find them, and converse with them on matters of eternal importance. '* As soon as wo could get rid of our noisy visitors from the shore, our usual Sabbath day services were held. Mr. Turner lectured in the morning ; Mr. Powell took the native service at mid-day, and Mr. Nisbet pr(!ached in the evening. It was pleasing, after the confusion and excitement of the morning, to unite in the puVjlic and hallowing exercises of religion. But my heart bled when I thought of the numbers around us on this island, who were still lying in all th«! darkness and horror of heathenism. ^^ 17th. — This morning great numbers of natives came otl' to our vessel. The Captain gave strict orders not to allow many to come on board, as we had reason to believe, that it would not be safe to put ourselves in their power. It was almost impossible, however, to keep them oft", as they clambered up the sides of the vessel in all directions. Those who came on board brought bows and arrows, clubs, shells, arm, ear and nose ornaments for sale, which we purchased from them. The artich;s most in demand by the natives were beads, red worsted binding, strips of "'o, and fish hooks. They are expert bargain makers, and w«' dare not pay them until we have tirst received the articles ')urchased. " Di iUg the forenoon of this day, we had several chiefs on oard from both sides of the harbour. Those on the west side, with whom the teachers live, wished for more. The chiefs on the east side wer" not united on the subject, and one of their number, a manol considerable influence, manifested determined opposition to the settlement of teachers near him. While thus engaged with th« chiefs about the location of teachers, a letter m. 160 LIFE OF JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. [1848 was received from a Capt. Richards, on shore, who is connected with a sandal wood establishment, stating that several natives were armed, and prepared to resist any attempt to land teach- ers. All things considered, it was deemed advisable to give up the idea of locating teachers on the east side of the harbour for the present. It was decided, however, that an additional teacher should be stationed on the west side. A Barotongan was chosen for the purpose. The teachers were also instructed to extend their labours to those places from which they are now excluded, as soon as the door should appear open. All arrangements being now made with the teachers, and presents distributed among the chiefs, we prepared for sea. But how were we to get rid of the natives, who crowded the vessel? The chiefs were told, that they must remain on board until the decks were cleared. This had the desired effect, and the men were soon able to go about their work. About three o'clock, the anchor was weighed, and we attempted to beat out of the harbour with a light head wind. As we drew near the mouth of the harbour, the vessel missed stays, and we were obliged to drop anchor within a few rods of a bold and rocky shore. "This evening a brigantine came into port. She mounted several swivels on her bulwarks, so arranged as to turn in every direction. Her appearance was most piratical. She proved to be the Terror, of Sydney, a sandal wood trader, just from the island of Erromanga. Her mate and some of the crew came on board, and from them we learned many particulars about the sandal wood trade. The loss of life in this traffic is very considerable. Massacres of ships' crews are now of common occurrence on sandal wood island but this loss of life is tri- fling, when compared to that of the natives. Erromanga and many other islands have been deluged with the blood of their own inhabitants. The sandal wood trade has thrown many of these islands into such a state, as to render them impervious to the entrance of the Gospel. On Erromanga, the natives have vowed that no foreigner shall ?ver live among them.* "18th. — Still at anchor at Port Resolution, on account of a head wind. We were surprised at the stillness on shore to-day, * One trader is said to have been enriched to the amount of £75,000 ster- ling, from sandal wood taken from Erromanga alone, but it was purchased with blood. < 1^ 1848] VOYAGE AND SETTLEMENT ON ANEITEUM. IGl especially on the east side of the harbour. The only visitor from this quarter was an old chief, who is friendly, but he would not remain on board for any length of time. He came with a message to tell us to go away for the present, and return with teachers after a yam season was over, and by that time they would have a house ready for them. This old man, though still a dark and degraded heathen, has always been a .steadfast friend, and we could not doubt his sincerity; our only fear was that he and his brother chiefs were plotting war and evil against the chief, who had opposed their wishes for teachers yesterday. " But why were the natives so shy to-day *? We could not tell, until one of the teachers came off to us, frcm the west side of the harbour, in the course of the afternoon. From him we learned the following particulars of an awful tragedy. A native of Erromanga, who had come in the sandal wood trader that arrived yesterday, had landed, and no sooner landed than he was killed, roasted, and eaten by the Tanese. The dark places of the earth are truly full of the habitations of horrid cruelty. Many Tanese have been taken to Erromanga by vessels, to aid in the collection of sandal wood, who have never returned to their own island, and so the Tanese take revenge whenever they can ; and in like manner, if a Tanese falls into the hands of the Erromangans, his doom is certain. The poor Erroraangan should never have been sent on shore, or permitted to leave the vessel, for those on board must have known that it would be death to him. How sad to think of the horrid scenes which were being transacted around us. "This evening, we remained long on deck, to witness one of nature's sublimest and most awful works — a volcano in action. It lies about four miles from Port Resolution, A grander scene it is scarcely possible to conceive. The light which it emits can be seen at sea, for a considerable distance, during the night. The outer edge of the cup of the crater is about a mile and a half in circumference. Slight explosions occur at inter- vals of eight or ten minutes. When these explosions take place, quantities of lava are thrown up into the air, accompanied by a. noise resembling heavy thunder, causing the earth for miles around to quiver. " Tana is an island about 100 miles in circumference. It is 11 I, I ^^re sent in her, with a request to the chief to come to us, as we were his friends, He mustered resolution H' ! fl ■I' J m m S 168 LIFE OF JOHN (JEDDIE, D.D. [184S to board us, after considerable delay. Our object was stated to him, and he was rejoiced at the prospect of getting teachers. Mose and Lailusi, both Samoans, were chosen for this place. " When the time for landing the teachers arrived, Mr. Pow- ell and I requested the captain to allow us to accompany them on shore. We entered the long boat, which contained the teachers, their luggage, and the chief of the place. We found a great number of natives on shore ready to receive us. All the men were aimed with their bows and arrows, spears, clubs, etc., but this is common in all the islands where the Gospel lias not been introduced. After landing, we beckoned to the chief to lead us to the village, which lies about a quarter of a mile from the shore. The path led through a very thick bush. The village was unlike anything that I had ever seen. Every house stands in the centre of a little yard, surrounded by a fence of reeds, tastefully and beautifully interwoven. These little yards are kept constantly swept and clean. The houses are of an oblong shape, covered with thatch, made of the sugar cane leaf, with an open space in front, about three feet high and eight or ten feet long, which answers the purpose of door and windows. We walked through the village, much to the consternation of the women and children, who had probably never seen a white man among them before. The native who acted as our guide, conducted us to the "great house" of the village. It measures 120 feet in length, and 30 in width, and is of proportionate height. From the roof of the building, a vast number of bones were suspended by strings — bones of men, beasts and birds. We could not learn the design of this, but we ascertained that the dignity of a chief may be estimated by •the number of bones in the " great house." "^ Our guide next conducted us to the public dancing place at the outskirts of the village. It is a circular piece of ground, in the midst of a dense grove, and contains about an acre of land. In the centre of this spot, there are about fifty logs of wood placed in the ground, in an upright position. They are arranged in an orderly manner, with passages between them. On the logs of wood, a variety of figures are ingeniously carved, and stained with ditferent colours. Our ignorance of the language did not * We have not heard of this curious custom being found anywhere else, except at the Andaman IslandH, in the Bay of Bengal. I!;) ' -^^[VW 1848] VOYAOK ANIJ SKTTLKMENT ON ANKITKUM. 169 enable U8 to ascertain, whether these figures were designetl for ornament or objects of worship.* The dancing ground appeared as if it were much used for its unhallowed purpose. It is usually in the night season, that dancing is practised among the heathen, and it may be literally ranked among " the unfruitful works of darkness." "After seeing all that was to be seen, we returned to the house of the chief, where we found the teachers and their lug- gage. By this time a large concourse of natives had assembled, all armed as usual. As it was now time to leave, we concluded to have prayer with the teachers before parting with them. Sualo, who had also come in the boat, told the natives that we were now about to offer prayer to the true Uod, and requested them to kneel down and be quiet. In an instant all were squatted on the ground. Many of them covered their faces with their hands, and their appearance at first was most grave. In a little time, a titter was heard here and there, which at last increased into loud laughter. Next commenced a chatter of tongues, and by the time the prayer was over, the sound of our voices was scarcely audible. • Such conduct as this, however, is not to be wondered at. It would excite surprise if it were otherwise. I trust that the time to favour this poor benighted people has at last arrived. " We now bade adieu to the teachers and walked to our boat. After we had pushed off from the shore, several natives ran to the bush and plucked green branches, which they waved to us as an emblem of peace, until we rounded a point of land, which concealed us from their view. We returned to the vessel, delighted with what we had witnessed, but our pleasure was a little neutralized, when we found that we had overstepped the bounds of the time allowed us. "25th. — Another int»^resting day. God has smiled on an- other attempt to settle teachers on Efate. This morning the vessel hove to at the mouth of the large harbour. The Captain and Messrs. Turner and Nisbet, went on shore and brought oil" the chief. He had heard before of teachers being left at the large bay, and wished some for his land. lona and Simona, * It has since been ascertained that these logs are hollowed to form drums, that they are erected in honour of departed friends, and that it is the prac- tice in their dancing to beat them, thus making a noise heard for miles. |l i' Itij ^% I ( ■ ' '' ' i 1 If i ■ ■ . i!*j 170 lAVK OK JOHN (JKDlJlK, D. D. [hsis :( 'I '"i bolh Sanioaiis, wcro sot apart for this place. Ah l)Oth of tlmni were ignorant of the lani^ua^e, Sualo kindly constnited to njniain with them for two months. The Captain, who is extremely careful of all under liis oliarge, had so much confidence in this people, that he again permitted Mr. Powell and nu; to accom- pany the teachers on shore, as we were anxious to go. 1 shall long remember the visit. We found a large number of natives ready to welcome us. No sooner had vcv. stepped on shore, than they crowded around us. Their Joy at our presence seemed to have no bounds. As many as could get near us, had their arms round our necks and bodies, and those who could not get near enough for this, grasped our hands or arms. For a time we were complete prisoners. It would have been ([uite as agreeable to receive the congratulations of our new friends in some other form, l)ut it would have V)een cruel to repress so generous a display of feeling. After the first burst of feeling was over, we were subjected to a more minute examination. My coat was taken off, vest unbuttoned, and breast of my shirt opened. To please the natives, I had also to take off my shoe and sock and expose my bare foot. My shirt sleeve was like- wise rolled up, and my bare arm exhibited to the public gaze. Many of them felt my skin, to satisfy themselves that 1 wa.*-', like them, composed of flesh and blood. I cheerfully submitted to their scrutiny, for though notorious cannibals, they had thoroughly won my confidence. Everything appeared to as- tonish them, and they gave vent to their surprise in the loudest and most noisy exclamations. As soon as the curiosity of th(^ natives was satisfied in a tiuiasure, we left the beach, and walked a short distance inland to the village. After viewing the village, we bade adieu to the teachers, and returned to the boat and came on board the vessel." In this his first meeting with savages in their original condi- tion, Mr. G. showed that gift, for which he was afterwards so rc;- markable, of gaining the goodwill of these wild but simph;- minded people — a gift which has been characteristic of other successful missionaries. In such cases he trusted them, and in this way inspired their confidence. He committed himself, unarmed, freely to their power, on tlui principle of Bishop Pat- teson, that his defencelessness was his best defence, and unless there had been some other cause to excite them, he would be safe. ill 1848] VOYAiiK AND SKTTI.K.MKNT ON AN'KITKr.M. 171 "The propriety of occupying KfaU' with missionaries at the |)reseut time, was again made the subject of serious and prayer- ful consideration. It was agreed on all hands, that it would be inexpedient and hazardous to land at the large hay, and though things were favourable at tlui liarbour now, the natives were still untried. Our only alternative was to return to Aneiteuni, where the door, as far as we could judge, was open, and the demand for missionary labourers imperative. The Held at Efate, however, appeared so inviting, that it was our united opinion, that it ought to be entered at the earliest possible moment. The large bay had already been visited by the priests, and they informed the teachers of their design to return again. They would have remained at the time, but were afraid to land. " Efate is an island about 1 20 miles in circumference. It is the loveliest island that I have seen in the Pacific Ocean. Most of the islands in the Pacific are of volcanic origin, and appear like the tops of rugged mountains rising out of the sea, with ridges of taV>le land around their base. On Efate, however, there is much level land, and the scenery is agreeably diversified by gentle ridges of mountains in the interior. The whole island is likewise indented with splendid bays, harbours and rivers. Nothing can exceed the luxuriance of the vegetation. It comes up to the idea that a lively imagination is apt to form of a tropical clime. ^^20th. — After leaving Efate we shaped our course for the New (Jaledonia group. When we were within about fourteen hours' sail of this group, the wind veered round to the west, and our captain thought it advisable to alter his course for Aneiteum, and after landing us to return to the- New Caledonia group with the prevailing S.E. trades. We reached Aneiteum to-day, and we feel thankful to God for bringing us to the place which His providence seems to have marked out as the scene of our future labours. O that God would prepare an open door on this dark island for the entrance of His truth ! May He give the sanction of His blessing to the efforts that may be made for the further- ance of His cause ! " We have thus given nearly in full Mr. Geddie's journal of his first voyage among the islands, as it graphically describes the scenes presented in introducing the Gospel among their m ' ' '■ M -''\ ml i^^^B in II iii'i; iii 172 LIFK OK JOHN UKDDIK, D.D. [1818 barbarous inhabitantH. Similar scenes were witnesMod on all the voyageH of th(^ Mission vessel. Aneiteuni being now fixed on as their field of labour, no time was lost in landing the niiKsionaries and their goods, and in making the preparations necessary for entering upon their work. The island being small, it was deemied unnecessary for Mr. Nisbet to remain. He accordingly returned to Samoa in the JoIiH Williams. Two weeks later, Mr. Geddie writes : "Our first object after landing, was to pn^pare accommodations for ourselves, our teachers, and the Samoan servants whom we had brought with us. The teachers whom we found at the station, gave up their house to accommodate the Rev. Mr. Powell, Mr. Archil)ald, myself and our respective families. It is a small, wattled and plastered building, containing threes rooms. We felt thankful for this humble habitation in so inho.spitable a land. Few missionaries, on their first landing, enjoy such a privilege.* Our Samoans erected a temporary house for themselves, which they covered with plaited leaves of the cocoanut tree. A small building was likewise made, to contain our property. All these arrangements were completed by the close of the first week after we landed. *' The John Williams remained with Uj^ a week, during which time our property, etc., was landed. Tliis dear vessel, in which we had spent some happy weeks, took her departure on August the 6th. J shall not soon forget our emotions, when she weighed anchor and spread her canvas to the breeze ; anxiously did our eyes follow her, until she faded from our view in the distant horizon. We now felt, for the first time, something of the stern realities of missionary life, cut off as we were from the endeared society of Christian friend*, and surrounded by a degraded and barbarous people. But though severed now from those with whom we could take sweet counsel, we were not alone. O no ! I believe that we have His presence, at whose command we liad come hither, and whose promise is, ' Lo, I am with you always.'" •*We suspect, from what we have learned from others, that most mis- sionaries now would consider themselves as having very hard times, if they liad no better accommodation than he had even for some time after. (( ! 1848-49] FIRST year's labours. 173 Chapter VFII. FIRST YEAR'S LABOURS. 1848-49. BEFORE going further, we luust give some account of tlie island, which we shall do principally in Mr. Oeddie's words : — " The island of Aneiteum is the most southerly of the New Hebrides, and is situated between 20' 9' and 20° 16' South lati- tude, and between 169° 41' and 169° 47' East longitude. It lies from east to west, in shape like a pear, with a circumference of about forty miles. Like most of the other islands of the group, it is of volcanic origin, and presents the appearance character- istic of such. It ia mountainous, and the scenery in general is rugged and bold. Instead of a gentle undulation of hill and dale, the observer beholds a cluster of mountains, thrown together in the most romantic confusion. In the interior of the island, these rise to the height of 3,000 feet above the level of the sea. In many places the high lands are indented by deep ravines, abounding in natural waterfalls or fertile valleys, which the natives cultivate with advantage. " It is seen from a great distance — some say sixty miles. The first thing that strikes the eye on approaching is its mountains, which gradually rise upward till they pierce the clouds. Next may be seen a ridge of hills of all sizes and various shapes, which seem to cluster around the base of the mountains as if to do hom- age to them. A girdle of table land, varying in width from one to three miles, encircles the whole. This belt, however, is not uniform, for it is broken in many places by the high lands which project into the sea. These occasio al interruptions are a great hindrance to comfortable and safe travelling round the island. " One of its distinguishing advantages among the southern i.i '.ii PI m a. M I:, ■■:-'l J Ml It* 171 I, IKK, OK JOIIS (JKDDfK,,, i>. I>. [1848 10 % ' If ill islands (if (lu'uronp, is its linr liarUour, whicli is silniil.rd on l\\r southern side of (lie isliiiid. It is foi'iniMl priix-ipally l)y a, conil rorf about u uiilc tiud a half distunt, fnun tin* shore. It is H|vi('i<)us, cjiKy of iiijj[i"ess and ejjfress, Hhelt(>n'd ou all sidiiH oxce))t fvtun th«» \v(^st, and has ^ood aiu'hora<^fe for all <'Iasses of vessels. This coral reef runs round a jujreat part of the island. 1 1 answers the purpose of a defence a<,'ainst the ellects of the Itillows. In thos<> plaees wlu're this natural hreakwnter is wantin<.j, the shore is always pn'ci|iit(>us and \)luH" — iillordin^ evidence that no nxrk, howev«'r hai»i and massive can resist the wast inj^ action of the waters. A more ellectual bulwark aii;ainst. tln^ continuous assaults of the oceaJi, cannot ht^ concei\('d, than these rei^fs. It would n>pay the lovers of natus'c, to go far to witness the scencts which the re<*fs sometimes exhibit scones as lovely as they are Uratid. I have freiiuently ga/.ed on tluun with a thrill of ad miration and deliijlit. ('onceive the mighty billows of the fathomless ocean, suddenly arrestinl in tluar course by these l)reakwaters. As sooji as they conu' in contact with th«^ swell, which the reef pn^sents, they rise 5, 10, or 15 feet in height. Kor a moment tlwy exhibit th«^ ay)pearanc«^ of an aqueous wall iM'csttMl with fojui!, tluMi th(\y IkmuI nuijestically over tln^ reof and mingl«> with t\\o placid waters of the lagoon inside. In the.se reefs, producinl by the growth of polypi, we cannot fail to re- cognize an illustration of the wisdom and goodness of a bonig nant Creator. Many an island in the vast ocean would sooner or later be subi::.'rged, w(»re it not for the protection which they atlord. ' How manifold, (> (lod, are thy works; in wisdom Thou hast made them all.' " Anoiteujn is inferior to the Samoan Islands in fertility, but it will compare favourably with the Sandwich Islands, where there is enough raised for the support of the native popula t ion, and a considerabh^ surplus sold to the ships visiting the islan«l.«. " The sides and summits of tlie mountains are in most in- stances covered with a a ich coating of forest trees, and a luxuri- ant undergrowth of creeping plants. The layer of soil here is thin, and projecting stones often meet the eye ; but it has a dark and rich appearance. Another kind of mould is found on the hills which surround the mountains — it is a kind of stiH', red clay, and bears a resetnblance to burnt brick. On .some of the ISIH |1» FrHHT VKMl S I.AMOI IIS. 175 iHlaiidH, il. is of a lirii,'lit, red colour. I Unvc .seen kiiiuII (|uant itifs ltroiit easily h«5 iiuh- hikcii tor \t'rmilioii. It i.s iinicli prized l)y the natives, and Ih used l)y tlieni as a |)iL,'iiient for eolctiiriii;.,' t heir faces. These red- dish hills are usually crovei-ed \vit,h re('d, o»- loii^' <:,'rasH, thou^di in spots they M,re l»are. 'I'his portion of th(! soil, when irrigated, se( nis well adapted for the purposes of ve^<'tation. The most \ii,lnal)le portion of the i.oil to the natives, is \,\\f )-id^e of tahh^ land w'lich lies near the shore. Here thM', " In som(< places swamj)S iirc, formed on th(^ low ground, hy end>ankment.s ()f earth, which sometiiiH-s intervene; between it and the seashore, and thus jireveiit the draina^'(! of wat'.sr wliich f;dls in the rainy season. The most, extensive swamp on th(; islanroath(! the (!onta(ninat(;d atmosphere with com- parative impunity, hut to foreii^'iiers its ellects are most baneful. TJKMliseases ^^enerate^d by these; urdiealthy spots, nvc. the jun;.^l(! fever of India, anil f(!vei' and a/Ljue." The work of the missionaries durinj^ the first months of th.'ir residence on the; island is thus described in a letter from Mr. (J., on the Kith November, ISIS: "At our first landing the natives manifested l)ut little in- terest towards uk, and w»! could n^ad disf)leasur(; in tin; counto- iiancos of many at tlu; time. W«; were surprised at their cold- ness and indillerence, but it ut because wv were forel(• appointed to the place of his choicer His appointment, however, is teinporary, for we have yet to learn whetluir the place is of sufficient importance to warrant the expense neces- sary for a foreign teacher. " Epege is about twelve miles distant from this place by waier, and seven or eight miles by land, but the path is moun- tainous and rugged. The intercourse l)etween the places is fre(|uent, as we have arranged to visit all tin; out-stations once in two or three weeks, and in case of any emergency the land path is at our service. ; '• it . a • ' t' \^0' ; |:-*i' ■ :J .j WW 182 LIFE OF JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. [1848 "The island contains five divisions, and we have the satis- faction of seeing four of them occupied already. A house is ready for the teacher in the fifth, and we hope to see it supplied in a fciw days. .,.'*-^''*%'^^^^^^^^^< ♦ MR C^OPieS STA TION --■^::r:*-****^ TOU.HNC. CB. " The location of the teachers we felt to be a solemn matter. In all our appointments, we have done what we deemed best for the glory of God, and the best interest of the Redeemer's cause in this land of darkness. I feel thankful that we have met with so little interruption in carrying out our arrangements. May God give the sanction of His blessing to all that has been done ! " Previous to the departure of the teachers, we had a solemn season here. On the first Sabbath of September, the ordinance of the Lord's Supper was dispensed ; the number who communi- cated on the occasion was fifteen persons, including our teachers, our servants, and ourselves. I preached in Samoan from 1 Cor. xvi. 22 : " If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maran-atha." Mr. Powell gave an address in the same language, and dispensed the elements. I con- as lo\ thin our are gc have dear stretc theG we lia the that benij our li differ iind Whei him t Some ig 1848] FIRST YEAR S LAROTTRS. 183 eluded with a brief address in English. The whole occasion was one of deep interest. This is the first time that the Redeemer's love has been celeb'- ted in this dark land. Oh ! that the time; may soon arrive, whisn many of its dark and degraded inhabitants shall join with us in this ordinance of love ! *' On the Sabljath day, we have two native .services— one at 9 a.m., and the other at -4 p.m. Mr. Powell conducts one, and I conduct the other. In addition to the native, we have an Engli.sh service at half-past 10 a.m. for the benefit of our own families, and such resident and transient foreigners, as may choose to attend. The attendance, I regret to state, is small — sometimes as low as six and scjldom more than fifteen, for most of them prefer to spend the day in indolence and wickedness, rather than in the service of the Lord. The Tract Society in Sydney has given us a grant of books, to the amount of dElO, in order to form a gratuitous circulating library, for their benefit. I trust that our labour for the benefit of our brethren, our kinsmen according to the fiesli, will not be in vain in the Lord. But as we have come here to evangelizf^ the heathen, they of course claim our first and chief attention. Their attendance on the Sabbath day is very fluctuating; it has been as low as six or seven, and as high as ninety. Many of them think that it is conferring a favour on us to come and receive our in.structions, and sometimes they ask what payment we are going to give them. It is hard to convince them, that we have forsaken friends and hon\e, and that we are supported by dear friends in our lieloved land, for their good. This is a stretch of Christian benevolence, which they mu.st understand the Gospel to estimate. Poor people I they will yet know that \vc have come to seek them, and not theirs ; and I hope to see the day, when not a few will thank God, and bless the Church that has been instrumental in sending the Gospel to their benighted shores. Besides preaching every Sabbath day in our little chapel, Mr. Powell and I are accustomed to go out in different dii'ections, and preach to the people wherever we can find them. This is a deeply interesting part of our work. When we see a native at his work, or amusement, wo request him to follow us, and so go on until a little group is collected. Sometimes we collect five or six, sometimes ten, sometimes m 18 1 LIFK OF JOHN {;Kl)I)IK, D. U. [ISIS twonty, and Hoiiictimcs thirty. Then wi; sit down und«M- tlic sliadn of a tree, or by tlu; .sides of a patli, or hy tlic .seashore, and tell them as hest \v(! can of sin and a Savioui" from it. Home will laugh, others look serious, some will amuses them Helves so as not to hear, and some will turn away in anger. It is very distressing to hear the wicked and irrevrsrent remarks they make about divine things, but generally all will listen to our nus.ssage. But ah I what a darkne.ss hangs over the heathen mind. It is impossibh; for persons brouglit up in a (Christian land, to have any just conception of it. Some of our conversations, however, are not without interest. I recolhsct on oiu; occasion, after addressing a group of nativcss, one of tlusni said, ' If these things are true which you tell us, how is it that we hav(s never heard of Jehovah before?' This is a quesstion that must be answensd by the professed followers of Christ at the last triltunal, " It is a matter of thankfulness, that in all our visitations we have not nust with the slightest interruption or molestation (jf any kind. On no occasion have we seen or heard anything to awaken our fears as to our })ersonal safcsty. In this we ans privileged above our brethren who wens formerly stationesd on Tana. They could not venture mores than two or three miles from home, and then tlieir lives were in dangtsr. It i.« our pi-ayer to Uod, and J trust that many will unite with us, that this state of things may continue. As long as we can venture among the natives with safety, we may cherish the hope of doing good. It woukl l)e interesting to record many of our interviews with the natives, l)ut neither time nor space will permit me to notice them. " Our itinerant labour is somewhat oppressive, and esjiecially at this season, when the sun is vesrtical, and rain almost every day. We have no roads, but only native footpaths, leading through long grass, reeds, or the luxuriant undergrowth of a tropical clime; and when we come to streams of water, we mu.st wade through, ujdess a friendly niitive has compa.ssion on us. Neither Mr. Powell nor I are robust men, yet our health has been mercifully preserved amidst our exposures." He used to say, that the iirst person on the island, who ever asked him to conduct worship, was a little boy, whom he met one day, and who sai4, putting his liand to his forehead and luiie IS4S] FIUHT YKAKS LA HOI' Its. 185 covering his (^yt's, " Coiiio, let uh do this." Mr. (jcddic rouKcnt- ing, ho gathered hoiiks other boys, and Mr. Cleddie held a slif)rt religious service with them. The hoy afterwards heeume a teacher. " For some wfu^ks after landing, the conduct of tiie natives towards us was all that wo could desire, and nion^ than w(! could expect, from such a j)eo])le. Though our j)roj)erty was much exposed, non (nvddr. sacred) for several months, and no person was allowed to touch even those which belonged to himself. The whole crop was to be kept in reserve for an approaching Iteast, but that w«! and our Hamoans did not observe the restriction in the case of our trees. It was thought that the Natmasses would be angry and destroy the cocoanuts. We answered vve were ignorant of the restriction, and that if we had known it, we thought that, being foreigners, we ought not to be included ; wo agreed, however, to respect the tabic for the present, but expressed a hope that they would yet see the folly of such a system, as we knew the superstition whence it arose. '^Second charge. — We had taken coral from the reef to make lime for our buildings ; the Natmasses had smelt the lime as it burned, and so angry were they with the natives for allow- ing us to take it, that they caused the tish to go away, and IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // h// I a-. 7 ■- # ^^ m^ w. :/. f/i 1.0 I.I 1.25 f^m iiM :-. 11112 1.4 '2.2 M 1.6 n Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 872-4503 &•< Cp. C/a '/. I 186 LIFE OP JOHN OEDDIE, D.D. [1848 they could not catch them now as formerly. We told them- that it was Jehovah, who made the sea and fishes, and con- trolled them too, but we consented to take no more coral, if they would allow us to burn a kiln which was already made, and which was necessary to complete our buildings. Our request was granted. Third charge, and gravest of all. — They told us that a roman- tic-looking hill, the crater of an ex i.ct volcano, as we judge, and immediately in the rear of our buildings, was the plaoe where their principal Natmasses resided. Now they informed us that the only paths by which these beings could pass to and from the sea, led through a piece of land on which we were building our little chapel, and which we were preparing to fence in. ^ They would not mind a small impediment in the path, they said, but they could not jump over a fence ; and we were informed, moreover, that the whole spot of ground on which the chapel stood was .sacred. They said they knew well that their Natmasses would not and dare not be angry with us, because Jehovah, of whom we had told them so much, was greater than any of the deities of Aneiteum, but they said their Natmasses would vent their anger on them, and send sickness and death among them. We told them we were ignorant of the things they had told us, and brought the man, from whom we had purchased the land, to state that he had not informed us of its sacredness. We stated, however, that the house which we were erecting on the sacred ground was sacred too, and that we could not make up our minds to remove it, but if they would allow it to stand, we would not obstruct the paths on each side of it, which led from the mountain to the sea. " Our concessions gave complete satisfaction. The man who rules the seas, and with whom we had to do in this matter, after our nmsai (talking) was over, gave us a present of a few heads of taro, as a token of peace. Since the above transaction took place, the conduct of the natives has become materially changed for the better. Stealing is in a great measure over, much of our property has been returned, and mutual confidence is on the increase. The ruler of the seas gave us slightly to understand, that Nohoat the chief, and the sacred men, were at the bottom of the whole aftkir, and thai if it had not been for them, little notice would have been taken of our doings. He 1848] FIRST year's labours. 187 informed us, that Nohoat intended to make a j:jrcat feast, and he was afraid that the Natmasses would not give cocoanuts and fish for it, if we offended them, and I presume that the sacred men are excited against us, because they began to see that their craft is in danger. I feel thankful that we have got over this troublesome affair so quietly. The confidence of many of the natives in their Natmasses, appears to be shaken a little, and I trust that ere long thev will become worshippers of the true God." The above incident will illustrate the kind and conciliatory way in which Mr. Geddie dealt with the natives, which we may say was one of the means, by which he gained so nnich influence over them. There are other occasions, when it is as necessary to exhibit proper firmness in resisting their demands ; when they are unreasonable or unjust, a missionary will soon find himself having enough on his hands, if he yields to them. But where the demand is founded on their ideas of right, even though blended with superstitious notions, it is in every way proper to yield to them. In this way the missionary gets their goodwill, and in all likelihood, in a short time, they will grant what he wants. He mentioned to us an incident of this kind, which occurred about this time. When putting up buildings he found some cocoanut trees in the way, and cut down one or two, and was making a fence which would enclose others. In a little while, the old chief came to him in a towering passion. Mr. Geddie spoke calmly to him, but for some time could not learn the cause of his anger. At length he understood, that though he had bought the land, he had not bought the trees growing upon it, and, that according to native ideas, the pro- prietorship of the two was quite distinct."* When he ascertained the true state of the ca.se, he pled his ignorance of their cus- toms, promi.sed reparation, and the chief was soon pacified ; and afterwards he was able to arrange peaceably with the pro- prietors for the surrender of their rights. Most of the mission- aries have since found the same state of things, and acted in the same manner. But one could not bring himself to yield, where * The idea is prevalent on other ffroups. Bisliop Patteson mentions that after paying for the hvml, he had to buy every bread-fruit and cocoanut tree upon it. It seems to liave been the same in PJaatern countries in ancient times. Thus the sons of Heth sold to Abram, not only a field, but " all the trees thai were in theJiekV^ (Gen. xxiii. 17.) I.i . 'i: i?J. WM' m \x\ 188 LIFE OP JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. [1848 lii hi i ■. i : $ he had l»ought the land from one, to pay two or three others for the trees upon it, and resisted a claim so contrary to British law. The result was a quarrel, in which a chief who had been most friendly to the mission, became entirely alienated. The natives acted on their ideas of right, and he wrote home dole- ful accounts of how they had stolen his cocoanuts, while, accord- ing to native law and custom, they were not his at all. The (juarrel became chronic, and extended, and continued as long as lie remained on the island. "This is an island of much relative importance, and will probably become the key of entrance to the various islands in its neighbourhood. Futuna is only about twenty-five miles distant, and the natives frequently visit in their canoes between tlui islands. Some natives of Futuna reside on Aneiteum. Th(^ island of Tana is only about thirty or thirty-five miles' dista)ice from Aneiteum, and both islands are inhabited by the same riico. The intercourse between Tana and this harbour, is frtMju«!nt. There are three teachers at Port Resolution, with whom we can connnunicate about once in th(> fortnight, by means of Capt. Paddon's vessels. The dark island of Erro- manga is only about sixty-six miles distant. Even with this island, communication is as fnMjuent as with Tana. We some- times see Erromangaiis here, and at present there are two at this place. Thcsre is also a small island, called Aniwa, less than forty miles from us, containing a population of 600 souls. We called at it in the Jo/nt WiUiams. The people were very anxious to have a teacher, but there was none to spare. A sandal wood vess(;l toucluid at the same island some time ago, and thllplllf 1848] FIK8T YKAKS LAB0UK8. 191 in the neighbourhood, which I havo inentioiied. In the event of Aneiteum becominj^ our Held of lal)our, my esteemed col- league will probably be removed to some other part of the Mission field. Should Mr. Powell leave, I may state that it is the deliberate opinion of the deputation v ho settled us here, that not less than two ministerial brethren should be on this island. The responsibilities of a new and arduous Mission, can only be known by those who have io.\t them. If you have not the means or the men in Nova vScotia, do plead with the bre- thren in Scotland, to send at least one labourer by the next trip of the John Willimns. "The productions of the island are taro, bread-fruit, yams and sugar. But through the indolence of the natives, these productions are very scarce. Indeed, our greatest difficulty at this station, has been scarcity of food. We cannot procure food of any description froju the natives, or at any price. They prefer cleaning sandal wood for rice and hard biscuit, to work- ing on their plantations. The yearly supply of foreign food, which Mr. Powell and I brought with us, is nearly exhausted, and we must have soon suffered, had it not been for the timely arrival of a 'essel a few days ago, which has enabled us to renew our supplies. At all the out-stations, the teachers have been liberally provided with food, But though the natives provide for the teachers, their surplus is so small, that they are very unwilling to sell to us. The .same God, however, who has fed us hitlierto, will not suffer us to want even in this inhos- pitable land. " Since our arrival here, God has been very gracious to us. Mrs. Archibald has been the only sufferer from an acclimating disorder, but she is well again. Our labours, mental and bodily, have been great ; but we have been sustained under them all. I trust that we are remembered by you in your prayers, and you are not forgotten by us. Unite with us in thanking God for His great goodness, and in pleading for His blessing in time to come. Let us hope that as a Church, w(5 may be instrumental in doing something for Christ in this dark island of the sea. "The Boman Catholics have a Mission formed on the Isle of Pines. Several foreigners have been residing there for years. It is a cau.se of deep regret to the Samoan missionaries, that \ \ 'X'U .•■'111 lii \4 m ■-\^"'m :! - -!ti'-' 'H i m i :■ K' \ ■ 1 i|i|H 192 LIFE OF JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. [1848 :;i ;! HI • Mr • |H 1" 1 HH 1 1' \m 1.^ the Secession Church did not carry out the contemplated Mis- sion to this or neighbouring islands. There is constant inter- course between this and the Isle of Pines." In a private letter of same date, he says: — " We have just had a visit of a vessel, the barque Angeline, of London, which has been peculiarly refreshing to us. We had week evening services on board of her, while she lay in the harbour, and all her men not on duty attended our service on the Sabbath day. Her captain attended all our devotional meetings while in port. He has presented us with two plain but good mahogany sofas for our little chapel. Capt. Paddon, I have learned, intends to have two made for the same object. I presume they saw that we needed something of the kind. We will now have seats for our families and strangers. The natives sit on the floor, which is made of tine white coral. "A bell would be an invaluable acquisition to our Mission. If such an article is needful at home, it is far more so here. The natives have no time-pieces, and when they attend our school, they come at different hours. A great deal of valuable time might be saved, had we any means of calling them together at the same time. Moreover, the natives do not reckon the days of the week as we do, and so the Sabbath comes and passes away, and many of them know it not. Had we a bell, this ditiiculty might in a nieasxire be obviated. I have thought that the children of our Sabbath schools might undertake this object. "The press is now at work, and I have only six reams of paper, given to me at Samoa. A supply of twenty reams ought to b(i forwarded as soon as convenient, and twenty or thirty pounds of printing ink. Do not be startled at my demands. 1 ask for the best of causes. " You will perceive that my letters are all hastily written. I have never been so pressed as since my arrival here. Be- tween learning the language, teaching school, attending sick, pr(!paring for the Sabbath, visiting adjacent villages, and num- berless other engagements, I can scarcely compose my mind for writing, or find time to do it." We add a few particulars from a letter of Mrs. Geddie written about the same time: — " We have now been here three months, but we have not had 1848] FIRST YEARS LABOURS. 193 much time to feel lonely yet. Our husbands have been busy building, and we have attended to cookery, etc., that our ser- vants m ight assist them. The assistance of the females is as much needed as that of the men, for they prepare all the thatching for the roof, which is a long, tedious job. The thatch is made from the sugar -.'ane leaf, and looks very well when neatly put on. I may here mention that our servants are Samoans, whom we brought with us. Wo have got very little assistance as yet from this people, nor can we expect much from them, until they can appreciate the oVjject of our coming among them. "The scenery of this island is romantic, especially around this place. We are living inside a pretty little harbour ; the water is quite near our door ; the spot our house stands on is elevated, and slopes gently to the shore, which gives us a fair view of the harbour. " We have three hymns printed. The people are very much pleased to hear us sing in their own language. We attempted to teach the women to sew, .shortly after our arrival; but we were so straitened for room, we were obliged to give it up until we could get up a l)uilding. We have now a nice little chapel, and have again commenced school. Our scholars are very irre- gular. It is a week since we commenced, and I believe we have had different scholars every day ; still they appear highly delighted. We sing the alphabet with them, try to explain to them the way in which words are formed by the letters, etc., and commence and end with a hymn. " We are not often long without a vessel in the harbour. Captain Paddon's vessels are in every two or three weeks, and there have been several in, on their way to China. There is now a large English barque in the harbour. The captain has been very kind to us ; he is quite a gentleman, and we do not feel afraid that our confidence will be abused in treating him kindly, for one of the London Society Missionaries whom he brought out to Sydney, gives him a very high character. Why I say we are not afraid our confidence will bo abused is, that several missionaries have been unkindly treated by those sea- men whom they had kindly treated. This captain offered us several necessaries, which we were very much pleased to get, as we were afraid of being short, ere we could get our supplies from Sydney. He sends each family a bottle of nulk every .13 f : ■^ ; i m ',!■;■■ :\ Hi 194 LIFE OP JOHN OEDDIE, D.D. [1848 morning ; this is very acceptable just now, as we had very little, but we shall soon have a supply from our goats." We readily notice the acts of kindness shown by the head of the sandal wood establishment, and the favourable impres- sions formed of him at this time, but the missionaries ere long had a very different tale to tell. Mr. Geddie was so unsus- picious and charitiiblo that his first judgments of men were often too favourable. ** Since I commenced this letter, I have heard of two women being strangled on the death of their husbands. This is a cus- tom among them, but it is the first instance that has taken place since our arrival. They also put any helpless children these hapless women may have to death. Surely when we hear of such cruelties we should not count any sacrifice too great, if we can be instrumental in leading them to the Saviour." Among the abominations of heathenism, in the midst of which the missionaries were called to walk during their early labours, perhaps none were more shocking than the strangulation of widows. The fact of its being done by the nearest relative — by a son if she had one old enough, or if not by a brother, or if she had neither, then by the nearest relative, sometimes even by a daughter ! — rendered it the more revolting. The missionaries of course at once set their faces determinedly against the practice, and some of the chiefs promised to discontinue it in their land, but they were either insincere or unable to keep their promises. Within a vear of the missionaries landing, they knew of eight cases, and doubtless there were more, as the natives, finding how abhorrent the custom was to their feelings, strove to conceal the deed from them, and of some cases they only heard incidentally. The practice had a very strong hold upon their feelings. The honour of all connected, and especially of those upon whom devolved the work of execution, rendered the deed necessary, and even the woman was often bent on her own destruction. The teachers and missionaries made every effort in their power to save the poor creatures, but for some time without success. The former, however, did succeed on one occasion in rescuing a woman, when half strangled, from the hands of her murderer. Mr. Powell gives the following account of one of his efforts for that purpose : — ^mm )VP in her his 1848] FIRST YEARS LAHOURH. 195 ** J had UdtMi !i})j)iie(l to, to visit a native, who was stated to he very ill. I found the poor creature nnluced to a skeleton, lying outside his hut, near a tire. His wife, an interestinjj; youn«j woman, was sitting hy his side. I administered a little medicine, with the design of abating the severity of his sutl'erings, hut not with any hope of his final recovery. In prospect of his «lecease, I ro(|uested lata, the chief of the village, to forbid the stran- gling of his wife, and he faithfully promised to do so. It resulted as 1 feared. One day, about noon, our attention was suddenly arrested by the death roail. W^o knew whence it proceeded, and anxiety filled our minds for the safety of the poor widow. 1 hastened to the spot. The corpse was lying in the open air, surrounded by a number of women, who were rubbing it with finely broken leaves, and at the same time wailing in th(i most piteous manner. Tears were pouring down their cheeks; many of them were pulling their hair in seeming excess of grief ; while so deafening were their lamentations and their shrieks, that I could not stand near them. 1 looked anxiously around for the poor widow, but she was not there ; and I hastened to a house where 1 hoped to find her, but the s(^arcli was vain. Returning to the place of weeping, there she sat. I said, 'This woman must not be strangled.' Several women joined me, and said, ' Oh ! no, do not let her be strangled.' [ commenced leading her away, but immediately several young men (her relatives) seized her, and attemptful to lead her in the opposite direction. Tin; women appeared to be assisting me, and the confusion became so great, that they all fell together against a small hut and knocked it down. Again the poor woman was seized, and now all the men took to their clubs. Some seemed d«^termined to pievent the dn^adful deed, and others still more determined on its accomplishment. A relijtion of the poor woman pushed me aside and held up his (^lub in a threatening attitude ; and by this time, another of her ndations, a powerful yoinig man, had seized her by the necklace, and commcMu-ed strangling her th(irewith. I made an attempt to interrupt the murderer, but he tried to kick me, and pushed me aside with one hand, while he h\v.u •■Ki: \Jm. ill- m. ■■■■■• i' Hi m L 196 nm 11 LIPK OV JOHN OKDDIK, D.I). [1849 aloud to tho chi<'f to conio and f()rl)id it, but in vain ; and prudence dictated tlmt I niu.st stand a.side, and allow the fearful scene to proceed, tlie particulars of which are too shocking to descril)e. The women who pretended to join in forV)idding the fleath of this poor woman, held down her arms and logs, while she was l)eing murdered, and, when the deed was done, commenced their awful lamentation. *' After the wretched murderer had held his victim suf- ficiently long for life to be extinct, the chief came forward and made ai\ harangue forbidding it, at the same time ca.sting a look at me to see whether I obs rved him. The murderer understood too well this piece of palpable hypocrisy to let go his victim. He called for a strangling cord, but one not being at hand, a strip of bark was brou ;' 1 ,'|i 1 ir< ii; 'li'fMij] 198 LIFE OP JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. [1849 bartering the chastity of his wife for a trifling remuneration. I know a case in which this was done for a hatchet and a few hard biscuits. Oh, how few know the mire of iniquity in which the heathen wallows ! In the darkness, degradation, pollution and misery that surrounds me, I will look forward in the vision of faith to the time, when even some of these poor Islanders will unite in the triumphant song of ransomed souls, " Unto Him that loved us and washed us in His blood," etc. " 11th. — Another Lord's day. As usual, visited several villages, and addressed upwards of sixty people in diflerent places. One of my most encouraging days among the people. Their conduct was good, except at one place, where they laughed and talked, and at last got up and scampered away. But, thank God, I met with something to counterbalance this discourage- ment. At one of the places where I visited, the natives said, ' Let us be quick to learn the word of God, that we may be saved.' " Mr. Powell has just told me that this has been one of his worst days. After walking about a considerable distance, he could not collect even a small audience. Although he visited places where our reception had been most cordial, the natives did not wish to hear him. Add to all this, a man whom he invited to follow him, took up a large stone and threw it at him, but it did not strike him. This is the nrst instance of such conduct since our arrival. Oh, how much do we need the protection of Him, who can say to the fury of savage men, ' Hitherto shalt thou comCj and no farther.' Under the guar- dianship of God we shall be safe. The work in which we are engaged is one which exposes us to danger ; but why should we complain? Our divine Lord and His holy apostles, and the blessed martyrs, died in the cause of saving souls. " O that my acquaintance with the language were better! I am humbled when I think how little I know of it. My heart pants to tell this miserable people the wonders of redeeming love. If I was straitened to speak on this subject in my own tongue, how much more in this! " 12th. — The Harriet arrived to-day, with the crew of the cutter Revenge on board. The latter vessel was driven ashore on the coast of Erromanga on the 8th inst. There were two men on board at the time, the others being absent in search 1849] FIRST YEARS LABOURS. 199 of wood ; they wore, however, in sight. As soon as the vessel .struck, the natives began to assemble, armed with bows and arrows, clubs and spears. Those on board immediately took to the water, and after hard struggling, succeeded in reaching the boat, which by this time had come up to the place. The natives plundered the vessel, and no doubt were disappointtd that they did not get the crew for a feast. The boat was then headed for Tana, and she arrived at Port Resolution on the 1 0th instant. The natives at this place robbr;d them of some of their things, and they were apprehensive that they might even seize their boat. On the morning of the 11th instant, a sail hove in sight, which proved to be the Harriet : they were received on board of her and brought here. I trust that this merciful deliverance will bring them to reflection. They are a wicked and hardened set of men. *'i67A. — A severe gale of wind occurred yesterday. These happen with greater or less severity in the months of January, February, or March, every year. The tide rose to so great a height during the storm, as to excite some alarm. We were obliged to draw our boats inland to save them. The sea swept through the house lately built by the foreigners in our neigh- bourhood. They were obliged to remove everything out of it, and they design to remove it farther inland. A small vessel, which lay in the bay, rode out the storm, but we were very uneasy about her. The wind has done great damage to the cocoanut, bread fruit and other trees. Last night the gale raised the thatch on our house, and the rain came in on us in torrents. We had all retired to bed, and before a light could be procured we were completely soaked with the rain. Mrs. Geddie, Lucy and myself were obliged to seek an asylum for the rest of the night in Mr. Powell's house. " To day we have been busy in repairing the damage of the last night. Mats, clothes and other things have been put out to dry. Though our loss has been trifling, still such disasters occasion much trouble. We feel thankful, however, that it has been no worse. It is no unconnnon thing for missionaries in the Pacific Islands to lose their houses, and property also, by these hurricanes. One occurred at Samoa in April last year, while r was residing at Leone. It was so severe that we left the Mission house and took up our abode, with a teacher. I felt i "H lip $' 3 200 LIFE OF JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. [1849 for Mrs. BuUen, Mrs. Geddie and the children, turned out as they were during the night in such a storm. Few persons at home know the inconveniences to which missionaries are sub- jected in this part of the world, especially the ladies. "The disaster last night happened, for want of cocoanut branches being laid on the roof of the house, to keep down the thatch. Our trees being 1 off of the sacred men, who are the servants of the Natmasses, and who now see that if Christianity succeeds, their craft is in danger. We are not to expect that Satan will renounce his domination over this people without a struggle, but I trust that it will neither be severe nor of long duration." The conduct of his audiences, when they did assemble, was, we need scarcely say, not what we are accustomed to see in civilized lands. He gave us an amusing description of th(^ scenes sometimes presented. At first, of course, all were nearly naked, and when they entered squatted on the floor ; but per- haps soon one would be seen to stretch himself on his mat and go to sleep — a practice for which he might find precedents in civilized lands — while another, after sitting for a little while, would deliberately take out his pipe, light it and begin to smoke, to which we have not yet come ; while perhaps the whole s(!rvice might be interrupted, on the sound of a fish splashing in the water, by the men springing up, and with a clap of their hands rushing to the shore. Still, as he said, he bore with these things (quietly. He knew that they had not been accustomed to such services, and from his imperfect acquaintance with the language, he did not wonder if much of the service should be to them not only uninteresting, but un- intelligible. We may add, that though he thus wrote hopefully as to the work, and confidently as to its future, as he ever did, even in the darkest hour of its history, he was the only man there to do so. His companions in labour had lost hope and courage, if not more, and as we shall see in the ne^t chapter, he soon had to say, " No man stood by me." " Of our attempts at school keeping I cannot s[)eak in favour- able terms. The natives are as yet strangers to learning, and they cannot appreciate its benefits. They seem to think that we must have some secular object in view, because of our earnest desire to teach them. They often ask payment when we teach them a lesson, and they are surprised when we decline to give it. Some few have learnt the alphabet .at some of the stations, and this is all that I can say. The attendance of the scholars is very irregular. At this station we will have two or three one day, and perhaps upwards of twenty the next. Then we dare not exercise discipline of any kind, or our schools .11 ^ifm 1849] FIRST YEARS LABOURS. 207 would be abandoned at once. The parents, it is said, do not encourajje their children to attend, lest they should become wiser than themselves. But with a little patience and perse- verance we will succeed. " During the past year the printing press has done some work. We have struck ott' alphabets, sheets of words, and sentences, and some hymns. Two Rarotongan printers are expected in the Jo/in WiJliawH, and I will endeavour to secure the services of one of them to attend to the press. 1 have a catechism in this language far advanced, and hopes also to have an elementary school book ready for the press in ii few weeks ; and besides, Mr. Powell has some fragments of Scripture translated, so we can furnish ample work for a native printer. "The Roman Catholic Mission on the island appears to be doing little or nothing. It numbers at present seven or eight priests and laymen. They are part of the company settled on New Caledonia about two years ago, but who were driven off by the natives. They have done nothing here in the way of attempting to proselyte the natives ; and unless their outward conduct is materially changed, they are not likely to do much. Ft is their practice to make the Lord's day a day of sporting, and the heathen around them, with all their ignorance, know that a man cannot be a Christian and a Sabl)ath-breaker too. But whether they contemplate any aggressive movements or not, in reference to this island, our plans for its evangelization must not be altered. If another enemv has entered the Held, it ought to stimulate rather than paralyze the energies of the Church. There is an omnipotence in the truth of God which makes it more than sufficient to grapple with Paganism and Popery combined. Nor is Popery the formidable obsta(;le to the truth in heathen lands that it is in other countries, inasmuch as in the former case its subjects are unfettered by the preju- dices of early education. Notwithstanding the enormous sums expended of late years for the establishment of Popery in tlm Pacific Islands, very little has been accomplished." But before these words were written, the revolutions com- mencing with that in Paris, in March, 18 IS, had taken place, Louis Philippe and his queen, the life of this sc^h^me of French and Papal propagandism, were fugitives from their country ! M i! ij? ■mM 'If: i'i 208 LIFR OF JOHN ORDDIR, D.I). [1H49 and dependent upon the hospitality of Protestant England, and the right arm of the movement was broken. " I must here repeat my request for another minister of the Gospel. It is very uncertain whether or not Mr. Powell will remain on this island after the arrival of the John WUlinms. I trust and pray that your means will warrant the accession of another labourer to our number. As regards myself, I am willing to submit to any sacriKce rather than remain longer without such aid as the wants of the Mission seem to demand." i WW 1849] SECOND YEAR S LABOURS. 20U ClIAPTEK IX. SECOND YEAR'S LABOURS 1849-50. MR. GEDDIE had calculated the trials of niiosionai'y life among a degraded and savage people, as far as could be t one by one who did not know them by experience ; but his second year's labour was to be introduced by one such as indeed has been experienced by missionaries in all ages since the days of the apostles, but for which he could not have been prepared — the defection of a fellow-labourer. The ailair we would (tuly be too glad to pass over, could we do so in justice to the subject. But it was one which gave a heavy blow to the Mis- sion, was for two years at least Mr. Geddie's heaviest trial, and one of the greatest hindrances to his work, and affected tlie whole progress of the Mission for a longer period, and to an extent unknown ; so that our history would be incomplete without it. The case, too, presents some points very instruc- tive regarding the management of Missions, so that we feel it our duty to give the main facts of the case. For some time the story had been circulated that Mr. Archi- l>ald had fallen into sin with a native woman. It was first known among the natives, and then among the sandal-wood men. When it is considered that sins of this nature are com- mitted without shame among the lieathen, and that the state <»f society among them in this respect was what the mission- aries had particularly to contend with, it will be readily under- stood how such an event would affect the work among them. And then as the sin of licentiousness on the part of the white luen, was the principal cause of the collision between them and the Mission, we can readily understand how there was shouting in the camp of the Philistines. When Mr. G. first heurd of it we are not informed, but it was not until it had been some time 14 V'Sl ' ' r viSi: in Nl 210 LIFE OF JOHN QEDDIR, D.D. [1849 A. conffiHsed the n the following' ex known among the others. At length Mr. whole under the circumstances described tract of Mr. (J.'s journal : — ** August Ifth. — Mr. Archibald has had a severe attack of fever, from wliich he begins to recovei*. Mr. Powell went to attend him, and did not leave him until all danger was over. Poor A.'s affliction was mental as well as bodily. Home matters preyed on his mind, which aggravated his bodily illness. He expressed a great wish to see me, and 1 repaired at once to Epege. After my visit he was more relieved in his mind. May he be enabled to look in faith to Jesus, who alone can give the pardoning grace and comfort which he needs !" This was a terrible blow to th') Mission. Had Mr. A. sim- ply left the Mission and the island, the wound, however, would soon have healed, and the injury would have been transient. Mr. A. might thus in another sphere have commenced life afresh and regained his character, which, we are glad to say, we believe he has since done. But, unfortunately, Mr. Geddie was led to a step which only led to evil all round. Sympathizing deeply with Mr. A. in his condition, feeling for his friends at home, whose hearts would, he knew, be wrung by the tidings, and seemingly thinking that the cause of Missions at home would be injured, were it known that on(? of the agents of the Church had fallen in this manner, he agreed to say nothing about what had happened, and that Mr. A. should simply resign his con- nection with the Mission. We must appreciate, and even admire, the spirit which led him to this course. Yet it was a grand mistake — we think the greatest mistake of his missionary life — which cost him and the Mission dear for a good while after. It was therefore arranged that Mr. A. should write to the Board at home, resigning his connection with the Mission, and assigning reasons. It was also agreed that on his recovery he should spend a few months assisting in the work of printing, before finally leaving. Mr. A. accordingly sent a letter to the Board resigning his connection with the Mission, and giving his reasons as follows : — " In the severe affliction with which the Almighty, in His gracious and all-wise piovidence, has been pleased to visit me, I have been led to reflect much on the state of my own soul, and the solemnity of the work in which I have engaged ; and 1849] SKCOVf) YKAR S LAROITRR. 211 I have my fears that I have, without duly considering the spirituality and solemnity of the missionary work, entered into it, and am, as one unsent. Though I hav(! some comfort in looking to Christ as my Saviour, I cannot, considering my unworthiness and unfitness, comfortaMy continue; in the mis- sionary work, which I now see requires the experience and piety of the matured (Jhristian. My duty, therefore, appears plainly to be, to no longer absorb the funds of the Society, but to retire from the work and make room fo»' another labourer." Mr. Geddie also wrote as follows: — " I have to inform you, that Mr. Archibald designs giving up his connection with the Mission. He is of opinion, that he has embarked in the cause without duly considering its solemnity, spirituality and responsibility, and with his prese .:, impressions, he feels that he cannot remain comfortably in ti^ work. Rut he has written his views at large in a communication which goes by the John Williams. He has consented, however, to remain for a few months to assist in the printing of some elementary books, which are nearly ready for the press. He designs, I believe, to retire to New South Wales, or Van Diemen's Land, where he hopes to get a situation as a teacher." " He will consider him- self at liberty to leave after the expiration of his present year, which ends the 1st of November, but he will probably remain for some months beyond that time to aid in printing some books, which are in process of preparation for the press." If this was all true, it was not all the truth. In giving the above as the reason of Mr. A. resigning, there was a suppres- sion of truth, which was really deceiving the Church. How- ever kindly meant, or however pure the motives, this was wrong, and, as every wrong must do ultimately, issued in the most injurious consequences. This will appear in the sequel. In the meantime, pursuing our narrative, the next incident of interest was the arrival of the Bishop of New Zealand. Of this his first visit, Dr. Geddie says : — " The Protestant Bishop of New Zealand paid us a visit dur- ing the last month. He came in a small yacht, about twenty tons burden. He called here on his way to the New Cale- 1 ^ 1 1 1 1 ( t 'i 1 : i- m 218 LIFE OP JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. [1849 dai'd of the Cross in the midst of the vilest, most savage and hopeless portions of our race ! It is my hope and prayer that we may be enabled to follow up the work which we have, as a Church, been honoured to begin." The situation in which Mr. Geddie was left at tliis time, was one which we may consider unprecedented in the history of modern Missions. When the first attempt was made by Messrs. Nisbet and Turner to establish a Mission in the New Hebrides, the older missionaries on the Samoas strongly advised against making the attempt with so small a force as two missionaries ; and these brethren, after making the attempt, commended the wisdom of their views.- Though the island of Aneiteum was small, yet, in the circumstances, two mis- sionaries and a Euronean teacher were not considered too much for its efficient occupancy. But now Mr. Geddie was to be left alone, or, worse still, with a brother who had brought deep dishonour on the cause, among perhaps the most, barbarous race on the face of the earth, and that, too, when the work had reached that point when the progress of Christianity had kindled the wrath of the heathen, and when he was exposed to even more malignant hatred from men of his own colour. "Here I am," he wrote to us in 1851, "in the midst of dark and barbarous islands, 1,500 miles from the nearest missionary brother. If we are in difficulty, there are none with whom to take sweet counsel ; and if we are in sickness, there are none to sympathize with and aid us. Our situation is such as no mis- sionary should be placed in. The Board have undertaken a great responsibility to leave me so long alone on so arduous a held, and at so critical a period of the Mission." Perhaps the history of modern Missions does not presc^nt a case of a man, with such a weight of responsibility resting upon him, in such trying circumstances. But why did the agents of the London Missionary Society leave him thus alone 1 They had first occupied the New Hebrides as their field, and when the Presbyterian missionaries entered upon it, it was on an invita- tion to act deputatir s. < > group w. . k men from .. Hebrides ramaiiis, i'iction with them. At this very time, the !i3 is some hope that the New Caledonia >3i; our hands, and occupied by Evangelical i Missionary Society. But the New (> the occupation of lohich we are fully jhe ian, ich on irst the ita- the Ilia Lcal ew 1849] •SKCOND YKARS LABOURS. 219 pledi/ed and fully coviinilUd." Then, when their aj^ent was witlidrawing, why did they make no effort to replace him, and why leave Mr. Geddie in a situation in which none knew lietter than they, no missionary should l)e left 1 We cannot answer. Perhaps they had not men to spare. Probably they expected the Presbyterian Church to send early help. Mr. (jreddie expected that she would. But three dreary years were to elapse, in which he was to toil on without human aid or sympathy, except that of his heroic wife and the native teachers ; and then enlargement was to come from another quarter. " In our solitude, however," he says, " we have not been left alone. Ciod has been true to His promise, and we have enjoyed some measure of His presence with us in our work. Had it not been for His grace, which has sustained us, we must have fainted and become weary long ago." In connection with the departure of the John Williams, another trial awaited him — separation from his child. Writing to the Board, he says : — " I have come to the conclusion to send home my eldest child in the JoJui, Williams. In doing so, I am following the advice and example of other missionaries. The experiment of training up children amid the abominations of heathenism in the Pacific, has already been tried, and the result, in many cases, has been painfully disastrous. Of all trials which mis- sionaries in these islands are called on to encounter, that of separation from their dear offspring is the most painful. This is one of the stern duties to which we are called by Him who says, ' He that loveth son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.' It is my wish to send my daughter for the present to Walthamstow Mission School, an institution designed for the children of missionaries, and partly supported by the contributions of the religious public. The other children must follow their sister in time." We subjoin a few extracts from his journal, in the months following the departur< of the John Williams: — " Octoher 20th. — We begin to suffer much persecution from our countrymen. They begin to see that if we succeed, their own wicked influence over the natives will be lost. Some of our eneniies have urged the chiefs to drive us off the island and burn our houses. I know parties who have threatened worse than this, if we do not leave. 'ri I i,:. ! 1 ' 1 M ' W ''iP B^ ' ^ fi>> >\ I if , : , P^t h\ m S'>' i'l W 1 m » htf l| ' "■ ! Pi,^ 1 \W ! i 1, ^,' \ I'l ^m' • 1 i< sm H i IHwi jIhUII ■H m f nV 220 LIFE OP JOHN OEDDIE, D.D. [1849 " No doubt various causes have contributed to give rise to this unseemly opposition, liut perhaps the most prominent one has been our efforts to arrest licentiousness, which, if unchecked, threatens the ruin of this poor people. The conduct of the traders here is too abominable to be described. The poor women are chased by them and seized for the vilest purposes. Females are bought from their husbands and parents, and the brutes sometimes purchase women from the chiefs, who sell them without the knowledge or consent of their husbands. The house of one of my neighbours was entered by some white men, and one of his wives forcibly carried off, and her husband threatened with instant death if he dared to resist. My house has often been the asylum for the poor women from their wicked pursuers. I have never seen such manifestations of depravity as among the foreigners hero, ^^ November 15th. — We have much to discourage, and also to encourage us in our work. The attendance of the natives on the Sabbath day is more than three-fold of what it was a few months ago. About sixty persons attend the morning service, and half that number in the evening. They evidently wish to know something about our message, and I trust that ere long many will give up their superstitions and embrace the Gospel of Christ. It \vas delightful to hear a man named Nakake say, as he left the church one day, ' I must come back again and hear more about Jesus.' " JOth. — I have just made an ineffectual attempt to save a poor woman from being strangled. I heard in the morning that her husband was dying, and immediately repaired to the spot. About forty or tifty were assembled round the dying man. I saw from the scowling looks of many present that I was not a welcome visitor. I inquired for the wife of the dying man, but could get no satisfaction. Some said he had none ; others said that she was at a distant village ; and some few, in whom I thought I could confide, told me that she was present. But there was so much wailing among the women that I could not tell who the victim was. I told the natives what I had come for, and laid before them, as well as I could, the wickedness of strangling. A portion of them showed many symptoms of displeasure at my presence, and others, more courteous, endeavoured to persuade me to leave, saying the 1849] SFX'OND YKAK.S LABOURS, 221 man would not die on that day, but I felt assured that all were bent on the bloody deed. As the man was evidently dying, I was determined to remain on the spot till I should see the issue. In the course of the day the man died. As soon as life was extinct, tRe body was laid out on a mat. and a spear and club placed by its side ; also the small noose, which is used in throwing the spear, was placed on the forefinger of the right hand. The whole was then bound up together, and a large stone was tied to the feet. While these operations were going on, the corpse was surrounded by women wailing in the most hideous manner, and I thought the widow must be one of the number. I waited till I saw the body carried out to the shore, and laid on a canoe to be conveyed to its watery grave. I now began to cherish a hope that the widow's life would be spared, as the strangling is always done as soon as the husband dies, and usually on the spot ; but what was my grief when I was afterwards told that the poor woman had, on account of my presence, been conveyed to another village more than a mile distant, and strangled there ! 1 saw her body from my own window, conveyed to the spot where her husband's body had been deposited, and thrown into the sea. " December 28th. — Have just heard of a sad occurrence on the north side of the island. The wife of Rupe, a cruel man and petty chief, committed suicide by hanging herself. She had been cruelly treated by her husband, and several times ran away, but she was always brought back to him, and treated worse than before. In a fit of despair she put an end to her existence. The tragedy did not end here. The man who was so cruel to his wife in life, sought to honour her in death. A young man and a little child were put to death as a nnhutu on the occasion." Writing on the 25tli December, he thus reviews the work from the departure of the John WiHiams to that date : — "As soon as possible after the departure of the John Wil- liams, I proceeded to the settlement of the native teachers, left in my charge. I accompanied them to their several stations, and made such arrangements with the chiefs about them, as seemed desirable. They all appear pleased with their spheres of labour, and I trust that, by the Divine blessing, they may be enabled to further the Redeemer's cause in this dark isle of •M '■i\ ilr li': 'i:^V 222 LIFE OP JOHN OEDDIE, D.D. [1849 the sea. I regret to add that, since tlieir settlewieiit, two of them have been laid aside from duty by an attack of inter- mittent fever. I have removed one of them to this station, and the oth(;r lives in the family of a brother teacher, for the present. The severity of their sickness is over, I think, and I cherish a hope that ere long they will l)e abl<^ to return to the scenes of their labours. " Early in October, Mr. Archibald left Epege and came to this station, where he has continued ever since. Soon after his removal liere, lie had a severe attack of dysentery, and this was followed V)y ulcerated sore throat. Since his recovery, he has taken charge of our little school, and assists also in the printing department. " In former letters I have informed you of the backwardness of the natives to attend our Sabbath services. A very sudden and marked change for the better has taken place. For the last three months our average attendance on the morning ser- vice has been from forty-tive to fifty, and about half that num- ber in the evening. I still keep up the practice of itinerating on the Sabbath day, and addressing the natives wherever I can find them. In this department of labour I am assisted by Pita, the Samoan teacher. We usually go out in opposite directions, and in the course of our journey ings we come in contact with many natives, who, from forgetfulnes;^, indolence or prejudice, do not attend public worship. I trust that the natives will ere long attend on the house of God in such numbers as to warrant a cessation from this part of duty, which, in addition to other Sabbath day labour, I find to be very oppressive in this debilitating climate. " At this station we have a school for males. Our regular attenders do not exceed half a dozen. Of this number, two are promising boys, whom I have taken into my own fam- ily, with a view to educate them, in the hope that at some future day they may become teachers of others. Our efforts at school keeping have not hitherto been attended with much success. Parents, even if they were disposed to send their children to us for instruction, have no authority over them, for as soon as a child is able to run about, it considers itself free from all parental restraint. And besides, the volatile disposi- tion and fugitive habits of the natives are most unfavourable i" 1849] SECOND YEAR 8 LABOURS. 