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 AGNP]S C. p. WATT. 
 
 TWENTV-FIVE VEARS' MISSION LIFE 
 ON TANNA, NEW HEBRIDES.
 
 c4^.^^ c^ ^?i^/^
 
 AGNES C. P. WATT 
 
 TWENTY-FIVE YEARS' MISSION LIFE 
 
 ON 
 
 rv 
 
 TANNA, NEW HEBRIDES. 
 
 BI0(4RAPHICAL SKETCH AND INTRODUCTION BY 
 
 REV. T. WATT LEGGATT, 
 
 NEW HEBRIDES. 
 
 J. AND R. PARLANE, PAISLEY. 
 
 .JOHN iMENZIES .\>il) CO., EDINBURGH .\NT) (iLASOOW. 
 HOULSTON .\ND SONS, LONDON. 
 
 1896.
 
 3C.S0 
 
 PREFACE 
 
 This book was undertaken at the request of many- 
 friends who had appreciated Mrs Watt's general letters- 
 and desired to have them in a permanent form. 
 Although the New Hebrides has been a good deal 
 written about of late, I believe that there is still room 
 for the present work. These letters exhibit mission, 
 work from a somewhat unusual view-point ; inasmuch 
 as they record twenty-five years' faithful and incessant 
 work with little apparent result. It is not difficult to 
 be cheerful and enthusiastic in a flood-tide of success ;. 
 but it is given to few to labour as Mrs Watt laboured, 
 amid reverses and discouragement, for a quarter of 
 a century, and meet the summons home with a heart as- 
 hopeful as on the first day she set foot on Tanna. 
 Years of hope deferred, no doubt impressed her with 
 ajuster appreciation of the difficulties of the work, yet 
 to the end disappointment failed to damp her ardour or 
 sour her kindly disposition. She never despaired of 
 Tanna, nor lost her faith that the gospel of Christ, 
 which she offered to its people, was the power of God 
 unto salvation to all who believe. 
 
 835J)CiG
 
 in f'h'EFACK. 
 
 The materials at my commaiul were far from being 
 so full as I could have desireil, and residence on a 
 remote island, with unfrequent communication, has 
 occasioned considerable delay in collecting them and 
 completing the work. 
 
 I have endeavoured to let her tell the story of her 
 life and work in her own letters and journals. 
 Sometimes an explanatory note is appended, or passages 
 from letters of different date are inserted, where the 
 same subject is referred to ; but in every case this has 
 been indicated. 
 
 I can only hope that to some extent I have 
 succeeded ; and that this may not only be an addition 
 to the literature uf Missions, but also a source of 
 <*omfort and inspiration to others who may be working 
 for Christ in depressing and discouraging circumstances 
 •eithr>r at homo or abroad. 
 
 T. Watt Leggatt. 
 
 •'Amy (Jektridk Kisskij/" Mission ITotse, 
 auix.'^. m.\i.kklla, 
 
 N'kw Hkp.KIDks. Mnnh, ISUC.
 
 C O N ^r K N T S 
 
 1»A6E 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH 17 
 
 TANNA AND ITS MISSIONARIES 47 
 
 Xetters. 
 I. 
 
 MELBOURNE AND NEW ZEALAND 08 
 
 TO HER FATHER. 
 
 II. 
 
 FIRST SIGHT OF THE ISLANDS 62 
 
 GENERAL LETTER. 
 
 IIL 
 BEGINNING WORK ON TANNA 77 
 
 I. TO HER FATHER. 
 •2. TO THE FAMILY. 
 3. TO THE FAMILY, 
 
 IV. 
 MAN TANNA 104 
 
 V. 
 
 SETTLING NEW MISSIONARIES 114 
 
 TO THE FAMILY.
 
 12 COXTi:XTS. 
 
 VI. 
 
 PAtlK 
 
 STREAKS OF DAW N 1-*.H 
 
 1. Til THK t;l>.\S<;0\V KOrNhKY Hoys' KKI.I<Mor> SIMIKTV. 
 •J. Tu THK TRKASIKKK OK TlIK (;l.AS(;o\V ForNl»KV r.oV>' 
 RKIJiJIntS SCMIKTY. 
 
 Vll. 
 
 HOW W i: SI'KXT THK HOT SKASOX OF IsTu ... i:V2 
 
 VIII 
 FIRST EXI'ERIENCE OF A HURRICANE 14-' 
 
 To THK K^Mrl.^. 
 
 IX. 
 
 A (JLIMPSE OF CIVILISATIOX. THE MARTYRDOM 
 
 OF TAUKA 1"'_> 
 
 1. TO THK KAMIIA. 
 
 •2. KXTRAf'TS KROM .rori;\AI.. 
 
 :i. TO THK F\M1IA. 
 
 X. 
 
 "EARTHQUAKES, WARS. AXh lU'MOURS OF 
 
 WARS" ■ H>4 
 
 To THK KVMIIA. 
 
 XI. 
 RAIX MAKIXt; 17H 
 
 \II. 
 TH0U(;HTS ABOUT HOMF. iioiXc 1S5 
 
 To II KK IVUKNTS. 
 
 X I I I 
 
 BACK TO TAN'XA H!> 
 
 To HKK KVTHKk.
 
 CONTENTS. 13 
 
 XIV. 
 
 I'AGK 
 
 FORMATION OF THE CHURCH ON TANNA 2()() 
 
 TO THE FAMILY. 
 
 XV. 
 INCIDENTS— FOLKLORE 211 
 
 OOMI'ILED FROM LETTERS IN 1882-83. 
 
 XVL 
 
 IN PERILS BY SEA 217 
 
 GENERAL LETTER, 1SS4. 
 
 XVII. 
 ON ANIWA 226 
 
 COMPILED. 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 A MONOTONOUS SUMMER 239 
 
 GENERAL LETTER, 1885. 
 
 XIX. 
 AN ILLUSTRATED LETTER 252 
 
 GENERAL LETTER, 1886. 
 
 XX. 
 
 EXTENDING THE MISSION NORTHWARD 271 
 
 GENERAL LETTER, 1S87. 
 
 XXI, 
 
 TOILING ON 282 
 
 GENERAL LETTERS, 1887-88. 
 
 XXIL 
 
 "AND THEY WENT FORTH AND PREACHED 
 
 THAT MEN SHOULD REPENT" 294 
 
 GENERAL LETTER.
 
 14 COXTKXTS. 
 
 Will. 
 
 i*A<:k 
 
 CLOUDS AND SUNSHINK :i"7 
 
 GKNKKAL LKTTKK. 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 INTO HARNESS AiiAlN :V2ti 
 
 IJENKKAI. I.KTTKk. 
 
 XXV. 
 
 SICKNESS AND WAR :W0 
 
 CENKRAI. I.KTTKK, 
 
 XX\"1. 
 
 THE CAKE OE ALL THE CHURCHES :W7 
 
 TO MISS CROIL, MONTREAL, CANADA. 
 
 xxvn. 
 
 A COOL SEASON'S WORK 352 
 
 fiENEKAI. I.KTTER. 
 
 XXNlll. 
 "FAINT, VET I'URSUINCi" „ 360 
 
 GENERAL LKTTKK. 
 
 XXIX. 
 
 WAITINC 36S 
 
 THE LAST CENEKAL LETTKK. 
 
 APPENDI.X. 
 MEMORIAL MINUTES, ETC :«1
 
 I L LIST RAT IONS. 
 
 I'AOK 
 
 AiiNES C. P. WATT ... ... ... ... ... ... Froiilifjiiece 
 
 MR AM) MK.S WATT — AT MAKKIAKIC ... ... ... ... 'I'l 
 
 CHURCH, WITH MKMORIAI. WINDOW ... ... ... ... ',V.) 
 
 MRS watt's (iRAVK... ... ... ... ... ... ... 41 
 
 TABLET IN CHIKCII .. ... ... ... ... ... ... 44 
 
 MEMORIAL WINDOW... ... ... ... ... ... ... 4") 
 
 GRAVE.S OF .MR.S I'ATON ANU MR .JOHNSTON ... ... ... ">! 
 
 VOLCANO (Y.\S00R) AND LAKE (ii) 
 
 GRASS CHURCH, KWAMERA 75 
 
 KWAMERA FROM THK .SEA ... ... ... ... ... ... S'v 
 
 TANNA MEN — MODE OF DRESSING THEIR HAIR H)7 
 
 KW.-VMERA NATIVES AND TEACHERS (XAHI-ABBA TO THE RIGHT) l(j"> 
 
 WATERFALL, IFEFE, TANNA 17") 
 
 YAM (iARDEN... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 191 
 
 FIRST COMMUNICANTS AT KWAMERA ... ... ... ... 209 
 
 STREAM AT KWAMERA ... ... ... ... ... .. 21^ 
 
 OLD MISSION HOUSE, PORT RESOLUTION 221 
 
 MR AND MRS WATT... ... ... ... ... ... ... 2o'i\ 
 
 K\V.\MERA — CHURCH AND MISSION HOUSE 255 
 
 VEMEITAHAK AND NANCY 259" 
 
 GIRLS IN MISSION HOUSE AT KWAMERA 261 
 
 TANNA MEN AND BOYS 208 
 
 HOUY'E — FROM A PHOTO TAKEN IN MELBOURNE 265 
 
 TANNA WOMAN ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 267 
 
 BOYS WITH YAMS 273 
 
 PUBLIC SQU.\RE, MALEKULA 277 
 
 SYNOD OF 1889, HELD AT KWAMERA ... ... ... ... 313 
 
 SCHOOL-HOUSE, VANATUAN 317 
 
 CHURCH AND PEOPLE — PORT RESOLUTION 325 
 
 YECRIMU 339 
 
 LINE OF MARCH 341 
 
 PARTY AT CRATER, VASOOR 347 
 
 WATERFALL AT KWAMERA 375
 
 IGNES C. P. WATT. 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. 
 
 AGNES CRAIG, the eldest daughter of Robert 
 Paterson, merchant, and his wife Agnes Campbell, 
 was born in Tylefield Street, Glasgow, Scotland, on the 
 27th September, 1846. 
 
 In those days her birthplace was a quiet and almost 
 rural locality, although somewhat less aristocratic than 
 in the earlier years of the century. Even then the 
 wealthy merchants had begun to leave their substantial 
 mansions for more fashionable quarters. Over their 
 quiet demesnes straggling streets of two-storey houses 
 were rising, where douce weaver bodies, in apron and 
 Kilmarnock nightcap, drove the shuttle, or in their 
 leisure hours delved their kailyairds or discussed 
 politics with their cronies. Now-a-days the mansion 
 houses have been replaced by huge mills and foundries, 
 whose workers and their families reside in the gaunt 
 unlovely tenements which are fast displacing the 
 picturesque dwellings of the decent hand-loom weavers. 
 
 Little Agnes Paterson was the child of many vows 
 and prayers. Her two elder brothers had died in
 
 is .4(;.v/;.s' r. /•. watt. 
 
 infaucy, aiul lur uwu health caused much anxiety to 
 her parents. Referring to that time in a letter to herself 
 after she had left home, her father says : " How earnest 
 I was that you should be spared. Many a time the 
 silent desire went up, that if God would spare you I 
 would be willing that He should u.se you for His 
 service in any way He chose." 
 
 While she was (juite young the family removed to 
 Carluke, where her father had a cottage, and there 
 most of her early years were spent. During her 
 resilience there, the great Revival movement of 1859 
 swejit over Scotland, into which Mr Paterson entered 
 with his whole heart. He took an active part in 
 organising and keeping up meetings in that village, 
 and under his roof the speakers usually resided. One 
 of the evangelists, who thus visited Carluke, was a 
 Ml Ilobert Steel, a gentleman farmer, near Biggar ; and 
 Agnes ever regarded him as her sjDiritual father, and for 
 many years corresponded with him on religious 
 nmtters. 
 
 Another of those who came to help in the good work 
 was a Mr William Veitch of Edinburgh ; who also gave 
 a daughter (^Irs Milne of Nguna) to mission work in 
 the New Hebrides. The two fathers lost sight of each 
 other for many years till the departure of Mr anil Mrs 
 Milne for these islands (where the Watts were 
 already stationed) led to a renewal of intercourse. 
 
 About l.S(J2 Mr Paterson and his family returned to 
 town, and took up their abode in Pollok Road, 
 Shawlands, on the south-side ©f Glasgow. Their 
 residence was not very far from the ancient burgh of 
 Pollokshaws, and in the vicinity of Langside, where in
 
 BlOHliAI'HlCAL SKETCH. \9 
 
 1568 the battle between the forces of the Regent 
 Moray and Mary Queen of Scots was fought — an 
 encounter which finally shattered the fortunes of that 
 beautiful but misguided sovereign. 
 
 While living at PoUok Road, Agnes found many 
 opportunities for Christian work. Tract distribution, 
 reading the Scriptures to aged and sick people, and 
 teaching in the Sabbath School, were all taken up with 
 characteristic heartiness. Being the eldest dauohter, 
 a good many domestic duties fell to her lot. Her 
 special charge was the care of the younger children, 
 who were as fondly attached to her as she to them. 
 
 Although the families of Patersons and Watts 
 were closely related, it was not until they came to 
 reside in Shawlands that Agnes became acquainted 
 with her father's cousin, who was destined to become 
 her husband. Mr William Watt was at that time 
 attending his final session in Divinity at the Reformed 
 Presbyterian Hall, with the intention of devoting 
 himself to mission work in the New Hebrides, which 
 the Reformed Presbyterian Church or " Cameronians," 
 although few in numbers, had adopted as their Mission 
 field with considerable ardour. Six missionaries from 
 this historic church had already gone out there, 
 in addition to which it may also be mentioned that it 
 had also maintained for many years a Mission among 
 the Jews in London. 
 
 Mr Watt's elder brother John, also a Divinity 
 student, was residing with the Patersons at the time, 
 and giving lessons to some of the famil3^ While 
 visiting him the two young people met. Their 
 intimacy ripened into a very warm affection, which led
 
 -_M A(;yEs c. r. ha tt. 
 
 her in due time to accept his invitation to share with 
 him the trials and danijers of Mission life. 
 
 There are. probably, but lew women who do not feel 
 liunoured by the esteem expressed in an otier of 
 marriaj^e ; but when the oflfer comes, as in this case, 
 from one who has devoted his life to the evangelising 
 of a savage an<l degraded people, it calls for serious 
 consideration. Some women have gone out to the 
 foreign titld in order that they may accompany and 
 minister to their husbands. We honour them for the 
 <levotion which led them to share such trvinjj work, 
 even where they felt no call to it in itself. By Agues 
 Paterson, however, the offer of marriage was regarded 
 as a direct summons to take part in the evangelisation 
 of the heathen. In those days there were no other 
 ways into the foreign field open to women save as the 
 wives of missionaries. Zenana work, teachinff in 
 mission schools, and medical missions to women were 
 as yet hardly thought of. 
 
 Notwithstaudino- her earnest desire to enjrafre in the 
 work abroad, the fact of her having to part from those 
 she loved at home, with few opportunities of hearing 
 from them, and but a remote possibility of ever seeing 
 them again, gave her much anxiety. In a letter to her 
 parents from the ship "White Star," shortly after leaving 
 England, she says : " Both of you know that it was not 
 without some anxious thought that I devoted my life 
 to this cause. Wearisome nights, with my pillow 
 soaked with tears, I spent, ere I could decide that most 
 momentous question. Is it my duty to go or stay ? 
 Blessed be His name, He gave me grace to choose, 
 what to some seems the evil, but, as 1 think, the path of
 
 BiOdnArnicAL sketch. 21 
 
 duty. I do, indeed, rejoice to say that I have never been 
 left, even for a moment, to regret the step I have taken." 
 
 Time amply proved the wisdom of her choice, for 
 her decision brought blessing to herself and many 
 others. Her father, who felt the parting very keenly, 
 said himself in a letter to her two years afterwards, 
 " Who can tell but what you may have more comfort 
 and contentment, even in a temporal sense, where you 
 are, than if you had remained at home?" And again, "It 
 cheers my heart to think that you have never had a sad 
 reflection since leaving home. I often think that if 
 you had not gone away, I would not have so much 
 comfort concerning you." 
 
 I would commend these words to some parents who 
 are unwilling to let their children go out to Christ's 
 service among the heathen. You may have your own 
 way, but take care lest in so insisting upon it, you are 
 thrusting from you much blessing and comfort for 
 future years. 
 
 Mr Watt and Miss Paterson were married on the 29th 
 of April, 1868, by the minister of the bride, the Rev. 
 Dr Patterson of Hutchesontown Free Church, Glasgow. 
 After a short honeymoon trip to Lochgilphead they 
 returned to town to make preparations for departure. 
 Mr Watt was ordained a missionary to the New 
 Hebrides on the 7th of May. The service took place 
 during the sittings of the Reformed Presbyterian Synod 
 in Great Hamilton Street Church. The Rev. Dr Wm. 
 Symington preached from 2 Cor. x. 15, 16 : " Having 
 hope ... to preach the gospel in the regions beyond," 
 and Mr Watt's beloved Professor, Rev. Dr Binnie of 
 Stirling, gave the " charge."
 
 •» 
 
 At.XKs c. /'. ir.ivy. 
 
 On the S;il)bath after the orilinatioii, they were askt-tl 
 by Mr William Stranu. a friend of Mr Watt's, who was 
 dee))ly interested in the New Hebrides, and one of the 
 founders of the Glas<;ow Foundry Boys' Religions 
 Society, to a^ldress the Branch with which he was 
 connected, in E»jlinton Street. They complied, and so 
 interested the members and ofHce- bearers, that they 
 pledged themselves that very nigiit to suj»)>ort a native 
 
 teacher on Tanna. Right noblv has this Society 
 fulfilled its promise. Several teachers employed by 
 Mr Watt on Tanna have been supported by it up to 
 the present day. It has sent out annually boxes of 
 doth and other u.seful articles to the natives. Last, 
 but Ity nil means least, in iNT-i' it sent out a fine 
 Printing Press, which it has also kept supplied with 
 type and paper. This press has been a initst valuable
 
 lilOd HA PHICA L SKETCH. 23 
 
 adjunct to the mission in the New Hebrides. Other 
 islands as well as Tanna have been benefited by it, as 
 lesson sheets, hymns, and portions of Scripture have 
 been printed from it. This continued interest in 
 mission work was, to a very great extent, due to Mrs 
 Watt's frequent and interesting letters which were read 
 at the meetings of the Society. These letters and her 
 addresses while at home were the means of leading 
 several connected with the Society to go out as 
 missionaries to heathen lands. 
 
 On June 3rd, they left Glasgow for Liverpool to join 
 the " White Star," a sailing vessel of 2500 tons, which 
 was going out to Melbourne with a large number of 
 emigrants. 
 
 Those who have gone through such an experience 
 will thank me for passing over the parting in silence. 
 It was borne on both sides with Christian fortitude. 
 In Liverpool they were the guests of the Rev. Dr 
 Symington of Birkenhead. From there Mrs Watt wrote 
 home daily, one might almost say hourly, until the vessel 
 sailed. In one letter referring to her railway journey, 
 she says : " I may tell you I felt happy, although sorr}^ 
 very sorry to part with you all. I had an inward joy, 
 that it was in order to carry the gospel to the heathen 
 I had gone. Thus far I have proved God to be a 
 covenant-keeping God. ' As thy days, so shall thy 
 strength be.' May He comfort and sustain you all in 
 the hour of trial. ' Cast thy burden on the Lord, and 
 He shall sustain thee.' Think of me not only as going 
 from you, but also as under the special protection of 
 God, who says : ' Touch not mine anointed, and do my 
 prophets no harm.' "
 
 24 AdXES C. r. WATT. 
 
 Thus she is calm ami resolved and hopeful — resting 
 on the blessed promises which are all Yea and Amen in 
 Christ Jesus. She has taken the first step in her 
 missionary career. Resolutely she has put her hand to 
 the plough, nor tmce looks back, for she has reckoned 
 the cost. Together the devoted couple set their faces 
 to " the regions beyond. For friends and home 
 
 "Sonic natural tear.s tlicy iln>ii|t\l. Imt wijied them soon; 
 The world wa.s all before them. . . . 
 And Pnivideiiee their iruide." 
 
 On June Sth they sailed from Liverpool. That day 
 she took every opportunity of sending home farewell 
 messages, even from such unlikely places as the quay 
 while waiting on the tender to take them off to the 
 vessel. The voyage to Melbourne took eighty-two 
 days, and was on the whole "very enjoyable. Their 
 passages hail been taken in the " Sulina '" which left a 
 week or two earlier, but owing to Mr Watt s having an 
 attack of facial paralysis, they were transferred to the 
 "White Star." As it turned out the delay was 
 providential, for not only had they longer time at 
 home before sailing, but reached the colonics before 
 the steamer. The "White Star" having .some six 
 hundred emigrants on board, they were enabled to do 
 much good among them. After obtaining permission 
 from the authorities on board, Mr Watt conducted 
 Divine Service on the poop-deck on Sabbaths. Along 
 with Mrs Watt, he held weekly Bible Classes and 
 Prayer Meetings on different evenings during the week, 
 among the single men, single women, and married 
 people ; by all of whom their ministrations were much 
 appreciated.
 
 niOaHAI'IIICAL Sh'J^JTC/r. 25: 
 
 By the tug which accompanied thein well down the ' 
 channel she sent back the following letter : 
 
 "We have much to encourage us with regard to 
 weather. I have scarcely felt that the ship was 
 moving, only I feel as if I were sitting on a spring- 
 bottomed chair. We have good food ; the only 
 difference from home is that we have one accompaniment 
 to every meal ; we get potatoes twenty-one times a week 
 for a rarity. If you ask me what I get to breakfast I 
 would say ' taties ' ; what to dinner, ' taties ' ; what to 
 supper, ' taties.' Now you are not to think that we 
 get nothing but potatoes ; there are plenty of other 
 things ; roast beef, boiled cabbage, smoked ham, fresh 
 eggs, pies, tarts, and eveiything that is good. We havfr 
 a splendid cabin and a large saloon." 
 
 Evidently the voyage was just beginning, for on the- 
 10th she writes : " We were aroused this morning by 
 the captain calling, ' Get your letters ready.' The tug 
 is going off, and I have only one feeling of sorrow that 
 I cannot send you letters by the way ; but daily, nay, 
 constantl}^, shall my prayer ascend to Jesus that we may 
 be all one with Him. Then shall we soon meet and be 
 an undivided family in heaven. It is vain to wish to 
 meet on earth, if after we meet we have to part again." 
 
 After some kind messages to her brothers and sisters, 
 she concludes : " Mother, this is for you, ' Because thou 
 hast not withheld thy child, therefore in blessing I will 
 bless thee ' ; and father, see in my mission to the 
 heathen the result of faithful pious training and an 
 answer to prayer." 
 
 They arrived at Melbourne on the 21st September, 
 and were warmly received by friends of the mission.
 
 as .i'..v/;.s' c. i\ watt. 
 
 With their wonted thoughtl'ulness tlie Rev. J. ami Mrs 
 Clark of Williamstown came oft' to the ship in u boat 
 and took them ashore. They also stayed with the 
 Rev. Dr Maeilonald of Emerald Hill (Sonth Melbourne), 
 and the Smellies. who were old family friemls. Their 
 intention had been to proceed direct to the Islands by 
 the first vessel which mii,'ht be going in that direction ; 
 but in Melbourne they were strongly advised to go 
 round by New Zealand. By s<» doing they would 
 become acquainted with the church which was to 
 support them, and embark for the New Hebrides in 
 the mission vessel " Dayspring." 
 
 They reached Wellington in the end of September, 
 and spent several months travelling through the 
 countrv visiting the different congregations. To Mrs 
 Watt, with her deep love of nature, the magnificent 
 scenery of New Zealand was a source of great delight. 
 Everywhere they met with kindnes.s, and formed many 
 lasting friendships, so that when they departed at last 
 for their lonely outpost of duty they were cheered with 
 the assurance that the church had them constantly in 
 tender and prayerful remembrance. By some strange 
 instinct Mrs Watt had always looked forward to 
 settling on the island of Tanna : and was actually 
 somewhat anxious lest they should be sent to Erakor 
 Efate, from which Mr Morrison was retiring through ill 
 health. Her mind was therefore set at rest by a letter 
 from the Rev. J. Inglis of Aneit3"um, who took it for 
 granted that Tanna was to be their destination ; and 
 they were cheered by the prospects of a favourable 
 ripening there. The letter also announced that the Rev. 
 T. Neilson had been settled at \\)vi Resolution, and
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. 27 
 
 that the Aneityiunese at Aname were making cinet for 
 the building of their house. The Assembly of the 
 Presbyterian Church of New Zealand was held that 
 year in Wellington, in the month of November, 1868 ; 
 but on account of the unsettled state of the country, 
 owing to the Maori war, only seven ministers were 
 present. It was agreed to raise Mr Watt's salary to 
 £150 per annum, instead of the modest £120 at which 
 he was engaged. They were also granted a whale-boat, 
 and £30 to purchase timber for a house. 
 
 When the meeting of Assembly was over the 
 Watts proceeded to Dunedin, where they joined the 
 " Dayspring," and after calling again at Wellington, 
 they went on to Auckland, which port they left for 
 the islands on March 31st, and arrived at Aneityum on 
 the 18th of April. They then went round the group 
 to see the several stations, and, so far as they could, 
 the work of the Mission. At the Annual Meeting of 
 the Missionaries (now called the Synod), they were 
 designated to Kwamera at the south-east point of 
 Tanna ; and Messrs Inglis and Neilson were appointed 
 to assist in their settlement. Kwamera was considered 
 to be a very promising opening, and certainly the 
 people gave them a very hearty welcome. It was not 
 long, however, until they made it abundantly plain 
 that the calico, knives, and other things which the 
 missionary brought were much more valued by them 
 than his teaching. Moreover, Kwamera was on the 
 weather side of the island, exposed to the full force of 
 the S.E. trade winds. It had no shelter whatever 
 for the Mission vessel, and only a very narrow 
 passage through the reef for landing. Frequently the
 
 •J.S ALXJiS C. I'. WATT. 
 
 " Dayspring had to lie oft" and on for days until the 
 sea would moderate suthciently to ailnw \n-\- boats to 
 land their stores. Passengers embarking hail many a 
 long and dangerous passage from the shore to the ship. 
 In those days dithciilty <>f access was supposed to 
 protect the natives fmm undesirable traders; but in this 
 the advantage was very slight, while the discomfort 
 and nervous strain of boating told severely on Mrs 
 Watt's health. 
 
 The first break in their island life was a short visit 
 to Sydney in 1874. Two years later they had a 
 furlough of three months in New Zealand. In 1S7H 
 they left for a visit to Scotland, which they reached in 
 March, 187^, when Mrs Watt had about eleven months 
 at home, and greatly enjoyed the society of her loved 
 ones. ( )n that visit, she invariably refused to speak 
 at public meetings, but by her vivid descriptions 
 of native life and mission work in private gatherings 
 she did much to stimulate fresh interest in the New 
 Hebrides. 
 
 On the 6th February, ISSO, they left England in the 
 (')rient steamer " Chimboruzo." The weather was 
 rough when they started, and increased in severity. 
 (Jn the second day out, a huge wave struck the vessel 
 and heeled her over. The heavy steam launch and five 
 boats, together with almost everything on the spar deck, 
 were carried away. One of the passengers and two 
 seamen were washed overboard, and another killed on 
 board, while eighteen were more or less severely 
 injun.'d. It was indeed a very narrow escape, for the 
 engine sky-light was carried away, and had another 
 wave broken over them, the engine room would have
 
 BIOilRAPlIWAL SKETCH. 29 
 
 been flooded and the fires put out. That afternoon 
 the captain managed to get the vessel round and put 
 back for Plymouth, where the passengers were sent 
 ashore while the steamer returned to London for repairs. 
 In ten days she was ready, and started out again in 
 the teeth of another gale, which however moderated, 
 and with the exception of a break-down of the engines 
 for a few hours, they had a prosperous voyage, 
 reaching Sydney in safety on the 8th of April. Two 
 days later they left for the New Hebrides in the 
 " Dayspring," which had been detained to pick them up. 
 
 Shortly before their arrival on Kwamera, a dreadful 
 hurricane swept over the islands, which destroyed the 
 natives' food and severely tried the Mission buildings. 
 Their welcome back was on that account rather a sad 
 one. 
 
 The exciting .scenes through which they had passed, 
 and the suspense occasioned by the news of the 
 hurricane, had a very disturbing effect ou Mrs Watt's 
 nervous system, so that in 1881 she was compelled to 
 go to Melbourne, in the " Dayspring," for medical 
 advice, while Mr Watt remained on Tanna. Of 
 Dr Macmillan, whom she consulted, she ever afterwards 
 spoke with liveliest gratitude. 
 
 Soon after their return from Scotland, the Rev. J. G. 
 Paton and family went up to Melbourne, and at his 
 request the Mission Synod appointed Mr Watt to the 
 oversight of the work in Aniwa. From that time until 
 1889, Aniwa and its concerns took up a considerable 
 part of Mrs Watt's time and care. They were no 
 strangers to the people, as on previous occasions they 
 had taken charge during the missionary's furloughs.
 
 ■M) Ai.XL's c. J', ivatj: 
 
 ( 111 the whole, they enjoyed these visits exceedingly. 
 The peaceful character of the people, their attention to 
 the ordinances of religion and desire for instruction, con- 
 trasted so favourably with the warlike and superstitious 
 Tannese. They had the pleasure of seeing their efforts 
 appreciated by a grateful people, and also of seeing some 
 of the An i wans go out for the first time as teachers to 
 heathen islands. Often did Mrs Watt call Aniwa her 
 " Bethany." It was hallowed by past associations of 
 joy and sorrow shared with her " dearest Mission sister," 
 Mrs Paton. It was a calm retreat for a season from 
 the turmoils ami fightings of obstinate "terrible Tanna." 
 
 But with all that, it was a ver}' considerable drain on 
 her vital force. There were frequent packings and 
 unpackings, as most of the household stuff had to be 
 carried to and fro ; nerve-straining and exhausting boat 
 voyages, and no less wearisome tossing.?, sometimes for a 
 week at a time, in the " Dayspring." Their connection 
 with Aniwa terminated on the occasion of their visit 
 home in 188f>. 
 
 Tu 18SG and 1889 the Mission Synod met at 
 Kwamera. On these occasions Mrs Watt was in her 
 element. She liked to have a crowd of friends around 
 her, and quite enjoyed the bustle of entertaining 
 them. 
 
 Towards the end of 1889 they revisited Scotland iu 
 order to carry the Tannese New Testament through 
 the press. 
 
 The National Bible Society of Scotlantl IkuI received 
 a legacy which was to be expended in the ]>ublication 
 of a translation of the New Tt-stament in one of the 
 South Sea languages. The offer was niailr U> the New
 
 lUOajLM'niCAL SKETCH. 31 
 
 Hebrides Mission, antl as there was no other translation 
 nearly ready at the time, Mr Watt, with the sanction 
 of the Mission Synod, accepted it for the south-eastern 
 dialects of Tanna. 
 
 "They Avent home in the "Orizaba," and had an 
 exceptionally fine voyage. The " Jubilee Singers " 
 travelled with them as far as Colombo, and gave much 
 pleasure to all on board by their music. Immediately 
 on their arrival at home, arrangements were made 
 for printing ; and for months life seemed to consist 
 in revising and correcting proofs. After the New 
 Testament was finished, Mrs Watt compiled and 
 translated an illustrated Scripture History of 2G0 
 pp. 8vo., the lessons being taken from the " Peep of 
 Day" series. The book is an admirable epitome of 
 the Old Testament, and is a great favourite on Tanna 
 and among the people of Aniwa who understand 
 Tannese. 
 
 As she had now been twenty years a missionary Mrs 
 Watt was less reluctant to address public meetings. 
 
 In a very short time her services in this direction 
 were greatly in re(|uest. In Edinburgh, during the 
 sittings of the Assemblies, she addressed several of 
 the annual meetings and breakfasts of Missionary 
 Associations, held at that time. Her melloAv voice, and 
 the interesting manner in which she drew on her large 
 store of information concerning the natives and their 
 customs, together with her intense longing for the 
 salvation of the heathen, made her addresses very 
 popular. The interest was much increased by her 
 sinsfing of Tannese hvmns. The greatest favourite was 
 an adaptation of " Fade, fade, each earthlv joy," which
 
 •A-2 Ai.XES C. /: WATT. 
 
 liad been translated by a Taiinainaii named Kaiasi from 
 a hymn he had heard on Epi. Possibly some may be 
 interested in seeing this hymn in the Tannese dialect : 
 
 Jesiis is mine. 
 
 1 Yesu YtTUiuami, Yi'su asori, 
 Yesu Yeiuiiianu. Yesu seiaii. 
 Tk "nareiijri iiabieii, 
 Mariiiyi iiaiuisaicii, 
 
 Ik "iiane iiakwaruarua 
 'roini tuke iavi. 
 
 2 Yesu Yerninaim. Yesu asori, 
 Yesu Yeruiiiaiiu. Yesu soiau, 
 Ti aren^'i uabieii 
 
 Fei Yesu tuketaha, 
 'Napa sei ya iieai, 
 ^fc'iiia tuketaha. 
 
 3 Yesu Yeruniauu, Yesu asori. 
 Yesu Yeniuianu, Yesu seiaii, 
 Nanfrelonie ya neai. 
 Xeruiaiiia ya tuprana, 
 
 Tu ani iia'ugen aba, 
 Yesu ikiiiaii. 
 
 4 Yesu Yeruuianu, Yesu asori, 
 Yesu Yerunianu, Yesu seiau. 
 Nehekerieu .seiau 
 
 Kasori Atua, 
 Yesu naniuruvien 
 Saketalia pani. 
 
 5 Yesu Yerunianu, Yesu asori. 
 Yesu Yerunianu. Ve^^u seiau, 
 Yesu aniasan. 
 
 Yesu Yerunianu. 
 Yesu tik abi iau, 
 Muvehe yesa.
 
 BIOanM'HICAL SKETCH. 3:i 
 
 They returned to the New Hebrides by the San 
 Francisco route ; and so arranged their journey over 
 America that they were able to spend some time in 
 >sova Scotia and Canada, where they received much 
 kindness from the ministers and people of the Presby- 
 terian Church. It was no ordinary pleasure to Mrs 
 Watt to visit the church which had sent out Dr Geddie, 
 the first missionary to the New Hebrides. In New 
 Zealand they made a tour round most of the congre- 
 gations, and the hearty reception they received banished 
 their fears that the church had lost sympathy with 
 them and their work. During their absence great 
 changes had been taking place in the islands. The 
 " Daj^spring," no longer able to overtake the work of 
 the Mission, was laid up, and latterly sold. An arrange- 
 ment was entered into with the A.U.S.N. Co. by which 
 their steamers from Sydney to Fiji would connect with 
 the " Truganini," a small steamer which was to run 
 round the group monthly. After running for rather 
 more than a vear, the " Trug'anini " was wrecked at 
 Aneityum during a hurricane, but in less than two- 
 months the Company had replaced her by the 
 " Croydon," which was considerably larg-er. 
 
 None of us in the islands considered the steam 
 service perfect ; but the frequency of communication 
 was very much prized. Fresh from the magnificent 
 ocean-liners, perhaps Mrs Watt expected too much 
 from the little " Croydon," which was unable to land at 
 their station on two successive trips owing to rough 
 weather. At any rate her first impressions of the 
 steam-service were decidedly unfavourable ; but she 
 soon saw cause to think better of it. 
 3
 
 •M AdXKS C. I'. WATT. 
 
 Tile principal event after her return to Tanna was 
 the placin<( of the New Testament in the hands of the 
 people, anil Mr and Mrs Watt were very much gratified 
 at the eagerness of the people to have copies ; because 
 books, and especially foreign-printed ones, hatl always 
 been regarded b}' the superstitious Tannese as a certain 
 cause ot sickness and death. After that came the 
 building of the new church at Port Resolution, for 
 which she chose the name of" The Workers' Memorial," 
 to commemorate all who had taken part in the 
 evangelisation of Tanna — a long roll of missionaries 
 and native teachers, beginning with John Williams and 
 the Samoans, whom he placed at Port Resolution on 
 the 19th November, 1839. 
 
 After settling down, Mr and Mrs Watt devoted 
 themselves to a much greater extent than formerly to 
 itinerating among the villages, a work which, while 
 exposing Mrs Watt to much fatigue and discomfort, was 
 rightly regarded by her as of the highest importance. 
 The instruction imparted by native teachers is iv>t of a 
 very profound nature at the best, and when left too 
 much alone it still further deteriorates. 
 
 Early in 1893 she had a severe illness which left her 
 very weak. To add to her discomfort the steam-service 
 was discontinued owing to the New South Wales 
 Government having withdrawn their subsidy. A 
 sailing vessel called the " Lark " was sent down by the 
 Australasian New Hebrides Company ; but, whilst a 
 more frequent service was provided than had been done 
 by the " Dayspring," to say that this vessel failed to 
 overtake the work is putting it very mildly indeed. In 
 the end of the year, while the " Lark " was lying at
 
 HIOURA PHICA L SKKTCH. 35 
 
 Port Resolution, just about to sail for Sydney, and the 
 "long dark tunnel" of the hot season, which she so 
 much dreaded, was opening up before her, Mrs Watt was 
 gladdened by the return of the "Croydon." During 
 the hurricane season, although she was far from strong, 
 and a tumour on her foot made walking painful, she 
 spent much time in visiting the out-stations ; residing 
 alternately at Kwamera and Port Resolution. 
 