223 to their improvonient. Add to all tliiw, it appears to the natives to b(^ a very profitless thing, to learn to read and write. The general impression seems to he that we and not they are the gainers ; and hence when we invite tlnnn to atterul our school, they will ask ns what we intend to give them. I feel assured, however, that we will succeed if we do hut persevere. Our regular scholars are evidently becoming interested, and begin to evince an anxiety for improvement. If we can but succeed with a few at first, then the force of example, the desire of knowledge and a spirit of emulation will induce them to learn. Learning, however, is slow work among a barbarous and hea- then people. We dare not ventur(! beyond an hour daily with our natives, lest we should exhaust their patience; and to exercise any restraint over them, would be to defeat our object. We endeavour to lead them on by gentleness and kindness. "Since our arrival on the island, Mrs. Geddie has attempted tke formation of a female school. It has been V)roken up sev- eral times, on account of non-attendance, and renewed again. The attendance for some months has been pretty regular. She has about half a dozen, who come daily for instruction, and they are taught to read and sew. There are no other schools in operation on the island at present. "An elementary book has lately been issued from our Mission press. The book numbers twelve pages, and about 2,000 copies have been struck off. I have expended much time and care on this little book, and it has been subjected to so many revisions of my native pundits, that I hope no material errors will be found in it. In this little book I have inserted some thoughts on the following subjects : — God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, Angels, Adam and Eve and the Fall, Sin, Salvation by Je.sus Christ alone, Death and Eternity. The printing of this little book has given a fresh impulse to our scholars, and all are anxiously pressing on, that they may soon be able to read it. "A Catechism and also detached portions of Scripture are in course of preparation for the press. But this is work which we cannot hurry. The difficulties of translation, es])ecially in a language which has never before been reduced to writing, are known to those only who have experienced them. New words must be continually sought out, terms must be found to express ideas altogether new, and native idioms must be ac- 1 ii ' ; ::| ,;')) i iiii!) B !:■ I 'I ft H )^ 224 LIFE OF JOHN QKDDIE, D.D. [1849 quired. The study, however, is one of intense interest and delight ; and thonn are privihiged indeed, whom God permits to prepare the key, which shall unlock the hidden treasures of divine truth, whicli makes the soul rich to all eternity. "All around us is still darkness and death, yet I think that some faint rays of light are beginning to appear. 1 have heard much ahout the incapacity, stupidity and brutishness of these natives, and my first impressions of them were not of the most favourable kind, but I feel assured now that they have minds to comprehend, and hearts to feel, as well as others, I some- times cherish a hope, indeed, that the Spirit of God has begun to breathe on the dry bon(!s, and that the symptoms of anima tion will at no distant period appear in this region of death. O, it will be a happy day when the first soul is l)orn to God in this dark isle ! It is not too much to look forward with delight- ful anticipations to that day ; nay, we are wanting in faith, if we do not expect it ; wanting in piety, if we do not pray for it ; and wanting in duty, if we do not use all exertions to hasten it on. " Among the natives who evince an interest in our instruc- tions, there are a few of whom I hope well. At present they sustain the character of inquirers. "There is an interesting native, called Uumru, residing with me at present. He came from Samoa in the John Williams. He is a chief of secondary rank, and belongs to tlie opposite side of the island. It was in his land that teachers were first located on this island. More than three years ago, a misunder- standing arose between him and a neighbouring chief, in con- sequence of his attachment to the teachers, and his renuuoiatiou of his former superstitions. He sought and obtained a pas ^age to Samoa in the missionary vessel, as his life was somowbat in danger, and as he wished to learn from the missionnrie.v there, more of Christianity. The deputation who brought him, thought it advisable that he should live with me for the present, lest by mingling too soon with his countrymen, he might lose what he has acquired, and fall back into his former state of heathenism. "As he can talk the Samoan, he was retained at this station to assist me in the study of the language. He has a dark mind, but he is very anxious to learn the truth. He has totally re- nounced his former superstitions, and acknowledges himself to J! 1849] SECOND YKAK 8 LABOURS. 225 be a worshipper of the only true tiod. He usually accompanies me in my visitations among the natives, and sometimes addresses them. This man, though upwards of forty years of age, has commenced learning, and though ho progret,;.* s slowly, yet, from his anxiety to acquire knowledgj;, 1 hope h«^ will soon be able to read. He has a wife who also lives hero, and who is Mrs. Geddie's chief assistant in househohl duties. " There is a young man named Namuri, of whom I have considerable hopes. He is a young man of a naturally mild disposition. H30 LIFE OP JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. [1850 thorn would lay hands on the woman. When I arrived at the place, I found the woman in the house, the door of which was guarded hy Waihit. She was calling on those around to come and strangle her, and begged, if they would not do it, to be allowed to go to the bush and strangle herself. Waihit was using every argument to ({nwi her. The body of the dead man was conveyed to the sea and consigned to its watery grave. I then made arrang(;m(mts with those natives, who had been so forward in saving the poor woman, to remain during the night and guard her, f(^eling assured, that if she were spared to behold the light of another day, there would be no danger. It would then be too late for \wr spirit to accompany that of her hus- band to the other world. Fehrimri/ Jsf. — A painful occurrence took place to-day. A seaman in the employ of the sandal wood establishment here, came to my premises this morning, and commenced breaking down the fence, i went outside to see what was the matter. As soon as he saw me, he came running and struck me a heavy blow. He was evidently under the influence of liquor, I retired to my house, and succeeded in bolting the door against him. He then smashed in a whole window, and threatened to come in by it, but we succeeded in keeping him out. He said that he was a Spaniard, and a son of the Cross, and used most profane and horribhi language. Pita, the Samoun teacher, heard the noise and came to my house, to assist in protecting us. He is a stout man, over six feet in height, and the most powerful man on the island. He was tilled with indignation, and could scarcely restrain his anger at the ruffian's conduct. He went out of the house conti'ary to my wishes, and I followed him, well knowing that in his present frame of mind he would submit to no insult. The fellow no sooner saw him, than he rushed forward and struck him also. This was too much for Pita. He seized a l)illet of wood which fell to hand, and raised it with his powerful arms, to give what to all appearance would have been a death blow. I just had time to step in before him and seize his hands, and the miserable man was saved. He had sense enough left to know, that it waS a dangerous thing to trifle with a high-spirited and enraged Samoan, so he went away quietly after a time. It does seem strange, that this man should have come to assault me, and equally strange, that 1850] SECOND YEAR S LABOURS. 231 his employers and associates should have used no means to prevent him when they knew it. He may have come of his own accord, or he may have been sent ; the one supposition is as probable as the other. " MarrJi 1st. — Much sickness among the natives and white We have applications for medicine almost daily. A men. few of the natives place much confidence in our motliods of treating disease. The great majority are still fettered by their superstitions. All sickness is supposed by them to be caused by evil spirits, which possess the sick person. The patient is removed from the house in which he lives, to the open air, and his only shelter is a few cocoanut leaves, spread over a rude frame work. The reason for leaving the house is, lest the evil spirits, or spirits who possess the sick, should remain in it. No medicine is used internally, but a priest is sent for, who by uttering some sacred words, and going through some wild cere- monies, expels the evil spirits, or tries to do so. A disgusting practice also exists of chewing a certain sacred leaf, and spitting it on the part affected by pain, or over the whole body. Cold water is also poured over the naked body, and the trembling which often follows this operation, is supposed to be caused by the efforts of the spirits to make their escape. The natives have no knowledge of medicinal herbs, nor the least idea of their use. We are blamed by many for causing the present sickness, and are shunned by natives who appeared friendly some time ago." The rainy season this year (ISoO) was not so unhealthy as the preceding, but still there was a large amount of sickness. Mr, and Mrs. Archibald were laid up with fever and ague early in January. The attack of Mr. A. was a very serious one, and for a time his recovery was considered doubtful, while that of Mrs. A. was comparatively light. All the native teachers and their wives suffered more or less severely from the same disease. And last of all Mr. Geddie him.self was laid down with island fever. That hard little knot of a frame of his, which some thought disqualified him for missionary work, had for nc^arly two years bade defiance to all the pestilential infiuences of the cli- mate, so that, while all cla.sses had more or less felt their power, he alone remained unaffected and was able to minister to them and bear the burden of missionary toil. But now it began to yield to the subtle pow er, and about the last of March lie was '"V\ 11 1, Hi'*: 232 LIFE OF JOHN OEDDIE, D.D. [1850 t\m ! t f ■> ' i'l laid down with island fever. On the 8th April, he writes : "We have passed, or very nearly so, through another rainy season. There has been a great deal of sickness among the foreigners, but not so severe us last season, and there have been no fatal cases. Mrs. Geddie is just recovering from an attack of illness — I do not know what to call it. Many have had it. It commences with severe pains in the head and sickness at the stomach, and is followed by great weakness and loss of appetite. Mrs. G. has not been at all in danger, but very weak indeed. She had so far enjoyed excellent health here. J am well my- self, except that at times I feel weak and untit for any exertion ; but this all persons feel that have been any time in a warm climate. The dear children are quite well." While recovering, he was (cheered l)V a visit from Bishop Selwyn, who came out of symp.itl' tor hiiu, knowing his solitary condition, and that it was the unhealthy season. "H(^ kindly offered," Mr. Geddie v. ites. "to jive me a trip to Tana, in his little schooner, for the i)> iietiio of my health, and also to bring back some natives of Aneiteum, who had been taken to that island, by a sandal wood vessel, about six months ago, and left there. As both these objects were important to me, I availed myself of his kind offer. After a delightful run of fifteen hours from this island, we anchored in Port Resolu- tion. Great numbers of natives soon came off to us. As none of the teachers made their appearance, 1 began to fear that all was not right. After spending some time in suspense, an old chief named Kuanuan, whom I had seen before and knew to be friendly, came alongside, and made signs to me to go into his canoe, intimating that he would conduct me to the house of the teachers, which was about a mile inland. I found the Mission in great distress. Out of the four teachers left by the John Williams, in September, 1849, two had died shortly before our visit. A third was very low with the island fever, and in a very doubtful state. The fourth had been ill with fever and ague, but was now convalescent. The only two women in the Mission, one of them a widow, and the other the wife of the sick teacher, were also suffering from fever and ague. The three invalids entreated me to remove them to Aneiteum, where they might receive such attention and medicines as we could give them. 1 felt deeply for them, and readily acceded to tbeir 1850] SECOXD YEARS LABOURS. 233 request. The Bishop cordially approved of what I had done, and expressed his thankfulness that we had been providen- tially directed to visit the island at so distressing a juncture. Obadiah, the only remaining teacher, expressed his. willingness to be left until I could send him help fi*oin Aneiteuin. "While I was engaged with the teachers, the natives of this island, eager to return to their homes, had collected on board the schooner, so that I had no trouble on their account. Our homeward passage was rather unpleasant. We had a heavy head wind, and high sea. The poor natives were much terrified. They became particularly alarmed when they saw the vessel, in tacking, taking a course in the opposite direction from Anei- teuni. But I reminded them that I had left my own wife and children there. Most of them being heathens, they cried to their Natraasses for help, and threw taro, V>ananas, etc., into the sea in order to propitiate them. Their conduct gave great offence to the Christian party, and was regarded by them as an unpardonable desecration of the ndgow nalaingeJieni (religion ship). Our arrival home caused much excitement among the natives, as I had brought home so many of their friends. No- hoat came to thank me for the favour I had done, and told me that the chiefs said that I was to remain on their island and leave it no more.' What rendered it specially important to get these men back was, that in consequence of their long absence, it was proposed, according to native custom, to strangle their wives, as in the case of death. Nohoat come to the Bishop to ask him to bring them home, but he told them they must go to Mr. Geddie, who interceded for them, and the Bishop yielded to his intercession. On their return the people were so pleased with the favour that they had obtained through Mr. Geddie's intervention, that they met and conferred upon him the rank and privileges of a chief of the first class, an honour which he bore meekly, but which was of importance to iim in his work among them. '* The Bishop kindly otiered to call again at Tana, and land any teachers whom I should appoint to that island. I im- mediately selected Pita, a 8amoan, and Peleasala, a Rarotongan, two of our most efficient men, and soon had them in readiness for their new destination." But they were to be carried in grander style. H. M. S. Fly having called at the island at lii'' ■ 1 ti : i m w\ ii \M ^'1 234 LIFE OF JOHN QEDDIB, D.D. [1850 the same time, the commander kindly offered to convey them to Tana. The offer was accepted. Seldom has a British man- of-war been employed in such a service a^ carrying these humble messengers of the Prince of peace. " The removal of these men has weakened our Mission on this island ; but I felt it important to make some sacririce to retain Tana, as that is an island of considerable importance." Before Mr. Geddie had sufficiently regained his strength, Ik- felt it necessary to visit the more distant out-stations, in order to re-settle teachers, who had been removed from them on account of sickness. The exposure and fatigue caused by these journeys, while his health was in a debilitated condition, brought on fever and ague. We must here say, that Mr. Geddie never spared himself, and, in the prosecution of his work, even dis- regarded those prudent precautions against disease, which such a climate required. Not that he did not feel the importance and the duty of attending to health. But his work was so pressing upon him, that he felt he could not disregard it, even when it was consuming his vital powers. Considering the manner in which he laboured, the wonder is that he did not succumb long before he did. The fever and ague clung to him for some weeks, but the attacks gradually passed off, and later in the season he writes to the Board: "As all my attacks, however, have been mild, and not very frequent, my general health has been but slightly impaired by them. They have entirely ceased for some time, and I feel as well now as at any former period since my arrival on this island. Though I have spent more than two years on Aneiteum, I have been disabled from public duty only two Sabbaths during this time. Let me ask you to unite with us in gratitude to God for the measure of goodness, which He has shown to your infant Mission. Though for wise but myste- rious purposes, His afflicting hand has been laid on us, yet no breaches have been made in our number. May we, with whom Ho has so tenderly dealt, be enabled more than ever to devote our souls, our bodies, our all to the service of our blessed Redeemer in this dark land." About this time, the French Roman Catholic Mission on the island was broken up. "I am ignorant," writes Mr. Geddie, " of the reason which led to its dissolution. Perhaps the po- 'jMir 1 850] SECOND YEARS LABOURS. 235 iiiii litical changes of Europe have affected their missionary funds, and obliged them to circumscribe their operations in these distant regions. Their extensive establishment, consisting of an iron house, etc., was sold to Captain Paddon for £70. Those connected with the Mission uniformly manifested a friendly disposition towards us. Their residence here interfered in no way with our labours among the natives. Before they left, they invited Mrs. Geddie to come and get anything out of th«ir garden she wished, and she accepted the offer. A station is still occupied by them on the Isle of Pines, where there is a bishop and several priests at present. They have made several attempts to gain a footing on New Caledonia, but these have been successively given up. The French priests are not likely to succeed well in this part of the world. On most of the islands where they have attempted to establish themselves, they are regarded with a jealous eye. The affair of Tahiti has awakened the fears of other islanders, and Romish Missions are now apt to be regarded as the precursors of French aggression." Referring to their work, Mrs. Geddie writes on the 2nd May : " I am happy to say we have encouragement in our work. I have again been obliged to relinquish my school, or I should rather say, I had to do so some time ago, as there were prepa- rations making for a feast, and the women and girls were kept busy fattening pigs for the occasion. But they are again begin- ning to attend, and I trust that I shall soon have such an in- fluence over several of them, that they will not easily be induced to absent themselves. I have two very promising girls under instruction. One of them is a chief, the only female chief on the island. The other is her cousin, a very smart, clever girl. I feel very much attached to them. I have a Sabbath class which is generally well attended. Many of the natives do not cook any food on the Sabbath, and they call Saturday, Ma sheat-o-netta — the day for preparing food." On the 20th May, Mr. Geddie writes : " We have still much encouragement in our work ai. this station. We have gathered a little society around us, who have totally abandoned heathen- ism. Several of the natives observe family worship regularly. I have three natives whom I occasionally send out to converse with, address, and pray with the natives wherever they can find them. The natives who live in our family, are often sent 23G LIFE OF JOHN GEDDIK, D.D. [1850 for to go and conduct family worship in the houses of those who cannot do it themselves. Things are in a very interesting state on tliis island, and we have much encouragement to go on. They are also favourable at the out-stations. But you must not suppose that we get on smoothly. The heathen party are yet the overwhelming majority in the island, and of course they are opposed to us. But the (lospel will triumph in the end. How 1 long for another missionary ! I will look for one by the return of the John Williams. I hope the interest of our Church in the cause of Missions is on the increase. 1 regret that I know so little about the movements of the Church in this and other matters since I left Nova Scotia. I am sur- prised at the silence of our many friends in America. With the exception of Mr. Waddell's letters, neither Mrs. G. nor I have received any from persons out of our own families. " Our cold season has just set in, and we have fine weather. We suffer severely from the cold in the evening. In the day- time the heat is very oppressive, but after sunset we have a chilly, damp atmosphere. Wo have l^ecome so accustomed to the heat, that when the thermometer falls ])elow 80° we feel very uncomfortable. I do not know how I should stand the cold of America if I were to return." Early in July war broke out, and fighting continued almost every day for two months. " When we came to this island, we found out that it was divided into two parties, who were hostile to each other. We have all along used our endeavours to effect a reconciliation, but without effect ; yet it has been mainly owing to these efforts that peace has so long been maintained, The war was commenced by the people of Annauntchai making a sudden and night attack on the neighbouring district of Aneito. The people of the district in which I reside are the allies of Annaun- tchai in war times, and their aid was confidently expected on the present occasion. As soon as I heard of the war, I went to Nohoat and entreated him not to interfere, and I am glad to say, that all who profess to belong to us declared that they would not fight, as this was opposed to the word of God. The aggressive party, finding themselves in the minority, have sued for peace. The war has been suspended, for the present at least. Only three men have been killed, and I think as many '%. 1850] SECOND YEAR S LABOURS. 237 women strangled, but a great many have been badly wounded. One of the killed was cooked and eaten ; the bodies of the others were recovered by their own party. " War in these savage islands is by no means so alarming as persons at home might be apt to suppose. In general, the loss of life is but small. The parties at war usually fight on the boundaries of the hostile districts. The weapons of war- fare are spears and clubs, especially the foriiuT. The spear is thrown with great precision and force, and would prove very destructive, were it not for the expertness of the natives in dodging it. When a man is disabled by the .spear, then a rush is made on him, and he is despatched with clubs. Close combat is uncommon. When a man falls, the side to which he belongs consider themselves beaten, and usually retreat at once. " It is remarkable to notice the inditt'erence with which the natives regard war. A man goes to tight with as much uncon- cern as he goes to his daily labour. This unsensitiveness must in a great measure be the result of habit. From time imme- morial, war has been the rule in these barVmrous islands, and peace tiie exception. " There is a peculiarity about the wars of this island, which shows that the natives, amidst all their degradation and bar- barism, have some generous traits of character about them. In hghting times they never interfere with the women and children. This is almost more than we could have looked for among savages." His second year's labours close with the following entry in his journal : — ^'■Aayust tJth. — A little more than two years have elapsed since the commencement of our labours anion i.' this dark and degraded people. We have enjoyed many mercies and encoun- tered numy trials. From a review of tlu; past, we have much cause to thank (jrod and take courage. Our average attendance on the Sabbath day during the first year has been about ten per- sons, chiefly women and children. During the past year it has been forty-five persons. Should we progress in the same ratio, there is reason to hope for a brighter day at no distant period. During the past year, many have given up their heathenish customs, and are earnestly inquiring the way to be saved. The most important man who has yet joined us is Waihit. " f V' Bi fT i\ I M m ;■; ! -tr'^ I Mm r - 238 LIFE UF JOHN UUDDIE, D.D. [1850 Chapter X. THIRD YEAR'S LABOURS. 1850. THE first incident of their third year's la1)0ur was the arrival of H. M. S. Ilavanah, Capt, Erskine, " The visit," says Mr. G., " was an agreeable relief to our solitude. Wi; were glad to have it in our power to converse with persons of our own colour, and tongue. The class of individuals, whom we usually meet on these islands, are men to whom missionaries are very obnoxious. As this is the only island in the group, where a white man can go into the interior with safety, Capt. Erskine expressed a desire to explore it. I accompanied him and sev- eral of the gentlemen from the ship, on a journey across the island. The journey is very fatiguing, and the path dangerous in some places, l)ut the rugged and romantic scenery, together with the luxuriant and endless variety of foliage, in a great measure relieve it. In this party there was a botanist, who had come for the express purpose of examining the productions of these islands. He was in raptures during the whole of our excursion, and pronounced Aneiteum to be the richest botanical field that he had ever seen. Our native guides were almost loaded with an endless variety of specimens." We may men- tion, that Capt. Erskine, in his work, speaks in the highest terms of the Presbyterian missionaries in the South Seas, and of their work. In the same vessel, came on a visit the Rev. John Inglis, afterward Mr. G.'s able and hearty co-worker in the Lord's cause on Aneiteum. He, with another minister, had been sent by the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland, to New Zea- land, as missionaries to the heathen, but on their arrival there, they had found the tield occupied by the Church and Wesleyan Societies. When Mr. G. was at Samoa, he found some of the m m isr.o] TIIIKD YKAHS LAnolJHH. S80 Saiuoaii miHsionaiii's in contvspoiulciKr with tlicMii, and by (Iumt advice he wrote to thoni, inviting their co-op(Tation in niisHion- ary work in Western Polynesia. The substanclevils, and who was found 'sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his riyht mind.' But while it is pleasing to notice a change in the conduct and habits of the natives, all this were nothing without a more deeply seated change— a change of heart. For this wo long, and labour and pray. I dare not speak with much confidence yet of conversions, but I believe that some few are 'not far from the kingdon of God.' "The little party who have abandoned their superstitions are objects of deep interest, and awaken our most anxious solicitude. How very peculiar and perilous is their situation ! They have not yet any portion of God's word in their own language, and on verbal instructions, communicated very imperfectly to them, they are entirely dependent for their knowledge of saving truth. May Israel's Shepherd feed them and keep them ! " \\ hen at home he gave an amusing account of the appear- ance which his congregation presented at this stage of their progi'ess. As with our first parents, conscience, awakened to wm-^ more 1850] THIRD YEAR S LABOURS. 241 a sense of guilt, manifested itself in a sense of shame. The desire of clothing then became intense, and they availed them- selves of anything within their reach that would in any way suit the purpose. Any old garment, or even a sack, cast away by the sandal wood men, was ea-^erly employed. But he said no minister in the Church at home was prouder of his congregation than he was of his, when he saw them thus brought to feel tluur spiritual needs, and listening with hunger- ing eagerness for something to afford relief. " I will now give you a brief outlinie of my missionary labours. The 8ab})ath is of course our most important day. At 8.30 a. 111. we meet for divine service. The natives are called together by beating on a piece of log hollowed out in the form of a trough. Our meeting is conducted much the same as in churches at home. My sermon occupies half an hour or a little more. During the time of service the conduct of the natives is in general decorous, and any impropriety now meets with such marks of disapprobation from the audience at large, as seldom to require any rebuke on my part. At 10 a.m. our Sabbath school meets. Mrs. G. attends to the females, while I take the men and boys. The general attendance is in all about fifty. Exercises, examination on morning sermon, repeating a portion of native catechism, and practical address. After an early dinner 1 usually go out and itinerate among the natives. In these visits I am accompanied by some of our own party. We visit those who neglect to visit us ; but wher- ever I can find a few nativ.'s I endeavour to sow the good seed among them. A 4 p.m. we assemble for divine service. I give a short sermon or address, and sometimes call on one of our most experienced natives, whom I have previously in- structed to prepare himself, to give a short address also. There are three natives, whom I can now call on with some degree of confidence to address their countrymen. Their addresses are usually simple, pathetic and eflective. It would warm your hearts to hear these poor islanders, who have but just emerged from heathenism themselves, pleading with their ' b'''^ *^ihren, their kinsmen according to the flesh,' to abandon their super- stitions and turn to the Lord. "Then we close the Lord's day with a meeting of a more private nature. Most of the natives in our immediate vicinity 16 -,H: ;n.: ■ t f1 ; ■ II ' 242 LIFE OF JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. [1850 m assemble in my house at sunset, and unite with us in our family devotions. These meetings are very delightful, and profitable, too, I hope. " I hold a weekly religious meeting on Friday also. It is designed especially for those who have abandoned their super- stitions and heathen customs, and who desire to know the truth. The Friday meeting is common in most of the Missions on the South Sea Islands. This meeting I regard as prepara- tory to the organization of a Christian Church at a future day. I have said but little as yet to the natives on this subject, for it has all along been my great object to lead them to Jesus, as 'the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world;' but it is time now to direct their thoughts to the observance of the Redeemer's commands and ordinances. Though I have brought the subject under consideration, I will not act hastily in the matter. I must know more about native character, and I begin to feel already that it will be a very difficult thing to form a just estimate of native piety ; for in the poor natives we see much to admire, and also very much to condemn. I believe, however, that some are sincerely desirous to comply with all the commands of Jesus, and are willing to make any sacrifices for this purpose. "A few weeks ago, Waihit, one of our most consistent men, came to my hou.se and requested a private interview with me. He had a tine head of long hair, done up in the native fashion, that is, separated into small locks, each of which is wound round with the rind of a plant. The dressing of the hair is a tedious operation ; and besides being an enormous waste of time, it is an unscriptural and heathenish practice. He ad- dressed me as follows : ' Misi, you have told us that all who join the family of Jesus must give up their dark customs. Now, I know that it is a dark custom to wear my hair as it is ; will you cut it off?' I asked liim if he had considered the matter ; for I Know of nothing in which an Aneiteum man prides himself so much as his hair, and to part with this is something like breaking caste in India. Upon assuring me that he had maturely considered the matter, I took a pair of scissors and soon relieved his head of its unwieldy burden. " The employments of the remainder of the week are diversi- fied and laborious enough, consisting of preparation for the If if as men, me. [hion, ound is a e of le ad- wlio Itoms. it is ; the man is is [g me ,ir of Iversi- kr the 1850] THIRD year's labours. 243 Sabbath, visiting my district, compounding and distributing medicines, attending to the sick, visiting teachers and out- stations, etc. "Our efforts at schools have not been encouraging. The natives do not appreciate the value of being able to read, and therefore they are unwilling to expend the time and patience needful to this acquisition. A few, however, are now able to read, and others are coming on. But we must not be discour- aged. Many who never visit our schools know their letters and small words. They appear to teach each other in their own houses. I am of opinion that the business of teaching will come suddenly on us at no distant day, and when it does it will be a heavy work. The religious instructing of the natives must beget in them a desire to be able to read of ' the wonderful works of God ' in their own tongue. " I endeavoured last year to commence a free school. I thought that if I could board a few lads, I would be able to keep them and instruct them, in the hope that at some future day they might become useful to their countrymen. 1 gathered some four or five promising lads, whom I kept about mo until my own family was reduced to the verge of want. I told them then that they must look out for themselves, as I could not help them any longer. They still sleep in our house, but they spend so much of their time in fishing and collecting food, that very little is done in the way of teaching. But I have not lost sight of the object. I design, as soon as I can, to put up a building for their use, in which the native teacher will also live. Then I will get them to commence a plantation of their own, and raise at least a portion of their own food. The articles which friends in Nova Scotia forward to us will help to clothe them. Such a school is desirable in every Mission, for we ought to have at least a few eiifirefij under our own control, and these few might in time exert a happy influence over their benighted countrymen. " I sent Pita, my native assistant at this station, to Tana in April last. Since that time I have been without aid in the spiritual department of the missionary work ; I have lately been obliged to remove a teacher from one of the out-stations to this place, and Providence seemed to clear the way for this. Kuku, a Rarotongan teacher, was settled at Umetch last Sep- ■iiijiii'i* t I 1 v : .! ': .: Jm \ 'T\\ \ If ^3« 1 111 '' ii ih mn r-i m 244 LIFE OF JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. [1850 tember. After he had been there some time he was laid up with fever and ague. I removed him to this station and kept him here about two months. He went back to XJmetch, but soon rehipsed and was very ill ; so I removed him a second time and kept him two months more. He went back again, and has returned an invalid the third time. His station is, I tliink, one of the healthiest on the island, })eing on the weather side ; but ho has built his house on the lee of low, swampy land, and this may account for his illness. I design to keep him at this station to aid in the work here. He is acquainted with printing, and may bo a help in this respect. " In my last communication I mentioned that we had printed an elementary school book. Since then another book has been printed — a catechism of Christian truth. It is divided into small, convenient chapters, under the following titles : — God ; The Holy Scriptures ; Adam and Eve ; The Entrance of Sin into the World ; The Anger of God on account of Sin ; Jesus Christ the Surety of Sinners ; The Incarnation of the Saviour ; The Death, Resurrection, and Ascension of our Lord ; Christ's Second Coming to Judge the World ; Prayer to God for Divine Blessing ; Baptism and the Lord's Supper ; The Ten Com- mandments, etc. The above are the only productions which have been issued from the press during the past year. " Of the elementary School Book there has been printed 2,000 copies, or 24,000 pages ; of the Catechism of Truth there has been printed 1,000 copies, or 16,000 pages; total number of pages, 40,000, I have still a small supply of paper on hand, which I am reserving for select portions of Scripture which I am now translating. I hope to be able to print about 1,000 copies in a pamphlet form of 24 pages. The printing has been done entirely by Mr. Archibald and myself. " You must not infer from the account which I have given you of our labours and partial success, that we have been per- mitted to go quietly on. Our infant Mission has encountered a degree of hostility which might have vantjuished any other than a divine cause. The history of this Mission, however, is not singular in this respect ; where is the Mission in which the tirst labourers have not sowed in tears? But opposition is only what we exipectec md are still prepared to expect. After all, when I con.';ider the arduous field on which we labour, 't^'iv given n per ntered other ver, is which isition xpect. abour, 1850] THIRD YEAR S LABOURS. 245 and the several adverse influences at work, we ought to be thankful to God that we do not meet with more to discourage us. You will not be surprised to learn that many of the hea- then party have taken the alarm. They distinctly understand now that we aim at nothing less than the establishment of Christianity on the ruins of heathenism. A degree of feeling, therefore, has insensibly arisen between those who avowedly abandoned heathenism, and those who are still its votaries. "I fear that the Christian party are not always prudent in their intercourse with the heathens. They have just given up heathenism themselves, and now that they see their former folly, it is no wonder if they sometimes speak of the old system in a way that is displeasing to its friends. It would be well if their opposition were confined to words, but indiscreet acts are sometimes committed. I know a man who broke down an altar, on which it is customary to present oft'erings to Natmasses, and cooked his food with it. Our boys are blamed also for destroying the food that is given in offering to Natmasses, and I fear they are not guiltless. Such a sacrilegious act would have been regarded as the certain forerunner of death not long ago. But a more serious affair occurred of late. We were making some alterations on the Mission premises, and sent out a few natives for wood. They found some very convenient for our purpose in a grove that had been held sacred from time immemorial. Fearless of the Natmasses who inhabited it, they set heartily to work and cut all that they wanted. When the heathen party found it out they were filled with horror and rage. They imagined that sickness and death would be the result to themselves. They threatened the lives of two who were more deeply guilty than the others, and the destruction of the plantation of a third. I did not ask the natives why they cut their wood on the sacred ground, because I feared that they could not give a satisfactory answer. As soon as I heard of the affair I went to the chief, a dark-hearted man (whose son was one of the guilty ones), and the heathen party. 1 said what I could to allay their excitement, and they seemed satisfied when I promised to forbid similar conduct in time to come. The affair has now blown over, and I expect that we shall not hear any more of it. "It is hard to control the feelings and acts of natives who .;,,,, lip!;; 11 M 'i'i> 246 LIFE OP JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. [1850 • i| are guided in a great measure by momentary impulse, and seldom scan consequences. I have cautioned our party in time to come to guard against every act, which would unneces- sarily outrage the feelings of their benighted countrymen. The plan which I have always recommended to them is, to visit their heathen friends, converse with them, and pray with and for them, and win them by love. " But while I regret such indiscretions as I have noticed, which in an abstract sense cannot be morally wrong, yet I must say that in some instances our friends have much to bear. They have been reviled, and to some extent persecuted, and all manner of evil falsely said against them. Many interesting incidents are told to us by the natives of their intercourse with their heathen friends. I would just record one which came under my own observation some time ago. I went into my yard one day and saw a native woman stand there with a large club. I soon recognised her as the mother of a young man and woman, who had for some time previous been living with our native domestic. They had come for instruction. The old woman was much excited, and had apparently been scolding her son, who was also there. I asked her what was the matter. She made no answer, but her son told me that she had come after him and his sister to go and do some nedo aupat, dark customs, in the view of an approaching feast. I remonstrated with the woman on the wickedness of her conduct, and told her that they v/ere welcome to remain on the Mission premises, and that no person should compel them to leave for such a purpose. While I spoke to her she shed tears, whether of aftection or rage I don't know, but she left threatening to kill the daughter when she could find her inland. I have been forcibly reminded, by the above and other like incidents, of our Lord's words. Matt. x. 34, 35. Were we to record all the exciting occurrences, which take place in this, as in every new Mission, we would have more of your sympathy, and perhaps more of your prayers. They would, I doubt not, make a deeper impression on you than they do on ourselves. But if exciting events do occasionally disturb the monotony of our course, even in these -ve usually discover as much to encourage as there is to discourage, so that the mind is kept in a kind of balanced state, and we are still enabled to go on heartily 1850] THIRD YEAR S LABOURS. 247 in our work. Let us thank God for the past, and take cour- age for the future. Heathenism has received its death wound on this island, and now we have only to combat with its ex- piring struggles. The contest may be severe, but with a vigorous agency and the Divine blessing, it will not be of long continuance. But another missionary is indispensable for the work, as my labours are in a measure confined to one side of the island; and may I hope that even one is on his way, to come ' to the help of the Lord against the mighty 1 ' "In looking at the history of this Mission, we cannot be too thankful to God for the position which we occupy at present. He appears to have worked for us rather than hi/ us. Nohoat, the chief of this district, who is perhaps the most influential man on the island, ever since he knew our object, has been hostile to it until lately. He is himself a sacred man, and a disease maker, and to these things he is as much indebted for his influence as to his official position. He has long since seen that if Christianity succeeds, his craft is in danger and must sink. To myself as an individual Nohoat has always been friendly. He is a sickly man, and has in some instances experienced the benefit of our medicines, and mode of treating diseases, and this has at last awakened in his breast a kindly feeling towards us. He rarely comes to my house without requesting me never to leave this island ; and is sometimes as earnest about the matter as if his existence were dependent on my residence here. A few months ago, Nohoat so far overcame his superstition and scruples, as to attend our services for a few Sabbaths, and had one of our natives to conduct family wor- ship in his house every evening. I had strong hopes of him, but he has since fallen off. Wishing to know the reason why he had left us, I called at his house to ask him. He appeared much ashamed when he saw me, but he told me that the heathen party had threatened, that if he did not give up the Nalainga- heni, they would invoke their Natmasses, and bring sickness, famine, and death on the land. On this account, he said that he was afraid to attend our worship. I endeavoured to reason him out of his fears, but he is a very superstitious man. The natives who were along with me laughed at the fears of the chief, and asked why the Natmasses did not inflict these calamities on them. The chiefs only son and probable successor. M l-i 11 248 LIFE OP JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. [1850 11 i ^ I ¥ a promising lad of about fourteen years of age, has given up the old system, and spends the most of his time about the Mission premises. "An event of some novelty and interest took place lately, which I may record here. In every village on the island, there is a public place of meeting called the Intiptang. The male heads of families and young men usually resort to this place every afternoon, for the purpose of discussing public and vil- lage affairs, planning fishing and other expeditions, and talking over all matters of interest. One morning I was surprised on going out to find a number of natives at work clearing ground and erecting a building within a few rods of my house, and separated from our premises only by the public roads. I asked them what they were doing] One of them answered, 'This, Misi, is the Intiptang of the Nalaigaheni people. The heathen do not wish us to associate with them, and we wish to meet by ourselves, and talk about the word of God, and those who know most will teach those who know little.' I told them that they must not cast off their heathen countrymen, and meitsh (mono- polize) the word of God to themselves. ' Oh, no,' said they, 'we will visit them, and entreat them to abandon their dark customs ; and when we see them pass by we will call them to come to our Intiptang, and converse with us.' There is one singularity about this place of public meeting — it is visited by persons from several villages, and thus it will have a tendency to break down a system of exclusion on this island which has been a hindrance to our work ; for the people of one village seldom have familiar intercourse with the people of another. "The horrid practice of strangling is carried on still to a fearful extent. At one time we thought that widows only were strangled on the decease of their husbands, but in this we were mistaken. Mothers are often strangled when a son dies. I have known a young man and woman to be strangled on the occasion of the death of a chief's wife. An instance occurred since our arr'val, in a neighbouring village, of two women being strangled when a child of some rank died. Truly *the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.' It is a great trial to our feelings to live in a land where such revolting practices are observed. During the past year I interfered in three cases where life was at stake. In the 1850] THIRD YEAR 8 LABOURS. 249 first instance I was unsuccessful, but in the two latter the women were saved. [The first two cases have been already given.] The last occurred very lately. One Saturday evening, a man named Naurita came in great haste after me, and re " 250 LIPK OP JOHN OEDDIE, D.D. [1850 some caReH of articles for this Mission, from Nova Scotia, He will forward them by the first opportunity. The friends of the Mission will please to accept of our thanks for this and former contributions to the cause. Anything in the shape of clothing will always be acceptable, as the desire for covering is becoming very strong. Many absent themselves from our instructions, because they think that it is unlawful to come naked to the house of God. A single garment sometimes goes the round of several families, each member wearing it in turn j so that it is very common to see a man with a gown on, and the other sex with a shirt. The natives, who crowd about our premises on the Sabbath morning, borrow or pick up all that they can find to cover their nakedness ; but after the wor- ship is over, every article is safely deposited in its place. I have often seen the sails of my boat in the house of worship CO veering some of the poor natives. What a treasure your boxes will be when they come ! It is proper that you should know how articles contributed for the Mission are appropriated. At first, we gave them away gratis, but we soon found that this plan would not answer. The natives were very careless about things that they received on so easy terms. Our practice now is to demand some remuneration in the shape of labour. All the native assistance which the teachers have received in building their houses, has been paid for in this way, and by the same means our Mission premises are kept fenced and in order. The teachers are also furnished with what they need. I have also to make a present about once every six months to the chiefs in whose districts the teachers reside. I need not specify articles that would be acceptable, as almost anything can be turned to account here. " The first year that we spent on this island, we could not get the natives to take medicine, but the run for it during the past year has been very great. The natives are unacquaint- ed with medicinal herbs, and use no internal remedies in cases of sickness ; they depend entirely on ceremonies, performed by their sacred men, for recovery. The ruler of the seas, one of the highest sacred men on this part of the island, and an obstinate enemy to the cause, was laid up with sickness about two months ago. He was advised to send for me, and did so. I gave him some medicine and he soon recovered. 1850] TIIIUI) year's LAHOtrUS. 251 Since then he has been a regular attonder on our religious services, and professes himself to be one of our number. Now, if we find that we can, by the cautious distribution of medicine, help to break down the old system among this people, then I think we ought to lay this auxiliary under co itribution to the cause of Jesus. The most of our common and useful medicines are nearly expended. If your funds will admit of it, it would be no misappropriation of them to order a small supply from Britain, to be forwarded to us. Our Divine Saviour, while engaged in His work on earth, did good to the bodies as well as the souls of men, and their bodily as well as spiritual maladies awakened His commiseration, and often called forth displays of His omnipotence. " I entreat you to consider the very peculiar circumstances of your infant Mission, and send help without delay. If you consider the trials, the responsibilities, and the anxieties of a Mission like your own, and also the disadvantages under which we labour, arising from a tropical and unhealthy clime, I am sure you will see the impropriety of leaving me for any length of time alone. We will count the very days until the Joh7i Williams' return from Britain, and sad indeed will be our disappointment if we find no missionary from you in her. Now that you have embarked in the cause of Missions, it is your duty to follow it up with the vigour and faith, which so impor- tant a work merits and absolutely demands. " Though these islands present a sphere of labour somewhat uninviting and arduous, yet I think we have much encourage- ment, and a reasonable prospect of success at no distant period. You are aware that the chain of islands stretching onwards from this to the Indian Archipelego are chiefly inhabited by the Papuan, or Oriental negro race. I am not aware that efforts have ever been made for the evangelization of this people. It would be an interesting event if the first soul of a new branch of the human family were saved through the instrumentality of our own beloved Church. And for such an object we may, and should, even with a hallowed ambition, aspire. " At the close of the year, Mr. G. thus describes the state of the work, under date 13th December: — " I have not anything new to report as regards the progress ■ liiU t(i,! I't I'^i 252 LIFE OF JOHN OBDDIE, D.D. [1850 Vi. iV" li.i ■ ■ I i! ■ of thn iniHsionary work. Tliore have not been any accesHions to our numbers sinc(^ the date of my last letter. The heathen and (Jhristian parties have now taken sides, and the former will not come to hear the (jlospel, and I Hnd them less acc(;ssible to Christian instruction when 1 visit them than they formerly were. T3ut though stationary at present, as regards numbers, 1 do trust that those who have ranged themselves on the side of Christianity, are making some progress in Divine knowledge, and obtaining clearer, more comfortable, and more saving views of th«^ Gospel of salvation. Our average attendances on the Sabbath day is al»out eighty. "An event of a rather exciting nature occurred about six weeks ago. Among the heathen party ther*> were some cases of sickness, supposed to be caused by the Natmasses, on account of indignities done to them by the Christian party. A number of the heathen party resolved to take revenge, by mak ing an attack on our people. A messenger was accordingly sent to them on a Sabbath evening, to inform them that they would be attackf^d next morning. On the receipt of this alarming intelligfince, the leaders of the Christian party met for consultation, and sent one of their number to ask my advice. I told the men that I must see the chief and heathen party before I could give any advice at all. I went immediately to Nohoat, accompanied by my native assistant, a Rarotongan teaclier. I asked the chief if the report that I had heard was correct. He told me that it was, and said that he was deter- mined to have the lives of two natives next day, whom he named. He said, moreover, that I need not give myself any concern about the affair, as the Mission premises should hv considered sacred, and no person connected with the Mission would be interfered with. I told him that the Christian natives and I were one, and to make war against them 1 should regard as war against the Mission. I endeavoured to reason with him, and used all arguments and appeals to divert him from his purpose, but he seemed inexorable. Pointing to his heart he said, ' I know that if I am killed I will be burnt in the great Jire (hell); but I don't care, I will have revenge.' Though the chief is a dark-hearted, superstitious, and very wicked man, I had always found him manageable, except on this occasion. My feelings were more than I can well describe ; ■' 1 1850] TIIIKD YEAR 8 LAHOUKS. 253 and 1 was about to loavo him in despair when another arrsation with the chief and his party. They were pleased, but seemed dubious of tlieir sincerity. I urged them, when they met their enemies, to exercise Christian forbearance, to display nothing l)ut gentleness and kindness, and when reviled not to revile again. After our Sabl)ath evening devotions were over, they left my house and again assembled for prayer by tlunnselves. Thus ended the Sabbath day. " Early on the Monday morning, the Christian party began to assemble at their Intiptang, close by the Mission premises. I repeated to them my request that every word and act calcu- lated to irritate should be avoided by them ; and directed them to choose one of their number to speak as occasion should require, which was done. About 8 a.m., Nohoat and his party made their appearance. The chi(;f then commenced an harangue at the highest pitch of his voice, and in a very angry tone. He told the Christian party, in a very ostentatious manner, that ho had designed to punish tb'MU, but that I had come to him ami interceded for them, anu to that intercession they were indebted for their safety. He next v.-ent over a long list of grievaiices, such as their eating sacred food, destroying altars, polluting sacred ground, etc., and told them that, as the consequence of this, several persons were sick already, and he would very likely be sick too. He went on in this strain for nearly two hours, except when interrupted by the representa- tive of the other party, to repel false charges, answer accusa- tions, give explanations, etc. The (4iristian party exercised the utmost moderation and forbearance, whilst their enemies 1: 1850] TI'.IRD year's labours. 255 they long said all that thoy hful to say against them. After the chief's speech was finished, the meeting broke up, and the better- disposed of the heathen party joined some of our people in a fishing excursion, while the others left, apparently mortified that the affair had ended so quietly. " X trust that good will result from the above transaction. If it has made some more decided against us, it has also decided others in our favour. It has shown, moreover, that th(i Gospel has taken a deeper root in this dark land than I was prepared to expect, and encourages us to go forward, in the hope that our labour is not altogether in vain in the Lord. " The work goes "^n (juietly at the out-stations. There seems to be a general desire for (Christian instruction throughout the island. I have frequent applications for teacheis, but alas ! there are none to send. Tlu; harvest in this dark land is truly great, but the labourers are few. O, for a right-hearted and devoted Christian brother, to unite in the responsibilities, the labours, the trials, and I will also add, the joys of this arduous Mission. My heart would almost sink within me if I thought that such a person was not now on his way to th(; help of the Lord in this dreary land. With another missionary to carry on the work on the opposite side of the island, heathenism would soon give way, and the religion of Christ would spetidily become the religion of the land. " I long for the day when we shall have an effective native agency on the field. At present I have a few young men of promise who come to me daily for instruction, and who, I fondly hope^ will ere long become teachers to their benighted countrymen. The natives of this island are by no means inferior, in an intellectual point of view ; and with minds enlightened by Divine knowledge, and hearts renewed by Divine grace, many of them will yet become useful auxiliaries in the work of evangelization — not in this island only, but in the dark regions beyond. I often admire the simplicity and vigour of our native addn^sses, though there is sometimes a homeliness of illustration about them, which would not be tasteful to those who are choice in their metaphors. On one occasion I heard the following illustration, in an address from one of our natives : * When foreigners first came to our laud,' said he, ' if they wished to purchase our food, they held out ■mUt & ).i n i i ' I 1 . i 256 LIFE OT JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. [1850 beads in one hand and tobacco in the other. We turned from the tobacco in disgust, and eagerly grasped the beads. By-and- by one tried the tobacco and liked it, another tried it and liked it ; everyone who tried it liked it. When beads are now offered to you, you tuin from them in disdain, and ask for tobacco. And tliere is now a great craving for tobacco round the wliolo island. Now, it will be just so with the Nalaigaheni. When Misi tirst came to our lands to teach us the Word of (fod, we said that the Nalaigaheni was a bad thing, and wc; laughed at those who listened to him, By-and by one tried the Nalaigaheni and liked it ; many tried it and liked it ; and the time is not far distant when the people throughout the island will crave the Nalaigaheni as they now do the tobacco.' " You will rejoice to hear' that the British colonies in the Pacitic, are awakening to a sense of their duty in relation to the dark islands of Western Polynesia. A meeting took place at Sydney last month, for the purpose of organising an Australian Boanl of Missions. There were present at this meeting the Bishops of New Zealand, Van Diemans Land, Sydney, Melbourne, Newcastle, and Adelaide ; a large num- ber of clergymen, and an immense concourse of people. The Bi.shop of New Zealand has been the mainspring of this missionary movement. The Board will commence its opera- tions on the New Caledonian group ; and as soon as agents can be procured, they will be located on such parts of that field as are considered open to missionary enterprise. At the meeting it was resolved to raise £1,000 to purchase a vessel of seventy tons burden, for the purpose of visiting the islands; and i-400 of this sum was raised on the spot. The whole movement is a noble one ; and I trust the anticipations of its sanguine promoters may be more than exceeded. May we not hope that the dawn of a better day is near at hand, when the colonies of Britain are coming forth to the work of evangeliza- tion] In a deeply interesting speech which the Bishop of New Zealand made at the above meeting, he alludes to your infant Mission in the following terms : ' The only missionary effort of any consequence whi(;h have been made in this direction, was by a clergyman of the Presbyterian Church, who had been sent from that Church in Novt^ Scotia, a distance of about 20,000 miles, and who at present occupied a station on one of 1850] THIRD YEAR S LABOURS. 257 the New Hebrides. If people so distant had awakened to the importance of this work, surely New South Wales, which lay within 1,200 miles of these islands, could not be less interested iu the eternal welfare of their inhabitants.' "You will see that your example has been quoted by the Bishop, as a motive to missionary exertions on the part of the colonists of New South Wales. What an achievement has been gained, if your feeble exertions in Nova Scotia have contributed in any way, to awaken an interest in the cause of Jesus in the remotest extremities of the British Empire ! And I think that this has been the case. Nearly three years ago I met the Bishop of New Zealand at the Samoas, and told him what you had done and what the Baptists had done for Foreign Missions, and remarked that Nova Scotia was the first of the British colonies to send agents of her own to heathen lands. When he was last here, he told me that my observation had struck him, and he soon resolved that as Nova Scotia was the fir?^, so New Zealand should be the second of the colonies, to embark (itFectively in the work. The Bishop has nobly carried his resolution into efi'ect. A movement has commenced in New Zealand already, which has spread to Van Diemans Land and New South Wales, and which is likely to lead, at no distant period, to stupendous and happy results in the dark isles of the Pacific. Ought not these things to encourage the Church at home, and stimulate every member of it to more liberal, more cheerful, and more prayerful exertions in behalf of the Redeemer's cause?" 17 'i- 1 i ^ m !:.:.: 1 r il I; Pii 258 LIFE OF JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. [1851 Chapter XI. THIRD YEAR'S LABOVRfi— {Continued). 1851. tin. 'ft 1 ' .!' t ' ■ : THE next six months were to be more exciting than any through which the Mission had yet passed. The hostile elements were coming into more earnest collision. But as his journals have been preserved, giving full particulars of the struggle, we simply allow them to speak for themselves. ^^ January 1st, 1851. — This day commences another year. In taking a review of the past year, in its relation to this Mission, we see much cause for gratitude to Him from whom all our mercies flow. In the midst of sickness and trial all oUr lives have been mercifully preserved, and we have had some degree of encouragement in our work. Many who were our avowed enemies when the last year began, now profess themselves to be on the Lord's side, and are ready to suffer for the cause which at one time they strove to destroy. And while our little band of native converts has increased in numbers, some advances have likewise been made in the know- ledge of Divine things. The past year has witnessed the commencement of the struggle between Christianity and heathenism on this island — a struggle which must go on until the former system rises triumphant over the ruins of the latter. For such a conflict we ourselves, and all the friends of the cause, ought to be prepared. Satan has reigned without molestation over these poor islanders for untold generations, and he will not give place to the Redeemer of souls without a severe contest. All successful Missions have had their conflicts as well as their triumphs. May we, who now sow in tears, be permitted one day or other to reap in joy ! We commence the present year expecting great things for the cause of God. 1851] THIRD YEAR S LABOURS. 259 Condescend, O Father of Mercies, to manifest Thy power and grace in the salvation of many souls ! "2nd. — A painful event has just occurred, A poor woman, who for some time past has regularly attended our Sabbath-day services, attempted to strangle herself. She has been driven to this by the ill-treatment of her husband, who is a heathen, and who is enraged at her for receiving (-hristian instruction. She was discovered suspended in the bush, and happily rescued before life was extinct. < We were shocked at the conduct of the unhappy woman. May God enable her in future to bear her trials with more piety ! Suicide is not uncommon among the female sex on this island. Wives, when ill-used by their inhuman husbands, often terminate their sorrows in this world by laying violent hands on themselves. " (1th. — A fight has just taken place in the neighbourhood of the Mission premises, between two parties of natives belonging to different villages. The affair originated in a case of adultery, which is a common sin on this island. None; of the Christian natives took any part in the quarrel, though several of them belonged to the contending villages. Four natives were wounded in the fight, three of whom had spears completely through their thighs. I dressed all their wounds, none of which are likely to prove fatal. Our natives are using their influence to prevent a renewal of the fighting. They have besought their heathen countrymen to give up theii- dark and savage customs, and, like brethren, to dwell together iu peace and love. It was an interesting spectacle to behold them acting the part of peace-makers. May we not hope that such developments of Christian character, will go far to recommend the religion of Jesus to tliese benighted islandt.Ts 1 " Fehi'uarij Isf. — The opposition to the cause of God increases. As the chiefs are all priests, or sacred men devoted to the service of their respective Natmasses, the infiuence against us is formidable. They are now convinced that Christianity admits of no compromise with heathenism, and they see that their craft is in danger if the (Jospel succeeds. Every chief is either a diseas<;-maker, a rain-maker, a fish- maker, or fruit-maker, etc., and to his sacerdotal office, which is supposed to include these extraordinary powers, he is more indebted for his infiuence over the ])eople, than to his chieftain- v^. ; i 1 M- »iu -H '\i. 260 LIFE OP JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. [1851 ship. By some of these persons, drought, famine and pestilence have been threatened should the natives embrace Christianity. Thus many of the heathen, who are secretly our friends, dare not join us from fear, and others, who do not understand our object, are much enraged against us. The Christian party suffer much at the present time from their heathen country- men. Their little clothing and other property is stolen from them, and the plantations of many have been destroyed. All manner of evil is spoken against them, and the heathen con- stantly threaten war. A native named Vakki, who lately joined us, had his clothes stolen, his taro and other food de- stroyed, and his house burnt. At one time a party of his neigh- bours surrounded him, armed with spears and stones, and he was obliged to break through the circle and flee for his life. Spears and stones were thrown after him, but he escaped unhurt. His crime was eating a native fruit called inmop, before the first fruits of the crop had been presented to the Nat- masses. On this island it is customary to give the first fruits of the various kinds of food to their imaginary deities, before any portion of the crop is eaten by the natives. Thus our natives have been called on at a very early period to suffer persecution for conscience sake. May God recompense their temporal losses with durable and saving blessings ! I am sorry to say that Vakki retaliated by destroying some of the food of his persecutors. He has yet to learn the beautiful lesson taught in Matt. v. 44. This is the first instance in which any of our people have returned evil for evil. They have hitherto displayed a forbearance under their trials scarcely to be expected. ^'■20th. — ^Received intelligence from Epege of the death of Uumru. This man was perhaps the first convert from heathen- ism to Christianity on this island. He visited Samoa, and spent three years on the island of Tutuila, where I first saw him. He returned to Ane'teum in the John Williams, in September, 1849. On his return I engaged him to remain with me and assist me in the acquisition of the language. As both he and I could talk a little Samoan, his services were very valuable to me. To him I am much indebted for what I know of this language, and he greatly assisted me in searching out the most suitable words for sin, unbelief, faith, salvation, 1851] THIRD year's labours. 261 etc., and he has been instrumental in persuading many of his countrymen to give up their sup i ' '. 1- ' :-!::;■: ij ihamm 1; 264 LIFE OF JOHN UEDDIE, D.D. [1851 I \\\ fi a thrown into the soa ; that we would gladly lay her in the grave which was already dug ; but if the heathen still insisted on having the body, their wishes would not be opposed. Some of the Christian party called me aside, and expressed a wish that I would revoke what I had said, as they thought I had yielded too easily ; but I would not. The matter now lay with the heathen themselves. Some were still violent. Naurita be- haved in a most savage manner, uttering the most abusive language against the Christians, and demanding that the body should be cast into the sea. I never saw such a specimen of savage fury as the man exhibited. His brother, Waihit, en- deavoured in vain to quiet him, but at length he succeeded in getting him outsido the premises, where he became quiet. But some who had been most vociferous about taking away the body, now appeared ashamed and said nothing. After the point had been so quietly yielded to them, they seemed as if they did not know what to do. Sometimes one would say to another, * Go you and get a canoe ; ' but no one moved. As night was approaching, I told the heathen that they had better quickly decide what was to be done, and let me know. After an under-tone conversation among themselves, they said, * We leave the body with you to dispose of it as you please,' and retired in a body from the premises, and sat down at a little distance off. As I did not wish to take any responsibility in the matter, I told them that I wanted more than a negative concurrence, and I must have their word to bury before it would be done ; so several voices cried out, * Bury.' I asked if this was the word of all, or if there were still opposers. All were silent. I now selected two of the heathen and two of the Christian party to convey the body, and requested the heathen to accompany us to the grave, which most of them did. After laying the body in its narrow home, we had a short prayer, covered in the grave, and dispersed. I feel thankful to God that this difficult matter ended so quietly. It is a serious matter to infringe on a custom established from time imme- morial. This is the first known instance on this island in which the honour of burial has been conferred on a woman. All, with the exception of the highest chiefs, are thrown into the sea. In the case of the latter, a shallow grave is dug in the house, in which the body is placed and covered with earth, 1851] THIRD YEAR S LABOURS. 265 except the head and face. In this house the peoph) assemble, ' to take care,' as they terra it, of their chief, till the flesh is all consumed from the h(;ad and face, when the skull is removed and placed on a tree as an object of worship. " The evening after the funeral I met Nohoat, the chief. He was very much excited and out of temper. He told me that the Nalaingaheni was a lie, for Uumru, the first man who had embraced it on this island, was dead, and this woman had also died, and by-and-by the Natmasses would cause us all to die. I told him that the Nalaingaheni, which I had come to teach them, was the only true religion, and that it did not save us from death, but it taught us the way to be happy after we died. ' Before you Sanioaus came to the island,' he said, ' there was neither sickness nor death among us.' I asked him where his forefathers were. * At all events,' he said, ' none died until their heads were covered with grey hairs.' Mrs. Geddie, who was along with me, mentioned the names of several young persons and children who had died previous to our arrival, and of whose death she had heard. He liad nothing to say to this. He then said that the Natmasses were becoming enraged with the people of this island, for allowing the word of God to spread in it, and he expected that soon there would not be any cocoa- nuts or bread-fruit or taro in the land. I answered that it was He whose word we were trying to spread in this dark land, who caused the sun to shine and the rain to fall, that the earth might bring forth its fruits ; and that the Natmasses, whose power he dreaded, had no existence. " Before parting with Nohoat, I told him that I was grieved to think that he was so wedded to his superstitions, and still kept aloof from the word of God. He said that although he did not embrace the new religion, he abstained from all bad conduct, and did not kill people now, as he formerly did. I told him that his heart was very bad in the sight of God, and so was his life also, and that if he did not repent, he would be miserable forever. May God in mercy bring this dark-hearted man to reflection ! His opposition to the cause keeps* back numbers from hearing the word of God. Means have been employed by white men on this island to keep this heathen chief beyond the influence of Christian instruction. " 10th. — Kuku, the Karotongan teacher, who has been at this Mi '\%: •t i i: 1- ; i ■ ^ 1 1 . il 1 ^ H ill nr ii»| I'll i ^ I'iiii 266 LIFE OF JOHN OEDDIE, D.D. [1851 station for several months, died yesterday. Ho had been laid up with fever and ague for some time, but his illness was not such as to excite alarm until this morning. 1 visited him early, and found him in great agony. He was not able to take the nKHlicine which I took to him. At tirst I thought his illness might prove to be severe colic, but I soon found that he had cramp in the stomach, which gradually spread over other parts of the body. We used warm applications, and forced him to take such medicines as were most likely to alleviate his suffer- ings, but without effect. The attack was too much for his constitution, already enfeebled by disease. I spent the fore- noon with him, and he several times said his end was near. He gave his sister (the Karotongan widow whom I brought from Tana eleven months ago), all directions about the distri- bution of his little property. It was pleasing to see with what composure he looked forwanl to death, for it had no terror to him, and, like Paul, he desired to depart and be with Christ., It was only during the intervals between the paroxysms of pain that he could speak. It was about one o'clock p.m., when I asked him where his This was the last time that he spoke to me. I left him to go and tell Mrs. Geddie, that I thought he was dying. I had scarcely reached my own house, when his sister came running after me, to tell me he was very bad. I went back with her, but alas ! the struggle was nearly over — he was breathing his last. All that I could do was to kneel down and commend his departing spirit into His hands who gave it being. Thus died this devoted teacher, far from home, in a barbarous land. He had not so far mastered the language as to labour effectively among the natives, but he did much for the cause by his pious conversation and holy life. Had he been spared, he promised to become a more useful man than the generality of teachers who come to these islands. His sudden death has created much grief among the Christian natives, and great rejoicing among the heathens. I feel the bereave- ment very much, and I apprehend that the Christian party will suffer much from their benighted countrymen on account of it. But I desire, in this dispensation, to bow to His will who doeth all things well. Though some trials appear dark and mysterious to us, yet it is consoling to know that all events are under His I saw a severe paroxysm pain was ] He said all over his body coming on. -Tf" 1851] THIRD YEARS LAROURS. 267 was was do His , far ered it he life, man His ives, ave- will |)f it. oeth ious His control who can bring lig'it out of darkness, and overrule the most unpromising (events for the promotion of His own gracious I'urposes on earth. Our ( ^hristian natives have heen coming from various (juarters this afternoon to sympathize with us, and as they look on the lifeless corpse, tiny weej), and say, 'This is the body only ; the spirit has gone to the land where there is no sorrow, on sickness, no death. It is we, and not he, who suf- fer to-day.' I went out this aftei-noon to give the natives direc- tions about the grave, and I was much atiected and interested in the observations of one old man. As he wiped the tears from his eyes, he said, ' Uumru is gonf^, and Thieva is gone, and now Kuku is gone ; the heathen will have much bad talk to us about these deaths, but let us not be faint-hearted — let us be strongt^r for the word of God than ever.' ^^ 12th. — It is with deep regret that I now record an event of a somewhat serious nature. On the evening of the 10th inst., while I was walking alone, ruminating on the events of the day, a native came up to me and grasped my hand in a very affectionate manner. The man was a heathen, but had always manifested a friendly feeling to me. He addressed me as follows : ' Misi, I have a great deal of compassion for you, and I have just come to tell you that evil is meditated against you to-day. A number of heathen people were at the house of (the head of the sandal wood establishment) to-day, and they were told that you were the cause of the deaths which have lately taken j)lace, and that wherever missionaries have gone, the people have died away.' He said that they were advised by two persons, whose names I forbear to record, to come and destroy my food, and otherwise injure me. And probably to allay any fears that the natives might have of injuring me, they were also told that as soon as a man-of-war called at the island, I would be bound and taken off in her. Such was the information that the native connnunicatod to me about the conduct of two of my countrymen. 1 took no notice of what the man told me, for I knew that it had long been the practice of certain individuals to advise the natives to drive me off the island. Not long after I parted with the native, some of the Christian party, who had heard of the affair, came and spoke to me about it, but I endeavoured to allay their fears, and said i did not think this was anything different from the in ps I f lh%. !& \i' ' !V !i, '■)! ' 1 s. : 268 LIFE OF JOHN GEDDIE, D.T>. [1851 advice often given to the natives, to injure mo. Very late at night, other two natives came to my house to warn me, but I was still unwilling to believe that there was anything serious in the affair. " On the morning of the 11th inst., I looked out of my win- dow about sunrise, and observed Mr. Archibald removing some things, that he had left in one of the houses, on the Mission premises. The reason of his removing them never occurred to my mind at the time, but I have since learned, that one of the ringleader;"^ of the heathen party, had told him the day previous of their design to burn my houses and everything in them. I have seen many strange things in this barbarous land, and one of them is, that this man, so recently a member of the Mission, could have come t'y my very door to remove his property for saf(!ty, and yet have given me no information about the designs of the natives, which were so fully known to him.* In the course of the day, I saw a number of natives collecting on the shore just in front of my house, whom I recognised to be heathens. They were ail armed with clubs and spears, and looked very fierce and savage. After some consultation among themselves, they took down a quantity of cocoanuts from oflf the trees on the premises, part of which they drank on the spot, and tied the remainder up in bundles. At first I thought of going and remonstrating kindly with them, but then I knew that it was dangerous to interfere with an enraged savage ; so I stood at my window and looked at them, and took down their names, lest I should (!ver have occasion to reefer to the affair. After remaining for some time feasting themselves on cocoa- nuts, each man gathered up his portion of plunder, and after giving a great .shout, tliey took their departure along shore in the direction of the sandal wood establishment, which was distant rather more than a quarter of a mile. It was import- ant to know for certain, if any of the white men were identified with the transaction, but [ could not leave to watch the move- ments of the natives, as n)v yard was now filling up with our *I have since spoken to Mr. Archibald ahout his conduct on this very trying occasion. Ho says that he thought T knew what tlie intentions of the natives were. Though [ lieard tliat evil was intended, yet I did not suspect the burning of our houses. Perhaps I was to l)laine for my ignorance, for I gave the natives who came to speak to me very little encouragement. III 1851] THIRD YEARS LABOURS. own people, who were much excited by what had taken place ; so Mrs. Geddie proposed to go by an iiiland path to visit a family in the neighbourhood of the establishment, where she could see what was going on. As she stood at the door of the house, one of the natives left the main l)ody of his party on shore, and came up opposite the sandal wood building, which wari only a few rods distant, and exhibiting his cocoanuts, cried out, Neig on Misi Gete iaeigki (' These are Mr. Geddie's cocoa- nuts '), gave a shout as if he were pleased himself, and had pleased those within, and then ran to join his associates on the shore. I felt convinced now that white men and not natives were at the bottom of this aftair. " The conduct of the natives was, according to their own established customs, an open declaration of war against the Mission, and I now felt that something must be done. This morning I went to visit a Mr. Underwood, a boat builder, in whose employment Mr. A. is. I thought that I should have had some sympathy from him as a husband and father, and as he had recently recovered from a severe attack of the island fever, and I had had an opportunity of showing some attention to him in his illness, for which he professed himself much indebted. 1 asked him if he knew about the movements of the natives. He told me very coolly that he knew of their taking a (quantity of cocoanuts yesterday, and that it was their inten- tion to come back to-day with canoes and take more, and like- wise to burn my houses, and he added that it was to save his property, that Mr. A. had removed it from the house in which it was stored. I now began to suspect that I had miscalculated when I expected this man's good offices in a season of need. 1 told him that I had heard from various quarters, that the natives had been advised to these acts of barbarity by two individuals, whose names I mentioned to him, and asked him if he could conceive any reason why such advice was given. He said that one of the men was bad enough to do anything, l>ut endeavoured to exculpate the other, who I thought most deeply implicated in the affair. A long conversation followed, in which he told me, that I had brought all this trouble en my- self by my own imprudence, that 1 had raised up the opposition of white men against me, by opposing their licentiousness, and that where Europeans were, missionaries ought to be silent m % I ^f i I; 270 LIFE OF JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. [1851 about that particular sin. I told him that this was a code of morality to which 1 could not subscribe ; that I had come to this island to teach the natives the sins from which they were to abstain, as well as the duties they were to perform ; and that when I was silent on the subject of licentiousness, which was already carrying disease and death in its train, it would be when I could speak no more. After our conversation was ended, he told me that the head man of the establishment (one of the persons said to have advised the natives to injure me) was in his boat-shed alongside of us, and that I had better speak to him. I went for this purpose, but the very sight of me seemed to throw him into a paroxysm of rage. Before I had time to break the subject of my errand, he let out a torrent of abuse, which few missionaries have had the misfortune to hear. He called me a liar, hypocrite, and drew largely on the vocal)ulary of Billnigsgate, to find terms to tell me what I was, and then said that Mrs. Geddie was a great deal worse. Th(^ man spoke in this strain for about half an hour, at the highest pitch of his voice, and tlien he gave up, apparently quite ex- hausted, for he was very weak with fever and ague. I thought that it would serve no good end to talk to him about his advice to the natives, as it would only excite him more, so I left liim. On my way back I saw Mr. Archibald on the path, but whether from design or otherwise, he soon disappeared. In gloomy circumstances the mind is apt to come to the most unfavourable conclusions, and I now felt that I had nothing to expect from my own countrymen.* Our position was very trying at this time, for we had lot even one of the teachers with us, for they were all residing on the north side of the island. The Christian party were ready to do anything for us, but I would not allow them to interfere, and they were brought to a stand, when they knew that white men were at the bottom of the affair. At one time I thought of leaving the station and going to the opposite side of the island, but I felt that to give up here would be to give up the key to the New Hebrides group, which, with formidable enemies on the spot, could not soon be regained ; and, moreover, our poor natives would not consent to be left alone ; and, besides, as we ♦ Mr. Archibald says that he did not observe me at the time. 1851] THIRD YEAR a LABOURS. 271 we did not apprehend danger to our lives, T thought that ought to remain until we were actually forced away. "After committing our way to God, and consulting with some of the natives on whom I could tlepend, I sent for the chief, and asked that sympathy from a heathen and a savage — for he is both — that had Iteen withheld by my own countrymen. Nohoat, though au enemy to our work, had always been a personal friend, and lie was much enraged about the atfair. ife told me candidly that if it was an affair among the natives themselves he would soon stop it, but, as white men were con- cerned in it, he was afraid that he could not do much. I told the chief ii» tell his people not to listen to the evil advice of iny own countrymen — -that they were stirring them up to do acts wliich they would not venture to do themselves — and that if any injury was doi: to the property of the Mission, I would report it to the tirst man-of-wai' that touched at the island. The chief went ofl" immediately to talk with the heathen, and they have not <'ome back again to-day, as they intended, so 1 hope the mat^M- will end here. " We desire lu thank God that, while we are ' in perils l)y our own countrymen and in perils by the heathen,' no evil has been permitted to befal either the cause or ours<'lves. Our situation has been one of trial, and we feel it to be such, but He who is for us is greater than those who are against us. God grant that this event may prove to us a sanctified dis})en- sation, and, in a way that we know not, promote the cause of Christ in this dark land ! ^^25fJt. — The man whose wife attempted to strangle herself, has lately joined us, and is now receiving Christian instruction. Nangareng, for that is the man's name, had been sick for some time, and had apj)lied to the most celebrated disease curers on the island, but all to no purpose. I told him one day that I thought I could do something for him, if he wished me. He gladly accepted my offer. His disease gave way under thc^ means euiployed, and he is healthy again. Ever since, he has been a regular attender on the ordinances of religion, and counts himself one of the Christian party. '' 2!Jfh.--The child of Waihit died to-day, after a sliort illness. His name was Mi.si Gete, and he was an interesting little boy. He was an only child, and his parents were very hi i 1 ■ M i i »,( 272 LIPK OF JOHl? GEDDIE, D.D. [1851 much attached to hiin. At first Waihit was inconsolable about the death of his child. He came running to my house, and cried : ' O, Misi, Misi, tell me something out of the Bible to strengthen my heart, for I am afraid it will become weak under this affliction.' I told him the story about David and his child, and how David acted when lie died. He was pleased with the narrative, and went to Mrs. Geddie asking her to repeat it to him. I went to the house some time after, and found Waihit quite composed. He was telling the story of David and his child to his wife and some others, and he would often say, 'I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.' This death has made some stir among the heathen people. It is regarded by them as an additional evidence that Christianity is false, and that we are suffering the vengeance of the Nat- masses for endeavouring to overturn heathenism. Several of the heathen have come to Waihit to-day, in the expectation that he would now turn back to the old system ; but he would not suffer any of their dark talk in his house. ' If you have come to sympathize with me,' he would say, ' I am thankful for it ; but if you have come to weaken and destroy nuj heart, you can leave ; I will not hear you. ' It cheered me to see him act thus. I had my fears that the hearts of some might waver, seeing so much affliction among the Christian party. But this lias not been the case ; many, on the contrary, appear more steadfast than ever. To all, I think, the gospel appears more precious, as it brings to light new views and new hopes beyond the grave, to which the natives were strangers in the days of heathen darkness. It is remarkable that the deaths which have occurred for some months past have been among the Christian party only. He who doeth all things well has wise though mysterious ends in view in this. At times we are almost tempted to say ' all these things are against us,' but we may yet see that they are all for us, and that God designs by them to help on His work. " April Hrd. — I have lately had attacks of intermittent fever. The teachers and their wives are al laid up on the other side of the island with the same sickness, but more severely, but I cannot go and see them. Such is the excited state of feeling that I have not been absent from this station a single night for several months. Have sent the teachers ^ --'.im 1851] THIKD YEAUS LABOURS. 273 Wise are we by tion lers such medicines and necessaries as I thought might be useful to them. They happily enjoy peace at their stations at pre- s(!nt, and the excitements encountered here liave not reached them. "67//. — The Ciiristian party were thrown into excitement to- day, occasioned by a remark of Nohoat. He said, in the jtresence of a number of the heathen people, that when the Samoan teachers went to Tana, great numbers had died in consequence of their instructions ; but that the natives killed one teacher and drove the others away, and death soon ceased among them. The remark soon spread abroad, and we heard that the heathen were going to attack the Christian party. It was Sabbath, but some of our people came to consult me about the matter. I proposed at once to go to the chief, and speak with him on the subject. They objected to my going, as he might dissemble with me. and it was tinally agreed that two of them- selves should go. Nohoat confessed that he had made the remark, and that it was unguarded and hasty ; bat he gave his word that we should not receive any molestation on account of it; so our minds were relieved once more. How great the privilege of those who live in a Christian land, and who can sit down under their vine and fig-tree, none making them afraid ! '^ISth. — The Lord's day. We were liisturbed to-day by a stirring event. I had just returned to my house after finishing our morning religious services, when I heard a noise as of a person in distress. I ran to see wliat was the matter, and ob- served a boy lying on the shore, a short distance from my house. He had just l»een speared through the leg, a little below the knee, by Naurita, the man of whom I have spoken before. 1 went to the spot, and got some natives to carry him inland to liis home. I went along with him to examine his wound and dress it. A number of heatheit people soon collected to see the boy, and I found myself in the midst of my enemies. 1 examined the wound and found it clear ; but the natives main- tained that there was a bit of the spear- in it. So four stout men laid hold of the boy and held him down, while a native searched for the fragment of spear. The instrument used was a native knife, which is just a piece of bamboo split in a cer- tain way, and this has a hard and sharp edge. After lacerating 18 1 ', I .' X in Mil 274 LIFK OF JOHN OEHDIK, D.D. [1851 ■ii ■ m p! :: Mh,h 5 4: iho boy's leg in a most fearful inaiiiifT, tlio searrli for thf; spear was given up, and I dressed his wounds as well as J could.* "While I was attending to the boy, the natives were medi- tating revenge. They soon agreed to punish Naurita, and off they set, armed with clubs and spears, for the purpose. T fol lowed them, in company with the chief, for I wished to look after my own natives, and keep tharty intend to join us, but are delaying until a great feast, which is in oonteui * The lad has since died of his wounds, 1851] THIRD YEAll.S LABOURS. 275 ably dent can does cir- ates s of our who that is a ht 1 on I to d plation, takes place. There are many heathenish customs con- nected with their feasting, and they cannot conscientiously join us until the feast is over. They design to wind up their heathenism with their feast. "J/ay 10th. — The widow of the Rarotongan teacher who died on Tana last year, was this day assaulted by a villain named Range, belonging to the sandal wood establishment. He is a native of Singapore, and an inveterate savage. He lived some years among the natives of New Caledonia, and the traders say that he was the ringleader in an attempt to seize the schooner Birver's Bi'ide, which failed, but the vessel had a narrow escape. It is strange that civilized men should harbour among them such a savage; but such characters seem to suit them best here. The wretch happily failed in his wicked purpose. The awful depravity of the traders among these islands, must be witnessed to be known. Their wickedness is one of the greatest barriers to the extension of the Gospel on this island. The licentiousness of the natives is less than that of our own countrvmen." Of this scoundrel we shall hear again. "t/?twe 28th. — A messenger came yesterday from Aneito to let me know that the wife of Munumunu was very ill. I had seen her about three weeks ago, and she was then very low with fever and ague. On receipt oi the message, I went off immediately in my boat, and reached my destination before sunset. I found the woman dying, and told her husband so. She was unable to speak when I saw her, and she breathed her last about midnight. Thus another member of the Mission has fallen at her post iii this dark land. She leaves behind her two children in Samoa, and two children on this island, one of them an infant three weeks old. We buried her to-day, and a great many natives were present, whom I addressed at the grave. I brought the infant home with me, and it will become th(^ charge of our native women, under Mrs. Geddie's direction. The Samoans and Rarotongans have suffered much on this and neighbouring islands. The sacrifice of health and life among them has been very great. It seems desirable, as soon as possible, to dispense with their aid, and endeavour to train up native agentn for the evangelization of these islanis, who may breathe their pestilential atmosphere with impuni*^.y. Itij ^ ' '^1 r- i III 1 1 ^''/i ;. f f^ 1^ ' I I IJ Ml hi hi :i I 1 B .1 I III hi 276 LIFE OP JOHN GEDDIB, D.D. [1851 "July 3rd. — Received a letter from Aneito, stating that the wife of Takio was in a very dangerous state. I sent my boat to bring her to this station. She arrived with her husband to-day. She is broken down with fever and ague, but will recover, I hope. May God sanctify ou; trials, for they are many and great ! Our infant Mission has been severely afflict- ed during the past year. We sow in tears now, but God may yet permit us to reap in joy. "10th. — There is much sickness on the island at present. An epidemic prevails, and great numbers are laid down with it. Among the heathen people, there have been several deaths ; but, as yet, all the Christian party have recovered. A few months ago, the heathen spoke as if the embracing of Christianity were the sure forerunner of death, but now they are silent. From the success which has attended the timely use of medi- cine, many of the heathen are convinced of the folly of their superstitions, and cease to apply to their sacred men to drive the Natmasses out of them. Applications for medicine are coming in from all quarters. We rejoice to do what we can for the poor heathen. By aiding them in their afflictions, we may gain access to their hearts. "13th. — Drinking of liquor on the Lord's day has for many months past been carried on to great excess among the for- eigners on the island. This day of holy rest is on this island a day of rioting and drunkenness. I have never in any land seen such displays of wickedness as among the sandal wood traders. "15th. — An eventful day. My dear child, Elizabeth Keir, was in danger of drowning, and my own life was in peril in attempting her rescue. As the day was pleamnt, I took Mrs. Geddie and our two children to give them a sail for the benefit of their health. We were accompanied by a young man, a boy, and girl, all natives. As we were returning before a gentle breeze, our little Elizabeth fell overboard. She had been sitting in the stern of the boat, and wishing to look over, she stood up on her seat. Her mother stretched out her hand to take hold of her, when she made a spring to get beyond her reach, and went over the side of the boat. I plunged in after her, and was beside her in an instant, I expected that the native lad would have followed me, but when I looked round, the 1851] THIRD YEAR 8 LABOURS. 277 over, hand d her r her, ative i, the boat was leaving us in the rear, and all were motionless except Mrs. Geddie. The natives were so petrified with fear that they did not know what to do. As soon as they came to a little, they made an effort to sto[ the progress of the boat, and bring her round, but they failed in this. In the meantime, Mrs. Geddie succeeded by entreaty in getting the native lad over- board, and he came to my help. I had never moved out of my position with the child, for burdened as 1 was with my clothes, I could scarcely keep myself above water. In my eflbrts to keep her up, I had gone under several times and swallowed a good deal of salt water. When the native reached me, I was very much exhausted. I passed the child over to him, not knowing if she were dead or alive, for she had never struggled nor uttered a cry. I now made for the shore, swimming very gently, and the native, with my dear child, close behind me. I had not gone far when I thought I saw bottom.* I was afraid to sound, lest it should prove an illusion. I swam on, and presently my foot struck the ground. I now found myself on a patch of coral, rising perpendicularly out of the deep water, with about four feet of water on it. The native was soon beside me with my child. She was still alive. We remained on the rock until the boat was brought to our rescue, which Mrs. Geddie, the boy, and girl accomplished after much trouble. I cannot well describe my feelings, when I thought of the goodness of God in rescuing myself and my child from a watery grave. I more than ever owe my life and my all to the Lord, and I trust that all my energies may henceforth be devotedly employed in His service. The event has caused some excitement among the natives. Most of the Christian party have come to visit me, and they express their sympathy for me, as well as their thankfulness to God for my preserva'tion. ' Our father ' and ' our child,' many of them will say, and then they give vent to their feel- ings in tears. ' If anything,' they say, 'had befallen you in this dark land, who would teach us the word of God, and what would become of us?' I trust that the feelings awakened by this dispensation may be mutually beneficial. '"'■ 2Jfih. — The Royal Sovereign arrived yesterday from Sydney, on a sandal wood voyage. She ijrought our yearly supply of provisions, which were most seasonable, and also six cases of clothing from Nova Scotia for the use of the natives. The iff If '\ 1 L -;l!iHtTls M ;»' 278 LIFE OP JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. [1851 letter from the Board of MiHsions contained distressing intelli- gence. No missionary on t\w, way, and no arrangements made to send one. There must he fault somewhere." We must now refer to home affairs, particularly to notice the reasons why his piteous appeals for help met with so little response. It was not from any want of funds in the Church. Since Mr. G.'s departure, the interest of the people in his work had been increasing, so that the treasury was always supplied, if not overflowing. This interest was much deepened by the publication of a small monthly periodical of sixteen pages, called the Afinnionari/ liegiater^ commenced in January, 1850, in which his letters, graphically describing the scenes through which he was passing, appeared. In consequence, money was so freely contributed that the Board never needed to issue an appeal for funds. In addition, large collections of clothing, much of it manufactured by the hands of the female members of the Church, and other articles suitable for the use of the natives, or for Imrter, were made, particularly in the country districts. These, though often wofully delayed, being in one instance sent to Samoa, and sometimes sadly damaged ere they reached their destination, yet manifested the deep interest of the contributors in the cause, many of whom, in the scarcity of money in the rural districts, found it difficult to contribute otherwise ; and proved a most valuable aid to the missionaries in their work.* The same spirit pervaded all classes. In other churches, missionary vessels had been maintained by the con- tributions of the youth. It could not have been expected that the young of the Presbyterian Church of Nova Scotia could do this, but it was thought that they might do something in the same line. Accordingly an appeal was made to them in 1849, to contribute their offerings to supply the Missionaries with boats, necessary for communication between their differ- ent stations, $400 being suggested as a sum to be aimed at ; and before the meeting of the Synod in 1850, the sum of $720 had been contributed for the purpose, of which, however, the largest contribution was $100 from the Sabbath school of Dr. Jennings' congregation, Toronto. This effort we may say was the commencement of the juvenile contributions to the Mission, * One shipment of goods lost by shipwreck was valued at $1,000, which sum was recovered from the Insurance Companies. i • !l 1851] THIRD VEAU's LABOURS. 279 which have, coutiiuicd since, ami whicli have rendered inipor- tuiit service to the cause. Why tlieii were Mr. (I.'s appeals for more missionaries so little regarded I This obliges us to refer to the very painful subject of Mr. Archibald's course. We have already men- tioned that when it became necessary that he should leave the Mission, it had been agreed that he should simply resign, giv- ing reasons, not the true ones. H(; accordingly wrote as we have mH'n. But on recovering from his sickness, his views changed, and on the 2nd January, 1850, four months later, he wrote to the Board as follows, regarding his resignation : " Written as it was und(ir a depressed state, both of body and mind, brouglit on by the natural tendency of the disease under whicli I sutiered, it scarcely contains my more calm and deliberate views. I think I erred in supposing, that it was my duty to dissolve my connection with the Mission. I have now resolved to remain as long as it is the pleasure of the Board to retain me, or at least until as many ordained labourers can be obtained as will absorb the funds of the Mission." He adds, " We find here so much rec^uiring to be done, and so many .spheres of usefulness opening up before us, that we are en- couraged to remain." It is difficult to imagine how he could think that he might still continue the agent of the Mission, in the position in which lie was. His two letters were received together (June, 1850), and the Church, kept in ignorance of the real facts of the case, and regarding it as quite a natural incident, that a young man should, in the depression of a severe illness, have become so discouraged as to propose resigning his connection with the Mission, and then, when his health was restored, recover his spirits, and be ready to resume his work, gave itself no concern about the matter, supposing that Mr. G. was aided and strengthened by a like-minded fellow- labourer. All that the Board felt it necessary to do, was to write to Mr. A., encourag- ing him in his last resolution. &o little were they expecting his withdrawal from the Mission, that having, at the meeting of Synod in 1849, obtained authority for Mr. A.'s ordination, they still, after the meeting in 1850, when his letters were be- fore the Church, corresponded with Mr. G. on the subject. But Mr. A. riKver mentioned to Mr. Geddie his second letter, '''•■i. ^>. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) /<' -fe J^ w 1.0 I.I ;ff iM iiM III 1.8 i.25 U 1.6 = •4 6" ► V] <^ /2 "-y Mf'^j^\^ W/ ^"^ > ^^. % >> '/ -!^ HiotDgraphic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ' ;l| I 280 LIFE OF JOHN GKDDIE, D.D. [1851 or his idea oj remaining in connection with the Mission. In- deed, at the time of his first proposing to resign, he had indi- cated his intention of seeking employment as a teacher in Australia or Tasmania. And though he lingered on, giving some aid in printing and school work, it was with no other idea on Mr. O.'s part than that this was a temporary arrangement, till a favourable opportunity should occur for his leaving the islanc^ Only some six months after the sending of the second letter, did he hear from other quarters a rumour that Mr. A. still thought of retaining his connection with the Mission. He immediately spoke to him on the subject, but could get no satis- faction from him. Mr. A. lingered on thus for the whole of that year, and at the close of it entered into the employment of one of the sandal wood men, and with his family went to live with them, where he continued till the September following (1851). Mr. A.'s conduct had been the keenest trial Mr. G. had met with ; but considering the relation of those people to the Mission, the very act of joining them was one of open hostility to the cause he had been sent to advance, and Mr. G. had too much reason to connect it with the trials that followed. " When he became disconnected with the Mission, two years ago, he left behind him a dishonoured, wounded and bleeding cause ; and ever since he forsook us and joined the sandal wood party, tiie rage of the latter has raged more fiercely than ever it did before." All this time Mr. G. was making the most earnest appeals for more missionaries. These the Church could not under- stand. He wrote of himself as alone ; yet was not Mr. Archi- bald with him 1 The latter had written intimating his willing- ness to continue in the work, and yet Mr. G. did not recognise him at all. On the 4th October, 1850, Mr. A. wrote again to the Board, resigning finally, and intimating his intention to leave in May following ; but still not giving particulars as to the cause of his resignation. To many this was unsatisfactory. There seemed at least something about the matter requiring explanation. That his leaving the Mission could not have been in consequence of any immorality, was argued from the fact, that Mr. G. had counselled his resignation, and some were dis- posed to find reasons for it unfavourable to the latter. Though his whole life, previous to leaving home, marked him as one of the most inoffensive of men, yet some were now ready to 1861] THIRD YBAR8 LABOURS. 281 attribute the whole to Mr. G.'s treatment of Mr. A., and those who had opposed the selfHstion of him as a missionary now plamed themselves on their superior foresight. Thus to his other trials were added loss of confidence, and want of sym- pathy at home. Accordingly, at the meeting of Synod in 1851, though Mr. A.'s second letter of resignation was then before them, and it seemed certain that by that time he was no longer on the island, it was resolved, " That the Board, having laid before the Synod Mr. A.'s resignation, with an intimation of his intention to leave the Mission in May last, the Synod agreed to express regret that he has not furnished sufficient information to warrant them in expressing approval of that step, and direct the Board to make full enquiries as to the cause of his resig- nation, and also to take steps for securing the services of another missionary." Although this resolution recognised the duty of sending out another missionary, yet the main part of it indicated that there was no idea of any being sent till this matter was cleared up, and the Board, in communicating the resolution, informed him that they were " unable to encourage the hope that another missionary will be sent till more is known of Mr. A.'s case." From the slowness and irregularity of communication, Mr. G. was for some time in entire ignorance of what was going on in the Church. He did not even know that Mr. A. had with- drawn his resignation, forwarded in August, 1849. Several letters written to him at this time were never received, and for more than two years he was without any communication from the Board. At length he received a letter from the secretary, dated 21st August, 1850, but not till 24th July, 1851, telling him that " something further was necessary to satisfy craving enquiry on the subject." This was most disheartening. " I read," he says, in reply, *' with feelings of surprise and dismay, in the letter from your secretary, that no movement had been made to fill up the vacancy in the Mission. I had struggled alone for a considerable time amidst difficulties which I believe have fallen to the lot of few missionaries, and cherished an almost confident hope that help was at hand. Oh, it was sad, sad, SAD to learn that I am still to be left in this dark, dreary and inhospitable land, without an associate in the missionary work." i:! ii i ■>! 282 LIFE OF JOHN OEDDIB, D.D. [18P^ I; Mr. G. had no opportunity of replying till the 17th Sep- tember. But Mr. A. was then gone, and Mr. G. thought that it was unnecessary to refer to his past history, the knowledge of which could only give pain to his friends, and accordingly he wrote without revealing the true state of the case. " If I am not as explicit," he say3, " as you could wish at present, it is because the cause has nothing to gain by being so. I beg solemnly to assure you, as well as the Church at large, that it was not in consequence of any misunderstanding between Mr. A. and myself that he tendered his demission. I ought, how- ever, to mention, that he consulted me on the subject, and I advised him to retire from the missionary work, as also did Mr. Powell, who was then on the island. This advice, you may rest assured, was not given without due consideration. I hope the above explanation will suffice. As Mr. A. has now placed himself beyond your control, I do not think the cause would be benefited by prosecuting the matter any further. The case has been the occasion of much grief to myself, as it will be to you ; but it ought not to excite too much surprise. His circumstances have been very peculiar. Had he been sent to a field of labour cultivated in part, associated with a band of missionaries and surrounded with influences of a good kind, his career might have been different. I believe it will be found in the history of Missions, that most of the failures have occurred in new fields of labour." This, when the facts are known, will be regarded as kindly in its tone ; but, as the facts were not known at home, it was considered the reverse, and made matters worse. It was re- garded as conveying covert insinuations, with a keener point than the bare truth. A memorial from Mr. A.'s immediate friends and others was forwarded to the Board, "earnestly requesting that in the first letter to Mr. Geddie, the Board would request him to state the case as it is, for the satisfaction of the Church, the relief of the petitioners, and as an act of bare justice to Mr. A. himself." The lettei-s of the Board, after the meeting of Synod of 1851, were duly received — we do not find at what date, but there was no opportunity of replying to them till July, 1852. At that time the John Williams was at the islands, and the depu- tation of the London Missionary Society — Messrs. Murray and Sunderland — inquired into the circumstances, and reported 1851] THIRD year's labours. 283 the facts to the Board, at the same time recommending Mr. G. to the eiitire confidence of the Church. This communica- tion did not reach the Board till January, 1853 — more than three years after Mr. A. had first forwarded his resignation, during which time the Mission was under a cloud, anu an arrest put upon its progress. All this from an uncandid sup- pression of truth — from the kindest motives and best intentions. All might have been avoided, had the facts been coiifided to a member of the Board or some personal friend. We cannot, however, hold the Church at home blameless. The suspicions regarding Mr. G. were utterly unreasonable. There was nothing in the circumstance of a young man, who had suddenly chosen Foreign Mission service, turning aside, to give the slightest ground for reflection upon the man who had stood faithfully to his post ; and when the Board and Synod knew that Mr. A. had left, and the circumstances in which Mr. G. was placed, want of sympathy or languor of effort for his relief was cruelty to him, and unfaithfulness to the cause. We cannot say positively that if the Synod had earnestly sought for missionaries they could have obtained them. We think they might. We know two, then students, who since have been able ministers of the New Testament in the Home field, whose minds were strongly drawn to the New Hebrides. The Board could have at least tried, and earnestly, to secure the needed help. They could have besought the Lord of the harvest, and who will say that such prayer and effort would have been unavailing 1 At all events, they could have upheld him with their sympathy and prayers. When the truth was known, the cloud immediately lifted and confidence was restored ; even Mr. A.'s friends felt re- lieved, suffering less from the painful truth than from con- tinued suspense. The Board now directed their attention in earnest to obtaining additional missionaries ; but they did so under le&«: favourable circumstances, and oyer three years of lost opportunities could not be recalled. What that means we cannot know. Surely there is much that is instructive in this history. Does it not teach the importance of candour on the part of missionaries in regard to what is passing in their field 1 and does it not teach the Church to extend confidence to her tried agents, even when appearances are unfavourable ] :i I. i:iB ■ I j 1 1 I'M iwKi iii ^ a^Bt I'^H 284 LIFB OV JOHN OBDDIB, D.D. [1851 Chapter XII. FOURTH YEAR'S LABOURS. 1851. WE turn back to give an account of his fourth year's labours, probably the most important in his career, and in doing so, his journal affords us the best description of what he was passing through : — " Arigtist 5th. — We have just parted with our excellent friend, the Bishop of New Zealand. He arrived on Sabbath morning, the 3rd instant. He came in the Mission schooner Border Maid. He was accompanied by the Bishop of New Castle, N. S. W. This is the first missionary voyage of the Border Maid. She is a fine Scotch-built vessel, of ninety tons burden, and about eight years old. She belongs to the Auetra- lian Board of Missions in connection with the Church of England, and was purchased at a cost of £ !,200 sterling. It is intended to change her name to that of the Southern Cross, if the legal difficulties can be got over. The vessel came to anchor about the time that our morning native service was over, so I went off in my boat to her. I was glad to find myself in time for the English service on board. The Bishop of New Zealand gave a plain, extempore, and practical discourse from Rom. vi. 1 9. After sermon, I dined with the Bishops, and had interesting and profitable conversation with them on the sub- ject of Missions. The Bishop of New Zealand is as interesting as ever, and his associate, though a more reserved man, also appears very amiable. Both are excellent men, and seem deeply interested in the evangelization of these much-neglected islanders. There were on board, one native of the Solomon group, two from the Loyalty Islands, and two Erromangans. These were taken to New Zealand last year in H. M. S. Ha- vanahf and placed under the Bishop's care. They could all 1851] FOURTH TEAR 8 LABOURS. 285 speak and read a little English I gave the Bishop of New Zealand, a boy of this island, to be educated in his institution for natives. His name is Tupua, and he is about fifteen years old. He has resided with me two years, and appears to be a lad of much promise. He can read and write his own language, which will be of essential benefit to him before he acquires a foreign tongue. At the Bishop's school, he will be instructed in English, writing, arithmetic, and singing ; and will also learn some industrial employment — most probably printing. I had the utmost confidence in assigning the lad to the care of the Bishop, knowing the deep interest that he takes in the natives of the islands, and the assurance I have that his best interests will be attended to. I trust that the boy may yet return to his own land, and become an instrument of useful- ness to his benighted countrymen." In a letter to the Board, written shortly after, Mr. G. says : — "The Bishop offered to take him gratis, but I thought it improper to tax any other Society for his support, while we are ab'e to support him ourselves. His expenses for the first year are already paid. An unknown friend in New Zealand gave the Bishop .£3 before bis departure, for missionary pur- poses, and wished him to give me credit for that sum. This, with £5 which I added on my own account, will about support the boy for one year. If the boy is spared to return to his own island, he may, by the Divine blessing, become a useful agent in the work." We may just add here, that the lad returned the next season, fearing the severity of another winter in New Zealand, and having acquired sutiicient know- ledge of printing to render Mr. Geddie valuable aid in that department. " The Border Maid had scarcely cast anchor on the Sabbath morning, when there was a meeting of the parties opposed to the Mission and myself. They had failed in getting the natives to drive me from the island, and I suppose they designed, by misrepresentation and falsehood, to injure me with the Bishop of New Zealand. At all events, after their consultations were over, and plans laid, they boasted that they had * done for him now.' A Capt. , a Roman Catholic, was kind enough on the Sabbath evening to send me intima- tion of what was going on, lest I should be taken by surprise. i 1 1 H f H H 1^ f < 1 1 • 4 H '1 n H( 'li V. 'y. M fl \i !ii| H li=' :Jilffli 11 • ( 1 286 LIFK OF JOHN GBDDIE, D.D. [1861 i They applied to the wrong quarter for sympathy. The Bishop has been too much among the islands not to know the feelings of white men in relation to missionaries. He told them that he declined all interference between us except as a peace- maker, but this they did not wish. I do not know the extent of their intended accusations, but two, only, came to light. The one was that I had prohibited natives from selling foot" to the white people on the island. This was false, for I had always encouraged the natives to raise food to sell. I have often told them that I cannot furnish them with clothing, and they must look to others for it." [The other charge was trifling, and equally groundless, but we have not deemed it necessary to occupy space with the particulars.] " T suppose shame prevented my enemies from stating the true cause of their opposition. My crime is that I have endeavoured, in conjunction with Mrs. Geddie, to save the poor females of this island from degradation, misery and ruin. And had we been altogether unsuccessful, we would have encountered less opposition to-day. It was not my part to sow the seeds of discord, or I could have told his Lordship that the faction who wished to draw out from him an unfavourable judgment against myself, did not hesitate, when it suited their purpose, to brand him with such epithets as liar, vagabond, etc. The affair has, I think, done us good, though injury was intended. The Bishop expressed much sympathy with us in our trials from various sources, and after hearing all that our enemies had to say against us, his advice was : ' Go on as you have been doing, and by the blessing of God you will prosper.' I need not say this advice was very encouraging to us in our peculiar circumstances. " 15th. — There is much sickness on the island at present, and many deaths have occurred among the heathen people. The number of deaths has been sadly multiplied by the horrid practice of strangling. Several poor women have within the last few weeks fallen a sacrifice to the revolting and barbarous custom. In one case three women were strangled on the occasion of one man's doath. I have always interfered when I knew life to be in danger, although in many instances my interference has been in vain. Knowing / 1851] POl^RTH YKAR8 LABOURS. 287 the abhorrence with whicli Htrangling is regarded by us, the heathen endeavour to conceal death from our knowledge. Often our first intimation of a man's sickness is accompanied with an intimation of his death, and that of his wife also. A few mornings ago our feelings were much shocked as we were at breakfast. A dead body slung on ji long pole was carried past our door, and in a few minutes another body, carried in a similar manner, made its appearance. They were the bodies of a man and his wife, the latter of whom had been strangled. They had been brought from the interior, to be thrown into the sea. I followed them to the shore and spoke warmly to them about the wickedness of their conduct. A number of natives, chiefly of the Christian party, assembled. One of them came to me and pointed out a native, who was creeping very suspiciously into the bush, and said that was the murderer of the woman. I said they had better get him, and we would talk to him. In an instant men, women and children were ofi* in pursuit of him. In a few minutes the party came back, carrying the man in a very unceremonious manner. He was an old and feeble man, and seemed to look on his own death as certain. I told him that we would not hurt him, but that we were grieved on account of his wickedness. He entreated us to let him go, and promised never again to strangle a woman. After talking with him for some time, I told the natives to let him go. They were unwilling to do so, for they said that they wished to tie him for a few days, and speak to him every day, as his heart was very dark. I objected to this, and he was released. The extent to which the horrid practice of strangling is carried on, on this island, is truly appalling. '^^ 20th. — I have tried the practice of sending out natives on the Sabbath day to converse and pray with their heathen countrymen, and I find it to succeed well. We may hope well for the cause of God on this island, when some are so far advanced, as to be able to tell to others the ' wonderful works of God in their own tongue.' A native agency, under the judicious direction of right-hearted missionaries, will yet accomplish a great work on this and neighbouring isles of the sea. Our natives meet with a varied reception in the course of their itinerations. Two Sabbaths ago they were stoned away from a heathen village which they had visited. I had pre- $ r\ If *!'. I, i(! ;i '.M m i '11 1 H Ml B M 1 I §^ iB m H 288 LIFE OF JOHN OBDDIB. O.D. [1861 viously visited this village on many occasions, but always met with a favourable reception. We cannot account for this sudden change of feeling, but such incidents are not uncommon in a heathen land. But while we meet with opposition on one hand, we meet with encouragement on another. Several heathen villages have lately given up their superstitions, and wish for Christian instruction. Applications for teachers are coming in from different quarters. But alas ! whom shall I send ) These villages were among the number of our opposers. Among our late accessions is one distinguished man named Yiapai. He is a chief of high rank, and has distinguished himself as a great warrior. He was also a disease maker, and the natives stood more in dread of this man than any other person on the island. He has spent his best days in the service of the devil, and now, though bordering on sixty years of age, he has abandoned heathenism, and wishes to sit at the feet of Jesus for instruction. If this man remains steadfast, his example will be followed by others. Our prospects daily brighten, for which we desire to be thankful to God." Writing about three months later, of this man, he says : ''At present Yiapai is at this station. He came to spend some time with me, and receive Christian instruction. The natives used often to say to me, when I exhorted them to forsake their superstition and sins : ' Get Yiapai to turn, and we will all turn.' The Lord, I trust, has touched the heart of this very wicked man. Since he came to visit me, he has been out among the people every day, entreating them to give up their dark customs and embrace Christianity. Yiapai is a man of a masculine mind, as well as earnest in the' cause, and his words, as the natives say, are like a great hammer which breaks everything before it. None of the heathen can withstand him, and he soon puts them to silence. A few evenings ago he met with Nohoat, the chief of this district, and talked with him till it was daylight next morning. The old chief cried like a child, acknowledged that he was a very wicked man, but said that he wished to remain as he was, and after death he was willing to bear the punishment of his sins. ' Put your hand into that fire for a few minutes," said Yiapai, pointing to the burning embers before them. The chief refused. ' Now,' said Yiapai, ' if you cannot bear the agony which that fire would occasion 1851] FOURTH year's LABOURS. 289 for a few minutes, how do you expect to bear the torments of hell for ever and everV This man was about sixty years of age, but he says that he must learn all that he can before he dies, and is now busily engaged endeavouring to master the alphabet. ^^22nd. — The tide of feeling seems to turn in favour of Christianity. Kapaio, a brother of the chief of this district, has come out from the ranks of our enemies, and desires Christian instruction. This man has been a great savage, and notorious for his wickedness. He is a thorough hater of white men, and has hitherto very much opposed our work. This man has done more in the way of destroying the plantations of the Christian natives, and otherwise persecuting them, than any other native on tlie island. It surprised all parties when Kapaio announced his determination to forsake heathenism and embrace Christianity. The heathen were paralyzed at the thought of losing their leader, and the Christian party were amazed, and said, * Many others will now come in, and the Word of God will soon become triumphant in this dark land.' In a conversation which this man had with Mrs. Geddie a few days ago, he said that when we came to this island, he looked on us as liars and deceivers, and that he along with others had stolen our property and done much injury to us. He said, moreover, that he had narrowly watched our conduct, and when he found that it was agreeable to what we professed, he began to think there was something ill religion. How exact ought Christians to be in all their actions ! And, above all, missionaries to the heathen should be living epistles of Jesus." Kapaio confessed also that he had for months watched for an opportunity of taking Mr. Geddie's life, and as he lived not more than half a mile from the Mission premises, it is a wonder that he did not succeed. But at that time Mr. G., having had warning that his life was in danger from various parties, was very cautious about venturing abroad. Kapaio, failing to accomplish his purpose at a distance, came several evenings after dark to Mr. G.'s garden, armed with his club, and hid himself behind a bush, in the hope that Mr. G. would come outside. One evening Mr. G. did come down the walk, and close by the bush behind which Kapaio was concealed. 19 1!' I ■ !' ) .• * I ■ \ ■J ■■* I':' 4 ■ - ! il| {In ^81 NW' ;|h li 290 LIFB OF JOHN OEDDIB, D.D. [1861 Now the wished-for opportunity had arrived ; Kapaio was a powerful man, and one well-directed blow would have been sufficient. He grasped his club that he might fell his victim ; but his arm forgot its cunning ; he could not strike ; a strango sensation came over him, and he abandoned his purpose. He was afterwards a member of the Church for six years, till his death. " 23rd. — An incident of an exciting nature has just taken place. The son of the chief, who is one of my scholars, came in haste to my house two days ago, to tell me that a young child in the family was very ill, and that his father had de- clared his intention of strangling the mother in the event of its death. I went immediately in search of the old man, and found him at work in his taro plantation. J asked him if the report of the boy was true, and he answered in the affirmative. I spoke to him of the wickedness of his intention, and reminded him of the many promises ho had made to me, to discourage the horrid practice of strangling women. He endeavoured with great warmth to vindicate himself, and blamed the mother for the sickness of the child, according to a superstition, wliich I cannot record. Finding that it was vain to reason with him, and that we were both likely to become excited on such a sub- ject, I left him abruptly. I went at once to the house where the woman was, and told her to follow me. She hesitated, from fear of her husband ; but I insisted, as also did her son and a few natives who were with me. On our way home, we saw the old chief running after us, and calling out to his wife to return. We hastened our pace, and were inside of my yard before he overtook us. He was much enraged when he arrived, and wished his wife to go back to his house, but I would not con- sent to this. The woman remained two days with us before the child died, and during this time Nohoat came often to see them both — he was very much attached to his child. After it died, he showed great distress. He seized the lifeless corpse, pressed it to his breast, rolled himself on the ground, and cried out in a most affecting manner. At his own request, the child was buried instead of being cast into the sea, according to the old custom. This dispensation has much impressed the chief, who is a thoughtless and wicked man. May God strike the arrow of conviction into his heart ! The mother was spared. came *> 1851] FOURTH YBAR8 LABOURS. 291 ** 25th. — Much excitement on the subject of Christianity in several places. Many of the heathen have given up the old system of worship, and ask for Christian instruction. In this district, numbers declare their intention of coming over to us, as soon as a great feast, for which they are now preparing, is over. As there is much heathenism connected with the feast- ing, they find that they cannot consistently join us and observe the customs usually observed at their feasts. We lament the delay, but it is pleasing to know, that the natives wish to be consistent. From what I have seen of the Papuan and Malayan races, who inhabit the islands of the Pacific, I think that there is much less duplicity of character among the former than among the latter. Among the natives with whom we have intercourse, we find a man ei ' ^t an out-and-out friend, or an out-and-out enemy. On Aiieiteum there are but two classes — those who favour Chri;,*ianity and t^ ;3e who oppose it. "30th. — An event has just occurred which gave us much un- easiness for the time. The great fe.st, for which preparntions have been making for months, h''.^< row passed off. As usual on such occac^ons, a great concourse of people had asRcmbled from diti'ereuc parts of the island. Many of them had come from remote and heathen settlements. They were much en- raged on account of several accessions to our number of late, and especially about the conversion from heathenism of a chief named Topoe, who was the receiver of the feast, and who had previously declared his intention of not submitting to any of the heathenish practices observed on such occasions. They resolved, if the chief acted on this determination, to leave the feast-ground and destroy my house and premises, and then fight the Christian party, who had been instrumental in his conversion. The Christian party, as soon as they heard of the matter, met for consultation, and their conclusion was that they ought to assemble on the Mission premises, and if attacked, defend themselves and protect the property also. They then delegated one of their number to ask my opinion as to the course they had resolved on. I only said that with regard to the property, there must not be any fighting about that, for if my houses were destroyed, they would be replaced by others. On the subject of fighting, even in self-defence, I declined to express an opinion, for I could not say anything against it, and %m r-: li . -^ ^mmm 292 LIFE OF JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. [1851 ' ' 1 Bome mif^ht put a wrong construction on, or take too much out of, an aftirmative answer.' Many of the natives now brought their property to my house for safety, as they designed to de- fend it. It was anything but a pleasant sight to observe them coming in with their clubs and spears. I did not anticipate danger to myself or family, yet I thought proper to remove Mrs. Geddie and our children from the scene. We found an asylum, until the anticipated storm was over, under the roof of a tradesman connected with the sandal wood establishment on this island. The only articles I took with me were my jour- nal, vocabulary of the native language, and some other papers of value to me. The conduct of Topoe, on his arrival at the feast-ground, was to be the signal either for peace or action. He came, attended by a large retinue of followers, and received the feast as he said he would. There was no demonstration of feeling on the part of onr enemies. When the crisis arrived, their courage failed them. Our natives, having come to assure us that we had nothing to fear, we returned home thankful to God that we have once more been brought through a season of trial. " Sept. 13th. — Many accessions to our number in different places. Several of the natives, who promised to join us after the feast of August, have been true to their word, and express their determination not to have anything more to do with heathenism. Naurita, the man who behaved so badly on a former occasion, is among the number who have lately come in. He was a strong, healthy man, but is very feeble at present. He has not yet recovered from the wounds received in April last, for spearing the native boy. If ever he does recover, he will always be a cripple." On the 17th September he writes: "I have prepared and printed another little book in the native language. It consists of translated portions of Scripture, with six hymns appended. It is something to have even a few fragments of the word of life in the language of those benighted islanders. I am not aware that any portions of God's word have yet been printed in any of the dialects of the Papuan or Oceanic Negro race. All further labour in the printing department is suspended until a supply of paper is received. I think it was since I last wrote you that I printed 600 sheets of words and sentences in 1851] FOURTH YEAR 8 LABOURS. 293 the Lifu language, and I have a quantity more ready for the press." " Oct. lat. — Nohoat, the chief, has been regular in his attend- ance on public ordinances for several weeks. He professes a desire for religious instruction, and at his request I send a native to his house every evening, to conduct family worship. This man, since I landed on the island, has been my friend, though hostile to the cause. On many occasions I have been serviceable to him in sickness, and to this circumstance his friendship is chiefly to be ascribed, and besides, when he wants a knife, or hatchet, or shirt, he knows where to apply for it. I will ever feel myself indebted to this old chief for his kind interposition on my own behalf and that of the cause, on many trying occasions. Nohoat has two or three times endeavoured to come out on the side of Christianity, but has always fallen back under the threatenings and solicitations of white men and heathens. I trust that he will be more steadfast now, as most of his relations and the great body of his people have joined us. In all his movements he is very undecided and irresolute, which is, I think, to be attributed to the use of kava, which he indulges in to great excess. " 9th. ~ A few natives went out to-day to visit a heathen vil- lage named Utchia. Their visit was pacific ; they went to con- verse with their heathen countrymen, but they met with harsh treatment. Their kind intention being suspected by the people, ihey were attacked with stones and spears, and obliged to flee for their lives. " 25th. — Just returned from a visit to the north side of the island. I went to inquire about the burning of the teacher's house at ithumu. It appears that on the 22nd inst., a woman, who along with her husband, had forsaken heathenism, died. Her relations ascribed her death ;it once to the circumstance of her embracing Christianity. A brother was so enraged, that he burnt the house of the teacher and also that of his sisterV husband. The house was unoccupied at the time, for the teacher, to whom it belonged, had gone to Epege to reside with a brother teacher, in consequence of the death of his wife ; the building was used as a place of worship on the Sabbath day. 1 regret the loss of the house, for it is like losing our footing for a time in an important district, and the building was a good ^i fTT 294 LIFB OF JOHlf QBDDIB, D.D. [1851 one also. The woman was buried, but not without some trouble, as the heathen party, according to their customs, wish- ed to throw the body into the sea. The burning of the house has created considerable excitement. " On the 23rd inst., being Sabbath, the teachers t)t Epege, accompanied by several natives, visited Annauuntchai, a large and important district, where there are a few persons who desire instruction. At this place they met with a large body of people from Umetch, who had gone thither on a visit. The meeting was an interesting one, as the parties now providen- tially brought together to hear the Gospel of Peace, had been at war with each other last year. There was much friendly con- versation between all parties. The chiefs said, * Let us no longer strive whose dominion shall be greatest, but let us unitedly strive for the kingdom of God, that His dominion may be supreme in this dark land.' This meeting of two bodies of people from opposite directions, in the extreme district of the island, seemed like the completing of the circle which the Word of God had traversed, and one man, when speaking on the subject to me, extended his arms, and bringing his hands together, said, the Word of God is like this — it has gone round all the island. This friendly meeting may result in good, and I trust that all former animosities may be sunk in the universal triumph of the Gospel of Peace. " The old man at Ithumu, who lost his wife, came several miles to see me at Epege, as soon as he heard I was there. He told me that the death of his wife had not weakened his heart to the Word of God, but that his heart was now stronger for the Word of God than ever. He spoke with feeling of his hope of meeting with his wife in another and better world." On the 11th November, he writes in higher spirits than he had ever done before: — "There is a movement in favour of Christianity all over the island. I am just now endeavouring to follow up and improve the awakening, which has already taken place. We have not attained our present position with- out a severe struggle, nor am I so sanguine as to hope that our struggle is over. We have still to contend with the confed- erated opposition of the heathen party, and a small party of white men, engaged in the sandal wood trade. But God has hitherto shielded His cause, and those engaged in it, in circum- 1851] FOURTH YEAR S LABOURS. 295 stances of danger and trial, and we feel an assurance that He will still aid us. A flame has been enkindled in the hearts of many a poor islander, which the waters of much opposition cannot quench. The sun of righteousness has begun to rise on this benighted island, and though the clouds of adversity do sometimes seem to intercept his rays, yet his course is always onward ; and may we not cherish a hope, that the day is not far distant, when his life-giving rays shall penetrate every district, every village, and every habitation in Aneiteuml" But this was just on the eve of the most determined effort for the destruction of the Mission — an effort which brought matters to a crisis. " November IGtL — A boat sailed from this island to-day for Moreton Bay, the nearest point on the coast of New Holland to this island. The distance is 1,200 miles. There were seven men on board of her ; all of them are seafaring men. "Among those who left was Mr. Henry. Mrs. H. remained, and occupied a house on the Mission premises. They are the only family, that showed us sympathy in our troubles. They gave us food when their own supply was limited. Capt. P., contrary to agreement, discharged him, and without his allow- ance of food ; there is reason to believe, for no other reason than because he is friendly to the Mission family. Only two now remain, but they are persons who have already shown them- selves enemies to the cause and ourselves, and they still have the disposition to give us every annoyance in their power. Only a few days ago, one of them offered an American black ten gallons of rum to get me out of the road, and when he lately heard of a cow of mine being speared by a native, his remark was, * I wish to it was himself.' Whatever ex- planation may be given of such statements, the effect of them may be readily understood. " 21 8t. — At the close of our Friday meeting to-day, I had a converaation with our natives, about the propriety of a num- ber of the Christian party making the circuit of the island, and visiting as many of the heathen villages as possible. The plan was first suggested to me by some of the natives themselves. At first I thought the experiment would be dangerous, as the visiting party would have to pass through several hostile dis- tricts ; but finding that the natives were not afraid, I assented 111 rii I )| 296 LIFE OF JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. [1851 to the scheme. It was then agreed, that they should set out from this district, and go on to Umetch, to be joined by the people there, and that the whole party will then proceed to Annauuntchai, where I expect to meet them, leaving home two days later in my boat. We then expect to return by way of Aneito and Annauunse, and thus make the circuit of the whole island. Such is the contemplated plan, and the only object of the visit is to sow the seed of God's Word wherever we can. I gave the natives such directions as I thought might be useful to them, and urged them not by any means to carry their spears and clubs with them, according to native custom, as their mission was one of love and peace. I reminded them, that when I landed on their dark shores, the only weapon that I brought with me was the Word of God, and that they must not carry any other with them. They promised to comply with my request. "^8th. — Friday. — The present has been to us a week of great excitement, and its events cannot soon be forgotten. On Monday, the 24th instant, a large body of the Christian party set out from this place, according to arrangement, to visit round the island. I spent the day in fitting up my boat, and in making preparations to follow. I did not feel uneasy at the prospect of leaving home, as the heathen party at this place are few in number, and form by far the least influential part of the community. On the night of Monday, about midnight, we were awakened by the sound of fire, and on looking up discov- ered the roof of our house in flames. I left Mrs. Geddie to take out our two children, while I ran to awake our natives, who slept in two buildings close by our house. My first effort now was to save the house, but I scarcely expected to succeed in this, as the roof was thatched with the leaf of the sugar-cane, and therefore very combustible. We all set heartily to work, and happily succeeded in putting out the tire. The night was calm, or the fire would soon have spread over the whole roof. And baffled all our efforts to save the house. " I felt assured at once that the fire was the work of an in- cendiary, and our conjectures were soon set at rest, by finding on the roof a brand and a quantity of combustible materials. J sent immediately for Nohoat, who, as soon as he came and saw the mischief done, burst into tears. Night as it was, the 1851] FOURTH year's LABOURS. 297 alarm rapidly spread abroad, and our house was soon filled with men, women and children. I now heard for the first time, that there was a meeting of our heathen enemies yesterday, about noon, at the sandal wood establishment. I have not evidence that the burning of my house formed any part of the conversa- tion that took place, though I believe that matters deeply affecting the interests of this Mission were spoken of. But this much I know, that the individuals who formed that con- ference were the persons who plotted the burning of my house, and attempted to carry their purpose into effect. When Capt. P. and they parted, they shook hands, apparently pleased with each other. In the course of the afternoon, it was whispered by some of these individuals that my house was to be burned. But it appeared so un-native-like, that the heathen, who were a mere handful, should attempt such a thing, that they who heard the report never gave it a serious thought. The chief proposed to sleep in my house for a time, lest we should suffer any further molestation, an offer which I gladly accepted. " The 25th inst. was spent in repairing the injury done to the house, and in collecting what information we could about the affair. Nohoat succeeded in getting the names of the ring- leaders, the principal of whom was a man named Thero. He learnt, moreover, that while a party were to burn my dwelling- house, another party were to burn my meeting-house. On the evening of this day, a number of our natives collected to guard the house during the night. I divided them into watches. The precaution was not needless, for two men were seen making their way towards the chapel during the night, but they were alarmed by the watch, and made their escape. " Early on the 26th inst., I sent a messenger to tell the visit- ing party that I could not meet them, and to request them not to hurry home, on account of what had occurred, as we should keep a guard every night until their return. They had, how- ever, heard of the affair, and the messenger met them shortly after he left. They came in a body to my house on their arrival, and many of them could not speak, but burst into tears. Our meeting was a very affecting one. I told them that we must bear patiently this and other efforts of Satan to overthrow the kingdom of God in this dark land. Shortly after the natives left me, I went out to take a short walk, accompanied by Mrs. 1 if. 298 LIFE OF JOHN OBDDIB, D.D. [1861 E 1 1 ^:'ll Geddie and our children. We had not gone far when we saw a number of heathen and Christian natives, engaged in conver- sation ; the former were armed, the latter were not. There, one of the natives, who set fire to my house, was amonf; the number, and I went up to him and spoke to him uLout his con- duct, but he denied his guilt. While I waa conversing with this man, Munumunu and Sakaio, two of ouv Samoan teachers, who had accompanied our natives home to-day, came up and asked me if this was one of the incendiaries. I told them he was, and in an instant he was in the grasp of these two power- ful men. Each seized an arm, and staring him steadily in the face, asked him how he dared to attempt such a deed. The poor man trembled, and I entreated them to let him go, for I did not wish the heathen to think that, like themselves, we would render evil for evil. There was no sooner released than I looked around and saw another man seized by our people. He was a heathen, and when passing by, raised his spear to throw it into the midst of a crowd of men, who were unarmed and defenceless ; a few lads, rushing forward, seized him before he had effected his purpose, broke his spear, nd were deter- mined to tie him. I went into the midst oi the party, and black and besmeared as the man was with paint and oil, I put my arms around, and with some trouble released him, and he went quietly away. Another man was also seized, and likely to be bound also, but I again interposed with success for his rescue. These things were most unexpected to me, and I now saw that the feelings of our natives were much excited, and that every effort must be made to control them. I turned about, and was walking homeward, accompanied by Mrs. Ged- die and our two children, when I saw Capt. Paddon and Under- wood, one of his workmen, coming towards me in great haste. The former came up to me pale, trembling, and carrying with him a large pistol. He addressed me in a most rude and boisterous manner, and spoke to Mrs. Geddie in a way that I will not record. In the course of our conversation, it was evident that we were guilty on two points, viz., in winning too much of the confidence of the natives, and in attempting to save native females from degradation and misery. One part of the man's talk surprised me a little. He told me some fragments of my history in Nova Scotia, which were new to me. He told me I 1851] FOURTH year's LABOURS. 299 that I would never have been on this island, had I not beon obliged to leave my congregation at home ; that I was unknown to the Church that nent me, as I had lived in a remote corner of it ; and he added with great satisfaction, that as I was the first, so I should be the last missionary that Nova Scotia would send to this island. These statements were unexpected to me, but they were by far the least offensive of his remarks. It is not important to inquire where the man got the information. The natives gathered around me, when they saw the state of excitement in which Capt. Paddon approached me. The chief, who was present, has since told me, that he first thought of ordering the natives to seize and disarm him, but he adopted a more prudent and less offensive course : he told some active men to stand by, and if any motion was made to raise the pistol, to seize it. Waihit, a strong man, stood partly between us, in a way that I thought obtrusive at the time, but which, I have since learned, was intended for my safety. It is more than probable, that the pistol was carried for fear of the natives, but the natives thought it was designed for me. The man went quietly away aifter he had abused me for nearly an hour. His back was no sooner turned, than natives, old and young, male and female, who had witnessed the scene, crowded around Mrs. Geddie and myself, warmly grasped our hands, and expressed their sympathy for us in the trials we have been called on to endure in their land, and for their sakes. The natives now separated for the night ; the Christian party retired to our neigh- bourhood, while the heathen went to the neighbourhood of the sandal wood premises. This evening our people sent a messen- ger to Umetch, to acquaint our friends in that quarter of pass- ing events. " On the morning of the 27th inst. natives began to gather to this district from various quarters, and took their respective sides. The Christian party were resolved not to overlook the burning of the house, and they had sent word to the heathen people to meet them, and talk over the matter with them in a friendly manner. I am not responsible in any way for this movement, for it was made contrary to my advice. It appeared to me a dangerous experiment, to bring two large bodies of natives into contact, when feeling was high on both sides. I had my fears that such a conference would end in something i 1i| 4 300 LIFE OF JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. [1851 iil' more than words. My advice all alon^ had been, to let the matter pass quietly over ; but the natives thought that, accord- ing to their own customs, some demonstration was necessary in order to intimidate our enemies for the future. The four highest chiefs on this side of the island were present, and took the Christian side. All parties were armed with their native weapons, but among the heathen there were a few pistols. I entreated the chiefs in the morning to control their feelings, and let nothing be said or done that would excite warfare ; and they promised compliance with my wishes. When the parties met, the leading men from the Christian side went over into the midst of the heathen party, and called out some of the most forward men, and asked them to sit down with them and quietly talk over matters. They spoke of the burning, the reasons that led to it, etc. The heathen confessed the baseness of the act, and promised that we should not be molested again. The ex- citement which led to the burning of my house was caused by Captain P.'s remarks to the heathen people. He has positively told them that he will leave Aneiteum and go to another island in a very short time, because I am on it, and that they will not have any tobacco when he leaves. It was to remove this ol jection to his departure that my house was set fire 'to at midnight, when we were all asleep. Our party contended for retaining the Word of God and letting the tobacco go, but the heathen took the opposite side. The greater part of the day was spent in conversation between the two parties, and to- wards evening they quietly dispersed. I am glad to say that there was not any angry language on either side, and I feel thankful to God that this meeting, which was the cause of much solicitude to me, passed off so peaceably. The case of my poor children seemed to affect the natives more than any- thing else. After the meeting was over, Nohoat said to me, * Misi, if Lucy had been burnt and Elizabeth had been burnt, and my coat (an old Nova Scotia militia officer's coat, sent as a present to him), we would not have listened to your word to-day, and many persons would have been killed.' " Captain P. feels himself deserted by nearly all the natives who formerly worked for him ; but the fault is his own, for as soon as a man joins the Christian party he is ordered away from his premises. Ever since I landed on Aneiteum I have 1851] FOURTH year's LABOURS. 301 guarded against giving offence to my own countrymen. It has always been my aim to do them good, and not evil. As there is much sickness on this island, I have had it in my power to do something for white men. I have always sup- plied them with medicine, and in many cases with food from my own table ; and when they have been neglected by those whose duty it was to look after them, I have brought them to my house. In many instances these acts have, I think, been appreciated ; but in others they have met with ingratitude. Should he leave this island on my account, I feel conscious that I have not given him any just cause of offence. I pre- sume that he has other reasons for leaving the island than my presence upon it. There is not any sandal wood on the island, and the vessels which collect it on Erromanga have to beat up against the trade winds, and thus there is a great loss of time, which might in a measure be obviated by selecting another island. Add to this the sickliness of the place. Although other reasons for his leaving exist, and which I have heard suggested long ago, yet the whole blame is now thrown on my shoulders, probably with a view to bring me into trouble with the hea- then, who do not wish to lose their tobacco." This affair was the crisis of the Mission. It was the last grand rally of heathenism to maintain its ascendency. It failed, and the triumph of Christianity was assured. The old system was still powerful. In some sections it reigned supreme. Among all classes it had a strong hold, and the missionaries were yet to pass through some severe trials before it would fall ; but its efforts henceforth were the struggles of a dying cause, and the day of final triumph of the new system was at hand. Thus God "made the wrath of man to praise Him, and restrained the remainder thereof." In a letter written about the same time that these extracts from his journal were forwarded, he says : " If my journal reach you, it will make some disclosures which it will be hard to credit ; and yet, after all that I have written, the truth is not half told." Again, a few mouths after, describing similar trials, he says : " It is not proper that you should be entirely ignorant of our troubles, and yet I am not aware that the cause has much to gain by disclosing all to you. If the inte- rests of truth should at any future time require a full detail of 1 1 U^'i ill 9 ' if '1^ m 302 LIFB OF JOHN GBDDIB, D.D. [1851 II facts, my only hope is that the day is far distant, and that the task may fall to other hands." "December lat. — Visited Umetch to-day, in order to settle a teacher at this place. About the time of Kuku's death, the story was whispered by certain persons, and eagerly believed by the natives, that Christianity was the cause of death. This brought out a strong opposition against us at Umetch and other parts of the island. The feeling was so strong against us that I do not think I would have been safe in visiting that place. About four months ago, after feeling had subsided a little, I sent some of our natives to visit the people. The result has been good. They have once more become desirous of Christian instruction. As Umetch is an important district, and the opening appeared good, I removed Sakaio from the north side of the island and settled him at this place. I accompanied him to his station to-day, and selected a healthy site for his house. The place on which he builds has been sacred to the Natmasses from time immemorial. Yiapai will build beside him, as he says, to protect his property from being stolen. I was glad to see that the chief had a large piece of sacred ground cleared for a plantation. An act like this would have been regarded as the precursor of death twelve months ago. The natives are fast rising above their superstitions ! " The tide being low to-day, when I was at Umetch, 1 went to visit a large black rock which lies off the extreme easterly point of the island, and connected with the mainland by a reef bare at low water. This rock was supposed to be a Natmass, and was therefore an object of adoration. The natives pointed out to me two hollows in the rock, which were filled with salt water, and told me that in the smallest of them it had been customary to dip the food intended for the use of sick persons. In the largest of them was a number of shell fish — all of them sacred. A number of them were caught by the natives and given to the teacher, who ate them raw, according to Samoan custom. After desecrating the rock we returned to the shore. " This evening I took a walk inland to see a sick native, and was accompanied by Nohoat. I saw a woman cooking the bark of a certain tree, which is used by the natives for food in times of scarcity. It affords a wholesome and nutritious food, not unpleasant to the taste, but difficult to prepare. It is 1861] FOURTH YEAR'S LABOURB. 