 Before the steamer was taken off Mr and Mrs Watt 
 had made arrangements to entertain the Synod of 1893 
 at Aneityum, as a celebration of their silver wedding. 
 The withdrawal of the steamer prevented the Synod 
 from meeting that year, causing Mrs Watt great 
 disappointment. The ladies of the Mission showed 
 their esteem for her by a valuable present of silver 
 plate. 
 
 They had planned to go up to New Zealand for a 
 short holiday at the end of that year, but the pleasurable 
 anticipation of the trip was much overcast by a 
 foreboding that if she once left the islands, she would 
 never be able to return. Ever since her father had 
 unexpectedly entered into his rest, she had a strong 
 presentiment that she would be called away in like 
 manner. Sudden death, — so dreadful to most, — had, 
 through long contemplation, lost its terror for her. 
 Although she was devotedly attached to her husband 
 and to her work, yet we cannot wonder that sickness, 
 weariness, and hope deferred created in her at times a 
 longing to depart and be with Christ. 
 
 In the beginning of April they came round from 
 Kwamera to Port Resolution to prepare for going to 
 the Synod at Aneityum.
 
 .% A<;XKS C. /'. WATT. 
 
 Two days before her death there were very few ovit 
 at morning school and worship, and Mrs Watt went 
 round the nearer villages in search of them. She found 
 tliem engrossed in preparations for some heathen rites, 
 but civil and ready to listen to her. On Wednesday, 
 Sani, her Aneityumese cook, being occupied with other 
 duties, she had a long forenoon in tin- hot kitchen. 
 
 ^ JcJ«^r^c^ 2/ -. id^^ cc €U' Jc^ ^/' ^^'^ ^^'^^ 
 
 / 
 
 / 
 
 Quite exhausted, she had to lie down with a sic-k 
 headache, which lasted the whole afternoon. Towards 
 evening she revived somewhat. After tea and worship 
 she spent several hours writing letters and filling up 
 her diary, and, as she occasionally did, entered in it the 
 date for the next day. Just before retiring she road
 
 hiouhai'iiil'al skktc/i. 37 
 
 aloud a little leaflet-poem she ha.d found in her desk, 
 on an old man crooning his grandchild to sleep with 
 the ]isalm tunes he had learned long ago. It 
 concludes : — 
 
 " Goodness and mercy all my life 
 Slijill surely follow me : 
 And in (iod's house for evermore 
 ]My dwellinji-place shall be." 
 
 •■ KiL:hTy-seven 
 
 His mile-.sto)ie, 
 A home in heaven 
 Soon his own. 
 He is only waitiuii' now 
 For a crown upon his brow." 
 
 Next morning she rose about six o'clock, bright 
 and cheerful, to resume her daily duties. Before 
 reaching the bathroom which opened off her room, she 
 complained of giddiness and sat down on the sofa. 
 Mr Watt was at her side in a moment, and found she 
 had fainted. He applied restoratives under which she 
 revived, and said, " How did you know that I was ill ? 
 I have no recollection of anything." When he repeated 
 what she had said, she replied, " My dear William, I 
 am thankful you awoke me, I don't think I would ever 
 have come out of it. I never was so near death before." 
 He assisted her back to bed where she lay down, but in 
 a short time became much distressed by sickness. 
 Some little relief was obtained, but in a very short 
 time her feet and hands began to grow cold. By this 
 time she felt she was dying, and said to her husband, 
 " I am going to leave you now, dearie." Struggling 
 against admitting what was becoming only too evident.
 
 :« A'.xi'.s ('. /-. II .1 /r. 
 
 he replied, " Oh no, Agnes, you have many times been 
 as ill before." Very soon, however, sickness and 
 tainting returned, from which she never recovered ; and 
 in less than an hour from the time she awoke from 
 sleep. Agnes Watt had entered into the sunshine of the 
 "perfect day." She passed from the out-post duty of 
 the Foreijrn Field into blessed and glorious service in 
 the presence of the King. 
 
 During one brief interval of the final struggle she 
 said, " How true it is, that in life we are in death," and 
 asjain, "A dying bed is no place to prepare for eternity." 
 
 No sooner diil tiie news of her death spread, than 
 crowds of her dark-skinned brothers and sisters gathered 
 round and poured out their unrestrained grief All 
 day long they filed through the room to see her for 
 the last time ; while some sat on the Hoor and looked 
 on her from morn till night. 
 
 Mrs Martin, the wife of a trader, came over to assist 
 the faithful servants, Ripa and Yecrimu, to lay her out 
 for burial, while Mr Martin hastily prepared a cotHn. 
 Meanwhile me.ssengers had started ofl' to tell the 
 teachers all the way along to Kwamera, and in the 
 opposite direction to bring Mr Gray, a brother 
 missionary, from Weasisi. Mr Gray arrived about five 
 p.m., and, shortly afterwards, Mr Forlong, a missionary 
 trader from Kwamera, along with the teachers from 
 that district. As it was too late to hold a service in the 
 church, the cottin was brought out to the verandah, 
 where the natives crowded round to take their last look 
 at the still face of her who had loved them so well. 
 In the deepening gloaming they bore her to her grave, 
 at the place where she had often said she wished to be
 
 rmi;rii. WITH mi;m(ii;i.\i, n\i\i>ii\\.
 
 4<) AUXKS C. I'. WATT. 
 
 buried, beneath a breadfruit tree beside the "Workers' 
 Memorial Church. A hymn she hail herself translated, 
 • There's a land that is lairer than day," was sung, and 
 prayer oti'ered by Pavenga, an Aniwan teacher : and 
 slowly, amid the sobs and tears of the pe<jple, all that 
 was mortal of their loved one was laid to rest. There 
 at the very place where she first set foot on Tanna, 
 twenty-five years before, she lies, until the glory of the 
 Resurrection morn shall dawn. What resting-place 
 more fit? Among the people iur whom .-lie agonised 
 ami prayed, and close beside the beautiful church her 
 pleadings had gained for them. 
 
 It is hardly necessary for me to say more. We do 
 not claim for Mrs Watt either genius or very brilliant 
 a,ecomplishmeuts. Her letters reveal her as a woman 
 whose soul was filled with love to Christ and pity for 
 the heathen. Those gifts with which she was endowed 
 she freely and fully consecrated to the Master's service. 
 She gave herself for Tanna. ()ver and over asfain 
 in her letters she pours out the yearnings of her 
 soul for their salvation. " I live for Tanna, ' she said, 
 ''and if need be, will die for it": and her daily 
 life among its people evidenced the sincerity of her 
 words. It was in no conventional .style of religious 
 talk that she spoke of the women as her sisters ; 
 for with such hearty .sympathy did she enter into 
 their lives, their joys and sorrows, their temptations 
 and sufferings, that we cannot wonder that she 
 gained their fullest confidence and affection. A most 
 unexpected testimony as to her rehitions with the 
 people is given by a journalist, Julinn 'i'homas (The
 
 MKS W ATT S (.l;.\\ K.
 
 .{(.Xhs (\ /'. n'.i yy. 
 
 Vas;aboml), in his book on "Cannibals and Converts." 
 Speaking of liis visit to Kwaniera in 1884 to collect the 
 signatures of the chiefs to a petition for annexation by 
 Britain, he says, " We go to say good-Vnt^ to Mrs Watt 
 who is standing in the shade of the boat-house talking 
 to the sjirls and women of the village . . . The women 
 crowd round Mrs Watt with ati'ection. My feelings 
 receive a momentary shock when I see an old hag, so 
 hideous, clad only in a grass petticoat, embrace and 
 caress the ladv with fervour. Not only a fashionable 
 woman of the world but any working girl would shrink 
 from such a contact with disgust. ^Irs Watt does not 
 like it, I am sure, but she disengages herself without 
 any sign of repugnance. And then I understand the 
 true missionary spirit. I see here the outcome of the 
 vision which the apostle saw at Juppa, when the gospel 
 of humanity and love to all, preached by Him of 
 Nazareth, was first understood as being held out to 
 all mankind, and not tuily to the parish of Judea. 
 'Nothing is common or unclean.' Love and charitv 
 and the example of good lives ; these the missionary 
 and his wife can evidence here — of more value, per- 
 chance, than prayers and sermons. In time the seed 
 may bear fruit, but the harvest is long, very long in 
 coming ; as vet there is scarcely a germ." So much 
 from one whom none would accuse of being biassed in 
 favour of missionaries. Not only was she sympathetic 
 and loving in her manner towards the people ; but she 
 possessed a womlertully accurate knowledge of native 
 customs and language. This she turned to good 
 account by collecting, at first hand, many of the games, 
 legends and folk-lore of Tanna. In the interests of
 
 niO<;l!. I I' UK 'A L SKETCH. A% 
 
 science it is to be regretted that her busy life ami 
 multifarious duties prevented her from doing more in 
 this department. Work such as hers in that line is 
 much more leliable than the hasty generalisations of a 
 passing visitor who is only able to communicate with 
 the people in " pigeon-English." 
 
 This same knowledge was also utilized in hyrnn 
 translation. The Tannese are a musical people, and 
 their desire for ne-w hymns was almost insatiable. Even 
 in heathenism the spirits were invoked annually for 
 fresh music for the season's dances. On no island was 
 the service of song more develo])ed than on Tanna, and 
 the spirited manner in which they sang was the 
 admiration of all Avho heaid them. At present the 
 hymnal contains ninety-five hymns, psalms, and chants. 
 They were also in the habit of chanting the Lord's 
 Prayer and Ten Commandments at the Sabbath 
 service. In the translation of these Mrs Watt took a 
 very large share of the work. To translate an English 
 hymn into a native language is by no means so easy a 
 task as it looks. It is a ditficult matter to render ideas 
 which, in most cases, are entirely new to the people 
 intelligibly, and while preserving the idiom, to retain 
 some relation to poetry and music. In all these respects^ 
 Mrs Watt succeeded to a marked degree. She had a 
 happy faculty of seizing the leading ideas of an English 
 hymn or psalm and turning them into idiomatic and 
 melodious Tannese. 
 
 But I daresay that one, if not ilie one, great 
 characteristic of Mrs Watt was her patient continuance 
 in well-doing. The Rev. J. Copeland, who was on 
 Futuna at the time of her arrival in the islands,
 
 44 
 
 A<.xhs c. /'. 11 .r/y. 
 
 lirecHcted that she would " w.ar well." That, perhaps, 
 more aptly describes lier tliaii any other phnise. Her 
 humour, her sanctified common-sense, her irrepressible 
 hopefulness and unwavering faith, enabled her to 
 struggle on where many others would have given up iu 
 despair. She spareil herself no toil, left no uieans 
 untried whereby she might win her people to Christ. 
 Tndv, she jrave herself for Tanna. Her death was but 
 a tittinu- close, was but the seal and consummation of a 
 life freelv consecrated to the eternal welfare of its .sous 
 
 wi FE or 
 Rev? WILLIAM WATT 
 
 R 25 YEARS A MISSIOIMARY Or|,Ti^N 
 
 ORN IN Scotland zy.^ sept. i»4 
 DIED AT Port Resolution Tanna 
 
 • 2 6^** APRIL 18 9^^. • 
 
 TAltl.KT IN IlllliCH. 
 
 and daughters. Nor shall her offering, and the 
 offerings of those sainted ones who before her poured 
 out the libations of their lives for that dark land, be 
 fruitless, (iod's time to favour Tanna is coming : and 
 they who have sown the precious seed in tears and 
 weariness, shall rejoice together witli those wIk* reap. 
 
 •' Except a grain of wheat fall into the earth and die, 
 it abideth by itself alone : but if it die, it bringeth forth 
 much fruit."
 
 niOdRA PJIICA L SKETCH. 
 
 4r> 
 
 On the day after the funeral Mr Gray and Mr 
 Forlong put a border of stones round the grave, antl 
 covered it with white coral gravel. Afterwards a 
 
 MEMORIAL WINDOW. 
 
 railing was put up and a simple tablet of wood placed 
 at the head, bearing her name with the dates of her 
 birth and death and the Tannese words :
 
 4tj AdXES ('. /'. WATT. 
 
 •Ill rain nakiir Ipaio." 
 (She loved the people of 'I'aiiiia.) 
 
 A more ilurable inouuinent uf ^'ranite will probably 
 be erected there. 
 
 Since then Mr Watt has placed a memorial window 
 in the chunli. The design embraces a medallion 
 portrait of Mrs Watt over a Scriptural scene. The 
 artist has very skilfully represented ^Irs Watt, in 
 earlier years, as IJorcas giving out garments to needy 
 natives. On either side of the medallion rises a Scotch 
 tir and a cocoa-nut palm, while her favourite Hower, the 
 white rose, with the Scotch thistle and a Tannese 
 hibiscus are displayed at the base, and the text from 
 Proverbs xxxi. 21), " Many daughters have done 
 virtuously, but thou excellest them all."
 
 TANNA AND ITS MISSIONARIES. 
 
 IN 1605 Quiros, a Spanish navigator, sailed from the 
 port of Callao, South America, to search for the 
 great southern coiitinent of Australia. Passing through 
 several groups of islands, on the 30th April, 160G, he 
 sighted land to the south-east, which seemed so large 
 that he felt certain that his long-desired goal had been 
 attained. In pious gratitude he named it " The Great 
 Southern land of the Holy Ghost." Australia, however, 
 was yet beyond his horizon, and all that was loaded 
 with his sonorous appellation was but the largest and 
 most northern island of the New Hebrides group. 
 Into a wide bay opening to the north he and his 
 consort, Torres, sailed. Anchoring near the mouth of 
 a river, which he called the Jordan, he drew up a plan 
 and appointed municipal officers for a city to be built 
 there, and named it New Jerusalem. As one would 
 expect from his manner of dealing with them, he was 
 not very kindly received *by the natives. In a short 
 time, skirmishes, fruitless foraging expeditions inland, 
 and the violent illness of many of his people from 
 eating poisonous fish, wore off the glamour of the new 
 discovery, and compelled them to leave. Nothing
 
 48 A<;x/:s <: r. ir.i rr. 
 
 more was lieanl of the islands tor about a century anil 
 a half, when in ITti"^ Hou^janville circumnavigated 
 Santu and iliscovered several of the northern islands, 
 which he named the Grand C'vclades. In 1774 
 Captain Cook entered the irroiiii from the north and 
 oast anchor in a harbour on Malekula, which he named 
 after the Earl oi Sandwich, then First Loid of the 
 Atlmiralty. He sailed as far south as Tanna, which he 
 describes at length in his interesting journals, and 
 north again to the scene of <:^)uiros" discovery. He 
 surveyed the islands so thoroughly, that he considered 
 himself entitled to re-name the whole group as the 
 New Hebrides. 
 
 On his voyage southward from Erromanga he was 
 attracted to Tanna by the bright glare of Yasoor, the 
 volcano, then, as now, a pillar of cloud by da}^ and of 
 fire by night. He named the harbour in which he 
 anchored, " Port Resolution," after his vessel. His 
 experience of the Tannese was much the same as that 
 of all who have had dealings with them since. He 
 found them insolent and daring thieves. They picked 
 up whatever was neither too hot nor too heavy to carry 
 oti"; and were even attempting to tear the ensign 
 from its staff. They laid hold of the anchor buoys, 
 and, when iired at, retreated for a moment, but 
 returned so soon as they found themselves unhurt. 
 He managed to establish friendly relations with a 
 few of them, and learneil the names of the suri'ounding 
 islands, viz. : Erromanga, Immer (Aniwa), Erionan 
 (Futuna), anil Annatom (Aneityum). Curiously 
 enough, through a very natural mistake, he put down 
 the native word for "earth'" (tana), which in .some
 
 TAXXA AM) ITS M ISSJOXA HI ES. 49 
 
 form is common throughout the Pacific, as the name 
 of the island. The name is likelv to remain now. 
 despite all explanations and efforts to change it. It is 
 called "Tpare" by some, but that means simply 
 " inland." The natives themselves speak of the island 
 as "Tana sore" (the great land), to distinguish it from 
 the smaller islands of Anivva and Futuna. Now the 
 natives are familiar with the designations of the islands 
 as known to us, but it may be doubted if originally 
 there were names for entire islands of any size, in use 
 by the people themselves. In most cases, the earlier 
 navigators only learned the name of the district on 
 which they landed. Captain Cook also discovered that 
 the Tannese were cannibals, which was a matter of 
 surprise to him, as food seemed abundant. He noted 
 also the curious manner in which the men dressed their 
 hair, which has led some ethnologists to find affinities 
 between them and the ancient Assyrians. 
 
 The first attempt at evangelising Tanna was made 
 in 1839, when John Williams visited Port Resolution 
 in the " Camden." Although his reception was some- 
 what rough, he deemed it sufficiently favourable to 
 justify him in settling three Samoan teachers there. 
 Next day (20th November) he and Mr Harris were 
 martyred on Erromanga. With noble Christian spirit 
 the London Missionary Society determined to win for 
 Christ the savage inhabitants of those lovely isles 
 already taken possession of as it were by the blood of 
 their heroic missionaries. 
 
 In 1842 Messrs Turner and Nisbet were sent out to 
 the New Hebrides and landed at Port Resolution, but 
 were only able to remain for seven months owing to the 
 4
 
 .".(• Ai.XKs c. /'. II .1 yy. 
 
 hostility of the natives. Time and again, thereafter, 
 teachers from Samoa and Raratonga were stationed, 
 only to be driven off or killed. In 18.')8 tiie Rev. J. G. 
 Paton and his wife with the Rev. Joseph Copelantl 
 were settled at Port Resolution, and the Rev. J. W. and 
 Airs Mathieson at the south-east end of the island now 
 called Kwamera. Shortly tiiereafter, the Rev. Samuel 
 F. and Mrs Johnston came from Nova Scotia intending 
 to settle on the West Coast, a project which in the 
 providence of God was not })ermitted. Within four 
 years, however, the gospel liglit was to all appearance 
 again quenched on Tanna amid war and persecution. 
 Mr Copeland was removed to Aneityum, Mrs Paton 
 with her infant son and Mr Johnston were sleeping in 
 their graves close by the glass}- waters of the bay ; 
 and Mr Paton with Mr and Mrs Mathieson also felt 
 constrained to leave. After a brief interval Aneityumese 
 teachers resumed the work and held the fort until 18G7, 
 when the Rev. Thomas Neilson, accompanied by his 
 wife — a daughter of the Rev. Dr Geddie of Aneityum — 
 was appointed. The fickle Taunese had been under- 
 stood to wish for a missionary ; but when Mr Neilson 
 presented himself, they vigorously opposed his landing, 
 and threw the timber for his house back into the sea as 
 quickly as it was put ashore. 
 