303 a food prohibited to chiefs and sacred men, and there is a be- lief that any of the prohibited classes who eat it will die. I asked the woman for a piece to eat, as I wishcvi to see how the chief would act on the occasion, for although he has professedly abandoned heathenism, he is still a very superatitious man. He asked me for a piece, which I gave him, so we both sat down on a log and ate our inhow, those present looking in amazement at him. After Nohoat had gone to rest for the night (he sleeps in my house since the fire), he sent for me, and told me that he had no sickness, but he experienced a kind of feeling which he could not describe. I thought at once of the prohibited food, and knowing his great confidence in the virtues of medicine, I told him that I would give him a draught, which I thought would cure him. So I mixed up a pleasant and harmless drink for him, and before I retired he sent for me to let me know that all his unpleasant sensations were gone, and that he was quite well again. A few months ago, a world would not have induced this man to eat the forbidden food. "3rd. — Jiakai, the chief of a small village, has died. He had been ill for some time, and a few days ago he was brought to a neighbour's house, where I might attend on him. He was a great sufferer during his illness, but his mind was com- posed and peaceful to the last. When it was evident that he was dying, all the Christian party within reach assembled, and they were, I believe, in the act of prayer when he ceased to breathe. A few minutes before his death, he was asked by a native what his hope was now in the hour of death. His answer was, * I rest on Jesus only.' The man's calmness in death and hopes beyond the grave, have made a good impres- sion on our own people, and also on such of the heathen as were present when he died. In the days of heathenism, all was darkness and uncertainty beyond the grave, but now life and immortality are brought to light by the gospel. The man was buried, and the subject of strangling his wife, according to native custom, was never mentioned. To the influence of the gospel in this dark land this poor woman is indebted for her life. On the day of Jiakai's death the heathen burnt his house, killed his pigs, cut down his cocoanut trees, and destroyed his taro. This is always done on the occasion of the death of a man of importance, and the practice is considered respectful to li m I 304 LIFE OF JOHN URDDIB, D.D. [1851 1 1! his memory. It h also customary, whon a chief dies, to have a Hhain fight, which sometimes ends seriously ; but in the pres- ent instance this was dispensed with. The heathen people be- haved as quietly about this death as I could expect. *< 8th. — This morning I made arrangements to visit Annau- unso, in compliance with an invitation from the chief of that place. He sent me word that he wished Christian instruction, and also that he had a pig in readiness to present to mo, for which he wished some clothes. I was delighted to receive such an invitation, as I knew the people of that place to be hostile to the Word of God, and I had not visited it for a considerable time on that account. This morning I had my breakfast long before sunrise, and my crew collected, and was about to leave when a squall came up. While we were waiting for the squall to pass off, Waihit, who was one of the boat's crew, came to say that he had doubts about the advisableness of our going. His chief reason for this was, that a short time befoi e a party from Annauunsc had been round to Anelcauhat, and all their intercourse had been with the heathen party. He thought that if they had had any real desire for the Word of God, they would have come to the missionary and the Christian party. T therefore concluded to put off my visit for the present. In the course of the day some of the heathen people at this plaqe told some of the boat's crew not to go to Annau- unse, as the invitation of the chief was a trap to lead us into danger, for the natives of that place designed to attack and seize the boat. I cannot be too thankful to God that he has disappointed the enemy, and preserved our lives when exposed to danger. The people of Annauunse have been told that Capt. P. will leave the island on my account, and the prospect of losing their tobacco enrages them against me. " 9th. — We have this day heard of a sad event, which has thrown us all into deep trouble. A few kids from Epege visited Annauunse yesterday, in compliance with an invitation from a leading man of that place. They carried a pig along with them for him. They had no sooner reached the man's house who ]j|ad invited them, than the treacherous natives, who had been aware of their intended visit, rushed on them with spears and clubs and killed one of their number ; the others made their escape. The lq.d who was killed was named Waiwai. ^. !■ '% 1851] FOURTH year's LABOURS. 305 He had lived with the toacherH a long time, ind waH one of our best scholars on the north Hide of the inland. To wind up the sad catastrophe, the wretches cut up and cooked the body, and sent portions of it in different directions. The heathens at this station received an arm and a leg as their portion ; but the heart sickens to dwtill on such revolting scenes. "12th. — Two young men have just returned from the north side of the island. They went yesterday to express the sym- pathy of the Christian party in this district to those of Aneito, on account of the murder of the lad, and also to learn what the intentions of the people in that district were. I was glad to learn that they intend to remain ([uiet, and not to revenge the murder according to their old customs. The Annauunse peo- ple were so sure of an attack, that they had nearly all the Meathen people of this district over to h«lp them. I trust that jthing may occur to stir up lighting, for that will only lead to greater loss of life. The young men also brought the parti- culars of the murder. It appeara that a petty chief of Annau- unse, named Nalakiang, had requested an exchange of presents with some of the Epege people. This is the way in which friendships are formed and cemented on this island, and a man, if sincere, will never accept a gift from a person to whom he is hostile. A pig was got ready by the people of Epege for Nalakiang, and four young men of the place and one man of Annauunse were the bearers of it. Though there had not been much intercourse between the two districts, yet the lads did not hesitate to go to Annauunse, for the people of that place had lately invited some of the Christian party to visit them. When they reached Annauunse, they observed some movements that they did not like, but the man who accompanied them, told them not to be afraid, only to come and sit down in Nala- kiang's inclosure, and they would be safe. Nalakiang was not at home, but whether his absence was intentional or otherwise, is not known. Their traitorous companion now left them, and told them that he would shortly return ; but before leaving he went into the house and took out a club and spear. In a few minutes a number of armed men came and surrounded the yard in which the lads were sitting. They now saw that their lives were in danger, and that their only chance of escape was in flight. They made a rush through the circle of their 20 i \ s> ' 306 LIFE OF JOHN GEODIE, D.D. [1851 enemies and fled. Two of them ran to the bush and escaped ; the other two ran along shore and were overtaken. They came up with Waiwai first, whom they speared and struck with their clubs. When his companion saw his danger, he turned back and threw his arms around him, to protect him, if possible, from the blows of the clubs ; and while endeavouring to shield him, he received some blows himself. The poor lad was killed in his arms. The young man, who had acted so generously in this trying occasion, now said to the Annauunse people, ' You have killed him ; kill me also,' but this they would not do, as he had some heathen relatives whom they did not wish to offend. The spirited young man now asked some of the people for a canoe, that he might take home the body, and have it buried ; but his request only met with insult. He then resolved to carry home the body on his back, but in this he was disap- pointed, for the wretches took the body from him and carried it off in savage triumph for cannibal purposes. From all that I can learn about this melancholv transaction, I am inclined to believe, that the murder is to be traced more to a feeling of opposition against the cause of God on this dark island, than to ancient grudges among the natives themselves. A great responsibility attaches to those who have been instrumental in stirring up the late excitement, which has led to consequences so disastrous. The heathen around us, who have been revelling in the flesh of the martyred lad, now exclaim in triumph, that Christianity is false. The body ])eing cut up, distributed and eaten in different places, they consider its resurrection to life impossible. " 18th. — Feeling runs high between Christian and heathen, on account of the cannibalism in the case of Waiwai. The chiefs Nohoat and Topoe were so enraged about the matter, that they even threatened to punish those who had partaken of the body in this district. I was glad to see that all harsh measures have met with the general disapprobation of the peo- ple. I have always urged our natives to bear with patience their trials, and not to return evil for evil. They have so far acted on this principle, that the heathen themselves often speak of the Christian party as the people who do not revenge had coti- dtust. The forbearance of our people, under no ordinary provo- cations, has already made a good impression, and if still acted ml 1851] FOURTH YBAR's LABOURS. 307 jathen, The atter, rtaken harsh e peo- .tience so far speak \ad con- on, will in due time disarm the heathen of much of their hostility. The eating of the body seems to be felt more than the murder. Cannibalism on this island is always regarded by the natives as the climax of revenge. " 23nl. — When we landed on the island, females were regarded as brutes, and treated as such. If a woman dared to disobey the word of her husband, or rather master, a good clubbing was the consequence. I know of two instances in which women have been murdered in this way, and the natives say it has been a common occurrence on this island. On one occasion, I picked up a woman on the shore, who had been beaten by her husband so severely with a club, that he left her for dead. With ths assistance of some natives, I brought her home, and attended her for several weeks. Her skull was awfully fractured, and portions of the brain came away, and her body was otherwise dreadfully mangled. She recovered, but will carry the marks of her wounds to the grave. But when a man joins us, he is required to treat his wife as his equal. Some of the women are taking advantage of the altered state of things. The husbands come to me, and I have some- times to interfere in domestic matters, which is not pleasant. But the poor natives are like children, and I find them very tractable. They all call me Father, and some of them, from hearing ray little girls call me Paj)a, have caught the word, and address me by that name. " 30th. — Amidst all our discouragements, the cause of truth is making its way, and its effects are felt among the heathen themselves. In this district almost every sacred spot has been desecrated, and the time is not far distant when it will be diffi- cult to point out in this place any memorial of the ancient system. Several of the sacred groves have been destroyed, that the land may be employed for agricultural purposes. " The bread fruit season has just come in, and the crop is very abundant. No offerings have been presented by our peo- ple to the Natmasses to propitiate their favour, and the heathen wonder that we have bread fruit at all. The sacred men are always denouncing the vengeance of their Natmasses on the Christian party, and threatening them with starvation ; but the crops of the latter are just as luxuriant as those of the former, and more abundant, inasmuch as they are more industrious. mi I »■ i^ h\ii 't^i 308 LIFE OP JOHN OEDDIE, D.D. [1851 "The sacred stones which the Natiuasses were supposed to inhabit, may be seen strewn about in dift'erent directions. They are no longer venerated by the people. If we had a little Mission schooner to sail among the islands, we could even now ballast her with the cast-off deities of Aneiteum." On the 1st January, 1852, he writes a long letter to the Board, giving full particulars of his work, from which we give some extracts : — " I must now give you a brief account of my labours at this station. I preach twice every Sabbath in the native language. About one hundred hearers are regular in their attendance on public worship. I am sure it would gladden and encourage your hearts, if you could observe the attention and earnestness with which many of them listen to the word of life. At the close of our morning worship, which commences at nine o'clock, our Sabbath schools meet. All who come to the hou«^e of God are expected to attend them, so that we have schr ^ of all ages. Mrs. Geddie takes charge of the women and gins, while I meet with the men and boys. The first exercise is to examine old and young on the morning sermon. This enables me to know what attention has been paid to it, and also what parts have been misunderstood or require explanation. In a land like this, where the written word is not in the hands of the people, and where instruction must be communicated through the channel of a foreign tongue, its value would be greatly diminished without this subsequent catechetical exercise. I next go over a chapter of the native catechism, which I ex- plain. I then take question by question, and make the scholars repeat the answi'rs all together until they are remembered, as many of them cannot read. Many of the young can repeat the whole catechism with great readiness. After these exer- cises are over, I retire and leave the natives to spend a short time by themselves in reading, conversation and prayer, after which they dismiss. At four o'clock p.m. we again meet for public worship. "I have in a great measure discontinued the practice of itinerating on the Sabbath day. I commenced this duty when I landed on the island, and kept it up for more than two years and a half ; but the excitement against the cause and myself at last became so great, during the (^arly part of last year, that 1 Uce of when years nyself that 1851] FOURTH YEARS LABOURS. I could not venture far from home without exposing myself to insult, perhaps to danger ; and now my duties on the Sabbath day have become so onerous at home, that I find it difficult to go abroad. But I rejoice to state that the practice has been resumed by the natives. I usually send out a few of the men in whom I have most confidence to adjacent villages, for the purpose of conversation and prayer with their heathen country- men. God appears to have sanctioned their labours to some extent, and numbers have through their instrumentality been brought to give up their superstitions and submit to Christian instruction. Those who go abroad give me an account of their visits on their return, and it is interesting to hear their simple and sometimes affecting narratives of their intercourse with the heathen. They have in somi; instances i^et with ill treat- ment, and been exposed to danger ; but they are still anxious to labour for the salvation of their countrynien. " Our Friday meeting goes on well, and is attended by about fifty members. It comes very near what you would call a prayer meeting in Nova Scotia. The natives call it a meeting for searching or looking into their hearts. In addition to devotional exercises, we have two or three addresses. These are most commonly based on some passage oi vScripture from which the natives have heard me preAch, and are often very impressive. I have felt my own heart warmed on many occa- sions while listening to them. " We have two week-day schools in operation at this station — the one for females and the other for males. The former is under Mrs. Geddie's superintendence, anil sIk; is assisted by the Rarotongan widow whom I brought from Tana year before last, and also by two native young women who have been living with us for more than two years. This is our largest and most adv?.rin.3(l school, and numbers about forty scholars. My own school contains about thirty scholars, some of them old men. Nohoat, the chief, is one of my scholars. After nmch effort he has mastered the alphabet, and is now reading words of one syllable. He says that his mind is very dark, but that he wishes to learn. Many in both schools can read well, and a few are able to write. I am sorry to say that we have scarcely any children in our schools under ten years of age, though there is a sufficient number within reach to form a large school. 310 LIFE OF JOHN OEDDIB, D.D. [1861 They are so irregular and fugitive in their habits that they cannot yet be brought to submit to the slight restraints of a school, and their parents have no control over them. " Our schools meet every morning at sunrise. As soon as the day breaks, two boys go through the settlement in different directions with the nitai ahlang, i.e., the thing to call people. It is just a piece of hard wood neatly dug out, something in the shape of a trough, and when struck with a round hard stick it gives out a sound which may be heard for some dis- tance. It is, however, a poor substitute for a bell, and when the wood is wet it is almost useless. If persons friendly to the cause only knew what an acquisition a bell would be to the station, they would, I think, make an effort to send one. But to return to our schools. With the aid of our assistants we get through before breakfast. Our most advanced scholars again meet at ten o'clock a.m., for writing. " We are at a loss for school materials at present. A supply of slates and pencils which I brought from Samoa is now very low. My paper and pens are done, and our scholars are now writing on their slates. " Of those who attend our schools, about fourteen reside with us. It seems desirable that those who are most likely to become the instructors of their countrymen, should be sepa- rated as much as possible from intercourse with their heathen relatives and friends. It is now between two and three years since we attempted something in the shape of a Mission board- ing school. Our inability to assist our pupils to any extent with food, has in a measure defeated our object ; but I hope we will yet succeed. Most of the scholars who reside with us have begun to make plantations of their own, and will in time be independent of their friends for food, and of us also. "The present account of our schools is more encouraging than I have hitherto been able to give. We laboured amidst many discouragements for three long years to form schools, and have succeeded to some extent. The natives now begin to appreciate the value of instruction, and they are desirous to learn. Often, when I have invited them to attend «. ar schools, have I been asked, 'What payment will you give usf But now they speak with gratitude of my kindness in coming to their dark land to instruct them. lii 1851^ FOURTH TEAR S LABOURS. 311 " The teachers at Epege are doing much good. I had a few young men from that place residing with me, who have now returned home, and are valuable assistants to the teachers in instructing the people. A large school has lately been organ- ized, and will, I hope, do much good. The teachers at the out-stations have been greatly hindered in their work by sickness. " You will not be surprised to learn that we encounter much opposition ; it would be a matter of surprise if it were not so. I feel more encouraged in the hope that we are doing some good, than if we were permitted to go quietly on. We have been much opposed by the heathen, especially during the past year. If we except Tahiti, on no island in the Pacific has the Grospel been so violently opposed as on Aneiteum. But we could bear with the opposition of the heathen if left to them- selves. We have encountered, from another quarter, as un- manly, as ungenerous, and as unmerited an opposition as was ever offered to the cause of righteousness in a heathen land, by men from a Christian country. I have been represented as a liar and impostor, and the natives have been told, that wherever missionaries go, disease and death follow in their train. The rage of certain parties has, if possible, burned more fiercely against Mrs. G. than against myself, perhaps because she has been more directly instrumental in saving the poor native females from degradation and ruin. I am happy to add, how- ever, that we occasionally meet with individuals who bewail the degeneracy of their countrymen, as well as the opposition offered to the best of causes. " The work at present is at a kind of stand. The natives are now taking sides all over the island, and feeling runs high among both parties. The heathen exceed us in number, but not in influence. All the highest chiefs on the island, and men of rank, have declared themselves on the side of Christi- anity. The murder of the lad, which I have recorded in my journal, has tended more than anything else to bring matters to this issue. Such is the state of feeling, that I am now in a great measure confined to my own district, and cannot freely visit around as I used to do. The teachers have less to appre- hend than I have, but they are also limited in their movements. The natives may go about with greater safety than any of us. p, '} ?v ^i 'S I?* liil 312 LIFE OF JOHN OEDDIB, D.D. [1851 All that we can do at present is to improve every little open- ing that we can. Things will not continue long as they are. The cloud is fast passing away, and we will fgain enjoy the sunshine of prosperity. The ranks of the heathen contain many who are favourable to Christianity, but they dare not come out and avow themselves to be so. The season for feast- ing is approaching, and many of the heathen say that when that is over, the Word of God will again hejaaae on this island, i.e., it will rapidly spread : it was so last year. "I hope that you will not be discouraged by the above statements ; we are not. The poor natives often say that this island is no longer Satan's kingdom, but God's, and that His word will triumph in it. In the missionary work we require something to keep us down, as well as to lift us up; otherwise we would forget our dependence on God. And bear in mind, also, that our troubles have arisen out of our successes. Nor is it any new thing for ' the heathen to rage, and the people to imagine a vain thing.' " During the year, I have prepared and printed a small book of selected portions of Scripture, to which I have appended six hymns in the native language ; also sheets of words and sen- tences for the use of schools. The amount of press-work is as follows: — Pages. 600 copies translated portions of Scripture, 24 pages . . . 14,400 600 copies native hymns, 4 pages 2,400 600 sheets, No. 1 600 600 sheets, No. 2 600 Total number of pages 18,000 "The editions of all our books have been too limited for want of paper, and the supply which 1 had is now worked up. I ordered some to come by the John Williams, which 1 hope we will soon receive. It will be necessary to make new editions of our elementary school-books and catechism, as we will soon be out of them. The demand for books is very great all round the island. I saw the day when the natives feared the sight of a book, as something that generated disease and death ; but now I fear that a few go to the opposite extreme, and value a book as a charm to keep away these evils. It is pleasing to see the efforts, which natives beyond the reach of 1851] FOURTH TEAR S LABOURS. 313 schoolH are making to learn. One or two individuals will go and remain a few days with some friend who knows more than themselves, and after learning a few letters or words, go home and teach their neighbours. And when natives from a distance visit me, they will often ask me to sit down and give them a lesson. " I have the Gospel of Matthew in hand at present, which I am endeavouring to translate. I find the work less difficult than I expected, yet it is a very laborious one. Every word must be critically examined, and suitable terms chosen to express religious ideas. The language has a fulness and vp^- riety of expression for the ordinary afiairs of life, scarcely to be expected among so barbarous a people, and just as much sub- ject to rule as the classic languages of (ireece and Rome ; but when used as a vehicle for religious truth, it is greatly at fault. For a great many theological terms, such as repent, justify, sanctify, judge, church, etc., there are no suitable words, and of many of the implements, employments, animals, customs, etc., recorded in Scripture, these islanders have never heard. But these difficulties are not insurmountable. In some cases new words must be coined ; in others, the idea must be expressed by circumlocution. After one book has been translated, others will become comparatively easy. In preaching to the natives, if we do not find a suitaV>lo term to express an idea new to them, it is possible, by explanation and illustration, to convey what we wish, but translation does not admit of this liberty. I do not expect to complete the Gospel by Matthew for a few months ; but when it is finished, how is it to be printed ] I cannot undertake the printing of it, with my present engagements ; it is as much as I can do to provide such books as our schools require. ♦ "I scarcely know what to say about another missionary, after all that I have already written on this subject. More than two years must have elapsed since you had duo intimation of Mr. Archibald's demission and intention to leave this island, and I am still alone, and have not heard anything from you to encourage me to hope that my situation will be other- wise for a considerable time. In this dark land we have encountered no ordinary discouragements, but I can assure you that the apparent indifference which you have manifested ■IS ■m "' *i 1 • .( 1 i.yi\ i.i Hi . ■'r ■ 'f i '■* ■ 1 J ft: >' 1 ( ( 3 I 3 1 t* ; j] 'i i 11 1 Iff H P !™m 1 Wr^ 1 \. '^^4 f i , ii k^^H^ 314 LIFB OF JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. [1851 l\ I about a subject so deeply affecting the interests of this Mission, has dismayed us more than anything else. You have incurred a serious responsibility in leaving me and my helpless family so long alone in an island so unhealthy, and in a sphere of labour so arduous and perilous. I occupy a position in which no single missionary should be placed, and my only consolation is that I have come into it in the course of Providence, under circumstances over which I had no control. I fear that the order laid down in the New Testament for the evangelization of the heathen, is not sufficiently considered by those who have the direction of Missions at home. Our Lord sent out both the seventy and the twelve, two and two. After His ascension the Apostles acted on the same plan, and proceeded in pairs wherever they went. The Holy Ghost gave His sanction to the same mode when he called for the separation of Barnabas and Saul to go to the Gentiles. Do not imagine, from the strain in which I writej that my love for the missionary work diminishes ; every day increases my attachment for it. It is no ordinary privilege to be a missionary, and the only Pro- testant missionary labouring among a branch of the human family, of whom but little is yet known, and who claim the largest, and by far the most numerous islands in the Pacific Ocean as their territory — the long-neglected and degraded Papuan race. If the word of reconciliation were committed to angels, they would, I think, choose such a field of labour as these islands present, for in no part of the world are the inhabitants so awfully estranged from God, and so fearfully degraded. Would not the soul of an Erromangan, when purified, elevated and made holy, be a nobler trophy of Divine grace, and a brighter gem in the Redeemer's crown, than a soul saved in a land of light and privileges ? " n 1852] FOURTH YRAR's LABOURS. 316 Chapter XIII. . FOURTH YEAR'S LABOURS -(Con: J ■^ >, ^ . * \^ jl ■ 1 w* jl ^ "1 ' i¥ '\\^ h ' 1 '■h i. i *if .<'^:^.P/r. 324 LIFE OF JOHN OBDDIE, D.O. [1852 were gaining more and more upon the confidence and esteem of the people. The people expressed a strong desire for mis- sionaries, and the deputation were convinced that the way was quite prepared for their occupying the field. " May 18th. — At daybreak this morning the signal to em- bark was hoisted on board of the John Williams, so commend- ing my family to the guardianship of God, I bade them adieu. I had concealed as much as possible my intended voyage from the natives, knowing that it would occasion an excitement among them, which, however grateful to my feelings, I had no desire to witness. The word, however, had spread, and a large number were collected on the shore to see me off. They were not altogether reconciled to the idea of my leaving the island, even for a short time ; and they feared that during the voyage I might make up my mind to settle on some other island more inviting than theirs. ' What will become of us, Misi, if you leave usV they said, ' for there will be no missionary to teach us the Word of God in this dark land.' I assured them that the state of my health was the only consideration which in- duced me to leave them for a time ; and reminded them that I left behind me my dear wife and children, a sure pledge that if my life was spared I would return to them. After bidding them all an affectionate farewell, I jumped into the boat which was waiting for me, and we put off amidst the friendly saluta- tions of the natives, many of whom were weeping, and in ten minutes more we were on board the John Williams, ready for sea." They first sailed for the north side of the island, thence to Futuna. Here they held friendly intercourse with the people ; and though nothing effective was done, yet it was hoped that a good impression was made. Leaving this island they passed Aniwa and came to Erromanga. Their proceedings there were deeply interesting and important, as being the first effective attempt at setting up the light of the Gospel on that island — a light which, though often burning low and exposed to severe blasts, has never been extinguished, until there is now the prospect of all its once dark population being brought under the power of the Gospel. We shall therefore give this portion of his journal in full : — "22nd. — This morning, on going up on deck, we had a fine 1852] FOURTH year's LABOURS. 325 view of Erromanga. The tops of the mountains in the interior of the island were enveloped in clouds, on which the reflection of the rays of the rising sun gave to the whole scene a magnifi- cent appearance. Our excellent captain, when viewing -the spectacle, recognized something emblematical in it, and he said it led his mind forward to the time, when 'the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings,' to illumi- nate and save the inhabitants of this dark isle. As we sailed along the coast, we observed little columns of smoke arising at different places. This is the signal made by the natives to vessels when they have sandal wood to dispose of ; but they mistook our object in visiting their shores. "About midday we entered Dillon's Bay, if bay it can be called, before a gentle breeze. This is the place where the lamented Williams fell in 1839. The Bay is formed by a slight curve in the land, and is only safe for vessels when the wind blows off the shore. We anchored near the land in fifteen fathoms of water; and while we had this depth at the bow of the ship, it was found upon trial that the whole length of the line did not fetch soundings at her stern, so that the anchorage appears to be formed by a ledge which rises perpendicularly from the bottom of the sea. We had taken up our position too near the edge of the ledge for safety, and yet we appeared to be much too near the land. As soon as the ship came to anchor, a number of natives swam off to us. We had on board three Erromangans, who had gone to Samoa in the vessel when she last visited these islands. They were able to act as inter- preters, and we soon learnt from our visitors that the natives in the Bay were at war with each other, and that most of them were living in their fortifications. One of these we saw within a short distance of the place where we lay. It was a large and natural cave on the east side of the Bay, barricaded in front with a double paling of wood. It can only be approached from the water, and I should judge from appearance a place of easy defence. We could see many men, women and children in it. We had natives on board from the hostile parties, but they wore unarmed, and the ship was of course neutral ground ; they occupied, however, different parts of the vessel, and seemed to avoid intercourse with each other. The information about the war was rather discouraging, as the missionary brethren ■If 'If ' *? I ^m I '■ > -A 326 LIPK OF JOHN UEDDIE, D.D. [1852 U I 111 ll'lll I \ : hoped to be able to land teachers at this place, in company with the EiTomangans from Samoa. Inquiry was made for the principal chief in the Bay, but we were told that his wife had died this morning in consequence of a wound from an arrow, and that he could not visit us until his mourning was over. " The place where Williams was killed was full in our view at a short distance from the vessel. Our kind captain, wishing to gratify us, lowered a boat that we might have a still better view of that spot, which has now become invested with a kind of immortal interest. We pulled in towards the shore, not knowing whether we should land or not. We looked cautiously around, and not observing any natives we ventured to go on shore. The place where we landed was a beautiful valley be- *^^wee' *wo mountains, which rise abruptly on each side, and the V -jAiey seemed to wind and narrow as you advance inland. A lovely stream of water flows at the base of the mountain on the est *'i^ of the valley, and empties into the sea. The stream ia navigable for a boat for some distance, and the water is fresh about a gun shot from the sea, and we all drank of it. To the captain especially the visit was one of deep and melan- choly interest. He has not landed at this place since the sad disaster in 1839. He gave us an affecting account, on the spot, of the transactions of that eventful day when Williams and Harris were killed by the natives, and when he himself had a narrow escape. We spent about half an hour on the blood- stained beach of Erromanga. No natives made their appear- ance, but some of the sailors saw remnants of fires in the bush, sleeping mats, baskets hanging on trees, etc. — indications that the natives were not far otF — and just before we left, the sound of voices could be heard at no great distance. I gathered a number of pebbles as nearly as possible from the spot where Mr. Williams was killed, and took them on board with me. "After our return to the vessel we told the natives on board that to-morrow was our sacred day, and requested them not to come on board. About sunset they all jumped overboard and left the vessel, some of them swimming as we supposed a dis- tance of two miles. The Erroraangans have few canoes, and indeed they are scarcely required, for the natives seem nearly as much at home in the water as on the land. 1852] FOURTH year's LABOtRB. 327 ^^23rd. — Sabbath. — A pleasant day. Somo natives swam off to the ship this morning, but liey were told that we could . not receive visitors to-day ; and the explanations given satis- lied them, and they wont on shore. We saw large numbers collected on shore through the day, but they did not come off to molest us. I took one of the services to-day, and preached from Numbers xiv. 21, 'But, as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord.' There is hope for Erromanga while this promise is on record. It forms a part of that extensive territory, on which God has pledged His own eternity and self-existence for the manifestation of His glory. It is delightful to fall back on the encouragements of Scripture when we are seeking an entrance for the truth into one of the darkest regions of the earth. " 24th. — Last night the wind came round to south-west and sent a tremendous swell into the Bay. We had heavy squalls accompanied by rain. Our exposed situation occasioned some uneasiness, and the captain remained on deck all night.. Two anchors were out with seventy fathoms of cable, and a third anchor was hoisted out of the hold and got in readiness in the event of any emergency. When the ship swung in towards the land with so much cable out, our situation appeared some- what alarming. But God has been merciful to us, and though the swell still rolls in and the ship labours, yet the day is fine and the wind moderates. " The two principal chiefs of the Bay came off to the ship this morning. The object of our visit was stated to them by the natives who had been at Samoa. They seemed to under- stand, and expressed their willingness to receive and protect teachers. The names of the chiefs are Naioan and Kauiaui. The district of the former is Sufu, at the west side of the Bay ; and of the latter Punka, the place where Mr. Williams was killed. Naioan is an old man, and apparently the most influ- ential chief atoDillon's Bay. Both chiefs offered to send rela- tions of their own to Samoa as hostages for the safety of the teachers. They promised, likewise, to give up their present war as soon as possible, and submit to Christian instruction. After deliberation and prayer, Yaa and Aitutangi, with their wives — all Ilarotongans---were set apart for this island. The teachers have gone on shore this afternoon to spend the night < ^2 i^k 'H ', m -' I. r •11 i! 328 i ■ I 11 I lih : iiu i ■ i LIFE OF JOHN QBDDIB, D.D. [1852 with their new friends, and they will return in the morning with their wives and property. The way for the settlement of teachers on Erromanga has been opened up beyond our most sanguine expectations. The people earnestly desire them. Has the time to favour this island come at last i "S25th. — The teachers came off this morning, and we were glad to see them. They bring a good account of the people and land, and are not afraid to remain. About eleven o'clock the teachers and their wives took farewell of us, and they left us in excellent spirits. May God protect and bless them ! Their landing was an interesting sight. About one hundred and fifty natives were collected on the shore, and gave them a cordial reception. I shall never forget the scene as I stood looking at it through a glass. It would form a worthy theme for the painter and the poet. I had longed and prayed for the day when the messengers of mercy should gain a footing on Erromanga's blood-stained shores, and I thank God that the day has come, and that I have been a witness of it. May this prove a day memorable in the history of this dark island ! After the boats which carried the teachers and their property on shore put off again, we saw the littlQ Mission party, accom- panied by the natives, who carried their boxes and bundles, proceeding to the place marked out for their residence. " Along with the teachers, two of the Erromangan lads who had come from Samoa were left. One of them, Mana, is a young man of great promise. He can read the New Testament in the Samoan language, and will prove to the teachers an in- valuable assistant in the acquisition of the language, and in explaining their object to the natives. He is a hopeful youth, and the missionary brother with whom he resided in Samoa thinks favourably of his piety. As I was walking the deck last evening, I overheard a conversation between Mana and Paulo, a native of Savage Island, in the Samoan language. The latter was giving the former some good advice, and ex- horting him to be strong in the woi'k of God among his be- nighted countrymen. The lad replied to the following effect : • My heart is not weak in the cause of God. I do not know if the people will kill us or not ; the will of the Lord be done. If we die, it will be in the cause of Gpd.' Such were the words of this Erromangan lad, when about to land with the messen- 1852] FOURTH YEAR 8 LABOURS. 329 gers of salvation on hia own savage island. If the young men of Christian lands had something of the spirit of this youth, the cause of God would not languish as it now does in heathen lands for want of agents. " While we lay at Dillon's Bay we had correct information about a murder lately committed at Erromanga by a white man, on board of a little vessel belonging to the sandal wood establishment on Aneiteura. The native, who was a brother to the chief with whom the teachers are left, was shot by the white man, it is said, for asking more for some sandal wood than the latter was willing to give. This occurred about three miles from the spot where we lay. Three or four natives were also murdered by persons on board a schooner belonging to the same establishment some time previous. We did not learn the particulars of the latter affair, as it occurred at another part of the island. When the natives of this island shall know that all white men are not savages, and that there are many who sympathize with them in their wrongs, they will have many a deed of horror to record which is now unknown to the world. Erromanga is deeply stained with the blood of her own inhabitants, who have fallen by the murderous hands of white men. "About two o'clock p.m. we bade adieu for the present to Erromanga. We take with us live Erromangans, who will go on to Samoa. Many others wished to go, and it was difficult to get them out of the ship — an evidence that we have thor- oughly won their confidence. " The island of Erromanga exhibits traces of volcanic origin and agency. It is probably 120 or 130 miles in circumference. It is impossible to form any correct estimate of its population. It is thinly inhabited along the sea coast, but the interior is said to contain many inhabitants. The people are a shade darker than the Aneiteumese. The hair is short and frizzled, and in many cases it is of a light greyish and disagreeable colour. A negro cast of countenance predominates, and they can scarcely be called a fin^ooking people. They paint their faces with a substance resembling powdered black lead, which is found in the interior of the island, which gives them a glossy and strange appearance. Their language bears a greater analogy to that of Aneiteum than any spoken on the neigh- M', 330 LIFE OF JOHN OKDDIE, D.D. [1862 bouring islands ; but the difference is very material. The various tribes on the island keep up a kind of constant war- fare with each other, and life is very insecure. Sandal wood abounds on Erroraanga, and is much sought after by vessels. It is purchased from the natives for pigs, tobacco, and a kind of shell found on New Caledonia, which they greatly prize." At Efate they found the teachers labouring with some encouragement, and also that Sualo was proving rather a hindrance to them — perhaps jealous of the influence that they were acquiring among the people. He wanted to return to Samoa, from which he had been absent for twenty -five years. A passage was readily given to him. Though ho had >>een the means of opening the door for the entrance of the Gospel into this island, we believe that he never gave decided evidence of having opened his own heart to receive the saving message. They had pleasant intercourse with the people, more particu- larly as they brought back a young chief, who had been taken to Samoa on the last trip of the vessel. Thence they sailed for the Loyalty Islands, where they were delighted with what they saw of the Lord's work, accomplished by the instru- mentality of the Samoan teachers. They returned to Aneiteum after an absence of four weeks, Mr. G. feeling invigorated in body and recruited in spirits. Of the state of things, as exhibited on this voyage, he writes afterward to the Board : "At all the islands we found much to encourage, and but little to discourage, missionary exertion. The isles in this part of the Pacific are literally waiting for Christ's law. Even on the blood-stained shore of Erromanga, we thought it safe to land on the very spot where Williams was killed, and we left two teachers there at the request of the people. I have twice received letters from the teachers there, since they were landed, and they write in encouraging terms about their prospects. Tana is at present an inviting field for missionary labour, and the prospects are greatly more encouraging there now, than they were at Aneiteum four years ago, when we landed on it. A door is also open on Efate, and|gfour missionaries might at present be landed on that island. Any missionary whom you send must make Aneiteum his first destination. He might spend six or twelve months here with advantage. I may inform you that my services are always at your disposal for [1862 1852] FOURTH YEAR S LABOURS. 331 as missionary work, and I shall hold myself in readiness to give place at any time to an agent from you on this island, and undertake the labours of a new Mission on any of the neigh- bouring islands, whenever Providence seems to inlicato that such a measure is desirable." Nothing untoward happened during his absence. The principal trouble Mrs. G. had had was in saving a poor woman from strangling, the i)articulars of which are worth recording. The woman's husband had been in a dying state for about a fortnight, and all that time Mrs. Geddie's mind was kept in a state of extreme tension. The man might die at any moment, and in a few moments the woman would be murdered. It was therefore necessary to be constantly on the alert. She had a son and daughter with her, who were both Christians, and anxious to save their mother. They watched the progress of events, and kept Mrs. G. and the Christians about her informed of what was going on. Several times she was roused at dead of night by the intelligence that the death hour had come, and she was obliged to collect her party and send them to the scene. As usual, the woman herself was bent on her own destruction, and fled to the house of a brother living at a short distance, in the expectation that the deed would be there accomplished, as soon as the death wail for her husband was heard. The Christian party having got information of this movement, Waihit, a relative of the woman and a strong man, went to the house, and seizing her, carried her off on his back. She savagely bit his shoulder as he was carrying her along. He, however, kept his hold, and brought her to her own home. Mrs. G., worn out with want of sleep and anxiety, then applied to the captain of a vessel in the harbour for aid. He came with a body of men, and was joined by Mr. Underwood, with whom was also a band of men. They went and took away the woman by force, and with Mrs. G.'s conseit, Mr. U. took her to his own house and promised to have h ; vMtched. But she made her escape, #nd took refuge in an outhouse, probably intending to strangle herself when her husband died. Mrs. G. had retired to rest with an easy mind, supposing that all was right, but was soon summoned again. The Samoan teachers and the Christians near were hastily gathered, and proceeded to the outhouse, where they found the woman and surrounded Hk ., M' ' m ij %\M \\ ' .if: ;VI JiHH 332 LIFR or JOHN OBDDIB, D.D. [1852 III : i : 1 ' i her. The man died that night, and they watched her till iiiorning, by which time her huHband'H body was cast into the sea, and she was no longer in danger. Strange to say, the woman, so far from thanking Mrs. G. for what she had done, actually scolded her. Coining to Mrs. G. some time after, with her child on her back, she accosted her in such terms as these : " Why did you save my life, and not let i > strangled when my husband died ? Who is to provide ft . for me and this child 1 " Mrs. O. told her she was strong and able to work. She, however, lived to view matters diflerently, and once and again thanked Mrs. (». for lier efforts on her behalf, though we do not know that she ever became a decided Christian. Soon after Mr. G. arrived home, another painful occurrence took place, which showed the power which heathenism still had over the minds of a portion of the population. It is thus recorded in his journal : "i/wne 24th. — A sad event has just occurred. Four young men set out from Annauntchai to come to this station this morning. They had been sent by the chief to beg a teacher for his land, and also some native catechisms, '^hey had to pass through a village about three miles distr from this place on their way. The chief has joined us, an j some of his people, but the body of the people are still heathen. The young men were attacked by the heathen, and one of their number barbarously murdered. The young man who was killed belonged to Aneito, and had been to Annauntchai for some time, teaching the Christian party there to read. The chief in whose district the young man was murdered, has been spending some time at this station, and he is deeply affected on account of the murder. It was not on account of his profession of Christianity that the young man was killed, but to revenge the death of some individual in that district, who had fallen in former wars with the Aneito people. The same thing would have happened had the lad been a heathen. **28th. — The late murder has created considerable excite- ment. On the morning after it happened, the chief and people of the district adjoining that in which it took place, went to recover the body and bury it. They were too late, for it had been carefully concealed for cannibal purposes. There was [1852 1852] FOURTH YEAR 8 LABOURS. .•^33 conHidorablo excitement between the parties, litul it was likt-Iy to lead to HeriouH consecjuenceH. Those very perHonH who Hought the body for int<*rinent, wouUl, a litth* more than a year ago, have taktui a part in the traj^edy IheniHelveH, for they belonged to the same fighting party as those who mur (l(5re ■ i Til ; - i i 1 ^ ; I :r ^ : 1 ' ^ ' ' \ 338 LIFB OF JOHN OEDDIE, D.D. [1852 and most luxuriant part of the island. For the space of ii;ine or ten miles there is a safe boat passage within the reef, which may be traversed at all times ; and between the shore and base of the mountain there is a ridge of rich table land of variable width, and the path along this is level and pleasant. It is a station drawing less on physical energy than most in the Pacific. In contrast with it the south side is bold and rugged, the name Anelcauhat meaning ' stony kingdom.' " Mr. Inglis was older than Mr. G., and entered upon the field at an age when one is at a disadvantage in acquiring a foreign language ; but his many high qualities reTidered him an in- valuable acquisition, besides that his coming enlisted the efiTorts of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland in the field. The two differed in temperament, but neldom have two men lived more lovingly and worked more harmoniously together. And the God of love and of peace was v/ith them. In closing this account of his first four years' jiiidsionary life, during three of which he was without the aid of a mis- sionary brother, looking at the results achieved — a language acquired and reduced to writing ; works prepared in it and thousands of copies printed ; some hundreds taught to read and hundreds more in school ; nearly half of a population, num- bering nearly four thousand, brought to embrace Christianity and attending on Christian instruction ; a Church formed ; and this with the multiplied mechanical labours of building, etc., and in the face of such opposition as few Missions have had to encounter — we may say that the history of modern Missions does not exhibit an example of a first Mission to a heathen race, accomplishing as much in the same time by as feeble an agency, and scarcely even where the Mission was begun by a strong band of missionaries. 1852] GATHERING THB HARVEST. 339 Chapter XIV. GATHERING THE HARVEST. 1852-54. h n THE greatest difficulties of the Mission might now be said to be over, though very much work remained to be done, and many trials to be endured, before the final triumph of the Gospel. The night of weeping was past, and the morn was breaking in joy. Long had the missionary sown in tears, but now had begun the joy of harvest ; and when the fields were white, a fellow-labourer, with many high qualificatiouFi, was graciously sent to aid in gathering in the sheaves. Hence- forward, for some time, the history of the Mission is a record of advancement, scarcely interrupted by a single retrogression. The work was in every way as important as before, but it was of a more quiet nature, and without such exciting incidents as marked its previous history. For the next few months we ' possess only a few jottings from his journals, and his letters are not as copious as formerly. On the 26th of August he writes that the epidemic had ^ subsided — that it afforded an opportunity of doing much good to the heathen, and thus convinced them of the reality of the Gospel. Still, many remained obdurate against the truth, notwithstanding all the kind treatment they received. One woman said she did not wish to be separated from her husband in hell. On the 8th of September he writes in his journal : " We have had several accessions of late. Some who were the most determined enemies of the cause have joined, and wish to be taught the Word of God. Many whom we least of all expected so to act, have turned their backs on heathenism, and ask for Christian instruction. Our natives wonder, and exclaim, * This is the Lord's doing.' How strange and pleasing 340 LIFE OF JOHN OBDDIE, D.D. [1852 to see those who so lately raged against the cause of God, aijd those who were friendly to it, now willing to sit at the feet of Jesus, that they may be taught the way of life and happi- ness!" Among the causes of this was the breaking up of the sandal wood establishment, which finally took place about this time. Writing on the 1 7th, he says : " The sandal wood establishment is fast breaking up. There has been a great destruction of property. Those things that cannot be con- veniently removed are committed to the flames. In a few months it will be impossible to tell from external indications that a foreign establishment existed on Aneiteum. I wish that other memorials of their residence on this island could be as easily obliterated." In the same letter he says : I enjoy excellent health at present, and I never needed it more. With school teaching, printing, translating, building, and other departments of missionary labour, our hands are full, and we scarcely find time for necessary repose. " My dear brethren, let us thank God for the measure of en- couragement which we have enjoyed in His work on this island. May it arouse the Church at home to more vigorous efforts in the cause. Send, I entreat you, more labourers, and send men of the right sort. We want men of piety, energy and devoted- ness to the cause of God, and any others are worse than useless. Keep all the men you can spare at home, and send those you find it most difficult to part with. They will find ample scope' here for all their talents, attainments and energies. " I send this letter by our excellent friend, the Bishop of New Zealand. He has paid us a passing visit, on his return, from visiting the New Caledonia and Solomon Islands. He has just been telling me that he thinks he could, within the space of five years, safely locate eighty missionaries on the islands visited by him during his present voyage. If all bishops and all ministers were men of the same stamp as Bishop Selywn, the world would be evangelized within a reasonable period. ** September 19th. — An interesting Sabbath. Our little chapel was crowded to excess. Mr. Inglis arrived yesterday, and brought with him an influential chief, lata, formerly a great warrior &nd notorious cannibal. He has not been at this side of the island for years before our arrival. He met r >!»! 1852] OATHERINQ THE HARVEST. 341 ap of eturn, He n the the i all p as in a little kday, krly a [en at le met in the house of God to-day a man named Nimtiwan, of a sillnilar character. The last time they met was on the field of battle. I wondered how they would act now, and oh, how delighted I was, to see these two men come to the • house of Gpd with their arms round each other ! I could not help calling the attention of brother Inglis to the scene, and saying, 'See what the Gospel has wrought.' The party of foreigners on the island had long attempted, from self-interested motives, to effect a reconciliation between the hostile parties on this island. The head of the sandal wood establishment has once and again attempted to bring about a meeting between the leaders of the two parties, but in vain. He has offered to take them in armed boats from one district to another, but all to no pur- pose. But the Gospel has effected what other means had failed to do." About the same time Mr. Geddie writes : " We have had but one supply of goods since we came here, and that was a very small one. Those which arrived in Sydney last December are there yet. Were it not for the things so kindly sent by friends in Nova Scotia, and a large parcel of children's clothes sent by my dear friend Mrs. Bullen, we should have been quite short. As it is, we have nothing to give the poor natives who come from a distance, and who have nothing to cover them. Since I commenced this letter, ^wo young men from a distant district have come with taro, for which they wish a piece of cloth in payment, but I have none to give them. Poor Lucy has had no shoes for many months but what I have made for her, and when the ground •is the least damp, she must stay indoors altogether. I am wearing my last shoes now, and they are nearly done. You will think I am very discontented. Not at all. I am quite happy — but we are getting out of patience. Perhaps I should not have mentioned this, for you cannot remedy it, but I know you will sympathize with us. I am thankful to say that we have never been out of flour; but had we not been able to purchase some corn bread from a whaler, and a bag of flour from a vessel that called here lately, we should have been quite out." In the month of October we find a memorandum of " four Aneiteumese murdered on Tana," but we have no particulars. 342 LIFE OF JOHN OBDDIB, D.D. [1862 I i In the same month he made a visit to the north side of the island, taking with him Mrs. Geddie and the children. Hd was also accompanied by some of the leading men of the south side. At Annauntchai he preached to an audience of about 200. They spent ten days with Mr. and Mrs. Inglis, whom they found comfortably situated, and labouring with great diligence in the cause of Christ. The Lord's Supper was dis- pensed, but it was not thought prudent to admit to communion any on that side the island. We have not full particulars of the visit, but the return is thus described : "23th. — Returned from Aname to-day. Glad to reach home after my absence of ten days. The natives, when they saw the boat coming, collected on the shore to welcome us. They were particularly glad to see Mrs. G. and the children, and the latter soon disappeared in the crowd, that they might receive the congratulations of all. The natives are accustomed to my absence, but not to theirs. We found evei^ thing safe on our return. Those who had charge of the schools, cow, pigs, fowls, etc., all gave a satisfactory account of the way in which their several trusts were executed. What a change has taken place since we landed ! The time was when the natives would steal before our eyes, and a visitor never thought that his errand was completed, unless he carried something away with him. We can now leave all that we have in the trust of the natives, without lock and key. We may have occasion to> complain of carelessness on the part of the poor natives, but not of dishonesty. Even the heathen do not steal from us, though they are constantly stealing from the sandal wood establishment, and sometimes their robberies are very daring." "27th. — I had a visit to-day from an inland native. He is the oldest man on the island, and travelled about ten miles to see me. The Gospel has reached his village through native agency, and he has abandoned heathenism, and is now receiv- ing religious instruction. Some weeks ago he sent me his god, a stone idol. He says the Gospel has done good to his body, as well as his soul. He had for a long time been so feeble that he could not leave his house, but on embracing Christianity, he felt his whole frame so invigorated, that he has travelled some miles to see me. He says he would have been dead before this time, had it not been for the Word of God. I record the 1852] GATHERING THB HARVEST. 343 receiv- 18 god, )dy, as e that ianity, veiled before rd the matter as I have it from the man himself, and from credible wknesses." On the 8th November, he mentions that the natives brought to him the skull of a high chief, the last who had been buried according to heathen custom, and on whose death they say a great many had been put to death. But still the opposition of the heathen was breaking out, though by this time one-half the population had declared them- selves on the side of Christianity, among them the principal chiefs. On the 16th of that month, word was received of the burning down of a meeting-house, four or five miles distant from Mr. O.'s station, by the heathen, and that they were threatening the lives of the Christians. At that point the former were numerous, and the latter were few. A number from Aneicauhat went around armed, and at their coming the others fled. The former did no damage to the plantations of the latter, at which they were much amazed. During this season, Mr. G. and the natives were engaged in building a new church, the one first built having become too small. It was a wattled and plastered building, 62 feet long by 25 wide, roofed with thatch of the pandanus leaf, and capa- ble of accommodating 500 persons. When the size was first announced to the natives, they seemed inclined to shrink from so stupendous an undertaking — and no wonder, for they had ^ever been accustomed to build anything but rude huts. But they went to work heartily. The wobd had to be brought between two and three miles, and the only means of transport- ing it, was by carrying it on their shoulders. The bringing of 'the large beam? was a scene of excitement. Poles were thrust under them, to which a number of men were appointed, and at a given signal, the whole was lifted shoulder high, a chief standing on top of it, and then, with others blowing conchs, and women and children making various noisy demonstrations, the whole moved forward. Mr. G. says that he commenced the house with many fears that the natives would become faint- hearted in the work, but they worked with much spirit to the end, and in four months it was ready for occupancy, though not quite finished. The people were equally surprised and delighted with what they had accomplished. At the end of November, the Rev. Mr. Inglis came round to m M mm nil if; ■ ''!'■' I' w i ;^ ' y i^^^^^^ \ ^n'q if m liil IHl MMMMMMMMMlHi ;i ■■ I h :!!i 344 LIFE OF JOHN OEDDIB, D.D. [1852 be present at the opening of the church. The building was crowded to excess, and many could not gain admittance, ab^^ut 500 being present. " I took advantage of the occasion to invite the chiefs and leading men from all parts of the island, to come together as followers of the same Lord, and I am glad to say, that the invitation was responded to beyond my expectatiSn. Many met on the occasion who last met on the battle field. All former animosities were cast into oblivion, and peace now reigns on the island." The sacrament of the Lord's Supper was dispensed on the occasion, when 1 1 members were admitted, making 24 in all. One of those admitted was a girl from Mrs. G.'s boarding school, being the fourth. "A church," says Dr. G., "in the midst of these islands, where the natives are so awfully degraded, and where the people have been hitherto regarded as the most hope- less of savages, is a spectacle for angels." In the evening a meeting was held, at which four addresses were delivered by persons from different parts of the island, and four persons en- gaged ill prayer. "All these exercises," Mr. G. remarks, " were suitable and very seasonable." On Monday a general meeting was held, which was a beauti- ful exhibition of brotherly love, among those who so recently were hateful and hating one another. But still the heathen raged. "A small party belonging to the north side of the island were in some danger. They started to day for their homes. A party of heathen lay in ambush to attack them.^ But they were apprised of their danger after setting out, and took another route." In regard to the work at the close of the year, Mr. G. writoa on the 25th December : " The time to favour Aneiteum appears to be come at last. God has in a remarkable manner blessed the means of grace, especially during the last six months. The great body of the people, including all the principal chiefs of the island, have given up heathenism, and eagerly seek for religious instruction. Only one district of any importance, Annaunse, is still shut against the Gospel, but we hope ere long to attempt an entrance there. At each of the principal stations from 200 to 300 natives attend religious service on the Lord's day, and the earnestness with which they listen to the truth is very encouraging. About 120 scholars attend the day school i ;i^ long ,tionB iord's ith is shool 1852] GATHKKINO THE HAKVEST. 345 at the station which I occupy, and nearly as many attend the school under the superintendence of Mr. Inglis. The desire to learn manifested by the natives is all that wo could expect. We have also several schools at out-stations, taught by natives of this island, and had we a large body of teachers, we could find employmwit for them all." This cliange he r<;peatedly ji8criV)es mainly to the labours of his native assistants. But in addition to the building of a churcli, Mr. G. also found it necessary to commence the erection of a house for himself and family, as the one which they had been occupying, was threatening to become uninhabitable. The great moisture and heat, along with the white ant, made great havoc with the wood, and being without floor, and damp, it was deemed un- healthy ; and though he complains of so much of his time being occupied with bodily labour, he felt it his duty to erect another. And as wood decayed so fast, he thought it for the interest of the Mission that it should be of stone. The corner stone was accordingly laid during Mr. Inglis' visit. Some stones belonging to the sandal wood establishment were purchased for £b, and windows, etc., imported from New Zealand. To erect a stone house, where there were no tradesmen, with workmen who had never seen one, lately savages, not accustomed to any regular employment, was no ordinary undertaking. But Mr. G.'s mechanical genius was equally at home in building of stone as of wood, and with his skill in managing the natives, the work went on rapidly, though it took a good deal of his time and atten- tion for the next eight or nine months. He complains of this, but Mrs. G. took rather a different view. Thus she writes in February, 1853 : "Mr. G. is very busy at present in printing the second edition of our catechism. He is also getting on with translating. Although the house is a very heavy job, yet I am not sorry he has it on hand, as it will prevent him from sitting so steady at translating, as he would do had he not something else of importance to attend to. I think that his illness last year was brought on by his sitting too closely at his studies. When he undertakes anything, he generally perseveres until it is finished. That of course is the right way, but if missionaries were to sit steadily translating, until they had finished even the New Testament, they would have to sit many months." At length he wrote on the 1st October following : " The il ' t ■; ii Hi • t If! .i' 346 LIFE OF JOHN OBDDIB, D.D. [1853 last year has drawn largely on our strength and that of the natives in the way of building." Then after referring to the church, he says of the house, " It is 56 feet by 19 feet, with a room attached to the rear, 19 feet by 13 feet. It is very sub- stantial, and looks very neat. In the site, plan and construc- tion of the building, health has always been kept in view, for without that wo can accomplish but little here. The house will, I hope, be a durable one ; and that there will not be any need of another for many years to come. It has been a great work, and I feel thankful that it is so nearly completed. The stones of which it is built were brought a distance of bc- ween one and two miles by water. We have also burnt six kilns of lime for it, each of which contained about twenty tons of coral. The natives have worked most cheerfully at the house, and without any remuneration. It is pleasing to see the willing- ness of the natives to assist their missionary. Though their services have been heavily taxed during the past year, I have never known an instance of complaint among them. I have only to say what is to be done, and by whom, and chiefs and people are ever ready to work." Of this Mrs. G. writes : " Mr. G. had to be constantly look- ing after the natives ; indeed, he was master builder, journey- man, etc., and he gets great credit from persons who are judges of stone work. Besides building the house, he has translated the Gospel of Mark and attended to his other duties. He hiis sent it to Sydney to be printed, and we shall have it by the return of the John Williams. Our people will be delighted to get it, as many of them have read over and over again the books we have." Referring to the work during the first half of the year 1853, we find an incident which caused for a time much excitement. The people of Annaunse, who had long held out against Chris- tianity, resolved to make an attack upon the people of a neigh- bouring village, who had embraced tlio r' w religion. The Christian party from all parts of tl'' o, headed by the missionaries, assembled at the hosti strict with view to reason with the heathen party, and to arn th^m. 'ihe latter were overawed, and promised not to moi- st heir neighbours, and all parties retired peacefully to their homes. The result was, loss of influence to their cause and gain to Christianity. 1853] OATHBRINO THE IIARVR8T. 347 mil HI Henceforth the missionaries were enabled to labour on without interruption or harm. In February Mr. G. visited Annauiac and two other inland villages. At the former ho stationed a native named Narava 118 a teacher. His reception was most encouraging. The people were overjoyed, and promised to help him to build a house and furnish him with food. '' What a change," says Mr. G., "since I last visited the place. It was with difficulty that I could then collect two or three of them to listen. Now the whole village, to the number of fifty, assembled, and I had with them an interesting religious service. They had prepared a present of taro, cocoanuts and three pigs, which they insisted on our receiving. This is the first instance in which a native of Aneiteum has been formally set apart to occupy a sphere of labour of his own." From the number of vessels calling at the island, as well as those engaged in the sandal wood trade, the missionaries were brought in frequent contact with white men from various countries, and embraced such opportunities as offered for pro- moting their welfare. In particular, they formed a Bible Society, and obtained a supply of Bibles in various languages for distribution. Some instances of the sowing the seed are interesting. On the 1 7th March a brig arrived from California at the island, and stayed a few days. On board of her was an Italian count, who had taken an active part in the struggle in Italy, and, on the return of the Pope, had been obliged to leave his native land. Since that time he had been travelling through different parts of the world, and waiting for a favourable oppor- tunity to return home. He spoke English imperfectly, but could read Greek, Latin, Spanish, French and English. On learning that he had no copy of the Scriptures, Mr. G. pre- sented him with a French Testament, which he politely ac- cepted. He had read the Pentateuch, but had never read the New Testament. " This," said he, " is a forbidden book in my country ; but I shall read it here without asking the Pope's leave." On another occasion an English vessel called, the captain of which had his wife on board, a French lady whom he had re- cently married at the Mauritius. Mr. G. gave him a parcel of tracts for the men in the vessel, and enclosed a French Bible. >i If 1^ ii 348 LIFE OF JOHN OBDDIB, D.D. [1853 im The japtain accepted them cheerfully, and promised to dis- tribute them. A few days after, when the vessel was about to sail, he called upon Mr. G. and informed him how delighted his wife was with the French Bible. She had been brought up a Romanist, and had never seen, or at least never read, a Bible before, but had been reading it constantly from the time it first came on board. Though there is no record of the fruit of suck seed sowing, yet we may hope that it has not returned void. But to show the ingratitude with which he was sometimes treated, we give an incident as related to us by a member of his family. One morning some natives came in hastily, de- claring that there was a vessel going on shore. On looking out he saw her attempting to enter the harbour at a pari of the reef, where there was no passage for a vessel of her size. He imn-ediately put out in his boat, and was in time to save her. He piloted her in, which the captain of a man of war, who afterwards surveyed the harbour, pronounced quite a creditable feat of seamanship. She was from California, with several passengers on board, and short of provisions. Mr. G. had shortly before received supplies, though not very abundant. He gave them a barrel of flour, tea, sugar and other articles, on a solemn promise that they would send the same amount back by the first opportunity of a vessel from Australia for the islands, and — that was the last he heard of them. On the 18th May the infant Church was called to mourn the first death among its members. Mr. G. thus writes : — "The Church member who died is a young man named Makoai, aged about eighteen years. When he was quite a boy he became the subject of serious impressions ; and against the remonstrances of all his relations, who were heathens, he came to me for Christian instruction. So great was his anxiety to l^arn that he came to reside with me, and lived between two and three years on the Mission premises. He was a scrofulous subject, and after he had been somo time with me he suffered very severely from this disease. I did all that I could for him, and he appeared very grateful for any attention shown to him. Before he was reduced by sickness he was a very fine-looking lad, and belonged to one of the highest families in my district. In point of talent he was behind most of my boys, but by dili- gence and perseverance ho soon excelled them all, and eventu- t 11 [1853 1853] GATHERING THE HARVEST. 349 ally became my best scholar. I never knew a young man of his age whose conduct was more blameless, and in whose piety I had greater confidence. I frequently called on him to address the natives at our week-day meetings, and I always listened with interest myself, and I trust with profit also. His ad- dresses were always excellent, but their excellency consisted in their piety. When a Church was formed he sought admission, and was received. His health being much recruited, I sent him to Umetch, our principal out-station, to labour in conjunction with the Samoan teacher at that place. He remained there six months, and laboured with much acceptance and success. He then came home on a visit to his relatives, and was laid up with an attack of his old complaint. I did what I could for him, but he gradually sunk under it. A few weeks previous to his death I sent word to his mother, who was an inveterate heathen, that he could not live long, and requested her to come and remain with him in his last days. She did come, and watched over her dying son with all the tenderness of a parent. But she often raged against Christianity, and looked on her son's sickness as a judgment inflicted on him by the Natmasses for embracing it. He would entreat her with tears to stop, and speak seriously to her about the concerns of her soul. The Sabbath previous to his death the ordinance of the Lord's Supper was dispensed. He expressed a strong desire to partake, and was at my request carried to the church. He could not sit at the table with the other communicants, but received the elements in a reclining posture. On the next day, Monday, 1 was obliged to leave home. I went to bid him farewell before my departure, and asked him what were his views and feelings, now that he had the prospect of soon entering an eternal world. His answer was, that he could not say that he had either a wish to live or a wish to die ; his wish was to submit to the will of the Lord, and he expressed a hope that his sins were washed away by the atoning blood of Christ. In his latter end he had neither fears nor raptures, but a calm tranquillity of soul. On Tuesday he was no more. His mother was so affected by what she saw of the power of the Gospel, as exemplified in the life and death of her son, that she soon after renounced heathenism, and was admitted into the Church." In the month of June a case of strangling occurred in the ir'H nm ' ■ i'SlI h lip •! ; ;Si iil 350 LIFB or JOHN OBDDIB, D.D. [1853 district of Anelcauhat. The people were greatly excited. The guilty parties were sought and bound,* and well lectured oi their conduct, and only released on promising never again to engage in such deeds. Of the state of the work at the conclusion of his fifth year's labours, he thus writes under date of 1 7th July : — '' One hour in this land, where there is so much work to be done, seems more precious than a whole day at home ; never- theless, I always feel it my duty to drop a line to you whenever an opportunity occurs. I feel thankful to God that I can inform you of our general welfare. " You will be pleased to hear that we meet with continued encouragement in our work. The desire for Christian instruc- tion is strong throughout the island. We have numerous applications for teachers ; but alas ! we have few who are qualified to act in this capacity. I had an interesting meeting with our Church members last week, to consider the wants of the island, and ascertain how these wants can be best met. Three of their number were appointed to occupy the outposts in the meantime, and I hope in a few days to accompany them to their respective districts. We still encounter a feeble oppo- sition by the heathen party ; but it is gradually dying away, especially since the departure from this island of parties, who were the ringleaders and chief instigators of it. Our progress, I regret to say, has been materially retarded for want of books. I am fast working up a supply of paper received by the John Williams. I have compiled a book for our schools, which com- prises our elementary books and catechism, with some trans- lated portions of Scripture, and this is now in the press. I will print about three thousand copies of it. It would surprise and gladden you to witness the joy of the natives at the pros- pect of the intas mat (new book). Lately a family had their house with all their little property burned. The loss of the house and property appeared to be nothing thought of. The only thing that seemed to occasion regret was that their books were destroyed." * We should mention that tying a man up hands and feet together, ' ' like a pig," as they say, is their most degrading punishment. It is also severe. Mr. Inglis says : " Tying on this island is no sham. When first released they can use neither nana nor foot." 1853] GATHERING THE HARVEST. 361 I t In July the John Willia'ina arrived from the eastern islands, on her way to Sydney, bringing a large supply of Mission goods, with many letters from friends, which were " as cold waters to the thirsty soul." In regard to the clothing sent, Mr. G. writes : " I beg to thank the friends of the Mission for the supply of clothing. They came to us in excellent order. It may be pleasing to those who contribute clothing, to know how it is appropriated. In the first place, we have several young men and women living in our own family, and who are entirely under our own control. Their present number is seventeen. These we provide with clothing, out of the supplies furnished from home, and to a considerable extent with food. I think the cause has been to some extent aided by our boarding school, if I may so call it. Four young men are now labouring use- fully as teachers, in different parts of the island, who formerly lived in our family j and the most advanced of those who now reside with us, are my assistants in the school at this station. In the next place, I have ten teachers, natives of this island, labouring in this district, and these I provide with clothing — the people among whom they reside are always expected to give them food. Then, again, the Samoan and Rarotongan teachers, in addition to their regular allowance, receive occasional supplies from us; and your generosity puts it in my power to give a present at times to chiefs and deserving natives. The supplies we give to the natives for taro, which helps to support our native family. *• I hope the natives will be more independent of the Mission families than they now are for clothing. The contributions of friends at hoi and our own British supplies, meet their wants only to a .^mall extent. They must raise some article of export, and we have been advising them to manufacture arrow- root. An attempt was made this year, and as nearly as we can compute, about 500 lbs. was made in different places. I hope it will be thousands next year." As exemplifying his scrupulous exactness, we may give an extract from a letter written shortly after to the Secretary of the Board : " I ought, perhaps, to mention to you, though I did not state it in my letter to the Board, that Mrs. Geddie has made use i I si -i • 352 LIFE OF JOHN OEDDIE, D.D. [1853 of some of the Nova Scotia manufactured cloth for herself and the children ; and also for travelling trowsers for me. The letter of your predecessor in office gave me this liberty. But I may mention, that we have often to give out of our own private support, for objects connected with the Mission, such as shirts, hatchets, knives, etc., so that we endeavour to make the one thing balance the other." Justice requires -that we should here particularly notice the labours of Mrs. Geddie. With female school, sewing school, boarding school, and general efforts for the females, she was scarcely less busy than her husband. A few extracts of her letters in regard to these must now be given : " We are kept very busy with schools, etc. We all go to school in the morning, baby and all. We meet in our new church ; the women occupy one end and the men the other. I have the females divided into classes, and my boarding school girls, who are now quite capable, teach them. Lucy, too, has her class of little girls. I superintend and assist her with her class. After the lessons are over, a small bell is rung, when every book is shut. The Rarotongan teacher then asks questions from the catechism, and all answer together. " My school is well attended by females of all ages. Grand- mothers, middle-aged women with infants on their backs, young women and children, meet every morning, and again at mid-day. Some are learning their letters, others can read, and several are learning to write. " Our sewing school is very well attended. I have divided those who attend into two classes. The one attend Mondays and Wednesdays ; the other, Tuesdays and Thursdays. The first consists chiefly of married women, who come with their babies on their backs. Some are old women who cannot see to thread their needles. The other class is made up of my boarding school girls, and other little girls in the place. The women are learning to sew very well. They have accomplished a good deal of work since I commenced the school. I have encouraged them to bring all their old garments to mend, that they may see how useful their learning to sew would be to them. I was amused and gratified, not long since, to witness the delight of a young mother, when I dressed her baby in a garment which she had herself sewed. go to ur new I other. g school too, has vith her g, when en asks Grand- backs, again at Bad, and divided Iklondays The th their mot see p of my e. The Buplished I have nd, that Id be to witness aby in a 1853] GATHERING THE HARVEST. 353 " We try to make our meetings profitable and interesting. I sometimes propose a subject for consideration, as the duties of .parents, children, etc. Sometimes we converse about the sermons of the preceding Sabbath, or I read a portion of Scripture and explain it to them. I also endeavour to instruct and amuse them, by telling them of the mannei-s, customs, etc., of my own and other Christian lands. They are always delighted, and listen with the greatest attention. I would gladly teach all the females to sew, but I have not the material to give them. After this, when our kind friends send clothing, it would be well to send a portion of the cloth unmade. Many of the females can sew quite well enough to make their own dresses, with a little assistance from me. " I often wish that you could take your seat beside uje. when I am surrounded by my scholars. I have some very interesting girls among them ; indeed, they are all interesting to me. I feel very much attached to them. My Sabbath school is very numerously attended, and is very interesting. Numbers of the females can repeat the catechism which we have printed, and many portions of the Scriptures. They understand, too, what they learn, and I trust that some of them are seeking the one thing needful. "My boarding school girls are doing as well as we could expect. All assist in teaching in the morning, and I teach them in the evening. On Monday they wash ; on Tuesday, starch, fold and beetle the plain clothes; on Wednesday they iron. You would be surprised to see how well they do the clothes. They make and bake the bread, sweep, dress the children, etc., etc. Some of them can sew very neatly, and are a great assistance to me with my sewing. They are very much attached to us. A few months ago food was very scarce here, as the bread- fruit had been destroyed by a storm, and taro was not ripe. 1 observed that our girls were very often out of food, and I asked them if their relations did not supply them. They said that they brought them very little, and that they were often very hungry. T said, as food was scarce, that it was perhaps difficult for their friends to bring them food, and that they had better go home to live, and get a share of what their families had, as I did not wish them to stay with me and suffer — that I had taken them out of compassion, but that if their friends 23 i • f t 354 LIFE OF JOHN GRDDIE, D.D. [1853 did not feed them, they must go and work for them, and get food from them. I said this to them in the evening. The next morning one of them brought me a slate on which they had written as follows : ' Our mother — we do not wish to leave you. Since you told us to leave, we have cried a great deal, for if we leave you, who will teach us anything? Our friends cannot instruct us. You are our mother, and with you we wish to remain. Never mind our food. We will find food somewhere.' I replied that I did not wish to part with them — that I would feel it very much, and that, as they were so unwilling to leave, we would speak to their friends to try and provide them with food. When these were spoken to, they said they were very much ashamed of their conduct ; that we had taken their children and clothed and instructed them, so that they had now become their (t. e., the parents') teachers, and they all promised to feed them for the future. Three of our girls we supply with food, as their parents live at a distance, but very soon they will all have plenty, as they have a large plantation coming on. ^' The very small children are the most difficult to manage. Their parents never attempt to correct them, but let them do just as they please. The poor mothers are perfect slaves to them, until they are five or six years old. I have been speak- ing a good deal to the women lately about their children, and the sin of giving in to them always. They say, 'What can we do 1 If we deny them, they will scream until we are obliged to give way to them.* I told them they must be firm, and when their children saw that there was no use in persisting, they would soon desist. I think that some of them are trying to act upon my advice." We may just add an extract of another letter, showing her efforts in other forms for the benefit of females : — " I had just returned from visiting a poor creature who is near her end. She has been a very wicked character for several years. It appears she has been ill for months, but aa she was living among heathen people, and at a distance, we did not know it until a few days ago, when she was brought to live with a sister who lives near us. Yesterday Mr. G. and I visited her. She appeared to listen very attentively to what he said. In the evening some of our girls visited her, when 1853] UATHERINU THE HARVEST. 355 she appeared very much affected. This morning she is very weak, but perfectly sensible. When I asked her if she knew she was a sinner, she answered 'Yes.' I asked her r she be- lieved that Jesus was willing to save her, if she trusted in Him 1 She answered that she trusted in Him, and that she believed He was able to save her. I trust she is sincere, but God alone knows the heart. *' About two years ago I met this woman, when I talked seriously to her of her sin. She acknowledged she was very wicked, but said she had left the wicked foreigners, and was living in her own land with her husband. She returned, how- ever, to her former way of living. Some of her wicked female companions were present to-day, and I hope they may be led to think of their wickedness. I spoke very plainly to them, and they looked very serious." The beginning of their sixth year's labours brought intelli- gence of the breaking up of the Mission of Tana. At the time of the visit of the John Williams the previous season, the pros- pects were not bright, but still not altogether discouraging, and after her departure the teachers met with much opposi- tion. But at length an untoward event occurred, which led to the entire suspension of their operations. In May, the brig Edward, Captain Thomas, arrived from California and anchored at Port Resolution, ht^^ving small-pox on board. No steps were taken to prevent the spread of the disease, or even to make the natives aware of the danger. Indeed, it seemed as if those on board desired to leave behind them such a memorial of their visit. The brig remained there three weeks, during which the natives had free access to the vessel, and those belonging to her were frequent visitors in the houses of the unsuspecting teachers. Scarcely had she left, till the disease broke out on the island. Three of the teachers died in succession. Two of them were unmarried, but the third had a wife, who also soon after died, whether from the disease or not is uncertain. Only one teacher remained. Pita, whom we have already mentioned. He lived at another part of the bay, and had been warned by a foreigner residing on shore of the infectious nature of the disease, and though he did not abandon his fellow-labourers in their affliction, he was careful to expose himself as little as possible, and so escaped. Li 356 LIFE OF JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. [1853 But trouble did not end here. Shortly after the death of the teachers, the natives commenced stealing their property, and caught the infection. Some fifteen died, and the nature of the disease Ijeing now known, the house in which the teachers lived was burned, with all their remaining property. The natives, as well as the foreigners on shore, took such measures as were in their power to arrest the disease ; and as the people of different lands, as they are called, live very much separate from one another, it did not spread over much of the island. But other diseases proved fatal about the same time, and being, as usual, ascribed to Christianity, the natives began to demand that the teacher should leave. They would not kill him ; they knew that that was bad ; but he must go. He was unwilling to go, but it soon became absolutely necessary to do so. A woman, belonging to the family of Kuanuan, who had befriended and protected the teachers through every vicissitude, was murdered, and after a time the old chief him- self came to him with tears in his eyes, telling him that he thought he must go ; that however desirous he and a few others were that he should remain, they were unable to protect either him or themselves. The path of duty now seemed plain, and, in a boat lent by a foreigner, he, with his wife and child, escaped to Aneiteum, where they arrived on the 10th September. And that it was time for l^im to leave was shown clearly by an occurrence which took place while he was prepar- ing to do so. Four women belonging to the party friendly to Christianity, were murdered by their savage enemies. Thus was the door of entrance into Tana closed once more. Of the state of the work on Aneiteum, Mr. G. writes on the 1st October : — " The Mission families have, by the goodness of God, been favoured with more than the usual measure of health during the past year. Our beloved associates, Mr. and Mrs. Inglis, have entirely escaped the diseases peculiar to these islands ; and they are of opinion, that by care, at the most critical season^ of the year, a tolerable amount of health may be enjoyed, even by foreigners. My hope and prayer is, that they may long be preserved from sickness, and that their experience may do something to redeem the character of these islands from their reputed unhealthiness. Mrs. Geddie suffers a little from the 1853] GATHERING THE HARVEST. 357 debilitating effects of the climate, and her constant duties. The labours of a Christian female on these islands are of the most self-denying and arduous kind, and such as ladies at home can scarcely conceive. It is chiefly through the instrumen- tality of the missionary's wife, that those of her own sex are to be raised from the depths of degradation and misery, and elevated to the position that (iod has assigned them. My own health is excellent ; and I have been enabled to perform a more than usual amount of labour during the past year." In the same letter he intimates that the Wier Durham press had become too small for the work of the Mission, and applies for a larger one. But before action could be taken on the subject in Nova Scotia, our friends of the Reformed Presby- terian Church in Scotland supplied a very excellent one. Mr. G. had now as assistants in the work of printing the young man sent to New Zealand, and another who had been sent to Samoa. We may mention that the old press was afterward transferred to Erromanga, where the Rev. G. N. Gordon used it for some time, and that it has since been used on one of the smaller islands — we believe Futuna. At this time he was cheered with intelligence of a step in advance in Colonial Missions. While his appeals to his own Church produced so little result, other Churches were being moved. The Rev. Mr. Murray, of Samoa, had been four months in New South Wales, pleading the cause of Missions to the heathen. The result was that £1,000 was contributed for the object ; a society, supported principally by the Congre- gational Churches, was formed, auxiliary to the London Mis- sionary Society, and two missionaries sent for. Thus the zeal of the little Presbyterian Church of Nova Scotia began to pro- voke very many. On the 18th October they experienced the shock of an earthquake — not the first, but severer than any they had previously felt. Mr. G. thus describes it : — "There were two shocks, the one immediately after the other — the first slight and trembling, and the second more severe and rocking. Our new house shook very much, but did not suffer the least injury. The tide went out in a mo- ment, and returned as suddenly ; then again went out and returned four times ; it was low and high tide in the space of ii i t< i. I > V\ '■ 358 LIFE OF JOHN GEDf)IK, D.D. [1853 three-quarters of an hour. The volcano at Tana has been more active for the last three months than ever we have before known it to be. For some weeks the explosions took place every fifteen minutes, with a sound like loud thunder, only it was beneath instead of overhead. We still hear it, but not so frequently nor so long as formerly. We used to hear it only in very calm weather, and the sound was not loud nor long. Sometimes the atmosphere is quite filled with smoke from the volcano. The shock of an earthquake pro- duces a singular feeling. I have felt a good many, but I cannot get over the feeling of awe they cause, while the very earth is rocking under one's feet." On the 22nd the John Williams arrived, bringing supplies for the missionaries, and also three thousand copies of the Gospel by Mark, printed at Sydney, being the first entire book of Scripture printed in any language or dialect of Western Polynesia, and a precious boon to the natives. She also brought fifty reams of paper, granted by the British and Foreign Bible Society, for printing the Scriptures, which were intended to be used in printing on the island the Gospel by Matthew, also two hundred copies of the Scriptures in Eng- lish, Portuguese, Chinese, Malay, and Tahitian, for circulation among the floating population. The day after her arrival being Sabbath, services were held both on board and on shore. On Monday a public meeting was held, at which two natives and their wives were set apart as teachers for the heathen island of Futuna, being the first agents contributed by the Mission toward the evangelization of other lands. One was Waihit, one of the first converts, and perhaps the most intelligent and influential man on the island. From the time of his conversion he had laboured most assidu- ously for the conversion of his countrymen, and to him more than any other Mr. Geddie attributed the great change among them. It was thought desirable that the other should be taken from Mr. Inglis' side of the island, so that the people in both sections might be equally interested in the work. Ac- cordingly a young man named Josef a, of tried character and high promise, was selected from Mr. Inglis' side. The deputation were anxious that either Mr. G. or Mr. I. should accompany them in their voyage among the islands. Eng- 1853] GATHERING THE HARVEST. 359 As Mr. U. had had a slight attack of illnoss shortly before the arrival of the ship, and as Mrs. G. had been rather delicate for some time, the brethren thought thab they should go, if it were for no other object than a temporary relaxation from their labours. They accordingly went, accompanied by their two youngest children. The voyage, he says afterward, was rather boisterous, but most rapid and prosperous. They landed the two teachers on Futuna, besides fourteen natives of the island who had been at Aneiteum, and who were favourable to Christianity. This island Mr. G. thus describes : " Futuna is a small and romantic-looking island. Its circumference cannot exceed eight or nine miles. At a distance it has the appear- ance of a mountain which has abruptly risen out of the sea, but as you approach a small ridge of table-land rises to view, and encompasses the island on all sides except the east, where the mountain rises perpendicular from the water's edge to the height of between two and three thousand feet. The island has a fertile appearance, and the cocoanut tree, which seems to flourish only on the sea-shore of other islands, may be seen here on the precipitous sides of the mountain at the height of several hundred feet above the level of the sea. The island is healthy, and fever and ague are unknown in it. The popula- tion is about 1,000 souls;.* " The natives are much more prepossessing in their appear- ance than their neighbours, the Aneiteum ese. They bear a stronger resemblance to the natives of the eastern islands than any whom I have seen on this group. They are smaller in stature, and have darker skins than the Samoans ; but this has no doubt been occasioned by a slight amalgamation with the Melanesian race. Their language is of Malayan origin, and a Samoan or Rarotongan could almost converse with them. They trace their origin to a small group of islands lying to the westward of Samoa, laid down on the chart as Horn's Islands, the native name of which is Futuna." They also visited Erromanga, met the teachers and held public service. There they met Kauiaui, the man who killed Williams. He asked permission to go on board, which was granted. On Capt. Morgan asking him why he killed the missionary, he said that white men had killed his relatives, and * This estimate was too high. ■M' 1 I 360 LIFE OF JOHN OBODIR, D.D. [1853 that he did not know anything about him. Two more teacherH were landed here. At Efate they found at Erakor everything favourable. At a service which they attended on shore, thero were present fully 250, and the order, quietness and heartiness of the people at the service was very striking'. The people werf^ thirsting for instruction. The deputation say, " Their desire for a missionary is very great, and the opening is a most eligi- ble one — such an opening as first missionaries have seldom had in any part of Polynesia. Here is a congregation of 250 already collected, who would receive a missionary with open arms, and at once give themselves up to his instruction and guidance." At Havanah Harbour they stationed two teachers on an island named Lolopa, which they considered a most in- viting place for a Mission station. " When we took the teach- ers on shore, the joy of the people seemed to know no bounds. Men, women and children crowded around us. We never saw teachers on their first landing meet with such an enthusiastic reception." As to the islands generally, they report that "they found all the islands in a very encouraging condition. They were never so open for missionaries as at present. Tana is the only island on which a cloud rests. But some circumstances have recently occurred there, that are likely to operate favourably for the establishment of a Mission on that island. Western Polynesia is now fairly opened up. Missionaries ! more missionaries ! This is now the great felt want." On the missionary party returning, they found H. M. S. Herald in the harbour, which had left England about eight months previous on a surveying and scientific expedition, commissioned for seveml years, and instructed to survey all the islands within certain latitudes between Australia and South America, and to look out coaling places for the Pacific steamers. She was on her way to the Fijis, but from the continued preva- lence of strong head winds, the captain, not to lose time, bore up for Aneiteum, the survey of which formed part of his instruc- tions. He was engaged for three weeks in this work, during which the missionaries had much pleasant intercourse with him and others of the officials on board. Mr. G. writes under date November 25th : — " We have had a delightful visit from H. M. S. Herald, The captain is an i!' 1863] GATHERING THE HARVEST. 361 !i excellent man. He maken himself very familiar, and takes tea with us almost every evening. He read me the account of his visit to Aneiteum, which will be forwarded to the Admiralty at home. The ship is out for five years. She has on board a number of scientific gentlemen, who are busily engaged in making researches in their several departments. The natural- ist, a son of the late Professor McGillivray of Aberdeen, is a second cousin of Mrs. G. A full account of the voyage will, no doubt, be published, and the world will yet know something about these highly interesting, but little explored, islands. Capt. Denham, and the gentlemen on board the ship, are much delighted with the island, and agreeably surprised to find the natives contrast so favourably with those of other islands. The captain is the warm friend of Missions, and of everything that tends to promote the religious and moral improvement of the natives. Our intercourse with all parties on board the ship has been of the most agreeable and profitable kind ; and the Herald's visit to Aneiteum will be long remembered by the Mission families and the natives. We are to have a visit from her steam tender, the Torch., to complete the details of the survey. The natives are now busily engaged cutting wood for her, and Capt. Denham has agreed to pay them in clothing for 100 cords. The natives are delighted at the prospect of getting such a return for their labour. It is quite possible that the Isle of Pines, or Aneiteum, may become a depot for the contem- plated Panama steamers. The former is the most convenient, but the latter possesses the best harbour. In a few years this island, instead of being at the ends of the earth, will be in the very centre of the commercial world, for it lies between two gold countries, and is the highway between Australia and China." Of this visit Mr. Inglis writes more fully, as follows : — " In this scientific age great contributions to science are ex- pected from missionaries. They often occupy new and unex- plored fields, and new objects and unknown facts are thickly strewed around them ; and in many cases, at a small expendi- ture of time and labour, they may record facts and collect objects that will increase the sum of human knowledge. But in most cases they have neither sufficient time, reciuisite qualifi- cations, nor proper instruments for doing much to advance i^iii ■ o i i il =535 **'*^An, ' i.^iB»*-j*>^ — ' I- "f; ■J i ? 362 LIFE OF JOHN OKHDIE, D.l). [185.*i ',l> H science directly ; and in general they will be found to do most for science in the end, when they attend most exclusively to their own proper work. They will often promote science in- directly more eh^ectually than by any direct attempts they could undertake. We have had a good illustration of this here on the present occasion. A band of scientific explorers, furnished with everything requisite for conducting their re- searches, arrive at this island. They find that although the missionaries are paying little or no attention to science, yet missionary labour has prepared the way for scientific research. They find that they can traverse the length and breadth of the island ; that they can explore its shores and its forests, its mountains and its valleys, without danger and without fear of danger, And they know that this is the only island in the group, where perfect safety to follow scientific pursuits could be guaranteed. They find the missionaries ready to furnish local information, to procure for them native guides and assist- ants whenever required, and to render every facility in their power, consistent with attention to their proper duties, to pro- mote the objects of the expedition. In this way, by a proper division of labour — missionary and scientific — in a few short weeks almost every fact was ascertained, and specimens of almost every object was collected, connected with the island, that could either benefit or interest the scientific world. "Captain Denham, and the gentlemen of the expedition, repeatedly expressed their high gratification at the improved appeai-ance and good conduct of the natives of this island. During the three weeks and more that the vessel lay in the harbour, with much that was valuable and tempting exposed, not aij article was either stolen or injured ; and the natives were ever ready to assist them. They frequently remarked on the great difference between the natives here and those at the Isle of Pines, from which island they had just come, and where the French Popish Mission has had a large establishment for the last five or six years, but where they appear to be effecting no improvement among the natives. The priests have, it seems, not so much as a book in the native language, nor yet a place of worship in which to assemble the natives, although they have gained a complete ascendancy over the principal chief, and might get any labour performed connected with the Mis- 185:?] (JATHKIUN(i THE HARVKST. 363 sion. Their object appearH to be political fully as much as reli«^ious." Till the end of the year there is not much to record. Ot\ the 13th November another shock of an earthquake was ex- perienced. It was felt very distinctly on board the Iforakl, then lying at anchor in the harbour, and also on board thfs John WillianiH, although she was out of soundings, and about ten miles from the shore. The sea reced«!d and flowed much the sarjie as after tluj former shock. On both occasions both the Mission houses shook very much, but neither received any injury. " De.ce.mhi'r loth — On my way home from visiting a sick man, I had one of those distressing turns to wliich I have been subject for the last few months. A native passed me just be- fore it came on. I called him to my assistunce, and he helped me home, carrying me part of the way. I could not possibly have reached home myself. None of my senses were sus- pended." The closing days of the yfsar were marked by the prevalence of influenza, during which occurred some hopeful deaths. One on the night previous to his death called his relations, most of whom were still heathen, prayed with them, exhorted them lo embrace the Gospel, and told them that he was dying. In a few hours more he was dead. These events seemed to have made a good impression upon the heathen. In the month of January, 1854, Mr. G.'s journal records an interesting visit to the interior of the island, the population of which had of late been engaging his attention, and which he found to be much larger than he had anticipated. He describeb them as a subdued and despised people. In a physical point of view they were inferior to those who occupied the .shore .settlements. In the days of heathenism, if an inland man ventured out to the shore, he was in danger of ))eing killed for cannibal purposes, or of being thrown into the sea to make sport for them by his dying struggles. The following is Mr. G.'s account of his visit : — "We flrst travelled along the 8h( le from my station to Umetch, five miles distant. We then turned inland, and after a walk of four miles reached Anumetch, the largest settlement in the interior, with a poi)ulation of about three hundred. f 364 LIFE OP JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. [1853 The road was dismal, such as I never before travelled. Our only path was the bed of a small but rapid stream. We were obliged to jump from stone to stone a great part of the way. In places where the water was too deep, we clambered up the precipitous banks, and, clinging to roots of trees and projec- tions or excavations in the rocks, we made our way along. In many places the road was dangerous, and we were obliged to proceed with caution. The mountains rose almost perpen- dicularly on either side of the narrow stream, to the height of several hundred feet. It would seem as if the mountain had been cleft by some great convulsion of nature, and the stream run through the narrow opening. Anumetch is a pretty level spot in the interior, surrounded by a circular ridge of moun- tains, rising to the height of two or three thousand feet. When here you can easily conceive yourself in the crater of an ancient and extinct volcano of immense dimensions. Into this secluded and almost inaccessible spot, some seven or eight miles inland, the light had found its way. A place of worship had been built, and the people were anxious for a teacher to iir^^^T-not them more fully in the way of the Lord." After an •> om t of visits to several other places, he concludes : — "I feel niujh encouraged by this visit. How delightful to see the poor natives hungering for the Word of God ! What a contrast between the present and the past ! The time was when I dare not visit in these places, but now my visits are greatly desired, I must endeavour to labour more diligently and faithfully than I have done. Anything like indolence would be fearful crimi- nality now, when the people are in so interesting a state, and so much desire the Word of God." Writing a little later, he says : " We have succeeded in locating some teachers in the interior, who are doing much good. I recently stationed two teachers at a place called Anumetch, which is our largest inland settlement, and contains a population of nearly 300 souls. The persons selected for this station were choice men, to show that, however much that people might be looked down on by others, they wen; not despised by us. When I last visited the place, and told the people that I had brought teachers for them, their joy was extreme. I have since seen the teachers, and they give most encouraging accounts of their 1854] GATHERING THE HARVEST. 366 labours. The people do what they can to make them comfort- able ; an< ■ such is their desire to learn, that they apply to the teachers day and night to instruct them, and they can scarcely find time for necessary repose. They liave lately built a school-house. I have sent some of our chictfs and Church members to be present at the opening of it. The people collected their former deities on the occasion, which made a heap of stones of various sizes and divers shapes. The party who were sent brought a few of them home with them. " February 17th. — Much of my time spent in translating. This is a laborious, but truly delightful and profitable employ- ment. I find my own views much enlarged by it. I under- stand those portions of God's Word which I translate, better than any other portions of Scripture." In the beginning of March he complains of '* several attacks of breast complaint. Slight though they be, they leave me depressed in body and depressed in spirit." On the 12th of March, the church was opened at Aname, and a church formed. " He thus describes the event : "A day of much interest. We assembled in the new church at Aname for the first time on the Sabbath. It is a plastered building, capable of containing 600 persons, with a verandah which will shelter 300 more. According to previous arrangement, I preached in the morning. At the conclusion of the sermon, Mr. I. l)aptized nine persons, and constituted them a Christian Church. In the afternoon we again met, when the ordinance of the Lord's Supper was administered. The whole occasion was one of surpassing interest. There were present between 900 and 1,000 persons. They came together from different parts of the island. How delightful to see so many persons, formerly hostile to each other, now meeting as friends and brethren I A dove had found its way into the church in the morning, and as it did not seem to interrupt the devotions of the people, it was permitted to remain. As 1 looked on this emblem of peace and love, I could not but contrast the present condition of this people with their former state, when they were hateful and hating one another, and I thought also of that Spirit which came down on the Lord in the form of a dove, and felt an humble hope that the same Spirit was present with us. The events of 366 LIFE OF JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. [1854 the day will, I am sure, not be forgotten by those present. Oh that some of you," he writes to the Board, " could have been present to unite with us in the solemnities of the day ! How it would have gladdened your hearts to hear a thousand voices raised to celebrate the praises of God, in a land so lately one of the dark places of the earth." In the month of April Mr. Ueddie made a circuit of the island, in company with Mr. Inglis, who had never been round it, " Our journey was performed on foot, and occupied five days. We were accompanied by all the principal chiefs of the island, and several other persons. Our whole company numbered between forty and fifty persons. We held a meeting in every village through which we passed. Our meetings in all were twenty-four in number, and two of them were with the heathen. Except in the case of these two, the people had been previously notified of our coming, and were prepared to receive us. We were most hospitably entertained everywhere, except by the heathen. The best that the land could afford was plentifully furnished to our whole party. Everywhere we found taro, fowls, sugar-cane and cocoanuts in readiness for us. We had every reason to conclude, from the conduct of the people, that, large as our party was, we were most welcome visitors wherever we went. In our company there were several chiefs of importance, who had never seen many of the places that we visited. In the reign of heathenism, few dare venture beyond the boundaries of their own districts. O what a change the Gospel has wrought on this island ! The natives themselves are amazed at it, and truly say that it is the Lord's doing. During our visit, nothing surprised us more than the rapid improvement of the natives, even in the remotest parts of the island. It exceeded our most sanguine expectations. It is our design to visit, as soon as convenient, the interior of the island, and, if possible, search out every family in the mountains and valleys of Aneiteum." On the 26 th May he writes an interesting account of his labours : — " Since th. date of my last letters I hav(^ scarcely anything to record but a series of mercies. We have just passed through another tropical summer, but the health of the Mission families has been graciously preserved. Some of us ha\e indeed suf- 18M] GATHERING THE HARVEST. 367 fered from occasional attacks of intermittent fever, but these have been so mild that we have been able to pursue our labours. " At the station where I reside, the church, which was built less than two years ago, has become too small. When it was erected we did not anticipate the need of a larger building for several years, but God has exceeded our expectations. It be- came a question with us some time ago, whether it would be better to enlarge the present church or erect another of suitable dimensions and style. The latter was unanimously agreed on. The work was commenced with great vigour about two months ago, and we hope to complete the building in another month. The new church will contain eight hundred persons, with ac- commodation for four hundred more under the verandah, which surrounds it. Men, women and children have wrought at it with remarkable zeal. It will, when finished, be a substantial building, and it occupies a commanding and lovel}' site." In June Mr. G. had another attack of illness, a combination of influenza and pleurisy. On the 7th July, the new church being finished, the fii-st meeting was held in it. About nine hundred were present. "The building," Mr. G. writes, "is in size sevency-eight feet long by thirty-six wide, is very comfort- able and highly creditable to the natives, who have erected such a house in the short space of three and a half months. The occasion was one of no common interest. No less than eleven couples were married in the presence of nine hundred persons. Four of the parties married had been living in a state of poly- gamy, but in obedience to the dictates of Christianity, had given up the practice. After a public declaration that they renounced all claims on the women with whom they had parted, they m ere regulaily married to those whom they chose to retain as their wives. Three of the persons thus married are the highest chiefs in the district under my charge. Their names are ISo- hoat, Karaheth and Yiapai. They have since been admitted as members of the church. Among the other parties married wore two of the cast off women. " The meeting was attended by the commander and some of the officers and men of H. M.'s steamer Torch, then in the har- bour. In honour of the occasion, the commander of the steamer came on shore in the morning, bringing with him a great number of flags, with which he decorated the building inside and out, and also planted flags at short distances along the ll^fi I ■mMomrnKmrnigi 368 LIFE OF JOHN GEDDIB, D.D. [1854 fence which surrounds the church. The day was fine, and the whole scene had an imposing effect upon the natives. As the occasion was extraordinary, and not likely again to occur, I did not interfere with Lieutenant Chimmo, but loft him to suit his own taste in the flag department, though something more modest and humble would have suited my taste." The officers of the Torch, however, thus describe the scene : " The church and the grounds were decorated with all the Torch's flags, and to the natives had a most brilliant and im- posing efiect. The scene was both amusing and novel. The about-to-be-happy couples turned their backs upor^ each other as they pronounced the * Yes.' There was an unnecessary degree of bashfulness about the women, and a great want of gallantry among the young men. After being congratulated by all, the brides went out of one door, while the bridegrooms went out of another. They chose their own roads, and took difl'erent ones." Mr. G. goes on to say : "I regard the marriages in question as a great triutnph to the cause of God on this island. Fewer marriages have been celebrated than we could have wished or expected. The views of the natives have not kept pace with their knowledge in other respects. When we landed on the island, woman was viewed and treated as the brute creation. Our object all along has been to elevate her to the position which God has assigned to her as man's equal and companion. The present example, especially of our chiefs, will have a favourable bearing on society throughout the island at large. And the presence of some of our own countrymen of respectable standing, had its own weight with the natives, and I did not fail to tell them that marriage was regarded by us not only as a divine but honourable institution ; otherwise the gentlemen from H. M.'s steamer would not haxc shown their respect for it by their presence." But every great movement on the one side of the island acted upon the other. Accordingly, a few weeks later a similar scene took place at Mr. lusjlis' statiiMi. On the Sabbath after the marrmge scene at Mr. Geddie's station (July 9), the u<»w church was opened for public worship. The ordinano< of )>aptism was dispensed and the Lord's Supper administered. The Kev. Mr. nnd Mrs. Inglis were present on the occasion. " We had," sayis Mr. G., " two services suited to t-lf:: 1854 d the ls the cur, I o suit more jcene : 11 the ad im- The L other pessary rant of tulated grooms id took [uestion Fewer ished or ,ce with on the reation. position ipanion. have a t large, ectable did not only aa ntlemen respect |e island iv similar 1854] GATHERING THE HARVEST. 369 the event — the one conducted by brother Inglis, and the other by myself — and in the evening a missionary prayer meeting, in which several of the natives took a part. Natives had come from all parts of the island to attend the opening services. There were in the church upwards of nine hundred persons, and from three hundred to four hundred outside who could not gain admittance. The whole occasion was one of deep interest, and will long be remembered by many persons." Mr. Geddie mentions that if the labour of the natives dur- ing the year, for church purposes, had been counted at the rate of sixpence a day, it would have amounted to £1,000. On the Monday following, a general meeting of the chiefs was held to consider the subject of the civil affairs of the island. The result of this meeting will appear from the following extract of a letter from Mr. G., written a little later, in which he dis- cusses the whole case : " The time is coming when something must be done to im- prove the evil politics of the island. In the days of heathenism, every chief appeared to have exercised authority in his own dis- trict, and there was no general union among them. The chiefs were for the most part sacred men, and were supposed to pos- sess supernatural powers, such as making sickness and death, controlling the elements, causing famines or fruitful crops at pleasure. They were feared by the people, who dreaded their influence. The power which they possessed being based on superstition, when heathenism fell, their power sank with it. Thus by the introduction of Christianity, the chiefs have entirely lost their influence over the people. " The circumstances of this island are now peculiar. There is here a population of about four thousand souls, recently notorious for every species of wickedness, without rulers and without laws, and yet crimes affecting the peace and welfare of society are of rare occurrence. The present state of things is traceable to the moral influenc3 of the Word of God on these islanders. A change, however, will sooner or later take pla.ce. "In these circumstances, we have felt it our duty to en- deavour to raise the standing of the chiefs in the estimation of the people. Government is an ordinance of Divine appoint- ment, and Christianity teaches its subjects to fear God and lioiiour the king. And it is a cause of much satisfaction to us 24 i\\m t 71 370 LIFE OF JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. [1854 that the chiefs of the island, taken as a whole, are the men whom we would wish to see invested with authority. Most of them are men of some energy ; and as they excelled in wicked- ness in the days of darkness, so they say that they ought now to excel in doing good. Some of the highest chiefs in the island are Church members, and their conduct, as far as we know, is exemplary. " In connection with this subject, I am happy to say that a circumstance of some importance took place when our new church was opened in July last. The Christian chiefs being then present from all parts of the island, held a meeting, and enacted a law prohibiting the sale of native women to foreign- ers ; and the penalty is, that all property received as payment shall be seized and publicly burnt. The necessity for such a law may surprise those who reside in Christian lands, but it was called for here. For many years this revolting practice has been common on many of the islands of the Pacific. I am glad to state that the Governor-General of Australia has issued a proclamation, dated July 3, 1853, on the same subject. The proclamation declares 'the practice to be a violation of the Acts passed by the Imperial Parliament for the suppression of slavery, and a scandal to the British name and character.' And all British subjects resident on islands within the juris- diction of the Supreme Courts of the Australian colonies, who shall be found guilty of this practice, are warned that they will be prosecuted for such offences with the utmost rigour of the law. With the proclamation of the Governor-General on the one hand, and the law of the chiefs on the other, I do not an- ticipate that the evil can longer exist on this island. This is the first statute law that has ever been passed on Aneiteum, and it reflects credit on the chiefs of this island, that their first law should be directed to the suppression of slavery and the protection of woman. "A few days after the law was enacted, I saw a quantity of cloth and garments tied around the flagstafi" in front of our school-house, and on inquiry was told that it was the price of sin. The law was not designed to have an ex post facto bear- ing ; but I did not interfere. So one day when a number of natives were assembled, a fire was kindled, and the whole con- signed to the flames. A similar destruction of property took place at Mr. Inglis' station about the same time." i'i ii > '% [1854 e men lost of acked- tt now in the as we r that a ur new 8 being ng, and foreign- jayment r such a s, but it practice c. I am as issued ict. The n of the ■ession of Laracter.' ihe juris- nies, who they will (ur of the •al on the ,0 not an- This is .neiteum, ;heir first and the 1854] CONTINUED PROGRESS. 371 Chapter XV. CONTINUED PROGRESS. 1854-56. THE course of the Mission for the next year was one of quiet and steady progress. All the machinery of preach- ing, schools, visiting, etc., were employed with the same dili- gence, and the little leaven was leavening the whole lump. On the 3rd October he thus writes : — " We have recently taken the census of Aneiteum. As the population is much scattered, it can only be viewed as an ap- proximation to the truth. We shall be able to get something more perfect at a future day. We have on our lists about 3,800 names, but Mr. Inglis and I are of opinion that the population is about 4,000. Of the number whose names we have written, 2,200 are Cnristian, and the rest heathen. The heathen number more than we expected. They are generally found in the more secluded districts, with which we are least acquainted. But their number is fast diminishing, and even since the census was taken, several of them have embraced Christianity. The numbering of the people has also made us acquainted with another and startling fact — a great dispropor- tion between the sexes. The males exceed the females by about six hundred. This disproportion is traceable partly to the strangulation of widows ; but chiefly to infanticide. The latter custom was feariully prevalent in the days of heathenism. It was practised on both sexes, but female children were com- monly the victims. The most common modes of putting chil- dren to death were, to carry them to the bush and leave them to perish there, or place them on the sea shore to be swept away by the tide. Sometimes persons who had no children of their own have, on finding infants thus exposed, taken them and adopted them, and thus a few have been rescued from ifiijl .11 M ■ if I 1 ; 1 s Kill i E9 372 LIFE or JOHN OBDDIB, D.D. II [1864 death. At one time we had three children in our establish- ment who had been saved in this manner. But alas ! the few who have been saved, when consigned to destruction by their unnatural parents, bear no proportion to the number who have perished. The reason assigned by the natives for this inhuman practice is the trouble of bringing up the children. " It awakens our solicitude, that on this small island no less than six hundred men are doomed to a life of hopeless celibacy. In these circumstances a regard for the social, political and religious interests of the island, has induced my esteemed asso- ciate and myself to use our influence in promoting judicious marriages among the natives. In former days, elderly men, being the most influential, seemed to monopolise the women, while the younger portion of the community were left without wives. It was a most common thing to see a man advanced in years with two or three wives young enough to be his chil- dren. As aflection had nothing to do with such alliances, women often forsook one husband for another. This practice was so common, that it is difficult to find on the island a woman over thirty years of age who has not been the wife of several men. We now discourage marriages where the disproportion between the ages of the parties is unreasonable, and where we have reason to apprehend the absence of aflection. All the marriages that have been performed according to the rites of Christianity are, as far as we know, happy, as if God put honour on His own institution in the eyes of this people. " The change that has taken place on this island is operating favourably on other islands, and will do much to prepare them for the reception of the Gospel. The great barrier to the intro- duction of Christianity in these islands has been, a general im- pression on the part of the natives that it brings disease and death along with it. This idea has caused the martyrdom of several teachers, and it was this that led to the expulsion of the missionaries who formerly resided on Tana. I shall not soon forget a stormy interview I once had with Nohoat, our principal chief, when he accused me of bringing disease and death among the people, telling me that the natives of other islands killed the teachers who went to them for this reason, and remarked that they did well. But Aneiteum has now to a large extent embraced Christianity, and what has been the 1854] CONTINUED PROGRESS. 373 consequence 1 The population, so far from diminishing, has been on the increase to an extent that makes the natives wonder. The abolition of war, strangling of widows, and in- fanticide, has saved many lives. The use of medicine by the sick, instead of the charms of the sacred men, has greatly les- sened the mortality on the island. The natives now say that if the Gospel had not come to them, the island would be with- out inhabitants in a few years. A report of all this has gone abroad to other islands, so that in many places a missionary will now be welcomed as a benefactor, where a few years ago he would have been received with coldness, suspicion and dread. We have often had visits of natives from other lands, and they leave to all appearance favourably impressed with what they see, and say that it would be good for missionaries to live with them. " Natives from the Isle of Pines and Erromanga, on both which islands martyr blood has been shed, are perhaps our most frequent visitors. They never fail to come and see us, and I endeavour to make their friendship by trifling presents. The children are objects of wonderful attraction to them. The sight of them makes them open their eyes, clap their hands, shout, and jump about the house in a state of ecstasy. " There is at present on this island a party of Tanese. They had heard of the change on Aneiteum, and have come to see if the report is true, and also to beg teachers. They landed at Mr. Inglis' station. They have walked around the island in company with some of the Christian party. Before setting out on this journey, they were told by our natives to leave their clubs and spears behind them, as there would be no use for them. They all agreed to do so but two, who had not the courage to venture on the journey. They were kindly treated everywhere, and when their journey was over all that they could say was, oilt words are done, i.e., we have no language to express our feelings. Their application for teachers is some- thing like the case of the man from Macedonia, and must re- ceive our serious consideration. The party belong to a part of Tana at some considerable distance from Port Resolution, the most eligible place for a Mission station^ The principal man of the party is a chief of some importance, and his mother was a native of this island." :\' IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (AIT-S) 1.0 I.I 1.25 ■^ IIIIIM |50 '""^^ «" litt S 1^ 25 12.0 111= U III 1.6 * # <^a :Ml the past, what cause for thankfulness have we in relation to our work ! Our trials have been few and our mercies great. The sacred cause in which we labour has made some progress, and Satan's kingdom trembles. Some hopeful deaths have occurred during the past year. " I gave all my scholars new books this morning. We have recently printed a new school book, which I have been keeping in reserve for this occasion. I also presented my teachers and most advanced scholars with a small Almanac for 1855, in addition, which has been compiled to assist the natives in computing time. I need not say that these poor natives were delighted with their books. "3rd. — Visited Ethug to-day, and settled Nahran-hat-aiheug and wife as teachers. The settlement is in the interior, about six miles from the sea. The way to it leads through a dense forest, with scarcely the vestige of a footpath. Without good guides, I should never have found my way. The poor people were delighted to get a teacher. "8th. — This morning I set out for Imkalau in my boat, about five miles distant, accompanied by Mrs. Geddie and the children. This settlement has recently abandoned heathenism, and the people are anxious for a teacher. E was surprised and pleased to find a commodious grass school-house. We had an agieeable meeting, at the close of which I gave to those present school books, as many of them go to a neighbouring school. I promised to bring them a teacher as soon as I can find a suitable person. The last time that I visited this place, the state of things was somewhat different. The people were all heathen at that time, and fled and hid themselves on our approach. I sat down under the shade of a tree, while some of the chiefs and people who accompanied me went in search of the people. On looking round I saw a human skull on the ground beside me. I asked how it came there, knowing that the heathen always commit their dead to the sea. I was told, as I expected, that it was the skull of an enemy, who had been eaten by the people of the place. This relic of their former barbarism was missing to-day. After a time our people returned, bringing the chief and some of the people with them. We spoke to them, and urged them to forsake heathenism and receive the Gospel. They promised to consider our words, and ■ i - 1 « '..': • r ii - p f : t ■ -. -\ 4 it .*■ 1 A ;.i 1 r imimm It 392 LIFE OF JOHN GEDDIB, D.D. [1855 what we have seen to-day shows that they have done so. I left this place thankful to God for what I had seen. " On our way home we called at Utche, to visit and examine the school. We found the people assembled, and waiting for us. The work is behind at this place, as a portion of the people have only recently embraced Christianity, and a number are still heathen. In former days the cause encountered much oppo- sition from the people of this place, and those who were Christians dare not go to it for fear of their lives. In the various efforts which have been made to destroy this Mission, and those connected with it, the people of this place have borne a conspicuous part. Luka, the present teacher, and his wife, are diligent and faithful labourers in the cause, and are evidently doing much good. After the examination of the school I went to see Ihua, the chief, who was lying sick in his hut He has been an invalid for two years, and is now quite blind. He is a man in the prime of life, and, before his sick- ness, a fine-looking native — as many of the chiefs are. He stood out against Christianity after all his brother chie^ ; in my district had embraced it. He now looks on his affliction as a visitation of God on account of his opposition to His cause. He has recently abandoned heathenism, and, as far as we can judge, he is sincere in his desire to know the truth, but alas ! his heart is very dark. After conversation and prayer, I left him. Through his persuasion, some of his relatives have embraced Christianity. " 11th. — I set out early this morning for Anumetch, a settle- ment in the interior, distant about eight miles. I was much pleased to find an attempt made since last visit to improve the road. The people had spent the last week working on it, though the rain was almost incessant. A great work has been done, but there is still great room for improvement. Instead of stepping from stone to stone along the bed of a rapid stream, at considerable risk, the stones have been gathered and made into level paths along the banks ; and wherever the land would admit, the river has been left and the path continued through the bush. The science of road-making is but little understood here, but it must now be practised. The introduction of the Gospel has brought along with it the reign of peace, and un- interrupted intercourse now exists around the whole island. I [1855 BO. I Amine for. us. pjople »ef are loppo- 3 were In the Lission, e have ?r, and Lse, and 1 of the k in his ,w quite bis sick- re. He !hie< . in affliction , to His Eis far as le truth, ion and of his a settle- BLS much improve ng on it, bas been Instead stream, td made id would through 4erstood in of the and un- iland. I 1855] CONTINUED PROGRESS. 393 reached Anumetch with less than usual fatigue. The work at this place is in an advancing state. Since my last visit several persons have given up heathenism. The day was very rainy, but we had a large meeting of the people. "Leaving Anumetch I returned to Anuggi, where I had previously given notice of a meeting. I met Mrs. Geddie and the children at this place. The young men of Umetch had made a rude palanquin to carry them, and had brought them thus far, a distance of four miles. Mrs. G. was anxious to see the place and meet with the women, and these were her in- ducements for going. The sight of a white woman and chil- dren in the interior was a novelty, and produced quite a pleas- ing excitement among the natives. By persons who have lived only in a Christian land, the beneficial results of female visita- tion in such a land as this can scarcely be estimated. If women on these islands are ever raised from their deep degradation, it will be in a great measure through the instrumentality of the missionary's wife. And as female influence in all lands has so much to do with formation of society, the more that can be done for the improvement of the sex the bettor. After ex- amining the school at Anuggi and addressing the people, we returned to Umetch, and reached the teacher's house in the evening. " 14ih. — Sabbath. — Spent this day at Umetch. The people, knowing that I intended to spend the Sabbath here, assembled from other settlements, and we had a large meeting. Lecture, Matt. V. 1-11 ; sermon, Psa. ix. 17. The people listened with much attention to the preaching of the Gospel. May God open their dark hearts to receive the truth in the love of it ! In the evening I attended and examined the Sabbath school. Sakaio, the teacher, assisted by Karaheth and Yiapai, the two chiefs of the place, who are Church members, and some other active men, is doing much good. "There are few places on this island where the change effected by Christianity is so visible as at Umetch. Even in the days of heathenism, the people of this place were noted by their countrymen for their superior wickedness. This may be accounted for from the fact that some of their leading men were persons of much energy of character, which unhappily took a wrong direction. ■ ■> I I lit ii , 1 C' . tt- 1 i Hi T& IM m 394 LIFE OF JOHN OEDDIR, D.D. [1865 " In former days I made many Sabbath visits to this place, and after ineffectual efforts to collect the people, have re- turned home discouraged, but not despairing. The people wore fighting, or feasting, or fishing, or working on their plan- tations, or unwilling to hear the Gospel. But now, on the Sabbath day, books take the place of the club, the nirak for digging, and the fishing apparatus; and when the people assemble it is to worship God. '^15th. — Left Umetch this morning to return home. "Visited the school at Anauiac on ray way. Stationed Matthew and his wife at this place. They succeed Yalith, whose time is up, and whom I will settle elsewhere. Thence proceeded to Ani- blithai, and visited and examined the school under the charge of Kota and wife. Leaving this place we returned home, after an absence of six days. Many natives were assembled on the shore to welcome ua The state of the schools and the general progress of the work, is such as to cause us to thank God and take courage." In regard to this system of visitation he says : — "The nativ s are like children, and require constant over- sight and watchfulness. If a village is left unvisited for a few months, the natives are apt to become lukewarm. Our teachers and scholars also require the wholesome stimulus of an occa- sional visit. My plan is to visit the whole of my district once in three months, for the purpose of preaching and examining the schools. These visitations are very beneficial to my own health, as they afford a wholesome relaxation from my more sedentary occupations at home. While they are, as I trust, profitable to the people, they are always pleasing to me. The more that I go among these natives, the more does my heart warm towards them ; and with all their degradation they are an interesting branch of the human family. The natives are always glad to see me, and give me a most hearty welcome wherever I go. I often contrast visitation now with what it was in the days that are past, and feel thankful to God for the change. My visits were then undertaken in obedience to the stem voice of duty, and frequently at a considerable risk. I have many times, when I drew near my intended destination, paused and meditated the prudence and propriety of landing. Before venturing on shore, I have watched the eye, counte- nance, and motions of the crowds of naked, painted and armed [1855 1856] CONTINUED PR0ORE88. 396 place, ve re- people r plan- on the ^ak for people Visited BW and e is up, to Ani- 5 charge Qe, after i on the I general >od and mt over- ^or a few teachers an occa- rict once tamining my own my more I trust, ne. The my heart they are itives are welcome h what it [)d for the ice to the I risk. I tstination, landing. |e, counte- ind armed savages before me, to see if I could discover in these anything that would indicate intentions, friendly or hostile. But wher- ever I go now a cheerful and happy group are ready to meet me. Men, women and children crowd around me with every demonstration of good feeling; and if Mrs. Geddie and the children should happen to be with me, the scene is still more exciting. And the person would be regarded as a heathen, who did not shake hands with every one of us, and greet us with the friendly salutation, ^Ak aiheng vaiyeg.' In visiting, I always select a few of the Church members to go along with me, who, in their intercourse with their countrymen, may help to scatter the good seed. But when it is known that I am going abroad, others besides those whom I select accompany me, and our party sometimes increases to fifty or one hundred persons. I do not encourage this, neither can I, in the present circumstances of the island, say anything against it. The people, from time immemorial, have been hateful and hating one another, and a person could not venture any distance from home with safety. They are now delighted with the new order of things introduced by the Gospel, and they are pleased when they have an opportunity of going from one place to another. Mutual and friendly intercourse between those who in the days of darkness were mortal enemies, must generate kindly feelings, and sink into deeper oblivion old animositiea" " 16th. — A number of Christian natives from various parts of the island visited the heathen settlement of Inwaitchipthav to-day. The occasion of this visit was as follows : A small party of Christians from Aneito went to this place yesterday to visit their heathen countrymen. They were rudely attacked with stones and spears, and one of their number severely in- jured. The party narrowly escaped with their lives. Intelli- gence of the outrage soon spread, and a visit to the offending district was resolved on by the friends of the injured party. Nothing more was contemplated by the visit than to talk kindly to the people, and warn them against all acts of vio- lence in future. Instead of all going to the place in a quiet and orderly manner, a number of wild fellows from remote parts of the island, glad of an excuse to do mischief, set off in the night and were at the place before the better-disposed natives had left home. The people were terrified. when they saw them, and fled to the mountains. They now commenced ml IP 'l ■"■■"'; i ■ l .1 * , ' ' ; [ i' > i > i ( 1 Ifl m n ll' Hi 396 LIFE OF JOHN OBDDIR, DD. [1855 destroying taro, bananas, sugar cane, etc., and collected a large quantity of property to carry away. These outrages were committed before the body of the people arrived, who strongly disapproved of their conduct, and remonstrated with them on account of it. They recovered most of the property which had been taken, and left it for the owner& They also pro- tected from insult and harsh treatment a few natives, whom they found in their lurking places. The object of the visit was defeated by the imprudence of those who went before, as the people could not be found whom they wished to see. We deeply lament that such an untoward event should have oc- curred. Since the introduction of Christianity into this island those who have abandoned heathenism have suffered much persecution ; but this is the first instance in which the conduct of enemies has been resented. The forbearance of the Chris- tian party has been remarkable, and the heathen have regarded them as persons who did not revenge evil. " The settlement of Inwaitchipthav is the only place of any importance on the island where Christianity has not been embraced. Many sacred men reside there, who pretend to supernatural powers. The elements, they say, are subject to their control, and they profess to command wind, rain, etc., at pleasure. A desire, perhaps, to show how little they feared these men, impelled some of the natives to outrages which would not otherwise have been committed. Among other acts of the day, the sacred spots and groves were desecrated, and objects of worship destroyed and scattered to the winds. The people, I doubt not, will mourn the loss of their gods more than anything else." Writing on July 27th, at the close of his seventh year's labour, he thus describes the state of the work : '' Since the close of last year, several books of small size have been printed. The following is a list of them : Siee. Namber. No. Pages. Elementary School Book ... 12 pages. 4,000 48,000 Catechism 12 '^ 4,000 48,000 Hymn Book 12 " 4,000 48,000 Almanac 4 " 600 2,000 Book in Futuna Language ... 8 " 1,000 8,000 Scripture Extracts 8 " 1,000 8,000 Total 162,000 1865 1855] CONTINUED PROGRESS. 397 large were ongly 5in on which [) pro- whom 5 visit are, as We ive oc- island much onduct Chris- igarded of any t been :end to yect to etc., at feared which ler acts d, and The iS more year's ill size Pages. ),000 },000 $,000 2,000 18,000 18,000 kooo "The public ordinances of religion are ordinarily attended on the Sabbath day by four or five hundred persons. On special occasions it is much greater. At our last communion, a few weeks ago, about twelve hundred persons were present ; our new church would not contain them, and many remained outside. The attention with which the natives listen to the preaching of the Gospel is very encouraging. I trust that not a few are growing in the knowledge of Divine things. " Our infant Church is, I trust, in a hopeful state. The number of members is about sixty at present. There has not been any increase for several months. This delay has been designed on my part. The whole responsibility of admitting members, and exercising over them a watchful care, has hitherto devolved on me. This, with my other duties, is more than I can now overtake with any degree of satisfaction. I feel that the time has come when the aid of elders should be called in ; and yet I know not where suitable men can be found for so sacred and responsible an office. I had my attention fixed on three of our most advanced and consistent Church members ; but two of them I have consented to part with for the Tana Mission. Others, I trust, may be raised up by God to take their place. " I have a weekly class for candidates for Church member- ship, at which about twenty persons attend. Some of these have been in attendance for about a twelvemonth, others a few months only. In some of the candidates I have a degree of satisfaction ; in others, less. The subject of receiving converts from heathenism into the Christian Church is one of much difficulty. There is a danger of making the door of admission too narrow, and there is also a danger of opening it too wide. When too much is required of converts from heathenism before they are brought into the fold of Christ, there is a danger of discouragement and apathy ; and, on the other hand, to admic persons too freely must injure the character of Christianity, and retard its progress in the end. Our general practice has been to receive applicants, when they have given hopeful evidence of a change of heart and life, even though they did not possess that amount of scriptural knowledge that would have been considered desirable in more advanced Christian communities. Our members at best are but babes in grace, and in the know- M 'I i. i ■ ■^1- 11 ' pi I 398 LIFE OF JOHN OBDDIR, D.D. f 185ft ledge of divine things. In addition to other means for their improvement, I have a weekly meeting with them, conducted on the principle of a Bible claiss. " Our Church members, as a whole, are consistent in their conduct. They seem to feel the new position in which their connection with the Church places them. We have been called on to exercise discipline in three cases only, since Ihe formation of the Church. This is the more remarkable, when we consider how recently this island has been the scene of every revolting crime. It is proper to say, however, that our natives are exposed to comparatively few temptations at present. Their heathen countrymen are few in number, and have long since ceased to persecute, and our own countrymen who find their way here have not the power to seduce to evil as they once did. A season of trial might prove disastrous to the profession of some who now promise well." As to the work on the neighbouring islands, painful intelli- gence had been received from Erromanga, Of twelve Samoans — eight of whom were adults, and four children — who had been landed there in October previous, six had died and five came to Aneiteum, leaving only one with the teachers formerly stationed there. In June, a boat manned by Pita and six natives was sent to visit Futuna and Tana. On both they found the state of the work as encouraging as they had any reason to expect. The first was divided into seven districts, under as many chiefs, of whom two had renounced heathenism and were seeking Christian instruction, three were anxious to have teachers, and the other two were opposed. At Tana they found the teachers much encouraged in their work, and a number favourable to the new religion. At Port Resolution earnest requests were made for teachers, and on the south side of the island, where the teachers are stationed, when the boat arrived " the natives assembled in great numbers, and were glad to see them. As soon as they approached the shore, knowing that it was the missionary boat, they rushed into the water, seized and carried it, and everything in it, except the crew, some distance inland. Orders were then given that no injury was to be done to the boat, and nothing to be stolen from it, as it was sacred. Our natives found the teachers and their wives well. They have 1856J CONTINUBO FROURRMM. 399 were where latives As BUS the sarried Qland. to the Our r have been most kindly treated by the natives. They were in good spirits, and liked the land very much. Their acquaintance with the language is very limited, and they can do but little to instruct the people. They are much respected by the Tanese for their work's sake. On one occasion, when a fight was going to take place between two neighbouring tribes, the natives would not let the teachers leave their house, lest any harm should befall them ; and it was also agreed that the fighting ground should be at a distance from the house erected for the worship of God. " On the return of the boat, it was resolved to strengthen both Missions by additional teachers. For this purpose Filip was chosen for Futuna, and Abraham and Nimtiwan, both high chiefs, for Port Resolution. We may hetr- cbserve that nothing is more remarkable among the recei. converts from heathenism among these islanders, than the readiness with which they give themselves to the work of extending the Gospel among savage tribes around, even when this involves serious toil and danger. In knowledge they will not compare with the members of our home churches, and, it must be added, are in many respects of lower moral tone. But in the simple faith in which they surrender themselves to the work, and the cheerful readiness with which they make any required sacrifice, they utterly put to shame the members of our home churches. To endure hardship in this cause is looked on as a matter of course, and every member of the Church is ready, when called, to go abroad. The missionaries never require to seek for men, but only to select those that they deem best qualified. The men thus sent out as teachers were admittedly men of small attainments, as we might expect where they had been so lately in the lowest heathenism, and had yet only one book of Scripture in their own language. It was only in the expecta- tion of missionaries coming to occupy the field, and with the view of preparing the way for them, that they were now sent forth. " Without this assurance," Mr. G. writes, " we would have paused before attempting what we have done. The native teachers, I believe, are in general men of piety, but they are wanting in the knowledge, discrimination of character, prudence and energy essential to the successful prosecution of Thristian :\fi 400 LIFE OF JOHN QRDDIE, D.D. [1855 Missions in new and ardaous fields of labour. Then they are exposed to sickness, and also to dangers of a moral and more serious nature. When teachers are left long alone, their piety is apt to suffer, and their interest in their work declines. But while I write this, do not suppose that I lightly regard the value of native agency. In most cases Christian missionaries on these islands should be preceded by them. All that I maintain is that they should not be left too long on their own resources." With this extension of the work, and considering the difficulty, and even danger, of communication by boat, the missionaries were now led to appeal to their respective Churches to furnish them with a small vessel. This they considered necessary, in order that they might, by frequent visitations, aid and encourage the native teachers, who were still but as babes in knowledge and grace. It was also deemed desirable that there should be safe and friendly intercourse between the islands, and in the expectation of missionaries being settled on other islands, it was important to have the means of communication with them. It was thought that the children of the Presbyterian Church of Nova Scotia and the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland might raise the amount necessary for the purpose. The next few months present scarcely anything of special interest. Several letters seem not to have come to hand. Those received show that the work was moving quietly onward. As to himself, he says : " I think I may say that I never have repented, and never will regret, my devotement to the mis- sionary Tfvork. If I feel uncomfortable at any time, this feeling arises from a consciousness of my utter unworthiness and unfitness for it. I love the work in which I am engaged, and while health is spared to me I shall never relinquish it. " I am sorry to learn that my occasional attacks of fever and ague have caused solicitude on my behalf. I thought it proper to mention them, that missionaries coming might not be deceived about the climate. Had I known better, I might have suffered less, and, I doubt not, our experience will be beneficial to others. But you are mistaken if you suppose I am broken down with fever and ague, or that my con- stitution has been seriously affected by them. I feel about 1856] CONTINUED PROGRESS. 401 as vigorous to-day as when I landed on this island. But I now begin to see the important bearing that health has on the cause of Missions on these islands, and I shall henceforth regard it as a sacred duty to avoid unnecessary exposure, and use all proper means for its preservation." On the 2nd of January, 1856, he writoa : "The missionary work goes surely and hopefully on. The island at present is in an interesting state. The transition from darkness to light becomes more evident. The Anei- teumese are, under the means of grace, becoming a Christian people. Many, no doubt, have but a form of godliness, without feeling its power on their hearts. Nevertheless, we have reason to hope that not a few have been born again. What cause for thankfulness that God has caused His Word to triumph on an island which, until recently, was the scene of horrid cruelties, and the worst abominations ! " Our teachers are religious instructors, as well as school- masters. On some of my visitations, I have been led by circumstances to station two teachers at one place, one of whom takes charge of the school, and the other of the people at large, whom he is expected to visit, admonish, reprove when needed, aiid seek out the heathen where they can be found. The latter person is always a member of the Church, and a man of standing among the people. Some of the highest chiefs in my district are thus employed. The arrangement appears to work well in the present circumstances of the people. I expect this year to have twenty-four teachers settled in my district, exclusive of the two Samoans and those who assist at the station where I reside. Mr. Inglis employs about the same number in his division of the island. " The natives at the out-stations around the island are busily employed making plastered buildings to answer the double purpose of church and school-house. Some of them are com- pleted, and have been opened, and others are in course of erection. Few persons unacquainted with the state of the islands can form a just conception of the labour of building to the natives. The wood used is all carried by men, and it must often be taken a distance of several miles. The lime and sand must also be carried a considerable distance at times. A house is now going up at one of my inland stations, and the 26 . ! * i . BS 402 LIFE OF JOHN OEDDIE, D.D. [185G lime and sand for it is carried by men and women a distance of eight miles. In the course of a few months our little island will be dotted with at least twenty-five snow white buildingH devoted to the worship of the true God. Building, and other public work connected with the Mission, Mr. Inglis an4 I are of opinion will do good at the present early stage of the work. These give to Christianity an importance, in the estimation of a simple-minded and barbarous people, which cannot fail to be beneficial ; they also occupy the minds of the people to such an extent that they have neither time nor inclination for feast- ing and other usages common in the days of heathenism ; and we have always observed a marked increase in attendance on Sabbath and week-day instructions where good houses have been erected. " The building for our native teachers' institution has been commenced at Mr. Inglis' station. It will be a frame building, plastered inside and out; the dimensions, seventy feet long by upwards of twenty feet in width. The wood was procured at my station and floated round the island by water. The natives from all parts of the island have assisted in collecting the materials. I expect that the building will be completed without expense to either of our churches. I am glad to say that the natives ever show a readiness to aid in all work con- nected with the Mission. In any object connected with the Mission we have only to state our wishes to the natives, and, if need be, a thousand willing hearts are ready to work on either side of the island. Many I believe regard it as a privi- lege and duty to aid the cause of God as well as they can. Nor is it surprising that those who have been but recently rescued from the awful abyss of heathenism should feel their obligation to Christianity, which has been the means of their deliverance. It is highly probable that this sense of obliga- tion will not be felt so sensibly by the next generation, though they may excel their forefathers in Christian attain- ments." On the 26th May he writes : " There has been much sickness among the natives this year, and many deaths. Not a few have given hopeful evidence on their death beds that they have not received the grace of God in vain. Within the last month two young men have died in our neighbourhood. [1856 1856] CONTINUED PROGRESS. 