 They gave as a reason, that they were angry because 
 H.M.S. " Cura^oa" had bombarded them. The follow- 
 ing year they had so far relented as to allow Mr Neilson 
 to settle amongst them. He laboured faithfully until 
 1882, when he felt constrained to leave on account of 
 his own impaired health, the education of his family, 
 and the long continued unwillingness of the people to
 
 TAXXA A XI) ITS MISSIOXABIES. 
 
 51 
 
 give up heathenism. In 1869 the Rev. William and 
 Mrs Watt were .settled at Kwamera under ver}^ favour- 
 able auspices, and when Mr Neilson left they took 
 charofe of Port Resolution in addition. In 1882 a new 
 station six miles north of Port Resolution, called 
 Weasisi, was opened by the Rev. W. and Mrs Gray 
 from South Australia. They laboured devotedly for 
 twelve years amid many vicissitudes, and often in no 
 
 GRAVES OF MRS PATON AND JIR JOHNSTON. 
 
 small danger. Quite recently a young missionary, the 
 Rev. A. Macmillan, M.A., from Aberdeen, Scotland, has 
 been appointed to the work demitted by Mr Gray. 
 New ground has been taken up on the West Coast by 
 the third son of the venerable Dr Paton — the Rev. 
 Frank H. L. Paton, B.D. 
 
 " Mission work on Tanna," writes the Rev. W. Watt 
 in 1887, " has had a chequered histor}-. Time and
 
 AliXES C. P. WATT. 
 
 again has it been taken up in liope, only to be given up 
 in almost despair. How much is involved in such 
 words as 'giving up,' 'abandoning,' ' being compelled to 
 leave!' We may be sure that none of the European 
 missionaries deserted their posts as long as they 
 considered the ground tenable, and those who know the 
 Samoan and Raratongan teachers would say the same 
 for them ; some of them, be it remembered, were 
 faithful even unto death. The story of the evangelisa- 
 tion of Tanna tells of bright hopes fondly cherished, 
 until rudely crushed ; days of hard, unremitting toil, 
 of anxious watching and waiting, of trial and reverses. 
 Those of us who are at present at our posts have had 
 much the same experiences as our predecessors, 
 although in the good Providence of God we have been 
 enabled to hold on, and have met with some measure of 
 success."
 
 Xcttcis, 
 
 I. 
 
 MELBOURNE AND NEW ZEALAND. 
 
 'I'(t HKR I ATHER. 
 
 My Dearest Father, — I will write this letter to you 
 as the first of a course in which I intend to give you 
 always a full account of my peregrinations. I will give 
 you all information up to a certain time, and in my 
 next begin at the ver}^ spot I left. In this way all my 
 letters put together will form a journal. 
 
 Monday, August 1st, 1868. In Rev. J. Clark's, 
 Williamstown. After breakfast, went down to the 
 " White Star " accompanied by Mr and Mrs Clark and 
 little Maggie. Such friendly people ! How my heart 
 clung to them seeing I was a stranger in a strange 
 land ; and I felt they were kindred spirits. Before we 
 got down to the pier we met the Rev. D. Macdonald of 
 Emerald Hill (a stout Highlander). He had come 
 down to meet us, thinking we would not yet have left 
 the ship ; and neither we would, had not Mr Clark got 
 a special permit. We all went on boaixl and had 
 dinner, and havino- seen after our luogaoe, wc aQain
 
 o4 AaS^^i C. /'. WATT. 
 
 steppeil into the small boat aiul were pulled tt) land. 
 As Mr Macdonald was going from home, he wished u.s to 
 go up to Emerahl Hill with him : ])ut I was very tired, 
 and all mv things were in Williamstown, so I remained 
 at Mrs Clark's, while William went with Mr Macdonald. 
 I tlid nothinLT that dav but lesteil. Williamstown 
 <|uite fulfils mv idea of a place in the colonies. The 
 greater number of the houses are made of wood, and 
 have verandahs. Some of the smaller ones are like 
 match-boxes, but the white paintcil h(iu.ses are really 
 beautiful. The town is being laid out in streets, but to 
 the eye of a stranger it looks as if every one just 
 pitched his tent wherever he pleased. Mr Clark gave 
 "US encourao-inof news of the Mission ; all the missionaries 
 seem to be prospering and in good spirits. 
 
 After dinner on Tuesday, William and 1 went down 
 to the vessel and got whatever things 1 wanted, and 
 took a train from the Pier to Melbourne. The distance 
 ■altogether is about fourteen miles. It was daik, and I 
 did not see tht^ country round about, but 1 afterwards 
 saw^ it, and cannot sav 1 was struck with its beaut v. 
 . . . The Yarra is a low-lying muddy river. ] am told 
 that when they have heavy rain it overflows its banks 
 and floods the streets. . . . You will perhaps like to 
 hear what I thought ol Mell)i)inne. Well, it is most 
 wonderful for the time it has been in existence; the 
 streets are wide, and there are some nice shops. 
 Indeed, the buildings and shops are splendid, most (jf 
 them having .shades before the doois, and in them you 
 can get everything " tr<ini a needle to an anchor," as the 
 saying is. In the cour.se of a few more years Melbourne 
 will cover as much ground as London. Even now it is
 
 MELJiornxi-: axi> .va'ii" /j:m..\xi>. 55 
 
 a very large town. . . . There are plenty of theatres 
 and low public houses, dozens of signs, — "All drinks 
 threepence." ... St. Kilda is about four miles from 
 Emerald Hill. We took the train there one day with ^ 
 Miss Middleton (Mr Maedonald's sister-in-law), went 
 round the beach, through the town, and then walked 
 home. Really it is the most beautiful town I have 
 ever seen, and were I going to live near Melbourne it is 
 there I would settle. I only wish you could see it ! 
 The one drawback for me is, that out here no one can 
 bathe in the sea for fear of sharks. There are, however, 
 public baths in the sea fenced with rails so close that 
 the sharks cannot get through. . . . 
 
 I mentioned in mv iournal that we were ffoing to 
 New Zealand. Rev. J. and Mrs Inglis are to be there, 
 and we are to go and meet them. There would be no 
 use of setting off to Aneityum, while Mr Inglis was not 
 there. We will be able to excite interest in the 
 Mission, see the people who are to support us, and sail 
 from thence in the " Dayspring." 
 
 . . . Monday, 7th August. The Rev. D. Macdonald 
 introduced us to a young man named Daniel Macdonald, 
 who to-day came and took us to the Public Library 
 and Museum. The Library is free ; any one can go in 
 and take down a book and read for any length of time 
 without charge. The collection is large and finely 
 bound. In the same building is a picture gallery, and 
 I think the paintings extremely good. There is also a 
 Statuary room. We also went to the Botanical Gardens, 
 where there is much to interest. Most of the plants 
 are foreign to me. Things that only grow in hothouses 
 at home grow in the open air here ; such as grapes and
 
 ">G AOXES C. P. WATT. 
 
 pejiches ... I understand this is a very changeable 
 climate : in the morning it will be bitterly cold, then in 
 the middle of the day a hot wind will spring up, and at 
 night a cold damn chill .set in. Thev are much annoved 
 with dust storms : I have only seen one. The dust 
 comes in .such clouds that I am told business is 
 often stopped. Now I must tell you about Daniel 
 Macdonald. He is a young man nearly seven feet high, 
 strong and muscular looking. He is studying with the 
 view of joining our Mi.ssion in the course of two years 
 or so. I like him very mucli. and I think he will make 
 a splendid mi.ssionary. If appearance has any effect 
 upon the natives he will have an advantage, for he is 
 head and shoulders above everybody . . . 
 
 M.vM'WATr, New Zealand, 
 Oct. 22, 18(58. 
 
 Though to many the jottings I take of myjourney- 
 ings in a strange land may seem dry and uninteresting, 
 yet I know you wall be glad to read anything sent from 
 me ; so I will give you a .short account of a trip from 
 Wellington to Manawatu. We rose this mornincr at 
 foin- o'clock, and, after a little repast, set out nn our day's 
 journey. We had twenty minutes' walk to Col)b t*c 
 Co.'s "Telegraph Line of Mail Coaches" Otiice, where 
 Ave took out tickets, got our luggage put in the coach, 
 and set ourselves beside it. We drove past the Post 
 Office where the mails were lifted, along Lambton Quay 
 and out the road by the Hutt. The morning was fine, 
 and I enjoved the run to Nstahnuranffa, where we 
 turned into a vallev or yorue winding for six or eififht 
 miles up. The appearance of the sides was very grand :
 
 MKLBOCnXI': AXI> NEW ZEALAND. 57 
 
 they rose about two hundred feet high, and were 
 covered with rich foliage of a deep green and beautified 
 here and there with chimps of whins. After reaching 
 the end of the valle}^ we came to a small village or 
 township named Johnsonville, and just then a thick 
 Scotch mist intercepted our view. New Zealand climate 
 and scenery are very like those of Scotland ; one feels 
 almost as if at the coast for the summer months ; but 
 there are some things that remind one that we are in 
 the colonies. Some of the houses are such miserable 
 huts, not much biooer than a large hat box, and literallv 
 buried in mud. The weather has been wet for some 
 time here, and the roads in many places are a foot deep. 
 When at home in Scotland I could not understand how 
 the missionaries lived in such lonely places ; but my 
 knowledge has become greatly extended since then, both 
 with respect to position and quality of houses. Some 
 are miles and miles from their nearest neighbours, 
 surrounded by blacks, and their mansions not so good 
 by a long way as some of our farm appendages at home. 
 Yon have no idea of the life that some live here to 
 make money. If a story were to get up that there was 
 gold, there would be thousands readv to banish them- 
 selves for filthy lucre's sake. It is a disgrace that 
 people are more willing to sacrifice all for that which 
 shall perish in the using, than for the riches that shall 
 stand the wreck of "falling worlds." However, you 
 must not think that all the houses in the country are so 
 poor. No ; there are some which make us look one to 
 another and say, "civilization is here." 
 
 . . . We were taking notes as we trudged along. 
 We saw fences put up neatly without nails, just tied
 
 .■)8 A(.-XES C. I'. WATT. 
 
 with • siipple-jark,' large trees doing iluty as bridges 
 haviui; a fence ou one side ; others trees were hollowed 
 out like canoes and served for drains and gutters. But 
 to return to nn^journey. After having passed through 
 the last mentioned village we ran along Porirua 
 valley, about two miles long ; and having reached 
 the other end of it we stopped at Horokiwi Hotel, 
 where we had breakfast. I can tell you I was 
 reatly for mine ; for although I had had something 
 to eat, after the shaking and jolting 1 was beginning 
 to feel sufficiently hungry, as it was now ten o'clock. 
 We had a changfe of horses and set out once more on 
 our journey through Horokiwi valley, which was about 
 five miles long. The first half, which was over rising 
 gi'ound, reminded me somewhat of the scenery going 
 up to the Falls of Clyde, only far surpassing it in 
 grandeur. You know the insatiable appetite I have 
 for scenery, and you will believe me when I tell you I 
 would not have liked to have missed the feast I had in 
 passing through this and the Paikakariki valley. 
 Horokiwi valley was splendid, having trees of a great 
 height with leaves twelve feet long. The sides rose to 
 an immense height ; in some places, I believe, to more 
 than eight hundred feet. The road was often not a 
 foot broader than was necessary for the coach to pass. 
 But the most gorgeous part was yet to come, and by 
 far the most dangerous. In descending, there was an 
 awful abyss below us, and the r(jad was cut along the 
 windings of the hill. At the t(jp we were eight 
 hundred and fifty feet above sea level, and looking 
 down the almost perpendicular rock, sheep on the 
 level seemed like so many kittens: while our path was.
 
 MELBOURNE AX if XEW ZEALAXI). 59 
 
 if anything, narrower than on the ascent. Had we 
 swerved half-a-foot, or had the horses become restive, 
 we would have been dashed to pieces. It was glorious, 
 and at the same time awful. The driver and horses 
 have gone over this road for three years. We started 
 from Wellington with live horses, but at Horokiwi 
 changetl them for two only, which have been trained 
 for these terrific places ; and having carried us safely 
 over and let^ us on the sea level, their work for the day 
 was done. We then got five others and broad wheels, 
 for now we had to run along forty miles of beach. 
 How I wish 1 could paint our route and describe the 
 view we had ! On the right hand sandbanks covered 
 with green and yellow grass so tall that you could see 
 nothing beyond it. If you were transported here you 
 would almost think you had come where human foot 
 had never trod, so lovely yet barren like is the shore. 
 On the left was the ocean, stretching away into the far 
 distance. I could see an island (Kapiti) resembling 
 Cumbrae, only that it was much larger. It called up 
 fond recollections of past friends and associations when 
 I thought of the happy picnics and merry sails we had 
 on and round the little island on the Clyde. The tide 
 was out and we had fine roads. The shells along the 
 beach were truly pretty ; some were white as the 
 <lriven snow, others red and green to relieve the 
 dazzling brightness ; we also saw some lovely birds . . . 
 After a few miles of sandy beach we came to Waikanae, 
 where we got a man on horseback to ford us across the 
 river, where the water was up to the axles of the 
 wheels. Having got across, we resumed the beach, the 
 monotony of which was often varied by having little
 
 60 A0'XJ::S C. r. WATT. 
 
 Streams to cross. We as[ain turned off along a dirty 
 swamp, all overgrown with flax, which has the 
 appearance of huge bunches of leeks. Fording another 
 river, deeper than the last, we stopjied at Otaki and 
 had dinner. Here we saw a great number of Maoris, 
 and looked through the native church. The missionary 
 here preaches twice on Sabbaths to natives and once to 
 settlers. The church is mostly of native workmanship, 
 and is lined with native matting. Some of the Maoris 
 were well dressed, some clad in an old blanket, and 
 (ithers in " puris naturalibus." We saw some noble 
 looking men, but I think the women are far uglier 
 than the other sex, and all smoke ! 
 
 . . . After leaving Otaki we had some little way to 
 go ere we came to the beach, but once there we had 
 smooth roads. We met some Maoris who said we 
 should not be able to cross the Ohau river, which was 
 <liscouraging ; however, we ran on until we reached its 
 bank, and certainly there was a "fresh" on the river. 
 The parcels were all taken and piled on the seats. I 
 sat on the one side with head pressing on the roof, 
 while William and our fellow-traveller were similarly 
 situated on the other. Thus we sailed through the 
 Ohau river in a coach and five with the water above 
 the axles. You get no such treats in Auld Scotland. 
 Having reached the other side and resumed our old 
 places, we betook ourselves to the beach journey again. 
 After this there was nothing worthy of note until we 
 turned up through sand hills and drew up alongside 
 the Manawatu river, where we bade adieu to the coach 
 and got a boat to take us over. . . . One man told us 
 that thf Kev. Mr Duiicnn was waiting on the other
 
 MELIiOLllXE AXI> .VA'ir ZEALAXJ). 61 
 
 side for us. He was on horseback, but had brought a 
 man with a trap to drive us to liis house, which was 
 tour or tivc miles distant. Here we got jolting of no 
 ordinary nature ; however, we at length arrived safely. 
 After a drive of seventy miles, occupying fourteen 
 hours, but which I enjoyed immensely, I was glad to sit 
 down at last to tea in a comfortable house. . . . 
 
 I am still, 
 
 Your daughter, 
 
 Agnes.
 
 II. 
 
 FIRST SIGHT OF THK ISLANDS. 
 gb:neral letter. 
 
 Lll.WINt; AlCKLANU IN TJIK I )|S1A M K, 
 
 Maicli 31gt, 1869. 
 
 I now beiiin to fulfil my promise of jotting down 
 whatever I think may interest you. We came on 
 board the " Dayspring '' yesterday morning, and after 
 getting our cabin in order I sat down and wrote to a 
 few friends. In the evening we M'ent to tea in the 
 Rev. Mr liruce's, and returned about half-past nine, 
 when we found all in a great bustle getting ready for 
 sailing . . . We turned in for the night and had a 
 good sleep, feeling quite secure from cockroaches with 
 our nice mosquito netting. This morning we rose 
 ab(jut seven, and after the usual routine of worship, 
 breakfast, kc, a large number of Auckland friends 
 came off to hold a valedictory meeting ; at which 
 Captain Fraser's child was to be baptised. It was a 
 refreshing gathering and a very touching one. There 
 was Mr Inglis, the veteran missionary, who had spent 
 the best of his strength in the New Hebrides, returning 
 to resume his duties ; Mr Morrison also, who had been 
 obliged to rest awliile, returning to the place on which 
 his heart was set; and there were we, young and full 
 of hope, entering on a field totally new to us, only
 
 I'lusr sKijiT OF rill-; jsl.wds. n-.i 
 
 girding on the armour, but ever saying, " If Thy 
 presence go not with us, carry us not up hence." We 
 had tht' pleasure of meeting the Rev. Mr and Mrs 
 Macdonald, who had laboured fifteen years in Samoa, 
 and I felt much encouraged by their parental counsels 
 and sympathy. They sat and held me by the hand as 
 if I had been their daughter. They had been in my 
 position themselves. All afternoon we were chatting 
 and bidding good-bye until about five o'clock, when we 
 lifted anchor and bade adieu to the shores of New 
 Zealand. One or two friends accompanied us out to 
 the Heads, and went back in the pilot boat, while we 
 were left to pursue our voyage. What a world of 
 meetings and partings ! The sick delights to think of 
 heaven as a place where the inhabitant " shall no more 
 say, I am sick." Those racked with pain rejoice to say, 
 " neither shall there be any more pain." We who have 
 oar hearts torn with parting, look forward with joy to 
 that time when we "shall meet to part no more." My 
 sorest parting was with my own parents and brothers 
 and sisters ; in the light of that, all other partings seem 
 trivial ! . . . 
 
 On board we have as passengers Rev. J. and Mrs 
 Inglis, Rev. Mr Morrison with his wafe, child, and 
 servant; Mrs Logan and her niece (Aggie M'Donald), 
 and Miss Clark, who are going on a visit ; Mrs Fraser 
 (the captain's wdfe), with three children and native 
 servant, in addition to ourselves ; seventeen in all in the 
 cabin. Now^ I will stop writing for a night. Mr Watt 
 is up on deck enjoying the beautiful clear moonlight. 
 I will take a peep upstairs and then retire to rest. 
 How nicely we are going !
 
 64 .K.XES C. /'. II'.! y 7'. 
 
 April Ist. Little to report to-day. 1 have beeu 
 busy attending the sea-sick, for most feel uncomfortable, 
 aiul as I escape that disagreeable malady, the tilling 
 out of tea and a number of other duties devolve on me. 
 
 Mnndav, April ')th. Shipboard life is much alike 
 every dav except Sabbath. At eleven a.m. yesterday 
 we had a native service, wiiich Mr I nglis requested us to 
 attend. I wish you could have seen the earnest looks ; 
 and though 1 km^w not the language, I felt that these 
 people believed in that (Jod they were professing to 
 worship. At three, and again at seven, we had service 
 in English, at which all the crew attended. 
 
 Thursday, April 8th. Yesterday we passed Hunter's 
 
 Island, and this morning we sighted the lovely island 
 
 of Aneityum, beautiful in its moral as well as its 
 
 physical aspect. I soon jumped on deck to see the 
 
 island, and it did look pretty rising up out of the 
 
 boundless ocean with its richly wooded hills and 
 
 .luxuriant foliage. The triangular coral reef, forming 
 
 one side of the harbour, attracted my attention. The 
 
 wave rising over this is iirst of rich green, and rolling 
 
 along, it gets lighter and lighter until it breaks into 
 
 spray. Once inside the reef we were in smooth water, 
 
 and soon were lying at anchor. In a few minutes 
 
 V Dr Geddie was on board, and we were gladdened to 
 
 hear that things were progressing favourably on 
 
 Aneityum. He brought with him some splendid 
 
 oranges, which were very large and luscious. After 
 
 dinner we went on shore. I had to be carried from the 
 
 boat by two young men who made a seat with their 
 
 hands, on which I sat with my arms round their necks. 
 
 I think I see how you will look when you picture me
 
 FIRST SWHT OF THE ISLANDS. 65 
 
 in such a position, for you must remember that they 
 were black men. Once safely landed, what a gathering- 
 there was ! About twenty-four young women, all 
 dressed in clean clothes, consisting of a native skirt, 
 made of a sort of grass, and a blouse or jacket, each 
 face cleaner than the other. They had brown, velvety- 
 looking skins and beautiful black eyes ; they would 
 have gained the affection of any one. As they had 
 €ome down to welcome us, we had to go round them all 
 and shake hands. This ceremony over we went into 
 Mrs Geddie's picturesque house. Little Ella Geddie 
 and I were soon friends, and she took me away all 
 through the church, a very nice plastered stone building, 
 enclosed by a reed fence. Then we had a walk through 
 the garden to see the orange and banana trees. 
 
 Friday 9th. To-day I had my first meal of taro and 
 bananas, and enjoyed them much. The natives are 
 very fond of children, and to-day when Caj^tain Eraser's 
 wife brought her baby on shore, what a crowd rushed 
 to see the little man ! They could do nothing but utter 
 shouts of astonishment over him. Coming off to the 
 " Dayspring " in the evening, we had natives pulling 
 the boat. As they were not pulling well, we managed 
 to tell them to sing, thinking that might help ; but oh, 
 such music ! they shouted so loud that when we wished 
 to tell them to slow, not a word could be heard. When 
 we got to the vessel, those who had been helping the 
 crew and those who came off with us were invited to 
 take tea. I need not say they required no second 
 invitation, as " kai-kai " is a thing that never comes 
 amiss to a native. When satisfied, they went on shore 
 singing as before.
 
 (It; AI.XES C. /'. UATT. 
 
 Monday 12th. Yesterday we went ashore to the 
 native service. The church bell rings for five minutes, 
 and the people assemble at nine dclock. They have 
 two services without an interval. Dr Geddie took the 
 first and Mr Inglis the second. After service a number 
 of the people came round and shook hands with us. 
 In the afternoon we had two services in English, at 
 which all the crew of the " Dayspring " were present, 
 who, by their good conduct, are a credit to the vessel,. 
 and set a good example to the natives. The church 
 is plastered, has glass windows, the pulpit and the 
 minister's pew being covered with turkey red, and the 
 floor all laid with mats. It looks very well, and would 
 hold from eight to nine hundred of a congregation. . . . 
 About nine o'clock this morning Mrs Inglis came on 
 board and said to me, "The sea is calm and we are 
 going home, just get your things and come along with 
 us to Auame, and the ' Dayspring ' will pick you up on 
 Wednesday.' This we most gladly did, and after a 
 beautiful sail of four hours, during which we enjoyed 
 lovely scenery, passing exquisite valleys and sailing 
 over beds of coral of every hue, we were landed at our 
 destination, amidst a large concourse of happy faces, all 
 glad to see " Missi " back, and each more eager than 
 another to carry something. Although Mrs Inglis had 
 been away for four months, she had a house in splendid 
 order to go to; everything was in its own place, which 
 I think says much for her training. Seeing the day 
 was calm, the girls were expecting us, and had roast 
 fcnvl and taro ready for dinner, so in an hour after 
 our arrival we sat down to a plentiful and well prepared 
 meal. The Mission Station here is quite a model,
 
 Fiiisr sii;iiT or Tin: /s/.ax/>s. 67 
 
 nothing trifling or flimsy like, and all very clean. 
 There is a Church, a Training Institution, and a 
 dwelling house with many appendages, such as 
 carpenter's shop, smith's shop, store-room, &e. The 
 situation is not so good as might be wished ; but to 
 remedy this Mr Inglis has built a small cottage up the 
 hill where they can live during the hot season. As 
 they pay strict attention to the laws of health they get 
 on well. The Mission ground is well stocked with 
 orange and other fruit trees, and towering above all is 
 the cocoa-nut palm, from which, on the hottest day, one 
 can get a nice cool drink of cocoa-nut milk. 
 
 Tuesday l-Sth. In the morning we Avere awakened 
 by the church bell ringing the people to school, which 
 all attend from six to seven, before going to their 
 plantations. The Bible is the sole book. It is a real 
 national Scriptural education the natives here receive. 
 There are schools all over the island, within ten 
 minutes' walk of each home, and these are presided 
 over by native teachers. These teachers are of great 
 value, and, I may say, give their labour free, for they 
 only receive £1 per annum for their services. The 
 natives are well behaved ; in each house family worship 
 is held morning and evening. 
 
 Thursday 15th. Yesterday was the Prayer Meeting 
 day. It is held every Wednesday afternoon, and I was 
 much struck by the attendance. All day the natives 
 came in from every quarter to welcome " Missi," so that 
 when the hour for worship arrived some three himdred 
 people had assembled. . . . 
 
 Monday 19th. Yesterday, although the morning was 
 wet, a larsre concrregation assembled. It moves me to
 
 68 Ai.XES C. /'. WATT. 
 
 see them so much in earnest ; they put to shame many 
 in hi<:jhly favoured Scothind ; and when one thinks that 
 a few years ago they were cannibals and most abomin- 
 able heathen, one cannot help exclaiming, " It is oi the 
 Lord." It also incites us to labom-, and we hope yet 
 to see the poor degraded Tannese, who have hitherto 
 been proverbial for their wickedness, become, through 
 <n-ace, gentle as lambs. During service several of the 
 men engaged in prayer. They are very original, and 
 pray with great fluency. Mr Inglis takes all th.- 
 native help he can get, and lets some of the women lead 
 the singing in church. This is a great honour, for in 
 heathenism they are the drudges of the men. In the 
 afternoon I went to the Sabbath School. They chant 
 the Ten Commandments, and have a large portion of 
 Scripture committed to memory. . . . This morning 
 the natives brought the wood for the roof of our house. 
 Some of it was carried ten miles — and that is no joke 
 in a tropical climate. They came in a band, each 
 carrying a load on his shoulders, singing and .shouting, 
 and one blowing on a shell. They then laid down the 
 wood as a contribution to the Mission. We feel very 
 grateful to these Aneityumese ; for had we to provide 
 what we are doing, it would cost a large sum of money. 
 Our hearts were rejoiced on Saturday by a letter from 
 Mr Neilson to Dr Geddie, by a trading vessel, which 
 informed us of the pleasing prospects on Tanna. He 
 is cfettincr on well, and was round at Umairareker 
 fKwamera), where we hope to go. All looks well there. 
 The Tannese have burned a large kiln of lime wherewith 
 to plaster our house ; they have wattling ready, and 
 there is plenty of material to make a roof, and an
 
 7U A'.XES C. /'. n'ATT. 
 
 excellent supply of spring water. This last is most 
 useful, as many of the missionaries are ill supplied with 
 water. There are two teachers and their wives there 
 already, but I have got an additional couple to go 
 with us . . . 
 
 Thursday 22nd. We bade adieu to Aneityum for a 
 time, and after a good tossing reached Futuna in the 
 mornino;. As there is no harbour the vessel had to lie 
 off and on ; so we only waited to land Mr Copeland's 
 goods. We found them enjoying good health, and the 
 gospel gaining ground. . . . Here I got my first sight 
 of heathen, and I can assure you I felt the advantage 
 of my stay in New Zealand, where I saw the Maories in 
 every state, else I would have been shocked with the 
 sight that met us here. . . . The island is small, but 
 rises boldly out of the ocean. . . . The population is 
 about nine hundred. We left Futuna at twelve noon, 
 and reached Tanna at six p.m. Futuna is forty-five 
 miles to the eastward of Tanna. We had hoped to get 
 in to Port Resolution with daylight, but the wind being 
 light, the sun went down ere we entered the harbour. 
 However, we Avere fortunate in having full moon, and 
 the captain thought he would venture in. He is very 
 cautious and does not like to make the land in the 
 dark ; l)ut we got in safely with comfort. The one 
 thing that struck me on entering was the volcano, 
 which is very active, and every few minutes sends forth 
 a great blaze. It is a splendid sight, and I hope to see 
 it better some night when there is no moonlight. We 
 had scarcely dropped anchor when Mr Neilson came off, 
 as happy looking as if he w'ere in the midst of his 
 friend.s. He conducted worship, and chose that most
 
 FIRST SiaiiT OF THE ISLANDS. 71 
 
 appropriate psalm, the ninety-first, " He that clwelleth 
 in the secret place of the most High shall abide under 
 the shadow of the Almighty." A psalm literally true 
 in the case of a foreign missionary. Mr Watt and I 
 went on shore with him, and were glad to find himself 
 and wife so comfortable among heathen. They have 
 had an addition of a son to their household, to the no 
 small joy of the natives, who think him a wonderful 
 child, because he is a man and belongs to Tanna. 
 
 Friday 23rd. This morning we rose about half-past 
 six, and by that time a large number of natives had 
 gathered round the Mission premises to see all that 
 could be seen. I shook hands with a number of them, 
 and Mr Neilson told them that we were the missionaries 
 for Umairareker. They said it was " very good," and 
 the people there Avould build us a house. You may be 
 sure I looked with interest on the people among whom 
 I hope to labour, though at a different part of the island. 
 My impression of them, after having seen them, is better 
 than I anticipated. I long for the day when I shall be 
 uble to tell them of the love of Jesus, and teach the 
 poor girls to make garments for themselves. Just 
 now they wear nothing but a grass skirt like the 
 Aneityumese. I liked the women very much. Many 
 a good look they took at me. They touched my brooch 
 and showed me their trinkets, Avhich consisted of shells 
 or pieces of bone. Alas for the poor sons of Adam, 
 they wear next to nothmg at all ! . . . 
 
 As yet you may say that no mission work is <lone. It 
 is thought better for a missionary to look first after his 
 own comfort and to make all speed with the language, 
 and not to interfere with the natives until they gain
 
 A(;\i:s C. P. WATT. 
 
 confideDce, and he can speak to tbeni. ... Mr Neilson 
 has chosen a healthy site, and has a comfortable house 
 of two rooms. It is pleasant to think that he has been 
 there for eight months and hasn't had the slightest 
 molestation, but all kimluess, so far as heathen can 
 show kindness. At eleven a.m. we left Tanna and made 
 Auiwa, which is fourteen miles distant, in two hours. 
 Aniwa is a small island, low and iiat, while Tanna is 
 high and mountiiinous. As there is no harbour there 
 we had to " lie off and on ' until the goods were landed. 
 Mr Paton has done much in getting his premises to 
 .such a state of comfort. He has a nice church and 
 dwelling-house with a large garden in cultivation. A 
 little daughter was born since the last time the 
 ' ' Dayspring " called. We were happy to find all well, and 
 after staying a couple of hours we left for Erromanga. 
 
 Saturday 24th. This morning we landed at Dillon's 
 Bay, a place memorable because of the deeds of darkness 
 there perpetrated ; a place holy because of the blood 
 there sheil. I felt sad on landing, for so many painful 
 thoughts rushed into my mind. The very hills seemed 
 dark and frowning. The natives of this island, to my 
 mind, are the most disgusting, forbidding creatures I 
 have seen even among savages ; but, perhaps, I am 
 alone in that idea. They j)aint themselves mostly 
 black, and dress their persons in a way too horrible to 
 describe. They have a sullen countenance, and seem 
 very cowardly and treacherous and half-starved. They 
 are good swimmers, and came off in twos and threes to 
 the " Daysining." The island is large, but not so fertile 
 as Tanna : indeed, they often suffer for want of food. 
 We fouuil Mr and Mrs Macnair well and the Mission
 
 FinsT sKurr of the islaxds. 7:i 
 
 work prospering. About forty attend worshiji, and the 
 prospects are encouraging. . . . 
 
 Pango, Monda}' 26th. We left Erromanga on the 
 evenins: of the 24th and anchored in Fila Harbour on 
 Sabbath. It is seventy miles from Erromanga, and we 
 hoped to have reached here early yesterday morning, 
 but the wind was light and it was five p.m. when we got 
 in. We found Mr and Mrs Cosh well, and had the 
 pleasure of welcoming the second little Cosh, a fine boy 
 of a fortnight old. They enjoy much better health now 
 than when they were obliged to live in a miserable mud 
 hut. There is much to encourage here, as the gospel 
 is jraining ground. The island is the largest of the six 
 occupied, and is equal, if not superior, to any of the 
 others in scener}'. ... 
 
 Erakor, 28th. Mr Morrison lives on a little island 
 separated from the mainland by a lagoon. The lagoon 
 is the finest sight I have seen, and the surrounding- 
 scenery is enchanting. The rich foliage down to the 
 water's edge, the bright green sea water covering a rich 
 bed of many-hued corals, and above all a cloudless sky 
 of brightest blue. It is like dreamland or fairyland ! 
 The natives of Efate are quite different from the other 
 islanders. The men are tall, and even in their heathen 
 state wear a covering. The women are ugly, have 
 large noses and wear a dress consisting of two aprons. 
 Men and women alike wear bracelets, some of which are 
 beautiful. They adorn their hair by hanging two or 
 three dozen boars' tusks to the ends of it, all round their 
 heads. Their language seems somewhat like Maori. 
 They make beautiful mats with unbleached calico, 
 seventy fathoms of which I bought for my house. So
 
 74 AaXES C. I'. WATT. 
 
 tar we have had a pleasjint voyage, and have found all 
 the missionaries well. We will have to beat back, as 
 the south-east trade wind is dernl against us. 
 
 ( hi Wednesday, 28th April, we sailed from Efate, 
 anil after a very favourable passage anchored in Port 
 Resolution. Tanna, on the 6th of ^lay. On Monday 
 the 11th, we started with a fair wind for the place of 
 our future labour. We wished to visit the people and 
 ascertain the state of feeling among them in regard to 
 our settling there. At one o'clock we were " lying off," 
 and as there is no harbour and no anchorage, the 
 vessel tacked about while Messrs Paton, Macnair, 
 Neilson, and ourselves went ashore. Long ere we 
 reached the shore we could see that the beach was 
 lined with natives, and we felt very glad to see so 
 many. On landing we were met by one of the 
 Aneityumese teachers (and I can assure you it is a 
 treat to see such, on a heathen island, clean and 
 decently clad), who led us to the little church which 
 they have built. There sat the two Aneityumese 
 women, and what a reception we got from them ! We 
 are supposed to have a choice as to the field in which 
 we wash to labour, but in regard to us, the teachers 
 were told of our coming, and the heathen had burned 
 a kiln of lime to plaster our house. Although we had 
 a dozen places to choose from, this would have the 
 preference. We had a meeting in the church with a 
 number of the natives and four chiefs. Mr Paton 
 addressed them and t(jld them of the object of our 
 visit, and asked them if they were willing to receive us 
 as their missionaries. To this the chiefs replied, one 
 after the other, that they were willing, that their words
 
 
 a 

 
 AdXES C. /'. WATT. 
 
 were all one. and that they wuiild be strong for the 
 worshi]). Before, they sjxid, their words were many, 
 some were tor, and some were not for the worship, but 
 now their words were one. After the meeting I went 
 and saw a little room the teachers had made for us to 
 eat in until our house is finished. They seem to be 
 energetic teachers ; their wives, too, had sewed up all 
 the roofing- for our house and had it all readv in the 
 church. We then went and saw two sites suitable for 
 buildintr on ; the one new and the other the site of the 
 former missionary's house. The natives said that thev 
 would come to either place. We were accompanied by 
 a number of natives and a chief. The little boys were 
 tjuite free and came and took my hand.'*. But we had 
 to hurry oflf as it was beginning to darken, and we 
 wished to reach the shij) in daylight. The natives 
 thought we might have brought our house and stayed 
 that day. We really ought to be thankful, it is truly 
 " of the Lord." And tlioiigii it may be mere selfish 
 motives that prompt them to receive us — perhaps only 
 for the sake of bartering — yet it is pleasant to get such 
 a settlement, and we trust the Lord will open their 
 blind eyes and enlighten their dark minds. Some of 
 the missionaries were hardly permitted to land. The 
 heathen are fickle and have many strange ideas, and it 
 may be that two years hence they would wish to undo 
 all that they are now doing. We have nothing to do 
 with that ; the cry has reached us, " Come over and help 
 U.S," and c)ur duty is to try and lead them to the 
 Deliverer, and leave the future in His unerring hand. 
 
 I am, yours very truly, 
 
 A. C. P. Watt.
 
 III. 
 
 BEGINNING WORK ON TANNA. 
 
 1. TO HER FATHER. 
 
 .luiie 1st, 1809. 
 
 Dear Father, — I have sat down to write a few lines, 
 but ere I put pen to paper I wa.s surrounded by half a 
 dozen natives all wishing to know what I was doing. 
 I told them I was going to write about Kwamera, and 
 they said it was " ramasan " (good). 
 