4t)3 distance le island buildings nd other .n4 I are ;he work, [nation of ot fail to le to such , for f east- lism ; and tidance on uses have I has been B building, feet long ts procured ater. The 1 collecting completed rlad to say work con- d with the itives, and, to work on i as a privi- B they can. ut recently I feel their ins of their B of obliga generation, iian attain- ^ch sickness Not a few that they /ithin the Ihbourhood. Death had no terrors to them. They died expressing their firm reliance on Christ, and exhorted those around them to seek more earnestly the Word of God, which had been so precious to them. Neither of these young men had been baptized. We hope therefore that there is much true piety among those who are not in the Church, as well as among those who are in it." The same month two chiefs, Nohoat and Napollos, were sent to visit the Missions on Tana. They returned bringing favourable reports of the disposition of the people toward the Gospel. They also brought back twenty-four Tanese, who came to see the change which Christianity had made on th ) island. As Waihit's wife was sick, they also brought them back with a chief and ten natives of Futuna. * ' To improve their visit to this island, Mr. Inglis and I made a journey round it, accompanied by them and nearly all our chiefs and teachers. Our journey occupied four days, and, the weather being good, was pleasant. We were kindly received at the several villages through which we passed. Food was provided in such abundance that the strangers said they could only look at it. We were much pleased at the liberal supply of food, as it will no doubt have a good moral effect on our visitors. One great objection to Christianity on these islands is the fear of famine, as the gods worshipped by the natives are supposed to make the food. They have now seen that on Aneiteum food is much more plentiful than it was in the days of heathenism. In addition to food, there were collections of property at several places, consisting of mats, women's dresses, lortoiseshell ear-rings, beads, etc., which were given to the strangers. Nothing surprised the natives of Tana and Futuna more than the peace which prevails throughout this island, as in their own lands it is not safe for a person to venture beyond the boundaries of his own district. When we completed our visitation of the island, a missionary meeting was held at my station, at which persons from all parts of the island attended. To make the meeting as impressive as possible, about a hun- dred objects of religious worship, surrendered by the natives of this island, were exhibited, and also a quantity of spears and clubs. The Tanese and Futunese expressed their wonder that the people of this island had the courage to give up their gods. ill ill I 111 '■iw 404 LIFB OF JOHN OEDDIB, D.D. [1856 and said they now saw what they had only heard of before. The meeting was addressed in the language of Aneiteum by Mr. Inglis and myself ; in that of Tana by Nohoat ; and Waihit spoke to the Futunese in their own dialect. The strangers said that after what they had seen and heard on this island they were convinced of the folly of their own super- stitions, and that they would embrace Christianity, and endeavour to persuade their countrymen to join them." T' I 1856] BUILDING UP AND EXTENSION. 405 Chapter XVI. BUILDING UP AND EXTENSION. 1856-60. m WE have traced somewhat minutely the progress of the work to this point, when now the mass of the population had renounced heathenism and were becoming a Christian people, and the real heathen were reduced to a small number scattered through the island, and even these had abandoned the worst practices of their old system. " The temporal advantages of Christianity," Mr. G. writes about this time, " are becoming extensively felt throughout the island. With the security of life and property which the Gospel has intro- duced, the spirit of industry is being awakened among the natives. Neat and comfortable grass-houses are now supplant- ing the hovels in which they formerly lived, and the soil is now cultivated to an extent before unknown. The natives now raise an abundant supply of food for their own use, and the time is not far distant, when they will have a surplus to dispose of to vessels calling at the island. In the days of heathenism, when a man planted, if his food escaped the spoliation of an enemy, it was almost certain to be tahv^d by the chief for a feast." But a great work still remained to be done. The best of the people were still very imperfectly informed, and many, according to the standard of any Christian land, were grossly ignorant, and still of low moral tone. " If you saw," says Mr. G., " our island as it was, and as it i«, you would say that a great work has been done ; but you would also say that a great work still remains to be accomplished. A hopeful beginning has been made on Aneiteum, but after all it is only a beginning. The native converts are as yet the merest children. Their knowledge is necessarily limited, and their faith rests more on ■f^PHPWWWWIWWB 406 LIFE OF JOHN GBDDIK, D.D. ri856 the word of man than on the Word of God, which they possess only to a very small extent in their own language. The mis- sionaries sustain much the same relation to them that the parent does to his -children. And though, in the ardour of their newly-awakened zeal, they are ready to say — 'All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient;' yet, were the influence of the missionary withdrawn, they would readily fall before temptation, and many would return to their former bondage. The intellectual and moral elevation of a nation is not the work of a few years, but of generations." Again he says : *' Though we have much to encourage us in our work, we meet with developments of character which awaken our solicitude, and convince us that though heathenism and its worst abominations have been overthrown, a great work still remains to be done. Many of the awful traces of heathen- ism are still to be found amongst those who have professedly given it up. It would be too much to expect an elevated Christianity among a people familiar, from the very dawn of their existence, with the darkest crimes and abominations which debase the nature of man, and just emerging from them. The various sins forbidden by the divine law, and which from our earliest years we have been taught to regard with a kind of instinctive abhorrence, they have never viewed as sins at all, and they were of every-day occurrence. And though they now abstain from these as offensive to God and inconsistent with their Christian character, yet their view of the moral turpitude of sin appears to be more defective than ours, and hence they readily fall into it." The Mission might be now said to be entering on its second stage, which is pronounced by Bishop Patteson the most diffi- cult of the two — the building up, in Christian knowledge and virtue, of a people till lately sunk in the lowest degradation of heathenism. For this purpose all the agencies deemed most suitable were diligently plied, as they have been already described, and for the next four years the work went steadily forward. But the labours of the missionaries were now more ?t a routine character, and do not present such striking inci- j-'nts as before. We have no journals of this period. To an jpeal of the Secretary of the Board, he says : " I have little time to write journals, and much less to transcribe them." ri856 r possess Che mis- ,e parent of their that the were the adily fall r former nation is age us in er which jathenisni reat work [ heathen- rofessedly 1 elevated y dawn of >minations Iromthem. rhich from ith a kind as sins at jough they iconsistent the moral i ours, and its second most diffi- dedge and degradation ^emed most 2n already [nt steadily now more riking inci- lod. To an have little ibe them." 1856] BUILDING UP AND EXTENSION. 407 We shall therefore, in this chapter, simply note the leading events, generally quoting his letters. On the 22nd August he thus writes : — " You will learn, I trust with satisfaction, that we have recently ordained deacons in our infant Church. Five men were elected by the Church members, and solemnly set apart to this office. Their names are Simiona, Karaheth, Topne, Navalak and Neiken. The selection is the best that could have been made, and meets with my cordial approbation. Among the occasions for this class of office-bearers in the Church, I may mention the care of widows. In the days of heathenism, widows, as you are aware, were strangled, and the property of the deceased husband was usually claimed by his friends. The Gospel has abolished the practice of strangula- tion, but as yet the claim of widows to the property of their husbands is scarcely recognized, so that some guardianship of them is needful. This guardianship, however, is not usually of long duration, for the disproportion between the sexes on this island is so great, that if a woman continues long a widow the fault is her own. I feel thankful that we have now a few trustworthy men to attend to the temporalities of the Church, as this will relieve me of some anxiety and trouble. Mr. Inglis expects also to ordain deacons in his district at no dis- tant period. I mentioned in a former letter that we had in. prospect the appointment of ruling elders ; but, after delibera- tion, Mr. Inglis and I resolved to delay until more of God's Word is in the hands of the natives. In everything connected with the organization of a Christian Church among a new and untried race, caution is desirable. It is better to do a little in the right direction, than to attempt too much and be compelled to retrace our steps. " On the subject of education I have not much to report. Our schools, I am glad to say, are well attended. The entire Christian population are our scholars. Persons of all ages, from young children to men and women of seventy years old, may be seen going to school every morning at sunrise." In another letter he mentions that some of the old could never 5 learn to read, but still he thinks it well for them to attend, as they learn something orally. " In my district there are twenty-three schools in operation. I H 408 LIFE OF JOHN OEDDIE, D.D. [1856 supplied by twenty-six teachers, who, with four exceptions, are married men. A large proportion of those who attend the schools can read. The valuable case of writing paper, slates, etc., which you sent, has given a great impulse to the cause of education in the schools under my charge. In addition to the common schools in operation throughout the island, there is an afternoon class, conducted by Mrs. Geddie and myself, com- posed of young men and women of promise, from different parts of my district. The number who attend is about sixty, some of them married persons. The branches taught are, reading, writing, arithmetic, and we are now about to add geography. This latter branch will open up a new region of thought to the natives. In the days of darkness they knew of the existence of Tana, Futuna and Aniwa, and they had heard of Erromanga, and these islands they thought composed the whole earth. I design to begin by teaching the geography of the island, next that of the group, afterwards the geogrt.phy of the Pacific Islands, and gradually rise to the geography of the world. The natives are the merest children, and their views must be expanded by degrees." In June Mrs. G. had had a severe attack of illness which alarmed them. When she was recovering, but still delicate, a captain sailing among the islands offered them a passage to Mare, which they thankfully accepted. They spent some days pleasantly with the brethren there, rejoicing in seeing the remarkable success of the Gospel among the natives, yet also seeing the first encroachments of the French, who had now declared their sovereignty over the Loyalty Islands. Mrs. Geddie's health was much improved by the voyage, and when he wrote on the 26th August, her health was quite restored. " I regret to learn that your long-continued appeal for help for these islands has not been more successful. This matter is very serious, and may well cause us to tremble for the per- manency of the work to which we have solemnly pledged our- selves. The responsibility of becoming a missionary to the heathen seems to many persons so great that they dare not undertake it, and this perhaps is the reason why some who might be expected to engage in it decline. But it ouc^ht not to be forgotten that the responsibility of declining, when the heathen loudly calls for help, is equally great." [1856 sptions, lend the , slates, cause of n to the there is plf , com- Jifferent at sixty, ght are, b to add region of ey knew they had composed eography eogrc.phy graphy of and their 1866] BUILDING UP AND EXTENSION. 409 On the 22nd September he writes : — " It will be pleasing to the friends of the cause at home to know that their contributions of clothing, etc., has enabled us to enlarge our operations to an extent that we could not have done without them. There are on this island at present twenty-two married teachers and four unmarried, supported entirely by the contributions sent from home, and also four families engaged in the missionary work on the islands of Tana and Futuna. Mr. [nglis supports about the same number by contributions sent to him from Scotland and New Zealand. " During a recent visit to Mr. Inglis, I had the honour, in conjunction with him, of presenting to each of the chiefs of this island a beautiful red shirt, the gift of ladies in Scotland. The present was given as an expression of the satisfaction of the donors, for a law passed by our chiefs to prevent the sale of native women for licentious purposes. We met in the church, as being the most convenient place for our purpose. Mr. Creagh, from Mare, was with us on the occasion. Mr. Inglis and I had previously written the names of the chiefs in our respective districts. We read a name alternately from our lists, and as each man's name was announced, he came forward to the platform where we stood, and Mr. Creagh handed him a shirt. About fifty shirts were distributed in this way. Our chiefs were much pleased with the present, but more pleased that their conduct in passing so salutary a law was noticed by friends so distant. I feel glad at what the ladies in Scotland have done, as I am sure the moral effect on this island will be good. Whatever becomes of other laws, the act, which has elicited such satisfaction in Beretania, will never become a dead letter on Aneiteum while the pre- sent chiefs rule in the land. As far as I am aware, only one instance has occurred in which the act, by a large interpreta- tion of it, has been violated. The guilty party — a woman — as a punishment was banished to another part of the island, with an injunction from the chiefs never more to show her face at the harbour. We have recently felt the beneficial effects of the law in the ca.se of a Sydney whaler, now lying at anchor in the harbour. The crew have been ranging the island for miles around in search of women, but have met with repulse everywhere. The property offered by them as an in- 4ia LIFK OP JOHN ORDDIB, D.D. [1856 duceinent to Hin has been thrown at them by the indignant females. 8ueh a state of things is the result of civil legisla- tion, as well as of Christian instruction. It would be unrea- sonable to expect, as a general rule, high moral feeling among a people where, a few years ago, virtue was unknown. The missionaries are of course blamed for the present state of things, and the poor sailors go about uttering against us the most awful curses. We disregard, but lament, this impotent rage. Bad as missionaries are in the estimation of these reckless men, they are the first to whom they repair in their troubles. On board of this vessel there are three invalids, whom by recjuest I have visited, for which they seem to be grateful. I have also succeeded in distributing five English and one Chinese Now Testament among the crew — a most ruffianly-looking set of men. " There is at present an anti-tobacco movement on this island. The practice of smoking is universal on the islands of the Pacific which European vessels visit. Among natives especially, who in most cases indulge in the practice without restraint, it is a great evil. When the habit is once formed, they seem to care little about instruction, clothing, or any- thing that is good and useful to them. Some of our best natives, a considerable time ago, convinced of the evil, gave up the use of tobacco themselves, and persuaded several of their countrymen to do so also. Mr. Inglis and I approved of their conduct, but left the matter in a great measure with the natives themselves. I have witnessed of late so much of the evils of smoking in my own district, which being at the harbour is most exposed, that I have felt it my duty to aban- don a neutral position. I began the work of reformation among the young men on my own premises, none of whom are now smokers. I next spoke to my teachers on the subject, and was glad to find that, without exception, they were anti- tobacconists. I afterwards brought the subject before the Church members, and gave them distinctly to understand that their using tobacco would not subject them to any ecclesiastical discipline, yet strongly urged them for their own sakes, and as an example to others, to give it up, and I am happy to add that they have complied with the advice given without a dissenting voice. I last of all sent the Church members to visit every [i8r)G Icgisla- ) unrea- r among n. The f things, »8t awful 1856] nUILniNO UP AND RXTRN8I0N. 411 je. Bad leBB men, )le8. On y reiiuest I have 3 C'hinese oking set t on this islands of ig natives ;e without CO formed, Ig, or any- ►f our best evil, gave several of approved asure with JO much of ling at the by to aban- feformation _ whom are [he subject, were anti- before the [rstand that jclesiastical kkes, and as to add that dissenting visit every village in luy district, and advise their countrymen to al>andon a habit which experience has shown to be a great barrier to their religious and moral improvement, and the result has been that the visiting party have come home loaded with pipes and tobacco. I design to visit Mr. Inglis in a few days, and will take along with me the pipes and tobacco collected in my district. And when the natives on his side of the island see what has been done here, the habit of smoking, I doubt not, will be almost entirely abolished on Aneiteum in a few weeks. Our natives will do anything that we tell them, provide8 to embark in vessels to go they know not where, and tell them these are the tobacco smokers, and this is enough. It is more than probable that many will again smoke, especially if ex- posed to temptation, but in the meantime the evil has received a salutary check. 1 may add that some of our brethren on the eastern islands will not admit persons to church member- ship who use tobacco." We may mention also that a similar movement took place in regard to the use of kava, and for the more effectual suppression of the evil, it was resolved to eradicate the plant from the island. This, as he was accustomed to say, was ftriking at the root of the evil. It was thought they had done so completely, but in 1881 Mr. Annand writes, that it was still found, and its use had revived so much as to render a second movement necessary for its suppression. " Our island is again visited by white men. For some years past our foreign population consisted of two Tahitians and one English and one American sailor, all of whom are married to native women. We have now two sandal wood establishments on the island, with five vessels attached to them. What effect the presence of our own countrymen on this island will have on the missionary work remains to be seen. The only evil of which we have yet to complain is the drawing away of some of ■our young men to a seafaring life. The natives of the islands being accustomed to the sea from their earliest years, seem to have a natural inclination for it, and they make good seamen. k 412 LirS OF JOHN OBDDIB, D.D. [1867 In this part of the world, where seamen's wages are enormous, it is a great object to captains to get a few natives among their crews. In the sandal wood vessels they are almost in- dispensable, for on some of the islands white men can scarcely venture ashore without taking fever and ague. We have loss objection to their going in sandal wood than in other vessels, because they are not entirely removed from our guardianship, but we regret to see them go to sea at all. " I ought to mention to you the kindness of R. Towns, Esq., one of the merchant princes of Sydney, to this Mission. He is the owner of between 40 and 50 ships, several of which are employed in these seas. His instructions to his captains are to be kind to missionaries wherever they meet them, and to do nothing to frustrate their labours. I may state that our sup- plies usually come from Sydney in his vessels, and in one or two cases they have called at the island expressly to land them, when bound elsewhere. In no instance has he charged freight for my supplies. We are under no ordinary obligations to him for his kindness." In the beginning of November, he writes that the last sheet of the Gospel by Matthew had just been printed, being the first entire portion of Scripture which had issued from the Aneiteum press, and that he intended to proceed with the Gospel by John as soon as he had finished a school book, the Book of Jonah, and a calendar for 1857, which were ready for the press. In February, 1857, he mentions the visit of natives from other islands, who were much impressed by what they saw on Aneiteum ; among others the hic^hest chief on the island of Aniwa. This island is low and arvj^ll, and was supposed to contain 600 inhabitants. Two tc^^hci'S had just been set apart for the island, and thus the way wrja providentially opened for them. In regard to these efforts, he says : " Our natives seem to take a deep interest in the evangel- ization of the neighbouring islands. They are now preparing to make a contribution for the work of God in the lands of darkness, when the John Williams arrives. They cannot give money, because they have none, but they will give what they can. The contribution will consist of cinet for making the houses of missionaries and teachers, mats, and women's native m [1857 tiormous, g among Imost in- L Bcarcely have Ip88 ir vessels, •dianship, vns, Esq., don. Ho which are ptains are and to do ,t our sup- in one or land them, »ed freight gations to B last sheet L being the I from the with the book, the e ready for itives from hey saw on 3 island of upposed to n set apart opened for le evangel- preparing le lands of cannot give what they laking the ten's native 1867] BUILDING UP AND BXTBNSION. 413 dressoa After giving teachers what they need of the above articles, the surplus will be given to the chiefs and people among whom they are located. All the teachers and their wives in my district are now employed in making mats for Mr. Gordon's house, and f have no doubt but he will be fur- nished with a supply that will last for years to come. ''It is probable that six or seven additional teachers will be sent to the neighbouring islands from Aneiteum, when the John Williams arrives. Though we have already parted with some of our best natives for foreign labour, the cause at home appears not to have suffered by the loss, for God has raised up others to take their place. 1 have no fear that our island will become spiritually impoverished by our endeavouring to extend to others the blessings of salvation." In the same month a sad case of strangling occurred. Mr. G. thus describes the affair : " In u remote inland district, where the people were nearly all heathen, a woman was strangled by her own two sons, on the occasion of the death of a child of one of them. The deed was done at midnight, and the bodies of the child and grandmother were carried to the sea, and thrown into it according to the old custom. As no case of strangulation had occurred on the island for nearly four years, it was supposed that the practice was entirely abolished. The whole island was thrown into a state of excitement as soon as the deed was known. The chiefs agreed to hold a meeting at the place, and punish the murder- ers, and Mr. Inglis and I were decidedly of opinion that an act so unnatural and cruel in itself, and so outrageous to the principles and feelings of almost the entire population, should not be overlooked ; but wo took a pledge from the chiefs that no injury should be done to the persons of the murderers. On the day appointed the chiefs met, but the criminals fled to the bush and hid themselves. After a day's search one was dis- covered, and the other surrendered himself. They confessed their guilt, but pleaded the darkness of their hearts as an excuse. As a punishment, they were tied hands and feet for a time, their long hair cut oflj their houses pulled down and burned, and a fine of mats, etc., imposed ; their plantations were left untouched. The poor men felt thankful to the chiefs for their leniency towards them. All the heathen in the place r! HI! 414 LIFB OF JOHN OBDDIB, D.D. [1857 were assembled on the occasion, and the chiefs had a good opportunity of talking with them on the subject of Christianity, and urged them to give up heathenism, which they promised to do. They consented to receive a teacher^ and declared their intention of henceforth attending on the means of grace. I have since learned from Mr. Inglis, in whose district the affair took place, that they attend church on the Sabbath-day, though they are a long way from it. Thus has this very sad event led to the breaking up of this last stronghold of heathen- ism on Aneiteum." We may just add, that this was the last case of strangling on the island. But towards the close of April, a tragic scene occurred at a small inland village, where the remains of heathenism still lingered. A young man had been sick and became delirious. His relatives believed that he was possessed of the devil, and, under the influence of this delusion, his own brothers and others took him and threw him into the river. The poor fel- low stniggled to ascend the bank of the river, but was pushed back by his deluded murderers into the stream and was drowned. The chiefs assembled on this, as on the strangling occasion, and punished the perpetrators of the deed in the same way. Again he writes on the 22nd April : — ''The building for our Educational Institution has been completed. It was planned by Mr. Inglis, and built by the natives under his superintendence. It is an imposing house of seventy feet long by twenty-one feet wide, and contains a spacious and well-fitted-up class room, with other suitable apartments. The institution will be under Mr. Inglis' direc- tion, who is eminently qualified for so important a position. " The Lord's Supper was dispensed at my station last week. It was perhaps our most solemn and impressive season of com- munion on the island. About foui'teen hundred assembled on the occasion. The number of Church members on our roll is one hundred, exclusive of those who have gone to heatheix islands as teachers. The number in communion in Mr. Inglis' district is between seventy and eighty. The conduct of the Church members at both stations is in general satisfactory. Cases of backsliding are much less frequent than might have l)een expected among persons who have so recently been rescued 1867] BUILDING UP AND EXTENSION. 415 from the awful abyss of heathenism, and who from their earliest years have been familiar with its abominations." In the same letter he mentions that there were two parties of natives of Tana on Aneiteum. One from the north end was left by a sandal wood vessel. Just the day before he Mrrote, one of his best teachers, named Tho, whom it was intended to send with them, was unfortunately drowned. The other party came from the south end in a canoe expressly to get teachers, and brought a pig to buy one. Of course their desire for teachers was not a very enlightened or spiritual one ; but what would missionaries, who have since laboured on the field, have not been willing to give to have foun-^ the natives in the same state of mind ] In June arrived the little schooner John KnoXj which had been built in answer to the appeal of the missionaries. The funds had been furnished by the children of the Presbyterian Church of Nova Scotia and of the R. P. Church of Scotland, with additional contributions from the Church in New Zea- land. The quota of the above-mentioned churches was ^150 sterling, and in both cases a sum in excess was raised without difficulty. She was built in Scotland, and being only twelve and a half tons measurement, she was shipped on board another vessel to Sydney ; thence she was navigated by the chief officer and two men, belonging to a vessel of Mr. Towns, to Aneiteum. The natives rejoiced at the prospect of having a small nelgow alaingaheni (religion ship), and were delighted at her coming. " It required no telegraph to spread the news of her arrival ; it was soor. round the island, and unto the remotest comer of the interior. It reminded one in a small way of Q«lt's famous description of the arrival of the Reformer in Scotland, close upon three centuries ago, when the short sentence, 'John Knox is come,' passed with light- ning speed from lip to lip, and electrified a whole nation. Wawho / Kaheapin / Et esjilith ! and every interjection in the language expressive of wonder and delight, were everywhere poured forth with the utmost profusion. ' Et mun ham nel- gow uja (' Our vessel has come '), the natives all say. They all look upon themselves as sharers in the John Knox ; they look upon her as if she were a part of the island, or a part of our common Christianity." ■ii'i i! !l i) 416 LIFE OF JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. [1857 A few days after arrived the John Williams, bringiof; Mr. G.'s eldest daughter, who had been absent eight years. " When we parted we did not expect to meet on Aneiteum, and we scarcely ventured to expect a meeting on this side the grave ; but God has been good to us beyond our expectation. But alas ! we were all so changed in appearance that our daughter knew not her parents, and we should never have re- cognized her." She was now to remain some time on the island, aiding her mother in teaching and in household duties. They were also gladdened by the arrival of the Rev. George N. and Mrs. Gordon, sent from Nova Scotia to their help. Mr. G. was a native of Alberton, P. E. I., and till he reached manhood was engaged in business as a tanner, but impelled by ardent zeal for the salvation of men, he then gave himself to study with the view of preparing for the work of the minis- try, labouring at the same time in other ways for that great object. In particular, he was for some time employed as city missionary in Halifax, where he manifested great faithful- ness and zeal. He was the first to respond to Mr. Geddie's calls for help. We need not say how warmly they were wel- comed. " We have long looked for them, and they have come at last. Many are the prayers which have been ofiered up for help for the dark islands around us, in private, in public, and at the family altars on Aneiteum, and in the presence of our newly-arrived brother and sister, we can recognize an answer to them." He adds in his journal : — " June 8th. — A missionary meeting to-day ; the weather was unfavourable, but the attendance was large. After devotional exercises, the teachers destined for the neighbour- ing islands were addressed. The missionary brethren from Samoa then spoke, and also some of the natives of this island, the addresses being interpreted for the benefit of those pre- sent. At the meeting there was a large collection of native property, for the missionary cause, consisting of mats, women's native dresses, and cinet made from the cocoanut husk and used for house-building. The property collected was of many pounds in value. Much of the leisure time of the natives, during the past year, has been spent in making it. It will be useful in fitting out teachers for other islands, and also as presents to the chiefs, by whom they are kindly treated. 1857] BUILDmo UP AND EXTENSION. In addition to this o —*"-•. 417 and theif wive?- ^^ ^"^.^-don, atd t r^aH;:' ^'^r'' and &r "h^?"'' ""'^ ^""'d not kffl M™*''^:."""''' from fh« r^f' r"7 »' 'be Bay Mr'^p»^T'«^'''« to delay nis labours with ar-^^t ^^y located thei-e anH ^« ^ ^-5 and e,p::^i,f r;:;:?4 r ir "^ --^~::s' ^-d almost piteous suZiSn V'"' ^"*"' ^''^'t" aiS u 418 LIFE OF JOHN OEDDIE, D.D. [1857 qji. ing groups. The report of its beneficent effects was carried far and wide, and men, sick of their wretched condition, came, eagerly seeking teachers, perhaps with no real spiritual desires, but with sufficient sense of want to crave something better, and thus in a state favourable for the reception of Christianity ; and when they were met with the Gospel while in this condi- tion, the Word was readily received. From the variety of languages in the New Hebrides, this could, not be expected to be realized to the same extent as had been in Eastern Polynesia, but there was sufficient intercourse between the different islands to warrant the expectation, that the extraordinary changes produced by Christianity on Anei- teum, would not only remove much of the prejudice existing against Christianity, but lead to the quick and joyful reception of it. There is nothing in the race to prevent this, for it has been exhibited in the Loyalty group, which is inhabited by the same, and on the Fijis, where they are of kindred race. On the contrary, after the changes produced by Christianity on Aneiteum, everything for some time indicated that it would soon spread among the inhabitants of the neighbouring islands. Once and again visitors from these had re'ceived such impres- sions, as led to an earnest desire for a greater knowledge of Christianity. Parties had come from more than one quarter entreating for teachers. Thus these poor people were stretch- ing out their hands unto God. There were no such favouring circumstances on Aneiteum when Mr. G. landed, and though difficulties and trials were to be encountered, yet the reasonable anticipation was that the Word would soon spread over the whole group. But the open doors set before the Church were not entered. Then came disaster and trial, by which prejudices were revived or intensified, and when men arrived they were not always suitable, and laboured under great disadvantages ; and the subsequent history of the Mission adds another chapter to the sad and instructive history, which the Church and the world presents, of lost opportunities. In behalf of the Church, it may be said that Mr. G.'s letters had excited such deep interest that funds flowed freely into her treasury, so that there was at no time difficulty as to the support of one or more missionaries, could they have been obtained. The unfortunate matter of Mr. Archibald, as we r [1857 rried far Q, came, t desires, y better, stianity ; lis condi- rides, this int as had jtercourse ktion, that f on Anei- e existing I reception , for it has Lted by the race. On stianity on at it would ing islands. uch impres- lowledge of one quarter ere stretch- h favouring and though reasonable td over the Jhurch were ih prejudices i they were advantages ; ther chapter irch and the G.'s letters freely into Ity as to the f have been tbald, as we 1857] BUILDING UP AND EXTENSION. 419 have seen, caused a delay in taking measures to ohtain them for three or four years. After that, the Board did what they could to obtain additional labourers. But the Church had difficulty in supplying her fields at home, and we fear we must add, the spirit of consecration to the Lord's work was but im- perfectly developed in her rising ministry. Of the John Knox we may here say, that she was an invalu- able boon to the Mission. Writing on the 28th of September, Mr. G. says : '' She is a tine little vessel, and admirably suits our purpose. It has been said that the John Williams is the best barque, and the John Wesley the best brie:, and I speak the truth when I say that the John Knox is the best schooner of her size that sails these seas. I have been twice at Erro- manga in her, twice at Tana, and twice at Futuna, and encountered all sorts of weather during these voyages, and I know something of her sea qualities. She has been almost constantly employed visiting the islands since she arrived, and we hope to keep her in motion from the 1st of May till the end of December. She will not go to sea during the other months, which is the hurricane season. As we have more work for her than was originally contemplated, and as a sea- man whom we expected to sail in her died a few days after her arrival, we have taken the responsibility of engaging a captain for her. His name is Anderson, a Swede. He came to us from the John Williams. He is a good seaman and navigator, but what is of vastly more importance, he is a very pious man, and deeply interested in the cause of Missions." Just at this time the missionaries received a contribution of £103 from friends in New Zealand, which they applied to her maintenance. And as this was not the first contribution from that quarter, we may add that the Churches there continued to render valuable aid. From the same letter we give some further extracts : " For the last five years this Mission has enjoyed an unusual flegree of tranquillity. After the sandal wood traders left the island it was seldom visited by vessels, but i fear that our peace- ful days are ended. There are now two sandal wood establish- ments on this island, with several vessels attached to them, and whalers and other vessels now call more frequently than formerly. The parties connected with the establishments on ;! • 420 LIFE OF JOHN OEDDIE, D.D. [1857 !i^: fl '1 '*■ shore seem disposed to be friendly, rather than otherwise, for they are sensible of the security to life and property which our labours give. But we have been much annoyed by seamen who have either been discharged or have left their vessels. Many of the men who came to these islands in the Sydney and Hobart Town whalers, are convicts who have been transported for their crimes, and among them are the worst specimens of humanity I have ever seen in any land. Some of this class seek a home on these islands, where they may be beyond the restraints of civilized life, and spend their days in indolence. But this island is not the soil for these men, for they cannot get land, or women, or food, and so they are obliged to leave. The blame is all laid on the missionaries. Only a few days ago one of these characters ran up to me while I was walking on the road, and struck me a severe blow. A native who saw the deed rar up a the fellow, and I do not know what he would have lone .c him, if I had not told him to let him go. The chiefs were very indignant when they heard of the affair, and met am; pruT^osed -^ meeting of the whole island to punish the man, that he uiigDt be an example to others. I have not consented to this, as I am averse to any collision between the natives and the white men on my account. I daresay the man is sorry for what he has done, and will embrace the first opportunity of leaving the island. If in the meantime a man- of-war should make her appearance, I shall request his removal, and I am sure the chiefs of the island will do the same. Thus the struggle with heathenism is no sooner ended than a new struggle with our own countrymen commences. But we are not discouraged. " The Bishop of New Zealand called at the island early last month, on his way to the Solomon and other northern islands. He came in his new schooner, the Southern Crossy a vessel about seventy tons burden. He was accompanied by the Rev. Mr. Fatteson, a clergyman who had come to assist the bishop in his missionary operations. We enjoyed the presence of our excellent friend, the bishop, and also of his associate, who appears t-o be a man of the right stamp for the work to which he hfts devoted himself. The bishop is about to form a school on Norfolk Island for the natives which he takes from the islands visited by him. That island was, until recently, a ,1 [1857 ise, for ich our seamen vessels, aey and isported mens of lis class ond the idolence. Y cannot to leave, few days \ walking who saw what he b him go. the affair, to punish have not tween the the man the first le a man- removal, e. Thus lan a new lutwe are 1867] BUILDINQ UP AND EXTENSION. 421 convict settlement, but it has been given up by the British Gov- ernment to the Pitcairn Islanders, who have been removed to it. Some of them were on board the Southern Jross, and we could not but regard with interest a people whose history is so interesting. Among the number was a grandson of Christian, the ringleader of the Bounty mutineers. The bishop intends to call at this island on his homeward voyage, and take cocoa- nuts, bananas, taro, etc., which we are collecting for him, to introduce into Norfolk Island. We are now looking daily for his return. He intends to bring with him a number of natives from the dark islands to the north of this group. The bishop, who has always taken a deep interest in our Mission, expressed himself much pleased with its progress. If there was one thing that seemed to gratify him more than another, it was our Mission schooner. When I received him on board of her, he remarked that John Knox himself would not probably have given a bishop so cordial a reception, but I think even the stern Scottish reformer would have lost sight of the bishop in the man." Bishop Patteson succeeded Bishop Selwyn in the charge of the Melanesian department of this work. He was a man of most lovely Christian character and singular devotedness, and his aptness in acquiring languages was truly marvellous. Mr. G. had not so much intercourse with him as with Bishop Selwyn, but it was always of the same friendly character. On their return voyage they reported that they had sighted sixty-six islands, and landed on sixty-two. " Mr. Inglis and I again visited Tana last month in the John Knox. When we arrived at Port Resolution we found the teachers well, and the natives very friendly. A few days before our arrival a white man had been killed by a native. It appears that they had some angry words, when the white man took his gun to shoot the native, but she missed fire. The native in a rage took a piece of iron and struck the man with it on the head, and he died in about two hours after. The white man is reported to have treated the natives with great harshness, and he was obliged to leave Erromanga for shoot- ing a man on that island. " At the time of our arrival the natives had a feast, which we visited. There was a large collection of people on the occasion, W it \ J '•■ i ll 1 I '< 422 LIFB OP JOHN OEDDIB, D.D. [1867 and we spoke to them through Nohoat, who accompanied us, and the teachers. We were much pleased with the friendly disposition they manifested towards us. " We had intended to visit the stations on the south side of the island in the John Knox, but as the wind was blowing hard and in shore, we were reduced to the necessity of leaving these stations unvisited, or going to them inland. We chose the latter alternative. As no white man has ever yet ventured to land on any part of the island except Fort Resolution, and as the Tanese seem to regard all white men as their mortal ene- mies, we felt that our journey was not without danger. But as the people of Tana have a great respect for our Aneiteum teachers, and permit them to go unmolested where they please, we thought that in their company we would be safe. Before leaving Port Resolution we tried to get some of the natives of that place to accompany us, but one man only would consent, for they said that they would be killed when they passed the boundaries of their own district. The man who consented to join us was Kuanuan, an old man who had abandoned heathen- ism when Messrs. Turner and Nisbet were on Tana, and has been very consistent ever since. He said that he would not see us go alone, and that he must be killed first, before any one should injure the missionaries. So in company with this old man, Nohoat our chief, and as many Aneiteum teachers as we could muster, we began our journey. The distance to be travelled was about fourteen miles. The first half of the road lay through a rich and level country covered with yam plan- tations ; the latter half was through deep ravines, over fright- ful precipices, and along a rocky shore. We passed through many settlements, and the people were startled and amazed to see us, for many of them had never seen a white man before. We were objects of wonder, especially to the women and chil- dren. After a tedious walk, we reached our destination and found the teachers well. The stations occupied by the teachers on the south side of the island are Anuikaraka and Umaihou, and we made arrangements during our visit for the location of two additional teachers. The people in this part of Tana are very anxious for a missionary, and they were sadly disap- pointed that Mr. Gordon did not settle among them." The next time he had intercourse with the teachers, how- [1857 ied us, riendly side of ttg hard ig these ose the tured to , and as rtal ene- ,r. But .neiteum ly please, Before atives of consent, Lssed the sented to . heathen- and has ould not e any one this old lers as we ce to be f the road am plan- rer fright J through amazed to m before, t and chil- ation and Le teachers Umaihou, Location of Tana are ily disap- lers, how 1858] BUILDING UP AND EXTENSION. 423 ever, he learned that they had been in serious danger during this visit. The Aneiteum teachers had the privilege of walk- ing this road unmolested, and they felt themselves safe with them. The people of the villages through which they passed gave them a cordial welcome, but some of the inland tribes, hearing of their journey, came down from the high lands to kill them, but they had passed before they could intercept them. Writing on the 24th April, 1858, he says: " On the 29th January we encountered a severe hurricane. Many trees were blown down and native houses destroyed. The roof of the church at my station was blown off and carried some distance by the wind ; the body of the building suffered but little injury. The natives were much discouraged at the supposed destruction of the building, but they set to work with great energy to repair it, and in less than four weeks it was roofed again. Some of our plastered school-houses were also materially injured. We had taken the precaution to haul up the John Knox at the commencement of the hurricane months, and she was safe. A cradle was made and put under her while afloat, and then she was drawn up on rollers by about three hundred natives." " The present season has been the most unpleasant that we have yet experienced on this island. The weather has been unusually hot and rainy. The thermometer for a considerable time stood at 95° daily in the shade, and during the months of January, February and March the rain was almost incessant. The plantati-^ns of the natives have suffered much injury from the mountain torrents, which will occasion a great scarcity of food during the present year." On the 8th July arrived the John Williams^ bringing a welcome addition to the Mission band in the Rev. J. W. Matheson and wife. Mr. M. was a native of Rogers Hill, in the county of Pictou, N.S. Having devoted himself to the Foreign Mission work, he prosecuted his studies for that object with such close application, that he laid the foundation of that disease wiiioh eventually ended his career. He was accepted by the Board on the 18th December, 1856. At this time the tendency to consumption had begun to manifest itself. When he underwent a medical examination, the physician pronounced him as having such a tendency to pulmonary disease, that his * ! » 424 LIFE OF JOHN GBDDIB, D.D. [1858 'Mi r; ' ■fi m li ^' it ; I 111 only hope of recovering his health was an early departure to a warm climate. Still, he held out the expectation that he might there have strength to labour. We now know that this is not a wise view. The missionary work, particularly in such a trying climate, involves an amount of toil that only persons in sound health should undertake. During the time of preparation for going forth, his cough became worse, accompanied with spitting of blood, and at one time he was reduced to such a state of weakness, that his re- covery seemed doubtful. It was hoped, however, that these symptoms would yield to a sea voyage and a tropical climate. While Mr. Matheson possessed that devoted piety and energy of nature which, if health had been granted him, would, under Qod, have rendered him a successful missionary, yet the Board were to learn by experience, that however high a man's quali- fications in this respect, it is useless to employ him in the missionary field without bodily vigour. Mrs. M. was a niece of Dr. Geddie — daughter of a beloved sister. She was a woman of vigorous mental powers, refined poetical taste, most lovable disposition and devoted piety. From her connection with Dr. G., she may be said to have breathed a missionary atmosphere from her earliest years, and her inte- rest in the evangelization of the heathen, strengthened with her growth, rendered her ready to devote herself personally to the work when the opportunity offered. But she too had never been robust, and during 1856 had a severe illness, which for a time appeared likely to end in settled consumption. They arrived at Aneiteum by the long and circuitous route of the Samoas and Tahiti. Their arrival was hailed with joy. " I need not say," writes Mr. G., " how much pleasure it gave us to see Mr. and Mrs. Matheson in the John Williams. The only alloy to this satisfaction is the delicate state of Mr. M.'s health." In Sydney, a physician pronounced his lungs seriously affected, and forbade his preaching for some time. The missionaries therefore wished him to remain on Aneiteum, in hope of recovering his strength, but he would not be per- suaded; and although neither Mr. Geddie nor Mr. Inglis could approve of his taking charge of a Mission station in the condition in which he was, they were constrained to yield to his wishes. In August arrived the Kevs. Joseph Copeland II [1858 are to a that he hat this in Buch persons ,B cough d at one b his re- tat these climate, d energy Id, under he Board ,n's quali- n in the El beloved rs, refined ty. From ireathed a her inte- 1 with her ,lly to the tad never ich for a 1859] BUILDING UP AND EXTENSION. 426 and J. Q. Paton, from the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland, and it was then arranged that they should commence a Mission on Tana, Mr. M. occupying a position at the south side of the island, where the first Aneiteumese teachers had been labouring, and the others to be stationed at Port Resolution. Mr. Q. accompanied the John Williams as far as Erromanga, and stationed two Aneiteumese teachers, Navalak and Nemeian, on Aniwa. This island is small, not more than four miles in circumference. It is low, being of coralline origin, and healthy. The natives, who were supposed to number six hundred, are of the Malay race, and speak the same language as the people of Futuna. They were received kindly, and commenced their labours with fair prospects. In regard to the work on Aneiteum, he writes on the 23rd SeptemW (1858), that the Normal School, under Mr. Inglis' superintendence, had one hundred pupils of both sexes ; that in printing they now had, besides all the Qospels, the Acts of the Apostles, and Galatians, Ephesians and Philippians, Luke having been printed in Scotland, and Mark in Sydney. Though the natives had no money to contribute, yet the labour given for the work, during the past year, on that and the neighbour- ing islands, counted at sixpence a day, would amount to £250. For some time now, the efforts of the missionaries were chiefly directed to the completion of the translation of the New Testament. They were anxious to have it ready to forward by the John Williams on her next voyage to England, which was to take place in the following year. It was contemplated that one of the missionaries should go with her to superintend the printing, which was to be done by the British and Foreign Bible Society. In a letter written on the 12th January, 1859, he gives the following information regarding the operations of the Bible Society formed on the island, as already mentioned : — "I may inform you that we have a New Hebridee T'* le Society. For several years its members have been confined to the Mission families at Aneiteum. We had a meeting in October last, when the newly-arrived missionaries all joined us, and we had several donations from persons connected with the sandal wood establishments on the island. The whole amount •1; ili! m i t'- i' I i li bj' 11 ■1 426 LIFE OF JOHN OEDDIB. D.D. [1869 collected for the past year was £20. In addition to this, Mrs. Edwards, a Christian lady on Erromanga, has collected £10 on that island and sent it to us. So that we are now about to transmit £30 sterling as a donation to the British and Foreign Bible Society." About this time the missionaries suflfered another disappoint- ment. The letters of Dr. Geddie, describing his work, had deeply stirred the heart of the Church at home, and drawn forth such liberality, that while, at the commencement of the Mission, it was doubted whether the Church could be relied on to continue to support a single missionary, the funds were so abundantly and readily furnished that, with three in the tield, the Synod felt no anxiety in regard to the funds for sending a fourth. The spirit of Missions too, was influencing the rising ministry of the Church. Among them in particular, Mr. S. F. Johnston, a young man of devoted piety and ardent zeal, had offered himself to the work of Missions among the heathen. He had prosecuted a course of study for the ministry more extensive than most of the students of the Church, and he was generally regarded as possessed of high qualifications for Mission work. The Board therefore expected to have him on his way to the field during the season of 1858. But when he appeared before tlie Presbytery for license, his trial exercises were rejected. The missionaries had received word of his coming, and were preparing for his settlement, and this intelli- gence was a great disappointment ; and we have no doubt that the delay was a serious loss to the Mission. Of this Mr. G. writes on the 12th January, 1859 : — "I have just heard, by a letter from Mr. Gordon, that Mr. Johnston is not likely to come here as soon as we had been led to expect him. This information is sad indeed, if correct. We are anxious to settle a missionary on Futuna and Aniwa, which islands are as prepared to receive the Gospel as they are ever likely to be. There should also be one or two missionaries on Erromanga without delay." The words seemed prophetic. These islands never since have appeared as open to the Gospel. Subsequent events proved unfavourable, and when missionaries did come the favourable opportunity had passed. In the following month, troubles might be said to commence • I 1859] BUILDING UP AND EXTENSION. 427 on Tana. Mrs. Paton and child died. In March Mr. Matbe- son was l%id aside by sickness. As soon as tidings of these things reached Aneiteum, Mr. G. proceeded thither in the John Knox, and removed him to Aneiteum. A physician, who waM on the island, gave slight hope of his recovery. Shortly after he took fever and ague, which seemed for the time to arrest his pulmonary disorder. Mr. Paton also was laid up with fever and ague, and continued to suffer from it for some time. Thus the prejudices of the natives against Christianity, as causing sickness and death, were confirmed. Soon after they were shocked by the intelligence of the mur- der of Neraeian, who had, the year before, been settled on the island of Aniwa. The particulars Mr. G. thus gives : — " It was the practice of the teachers to go round the island every Sabbath-day and hold meetings with the natives where- ever they could find hearers. On the first Sabbath of May <1859) as they were returning home, two natives of Tana, who lay concealed in the bush, rushed out on them and attacked them. Nemeian was instantly killed, and K ivalak so severely wounded that he was insensible for several days. As soon as we heard the sad tidings of what had taken place, we sent off the John Knox, with a deputation of four trustworthy natives, to ascertain, if possible, the true cause of the murder of the teacher, and to bring home Navalak if needful. Our deputa- tion had a meeting of all the chiefs on the island, and stated the object of their visit. The explanation given was this : Between forty and fifty years ago a canoe left Aniwa for this island, with about fifteen natives on board. The party were no sooner landed than they were killed and eaten, with the exception of two, who ran to the sea and were supposed to be drowned. These two swam until they reached a rock detached from the mainland, about four or five miles from the scene of the massacre. During the night they ventured ashore, took a small canoe which they found, and set out for their own island, which they reached in safety. When a man is killed on these islands, his friends break off the branch of a tree and place it in the ground, to remind them that they have blood to avenge. When one branch decays it is replaced by another, and this continues until the natives have satisfaction. It appears that on Aniwa the memorial of unrevenged blood has 1 1 I ! ii' I ' 428 LIFE OF JOHN OEDDIE, D.D. [1859 been kept up to the present time, and the quantity of decayed branches now forms a large heap. It so happened that Ne- meian was from the very district, on this island, where the Aniwa people were murdered. As soon as this was known on Aniwa, evil was determined against him by the people of the district to which the party who were killed on Aneiteum belonged. Our teachers were not insensible of their danger, but they did not acquaint us with it, lest we should suppose them faint-hearted in the cause of God among the heathen. But the Aniwa people would not injure our teachers themselves, so two Tana men undertook to do the deed, one of whom had recently lost a wife and child, and was angry with the teachers, supposing Christianity to have been the cause of their death. Such was the account, received by our deputation, of the sad affair. The Aniwa people told them that their revenge was now satisfied, and expressed a wish to maintain friendly inter- course with this island." On Aneiteum, the most important event of this year was the death of old Nohoat, to which Mr. Geddie thus refers : — " When we arrived at this island," Mr. O. writes, " we found him a savage and wicked man, who was much feared and hated by his people. He allowed us to land, but gave us little encouragement to hope that he would ever embrace Christianity. His influence, indeed, was for a long time against the cause. After some years his opposition calmed down, and he eventu- ally abandoned heathenism. He took the side of Christianity at the very time when the Mission was in the midst of its greatest trials. His previous hostility had been so marked, that his sincerity was for some time doubted ; but he soon gave evidence of it by giving up many heathenish customs, parting with one of his wives, abandoning the use of kava, cutting off his long hair, etc. All his influence was now exerted in favour of Christianity, when the heathen were threatening our lives, and the destruction of all the Christian party. I shall never forget his kindness to myself and my family, when my house was set on fire at midnight by the heathen. For more than two months after this event, he slept in my house every night for our safety, and said that the heathen must kill him before doing any injury to us. Indeed, had not this man been raised up to befriend the Mission, it is questionable if it would have 1859] BUILDING UP AND EXTENSION. 429 risen above the opposition arrayed against it After Nohoat embraced Christianity, he became a humble disciple at the feet of Jesus. Though sixty years of age, he attended school very regularly every morning, and his seat in the church was never vacant, when he was able to attend. It was not to be ex- pected that a man who had spent his days under a degrading heathenism, would become at the close of his life an intelligent, and in all respects consistent Christian. He was naturally proud, passionate and deceitful, but with all his infirmities I believe he was a good man. No man did more for Christianity on this island than Nohoat, and yet none suffered so much as he did from the change effected by it. The class of chiefs to which he belonged, were regarded with religious veneration while they lived and worshipped after death. But when Christianity divested him of hie sacred character, he was no longer dreaded by the people, and being an unpopular man in the days of heathenism, he lost much of his influence, which he never recovered. When the mission to Tana was under- taken by teachers from this island, Nohoat rendered invaluable aid. Having spent several years on Tana, he could speak the language of that island fluently, and his influence was also great there. He made frequent visits at our request, and travelled through different parts of the island, telling the Tanese what Christianity had done for Aneiteum, and urging them also to embrace it. Being an eloquent and earnest man, his visits did much good, and prepared the way for the en- trance of missionaries into that island." On one occasion he set out with a small partj' to visit a district on Tana, which was on terms of hostility with another district, which had consented to make peace, if their enemies would agree to that. Nohoat had influence in th.' district to which these belonged ; still, it was a hazardous mission on which he embarked. The parties to be pacified and con- ciliated were bent on fighting. They heard of Nohoat's intended visit, and took counsel on the subject, the result of which was that they should try and shoot Nohoat before he reached their village — foeling, as they d-'i, that if he once got among them they would be obliged to give up their war ; and they actually fired two or three shots at him. Reganiless of these, Nohoat pressed on to his journey's end, and eacceeded IsM 430 LIFE OF JOHN OBDDIE, D.D. [1859 I I I'lm in inducing the people to give up the war. Mr. Greddie after- wards asked him' if he were not afraid. " No," said he, "I knew I was going on a good errand, and I believed God would protect me." " He was on a visit to Tana when he took his last illness, which was brought on by a severe cold caught while absent. He suffered much after his return home, and died after an illness of about three weeks. The last interview that I had with him was two days before his death. I was going from home on duty, and called to see him before leaving. I saw that he was a dying man. He told me that there was one thing that gave him uneasiness, and that was his sr —-insion from the Church some months previous. The ol iice for which discipline had been exercised in his case, was not a grave one. It was intended to restore him, as he had given very satisfactory evidence of penitence. After I left he sent frequently for Mrs. Geddie, and she had some very interesting conversations with him. He confessed the wickedness of his life, but expressed an humble hope of salvation through Jesus Christ. His latter end was peaceful." Mrs. Geddie writes regarding his death : " We miss our old chief, Nohoat, very much ; he was so much about our house and such a staunch friend. He died in the house of his son, who lives quite near us. The morning before he died, I went to see him, and after sitting beside him for a time, 1 went into another part of the house. He asked immediately for me, and when I inquired what he wanted, he said, * I only want to see your face.* I sat down beside him, and asked if I would read a chapter to him, and added, *I fear you are too ill to listen.' He said, * Oh, do read, Misi, and I will listen.' I conversed with him, and was much pleased to find him trusting in Jesuss alone. I do think the old man was sincere, although his heart was dark in comparison with a person who had been brought up in a Christian land." In November the John Williams arrived, having been detained, and on the 14th sailed, taking Mr. and Mrs. Inglis, with the manuscript of the x<*vised version of the Aneiteumese New Testament, with a native named Williamu, to aid him in supervising its publication. The Rev. Joseph Copeland removed from Tana to take charge of his station. 1860] BUILDING UP AND EXTENSION. 431 At the same time Mr. and Mrs. G. were again called on to suffer the trial of separating from their children. Two of the younger went in the John Williams for their education, and it was deemed advisable that the eldest should return with them. For some time Mr. G. had been engaged in the erection of a new church, of stone, which was completed and opened for worship in April, I860. He thus describes it : " The building of it has occupied about eighteen montha Its dimensions are one hundred and one feet long, by forty-one feet wide. To the natives, who have been accustomed only to build small grass houses, it has been a great undertaking. The amount of labour expended on it can hardly be conceived by persons at home, where every facility for such an undertaking is enjoyed. The stones are all carried by the natives, and some of them were so large that it required sixty men to move them to their destination. They were quarried near the building, otherwise we would not have undertaken the work. It is a matter of much thankfulness that the church has been built without any serious accident, though the natives were unaccustomed to such labour. I may be allowed to say that it is a very neat and substantial building, and, with the exception of the King's church at Honolulu, I have not seen any equal to it in the islands which I have visited. The walls are plastered outside as well as inside, and are protected from the weather by a verandah, which surrounds the building. The floor is plastered, and doubly covered with matting. As the natives sit oriental fashion, it is not seated. There is a neat pulpit on one side of the building, and a seat for the Mission families on the opposite side; also some movable sofas to accommodate strangers." The windows were brought from Sydney, and were paid for by logs taken from the bush by the natives, sixty being required for the purpose. " The opening of the church was an event of some interest. The Rev. Joseph Copeland preached an excellent and impres- sive sermon on the occasion, from Luke xix. 46. The interest of the meeting was enhanced by the presence of five native teachers and their wives, who were to sail for Tana next day. They were set apart by prayer for their arduous duties, and I gave them a short address." In the same letter he says : " Seven men have been norai- 432 LIFB OF JOHN OBDDIB, D.D. [1860 '■p li nated for the office of ruling elders, and we expect to ordain them next week. Their names are Simeona, Lathella, Topoe, Nange- reng, Nasani, Malanahileth and Nijai. They are all persons in whom I have much confidence. To each of these men I intend to allot a district, and hold monthly meetings, and receive their reports about Church members and others under their care. Our natives at best are but children, and need all the guardianship that can be bestowed upon them. With the aid of the elders and deacons, I trust that my responsibili- ties and labours may be somewhat lessened, and that I may be enabled to devote more time to the translation of the Scriptures." Soon after, he received intelligence of the death of Namuri, another of the first-fruits of the Aneiteum Mission, who had been employed as a teacher on Tana. Mr. G. says of him : " He belonged to my station, and was one of the first natives on the island who embraced Christianity. During the early days of this Mission he suffered much persecution from his heathen friends. He was not a man of much energy of char- acter, but I hope he was a sincere Christian. During the last year his health had been very delicate. A few months before his death, he was struck by a heathen native with a stone. It is quite probable that this may have hastened his end, as he was never well after." Mr. Paton writes : " He died on Thurs- day in the presence of all the Aneiteumese, and almost without a struggle. On Tuesday he said to me, ' Misi, I am not afraid to die. I love the things of God, and so I do not fear. Long ago T did much bad conduct ; I was very wicked. But since Misi Gete taught me what was right and wrong, I have hated evil and loved good. I lean on Jesus.' I spoke to him a little, when he answered, ' Thank you, Misi ; you speak to me just like Misi Gete and Simeona and Pita ; your word is like theirs, and brings all things to my mind that they told me long ago.' He said many such things to me, showing how his mind was occupied with spiritual things, though it wavered for the last two days before his death. As his life, so far as seen by me, cor- responds with his dying statements, I hope he sleeps in Jesus." On the 25th June, the brethren were rejoiced by the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Johnston. The difficulties regarding his licensure had been surmounted, and after a few months' sue- [1860 n them Nange- iions in intend receive )r their all the ith the onsibili- ; I may of the Namuri, w^ho had of him : ; natives bhe early from his of char- ; the last s before ione. It |nd, as he .n Thurs- without ot afraid ir. Long lUt since Ive hated )0 him a ik to me is like me long his mind ir the last me, cor- Jesus." le arrival Iding his Iths* suc- 1860] BUILDING UP AND EXTENSION. 433 cessful labour in the home field, he had been ordained to the foreign field. He arrived by way of the Fijis full of ardour. After a short stay on Aneiteum, he made a visit to the neigh- bouring islands in the John Knox, which brought the mission- aries together at Aneiteum for conference. A most happy meeting took place, at which it was agreed that Mr. Johnston should be settled on Tana. It was contemplated that he should ultimately occupy a station at the west or north-west side of the island, but it is thought advisable that he should reside for a time with Mr. Paton at Port Resolution, learning the language and giving him all the assistance in his power. After being landed, he and Mr. Paton made a visit to Wakus, or Black Beach, on the west side of the island. This was the place at which several collisions with white men had taken place. Here H. M. S. Iris lost one or two men, and spent several days in destroying plantations, houses, etc., of the natives. No foreigners dare land unless well protected. But the missionaries threw themselves unprotected among them, explaining their object as well as they could, and were well re- ceived, and an application was sent for two Aneiteumese teachers. These were duly carried to their destination, and received by the people, and there was every prospect that in a few months Mr. Johnston would be settled among them. In the mean- time he remained at Port Resolution, and soon became a great favourite with the natives. Writing on the 8th October, Mr. G. gives the following ac- count of his work on Aneiteum : — " More than twelve years have now elapsed since we landed on Aneiteum. During this long period we have enjoyed much of God's goodness, for which, I trust, we are grateful to Him. Our labours do not differ from those of former years. The duties of the Sabbath here are much the same as at home. We meet twice for pub- lic worship, and there are Sabbath schools in the afternoon at every village on the island. As the natives are early risers, the usual hour for divine service is half-past eight o'clock a.m., so that the more public duties of the day are over before the heat is oppressive. About five hundred persons attend wor- ship at each of the two principal stations on the island, while prayer meetings are conducted by the teachers at the principal 38 '.ii\'4 m 434 LIFE OF JOHN OEDDIE, D.D. [1860 out-stations. As regards the external observance of the Sab- bath, we have little cause for complaint. The natives neither work nor travel, except to ciiurch, nor even cook their food. " The number of Church members in my district is one hun- dred and seventy -nine. Over these we endeavour to exercise a careful oversight. In this duty I am greatly assisted by seven elders recently ordained. Each one has a certain number of Church members assigned to his charge, whom he visits, and with whom he holds meetings for conversation, exhortation and prayer. At our meetings of session, each elder gives a re- port of the state of religion in his district. The deacons attend to all temporal concerns, which in our circumstances are numerous. The cause of education continues slowly but surely to advance. There are between fifty and sixty schools in the island, attended by old and young, with few exceptions. " Since the translation of the New Testament was completed, we have been very busy with the Old. The book of Genesis was translated by Mr. Inglis, and has been printed since his departure. I have recently finished the book of Exodus, which is now in the press. Much of my time is now devoted to translating the remaining books of Moses and the Psalms. " You will not be surprised to hear that we have many prac- tical evils to contend with, among a people who have so re- cently emerged from a state of the deepest degradation. The emancipation of any people from the debasing influences of heathenism is not the work of a few years, but of generations. The case of the rising generation at present causes us some solicitude. The parents, who have themselves grown up with- out discipline or restraint, are ill qualified to train up their children in the way that they should go. They candidly con- fess their inability, and in most cases would cheerfully transfer their children to our care. We might have most of the chil- dren on the island, if we could undertake so great and so serious a charge. But there are some parents to whom these remarks will not apply, and I trust that these exceptions will become more numerous. " It will gratify you to hear that missionary meetings have been held this year, and collections made for the first time for the support of the Gospel. These meetings were held at Mr. Copeland's station and my own. At each meeting tiie number [1860 1860] BUILDING Up and BXTBNStON. 435 beSab- noither food, ne hun- ercise a )y seven mber of iits, and ortation ves a re- deacons instances 3wly but y schools ceptious. )mpleted, [ Genesis since his us, which Bvoted to a,lms. any prac- ,ve so re- on. The aences of aerations, us some up with- up their lidly con- transfer the chil- (O serious remarks 1 become [ngs have time for Id at Mr. number present must have been twelve hundred. The whole amount collected at the two stations was as follows : money, £2 4s. ; cocoanut oil, ten gallons ; arrowroot, five thousand four hun- dred pounds. We have twenty barrels of superior arrowroot put up and ready for shipment, and some hundreds of pounds of inferior quality in bags." The natives had, besides what they had done for the main- tenance of schools and teachers on Aneiteum, been for several years previous contributing of native property for the work of the teachers on other islands. But the year previous, with the view of aiding the cause, and ultimately rendering the Mission self-sustaining, Mr. G. had induced the natives to commence plantations of arrowroot, as this was the only way that seemed open in the meantime to promote the object. This was the first contribution, and from this time till the year 1863 the whole amount contributed amounted to £672 sterling. In the same letter he says: "The work on the other islands, so far as I know, is in a hopeful state. Our latest news from the teachers residing on them is encouraging. THere are at present seventeen Aneiteum teachers, married men, labouring on the islands, distributed as follows : On Futuna, four ; on Tana, nine ; on Aniwa, two ; and on Efate, two. These simple and devoted men have been honoured by God to do much in preparing the islands for the Gospel, at the expense of much self-denial, suffering and danger. Their labours may not be so visible or so extensively known as ours, but they are no doubt recorded in heaven. They, as well as we, have a strong claim on the sympathies and prayers of our Church. But while native teachers are indispensable as pioneers, and, when wisely led, prove valuable auxiliaries in the work of evangelization, yet our great want at present is missionaries." We should here mention that Mr. Matheson, having partially recovered, was anxious to return to his station, but the mis- sionaries could not agree to this. He therefore remained on Aneiteum till December (1859), when he went to Erromanga. Finding himself somewhat better, he returned to Tana in April following, although he was then still in such a state of health, that the other missionaries could not approve the step. ^11 i m Lll^I OF iOnUt OlEDDlit, D.b. [1860 Chapter XVII. TRIALS AND DISASTERS. 1860-62. HITHERTO the history of the New Hebrides Mission, notwithstanding trials and difficulties, and some re- verses, might be said to have been one of uninterrupted progress, until it had achieved results such as few missions have done in so short a period with so small an agency. One Mission family labouring for twelve years, and another for eight, among one of the most savage tribes of earth, ignorant of letters, sunk in the most debasing superstitions and vices of heathenism, had seen the language reduced to writing ; thou- sands of copies of publications printed in it and circulated ; the New Testament translated ; sixty schools in operation ; two thousand of the population taught to read ; and, in addition, the whole inhabitants of the island, amounting to nearly four thousand, outwardly transformed; the Sabbath observed as well as in Scotland, and family worship generally observed ; two church buildings erected, in which one thousand persons assembled every Sabbath, and over three hundred Church members. How rare it is for the first missionaries to any race to see such results from their efforts in the same time, even where there was a band of missionaries employed ! and how few ministers in the home field are permitted to see such fruit of their labours ! ^ This was not all. Twenty teachers and their wives had gone forth from this island, lately in the darkest heathenism, as pioneers of Christianity in other islands, which now seemed to oe clamorous for the Gospel. Though heathenism on them was still dense and dark, and it was not to be expected to yield without difficulty and danger, yet from various points there seemed coming the cry, "Come over and help us." The [1860 Mission, gome re- terrupted missions icy. One Lother for , ignorant id vices of ing; thou- irculated ; peration ; ; and, in anting to Sabbath generally thousand hundred onaries to me time, yed! and see such irives had ^thenism, kw seemed on them to yield lints there » The 1860] TRIALS AND DISASTERS. 