 We arrived here accompanied by Messrs Inglis and 
 Neilson on the 27th of May ; and now I will tell j^ou 
 a little about our settlement. On coming ashore we 
 found all in much the same state as when we visited 
 them three weeks before. They were all down on the 
 beach to see the goods belonging to " Missi," and as I 
 stepped from the boat many voices shouted "Missi 
 bran " (the woman missionary). The landing of goods 
 here is no small task, as the " Dayspring " has to lie off" 
 and on. In this way it took all day to land our 
 provisions, and then she stood out for the night. The 
 weather since then has been such that we have not 
 been able to get the frame of our house landed. But 
 I have begun at the wrong end of my story. Mr Inglis 
 has brought sixty Aneityumese to assi.st in building, 
 and they have put up a cook house, I have two of
 
 A(;\J:s c. /'. IIM TT. 
 
 them acting as cook and steward, and I will not be 
 savinjj too much if I sav thev do the work \\v\\. I 
 wish you could look in on us here. The little church 
 1 have ilivided with a mat; the one end is Mr Inglis 
 and Mr Xeilsou's bedroom, the other is ours and is also 
 store-room, while the little room the teachers made for 
 us is dining-room, parlour, and reception-room, and 
 we think it very comfortable, all things considered. 
 Saturday was wet, and therefore we saw few people 
 but on Sabbath the weather improved, and we had two 
 services in the open air, at which a goodly number of 
 natives were present. The services were partly in 
 Aneityuraese and partly in Tannese. The whole day 
 was spent in peace and quietness, and were I not here 
 I would not believe we could be so comfortable in body 
 and mind on an island of naked painted savages. It 
 is wonderful how soon the eye gets accustomed to such 
 sights as appear here on every hand. All day long we 
 are attended by naked heathen painted with red and 
 black in all the designs they can invent. ... A man 
 came from inland to see us, and Kapuka, one of our 
 chiefs, brought him into the house. The clock amuses 
 them much. I pointed out to them the hours at which 
 we rose, took breakfast, dinner and tea, when we w^ent 
 to bed, and how long we stayed there ; at this the inland 
 man marvelled greatly. Shaking hands is unknown in 
 heathendom, but soon follows the missionary ; this the 
 old man knew nothing about, and when Kapuka told 
 him to shake hands with me, I wish you could have 
 seen him, he was so nervous. Kapuka and Kaipapa 
 shake hands with me every morning and say " fakecari." 
 The natives have long consultations over me, and
 
 BEOIXNINd WORK OX TAXXA. 7!»- 
 
 sometimes the chief explains what they say. Some say 
 "very good, you live here," and one said, "I am just 
 wondering at her goodness." So you see I am in high 
 repute Just now. The little boys and girls have begun 
 to come with cocoa-nuts, and I barter with them in 
 return. The other day I went to a spring of water, 
 about a quarter of a mile along the shore, and T soon 
 found I had made friends. About a dozen women 
 followed me and did all they could to express their 
 love ; they carried the jug of water for me, and gave me 
 the present of a cocoa-nut. Poor things ! they are very 
 degraded ; some look the very picture of misery, but 
 others are plump and open-faced, and if they were 
 decently clad they would compare very favourably witli 
 many at home. 
 
 June 10th. Another week has passed over our heads, 
 and I can hardly believe it. How time flies here ! 
 Things are progressing favourably and our house is 
 rising with all speed. I hope by next week to write to 
 you from my "ain fireside." We continue to get every 
 encouragement from the natives. They come daily 
 with things to sell, and in this way there is a ver}^ 
 friendly feeling between us. We are busy acquiring 
 their language, and each day strive to get some new 
 words. I hope soon to be able to make myself 
 understood. . , . 
 
 July 4th. The "Day spring" came in on the 28th 
 June, and Mr Paton came ashore. He informed us of 
 a successful visit to Santo and Mr Gordon's settlement 
 there. . . . One boat after another filled and went off 
 to the vessel until the last, in which our dear and 
 venerable friend Mr Inglis was to take his departure.
 
 s«l A'.XKS C. /'. UATT. 
 
 His advice to me was to do nothing I could avoid, and 
 to take care of my health. 
 
 But the bustle of that dsxy was too much for me, and 
 1 was seized with a very severe headache and had to go 
 to bed. It turned out to be a bilious fever. I lay 
 more or less for four days, but I am very happy to say 
 I am fast gaining strength again. . . . 
 
 Your own daughter, 
 
 Agnks. 
 
 •J. TO THE FAMILY. 
 
 •Inly I!»tli, 1S69. 
 
 KWANAl'IKA KWAMERA, TaNXA. 
 
 My dear Father, Mother, Brothers, and Sisters, 
 — To-day one of Mr Neilson's teachers brought a mail 
 overland, that had come by a schooner via Fiji. Mr 
 Neilson has been obliged to go to Erroinanga, so the 
 mail came to us, being addressed to the " Resident 
 Protestant Missionary." A trader living at Port 
 Resolution has sent round a mes.sage .stating that his 
 vessel is going to Sydney, so I will write you a letter, 
 and if to-morrow be fine we shall go round to Port 
 Resolution in our own boat. Perhaps this may reach 
 home before the mail by the " Dayspring," which left 
 <i week ago. 
 
 We are busy getting up some outhouses, and our six 
 teachers have, so far, proved all that we could wish. 
 The men have wrought very hard at the building, so I 
 lighten their work with a little tea at each meal ; it 
 does not need to be strong, if it is only .sweet enough. 
 The women are none behind them, clearing away the
 
 BEaiyxixt; wouk ox taxxa. si 
 
 rubbish and making great bonfires. As I have a 
 washing every week, they are kept in a constant move. 
 Warai, the woman who came with me, is my house 
 servant and docs everything except bake bread, which 
 T do three times a week, and at which I am becoming 
 quite accomplished. She makes the beds, sets the 
 table, and dresses all the clothes. Except what I work 
 on the machine, my teachers do all the sewing. You 
 will, perhaps, fancy I have nothing to do, but it is far 
 otherwise. Last week I made two pairs of trousers, 
 trimmed three hats for my three women, and to-day, as 
 William was not very well, I have painted all my 
 bedroom ; and every day, from half-past seven till four 
 or live in the afternoon, I am kept busy entertaining 
 visitors. In some places the natives have the full 
 liberty of the mission house. When I saw this, I 
 determined, if possible, to have one place Avhere they 
 should not open doors, march in, sit on my chairs, smoke, 
 and gape at me while at food. Two months' experience 
 has now shewn me that if you make a reasonable law 
 and tell them of it kindly, it is at once agreed to. My 
 bedroom is i-tapit, — private or sacred; they only see it 
 once, and when I please. In this way I have one place 
 to myself, and if a lot come wishing to see through the 
 house, and I tell them I am going to eat, they are 
 quite pleased, and wait till I have finished. If a man 
 comes in smoking and I tell him not to smoke in my 
 house, in an instant his pipe is withdrawn, and he says, 
 " ramasan, missi " (it is good, missi). Of course you 
 know, all go armed, but no club or weapon of war ever 
 entei^s my house ; all such must be left at the door. But 
 really you can have little idea of our life here. One 
 6
 
 AOXES C. /'. WATT. 
 
 man came to me to-day and said, "Ik lamasan " (You 
 are good). " Nari saik ramasan "' (Your things are 
 good). "Nimwa saik raniasau " (Your house is good). 
 I knew there was something behind all this, so out 
 came " Ik aveipehe miaii shoo shap" (You give me a 
 Jew's harp). The harmonium is a great attraction, and 
 many times a day am I told by some twenty at a time, 
 " Ik mo bokis mungkiari " (You make the box speak), 
 or " Ani nupu, missi " (Sing a hymn, missi). This night, 
 as far as we can see, we are on the best of terms with 
 all the natives. Last week there was a great feast, and 
 many from inlantl came to see us. Some were afraid 
 and Would not come in, then one of the shore people, 
 who had more intercourse wntli us, would march in very 
 boldly to show to his ignorant brother how far advanced 
 he was. Some of these bushmen when they saw 
 themselves in the glass started back, as if terrified out 
 of their wits, to the no small amusement of their 
 advanced friends ; others thought it was another room 
 they were seeing. In some such style as this all our 
 days pass ; when the sun begins to set, all go home and 
 we see no more of our black brothers and sisters until 
 next day. Of this we are glad, for we can have such 
 nice eveninofs after six o'clock. Sometimes I Avork on 
 the sewing machine, sometimes practice sacred music 
 on the harmonium, and at other times get in our 
 teachers and teach them singing. Thus happily pass 
 our evenings, and of our nights Avhat shall I say ? I 
 am invariably so tired in body and mind that generally 
 I know nothing from nine p.m. till six next morning, 
 when I rise and have breakfast. 
 
 But it is past ten o'clock to-night. As it is very
 
 JiEG'JXXIXa WOliK ox TANNA. 8$ 
 
 injurious to health to sit up hite here, you will excuse 
 me cutting my letter short. You know that we have 
 to carry it for twenty miles. . . . 
 
 I remain your daughter, 
 
 Agnes. 
 
 3. to thk family. 
 
 KWANAPUKA, KWAMERA, TaNNA. 
 
 Commenced July 28th, 18G9. 
 
 My dearkst Father, Mother, Brothers, and- 
 Sisters, — I promised to give you a description of our 
 house in this letter, so with that I will begin. At 
 present we have two rooms. The parlour is 19x14 ft., 
 and has two windows ; the bedroom is 15x14 ft., also 
 Avith two windows. We have no ceiling ; the room is 
 open up to the rigging, which makes it nice and airy. 
 Now, suppose you were landing here, you would see a 
 nice house enclosed by a pretty reed fence. Coming 
 inside that, you walk up a nice gravel walk to five 
 snow-white steps. Ascend these and you come on to 
 cur verandah with its whit^ painted floor and a low 
 reed railing painted green. The outside of the house 
 is pure white, and the doors and windows are painted 
 bright green. Having studied the verandaii, will yuu 
 look around at the scenery ? North-east you can see 
 along the beach for a great way, and direct east rises 
 Futuna, reminding you of Ailsa Craig. But you are 
 nearly deafened by the roar of the surf on the reef, and 
 your eyes are dazzled by the bright glare t)f a tropical 
 sun on the pearly white foam and the pebbly shore. 
 Ah ! but the air is delightful, and you feel you could not
 
 84 AliXES C. F. n'ATT. 
 
 ■endure the smoke of a city. But now havin^,^ got you to 
 tlie door, 1 must invite you in. The door opens against 
 the middle wall ; and on this wall I have our largest 
 mirror for the use of the natives, and also some coloured 
 pictures which amuse them much. To the left is the 
 liarmonium, which also interests them greatly ; and a 
 sliest, which serves as an ottoman, is under the window. 
 Against the gable wall stands the iron sofa bed, and 
 over it hanofs the barometer. Against the back wall 
 stands a meat-safe, another ottoman is set under the 
 window and a home-made chiffonier ; above these hangs 
 the clock, and on it I have some books and two kerosene 
 lamps. In the middle of the tioor stand two tables 
 put together, which make one nice large one ; and when 
 a well cooked dinner, of chicken soup, yam and native 
 •cabbage, with a nice plumpudding, plenty of bananas, 
 and a cup of tea with rich goat's milk, is laid out on a 
 pure white table cloth, we are not to be pitied. I have 
 no carpet, as so many natives come in, and I think a clean 
 floor fresher. My bedroom is laid with mats, the walls 
 whitewashed, and the doors and windows painted light 
 green. We have in it a wardrobe, military secretaire, 
 and an arm-chair. On the walls are photographs of 
 our loved ones and the R.P. students. Our bed is 
 made of banana leaves with feather pillow.'^. As there 
 is no ceiling, I have put up four posts on the bedstead 
 to hold up a calico roof and mosquito netting. Now, 
 don't you think the room is a very pretty one ? We 
 have about four acres of land, past which a lovely 
 stream flows, yielding an abundant supply of pure 
 water. Besides our dwelling-house, we have a store- 
 room, duck-house, and a house for poultry that are
 
 > 
 
 ?0 
 
 o 
 
 2 l«.
 
 86 A<;XES C. r. WATT. 
 
 boii<,'ht for food. Soon we hope to get up a goat-house 
 and a carpenter's shop. William is framing a spare 
 bedroom, which we are trying to get up during the cool 
 ■weather, so that we will have no building to do in the 
 hot weather. 
 
 Now, in order to give j'ou an idea of how we live and 
 spend our time, I will keep a journal for this week. 
 
 Yesterday, — Sabbath. We rose about half-past six, 
 had breakfast and family worship, and then dressed for 
 church. We dress for church just as if we were at 
 home ; William in linen shirt, black clothes and clean 
 boots, and I with a clean muslin or print dress. Before 
 the service commences, one of the teachers beats a thing 
 like a small boat, which is the Sabbath bell. At nine 
 o'clock we went over to the church, which is about two 
 hundred yards distant, and sat down, as it is the custom 
 here to let the minister in first, and the people follow. 
 The service began by William reading the Lord's 
 Prayer, which he has translated through the teacliers : 
 then we sang a hymn, one of half a dozen prepared by 
 Mr Paton while residing on Tanna ; Kaipapa, the chief 
 -of Anuikaraka, prayed, after which William read a 
 chapter from the gospel of Mark, translated in the same 
 way. Another hymn, "There is a happy land," and 
 one of the teachers addressed them. A hymn followed, 
 ''Here we suffer grief and pain," another native prayed, 
 then the closing hymn, " Lord, a little band and lowly," 
 and the benediction. After this, the intimations were 
 given out. Paul says that a woman is not allowed 
 to .speak in the church ; and I wonder what some 
 people would say if they knew that there was only one 
 seat ill the church, serving as ])ulpit and minister's pew. 
 
 »
 
 /;A'(.7AA7.\V/ 1\<)/.'K ox TAWA. S7 
 
 and that, till yesterday, I have always given out the 
 intimations ! During the building of the house I had, 
 and still have, most of the intercoui'se with the natives, 
 and in this way I have picked up a few words sooner 
 than William. The attendance was good, thirteen men 
 and seventeen women ; counting the Aneityumese and 
 ourselves there were thirty-seven of a congregation. 
 After the Tannese service there was another among the 
 teachers, to which William stayed, while I went and 
 taught the women to sing. Fifteen followed me and 
 sang most heartily, accompanied by the harmonium. 
 After the music I gave a lesson on the alphabet by 
 means of a box of letters which came in Miss Glen's 
 box, and lastly a lesson in figures on the slate. Sabbath 
 is the only day I can get them to listen to any instruction. 
 While I was busy with the women, William had four or 
 five men. After this we had dinner, and read for two 
 hours, when William and one of the teachers went and 
 had service at Anuikaraka. They came home at five, 
 had tea, and an English service at seven, at which Mr 
 Underwood, the trader who is here, was present. The 
 ■(.lay was delightful, and our hearts were cheered by so 
 many having come to worship. But I must describe 
 Kaipapa's appearance. He had on a blue flannel shirt, 
 which was a good deal too short ; his long hair was tied 
 on the top of his head with a piece of bright printed 
 handkerchief; his cheeks were painted black, a stripe 
 of scarlet half an inch broad began at the right temple, 
 ■crossed the eyelid, came dow-n the side of the nose and 
 round half of the mouth. A stripe of yellow adorned 
 the other side in the same manner ; while a red stripe 
 came down the bridge of the nose ! Now, don't you
 
 88 AUXES C. y. IVATT. 
 
 admire liiiii :" Well, that is the man who led in the 
 first prayer, and, although he is a heathen and has three 
 wives, still he has manifested a gi-eat deal of kindness 
 to us, and was among the foremost in urging the 
 people here to get a missionary. He has brought u.s 
 several presents which I always took care to pay for, as 
 I do not wish to be in debt to any one. He is not much 
 of a chief, but is a clever, officious fellow. Yesterday 
 week we heard that a man had stolen a woman, that 
 the offended party had declared war, and that all our 
 people would join, as the offended people were many, 
 and it would take all the force they could muster to 
 meet them. Though we were not at all involved, we 
 felt very sad, for our people would be so taken up that 
 our efforts would be stopped for a time, and the 
 pursuers were wild heathen — the worst we know of here. 
 But God, who sets bounds to the wrath of man, had 
 otherwise appointee!. Kaipapa sent two pigs and two 
 sticks of tobacco as a present, which was accepted, and 
 thus ended the quarrel. We were rejoiced. Kaipapa 
 is tired of war. He says, now that a missionary has 
 come, his people will not fight. Time will tell. 
 
 Monday. We rose shortly after six a.m. Nothing of 
 interest occurred, few natives having come this way, 
 knowing that my beads were all away. William was 
 busy at the frame of our new room, and I at sewing. 
 
 Tuesday. This morning we had scarcely got break- 
 fast over, when a number of natives came to " asipau " 
 or look at my house, and from that time till far on in 
 the day I never closed the door, and had to bake in the 
 midst of it all ! They were not very troublesome, only 
 I had to sit down with mv hands all Hour and "make
 
 BEdlXXlXa WORK ON TANNA. ^\> 
 
 the bokis speak." The trader here came over in great 
 distress, and saitl that the natives had threatened to 
 make him sick. Those who have any interest advise 
 him to leave no rubbish about, for they believe that if 
 he were to smoke one half of a fig of tobacco, and a 
 native sot the other half and burned it, he would 
 become sick ; if the native continued to burn it until it 
 Avas all consumed, he would die. He has got into 
 disrepute somehow with the people. He does not pay 
 so well as we do I . . . They have strange ways of 
 doing things. I engage a boy to bring water ; three go, 
 and I have to pay each the same. Now, Mr Underwood 
 agrees to pay two men a fig of tobacco each for scraping 
 a tubful of cocoa-nut. Four helped to scrape it, and all 
 wanted the pay. This he could not, and would not give, 
 so he broke the tobacco in two. It turns out that 
 there is nothing so good as tobacco for making people 
 sick. Therefore they are anxious to get it whole, for 
 if some one burns the other half they think they will 
 die. . . . 
 
 Wednesday. To-day, Kaipapa came by seven o'clock, 
 according to appointment. The natives of a village on 
 the way to Port Resolution had gathered coral for lime 
 for our new room, and Mr Watt with Kaipapa and the 
 teachers had arranged to go for it to-day. William 
 came home in time for dinner, and the afternoon wa& 
 spent in the prayer meeting. . . . 
 
 Thursday. Nothing of importance occurred to-day. 
 In the afternoon William went out to fish and causjht 
 some, which we had for tea. In the evening he and the 
 teachers were translating, while I was working at the 
 .sewing machine.
 
 <H) AUXES C. J'. \i ATT. 
 
 Friday. It has been blowing ([uite a gale to-day. 
 A munber of natives came to clear and dig our ground. 
 They came entirely unasked and wrought away till two 
 o'clock. Yesterda\- morning, long before breakfast, an 
 old woman was digging and fencing and burning, and 
 all the payment was a biscuit ! It makes me sad to 
 look at them, especially when they come and put their 
 arms around me and say so lovingly, " Pi-nak " (my 
 sister). Yes, they are ; for God " hath made of one 
 blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of 
 the earth." ... 
 