437 marvellous changes in the condition of the population of Aneiteum, effected through the Gospel, led many on other islands to desire Christian teachers. This was, of course, not a very enlightened desire ; it may have arisen from a regard to the temporal advantages of Christianity; yet in many instances it arose from that felt sense of want, which guilty man, civilized and savage, alike feels. They knew their wretchedness in their present condition, and saw, in the success of the Mission on Aneiteum, what excited the expectation of something better. And though they might have but vague ideas of the nature of the relief to be obtained, it was important to find them anxious for something of the kind — a very different state of things from what Mr. G. found on his landing on Aneiteum. God seemed saying, " Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe." So experienced a missionary as Dr. Turner was satisfied that additional labourers was all that was required, in order that the Gospel might spread over the surrounding group, and he was now on his way home with Mr. Inglis, to urge upon the Churches the importance of sending a reinforcement of missionaries to occupy the fields which were " white unto the harvest" In the Church at home, the "reflex influence" of the Foreign Mission was scarcely less marked. The enterprise had broadened the Church's views of her work and duty, had raised her to a higher plane of liberality, and quickened her whole spiritual life. The reading of Mr. Geddie's simple de- tails of his work had stirred the hearts of the members gener- ally, and awakened such interest that it was believed many would have denied themselves in food rather than that he should want. So that where, twelve years before, wise and good men doubted whether the Church would continue to support one missionary, no anxiety was felt now as to her being able to support four. Her congregations then numbered forty-six, of which this year thirty-six return a membership of 6,579, and as the ten not reporting were generally small, the whole membership would be under 8,000 — perhaps not more than 7,600. Whether we take the number of congregations, or membership, for such a body to support four missionaries was equal to the Presbyterian Church of Canada supporting sixty. The rate of salary is indeed higher now than then, but we do tH 438 LIFB OF JOHN OBDDIB, D.D. [1860 not think that the increase is equal to the improvement in the circumstances of our people. Indeed, we feel justified in saying, that at that time no Church in Christendom, except the Moravians, was doing more for Missions to the heathen, in proportion to her means, than the little Presbyterian Church of Nova Scotia. At the same time, every home object was receiving a support such as it had never received before. The standard of minis- terial support was rapidly rising. A seminary for the training of young men for the ministry had been established, which was liberally supported, and had an encouraging attendance, while the Home Mission efforts were extending her borders. Not only her own members, but those of other bodies, freely acknowledged, that with the undertaking of a Foreign Mission commenced a new era in her progress. And to this day those portions of the Church in the Maritime Provinces which were engaged in the support of the New Hebrides Mission have been foremost in liberality to all the Church's measures. Other Churches, too, had caught the spirit of Missions, and, urged by her example, were engaging in Foreign Mission work. The Free Church of Nova Scotia had commenced a Mission in Asia Minor. The Canada Presbyterian Church had started one in India. The Churches in Australia and New Zealand had already contributed to the New Hebrides Mission, and not only Presbyterians, but Congregationalists and Episcopa- lians, were preparing to engage for themselves in the work. There is too much reason to fear that, in these circumstances, the Church had become somewhat uplifted, both on account of the Mission, and of her own work. The Mission had been so successful, while, at the same time, other Missions, carried on with a much stronger agency and with a much larger expendi- ture, had seen but little fruit, that it was no wonder we became proud of our missionary and his work. And looking at home, while most of the bodies around us were drawing funds from the mother country for the support of their institutions, it was apt to be with a spirit of self-gratulation that we thought of ourselves, not only supporting our schemes and our ministry at a rate better than others, but able to send it abroad to the heathen. Then just at this time, viz., 4th of October, 1860, a union 1860] TRIALS AND DISASTERR. 439 with the Free Church of Nova Scotia was happily consummated. While in the manner in which obstacles had been removed, and the whole brought about, there was reason to say, " What hath God wrought," yet it is to be feared that often this was uttered in a tone of self-gratulation. While the anticipations of the future were naturally glowing, probably these were not always entertained in the spirit of giving God all the glory. We need to be careful in judging as to the special ends of God's dispensations, and we cannot say how far these things may have led to what followed. But at all events now, at the time when the congratulations of the Church on the progress of the Mission were loudest, and her hopes as to its future were highest — when she was most loudly congratulating herself on her position, both as to home and foreign work, she was to be most severely tried, and the blow was to be struck through that Mission which had been her chief glory. The union took place on the 4th of October, 1860, and in December following, the troubles began. The first was an epidemic of measles, which prevailed especially on the three islands on which missionaries had been stationed — Aneiteum, Tana, and Erromanga — as well as some others. On Aneiteum, Mr. Geddie thus describes the state of matters : — " Measles, in almost every case accompanied by dysentery, has been very fatal. The disease was brought to the island by a sandal wood vessel. No care was taken to prevent the spread of the contagion, and it almost seemed as if the parties who introduced it were determined that this island should not escape a disease, which has been sweeping the natives of other islands into the grave by thousands. It has spread over the whole of this island, and several hundreds of the natives have already died of it. At the time when the disease broke out, twenty-one natives were living on my premises, and seven of that number have died. About the same proportion of the people, in the district in which I reside, have died also. The rate of mortality in other parts of the island has been, in some instances less, and others inore. There can be but little doubt that the disease will carry off one-third of the population, per- haps more. Very few die of the measles — it is the severe dy- sentery following which proves fatal. It would be difficult and painful to describe the distress and suffering which the sick- ■ 440 LIFK OF JOHN OKDDIB, D.D. fl860 'i . ness has caused. When it enters a place the whole community is soon laid prostrate, so that the sick can receive but little attention. Many, who might otherwise recover, die from want of food. They cannot go to their plantations, and cook it, and there are few who can do this for them. It is with great diffi- culty that the dead can be buried, and this duty is often per- formed by persons who are on the verge of the grave themselves. Mrs. O.'s strength and my own have been severely tested in waiting on the sick and dying, and in doing what we could to alleviate their sufferings. Our own dear little girl had the sickness in common with others, and she was brought so low with dysentery that we had little hope of her recovery, but God has spared her to us. Missionary work is in a great mea- sure suspended at present. Six of my best teachers have died already, and others are very ill. (In a later letter he says : ' Among those who died we have to mourn the loss of two of my elders, seven young persons living on the Mission premises, eight teachers and fifty-eight church members.') *' It is sad indeed to see so many of the poor natives, whom we love almost as much as if they were our own children, cut off so suddenly, and in such numbers, around us. Many who were our earliest and warmest friends, and who endured along with us the first trials of the Mission, are no more, and it seems as if we would be left to labour among a new generation. I can give you but little information about the death-bed ex- perience of many who have died, but if we are to judge of them from their lives, I have reason to hope that not a few are now in heaven. The mortality has been greatest among persons in the prime of life, while many of the old and young have been spared. The disease was at New Caledonia, Mare, Lifu and Wea, before it came to this island, and its ravages are said to have been even greater in these places than here." Among those who died he specially named Simeona, one of the two Samoan teachers, whom he had found on the island n arrival. "His life was that of a Christian, and his ^"^ jjmI was peace. I feel his loss very much. He gave much valuable assistance. I was much attached to him, as share'^' with us many of the early trials of the Mission." About the same time the disease was introduced on Tana, i^nd in such a wa^ as to leave little doubt thftt it was wilfully 1861] TRIALS AND DI8A8TBR8. 441 I among young Mare, ivages here." one of I and a ud .iiuch shared Tana, rilfuUy done — in Buoh a way as was likely to involve the missionaries in trouble. The results were the same. But here, the people being generally heathen, all their old superstitions regarding sickness were strengthened, and even those who had professed themselves friendly to Christianity began to waver, and the missionaries' lives were threatened. All the missionaries continued to labour for the relief of the afflicted ; but Mr. Paton was attacked with fever, and Mr. Johnston was soon laid aside by illness — some disorder of the brain — and died, after a few days' illness, on the 21st January, 1861. His death was felt as a great loss. Mr. Paton, his fellow- labourer on Tana, writes : " The labourers are few and the harvest is great, and Mr. Johnston was full of youth, life and activity ; and why he should be safely brought over a long voyage, enabled to acquire the language, so as to be able to speak to the people, and called away when his usefulness was just beginning, must remain among the inscrutable mysteries of God ; yet He doeth all things well. Mr. J.'s death is a great loss to the Mission and to the Church, for he was much respected and beloved by all the members of it, and high hopes were entertained regarding his future career on Tana." Mr. Geddie writes : " We are now mourning the loss of Mr. Johnston, a very dear brother, who wau permitted only seven short months among us. He was a young man of piety and great promise. I have met with few on the Mission field to whom my heart was more drawn out." The month of March brought additional calamities, which Mr. G. thus describes : — " The next calamity which I have to mention, is the burning of our new church and school-house. We are now sure that this was the work of an incendiary. The school-house was first observed to be on fire, and being near the church, the latter building could not \a saved. After the fire broke out, the captain and crew of a vessel lying in the harbour at the time, two white men belonging to one of the sandal wood establishments on the island, and such natives as w^re able to leave their houses, were soon on the spot, but all that could be done was to save the stone walls of the church. When the thatch was burnt on it, we succeeded in pulling away the fram work of the roof, so that the stone-work was not injured I- t i 442 LIFE 07 JOHN GBDDIB, D.D. [1861 by the heat. The floor being plastered and covered with mats, there was but little combustible matter inside to burn. In the school-house there was property of considerable value destroyed, among which were the boxes belonging to Mr. Johnston, the sails of the John Knox, and boards which the natives had sawed for the missionaries on the other islands. We were altogether unprepared for such an event as this, and many of the natives from a distance could not believe it, until they came and witnessed the scene of desolation with their own eyes. The impression made on their minds by the burning of the church seems to be much greater than even that made by the sickness. " But by whom was the church burnt ? Suspicion at present rests on a small party of natives who live in our neighbourhood — «ight or ten in number. They are from different parts of the island, and have been attracted to the harbour by the sandal wood establishment, on which they are a sort of dependents. They neither profess heathenism nor Christianity, but live without any religion. They are much more demora- lized than their heathen countrymen, by their intercourse with white men. Now, more than one of these have been threaten- ing to bum the church. It was known at one of the sandal wood establishments, before the church was burnt, that the party alluded to intended to do it. But no intimation of their design was given to me, or to any of the natives. I believe that they regret the strange omission now, and are not without fear that men who burn churches may not scruple to molest them in a similar way. The reason given for silence was the improbability of such a thing being done. " Since the loss of our church we meet in a new school- house, which was opened only a week before the sickness broke out. The church was not taken from us without a reason. We were all most probably too proud of it. Per- haps we have been devoting too much attention to the exter- nals of religion, and too little to the things which are vital, esscntip.l und saving. I long for the time when we may be permitted again to assemble in it, but alas ! many who wor- shipped with us there will worship with us no more on this side of the grave." To add to their calamities, a fearful hurricane passed over [1861 h mats, In the jtroysd, ton, the ires had Jq were many of til they leir own irning of made by t present Qourhood parts of r by the sort of •istianity, ) demora- urse with 1 threaten- le sandal ihat the of their X believe are not cruple to or silence iw school - sickness without it. Per- the exter- are vital, re may be who wor- •e on this ^ssed over 1861] TRIALS AND DISASTERS. 443 the island on the 15th of the same month. " We had two hurricanes this season previous to the cyclone to which I refer, but they will bear no comparison to it. Few of the present generation have witnessed so severe a storm. The centre of it passed directly over the island. This we know, because we had a short interval of dead calm, after which the wind came up from another quarter. The damage done by the hurricane was immense, and it will be years before the island recovers from the effects of it. Trees were torn up by the roots ; houses blown down in every direction ; and a great quantity of food destroyed. Food will be very scarce this year, and it is only the great mortality from disease that is likely to save the island from the horrors of famine. The only injury sustained by us was the loss of all our fences, and the thatch partly blown off our houses. Mr. Copeland's station, however, has suffered severely. The sea came up into the houses ; destroyed the large and beautiful building in which the Normal School was taught ; and battered in the front of the church, which was also injured by the wind. Nearly all his school-houses were destroyed, and a few of mine. The sea on the north side of the island must have been ten feet above high water mark. Two lives were lost : one woman was swept away by the sea, and was seen no more ; and a man was burnt to death in a grass house, which was blown down and caught fire before he could escape. Two vessels which were lying in the harbour were wrecked. As the hurricane came the week after the church was burnt, the natives regarded it as a judgment on the island for that wicked deed. They are like the Jews of old (John ix. 2) ; or like the barbarous people of Melita, (Acts xxviii. 2)." On these events, he remarks : " It is a remarkable fact, that severe calamities have befallen several of the islands in these seas, where Christianity has been embraced. I cannot say what effect the calamities which I have mentioned may have on the natives of this island, but so far as I have had an opportunity of conversing with them, they seem to take a proper view of them ; and many natives at a distance have sent me word that their trials have in no respect weakened their attach- ment to Christianity, and that they are. ready to submit to God's will in all things." iii 444 LIFE OF JOHN OEDDIE, D.D. [1861 '.' I In a subsequent letter he relates the proceedings in refer- ence to the burning of the church. It was traced to the small party of natives mentioned. They were apprehended and examined in turn, and suspicion fell on an elderly man named Nihiang. It was proved that he used on one occasion words to this effect : " Now is the time ; let us burn the stone church. What are we about that we don't do it 1 '* And his own party say that they believe him to be the man who did it. When many of the chiefs began to recover, Nihiang manifested great fear, and kept out of the way. His alarm at last became so great, that his own friends said that he meditated suicide. To prevent this he was made prisoner, and watched until the chiefs could meet. After he had been a prisoner for about ten days, a boat from one of the sandal wood establishments, went on a Sabbath day, tilled with men who were armed, and released him. The deed was done while the people were at church. The natives were much e iraged, but I told them that the island itself was a prison from which Nihiang would not be able to escape, and just to let the matter stand until we had a visit of a man-of-war. I thought that if the white men wished to have a quarrel with the natives, that would be the best time for it. On one calm day a cloud of smoke was seen rising on the distant horizon, and in a few hours more, H.M.S. Peloriua was at anchor, with Commodore Seymour on board, and the next day H.M.S. Cordelia also made her appearance. The natives soon had Nihiang under arrest, and a meeting was held, attended by all the chiefs who were able to come. After spending nearly two days over the case, they unanimously agreed that Nihiang was the guilty man, and most of them thought he ought to be put to death. At this stage of the proceedings, Mr. Oopeland and I were asked to attend the meeting. As the man denied the crime laid to his charge, and as there was only circumstantial evidence against him, we urged that he should be punished for his threat alone. Our advice was taken, and the sentence agreed on was as follows : thirty lashes, the confiscation of his land and trees, and banishment for life to a remote district of the island. When the sentence was announced, Nihiang was a happy man, as he expected something more severe. This pun- ishment is only for the threat, and the chiefs have announced l]i; [1861 I refer- to the hended elderly on one let us re don't 3 be the recover, y. His Btid that )risoner, ad been B sandal ith men ne while eiraged, im which le matter it that if LVGS, that cloud of in a few imodore •lia also ig under iiefs who over the [6 guilty io death, fre asked laid to ividence for his agreed lis land of the Ig was a lis pun- lounced 1861] tRIALS AND blSASTBRd. 445 their intention of punishing for the deed, if it should ever be known who did it. The party with whom the burning of the church originated, seem to have been startled by the enormity of their crime. Nihiang and the small party connected with him, now attend the means of grace, and most of them have received books, and come to our schools." But the cup was not yet full. On the 20th May, Mr. and Mrs. Gordon were murdered on Erromanga. On that island the ravages of the measles were as extensive as on any of the others. In some districts two-thirds of the population were cut off. The heathen were of course excited, and their rage issued in this painful catastrophe. The following are the par- ticulars : Ml*. G., for the sake of health, had built a house on elevated ground, about two miles distdnt from the shore. On the 18th, Joe was informed by his relatives that Mr. Gordon's life was in danger, and requested to warn him and advise him to remove to the Mission grounds, as where he was, he was entirely at the mercy of any disaffected tribe. He and Mana, the same evening, told him what he had heard, and advised him accordingly. Mr. G., however, treated it lightly. On the fol- lowing day they spoke to Mrs. G. on the subject. On Monday Mr. G. sent eight of the lads to cut thatch for a house he was building half-way down towards the shore. The lads objected, and proposed that half of them should remain at the house with Mrs. G., and the ether half work with him at the build- ing, but Mr. G. would not agree to this. About noon, a party of nine men and a boy from Bunkhill, including the chief Lova, cal' i at Mr. Gordon's house, and expressed a desire to see him. They were informed that he was further down the hill, putting up a house. The party went as if they intended to go direct to the place where Mr. G. was at work, but they all concealed themselves in the bush, except Nahobili. He asked Mr. G. for some calico for him- self and his companions. Mr. Gordon took a chip, wrote on it a request to Mrs. G. to give them a yard of cloth each, and offered it to Nahobili, telling him to take it to Mrs. G. and she would give him what he wanted. Nahobili refused the chip, and begged Mr. G. tx) go with him to the house, stating that they had brought there a sick man, whom they wished him to see and supply with medicine. Mr. G. bad just received his !; IS !! if 446 LIFE OF JOHN OBDDIR, D.D. [1861 dinner, sent by Mrs. G., and was about to commence eating, but, hearing of the sick man, consented to go. He accordingly tied up the plate in his pocket handkerchief, and walked up to- ward his house, followed by the native. They had not pro- ceeded far, when a man, who had been concealed in the bush, sprang out and aimed a blow at Mr. G. with a hatchet. He raised his arm to ward off the blow, and received a slight wound. He then ran, pursued by Nahobili. His progress was soon obstructed by a steep place in the path, covered with loose stones. While in the act of ascending this height, his savage pursuers overtook him. Nahobili struck him a severe blow on the back, near the loins, inflicting a deadly wound. He fell, and a second blow in the neck from the man who first struck him, put an end to his life. Death must have been in- stantaneous, as the spine was severed, as were also the princi- pal arteries of the neck. One of the men, named Ubel, now rushed on toward the house to complete the tragedy. Mrs. G. had heard a noise, and she and the girl who was with her, had gone outside in conse- quence. Ubel passed round behind the cook-house, which was in rear of the dwelling-house, and coming stealthily behind, struck her a severe blow in the side with a hatchet, and a second on the neck, and all was over. " But what led," asks Mr. Geddie, " to the massacre of our dear friends ? You are aware that measles and dysentery were brought to these islands at the close of last year. As the belief in disease makers is universal on Erromanga, in common with other islands, suspicion fell on Mr. Gordon. The grounds on which he was charged as being the cause of the strange and alarming malady that made its appearance, are two-fold : in the first place, he is said to have foretold divine judgments on the people, in the shape of temporal punishment, for their idolatrous and wicked practices. This appears to be confirmed by an extract from his own journal. Speaking of the disease, he writes : ' It was preceded by nearly an universal opposition to the Gospel, and much murder (1) and idolatry. I felt sure that God would visit them in judgment, and warned them most solemnly but a few days before they were prostrated.' As the warning was soon followed by the disease, the natives not unreasonably concluded that he had some agency in bringing II [1861 e eating, cordingly ied up to- not pro- the bush, ihet. He I a slight progress ered with leight, his I a severe ly wound. a who first B been in- the princi- K)ward the I noise, and le in conse- which was lily behind, het, and a acre of our ntery were As the in common he grounds trange and ^0-fold : in Igments on for their confirmed ,he disease, opposition I felt sure them most ated.' As atives not bringing 1861] TRIALS AND DISASTERS. 447 :in it on them. Much as we may admire the faithfulness and plain dealing of Mr. Gordon with the heathen, yet the pro- priety and prudence of denouncing temporal judgment is ques- tionable. The prophets of old did so, but they had a special commission from heaven The Gospel is a message of mevcy and love, and should be addressed to the heathen in its most attractive form. " But, in the next place, some of the traders told the Erro- mangans that Mr. Gordon was the cause of the disimse which proved so fatal to them. In a letter to myself, written in January, he says : ' The Bliie Bell carried the measles to Dillons Bay in November, and the results have been fearful, and continue to be so. The natives are for the most part like mad tigers, having been stirred up to believe that we are the cause of their alarming distress.' Among those who endea- voured to stir up the natives against Mr. Gordon was a man named Range, a native of India, and a Britibh subject, I believe. He lived on this island formerly, and went to Erro- manga about eight or ten years ago. He is a Mahometan, and has several wives. He is well acquainted with the language, and has acquired much influence on the island. If report is true, he has killed some Erromangans. When Niwan, the chief of Dillons Bay, died, who was one of the most influential men on the island, the said Rang^ professed great anger against Mr. Gordon on account of his death. He told the natives that some medicine which Mr. Gordon gave him had killed him ; also that there was no sickness on the island until they received missionaries, and that the present disease was owing to Mr. G.'s living among them. The words of Rang6 accorded so well with the superstitions of the natives, that they were readily believed, and the report that the missionary was the cause of the awful mortality soon spread over the island. If the testimony of the natives whom I have examined is correct, the words of Rang^ and of men of whiter skins than his, had more to do with the massacre of our friends than the unhappy denunciations of Divine anger alluded to. They all say that if Niwan had not died, Mr. and Mrs. Gordon would not have been injured. You will be surprised to hear that it is the practice of some of the traders sailing among these islands, to warn the natives against missionaries, as being the I 12 448 LIFE OF JOHN OBDDIR, D.D. [1861 cause of disease and death. My own life has often been in peril on this island in the days of heathenism from their cruel insinuations. We do indeed meet with kindness and encour- agement from many of our own countrymen who visit these islands, but others are not surpassed in hostility to us and to our work, by our most inveterate heathen enemies. " The death of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon was not sufficient to appease the ai^er of Rang^, and he has since sought the destruction of the natives who lived at the Mission, and others favourable to Christianity. He threatened to kill Mana him- self, the only Erromangan who has been baptized, and told the natives to kill the others. Fourteen males and females have fled to this island for safety, and are at present with us. Others favourable to Christianity have been ordered to burn their books and destroy their clothing, and have complied in most cases. It is said that a few have concealed their books in the bush, and sometimes steal awav to read them. Those who came to this island were brought in trading vessels, and I paid a pound each for their passage. Our natives are kind to them, and bring them food. We will do what we can to water the good seed sown by our departed friends. Satan has over- reached himself in this unexpected persecution on Erromanga. These natives will, I trust, at no distant day, return to their own island, accompanied by a good band of native teachers. Though the work on Erromanga has met with a fearful re- verse, yet there is much in the circumstances of that island to encourage the hope that the Gospel of peace and love will yet triumph on it. " Alas ! that the poor, degraded Erromangans should have destroyed their best friends. The only palliation to their crime is the fact that it was committed under a strong delusion, to avenge an imaginary injury, the greatest indeed that could be inflicted on them. I know what my own feelings of indigna- tion were at the inhumanity and cruelty of my own country- men, who knowingly, if not designedly, spread the fatal disease among the islands, and I do not wonder at the rage against Mr. Gordon, of persons who had suffered severely themselves, and were mourning the loss of relatives and friends. The deed perpetrated by the Erromangans is only a repetition of the cruelties practised by our own more enlightened ancestors [1861 been in leir crael i encour- sit these IB and to sufficient mght the ,nd others [ana him- and told d females ,t with us. 1 to burn tiuplied in beir books m. Those isels, and I ire kind to in to water has over- jrromanga. irn to their |e teachers, fearful re- Lt island to |ve will yet jould have to their ^g delusion, that could lof indigna- }n country- ^tal disease Bige against tihemselves, ends. The tspetition of ancestors 1861] TRIALS AND DISASTERS. 449 against persons suspected of witchcraft. Instead of indulging sentiments and feelings of revenge against a dark-hearted and deluded people, let us rather breathe out on their behalf that memorable prayer : * Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.' " Mr. Gordon was a man of strong mental powers, immense energy, thorough devotedness, and a braver soldier of the Cross never trod heathen soil. Such qualities, earnestly employed, could not be without result. He sowed seed which, watered and tended by his successor, is bearing good fruit, until there is now a prospect of the whole population of Erromanga being blessed by the light of the Gospel. But his success was largely marred by his setting himself in opposition to the experience of all the successful missionaries in the South Seas, especially in regard to the employment of natives as pioneers and helpers. Instead of regarding them as necessary for the opening up of a field, with his chivalrous courage, he declared himself ready to go where a native could go ; and in carrying on his work, on account of their limited attainments, which had always been admitted, he tried to do without their aid. " He lived long enough," writes Mr. G., " to see his error, but not long enough to correct it. He was earnestly in search of the agency, which at one time he so lightly esteemed, at the time of his death. The question in favour of native agency in the Pacific Isles, has been settled by the experience of nearly half a century ; and the extent to which God has blessed the labours of native teachers, shows that the system has the sanction of heaven. It is true that these good men have their shortcomings and imperfections, and could not, as a general rule, be exhibited as models of Christian excellence. But it is equally true that their simple faith, their self-denial, and their readiness to en- dure all things for Jesus' sake and the Gospel, often excite admiration and gratitude to God. It was a dangerous experi- ment which Mr. Gordon tried, when he set his views and practice on the subject of native agency in opposition to those of almost every missionary in the South Sea Islands." Indeed, from the information Mr. Geddie received, it is believed, that if he had such agents around him, the sad cata- strophe, humanly speaking, would have been averted. " From the Erromangans on this island, and oth^r sources, we learn 29 450 LIFB OF JOHN OBDDIB, D.D. [1861 that the impression is strong, and almost universal, that Mr. Gordon was the cause of the awful malady which swept so many into the grave. The natives were told so by unprin- cipled men, and there were none to contradict the statement or disabuse their minds. The Erromangans here lament that there were no native teachers on the island, for they say that they would have been believed, and the missionaries would have been safe. The island of Erromanga has passed out of our hands for the present for want of native agency, and the suspension of the Tana Mission must be traced, in a great measure, to the same cause." Mrs. Gordon was a native of London. '' She was," says Dr. Turner, " a little body ; quiet, amiable, intelligent ; and possessing a heart full of love to the heathen. We have had female martyrs in the Pacific from our noble band of Samoan and Rarotongan evangelists, but this is the first European female martyr there. God grant that it may be the last ! " " The massacre on Erromanga," says Mr. G., " produced, as we expected, some excitement on Tana. "We lost no time in sending the John KnoXy to convey the sad intelligence to our brethren on that island, and see what effect it would have on the natives. But bad new^s spreads fast, and it was known before the John Knox arrived. A sandal wood boat manned by a Tahitian and some Erromangans, went over to Port Resolution. The parties on board told what had been done on Erromanga, and advised the Tanese to kill their missionaries also. There was much excitement after this visit, especially at Mr. Paton's station. The natives assembled from different quarters, threatening to kill him and bum his house. The friends of the Mission are now becoming numerous, or their threats might have been carried into effect. Their rage was increased by traders telling them that Mr. Paton was the cause of their calamities, and advising them to put him out of the way. The excitement became so great, that for about two weeks he dare not undress himself to sleep. He sent me a note informing me of the state of matters. I made up my mind at once to visit Tana, as I thought I might have some influence for good with Miaki, the principal chief at the har- bour, who is an old friend of mine. When we were getting the John Knox ready for sea, Commodore Seymour arrived and 1861] TRIALS AND DISASTERS. 451 I told him how things were. I went over one day, and the two ships of war made their appearance the next. The Com- modore met with the chiefs and gave them some good advice. They made some disclosures about the doings of traders, which must have astonished him. After a long interview he took a number of the natives on board of his ship to look at her, and received a promise that no injury would be done to Mr. Paton. The next day being Sabbath we met for worship, but our meet- ing was small." At this time a little light showed amid the thick darkness by the arrival of the John Williams on the 30th August. The Lon- don Missionary Society, contemplating an extension of their work in Western Polynesia, had appointed Rev. Mr. Murray to explore the field, and Mr. G. was invited to accompany him. They sailed on the 5th September, and first called at Tana, where they spent three pleasant days at Port Resolution, and found things progressing slowly in the right direction. Next, they called at Aniwa. The measles had been on this island, but coming at a favourable season, had not been so fatal as on other islands, and there had not been excited against the teach- ers the hostility such calamities usually occasioned. It had been an unfortunate circumstance that the John Knox, on a previous visit, had, in bringing home a native, been the means of introducing the disease. A number of natives were found seeking instruction. On September 11th, with painful emo- tions, they entered Dillons Bay. " The day was tine, and the island never appeared more lovely. It was hard to think that so interesting a spot of God's creation should have been dese- crated with the deeds of darkness that have been perpetrated on it. A death-like stillness prevailed around, and very few natives co '.Id be seen. The fatal disease which has swept over the island, has fearfully reduced the population, and the sur- vivors, whether friends or foes, were ashamed or afraid when they saw the ship. A boat was soon lowered, and sent on shove under the charge of Joe, one of the Erromangans on Aneiteum, whom we brought as interpreter. It soon returned, bringing several friendly natives. Our interview with these poor Erromangans was an affecting one ; it was some time before they spoke, and they shed many tears. We found things in a much more hopeful state than we expected. There I 452 LIFE OF JOHN OBDDIB, D.D. [1861 arc small parties in different places friendly to the Mission, who meet to worship God on the Sabbath day." But the special scene of interest was the island of £fate, and of his visit there we must give his account more fully : " September 13th. — We were close in to Efate this morning, after a night's run from Erromanga. We approached this island with mingled emotions of fear and hope. Our minds were soon relieved by seeing a number of canpes come off from the shore, and among those on board we could recognize our teachers. They were soon on board, and gave us the cheering information that they and their families were well, and much encouraged in their labours. The Mission had suffered from measles, but all connected with it had recovered, with the exception of a child, who died. The disease had also spread over a considerable part of the island, but was less fatal here than on the more southerly islands. The natives did not blame the teachers for it. We were glad to hear that the scarcity of food, of which there is so much complaint on some islands, did not extend to Efate. " The report which the teachers gave of the Mission was more encouraging than it had been our privilege to hear dur- ing any previous visit. The time to favour this dark island, on which so many devoted teachers had fallen by the hand of violence and the deadly influence of disestse, has at last come. The whole population, in the district where the teachers reside, is professedly Christian, and attend on the instruction of the teachers. The tribes around them are, however, in darkness, and from these the Christian party receive some annoyance. But at the time of our visit, the heathen were at war among themselves, and the Christians were not molested by them. The teachers told us that some of the natives Were desirous of being baptized, and publicly professing their faith in Christ and obedience to His will. Some of the natives of this place had been at Samoa, and understood something of the nature and design of Christian ordinances. Neither Mr. Murray nor I was prepared for such a request, yet we dare not hastily dis- miss it. We concluded, after much consideration, to examine thirteen candidates, who were recommended by the teachers. We were satisfied with ten of the number ; their views of Divine truth were clear, and far more extensive than we 1861] TRIALS AND DldASTBKg. 453 ventured to hope. The earnestness which they manifested, gave us much confidence in their sincerity ; and their general conduct, the teachers assured us, was consistent and exem- plary. Unprepared as we were for dispensing the sealing ordinances of religion, yet, after a long interview with these Efatese disciples, we could only say as Peter did on another occasion, * Can any man forbid water that these should not be baptized V It was accordingly arranged that we should spend the Sabbath at this island and dispense the ordinances of Bap- tism and the Lord's Supper. " The Sabbath was a lovely day. The sky above was clear and cloudless, and the sea around was calm, the breeze being scarcely strong enough to ripple the surface. After breakfast two boats were lowered, and Mr. and Mrs. Murray, Capt. and Mrs. Williams, Mrs. Johnston, myself and all the other Church members went ashore. Soon after we landed, the longo was beaten, to give notice that the hour for worship had come. We met in a plain grass house, which was made comfortable with mats and native cloth. There seemed to be two hundred persons present, and the house was quite full. One of the Rarotongan evangelists preached a sermon in the Efatese language. It next devolved upon me to administer the ordinance of baptism to ten adults and one child. Then followed the dispensing of the Lord's Supper by Mr. Murray. During the services of the day, four different languages were spoken — the Efatese, Samoan, Aneiteum and English — that all might be edified, and hear the wonderful works of God in their own tongue. At the close of our meeting the little church on Efate was formally constituted. We feel much interest in this little band of witnesses for Christ, in the midst of surrounding heathenism. I shall never forget the day on which it was my privilege to unite with the followers of Christ on Efate in commemorating the dying love of our common Saviour. Angels, no doubt, were interested spectators of the scene. It must have been a happy day for the native teachers. During their night of toil I sympathized with them in their sorrows, and I now felt that I had a right to rejoice with them in their joys. " During our visit we opened a new station in the bay, at a place called Pango. Some natives came from that district, begging teachers. They formerly had Samoans living among 454 Ll9R of JOHN OKDDIlC, D.D. [1861 them, but most of them died, and the others were removed. There is reason to hope, however, that their labour was not altogether in vain. A small party have built a house, and meet on the Sabbath day to pray, but they have no p^^rson to teach and guide them. We responded to the call for help from this quarter, after receiving a promise from the chief that the teachers would be protected and treated kindly. O, for missionaries for Efato !" It is somewhat remarkable that while the Mission on Erro- manga, and, as we shall see, that on Tana, where it was atteu;pted to carry on the work without native helpers, were being broken up in comparative failure, on the island of Efate God was owning the labours of these humble agents in the gathering of a Church, which has been as a light shining in a dark place unto this day. The vessel had never been farther north than this. But she now made an interesting exploratory voyage among the islands in that direction. We can only, however, give Mr. G.'s summary of proceedings : '* The next island visited was Api. We had an Api native on board, whom we had picked up on Efate, through whom we succeeded in making known our object to the natives of the island. They readily consented to receive two teachers from us. They were settled on this dark island under encouraging prospects. We were warned by the traders not to land on Api, as they were ferocious savages, but we did not find them so. They gave us a welcome reception on shore. Having finished at Api, we went on to Ambrym. This is a lovely island. There is a volcano on it in constant action. The natives on it are very timid, and we found it difficult to have intercourse with them. We succeeded, how- ever, in getting two natives to accompany us, who will return to their own island next year, accompanied by teachers, we hope." They also sailed along the coast of Malicolo, and had intercourse with the people, giving them presents, etc, but did not succeed in getting any to accompany them. "The last island of the group at which we called was Espiritu Santo. This is the largest and most northerly island of the group. It appeared to be populous also. We settled two Rarotongan teachers at this place. The natives appear to be a fine race, and are less savage than some of their neighbours. Leaving f^ [1861 1861] TRIALS AND DISASTERS. 465 removed. was not mse, and pHrson 1 for help the chief I kindly. on Erro- e it was )er8, were I of Efate its in the ning in a But she he islands Mr. G.'s I was Api. :ed up on nown our isented to this dark led by the vages, but reception Ambry m. . constant found it 3ded, how- dll return ichers, we ), and had c, but did "The last itu Santo, f^roup. It iirotongan fine race, Leaving */ "456 Lii'K 01)' JOHN OEDDIE, D.D. [1861 tihe New Hebrides, we sailed for the Loyalty Islands, and visited Mare, Lifu and Wsa, where the work seems to prosper. During our voyage we sighted thirty-seven islands, exclusive of Rmall ones. A great field is opening up in these islands for missionary enterprise." In regard to this voyage, he writes : " Before I undercook it I had a very imperfect idea of the magnitude, the loveliness and the populousness of the group on which we laboured. We have commenced our operations at the least inviting end of the group, and among the most degraded natives. If the work has to uome extent succeeded here, we may expect greater and more important results as we proceed northward." In regard to his work on Aneiteum, he writes on the 26th August : " I am glad to say that things begin to assume their former aspect, and the natives again make their appearance at public worship and at the schools, though their number is much reduced. The late affliction appears to have had a solemnizing effect on the community at large, which I hope may continue. My class of candidates for Church membership is about thirty, and every week brings new applications for admission. "As soon as the natives began to recover, I called a meeting to know what their views and wishes were. The unanimous voice was ' build, and do it Avithout delay.' I fixed on the following week as the time to commence operations, but many were off to the bush next morning to cut wood. The work has gone on as rapidly as I could direct it. I have taken the opportunity of remedying some architectural defects of the former building. We have raised the walls a little, and arched the centre windows in the two sides and ends. The whole building is much superior to what it was." In the beginning of November the church was opened, there being about twelve hundred present. The Lord's Supper was dispensed, and twenty-nine persons admitted for the first time, and, notwithstanding all the calamities of the year, the annual missionary meeting was held on the Monday following, when the natives contributed out of their deep poverty as they could. At the conclusion of the year, he writes that there was still much sickness among the natives, whose constitutions seemed enfeebled by the measles, so that they readily sank under the [1861 1862] TRIALS AND DISASTERS. 457 Luds, and ) prosper, elusive of )lands for mder' ook loveliness red. We jnd of the the work 'eater and i the 26th lume their sarance at lumber is bve had a ch I hope embership lations for a meeting Unanimous d on the ut many work has aken the ts of the d arched he whole led, there [pper was irst time, le annual ig, when ley could. I was still [s seemed Inder the ordinary diseases of the island. He adds : "I am thankful to say, that the events of the past year seem to have had a solemnizing influence on many of the natives, and there is a more than usual attention to religion." The whole number of deaths during the year had been between eleven and twelve hundred. But the clouds returned after the rain. Since the disasters on Tana, the missionaries had continued at their post, labouring faithfully, exposed to some perils and enduring privation, but with some encouragement ; and, notwithstanding all that had occurred, they entertained good hopes of the ultimate success of the Gospel on that island. But these hopas were doomed to a painful disappointment. Mr. Matheson had resumed his work while still far from strong, and for some time his strength had been gradually decaying. Though he was not entirely laid aside, and he was insensible of the inroads which his complaint had made upon his vigour, yet he was now just able to drag himself languidly about to his work. For some time, too, the toils and trials of missionary life in so rugged a field, together with the additional care necessary in consequence of the state of Mr. M.'s health, had been telling upon Mrs. M.'s strength. She had for some time been subject to an asthmatic or bronchial aflection, which, however, did not lay her aside ; but her constitution was becoming more delicate, and her health otherwise affected. On the 21st November she gave birth to a daughter. Still she clung to her work amid weari- ness, weakness and pain, feeling that both Mr. M. and the cause needed her presence. At the close of the year (1861), both wrote hopefully re- garding the work ; but, on the 16th January, the island was visited by another destructive hurricane. Nearly everything in the shape of native food was destroyed, and as famine stared the natives in the face, the rage of the heathen was excited against the missionaries. On the morning of th< 17th their infant child was removed by death, and on the 20th Mr. Baton's station at Bort Resolution was broken up. The hea- then tribes commenced war against those at the harbour. Mr. Baton's house was situated on what had long been their fighting ground. For several days the two parties fought round his premises. His windows were smashed, his house broken into. 408 LIFB or JOHN OEDDIB, D.D. [1862 I, fi articles destroyed or stolen, and his life threatened. Mr. P. was much broken down by repeated attacks of fever, and it was thought took too dark a view of the state of things. He believed that not only the heathen tribes, but the chiefs under whose protection he was, were plotting his destruction. His life was indeed not free from danger. Many were bitterly opposed to Christianity, and there was no saying to what length they might go ; but their object was not to kill the missionaries, but to get them to remove. Even some of the friendly natives became alarmed at the hostility of their neigh- bours, and began to wish the missionaries gone. This was the cause of the threats that were freely used, particularly at Port Resolution, of burning their houses and killing them if they did not leave. Under these circumstances Mr. Paton felt it his duty to leave, and, after serious perils by the inland route, arrived at Mr. Matheson's station. His removal for a time was necessary, but, to the regret of the other missionaries, he also removed the Aneiteumese teachers, thus breaking up the station altogether, although the friendly chiefs wished them to remain, and they were willing to do so. By their remain- ing the ground would have been held, and the occupation of it again by missionaries would have been facilitated ; but the abandoning the field altogether greatly increased the difficulty of resuming operations afterwurd. At Mr. Matheson's station there were the same threats, but he had continued firm at his post, and never thought of leaving it for any apparent danger. Mrs. M., in the most troublous times, never lost her contidence. She was never molested. She won the aflfection of the most savage, so that they were never guilty even of rudeness to her ; and even at the worst, she records instances of their kindness and atten- tion. The chiefs, who had pledged their honour to protect the missionaries, fulfilled their engagements, though under the hostility or threats of the enemies of Christianity ^hey might at times have become weary of them. And there were tokens that the work was advancing. But the heathen raged. On the night of Sabbath, 2nd February, the church was burned down. This, it was after- wards ascertained, was done by the heathen party as an act of hostility against the chiefs, by whom it had been built. They [1862 1862] Trials and DtsASTfiRD. 45d Mr. P. r, and it gs. He fa under ►n. His bitterly to what kill the e of the tir neigh- j was the y at Port 1 if they on felt it nd route, )r a time laries, he ig up the hed them r remain- tion of it but the difficulty e threats, Ihought of the most as never so that even at |nd atten- protect nder the ley might ire tokens ^ath, 2nd ra.9 after- an act of It. They also threatened to burn Mr. M.'s house. Still, for anything in the circumstances of the Mission, Mr. and Mrs. M. would have cheerfully remained. He declared afterwards, that he would never have left but for the state of her health. But this rendered removal imperative ; while his was scarcely bet- ter. By the hurricane, their house, which was situated on a hill, though not thrown down, was so twisted that it became open both to wind and rain. It was the rainy season, when the i-ain falls with a copiousness unknown in temperate climates, and that sometimes continuously for eight or ten days at a time. There was scarcely a spot in their house that could be kept dry. She was then delicate, and in such circumstances all the symptoms of pulmonary consumption lapidly developed. The missionaries resolved on removing from Tana ; and just at that time a vessel which had been en- gaged to visit them by Mr. Geddie, who had heard of the perils by which they were surrounded, hove in sight. The vessel was owned by Captain Burns, who, though engaged in the sandal wood business, rendered important services to the Mission. It was evening before all was ready for their departure, when they proceeded to sea in two boats, but were not picked up by the vessel till next evening, being thus obliged to sleep all night in the boats. The exposure aggravated her symptoms, and when they arrived on Aneiteum the worst was feared. She gradually grew worse, and, on the 11th March, peacefully expired. Mr. M. was then extremely feeble, but while seemingly far gone in consumption, he still tried to work, instructing the Tanese, who had left their own island to accompany him, and translating. In June he went to Mare, deemed very salubri- ous ; but he gradually grew weaker, and on the 14th October passed away. Thus, in less than two years, the Missions which had been begun so hopefully on Tana and Erromanga, were broken up, or at least suspended. The Mission on Aneiteum, long so favoured of the Lord, was subjected to a series of trials of an almost unprecedented nature ; and of eight agents of the Nova Scotia Church, missionaries and their wives, live, the youngest and the strongest, had passed away, leaving only Mrs. Johnston along with the veteran Geddie and his wife, 460 LIFB OF JOHK OBDDIB, D.O. [1862 I'M. **^ho were now somewhat broken down by fourteen years' con- tinuous labour in such a severe climate, and under such try- ing circumstances. Seldom has any cause had in such a period a record so like the prophet's roll, written within and with- out, lamentation and woe. These calamities must have come with almost crushing weight upon any human spirit. To Mr. Geddie the disappoint- ment of his expectations was terrible. When, after long years of calling for men to reap the fields, which were white unto the harvest, he had seen the ground occupied at different points by faithful men, and everything seemed to promise the speedy evangelization of the whole group, to have all his hopes so quickly blighted, the work arrested except on Aneiteum, and even there trouble and disaster, the agents gone, the prejudices of the natives excited, and the work encompassed with greater difficulties than before, was most trying to faith. But his letters show that however deeply he felt these events, he did not lose heart or give way to despondency. He still maintained his faith in God and his work. Whatever depression he may have felt he concealed from the Church, and he seemed to feel it his business to comfort her and to uphold her faith. Where others saw only darkness, he saw a bright side, and found ground for hope, and he wrote with a confidence which we would imagine was stronger than he felt himself. To quote only one paragraph from his letters : "Let not our hearts faint, our faith waver, or our hope sink in these trying times. If clouds are passing over us, we can also spjak of sunshine. This island may now be considered as added to the number of Christian nations. Our brethren on Tana have their enemies, but it is also true that the Mission there has many sincere friends, and we have a band of witnesses here from Erromanga, who, at no distant day, will return, accompanied by others, to spread the truth throughout the length and breadth of that dark island. Then there are great and populous islands in the distance, which present noble fields for missionary entf prise. Let us trust in God, and gird on our armour for the great work before us, in the assurance that He will bless us. Our Church seems in a manner solemnly pledged to the work of Missions on this group. You must always feel an interest in the one that has renounced 1861] TRIALS AKD DISASTERS. 461 ears con- heathenism and embraced Christianity, as it was the scene of our early trials, encouragements and hopes, and we have taken possession of other two, by having secured in them a * burying- piace,' and many hearts will go out to the graves yonder. We ask your prayers, and we ask for men and women to take the place of those who have gone to their rest." In the present state of the Mission, particularly in the prospect of extending operations in the northern part of the group, the missionaries were led to appeal to the Churches at home for a vessel of fifty or sixty tons. Mr. Paton's health having been broken down by what he had passed through on Tana, it was deemed advisable that he should spend a few months in the Australian colonies to recruit, and he was duly delegated to present the matter before the Churches there, and solicit their aid for the new vessel. His story of the sufferings and trials through which the Mission had passed during the preceding year, excited the deepest interest, and his fervent appeals met with a hearty response. In Victoria, especially, in which the Presbyterian Churches had just united, his visit infused such a missionary spirit into the united body, as rendered his visit a new era in her history. In that colony, £2,600 was contributed, and in New South Wales £700 ; altogethe'' he was the means of raising £5,000. We may note that thus the calamities through which the Mission had passed, was one means which led to the engaging these Churches directly in Missions to the heathen. The sum raised in Australia being thus more than was necessary for the building of the vessel, independent of what should be raised in Nova Scotia, and in the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Scotland, a portion was set apart to bring additional missionaries from Scotland, and Mr. Paton proceeded thither for that purpose. The intelligence of these disasters sent a thrill through the hearts of the members of the Church at home. The united Synod of what was now known as the Presbyterian Church of the Lower Provinces, held its first regular meeting in June, 1861, and, in ignorance of what had transpired in the New Hebrides, after a due estimate of their funds, authorized the Board to obtain, if possible, the services of a fifth missionary. They accordingly advertised for one. But in August a single mail brought the tidings of the ravages of the measles on Anei- it 462 LIFB OF JOHN OEDDIB, D.D. [1861 8i**J'i'^ teum, Tana and Erromanga, the death of Mr. Johnston, the burning of Mr. G.'s church, and the desolations of the hurricane. Seldom, even in this world of change and sorrow, has such an accumulation of calamities come so suddenly upon any cause ; and they were felt all the more, that up to this period the his- tory of the Mission might be said to have been a record of mercies and triumphs. "How hath the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in His anger." The details of the labours of our missionaries, circulated in a small periodical, had rendered almost every family in the Presbyterian Church of Nova Scotia familiar with their work, and made their names as household words, so that the tidings carried the burden of a personal grief into hundreds of homes. While, however, there was heard in these events a loud call for humiliation under the correcting hand of the Almighty, the general feeling was, that duty impelled us to increased exertions, in faith as to the ultimate triumph of His cause. Accordingly the Board, after referring to these trials in suc- cession, say : — " In these successive strokes of an afflictive Providence, each of which would itself call for mourning, and all in swift succes- sion, coming wave after wave, like an irresistible flood, threat- ening to engulf the Mission in utter ruin, this Board do but discover the operation of His hands who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working, who humbleth under His mighty hand that He may exalt in due time. Their abiding faith is, that to the Churches and their missionaries at home and abroad this fatherly chastisement has been sent both to correct past errors and prepare for future conquests. Signal trials do not infrequently, in the all-wise arrangements of Divine Providence, prepare the way for signal triumphs. Let united and importu- nate prayer go forth to secure this moat blessed rtM»ult." They accordingly resolved to advertise immediately for two missionaries — one to fill the place of Mr. Johnston, the other to increase the force, as provided in tht Synod's resolution. But a few weeks later came the intelligence of the d*^ath of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon, and though the blow was soniewhac stunning, yet the Board, iit a meeting held on the 23rd of October, after adopting a suitaMe minute regarding the character and services of these beloved ones, and the duty of iir "^ [1861 iston, the lurricane. A Buch an ny cause ; d the his- record of leered the details of )eriodical, bn Church eir names arden of a , loud call A-lmighty, increased lis cause, lis in suc- ience, each if t succes- )d, threat- d do but n counsel s mighty faith is, id abroad •rect past lis do not p/vidence, importu- It." for two he other lution. d<(ath of wmewhaV 23rd of ling the duty of 1862] TRIALS AND UISASTER8. 463 the Church under these Divine dispensations, resolved to advertise for three missionaries. When the army of an earthly government suffers loss, hundreds promptly vojunteer to till the place of the fallen. There is not the same zeal in the service of our heavenly King; but the appeal was not without a response. At a meeting of the Board, held on the 10th February, 1862, an oflfer was received from the Rev. Donald Morrison, a minister of high qualifications, recently settled in a congregation in Prince Edward Island. And at a meeting held in March, a young man, then on trial for license, tendered his services, but the oflfer was afterwards withdrawn, in consequence of medical testimony as to the unfitness of his constitution for a tropical climate. At the same time, Mr. James D. Gordon, a brother of the late Rev. Geo. N. Gordon, then in the second year of his theological course, came forward with a tender of his services, stating that while he did not consider that a man should choose his own sphere of labour, but should be ready to go where God calls him, yet that it was his desire, if such should be the will of the great Head of the Church, that he should go to the same people among whom his brother laboured, and preach to them the gospel of salvation. The intelligence of the breaking up of the Tana Mission arrived in June, just previous to the meeting of Synod. The feelings of all were deeply solemnized at the report of the sad changes which had occurred in the one short year which had elapsed since the united Synod had held its first meeting amid joyous congratulations. And on receiving the Board's report, the Synod engaged in " special prayer, acknowledging the hand of God in the recent trials which have befallen the Mis- sion, with confession of sin, acknowledgment of past mercies, and earnest prayer for further direction and blessing," and recommended " the pastors of all their congregrations to make special reference to these mysterious dispensations on the third Sabbath of August, that the people may have an oppor- tunity of uniting in exercises of humility and penitence, and of wrestling together in prayer to Him who hath said, * In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment, but with everlasting mercies will I gc*her thee.' " They also fully endorsed the Board's action in seeking to :!■ i: ■I •! 1 'll 1 ih-C i 464 LIFE OF JOHN OEDDIK, D.D [1862 s; send out three missionaries, and further authorized them to take measures to provide a larger vessel for the use of the Mission, of about one hundred tons burden, and to appeal to the children of the Church to raise her quota, being one-fourth of the whole sum. We have already mentioned that the mis- sionaries had asked for a vessel of about sixty tons. Mr. Geddie, who was always economical in his management, thought that this size would be amply sufficient. The sandal wood traders navigated those seas in vessels of less size, of very inferior workmanship, and he thought that the service of the Mission might bo provided for by a vessel of the same size, of good construction ; but the success which had attended the appeals on her behalf induced the Boards of the Churches interested in the Mission to resolve on one of over one hundred tons. We do not mention this as finding fault with either, but merely that the responsibility may rest on the proper shoulders. The vessel built, of 11 5 tons, has been of immense value, but whether the same service might not have been rendered by a vessel of half the size and at greatly less cost, both for construction and maintenance, is a question on which Mr. G. entertained very decided opinions, and, as his bio- grapher, we feel it proper to mention them. At all events, the Dayspring was built at New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, in the ship-yard of J. W. Carmichael, Esq. She was constructed in the best manner, and everywhere she went she was much admired by those who examined her. She was rigged as a brigantine, and proved a superior sailer. She left Halifax in October, 1863, under the command of Captain W. A. Fraser, and having on board as missionaries for the New Hebrides, the Rev. Donald Morrison and wife, the Rev. J. D. Gordon, and the Rev. William McCullagh, who had tendered his ser- vices on the eve of her sailing, with his wife. After touching at the Cape of Good Hope, she arrived in Melbourne in March, 1864. Her arrival excited great enthusiasm, and both there and at Sydney she was visited by thousands of Sabbath school scholars, who had chiefly collected the money for her pur- chase. Wo may mention here that she subsequently visited the other Australian colonies, and everywhere excited the same interest. Ill , I i " [1862 hem to of the )peal to j-fourth he mis- s. Mr. thought sil wood of very ) of the size, of ided the ;!hurches hundred 1 either, 3 proper immense ive been ,ess cost, on which I his bio- cvents, la, in the ucted in as much ored as a alifax in Fraser, lebrides, Gordon, his ser- touching March, »th there h school ler pur- visited Ithe same 1862] VISIT HOME. 465 'O Chapter XVIII. VISIT HOME. 1862-66. FOR some time subsequent to the disasters recorded in the last chapter, the work on Aneiteum went on in the usual way. At the end of the year 1862, he writes : " More persons have been added to the Church during the past than any former year, and there never were so many candidates for Church membership as at present." He also mentions that the mor- tality had been unusually large, the deaths exceeding the births. This disproportion, however, was principally on Mr. Copeland's side of the island, where the hurricane had been so severe, that there was scarcely a houf>e left standing on the shore for a distance of ten miles. Thus the sick, being ex- posed to the weather, contracted disease from which they never recovered. In addition, the destruction of food had obliged them to resort to unwholesome roots when they most required nourishing fare. On the other islands there was light and darkness. On Er- romanga the Christian party held together, led by Mana and Joe, though Kang^ was trying to stir up the people to kill them. On Efate the Church was largely increased at the visit of the John Williams, though a Rarotongan teacher had died of fever and ague, and an Aneiteumese from sunstroke; but the efforts made the previous year to open up the northern islands had ended in failure. The Rarotongan teachers settled on Api had erected their houses in an unhealthy spot near the shore, and died of fever and ague. The two Rarotongans who had been settled on Eiipiritu Santo, and the wife of one of them, also died ; but the Et'ate man and his wife, who had accompanied them, had enjoyed good health, and gave a good account of the people. 30 ■;ii:l im m <.:m: 466 Llt^E OF JOHN OEt>DlE, D.D. [1863 I In June, 1863, he wrote hopefully, that the clouds which had been passing over the Mission were beginning to disappear ; that they were recovering lost ground, and that the work might be extended to distant islands, if they only had the proper agency. On the 3rd July Mr. Inglis arrived, and was warmly welcomed. He brought an instalment of the version of the New Testament, printed under his superintendence by the British and Foreign Bible Society, and in September the re- mainder arrived, and soon one thousand copies were in circu- lation. Mr. G. says of it : " The workmanship is well done, and if the translation were only worthy of the favourable opinion expressed about it, it would rank equal to many of the Society's versions of the Word of God. We are thankful for it aa it is. Our next edition will be an improvement on the present one. It is an unspeakable boon to this people to possess so much of God's Word in their own tongue. Our translations have awakened some interest among the British and continental philologists,* as they are amongst the first in a new order of dialects ; and when the structure of this language is understood and com- pared with other dialects, it may help to throw some light on the history of the dark races which inhabit so many of the Pacific isles." We may add here that the whole expense, amounting to over £400 sterling, was paid by the natives, and the arrowroot on hand at this time, amounting to six thousand pounds, was ap- propriated to this object. But now, at length, Mr. G, was constrained to seek some relaxation, or rather, the brethren saw that the state of both his and Mrs. Geddie's health required some relief, and accord- ingly, at a meeting in September, it was unanimously resolved, " That, considering the state of Mr. and Mrs. Geddie's health, we are of opinion that they ought to go home, for a time, for rest and relaxation ; and while we would request them to do everything in their power to promote the interests of the Mission during their absence, we would have them do so only BO far as may be compatible with a due regard to the re-estab- lishment of their health, and their speedy return to the sphere * Mr. Inglis received a letter in Aneiteumese from a German scholar, who had seen only the Gospel by Luke. m [1863 ds which isappear ; )rk might le proper l8 warmly 311 of the le by the »er the re- e in circu- jition were ibout it, it ins of the Our next It is an h of God's awakened ilologists,* .lects ; and i and com- le light on my of the ing to over rowroot on s, was ap- seek some Lte of both Lnd accord- ly resolved, ie's health, time, for bhera to do 3ts of the I do so only Ve re-estab- [the sphere scholar, who 1863] VISIT HOME. 467 of their labours." The Board had repeatedly suggested to Mr. Oeddie the propriety of his seeking some relief from con- stant toil and the influence of an enervating climate and fre- quent sickness, but he had hitherto clung to his work ; now, however, he felt constrained to follow the advice of his brethren. Upon this he remarks : — " I regret to say that we feel seriously the effect of a long residence in a climate by no means salubrious. You will not be surprised to hear that we feel much at the prospect of leaving a spot where we have spent so important a period of our lives, and which has been the scene of many trials and of many joys. The prospect of prolonged usefulness is our chief inducement to leave, and it is our unalterable pi;rpose to return, if spared, as soon as God in His providence shall per- mit. We leave at a very interesting period of our lives, when the prospects of great usefulness are opening up before us on the large islands of the north, which enhances the trial all the more. There never was a period, in the history of the Mission, when I desired more to remain in it. Our new vessel will give us facilities for expanding the Mission which we never enjoyed before. But if I am not privileged to assist further in carrying the Gospel to the dark regions beyond, others will be raised up better qualified and more worthy of the honour. " As regards my station, Mr. Copeland has been appointed to occupy it during my absence. No arrangement could be more agreeable to my own feelings, and none more beneficial to the cavse. He is acquainted with the language, has proved him- self to be a faithful and devoted missionary, and the natives are much attached to him. The only offset to Mr. Copeland's usefulness is the want of a wife of kindred spirit with himself. This want, I am glad to say, is likely to be supplied soon. He and Mrs. Johnston have been proclaimed, and will be married in a few days. This arrangement, I have no doubt, will meet with the approbation of friends and of the Church at large. It will be an additional bond of union between the two Missions on this group of islands." The marriage accordingly took place in due form. Mr. Geddie and family sailed from Aneiteum on the 9th January, 1864, in a trading vessel belonging to Captain Bums, lllliti IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) 1.0 I.I *^ m r.' 1^ 1.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 .* 6" ► Photographic Sdences Corporation 4 V V ^^ 9) V <> V <^ 468 LIFE OF JOHN OEDDIB, D.D. [1864 I of Sydney, who refused to receive any payment for their pas- sage. " The value of such a ftivour," Mr. O. says, *' will be better understood when I mention that Messrs. Paton and Copeland paid £100 for passage from Melbourne to Aneiteum, Mr. and Mrs. Johnston £80 from the former to the latter place, and Mr. and Mrs. Inglis paid £60 from Sydney." They arrived in Sydney on the 24th, after what was deemed a favourable passage, but the voyage was with trial, as he men- tions in a letter written on the 4th February : — " God has seen fit to take our dear little Alexander to Him- self. Two days after we sailed he was seized with dysentery, and died after three days' illness. His conduct was very remarkable, during his illness, for a child only ,two years and eight months old. Though he suffered much he never complained, but was always pleasant. He talked much about Mr. and Mrs. Copeland, to whom he was greatly attached, and about all the natives on the Mission premises. A few hours before his death he asked his mamma to pray to Gk)d, and he also made a feeble attempt to sing ' There is a Happy Land,' etc. All his talk was in the native language, as he knew very little English. We hoped to be able to take the body to Sydney for burial, but Uiis was impossible. After keeping it six days, rolled up in many folds of oiled cloth, we were obliged to l»iiry it in the sea. The burial was an affecting scene to us. A rude coffin was made, and, after the body was put in, it was ballasted with stone. One of the hatches was then laid across the bulwarks, and the coffin placed on it, covered with a flag. I read 1 Cor. xv., and engaged in prayer. After prayer was over, the end of the hatch was raised, and the coffin fell with a heavy splash into the sea, and sank for ever from our view. The precious dust of our dear child will remain there till ' the sea give up the dead that are in it' " After arrival he met with another disappointment. He had brought Lathella and his wife, intending to bring them to Nova Scotia, and to avail himself of his help in revising those portions of the Scriptures already printed, and preparing others for the press. But the doctors who examined her, reported her lungs in such a state that a visit to a colder climate would likely develop consumption rapidly. Hence it became neces- sary for them to return to Aneiteum in the Dayipting. r- '1 ■ 1864] VISIT HOMB. 469 » » He spent two weeks in Sydney, where he met with much Chris- tian kindness, but not resting, for we find him preaching in the churches of Revs. Dr. Steele, A. Mclntyre and A. Thomp- son. From Sydney he proceeded to Melbourne, to await the arrival of the Dayspring with the new missionaries. But here there was no more rest than before. He was still preach- ing and delivering missionary addresses. The Dayapring arrived on the 3rd March, and he adds : "I need not tell you my feelings of joy at meeting with so fine a vessel, so promis- ing a band of missionaries, and so many warm-hearted Nova Scotians." He wrote in the warmest terms of the kindness received at Melbourne, but it did not extend to relieving him from work. " We have all been busy since the vessel arrived. In the city '^f Melbourne, the various Presbyterian pulpits were opened to us to plead the cause of Missions. On the Sabbath before last the four of us preached in eight churches, and collections were taken in them all. We had also a week evening meeting in Dr. Cairns' church, which was very numer- ously attended. The last Sabbath was spent by our whole Mission party in Geelong. Each one of us preached twice during the day, in churches belonging to the Presbyterian Church of Victoria, United Presbyterian Church, Reformed Presbyterian Church, Independents, and Baptists, in all of which collections were made. We had also a delightful mis- sionary meeting last evening, attended by persons of all denominations in the town. "The last six or seven weeks has been a time of much missionary excitement in Victoria. When I went on board of the steamer at Sydney, to come to Melbourne, I found, to my surprise and joy, that Bishop Patteson was a fellow-passenger, and not only so, but as we were the last applicants, we occupied the same cabin. He had come to plead the cause of Missions among the Episcopalians. As we had come from the same part of the heathen world, we had much the same story to tell. The testimony of two witness^, from different branches of the Christian Church, awakened a pleasing interest in the cause of Missions not often felt. Many Presbyterians went to hear the Episcopalian, and many Episcopalians went to hear the Pres- byterian. Our plans of operation are somewhat different ; each no doubt thinks his own the best ; but our object is the 1^: h I" 470 LIFI or JOHN OBDDII, D.D. [1864 same — the salvation of our perishing fellow-men — and we can bid each other Godspeed with all our hearts." On the 5th April they took passage in a sailing vessel for London, and for nearly three months he had something of a rest. " The voyage, however," he says, ** has not been bene- ficial either to Mrs. Geddie's health or my own. We suffered intensely from the cold in the high southern latitudes through which we passed. The effects of a sudden transition from the heat of the tropics to the cold of the frigid zone are stUl felt by us." After arrival in England, Mr. G. paid a short visit to Scot- land, where he had some most agreeable intercourse with the Foreign Mission Committee of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland, and arrived in Halifax on the 3rd of August. After spending a few days there, and preaching on the Sabbath following, he proceeded to Pictou, and thence to Antigonish, where Mrs. G.'s friends resided. On the 11th, the Board of Foreign Missions met to welcome him. They were glad to find him looking but little changed in appearance since he had left Nova Scotia, and his strength considerably recruited during the six months since he had left the islands, and his spirit unabated. Notwithstanding all the untoward events of the past two years, his faith in the Mission work was unchanged, and he was still hopeful regarding the future of the work on the New Hebrides. In the periodicals of the Church there had appeared letters written, as he be- lieved, under false impressions, and giving a view of the condition of things which he regarded as quite too doleful, and fitted to discourage the Church, and thus hinder the progress of the work, and he embraced the opportunity, as it was afforded him, of presenting the other side of the case. As for himself, he was as ready for work as ever. We recollect the amused look that was on the face of each member of the Board, when he unfolded his plans for the employment of his time during his visit hom,e, proposing to start the week following on a visitation of the congregations in Cape Breton, intending in addition to visit those in Prince Edward Island before winter. This was the man who had come home to rest and recruit after over fifteen years' services in an unhealthy climate. In other Missions, it is now held that missionaries 1864] VISIT HOMB. 471 in a tropical climate should return after five years' service, even where they have the best medical aid at hand, and where they are within reach of the comforts of civilized life ; but he had spent thrice that period in a climate previously untried, but which had proved unhealthy, without any medical assis- tance but his own ; where he frequently was without proper or sufficient food, and where the multitudinous labours de- volving upon him seemed to render it impossible to attend to the laws of health. Yet when at length he was forced to seek relaxation, his first returning strength was to be employed in labours, at which many a person in health would have grumbled, and his rest to be more active than the diligence of many others. Though the whole Church was anxious to see and hear him, yet the Synod, anxious to spare his strength, had agreed that " on his arrival he should have his time at his own disposal," and the Board strongly represented to him the propriety of sparing himself, with the view to the complete restoration of his strength. But his desire was to visit the more distant sections of the Church, where travelling was most laborious, before the weather became severe, designing to visit the central congregations during winter. Accordingly, during the autumn he visited Prince Edward Island — the special scene of his early labours — and some other quarters, and afterward most of the Presbyterian congregations and Mission stations in the Maritime Provinces. We need not particularize regarding these visits. Everywhere he received a most enthusiastic re- ception, and his eimple but thrilling narratives of his life among the heathen, his early trials, and particularly of the great things which God had done by the hands of himself and his brother missionaries, went to the very heart of the Church. To himself these visits afforded much pleasure. Old friend- ships were confirmed and new ties formed, and his spirit was refreshed, particularly as he saw the interest manife&ited in the work of evangelization of the heathen. The difference in the state of the Church from what it was when he left was espe- cially striking, and connected as its revived life was, in the view of all, with the rise and progress of the Foreign Mission, it afforded reasons for the profoundest gratitude to God. His visits were not confined to his own denomination. Sister ■ i p. m 1 472 LIFB or JOHH OBDDIB, D.D. [1866 Charohes lought eagerly to partake in the joy of welooming him to his native land, and listening to the heart-oheering record of the Lord's work among the savages of the South Seas. The result was, that the missionary zeal of all was greatly refreshed and stimulated. During the winter he revised the translation of the Book of Psalms in Aneiteumese, which he had previously prepared, and superintended its printing, which was done in the office of Mr. James Barnes, Halifax, and at the expense of the British and Foreign Bible Society, though afterwards paid for by the natives. During the following summer he visited New Brunswick and the Upper Provinces. In the former he addressed the Synod, then not in ecclesiastical connection with the Church in Nova Scotia, and visited a number of congregations, and awakened some missionary spirit, which had been hitherto almost entirely lacking among them. In the latter he ad- dressed the Synod of the Canada Presbyterian Church, where he was received with great enthusiasm. A distinguished mem- ber mentioned to us, that in the course of his addrese the grandeur of one simple statement produced an impression such as he had never heard surpassed. It was when, describing his departure from Aneiteum, which he had found fifteen years before wholly given to idolatry, he had sought for some of the old gods to bring home, but he could find no god on the whole island but the God who made the heavens and the eaiih. The Synod passed resolutions of thanks to him and sympathy for his work, and determined to send out a missionary to that field as soon as one could be obtained. Although this resolu- tion was never carried out, yet it is agreed that his visit did much to awaken in that body that missionary spirit which has since borne abundant fruit in other fields. The congregations in the Maritime Provinces in connection with the Church of Scotland were also moved by his appeals. One congregation (St. Matthew's, Halifax) gave him a donation of $212, to be employed in the furtherance of his work, which he resolved to apply to the orphan school and asylum, rendered necessary by the ravages of the measles. Their Synod also resolved to take action in sending out missionaries. His presence rendered the meeting of Synod this year ever 1864] VISIT HOMB. 473 memorable. Misrionaries have since arriTed ^rom the heathen field, and the visits of many more will be enjoyed, but this Church can never have another first missionary to the heathen, nor one around whom so many circumstances will cluster to give peculiar interest. The appeals of Mr. Geddie had evoked such liberality, that it was felt that additional missionaries should be sent, and several students had offered their services. Through Mr. Paton's efforts in Scotland, three young men, the Revs. Thos. Neilson, J. Cosh and J. H. McNair, devoted themselves to the New Hebrides Mission, but as the R P. Church of Scot- land were not prepared to support them, application was made to the Church in Nova Scotia to employ one of them. The Synod therefore authorized the Board to send out as many missionaries as they deemed prudent, and also to engage one of the missionaries in Scotland. While at home matters seemed thus to be going on favour- ably for the cause, and while there was much in the work in which he was engaged to afford him pleasure, yet his heart was in the New Hebrides, and the events transpiring there he watched with the deepest interest. Some of these he heard with the utmost satisfaction, but soon others which filled him with astonishment and sorrow. We must, therefore, resume our narrative of events in that quarter. We left the Day- spring in Australia.. On the 1 9th May, 1864, she sailed from Sydney for the New Hebrides, having on board, besides the three missionaries and their wives, the Rev. Mr. Ella and wife, for the Loyalty Islands. They reached Aneiteum on the 5th June. Soon after she started on a voyage among the islands. She first went to the Loyalty Islands, where they were not allowed by the French authorities to land, or even to hold communication with the missionaries on shore, who were forbidden to hold any religious service with the natives. After visiting several islands of the New Hebrides, she re- turned to Aneiteum, where a meeting was held, at which it was arranged that Mr. McCuUagh should occupy Mr. Geddie's station, as Mr. Copeland felt it necessary to proceed to Aus- tralia : that Mr. Qordon should be located on Erromanga, and Mr. Morrison on £f ate. The Dayitpring carried Messrs. Gordon and Morrison and / { ^ 474 Liri 07 JOHX OIDDII, D.D. [1866 their goods to their respective spheres. Thus, in a measure, the breaches iu the Mission had been healed. Erromanga was again occupied by an energetic missionary ; and though opera- tions had not been resumed on Tana, yet another island equally important was occupied by a thoroughly qualified labourer. These brethren entered upon their labours with great energy and zeal. They soon acquired the language sufficiently to address the natives in their own tongue. All the worst cruelties of heathenism were perpetrated around them, and they were not free from danger, but a prepared people waited upon their instructions. In both islands there were several candidates for baptism, and though there were the difficulties and discouragements usual in a Mission among such a people, yet on the whole the work continued for the next season to go on hopefully and prosperously. But now occurred an affair which he regarded as among the most untoward that had befallen the Mission, in one respect worse than any, as he regarded it as a blot upon its fair fame, and which he pronounced " one of the most humi- liating events in the history of modem Missions." We refer to the bombardment of Port Resolution, Tana, by H.M.S. Curofoaj under Commodore Wiseman, in pursuance of an ap- plication from the missionaries, that he would adopt measures for the better protection of life and property in the New Hebrides. At various times the question of employing British men-of- war to punish the natives for their evil deeds, had arisen. But Mr. O. had alv '; \ Paton to come and seb what they had done. They asked tike missionary if the punishment inflicted were sufficient, f^i if tlisy should increase it. He expressed himself satisfieu, gavn tho man some good adi'^ce, and either requested that he should be re- leased, or released him with his own hands. 'ih« ae are the mur^^^rs charged against the people of Port Resolution — the first committed more than twenty years ago, the second di*-- posed of by a British officer, and the third punished by the native authorities. Had a full statement of the cases, es- pecially the t'<70 latter, been given, no British commander would have risked his reputation, perhaps something more, by interfering with matters already settled. There has been no white man killed at or around Port Resolution, so far as I am aware (except the case already noticed), from the time that Capt. Cook visited that place in 1774, until the arrival of the Cura^oa in 1865. The story of twenty or thirty Europeans being killed and eaten by the natives within the last few years, which I heard both in Scotland and Australia, and which reconciled the minds of many excellent people to late events, is a cruel fiction. *' The last charge against the Tanese is the destruction of Mr. Paton's property. This occurred during a civil war among the natives. The residence of Mr. Paton on Tana had no- thing to do with that war. The friends and enemies of the Mission were united on opposite sides. It so happened that the Mission premises were on the borders of two distaricts, 1 i U' 'i !i If 480 LIFE OF JOHN OBDDIK, D.D. [1865 which is the usual fighting ground of the natives. Our teach- ers affirm that when war was inevitable, the chief Miaki went to Mr. Paton, told him that their enemies were coming to fight them, and advised him to leave his premises, and offered also to remove his property to a place of safety ; but he would not consent, as he thought the natives intended to steal. The chiefs warning soon proved to be true, for war broke out, and Mr. Paton was obliged to leave his house, which was afterwards broken into and his property stolen, with the exception of a portion saved by the teachers and natives, and afterwards brought to this island. I may state here that Nauka, the present chief of Port Resolution, went after night, at personal risk, and nailed up Mr. Paton's house after he left, to save his property, and the latter is now aware of this fact. This man is one of the chiefs whose district was laid waste by the Curofoa.* He was punished for the destruction of pro- perty which he made every effort to save. This is one of the dark features connected with that memorable visit. " These are the crimes for which the Tanese were punished ; and most persons, looking at the ignorance, deep degradation, and misery of the natives, will be inclined to say that mission- aries, instead of calling for vengeance on them, would only be following the example of Christ and of His inspired apostles, had they said, ' Forgive them, for they know not what they do.' '' 1 happen to know the views of many of the missionaries of the London Mif^ionary Society about the Curagoa^s visit to the New Hebrides, and there is but one feeling of deep and intense regret, that our Mission should have been identified with her doings. An excellent brother of that Society writes as follows : ' We have all been deeply grieved on account of the sad, sad doings at Tana last year. Oh ! is it not deplor- able that our missionary brethren should have involved them- selves in proceedings so entirely alien to the spirit that should characterize us, as the servants of Him who declared that He came not to destroy men's lives, but to save them ? Nothing, I think, so deplorable has ever occurred in connection with our Mission in these seas, and bitter will be the fruits for * It will be seen, also, that he \b one of those whom the missionaries named to Com. Wiaeman for punishment. 1865] VISIT HOME. 481 lariea years to come.'* The Cura^oa*a doings do not appear to be re- garded with much favour even by men of the world. It is true that the Admiralty have approved of Commodore Wise- man's punishment of the Tanese, under the impression, no doubt, that they have been guilty of atrocities which have yet to be proved against them. A gentleman, however, who read the despatch, says that the approval is of the most qualified nature. It expresses strong doubts as to the expediency of such a vigorous mode of dealing with a savage people, which may defe8i> rather than promote the security of European life and property among them. It wisely suggests that if white men cannot live safely on one island, they should just remove to another. An injunction is given also to those in Her Majesty's service to be more cautious about interfering with such matters in time to come. Another of Her Majesty's ships visited these islands shortly before my return, the Cap- tain of which disapproves of the manner in which the Tanese have been dealt with. His views coincide with those of the missionaries of the London Missionary Society. He says that, whatever explanation may be given of the affair, it will always be regarded as a missionary war, and this he considers a con- tradiction in language. When one of the brethren spoke of his rights as a British subject, he said that he ought to take higher ground, and remember that he was a Christian mis- sionary. " I must now say, that I believe the punishment of the Tanese was a great but unintentional mistake. My mission- ary brethren never could have anticipated the fearful results, or they would never have invoked the interposition of a man-of- war. As this is the first thing of the kind that has happened in the Mission, I hope that it will be the last. The weapons of our warfare in the glorious work to which wo have devoted ourselves, must be spiritual, and not carnal. We shall do far more to subdue, humanize and elevate these natives with Bibles in our hands, than with the whole British navy at our backs. It is the grace of God alone, which can change the disposition of the heart, and bring these savage islanders, clothed and in their right minds, to the feet of Jesus. "The Tanese have much of my sympathy under the dis- * We may add that eimilar sentiments were expressed by Bishop Patteaon, 31 i I aS i 482 LIFB OF JOHH OBDDIB, D.D. [1866 Mters which have befallen them. I visited them for years before they had any missionary of their own, and their treat- ment of me was all that I could expect from a heathen people. They have not been guilty of any crimes to warrant the severe punishment inflicted on them. I regret the bombardment of Tana because this proceeding seems to be opposed to the teaching and example of Christ, who did ' not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.' His kingdom is not of this world, "^nd the Qospel is the only instrument which His ser- vants are warranted to employ in the extension of His cause on earth. Our holy religion uniformly breathes a spirit of benevolence, and designs good to all men, and injury to none. I regret the bombardment of Tana, because it may endanger rather than add to the security of life and property on these islands. A missionary at Port Resolution and some other vulnerable points may be safer than before ; but this temporary advantage will not compensate for the insecurity which it will cause in other places where no man-of-war can reach the people. I believe that I am correct in saying, that for more than eight years previous to the visit cf the Curofoa not more than five Europeans had been killed in the New Hebrides ; but she had not been away from the islands more than sixteen months when the same number were cut down by the natives. The exercise of physical power is far more likely to irritate than soothe the passions of savage men. The excellent Bishop Pat- teson, speaking of missionaries, says * their very defencelessness is their best protection ; ' and my own opinion is, that the less these islanders have to fear from us, the less we have to fear from them. 1 regret the bombardment of Tana also, because this act sweeps away at one stroke the character which we have been endeavouring for years to establish, as ambassadors of the Prince of Peace. Natives walk by sight rather than by faith, and understand actions better than words. We may now tell these islanders that we come to them with a message of love, but the case of Tana will arise in their minds. The Mission on these islands has now a character to redeem a« well as a character to maintain." On Friday, 2nd February, 1866, Dr. Geddie and family sailed from Halifax, in H.M.S. Asia^ for Liverpool, on his return. On Tuesday previous, a farewell meeting was held in Temper- 1866] VISIT HOME. 483 "ii Msness e less ) fear e this have f the kith, tell love, ssion as a tiled burn, jper- ance Hall, Halifax, described at the time as " the largest and finest meeting probably ever held in that city." On Thursday evening a number of friends assembled, and commended the Mission family anew to the care of the great Head of the Church, and several others accompanied him to the ship to bid him a last farewell, 'borrowing most of all that they should see his face no more. It was for a lamentation that though some half dozen of ministers, probationers or students, had corresponded with the Board on the subject of engaging in the work, no suitable fellow-labourer was found ready to accom- pany him. Failing an agent from Nova Scotia, the Board, however, had agreed to adopt one of those engaged in Scotland. The Mission family arrived in Liverpool after a quick but boisterous voyage, and immediately proceeded to Glasgow. He found that no arrangement had been made for the passage of the missionaries, who were proceeding quite leisurely with their preparationa After consulting with friends, he engaged a passage in the Fearnought^ to sail from Liverpool in a fort- night. A friend who was on the spot wrote that it was amusing to see the hurry in which his prompt action had put the other missionaries. One of them had only ten days in which to select, woo and wed his wife, which, however, he did quite successfully. They received much Christian kindness in Liverpool, whence they sailed on the 1st of March. The voyage was stormy, but they arrived safely in Melbourne after a passage of one hun- dred and fourteen days. Soon after arrival he learned of another mercy they had experienced. " We have just heard that the ship in which we originally intended to sail from the Clyde has been abandoned at sea. We were prevented from going in her by an ap- parently trivial circumstance. What a gracious Providence watches over us and directs our movements ! Let me ask you to unite with us in thanking God for all His mercies to us." The Rev. Messrs. Paton and Cosh were adopted by the Presbyterian Church of Victoria as their missionaries. Of Mr. McNair, Dr. G. writes : " He is a very excellent man, but he is unfit for the hardships of missionary life. His health is very feeble at present, but a change for the better may take place. His strength has been much recruited since t! I„J 484 LIFE OF JOHN GBDDIB, D.D. [1866 he landed, and he may yet disappoint us. I suppose that the Mission Committee of the Reformed Presbyterian Synod did not know how delicate he was, or they would have told us. Mrs. McNair is a superior woman, but delicate also. If it had not been for their delicate health, the Victorian Ohurch would, no doubt, have applied for Mr. McNair." Thus the Presbyterian Mission of the Lower Provinces was saddled with another invalid. The results proved as Mr. G. had feared Mr. McNair possessed the highest intellectual and spiritual qualifications, and the asthmatic or bronchial affection, to which he had been subject from early life, was partly arrested, apparently by fever and ague, so that for a time he proved a faithful labourer. Yet his work was carried on under a constant struggle with disease, to which he finally succumbed. We have determined to give full prominence to such facts in the history of the New Hebrides Mission, because we deem it important that Churches should learn that no amount of intellectual or spiritual qualifications will supply the want of physical strength in their agents. The dear- bought experience of that Mission will, we trust, be a lesson, not only to the Presbyterian Church of Canada, but to other bodies, that want of physical strength will not only unfit for doing the work efficiently, but may do positive injury to the cause. And here we feel it proper to remark that, of all the missionaries who have gone to the New Hebrides, none have died from diseases peculiar to the climate, and of more than one it is certain that they would not have lived as long in their native lands. From Melbourne he proceeded to Sydney to meet the Dayspring. In both colonies he was actively employed in awakening the interest of the Churches there in the missionary enterprise. On the 16th of August, he writes from Sydney, on the eve of his departure for the islands : " We have spent some busy and, I trust, not unprofitable weeks in Australia. Many meetings have been held in Victoria and New South Wales, addressed by the various missionaries. These meetings will tend to deepen and expand the interest already felt in the missionary cause in these colonies. The Churches of Australia are likely to become eminently missionary Churches. Their nearness to the Mission field, and the fact that they are so 1866] Visit HOKlt. 485 often visited by missionaries, will keep the subject of missions always before them. The people also have generous hearts and much wealth, and are always ready to make a liberal response to every good cause presented to them. We are all much indebted to the kind attention of the friends of missions to us during our sojourn here." At this time arrangements were made for the future support of the Dayspring^ the Victorian Church contributing j£500 sterling per annum, and the other Churches proportionately, the quota of the Church of the Lower Provinces being .£250. A notice of two events of a private nature, will appro- priately close the present chapter. While in Melbourne, his second daughter, Lucy, whom he had taken with him a child in arms when he first left Nova Scotia, was married to the Rev. Thomas Neilson, who had been their fellow-voyager from Liverpool. Nothing could delight Mr. G. more than to have one of his family engaged in the Mission work on the New Hebrides, and we may add that she has faithfully done her part in the good cause. On the eve of his leaving Nova Scotia, the University of Queen's College, Kingston, conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Divinity. He did not receive information of this till his arrival in Australia, the first intimation of it being the receipt of a letter addressed Dr. Geddie. His views upon it appear in the following extract of letter to the Secretary of the Board : " You write me about the diploma. The only information which I had about it, before your letter came to hand, was a newspaper notice of it I may just say that this is an honour unsought, undesired, and undeserved by me. I regret that I know so little about the circumstances connected with the matter. Would you write me briefly how the thing originated, the reasons for such a distinction, the opinion of the Church about it, and the parties to whom I ought to write. It will depend entirely on the information you may furnish, whether or not I shall make any use of the degree, which I think has been unwisely conferred upon me." 11 t I f Mil m Ik 486 Lirs OF JOHN OKDDIB, D.D. [1866 Chapter XIX. LAST LABOURS AND DEATH. 1866-72. ON the 5th of September, Dr. Geddie and family arrived at Aneiteum. '' It was cheering," he says, " to Mrs. G. and myself to look once more on the lofty mountains, fertile valleys, and rich verdure of this lovely isle. We have seen nothing to compare with it during our long absence." They were, of course, cordially welcomed. " The ship, which had been daily expected, was recognized in the distance, and as we approached the land, clusters of natives could be seen gathering on the shore. As soon as we entered the harbour, a boat came oi" to receive us, and we accompanied our friends ashore. A large number of natives were assembled, to give us a cordial welcome to the spot, where we had spent so many eventful and happy years. They would not allow us to leave the boat, but gathered around it, raised it on their shoulders, and carried us in this way to the gate in front of our house. As soon as we were released from our novel conveyance, men, women and children came and shook hands with us. They seemed glad to see us once more, and this feeling was reciprocated on our part. Many tears were shed by the natives, and we found it difficult to suppress our feelings also. Our return to this people presented a strange and happy contrast to our first landing among them, when they were naked, painted and armed savages. O, what a change has the Gospel wrought among them ! " The first intelligence that we received on our airival was of the most painful kind. A most fatal disease had been raging for some months, and many had fallen victims to it. It was new to the natives, and they had no remembrance of any similar sickness. Many of the symptoms were like those 1866] LAST Labours and dbath. 487 I of diphtheria, which has been so fatal in other countries. In some cases, persons who were seized with it died in a few hours, and others lingered for days. The number who died was probably not less than three hundred. The sickness has now disappeared, and the island has seldom been more healthy than at present. These visitations of Providence appear very mysterious to the natives, as well as to ourselvea We may rest assured that God has wise ends in view in His dealings with us. When we cannot comprehend, let us stand still and adore. The generation which we found when we landed on the island has nearly passed away, and we now labour among their children. The population of this island has come down from 4,000 to 2,000 within the last twenty years. The chief causes of depopulation have been measles and diphtheria of late years. " A general meeting of the Mission was held on Aneiteum soon after our return to the island. The most important busi- ness before us was the location of the newly-arrived mission- aries. Our missionary force was distributed as follows : Mr. Copeland was appointed to Futuna, Mr. Paton to Aniwa, Mr. McNair to Erromanga, and Messrs. Cosh and Neilson to Efate. All these appointments were made in accordance with the wishes of the parties themselves, who chose their own fields of labour." These arrangements for the location of missionaries were carried out, with the exception that the part of Efate on which it was proposed that Mr. Neilson should be settled, did not seem open, and he returned to Aneiteum. Mr. O. returned invigorated in health, though he was never afterwards quite the man he was before. But he resumed his work with something of his former energy. Thus he writes on the 26th November : " I have little to report about the missionary work on this island. The late sickness led to the suspension of several of the schools, and little work M'as done for some months. I have recently visited the whole of my district, and endeavoured to instruct, encourage and comfort the natives under their trials. The Book of Psalms which I brought with me is now in general circulation, and is a favourite book with the na- tivea The communion has been dispensed once since my : i| 488 UFB OF JOHN OSDDIK, D.D. [1866 return, and twenty-seven persons took their seats at the Lord's table for the first time. There are at present about twenty candidates for Church membership, and the number increases. The novelty of Christianity has now passed away on this island, and I trust that many persons seek religious privileges from a proper sense of their value. " I have had a visit from a most interesting stranger. His name is Nauka, the principal chief of Port Resolution, island of Tana. He came here most unexpectedly, in a vessel which was taking him from Futuna to Tana. It lies with this man to say whether or not the island of Tana shall receive the Qos- pel, and therefore I had a great desire to see him. He was one of the chiefs whose district was devastated when the Curafoa visited Tana. It was supposed that he was one of Mr. Paton's enemies, but the latter has found out recently that he went after night, at some risk, during the prevalence of civil war, and nailed up his house to save its contents ; in the meantime he has been punished for destroying the property which he made every e£fort to save. Since this unhappy affair he has assumed a hostile attitude. He could never be induced to go on board of the Dayapring, and has always treated mission- aries with a gloomy reserve. He came to see me on his arrival here, for we were friends in former years. He began to tell me about the man-of-war's doings in his land, but I declined expressing an opinion about events which took place in my absence. I reminded him, however, that I had on a former occasion stood between the Tanese and trouble with a man-of- war, and would do so, if necessary, in time to come. I asked him to accompany me on board of the Dayapring^ which he did ; and I introduced him to C&pt. Fraser, who gave him a present, and the receipt of this makes them friends. The question of receiving a missionary next came up. He said that they had received a missionary formerly, who told them that it was wrong to fight, and advised them to give up their wars, and then brought a man-of-war to kill them and destroy their property. He wanted to know the missionary before he would give his consent I told him that Mr. Neilson, my son- in-law, was not settled yet, and perhaps he might go to Tana. He shook hands with him, though he would not speak to him a few weeks ago on Tana, and said he was welcome to take up 1867] LAST LAfiOOlUS AND DKATtt. m his abode on Tana ; that no person should injure him if he could prevent it ; and he might choose any spot of land for a house, and it would be given to him. I trust that our interview will lead to some important results in relation to Tana. I have known Nauka for many years, and though he is a dark- hearted heathen, and a notable warrior, I have always found him straightforward, and have much confidence in him." The work on the other islands continued to advance amid light and shadow. On Erromanga war seemed the rule, and proved a great hindrance to missionary work. Then came an epi- demic of a diphtheritic character, which attacked young and old, weak and strong, often proving fatal, and that in a short time, confirming the superstition of the natives as to the con- nection of Christianity with disease. Still the work made progress — about fifty attended worship — and considerable ex- ternal improvement was manifested among those under the in- fluence of the Mission. On Efate Mr. Cosh had been received vrith great cordiality at Pango, and entered upon his work with encouraging prospects, and Mr. Morrison continued his labours among an attached people. The attention of the missionaries was by this time forcibly directed to a business, which more than anything else during the following years, perhaps more than anything in previous years, was to hinder missionary operations on this and neigh- bouring groups — the so-called labour traffic, but which might more properly be called the South Sea slave trade. Mr. G. was slightly affected by this personally, and his field was com- paratively exempt from its worst outrages; but he and the Mission were so interested in it that a short notice of it must be given. The demand for cotton at the time of the American war led to the introduction of the cultivation of the plant in Queens- land and the Fijis, and with this came a demand for labour. The sandal wood traders, finding that the natives of the islands on which they established themselves were not inclined to labour, where they had plantations of their own to supply them with food, were in the habit of collecting natives of other islands around them, who were kept at work by their depend- ence on their labour for their daily food. And now attention was directed to the islands of Western Polynesia as a source 111 4d0 Lit ■ Of JOHK GBDDlt, D.D. [1867 of labourers ; and from the inducements held out, there was for a time great eagerness on the part of many young men to go to Queensland. Hence, a regular traffic in natives sprang up, a large number of vessels of all dimensions being employed in carrying them. They were brought ostensibly as hired labourers, and captains or owners were paid so much per head, nominally as passage money ; but it soon became in reality a slave trade, in which were manifested atrocities equal to the worst which have been connected with that trade anywhere. Where missionaries were stationed they had principally to complain of the manner in which the natives were enticed away ; but even under their eyes kidnapping was resorted to. For example, on one visit of Dr. G. to Erromanga, in the Day- spring t the day before arrival at a place about ten miles from Dillons Bay, an Australian slaver hove to and enticed nine natives on board, under pretence of giving them pigs. They were no sooner on board than they were forcibly detained and carried away. The friends came to Dillons Bay and applied to Mr. McNair, who made strenuous efforts to procure their release, but without success. The same day a boat from the same vessel called at Dillons Bay, and those on board enticed a native on board of her on promise of tobacco. As soon as he saw his danger he struggled to jump overboard, but was forcibly carried away. In other quarters, no means which rapacity could suggest were spared. Some were bought from their chiefs, though the traders professed that the muskets or other articles given in exchange were only presents. At other times they were taken by force. When canoes came out to trade they were upset, or heavy weights thrown into the bottom of them, and when the natives were struggling in the water the ship's boats were lowered, and they were captured. Sometimes they were enticed on board, when their canoes were cut adrift, and the crew would forcibly prevent their leaving, or they would be enticed into the hold, and the hatches closed upon them. Further, they would sometimes paint their vessels to resemble the Mission vessels. Then one would go ashore, assuming the dress of a clergyman, tell that Bishop Patteson was sick on board, when the natives would flock to the vessel to see their good friend. As they were allowed below, two or three at a 1867] LAST LABOURS AND DEATH. 491 Itemble ig the ^ck on their at a time, they would be thrust into the hold. Their oanoes would then be cut adrift, and the vessel sail away with their living freight. But worse is related, on the authority of Capt. Markham, of the British navy. On some of the islands it is the great object of the chiefs to have as many skulls of the members of hostile tribes as possible. Captains of vessels bearing the English flag have bargained to supply them with so many heads in return for so many able-bodied labourers. An eye- witness, whom Capt M. regarded as trustworthy, related to him the following horrible tale : — '* A low, black brig arrived and hove to off the coast of Florida, one of the Solomon group. When a canoe came off to this vessel she was per- suaded to pass close under the stern. The stern boat was then lowered on the top of the canoe, thereby damaging it to such an extent that its occupants were thrown out into the water. Other boats were then lowered, apparently for the purpose of rescuing the unfortunate men ; but directly they were seized, their heads cut off over the gunwale of the boat, the instru- ment used for this purpose being a long knife." It is said, however, that this practice is more among the vessels seek- ing beche le mer or sea slug, a favourite dish in China. One case, the facts of which were proved in a Sydney court of law, will show the fearful atrocities sometimes committed. A vessel named the Carl, by such kidnapping as described, had collected a cargo, and sailed away with her human freight. On the passage fighting took place among the natives in the hold, and an attempt was made to set fire to the ship, when those in charge of her commenced firing upon them, until when the hatches were unfastened fifty were found dead, and sixteen badly wounded, all of whom were cast into the sea. The vessel was cleaned up, and being examined a few days after by the officers of a British man-of-war, she was found to be all straight. The extent of the business may be judged from such facts as the following: — Within eighteen months the missionaries knew of eighteen visits of such vessel to the island of Efate, and from seven small villages they knew of 250 being absent. Some small islands were nearly stripped of their male popula- tion. Bishop Patteson visited some where it was estimated 492 Liri Of sonut oiDoife, i>.i>. [1867 that two-thii'ds of the male population over ten yean of age had been carried ofil The effect of this on missionary work may be judged from two instances. After Mr. Morrison had been for two years on Efate, living in a native-built dwelling, he prepared to build a house. The lime was burnt, the foundation built, and the frame erected. On the same day the King Oscar anchored at Pango Bay, and sent ashore a native well loaded with the kind of property most attractive to barbarians. The bait took. Going to Queensland or Fiji seemed the royal road to wealth, and on Monday morning the vessel sailed away with nearly all the young men and lads of Erakor. ** Those on whom we were spending our strength, those who were the future hope of the Gospel on Efate, were lured away beyond our reach, and I was left with a work on hand without the accomplishment of which we could not well remain at our post, and for the accomplish- ment of which no adequate strength remained." On Futuna, Mr. Oopeland had acquired the language, prepared some ele- mentary books, had induced a number of natives to attend church, and formed a school, when in one day twenty-eight young men, principally from the neighbourhood of the Mission premises, were carried off. Of these twenty were professedly Christian, his most advanced scholars, and those to whom he was looking forward as his assistants in his work, thus break- ing up his schools and destroying the labour of years. On the heathen islands the effect was to exasperate the natives against all white men, and to excite them to fearful acts of revenge, rendering it dangerous for any class to visit them. Hence the sad deaths of Bishop Patteson and Com. Goodenough, besides a multitude of whom the world has never heard. The missionaries, at their meeting in September, 1867, drew up a statement on the subject to the Gk)V6mor of New South Wales, representing such facts as the above; also showing that even those who went of their own accord understood im- perfectly, and some of th'^m not at all, the nature of their agreements ; that most were not brought back to their homes when they should be; that those who did return were the worst and most dangerous characters, and that in their absence their wives, despairing of their return and connecting them- [1867 1867] LAST LABOURS AMD DBATH. 498 lowing tod im- their homes re the mce I them- selves with other men, the dissolution of social ties was a source of disturbance, destruction of property, and war. This state of things has continued for years. Colonial laws have been passed for the regulation of the traflSc, and British men-of-war have checked its worst outrages. But the traffic cannot be regulated, and it is hoped that the British Qovem- ment will yet adopt measures for its entire suppression. Another trial awaited them. Mr. Morrison felt it necessary to ask permission to visit the colonies for his health. He had proved himself a most laborious, and likely to be a successful, missionary, but he was of slender make and weak-chested. A brother near to him in age had died of consumption about the time he sailed from Halifax, and he now showed symptoms of the same disorder. It was hoped that a visit to the colony might restore his strength. But he never returned. He lin- gered on for two years, and entered into rest on the 23rd October, 18C At the close of 1867 he thus writes in reviewing the past year: — " On our return to the island last year we found matters in a very unhappy state. The natives on the two sides of the island were completely divided, and there was no friendly intercourse between them. We heard with intense regret that our little island, during our absence, had been on the verge of a civil war. It was painful beyond expression to witness such a state of things among a people who, for so many happy years, had taken ' sweet counsel together, and walked into the house of God in company.' No effective steps were taken to improve matters until a few months ago. I then visited Mr. Inglis' district by previous arrangement, accompanied by all the chiefs and leading pien on my side of the island, and had an inter- view with the people there. Our whole party received a most cordial welcome, and there was a large collection of food made to feast them. A public meeting was held, attended by natives from all quarters, and the result has been all that could be desired. The causes of alienation were talked over in a frank and friendly manner, misunderstandings were explained, mutual concessions were made, and all parties agreed to bury their animosities and revive them no more. This visit was soon after returned, and a similar meeting held at my side of the 494 LIFB OF JOHN ORDDIB, D.D. [1867 island, with like results. I believe the natives to be sincere in their wish to live in peace with each other, and do not an- ticipate the recurrence of former difficulties. A general wish was expressed also by the natives on both sides of the island to renew the practice of former years, and sit down at the same Lord's table as Christian brethren — a practice which, I regret to say, was discontinued after my departure from the island. If the events to which I now allude remind us of the presence of much latent heathenism among these islanders, they assure us also that the Gospel has done much for them ; and we ought to thank God that the influence of Christianity has been sufficient to triumph over the turbulence of human passion. It would not be surprising, indeed, if these people, so recently raised from a state of the lowest barbarism, should at times give way to feelings which often gain an ascendency over persons whoso Christianity and civilization are of a much higher stamp. The religious and moral elevation of barbarous races is a slow and progressive work, and only attains a high degree of eminence after a succession of ages. " I regret to inform you that our island has been visited by whooping cough this season for the first time. It has been less fatal than some other foreign diseases, nevertheless a large num- ber have fallen victims to it. No part of the island escaped its ravages, and many children died of it, and some adults also. The son of Lathella, one of the higl: chiefs of the island, was among the number. His name was Selwyn, and he was about nine yearo of ago. He was, without exception, the finest-looking and most promising boy on the whole island. We have every reason to hope that death was gain to him. He enjoyed the training of a pious mother, and was at all times a thoughtful and well-behaved boy. I visited him often during his illness, read the Scriptures to him, and prayed with him, and always found him in a calm and peaceful state of mind. Some days before his death Mrs. Geddie was conversing with him, and addressed him as a dying person. After she had done speak- ing he said : ' I know that all you have told me is true, and I have thought about these things already ; tell them to my companions, that they may think about themselves.' His death caused great regret, for his amiable disposition had made him a universal favourite. Our island has now been visited [1867 1867] LAST LABOURS AND DEATH. 495 be sincere not an- leral wish he island irn at the 1 which, I from the us of the islanders, 'or them ; ristianity >f human ie people, m, should jcendency ji a much barbarous ins a high v^isited by been less irge num- icaped its dso. The among tout nine it-looking kve every |oyed the loughtful [s illness, always >me days lim, and le speak- |rue, and to my His i.d made visited by measles, diphtheria, and whooping cough in rapid succession. These diseases, within the space of a few years, have swept away one-half of the population. The natives are much dis- pirited by the great calamities which have befallen them." In the same letter he gives an account of an attempt to settle a missionary on Tana. He first visit-ed the island himself, and though he received civil treatment from the natives, yet he found a reserve among them very different from their former conduct ; and when Nauka arrived, he told him that the people were unanimously opposed to having a missionary among them. At the Missionary Conference, however, it was thought that, as white men were living at Port Resolution, a missionary might be settled there. Mr. G. and a party went over, therefore, for the purpose. His account of what followed we condense : — "At the very spot where we landed the first thing that met our eye was a large conical shell from the Cura(;oa's guns, standing in an upright position on the sand. There were a few natives on the shore, and one of them, an old man, spoke to us in a very angry strain, saying that we had come to settle a missionary, but they had received a missionary already who had brought a man-of-war to kill them and destroy their prop- erty, and they would receive no more missionaries." The chief did not meet them, but they had an interview with a number of the natives, which threatened to have a fatal termination. "The most of the natives were unarmed and civil, but there were two or three fierce-looking strangers, who had guns loaded and capped, with them. Our meeting com- menced in a friendly spirit, considering our peculiar circum- stances. Several of the natives spoke, and told us their reasons for declining to receive a missionary. Some wished to retain their old customs, and live and die as their forefathers had done ; others were afraid of Christianity, lest they should take sick and die ; but the prominent objection was the Cura^oa's hostile visit. They repeatedly asked the question what they had done to merit the severe punishment inflicted on them by the man-of-war — a question I could not answer, oven had I been inclined to speak on this painful subject. One savage- looking man, when speaking about the affair, worked himself up into a complete lage, and snatching up his gun left our meeting abruptly. We found out afterwards that he bad said, 496 LIFE OF JOHN GBDDIB, D.D. [1868 we were now in their power, and urged his countrymen to kill us, and thus revenge the (7ttrafoa'« doings. The man, after leaving us, went along the shore a short distance, then turned off into the bush, and returned creeping along the ground until he came behind the place where we were met. He now levelled his gun to shoot some of our number, but we were so intermingled with the natives, that he could not fire on us without endangering some of them. He altered his position several times, but there were always natives in the way ; and had it not been for this providential circumstance, he might have carried out his murderous intentions. We were uncon- scious of danger until our meeting was over. I believe that the design on our lives was not premeditated, and was the result of momentary impulse. After deliberation, we deemed it in- expedient for Mr. I^eilson to remain on Tana." At the Mission Conference in May, 1 868, it was agreed that Dr. Geddie should proceed in the Dayapring on an explora- tory voyage among the northern islands of the group, with the view of opening the way for the extension of missionary operations in that quarter. In August he went to Tana, to aid in the settlement of the Rev. Mr. Neilson. They met with a more friendly reception than the previous year, but still received very little encour- agement as to their work. "The most discouraging thing which I noticed on Tana was the little interest manifested by the natives in Christianity. Very few persons attend worship on the Sabbath day, the largest meeting being twelve persons. This was a contrast to our meetings in 1859, when we were making preparations also for the settlement of a missionary. The building in which we worshipped then was too small to contain the people who came to hear the Word of God. Many have died since that time, others have turned back, and those of our former friends whom we saw, treated us with a civil reserve." Dr. G.'s heart was set on the conversion of Tana, and he seemed to have had such confidence in the power of the Gospel, as to expect that it must soon prevail wherever it was introduced. But we think it very doubtful, whether it was a wise expenditure of precious energy, to settle a mission- ary among a people, not only with all the disinclination of heathen for the Giospel, but by recent events excited to such 1868] LAST LABOURS AND DEATH. 497 )tion cour- ;hing ed by >rship rsons. were nary. .11 to God. , and ith a )n of ower ever er it sion- n of such bitter hostility, both to the Gospel and its messengers. At all events, Mr. Neilson. a man of superior powers and fine spirit, has laboured there for ten years without baptizing a single convert. In October he started on his exploratory voyage. He first visited the islands on which missionaries were placed. As we cannot give details of his voyages of this kind on this and subsequent years, we may give his general account of his mode of procedure : ** The visitation of the islands is more perilous now than formerly, in consequence of the slave trade. So many natives have been stolen, or enticed from their homes under false pretences, that there is a general feeling of irritation against white men. We are therefore in danger till our character is known, and when this is the case, we have comparatively little to fear. The natives do not gather around a missionary vessel as in former years, but we must go to them, and it is sometimes difficult to open friendly intercourse with them. The plan which we usually pursue is as follows : The vessel anchoi*s, or more commonly heaves to, near the Island to be visited. A boat is lowered, and usually manned by one white man and a native crew. The shore is now approached at some eligible landing place. When the boat is within gunshot of the land, the boat's crew rest on their oars till the natives begin to make their appearance. All the dialects that we can command are now called into requisition, and it usually hap- pens that some one of our number is understood, and failing this, recourse must be had to the language of signs, in which natives excel. The natives are always armed with their clubs or sp«ars, or bows and arrows, and this being their custom, is no evidence of hostile intentions. The presence of women and children is a good sign, for when evil is intended they are usually sent out of the way. If the natives wish intercourse, they make signals for us to land, and wave green branches as emblems of peace. If signs are favourable, the boat pulls in without much delay till the water shoals to three or four feet, and then I leave her to be pulled out again to a safe distance, before the natives can crowd round her. I always consult the natives who accompany me on the propriety of land- ing, and, without strong reasons, would not act against their 32 498 LIFE OF JOHN OEDDIE, D.D. [1868 ► [1868 1868] LAST LABOURS AND DBATR. 499 1 opinion, which is usually the correct one. In most cases, one of the crew accompanies me on shore, and we no sooner land than we are surrounded by a good-natured crowd, who have nothing to fear from us, and all of whom are eager to gratify their curiosity. If we can converse with them, our work is comparatively easy ; and if not, we can only give them some presents, and leave the people wondering at the generosity of strangers, and telling us as best they can, they will count the moons till we return. I always make it a rule to keep the boat afloat, and beyond the power of the natives. In this way there is little temptation to their cupidity, the risk of disaster is diminished, and in case of danger, there is a chance of retreat. After conversing with the chief and people about the special object of our visit, our intercourse sometimes takes a more secular turn. The boat's crew are permitted to land by turns, and trade a little with the natives. A short time is spent in buying spears, clubs, baskets, mats, for which the natives receive knives, fish hooks, red cotton, beads, etc. No trading, however, is allowed till the special object of our mis- sion is ended. I would gladly dispense with it, but it seems to please the natives, and makes our visits more welcome. The visiting of new islands is oppressive, as well as perilous work, for there is much bodily exposure, and the constant anxiety is a great strain on the mind. I seldom landed during our voyage without being wet, and this, with the great heat, brought on intermittent fever, from which I suffered a little. My native boat's crew were also tired of the work by the time that our voyage was up." On this voyage, after leaving Efate, they first visited Espiritu Santo, or Minaru, the largest island of the group, being about eighty miles long and forty broad. "It is covered," he says, " with lofty mountains and fertile valleys, which give it a magnificent appearance. The natives appear to be a mixed race, some being very light and some very dark." He landed at four places. At most of them he had to hear complaints of natives carried away by the slavers, and found the natives shy, till the character of the vessel was known, when they gave him a cordial welcome. He found them ready to receive a missionary. At Ambrym, the next island visited, the people at first kept 500 LIFE OF JOHN OEDDIE, D.D. [1869 at a distance, but at last a petty chief, who had been at Anei- teum, came within speaking reach, and as soon as Dr. G. called to him, he made a rush for the boat, after which the Mission party had a most friendly visit among the people. At Tongoa, the largest of a group of five islands, the people speak the Efatese language, so that we had no difficulty in communicating with them. They had the same tale to tell, of natives taken they knew not where by slavers, but they agreed to receive a missionary ; and we may mention that they have since received one, though not till ten years after, in Mr. Oscar Michelsen, a native of Norway, supported by the Church of Otago and Southland. At Mai, or Three Hills, they found the natives, who had formerly been friendly, now so exasperated against white men, in consequence of the number of their friends carried off, that they could hold no intercourse with them, and were even in some danger in attempting to do so. The last island visited was Nguna. Here the natives also speak the Efatese. An Efate native stood up in the boat, and called out as usual that they were not white men, but missionaries. The result was free and friendly intercourse, and a desire expressed for a missionary. One, as we shall see, was happily supplied in the following year. The annual missionary conference took place the following year (1869), on the 17th of May. The brethren had to welcome the Rev. Wm. Watt, who came as first missionary from the Presbyterian Church of Northern New Zealand. Arrange- ments were made for his settlement at Kuamera, on the island of Tana, the station formerly occupied by Mr. Matheson, where he has since laboured. Mr. Cosh obtained leave of absence to visit New Zealand to obtain medical advice for his child, and in consequence of the state of his wife's health has since left the Mission. Dr. Geddie had resumed his labours with somewhat of his former energy, but his constitution had lost its elasticity, and the decay of his nervous energy was followed by mental depres- sion, sometimes to a morbid degree. The discouraging circum- stances of the work on the group at this time, and the condition (A the field so different from what his early successes and the „\tperience of missionaries on other groups had led him to ex- 1869] LAST LABOURS AND DEATH. 601 peel, tended to deepen his despondency, though his letters to the Church, if not as bright and hopeful as before, gave no indications of feelings of this kind. At this time, too, Mrs. Geddie's health seemed so broken down, that it was felt neces- sary that she should have a change, and it now appeared likely that she might have to leave the islands altogether. He was therefore under the necessity of asking leave to visit the Aus- tralian colonies at the close of the year. The request was granted, and as a large part of the Old Testament in the Aneiteumese language was ready for publication, he was ap- pointed to make arrangements for its publication. As it seemed likely that he might not be able for the laborious work of a station, it was thought that he should be appointed as sailing missionary. He was appointed to visit the northern islands again in October and November, and on his return the following year " that he spend as much of his time as possible in sailing in the Bayspring, procuring, locating and superin- tending teachers, more particularly in the heathen islands." This arrangement, it was thought, would afford him employ- ment suited to his strength, and for which he was so eminently qualified. It would still retain his services in connection with the Mission ; and though it subjected him to some inconve- nience, as he would be separated for eight months of th6 year from his family, it would give him the delight of still being engaged in the work on which his heart was set. In October and November he made his voyage as appointed, visiting the same islands as he had visited the previous year. On the islands on which missionaries were labouring, the work was in a hopeful state, except on Tana. On the islands to the north it was the same tale of natives taken away by fraud or force. One case came under the notice of Dr. Geddie, where a captain engaged to take twenty natives from one island to another near it, but when he got them safely on board, sailed away with them for the Fijis. At both Nguna and Tongoa they had pleasant meetings with the natives, but afterwards learned that they had been in danger, in consequence of a chief having vowed to avenge some wrongs on the head of the first white men who would come into his power. At Mai, where the year previous they could hold no intercourse, they now had a friendly conference. " I have seldom seen a more 602 LIFE OF JOHN OEDDIB, D.D. [1870 lovely island than Mai. It is less romantic and imposing iu appearance than some '-f the other islands, but the scenery is very pleasing. Three hills, of nearly equal elevation, rise gradually to the height of about one thousand feet The slopes on their sides are gentle, and they are eovered in many places with the plantations of the natives. The land is fer- tile, and the natives brought us large quantities of yams for sale. They expressed a strong desire for a missionary, or teacher." They had then a pleasant visit to Espiritu Santo, where Mr. Gordon had been labouring for two or three months, during which he had made for the time wonderful progress. He was received on board, to return to Erromanga. On the whole, he reports, " There is much in the present aspect of these islanders to ihvite Christian effort on them. The Macedonian cry is heard, on some of them at least, 'Come over and help us.' There ai*e at present openings on this group for six or seven missionaries, and for many times that number of teachers. The most formidable obstacle to the missionary work at pre- sent is the slave trade. The extent to which natives are now fraudulently and forcibly carried off by the Australian and Fiji slavers is exasperating these islanders, and exciting pre- judices against white men, which expose missionaries as weU as others to dangers. It seems incredible that the Christianity and civilization of the nineteenth century can long tolerate so flagrant a violation of the laws of God and so cruel an outrage on the rights of man." At the close of the year he went with his family to Aus- tralia, where he remained till the end of March, during which time he visited the principal towns in Victoria, and some por- tions of Tasmania. He was also engaged in maturing arrange- ments for the printing of the Old Testament. On the 6th of May he arrived in the Dayspring at Aneiteum. Along with him was the Rev. Mr. Goodwill and wife, sent out by the Synod of the Maritime Provinces in connection with the Church of Scotland. The Mission Synod met on the 14th of June, when Mr. Goodwill was appointed to Santo, but he did not proceed to that field till the following year, and did not continue long in it. The Rev. Peter Milne, of the Free Church of Scotland, who had been engaged by the Synod of Otago [1870 1870-71] LABT LABOUKS AND DEATH. 503 and Southland, was appointed to Nguna, where ho has since continued to labour. On the 16th of July another vacancy occurred by the death of the Rev. J. McNair. In November and recember Dr. O. made another voyage round the islands, but the events of it were similar to those of previous years. In January (1871) he arrived in Melbourne, and commenced the work of superin- tending the printing of the Old Testament in the Aneiteumese language. At first he thought he would not return to the islands, Mrs. G.'s health being apparently in such a state as to preclude residence in that climate. He did, however, go down in the Bayspring, and in June and July made his last voyage among the islands. In the last of these months he had a severe attack of influenza, then passing over the islands, which left him permanently debilitated. He arrived in Melbourne on the 1st of January, 1872. He was then feeble, but still he went on with his work of superintending the press. Dr. G. had now commenced the work of printing the Bible in Aneiteumese. But at this time there arrived three mission- aries from Nova Scotia — the Revs. J. D. Murray and J. W. McKenzie, from the Church of the Lower Provinces, and the Rev. H. A. Robertson, of the Synod of the Maritime Provinces in connection with the Church of Scotland, who had originally gone out as steward of the Dayspring, and who was afterwards employed as agent for the Cotton Company, but who, while resident on Aneiteum, had shown an aptitude for acquiring languages and gaining the goodwill of the natives ; and, having become deeply interested in the Mission work on these islands, on his return home was ordained, after a short course Qf study. With them the Rev. D. McDonald, the first trained in the seminary of the Victorian Church, who had devoted himself to Mission work among the heathen, and who had married Dr. G.'s third daughter, was to proceed in the Day spring to the New Hebrides. He was anxious to see them settled. When the Daynpring sailed in April, he was not very strong, but his family thought it better that he should go, as he would have been uneasy till he knew how the missionaries would be settled. " For more than two years," says Mr. Neilson, " Dr. G. has not been at all in a good state of health. There has been evi- dent a loss of nervous, and consequently of muscular, power 504 LIFE OF JOHN OEDDIE, D.D. [1872 on the right side ; he has stooped forward very much in his gait, the right shoulder has been depressed, and he has fre- quently stumbled, especially with the right foot." Mr. Ingiis says of him at this time : " For the last two years or so, I had observed a growing spirituality in his prayers, as if he had some inward presentiment that his days on earth were drawing to a close. Mr. Neilson also informed me that, during the time he lived with them, he appeared very frequently as if engaged in mental prayer, while that morbid anxiety and restlessness, under which he had previously been labouring, entirely left him, and he became singularly calm and con- tented." On the 1st May they arrived at Aneiteum, when the first intelligence they received was of the murder of the Rev. J. D. Gordon, on Erromanga. The summer had been unusually unhealthy, and Mr. G. was blamed for the prevalent sickness. A man named Nerimpow had lost two children, to both of whom it was said Mr. G. had given medicine. He and another man came on a professedly friendly errand. Mr. G. had just finished revising the seventh chapter of the Acts of the Apos- tles, recording the martyrdom of Stephen. Nerimpow, watch- ing his opportunity, sank his tomahawk into the side of Mr. G.'s head, inflicting a wound that was almost instantly fatal. It seems he had been expecting this, for a few days before he had pointed out the spot where he wished to be buried. The Mission Council, which at this time took the name of the Synod of the New Hebrides, met on the 4th June, when arrangements were made for the settlement of the newly- arrived missionaries. Mr. .Robertson was app<9inted to take Mr. McNair's place on Erromanga ; Mr. McKenzie was ap- pointed to take charge of Mr. Morrison's station at Erakor, on Efate, along with that of Mr. Cosh, at Pango ; Mr. McDonald was appointed to open a new station at Havanah Harbour, on the same island ; and Mr. Murray was appointed to take Dr. Geddie's place on Aneiteum. On the same day that the last appointment was made. Dr. G. was struck with paralysis. But we must allow Mr. Neilson to tell the tale : " I was particularly struck with his feeble and emaciated appearance, when in the month of May he came down to the islands. I was sure that he had had, or was on the point of [1872 1872] LAST LABOURS AND DEATH. 505 f Mr. fatal. when lewly- take s ap- rakor, pnald pbour, take Ltthe [lysis. having, a shock of paralysis. Nor were my fears disappointed. During the annual meeting at Anelcauhat, in the first week of June, he was very feeble and helpless, and on Friday, the 7th, I noticed, when we came ashore in the morning, that he was scarcely able to shake hands. On that day Mr. Murray was appointed his successor, and his mind delivered from a great weight of anxiety. As he intended dispensing the Lord's Supper on the following Sabbath, he was relieved from attend- ance at our meeting in the afternoon. At midday he gave me his own and Mrs. Geddie's annual subscription for the Bible Society, but his usually large and beautiful handwriting in doing so, was diminished to a feeble and scarcely legible scratch. This was the last occasion on which he put pen on paper. On the afternoon of that day he held a meeting of the congregation, preparatory to the communion, and a man named Manaraa, a Tahitian, who has lived on Aneiteum for many years as a whaler, and who was a great drunkard, but who has now thoroughly reformed, was unanimously chosen to the office of the eldership, and ordained by Dr. G. This was his last min- isterial act. On going ashore from the vessel, on the morning of the 8th, I was told by Mr. Murray that Dr. G. had twice fallen that morning, and had to be carried in from the verandah to the sofa. I immediately went in to see him, and found that his right side was paralysed, that he had lost the power of his right arm and leg, and that the left side of his face was con- siderably drawn up." It was then arranged that he should be taken to Geelong, in charge of Mr. Neilson. On the 25th October, the latter thus describes his state : " For some weeks citer the crisis of his illness, his mind remained pretty clear and speech pretty dis- tinct, but latterly his memory and speech are both partially impaired. I am happy to say, however, that in other respects his general health is good. He eats well and sleeps well, is more contented and happy in his disposition than ever I knew him, and seems to spend a great deal of his time in private prayer." But his work was done, and his Master would not keep him from his reward. On the 14th December he entered into rest. Mrs. G. thus describes his last days : " For three or four weeks after his return from the islands he appeared to be improving. 606 LIFB OF JOHN OBDDIB, D.D. [1872 // Then he had a second seizure. I thought it was from a slight cold, as this attack appeared like cold and difficulty of breath- ing. After this second attack my dear husband appeared to rally for ten days or a fortnight ; his body became stronger, and he recovered the use of his left hand and leg, but could not sit up without support. During this apparent return of strength, I observed that his mind was becoming weaker and more confused. His memory for words had so failed that I could with difficulty understand him, and did not encourage him to converse, as he became quite excited on trying to collect his thoughts, and remember the words he wished to express himself in ; but he was often in prayer. Gradually he lost strength, and for ten days before his death became quite helpless. The last four days he never moved even a finger. His attitude was one of perfect peace, and he appeared to be in a quiet sleep. On asking him a question he would say < yes ' or ' no ; ' but I do not think that he was at all conscious for several days before his death. Before he lost consciousness, he appeared to be pleased when we read portions of Scripture or repeated hymns or psalms to him. He also enjoyed the prayers of the different ministers who visited him." The Rev. A. J. Campbell, of Geelong, thus describes the closing scene : " Br, G. gradually sunk into a state of uncon- sciousness, with some signs of occasional intelligence, especially when a friendly voice offered prayer at his bedside. And so he lay, like a weary pilgrim at the gate of heaven, enjoying the peace of God's beloved, answering the question of his trust in God by a smile, calm and beautiful. Life ebbed away in perfect peacef ulness, and in the early hour of a bright summer morning in December, he fell asleep." He was buried on Monday, 16th, in the Eastern cemetery, amid a company of deeply-loving and mourning friends. He was in his 58th year. The announcement of Dr. Geddif's death was received with much sorrow in the circle of his friends in Victoria, and the people of the Presbyterian Church there, to whom God had committed his mortal remains, erjcted a monument in the cemetery at Geelofig, which commands observation there, and will declare to their children the honour in which they held the unassuming piety and self-denying zeal of the founder of the New Hebrides Mission. [1872 1872] LAST LABOURS AND DKATH. 607 In JRemoriam. REV. JOHN GEDDIE, D.D. MONUIIINT IN GbBLONO CeMKTBBT. 508 LIFE OF JOHN OEDDIE, D.D. [1872 His warm-hearted children on Aneiteum wept very bitter tef.rs when they heard that their good father was dead. A wooden tablet, prepared in Sydney, has been placed behind the pulpit in the church at Anelcauhat, on which is the fol- lowing inscription in Aneiteumese : — " In memory of John Geddib, D.D., born in Scotland 1815, minister in Prince Edward Island seven years, missionary sent from Nova Scotia at Anelcauhat, Aneityum, for twenty-four years. He laboured amidst many trials for the good of the people, taught many to read, many to work, and some to be teachers. He was esteemed by the natives, beloved by his fellow-labourer, the Rev. John Inglis, and honoured by the missionaries in the New Hebrides and by the Churches. When Jie landed in 1848 there were no Christians here, and whsn he left in 1872 there were no heathen. He died in the Lord in Australia, 1872. 1 Thess. i. 5." Of the congregations and Presbyteries at home, there were few. in which, at their first meeting after intelligence was received of the death, there was not some notice taken of the event, with appropriate references to his life and labours. We have left ourselves little space for any delineation of his character. But we deem this unnecessary. We have utterly failed in our aim, if the preceding history does not enable int«lligent readers to judge what manner of man he was. In particular, we think that they will recognize him as one who, in single-minded devotedness to missionary work, is entitled to rank with the first of the many devoted men who, in modern times, have given themselves to that exalted enterprise. This, as it were, formed the very element in which he lived and breathed, and in this every power and energy of his nature was absorbed. As to his endowments, whatever he might have been in any other sphere of action, or whatever he might have proved in any other part of the Mission field, we fear not to say that, for the particular work to which he was called, that of a missionary to barbarous tribes, rarely has the Author of all gifts given to His Church in any age one better adapted. We may give the testimony of those who had the best oppor- tunities of judging. The Mission Synod thus speak of him : — " Dr. Geddie was possessed of many excellences, especially (qualifying him for the early yeara of a heathen mission — [1872 1872] LAST LABOURS AND DEATH. 509 such were his energy and zeal, his ingenuity and power of surmounting difficulties, his tact in enlisting the help of the natives in all his undertakings, his willingness to sacrifice and to endure hardships for the sake of the Gospel, his faith in God, his habit of looking at the bright side of his work, and his strong all-prevailing missionary spirit. "He thought much about the other islands of the group, gathering information about them from all quarters, sent out teachers to them, and visited these teachers. He was kind to strange natives who might happen to touch at Aneiteum, and his name is known by many on the group who never saw the immediate sphere of his labours." Mr. Inglis thus describes him : " He was in many respects admirably qualified to commence such a Mission as this. He was enthusiastic in his work. He had a great aptitude for dealing with the heathen. He possessed a kind of intuitive sagacity for treating them so as to gain their confidence. He had a great readiness in acquiring the native language, both in its principles and details, in its vocables and its grammar. He had a most retentive memory : he could remember minute particulars for any length of time. Hence, if he got hold of a word or phrase, he seemed never to forget it. In this depart- ment of Mission labour he was ably assisted by Mrs. G., who acquired an extraordinary command of the language, especially for conversational purposes. The natives used to say of her that she spoke their language just like a person of Aneiteum, and that her words were all the same as theirs. Ho was an excellent translator; he had a great facility in discovering how any text of Scripture would be most easily understood by the natives. In general his renderings were all clear, simple, elegant and idiomatic. " He had a great genius for mechanical pursuits. He could turn his hand with great readiness to carpenters' work, masons' work, plastering, etc., as well as printing. He would have ex- celled as an engineer; he had great inventive power; was fertile in expedients to meet new and unexpected difficulties, where civilization was as little known as Christianity. He had a great command over his hand. Had he followed his father's profession, he would certainly have taken a high place among skilled workmen. Had he been a surgeon, he would 610 LIFK OF JOBN OBDDIE, D.D. [1872 have been a dexterous operator. He wrote a clear, distinct, befi^ptiful hand, and filled page after page without a blot or a mistake. "He was a man of simple tastes and frugal habits. He was a strict economist ; he kept his expenditure always below his income ; he was specially careful of the Church's funds, and strove most conscientiously to carry on the Mission at the least possible expense to its supporters, in order that the Church might send out more missionaries and extend the work to other island& " During the first years of the Mission he not only worked hard, but suffered much from fever and ague. But after the initial difficulties were overcome, and the evangelization of the natives had fairly commenced — when doors of usefulness were opening up in all directions — when all was push on and drive through, and this activity was sustained by the excitement of a nearly continuous remarkable success, he was in his perfect element. For any amount of active exertion, physical or mental, he was always ready and always able. With singular facility he could turn his hand to anything, whether it was to build a mission-house, a school-house, or a church ; to translate a gospel, prepare a catechism,. or print a primer; to admin- ister medicine, teach a class, or preach a sermon ; to traverse the island on foot, sail round it in his boat, or take a voyage in the John Knox to the adjoining islands. He was ready, ever ready, for all manner of work, and every occurring emergency. "He was raised up by God, and qualified to do a great work. That work he did, and did it well. His faults, his failings, his infirmities, will soon all be forgotten; but he will continue to be remembered as the father and founder of the Presbyterian Mission on this group ; as one who has left his mark, broad and deep, in the New Hebrides, but especially on the island of Aneiteum, and whose memory will be long and gratefully cherished by the natives; as one, also, who has increased the usefulness, extended the boundaries, elevated the character, and heightened the reputation of the Presby- terian Church of Nova Scotia; and as one whose example will fan the flame of missionary zeal in that and other Churches for many years to come." LAST LABOURS AND DEATH. 611 ler We should have liked that space would have permitted to have given particulars of the history of the New Hebrides Mission since his death, but can only mention the leading events. In the year 1873, the Rev. Joseph Annand and wife arrived from Nova Scotia, and commenced operations on Efate ; but in the year 1876, the Rev. J. D. Murray being con- strained to remove to Australia, in consequence of the state of his wife's health, they removed to Anelcauhat, where they have since continued to labour. In the year 1877, the Rev. John Inglis, after twenty-five years* service on the island, returned to Scotland. It has been remarked that he is an example of how long a man may labour on these islands who takes care of his health, and Dr. Geddie, of how long a man may continue who does not. Up to the time of his leaving, the baptisms on the island were said to be 2,100, and the admissions to communion 1,300. He took with him the Old Testament in Aneiteumese, the printing of which by the British and Foreign Bible Society he has since superintended. The work has since been put in circulation, and the whole expense, amounting to .£1,200, has been defrayed by the natives. On the neighbouring islands, the work, owing to causes most of which we already referred to, has been carried on under heavy discouragements, and in circumstances which entitle the missionaries, if any men on earth, to the sympathy of the Church. They might almost say, " We have toiled all the night," and long and dark it seemed, " and caught nothing." And yet not altogether. On Erromanga, the labours of Mr. Robertson have met with encouraging success. At Dillon's Bay, all the inhabitants attend Christian worship, a church called the Martyrs' Memorial Church has been built, the comer-stone of which was laid by a son of the murderer of Williams. There are fifty Church members, and twenty-five teachers in as many districts, and with another missionary the whole island might be brought under Christian instruction. On Aniwa, Futuna, and Efate the work has made slow but certain progress, especially on the latter. One scene on it, under the labours of Mr. McKenzie, we must give, as described by himself, as a contrast with what took place at the time of Dr. Geddie's first visit, as described at page 165: — 512 LIFE OF JOHN OEDDIB, D.D. " Some thirty years ago a vessel called the British Sovereign was wrecked near the village of Eratap, when nearly the whole company were murdered, and their bodies distributed amongst the surrounding villages to grace their feasts. In 1876, a labour vessel caUed the Bobtail Nag was driven on the rocks in a hurricane, some three or four miles distant from that same village. There were a hundred and fifty or sixty natives on board at the time, belonging to some of the northern islands, who had shipped for Fiji They all got safe on shore, but very little provisions were saved from the wreck, and the people of the surrounding villages were themselves scarce of food. I assembled the three villages, Eratap, Erakor, and Pango, and explained to them the condition of these strangers, who were cast upon their shores. The result was that ninety of them were distributed among these three villages, thirty to each, and fed there for four weeks. For the rest the captain of the vessel was able to procure a little food from some inland villages. Here were the natives of Eratap, some of whom were the same individuals who had picked the bones of the former shipwrecked company, leading home to their village thirty strangers, not to feed on them, but to feed them, and without any promise of being paid for so doing." The only exception as to progress has hitherto been Tana, but even there the light is breaking. While the last sheets of this work were going through the press, word has been received that a Church has been formed on that long dark island, Mr. Watt having, in October last, baptized six adults and three children. On the northern islands the missionaries are encouraged to believe that the dawn of a brighter day is at hand. At all events, they will believe that the prospects of Christ reigning over these islands are, in the words of Judson, " bright — bright as the promises of God."