 Saturday. This has been a busy day. First I had 
 to bake, then followed cooking, painting, scrubbing, 
 •carrying water, killing fowls, re-boiling jam, and an 
 innumerable lot of other duties ; besides feeding and 
 paying a number who came to work. Each day 
 by two o'clock I feel as wearied as if I had done 
 everything myself, while very often I have only 
 overseen. 
 
 August 9th. Yesterday the attendance was about 
 the same, and much attention shown ; although not a 
 single soul has a proper idea of what we live among 
 them for. Their hearts are dark, and, though attending 
 worship, they live in all the abominations of heathenism. 
 For instance, Kiri, one of our chiefs, and a regular 
 w'orshipper, took an axe and struck a heavy blow at 
 his wife, cutting her arms and forehead, for a very 
 trivial offence. We have heard not a few women 
 screaming, under the blows of their husbands. Oh, if 
 you were just here and saw heathenism, with the wild 
 savage look of the miserable dirty creatures, — in all 
 •cases, perfectly nude. Yet they are immortal, they
 
 BEO'IXXIXa WORK OX TAXXA. 91 
 
 •have souls to be saved ; they are de<>Taded, it is true, 
 but Jesus can save unto the uttermost. . . . 
 
 August 10th. To-day we went to see the place 
 
 where Mr Mathieson lived. It is on a hill called Inioa. 
 
 We intended to have got our house built there, but the 
 
 natives thought we should be better where we are. I 
 
 would have liked the view, but I have no doubt that 
 
 Avhen it is blowing a hurricane we will be glad we are 
 
 scarcely so high up. The ruins of the old house are 
 
 still standing, or rather lying ; for after eight years in 
 
 a climate where hurricanes are common, it is no wonder 
 
 that it is level with the ground. I saw many pieces of 
 
 broken dishes, and could trace the garden walks, while 
 
 I plucked lemons from trees which the Mathiesons had 
 
 planted. This place tells a sad tale. Many nights of 
 
 sickness and weariness were here spent ; many tears 
 
 shed and earnest prayers offered, which shall not be 
 
 unanswered, although the answer is as yet withheld. 
 
 The name of Mathieson is almost forgotten. Many 
 
 have died during those eight years, and those upon 
 
 whom their highest hopes were set have as yet 
 
 manifested no desire for instruction. I feel sad when 
 
 1 think how long they laboured, and yet so little sign 
 
 ■of permanent success. Perhaps we may have to do the 
 
 same. . . . We searched in vain for the grave of their 
 
 infant daughter, whom they were called to lay in the 
 
 •dust a fortnight before they left the island. They 
 
 buried her near their house and put a fence round the 
 
 grave, but already it is unknown. Poor little thing ! she 
 
 ihad but a short look on this world ; two months, and 
 
 then fell asleep I Here she lies : her mother lies on 
 
 Aneityum and her father on Mare, one of the Loyalty
 
 92 AdXES C. /'. n'ATJ\ 
 
 islands. " Tht-ir graves are severed far and wide," 
 althonyh tlu're was but six mouths between tlu- deiitli 
 of the first and the hist of the three ! . . . 
 
 The people are pleasant to us, yet we get much to 
 try both strength and patience. To-day sitme twenty 
 natives came to " asipau " the house. As they were 
 from a distance, and most expert thieves, I told them 
 thev would get in bv and bv, while I hurried and ^ot 
 all loose articles out of the way. This was about eight 
 in the morning, and from that till four in the afternoon 
 the place was in a constant buzz. I had to go out and 
 in looking after my baking ; taking care that some one 
 was left to watch, although the Aneitvumese have no 
 power over them. While I was at the cook-house 
 one of the chiefs opened the table drawer and was 
 " asipau ing " all in it. whicli. with .some, means 
 practically to look what they can get to steal. The 
 teacher had told him to desist, but he heard her not. 
 However, when I came in 1 ti^M him that he was not to 
 do that, at the same time shutting the drawer, so he 
 immediately stopped. I often wonder how stunly 
 warriors feel when I clear twentv or thirtv of them out 
 of the house with a word — or a smile — seeing a woman 
 here is a mere nothing ; but it is evident that " Mi.s.^i 
 bran " is more than a Tanna woman. ... 1 daresay 
 you may often be uneasy about things which nevei 
 move us in the least. On Saturday last a native wa.s- 
 walking oft' with our American saw, which, of course, 
 was quite out of the question. Wo at onco told him he 
 could not have it. He said it was to cut wood, and that 
 he would return it ; but we knew that if he got it 
 outside of the fence we mjo-ht bid adieu to it. The;
 
 /i/y;j\xL\(.' woiiK ox tanna. 93 
 
 commjiiid was given to imt it down, which he <li(l, in 
 a passion, as might be expected. He scoKleil and 
 better than scolded, and said he would not enter our 
 premises again tor four moons. We, of course, main- 
 tained our cause, and .said it was very good for him to 
 come and see us, but if he did not wish to come it 
 would still be good. He then said to me, "Ik amucci 
 iau r' (])o you hate me?) I .said I did not, that I 
 loved him still. This seemed to cut him worse than if 
 I had seemed either angry or grieved, so away he went. 
 He returned again to-day, came into the house and 
 again laid claim to the use of the saw, which was 
 refused. On leaving the house, he lifted a little 
 hammei- and said he would take it. I was between 
 him and the door, and just took it out of his hand, 
 saying that he could not have it. At this he was very 
 angry, but I began tatting and never minded him. 
 Very soon he was all praise, thinking that I was a very 
 wonderful woman. . . . 
 
 September :^7th. This is my twenty-third birthday, 
 and no doubt you will be thinking about me. William 
 and I feel very unsettled at present, as the " Day spring " 
 has not yet arrived. She may come in half an 
 hour, or may not come for a week. It is very 
 annoying ; for, expecting a visit from Mr and Mrs 
 Milne, we had made some preparations in the way of 
 cakes and shortbread ; but owing to the delay all have 
 disappeared ! Were it not that we are expecting some 
 of our friends in the Mission to come ashore, we would 
 not mind when the boat came. 
 
 . . . On the 28th September the " Dayspring " came 
 back from New Zealand. Like " Royal Charlie," she
 
 «i4 AiiNES C. i: WATT. 
 
 was lone in coniiny, but, wlit-ii sIk- diil, there was no 
 small stir. I was delighted to see Mr Paton, Mr 
 Xeilsou, and Mr and Mrs Milne. The}' had a narrow 
 escape from drownini;. A heavy sea was running, and 
 just after the boat left the ship the rudder broke. Before 
 they got things righted she took in a large quantity of 
 water, and Jkir Milne had to keep baling all the way in. 
 to keep afloat, as she was loaded up to the gunwale. I 
 was happy to see them all, especially Mrs ]\Iilne. She 
 seems a lovable person. I think she and I will get on 
 well. We are new to the field, and can sympathise 
 with each other. ... As Messrs Paton and Neilson 
 were going to visit round Tanna, we thought it our 
 duty to accompany them. . . . The first place we 
 called at was Anamahi, and at Sangalee the missionaries 
 met with a noted trader named Lewin. The mission- 
 aries were anxious to get the natives to receive a 
 teacher, and, when pressing them, Lewin said, " You 
 fools, why don't you take a missionary? a missionary is 
 a good thing." To his no small mortification one spoke 
 out in broken English, " What for you say before, 
 ' Missionary he no good'? now you say he 'very good!'"^ 
 We had to leave without gaining a footing. A little 
 north of Sangalee the trader seemed a different kind of 
 man. The natives were willing to receive a teacher, 
 and he offered to give the land and every assistance in 
 his power. At Black Beach we met another trader, 
 and there we got the cold shoidder from the natives,, 
 who have no teacher ; for they liked Charley, and we 
 were to ask him. Here the wind rose and prevented 
 our further progress ; and while we were lying at anchor 
 for two davs we saw a vessel that had been taking away
 
 llEalXMXC WOUK ox 7'.l.\'.\".l. '.I.')- 
 
 natives. She passed quite close, and two young lads 
 from our station, on board the " Dayspring," called out 
 to them on board the " slaver," asking them where they 
 were going. They said, "to Fiji." They were then 
 asked if they were stolen or if the}' wanted to go. At 
 this there was a long pause, and then one shouted, 
 " The captain says, if we say we are stolen, he will 
 shoot us." Of course, the whole conversation was in 
 Tannese ; so the captain could not tell what was being 
 said. . . . We reached Port Resolution on Sabbath, 
 October 2nd. As previously arranged, some of our 
 teachers and Tannese brought round our boat for us. 
 They also brought news of the murder of a trader, 
 whose crime seems to have been that he sold the 
 musket and bullets with which Kasikasi was shot. We 
 do not know his name, but we have heard that he was 
 eaten. A piece of his flesh was sent to one of our 
 chiefs, who refused to take it, saying he had a missionary 
 now, and it would not do for him to have it. Poor 
 man, he has come to a sad end I . . . We were much 
 gi'atified and reassured by the reception we got from 
 our own people. They crowded in from every quarter 
 to see us, and tell us how they had cried because we 
 were not here, and how they were now rejoicing because 
 we had returned. . . . 
 
 November 9th. The feeling toward us here is 
 friendly, yet it seems cold compared Avith the reception 
 we sfot from a tribe four miles from us. The name of 
 the village is Umaiahav. They are very numerous, and 
 they have also been very bouncing. In previous letters 
 I have told you of their thefts and impudence. Indeed, 
 so impudent were they, that when I knew of their
 
 <)6 A'.XKS C. r. MM TT. 
 
 coming I either liid all nf worth and y«»t William to 
 sit in the house, or else put on my hat ami went for a 
 walk to escape them, while the cook lucked the kitchen 
 door and sat tmtside ; thus they could get nothing to 
 steal. They wanted a teacher to go and live among 
 them, but all were afraid of them. However, since we 
 got the lime burned by them their conduct has been 
 better. One of the new teachers is for them, and for 
 the last three weeks they and the teachers have been 
 building his house. . . . Hearing such good reports of 
 their helping, we resolved to go and spend a few days 
 with them, niake the door for Manman's house, and 
 give a few small presents. We took bedding and 
 blankets, with a few dishes, and went along in our 
 boat. In a short time we landed, and had a cheering 
 reception. We then had a meeting, at which all the 
 leading chiefs w'ere present. The teachers laid out our 
 gifts, in leal native fashion, on a mat spread on the 
 ground. Two of our people spoke, and what occurred 
 that day was the means of stopping the war between 
 them and our people. After receiving the presents, 
 they made a return present of eight large pigs, two of 
 which fell to our share, ami one killed for our present 
 needs, besides an immense quantity of yams. The 
 whole ended in good spirits and kindly feeling. That 
 night we had fifteen in to worship in our hut. All 
 Saturday we spent talking to the people and buying 
 food. After breakfast, on Sabbath, William set out for 
 Kwamera, which he reached before seven a.m., and had 
 worship with the people. Forty were present. While 
 he was there 1 had a meeting with twelve women and 
 ten children, singing hymns and telling them about
 
 nK(;iNXiX(; wouk on tanxa. 97 
 
 Jesus. Though I was but a woman, upwards oi' lialf a 
 dozen men came and listened. At eleven, we had 
 service, and though we had built the teacher's house 
 large, so as to serve as a church as well, not one of the 
 women could get in. In the afternoon they asked us 
 to go to the public square, which we did ; and no fewer 
 than one hundred and twenty came to worship there. 
 I wish you could have seen us. William in his clean 
 white suit, surrounded by seventy men all naked and 
 painted, sitting under the shade of the banyan trees, 
 and I surrounded by about fifty women, all watching 
 me ; if I put my hand to my face, all doing the same, 
 thinking that was a part of the Avorship. We were a 
 picturesque group. ... In the evening we had about 
 twenty in to prayers. On Monday morning we bade 
 them adieu ; much pleased with their conduct, and 
 loaded with yams. 
 
 . . . On December 2nd, we went round to Port 
 Resolution to see the " Dayspring " off. She left us on 
 the 17th, and I stood on a bank and waved my 
 handkerchief till she was out of sight. God knows 
 v.'hat may happen ere she again touches our shores. 
 While at Port Resolution we visited the hot springs 
 and other interesting sights : but the most interesting 
 visit of all was the one paid to the spot where Christ's 
 banner had first been unfurled, and where, for the 
 Gospel's sake, God's faithful messengers had suffered. 
 " In perils by the heathen. ... In weariness and 
 painfulness, in watchings often." I cannot describe my 
 feelings as I saw the foundation of the church, and 
 thought of the bright gleams of promise that cheered 
 the lonely labourers ; as I saw the graves and thought 
 7
 
 98 At;XE6 C. J'. ]yATT. 
 
 of the nights of aguny and pain through which the 
 quiet sleepers had passed, the tribuhition through which 
 they entered into the kingtlom of heaven. . . . 
 
 On December 17th, we returned to our own home. 
 I was much delighted with half a dozen little boys who 
 waded up to the waist in water to shake hands with 
 me, saying, " Oh, missi, missi, we are glad to have you 
 come back." 
 
 Yesterday, — Sabbath. While William was itiner- 
 ating I went with Kwatahin to see her husband, 
 Kapuka. He is one of our most influential chiefs, and 
 in Mr Mathieson's day identified himself much with 
 Christianity. He has been absent from church for 
 some time, and no one can give any reason for it. He 
 takes no part in any native proceedings, only sits alone 
 in his house. Having taken such an active part in the 
 last missionary's time, we felt a little disappointed at 
 his manner to us. He is naturally a bashful man, and 
 that may account for it partly ; but while he is civil he 
 has at the same time kept away from active efforts on 
 our side, and goes naked like the rest. He was sitting 
 outside of his house, and, though theie was a good 
 breeze, he was perspiring profusely. ... I enquired. 
 Why are you so dull ? He replied that his heart was 
 weak, and his body as well. I proposed to bring 
 medicine and cordials, but he didn't want them, as it 
 was his heart and not his body that was sick. I asked 
 what was making his heart weak, and he said it was 
 the talk of the people here, that he wished them to 
 stop fighting, and also to cease speaking of war. . . . 
 
 Thursday 2.Srd. Last night, just before retiring to 
 rest, we had occasion to go out to the teachers' house,
 
 HEdlNNINd WO UK ON TANNA. m 
 
 and were sliDcked to hear that Kapuka had committed 
 suiciilc. At first I could not believe it, but alas ! it is 
 too tiuc Two of our teachers had gone up to dress his 
 corpse and hear the talk, as they were afraid of war on 
 his account. This morning we got the particulars. It 
 was just at sundown, and all the men were gone to 
 drink their kava ; he was sitting outside with his wife 
 and children and another native. His wife was laying 
 iiut their evening meal. He refused to eat any, saying 
 he was not hungry, and rose to go inside his house. 
 His wife, on seeing this, requested him to give her a 
 stick of sugar-cane for the children. He went in, but 
 insteail of giving it to her as he was wont, he simpl}' 
 threw it on the ground near her. She wondered at his 
 conduct, but in an instant the report of a musket was 
 heard. Naswai, the man he had left two minutes before, 
 rushed in, and there lay Kapuka, a dying man. The 
 bullet entered his right side and passed out behind. 
 He lingered on till about eleven, and then his spirit 
 took its flight. While he was consci'ous several asked 
 him as to the cause of his conduct, but to all of them 
 he gave the same answer as to me two days before. 
 Sometime ago he told his wife to lift her child and flee, 
 as he hated them ; he hated all men, and his heart 
 hated himself. About two months ago he attempted to 
 flee to a distant village, but did not succeed. One 
 thing he asked me on Sabbath day I shall remember. 
 "When is the 'Dayspring' coming?" and I shall never 
 forget his look of despair when I told him that she had 
 left for the colonies. Since then I have been informed 
 that he intended to have left in her and gone to 
 Aneityum. I verily believe that had she called he
 
 I'Ki A'.XES C. /'. UATT. 
 
 would have gone with her and so escaped his untimely 
 end. But we knew not his desire. A probable cause 
 may be, that .some time ago a man handed him a 
 musket to shoot a lad who had been misbehaving, or 
 his father. Kapuka was hearil to .say^ : '" Why did 
 Narin give me that mu.sket ? is it really to shoot one of 
 these two, or does he mean me to .shoot myself?" Up 
 to that day- Kapuka was at church, and, strange to say, 
 he shot himself with that man's musket. Alas, alas ! 
 my heart is grieved for Kapuka. He was not far from 
 the kingdom of God, but "many shall seek to enter in 
 and not be able." . . . To-day, Mr Watt went up and 
 saw his corpse. Two of the teachers dug his grave and 
 had him decently buried. A row of stones marks his 
 body, ami the head is marked by two long feather 
 ornaments worn by chiefs at feasts and used for this 
 purpose. 
 
 The chief Toko, on whose land we are living, had not 
 come down to welcome us. I enquired of his wife the 
 reason, and told her I was wearying to see him. He 
 came to explain his absence, and brought me a nice 
 present of bananas and rose-apples ; for, said he, " the 
 two had been wearying to see me, and why should I go 
 empty-handed ? " . . . Toko is a genuine heathen, but 
 has all the savage virtues and is free from civilized 
 vices. 
 
 ]\Ionday 27th. Yesterdays, after church, we went to 
 see Kapuka's widow. As we came near we heard the 
 wailing — a sad and dismal sound. Tf the sound was 
 dismal, what was the spectacle .'' Inside a miserable 
 hut, full of smoke and filth, sat a few women Aveeping 
 with the bereaved. All her body was besmeared with
 
 /!/:(; I XXI X(; wouk ox taxxa. 
 
 powdered chaicoal (black is the sign of mourning) and 
 her hair cut ay short as possible. The women made 
 way for me, and as I sat down Ijeside her she grasped 
 me by the hand and said, " Missi." For a few minutes 
 there was nothing but loud wailing, but when it was 
 over I laid my hand on her shoulder and began to tell 
 her of Jesus and the family of Bethany. As I dared 
 not speak of the dead, I appealed to the li\ing, and told 
 them that as they knew not the day of their death, 
 they should turn to the Lord, and that Jesus was 
 waiting for them. They listened very attentively. . . . 
 To-day 1 have had one of Mrs Mathieson's scholars. 
 She comes t(» talk, and so I practice speaking the 
 language. She is such a nice woman, so gentle and 
 amiable. If she were only a Christian I could love her 
 as a sister. Although eight years had elapsed from 
 Mrs Mathieson's leaving until Ave came, she remembered 
 nearly all the alphabet, and read very well. We can 
 say this of none but herself. Her name is Yemeitahak. 
 
 Thursday oOth. The last four days I have had a few 
 little boys come for a lesson. I wish they would 
 continue. This is one peculiarity of our Mission, we 
 can get no children to worship, or to learn to read. 
 They say their parents would beat them if they came, 
 because they love them and are afraid they will turn 
 sick and die if they become worshippers. 
 
 Friday 31st. On Wednesday evening, or yesterday 
 morning rather, a party of Aneityumese who had come 
 to see the trader, and whose conduct during their stay 
 here bespoke the teaching they had got at the trading 
 station, left in a boat, and took away a Tanna woman. 
 While they were here wl- got complaints on all hand^i
 
 »«>2 AOXES C. r. WATT. 
 
 of their evil deeds : for, saici they. " You bring 
 Aneityumese who tell us to give up this and that evil 
 practice, and here are their brethren doing worse." 
 
 Last night two of oiu- Aneitvumese teachers and 
 iinother man came and pled with us to get our boat to 
 go to Aneityuni and bring the woman back ; else the 
 village to which she belonged woidd shoot one of them 
 in revenge. We felt much to give our sanction to 
 sending our boat over forty miles on the open sea ; but 
 what could we do ? This morning all preparations were 
 made, and after a good deal of ado (seeing we wanted 
 110 Tanuese to go in the boat, and having turned out 
 three), she started. It happened to be low tide, and as 
 the boat went through the break in the reef, a man ran 
 out and jumped in. In an instant, shouting and 
 wailing by fifty natives began, saying, " Don't take 
 Kasien awav 1 let him out ! let him out ! ' We waved 
 and called to our teachers, and they put liini on the 
 reef again. No sooner was he landed than the cry was 
 raised by another party, " You have not let him go. his 
 heart is sore for Kapuka: if he went it would mend his 
 heart, but now he has been stopped lit- will just .shoot 
 himself ' I saw there was evidently going to be a 
 quarrel by some if he went, and by others if he did not. 
 The boat was on her way, there was not a moment to 
 be lost. I rushed on to the reef and ran on to the edge 
 where Mr Watt was standing, and told him that they 
 must come back. He gave orders that the boat was to 
 be put in the house, feeling that it was better to be in 
 one quarrel than trying to remedy one leading to two 
 or three. It was a .sad affair. One party saying, " You 
 have spoiled his heart ])y not letting him go ": and the
 
 BEdlXSlXd WOHK ox TJXXA. in:? 
 
 other, "He lias spoiled our sailing." We felt (|uite 
 puzzled what to do ; lives had been threatened through 
 the stealing of the woman, and now matters were 
 no better. All day long reports were coming in 
 from every quarter. The one side saying, " It was 
 Aneityumese who stole the w^oman, and if you don't 
 bring her back we will kill an Aneityumese for her." 
 Others sent to say, " Do not bring her, if you do we 
 will kill one of that village which is requesting you to 
 go." While a third party said, " If you bring her back, 
 we will kill her, and give her as food to the sharks, so 
 you had better go." Nevertheless, in the evening four 
 of our teachers and a Tannaman came and pled for the 
 boat. Was it not baffling? However, we could not 
 give it, for go or stay the threat was, that life Avas to be 
 taken. We concluded we were better to stay altogether, 
 as if they did fight, the teachers had the boat as a w^ay 
 of escape. We told them that rather than give the 
 boat and leave ourselves helpless we would abandon 
 the station. No more was said that night, and we 
 retired to rest. About nine p.m. flashes of lightning- 
 were seen, and at last a severe thunderstorm came on. 
 Thus, amid the turmoil of savages and the raging of 
 the elements, we saw the last hours of the old year pass 
 away, and the New Year begin its course, . . . 
 
 With much love to you all, 
 I remain, 
 Your daughter and sister, 
 
 AONKS.
 
 IV. 
 MAN TANNA.* 
 
 Febniaiy, 1ST<>. 
 
 I must tell you something about tlio people of 
 
 Tanna in this letter. 
 
 As to population. When J)i- Tuinui lived here he 
 considered it could not be less than twelve thousand, 
 but if you consider the numbers that have been taken 
 to other lands to labour, and those caiiied off by 
 foreign epidemics, such as measles, you will find their 
 numbers much less. The district we live in may be 
 said to be deserted. Eight years ago the Rev. J. W. 
 ^lathiesou was suiTounded l)y a numerous population. 
 As the natives express it, "they were as thick as the 
 stones on the beach." Now, for miles around, we have 
 not one large village. There is great dissimilarity in 
 the colour of their skins — some are black, others copper 
 like, and some Avhiter still. Their features, as a rule, 
 are pleasing, and, were it not for the paint, the}^ would 
 compare favourably with other and higher races. They 
 paint in red, yellow, blue, and black. Red is the 
 
 *i"(ir tlic sake r)f <k';irne>?:, I lia\'<" cdHciIimI iiii(k'i' this lit-adiiiy' 
 most of the references to the Tannese and their customs, found in 
 the eiulier letters. The body of the chapter is Mis Watts jdiii nal 
 letter for ISTn.
 
 J/.LV y.l.VA'.I. ln;7 
 
 favourite colour, while black is the sign of mourning. 
 Some show great taste, and paint designs on the brow 
 or cheeks, while others lay it on as a plaster ; some, 
 again, make their skins glisten as if done with black lead. 
 One generally paints another, which they do by oiling 
 the skin and daubing the dry paint on with the thumb. 
 They seem very fond of it. The}' think they do honour 
 to the worship on Sabbaths by putting on an extra coat. 
 They pierce the lobe of the ear and hang in seven or 
 eight large tortoiseshell rings, from half an inch to an 
 inch wide, and three or four inches in circumference. 
 Nor are they satisfied with that, for they often link one 
 into the other, until the weight is so great that it 
 enlarges the aperture and often breaks it through. 
 Tortoise, or rather turtle, shell is greatly valued by 
 them, and was worn by chiefs and their wives onl}^ 
 until traders came and brought it within the reach of 
 common people. They will give a large pig for a small 
 piece. Male and female, old and young alike, wear 
 those earrings. They also pierce the septum of the 
 nose ; yet I have rarely seen any who wore nose 
 ornaments. A few insert a small piece of wood or a 
 leaf They sa}' that should any one die not having his 
 nose pierced, his spirit will not rest, but liy about in 
 mid-air. They do not tattoo ; but cut or burn some 
 design on the arm or upper part of the body. They do 
 up their hair in a very peculiar way. While it is yet 
 short they divide it into a great many locks, and round 
 each twine the bark of a tree, leaving two inches at the 
 end. As it grows, they follow up the dressing till it 
 hangs down the back ; so that one would think they 
 wore wigs of small cords with curls at the tips. The
 
 1(>C, A(;\£S c. r. II'.J TT. 
 
 labour they spend on tliese is incredible. Kor days and 
 days a man will sit. while another twists his hair. 
 After it is ilone it is draw n back and tied with a strip of 
 red calico. For this there is great demand, especially 
 in thi' dancinjjf season. 'I'he women wear tht-ir hair 
 short, and pay little or no attention to it. As to 
 ornaments, there is no end to them. The men wear a 
 number of lar£:e white shells round the arm. from 
 which the}' suspend bunches of leaves and (jther things. 
 Round the neck they hang whales' teeth and pieces of 
 greenstone 'the latter they would not part with for 
 anything). They have also bracelets, anklets and 
 garters of netting or any bits of bright cloth. They are 
 fond of little bits of bright wool, which thev stick into 
 their beard.s. The chief passion with the women is for 
 beads, which they wear in great (piantities. They 
 have cords, too, from which they suspend the hair of 
 deceased relatives. Their bracelets and armlets are 
 made of cocoa-nut shells, ^larried women, as a rule, 
 are decently covered with their native skirts of leaves, 
 but I cannot say that of the others. Full grown 
 women will have on a short apron before and behind, 
 half yrown girls a leaf or two, and girls notiiing at all. 
 The clothinu" of the men is so minute that I forbear to 
 describe it. Yet they strut about in their disgusting 
 oostume and criticise the Erromangans as if their own 
 style of dress was of the liighest order. Their houses 
 are the most wretched one can well imagine. Outside 
 they look like hay-stacks. A cocoa-nut leaf laid on the 
 bare ground serves as a bed. :ind a tew native bags and 
 skirts constitute all their household stuff. They have 
 ■onlv a hole which .serves as door and window. A few
 
 
 >, 
 
 O 

 
 l"s A'.XES C. r. WATT. 
 
 of these huts set down in the most irregular way under 
 some trees, with no fence around, is called a village. 
 There the women cook their food or sit and chat ; 
 while the men sit in the Imarom or public scjuare. Each 
 village has such a square, and it is generally under the 
 shade of a large banyan tree. There the men hold 
 their parliaments and discuss Tannese politics, hold 
 feasts and dances, and in the evenings drink their kava. 
 In each square is a kava house. The kava (the root of 
 the Piper Methysticum) is prepared and drunk only 
 Ijy men. Beardless boys are prohibited, and women 
 dare not touch it. It is a most disgusting preparation : 
 being chewed and spat out into a basin, mixed with 
 water, and drank. I have only seen two cases of 
 intoxication through it, although many are "glazy" 
 looking after partaking of it. In the evening the call 
 to kava can be heard as regularly as in some lands the 
 Moslem calls to prayer. Before drinking it, the chief 
 prays to the spirits of the departed for every blessing, 
 such as plenty of kava and other things. They 
 have sacred men, sacred trees, and sacred stones. 
 Among the spirits, one presides over the sea, another 
 over the wind, and a third over the crops. If a man 
 goes a fishing and catches nothing, it is because the 
 god of the fish has been angry. To these gods they 
 ofter the first fruits of all, but at times not the first 
 in (juality. They make this very much to suit 
 themselves. For instance, if only one fruit is ripe they 
 will not eat certain things lest the god be angry ; but 
 as soon as another is in the market they eat all and 
 simdry, thereby saying, " We have got plenty without 
 you, you can be angry if you like." When the wind
 
 Mjy TAXXA. 1(111 
 
 blows some uue is making it, and so when it rains. 
 But of all superstitions, disease making is the worst. 
 These disease makers are the gods of Tanna. Here no 
 one can be sick from natural causes. Some one is 
 burning his nahak (nahak is any kind of rubbish, such 
 as the skin of food, bits of garments, kc). Should a 
 •disease maker get hold of this and burn it, it is believed 
 that the person to whom it belongs will turn sick, and if 
 burned until it is consumed he will die. Hence, when 
 a person turns sick, enquiry is made, and presents are 
 sent ; and you may be sure some rogue is always ready 
 to accept them. 1 have seen the natives carrying- 
 present after present until the person recovered. 
 Should he die, war is the result. Just before we 
 aiTived here, a great chief died, and the neighbouring- 
 village was charged with burning his " nahak " ; war 
 ensued, and they were driven far inland, their houses 
 burned and their plantations destroyed. Thus every- 
 thing in the shape of rubbish is carefully buried or 
 thrown into the sea. I have seen a man beat a boy, 
 and ask him if he wanted to die, because he attempted 
 to throw away a banana skin. The disease makers 
 themselves are strong in the belief, and if sick, think 
 that some one is burning theirs. 
 
 The chief spirit is called Ivarapanamun. They 
 believe he lives on the top of the highest hill, Mount 
 Mirran, which can be seen from all parts of the island. 
 He is in figure like a man, has a red skin thickly 
 covered with hair, his nails are like birds' claws, only 
 much longer, and with them he tears off the flesh of 
 those who are so unfortunate as to come within his 
 reach.
 
 110 A(;XES c. r. watt. 
 
 When they die, they say their bodies moulder iu tht' 
 dust, but their spirits go to another world called Ipai, 
 which simply means "very far ot^. " There they live as 
 on earth, dig and plant, give and are given in marriage. 
 After remaining there for an indefinite timt- they 
 transmii^rate into owls and other animals, and afterwards 
 into sacred stones. As far as I can ascertain, these 
 were their original beliefs, but since missionaries have 
 told them of the " lake that bumeth," they have taken 
 up the idea that their spirits are cast into the volcano. 
 With such beliefs, what use is there in refraining from 
 this or that sin i all go to one place, whatever be their 
 lives. Truly, " darkness covers the earth and gross 
 darkness the people." 
 
 Chieftainship may be said to consist only in name. 
 In a village of eight or nine men, six will claim to be 
 chiefs. It is an old saying, that " a man's house is his 
 castle,"' but really in Tanna a man's J.higdom is his 
 house and his wives ; although they talk plenty about 
 their " great land " and its great rulers. 
 
 The men always carry a loaded musket, club or 
 kawas to protect themselves. They are great boasters, 
 and as Q-reat cowards. If a man wishes to shoot 
 another he will lurk in the dark, or act the part of a 
 traitor. llence the constant dread. There is no 
 superior law ; might is right. 
 
 For four months they are busy with their plantations ; 
 the other eight are spent in idleness and wantonness. 
 The heavy part of the work tails on the women. They 
 are the cooks, and beasts of burden, and should they 
 decline to fulfil the wish of their " lords " they receive 
 a demonstrative proof of atfection in the shape of a
 
 MAX TAXAA. Ill 
 
 beating- with a stick, or have a knife thrown at them. 
 From this there is no redress : for if she runs away 
 it is only to be brought back and get further punishment. 
 During a great part of the year they are busy feasting, 
 sin^insf and dancinu'. Each new season has its new 
 music. In this, you see, they are in no way behind 
 more civilized countries. One of their song-compilers 
 retires into the bush and meets the gods of song, from 
 whom he receives the new dance music for the forth- 
 coming performance. Having acquired it, he returns 
 and teaches it to those of his own village, and so on,. 
 until a great many know it. On the appointed day 
 they have a " great sing." Many pigs are killed, and 
 heaps on heaps of native food consumed. Pieparatory 
 to the " Taaka," as they call it, the men live away from 
 their villages and fast by themselves, so as to be neat 
 and slender. When the day of feasting arrives they all 
 assemble in the public square ; but before anything is 
 done, the song-maker takes a gift of food and retires by 
 himself to a hut, where he presents it to the gods. 
 This done, he returns, and the feasting and dancing- 
 commence. 
 
 Polygamy is prevalent. I know of no case of five 
 wives ; but some have four, three, or two. One is a 
 rare exception. Such crimes as adultery are only kept 
 down by club law ; nevertheless, they are very frequent. 
 The natives are passionately fond of children, especially 
 boys, and tenderly nurse the sick. 
 
 When a man dies, he and all liis personal effects, 
 such as earrings, gunpowder, and shot, are buried in one 
 grave. The strangling of widows is practised, but not 
 commonly ; and is said to have been introduced from
 
 11-2 .K.XKS ('. r. ir.17'7'. 
 
 Aneitvuiii. A woinau whn .loes not inanit'est a strong 
 
 desiit' til ;uot>iiipany hii- liusbaii<l at hi.s death is 
 
 Teproacht'tl for inouths atterwanls with unt'aithfuhiess. 
 
 I saw a widow beaten bv another woman with a tish 
 
 spear, because she hail nut br^yt'd to be strangled. 
 
 A woman, who lierself would have been strangled 
 
 but for certain <irciimstauces, bt-ars testimony that 
 
 the desire so vehemently expressed is in most cases 
 
 assumed. They know if they are not to be strangled 
 
 they will thereby escape the reproach; and if they are 
 
 to be strangled there is no escape. This woman 
 
 (Kapuka's widow), although dreading it, did not know 
 
 that it had been their intention until after it was fallen 
 
 from. She said, " If it had bet-n finally determined to 
 
 strangle me, the men who came to do it would have 
 
 been the first to tell me: and how could I have 
 
 escaped ^ If I had made the attempt I would have 
 
 been shot. But the truth is, ' ^lissi.' when a woman 
 
 hears she is to be strangled, lur licart rises in her 
 
 throat ; she is astounded and powerless." 
 
 Suicide by hanging is very common. At a death, all 
 the friends of the deceased meet and wail. This 
 Availing is the most dismal sound I have heard. 
 
 It has been alleged by some that cannibalism is a 
 thing of the past : but during our short residence three 
 ■cases have come under ovu' notice. One of these was a 
 European, whose Ijody was cut into pieces and sent 
 romid the tribes as a delicacy. They said it was just 
 like turtle, wliicli is so highly prized as only to be 
 eaten by chiefs. 
 
 They set no value on human life nor on time. Day 
 after day is spent in idleness. They are expert in
 
 J/J.V TANNA. ll.S 
 
 bartering, and try to deceive you before your eyes. 
 They are expert thieves, ever on the alert to appropriate 
 anything that suits tliciv fancy; and, although naked, 
 manage to hide their spoil. I could go on, page after 
 page, in this manner, but from what J have said you 
 will have some idea of the people who live in this part 
 of Tanna. It is one thing to read about, and another 
 to be brought into daily contact with absolute 
 heathenism. T see no picture that at all seems to 
 describe them save that given by Paul in the finst 
 chapter of the Epistle to the Romans.
 
 SETTLING NEW MISSIONARIES. 
 
 TO THK FAMILY. 
 
 On B(iari> the " Daysprixc;," 
 Dillon's Bay. Ekko.manca, 4th July. 1S7<'. 
 
 Oil May -SOtli, one of Mr Neilson's teacher.s^ 
 
 brought round our home mail, and, of course, informed 
 us of the safe arrival of our little vessel in Port 
 Resolution. Our hearts were gladdened to receive 
 good news from a far country after such a long silence. 
 We had received no letters for upwards of five months. 
 None can imagine our feeliuos on readini-- letters that 
 bear so early a date save those who are like circum- 
 stanced. I almost dreaded to break the seal lest they 
 should contain news that w^otdd rend my heart. At 
 such times, I almost think 1 would be happier had I 
 no relative or friend ou earth : then I would not 
 tremble to think of what might be happening on the 
 other side of the mighty ocean ; but would be able to 
 pursue my course without a care. How^ever, such 
 thoughts are but for a moment ; and when I read page 
 after page of encouragement, my heart rejoices that I 
 have so many who are interested in our welfare, and 
 who daily remember us to Him who is a God at hand.
 
 SETT I. IX( : XE 1 1 ' MISSIOXA I! IKS. 1 1 ; 
 
 The '■ Diiyspring " was Hvl' weeks on lier voyuoe from 
 Melbourne, having experienced head winds and calms. 
 She brouo-ht back Mr and Mrs Ella of the J.. M.S. ; and 
 Rev. Mr Goodwill and his wife, new missionaries front 
 Nova Scotia. After lying at Aneityum for a week, she 
 proceeded to the Loyalty Islands and landed Mr and 
 Mrs Ella, ran to Fate, thence to Erromanga and 
 Aniwa, and arrivetl at Tanna on the 2<Sth May. She 
 lay there for seven days, first on account of a gale, and 
 afterwards the wind chopping round to the north .shut 
 her in the harbour. To expedite matters, the captain 
 chartered a small vessel and sent round our <''oods. 
 
 On Monday, 6th June, we left Kwamera in the 
 " Dayspring's " boat. The wind and sea were dead 
 ahead, but after five hours' hard pulling, four of which 
 I sat up to the ankles in water, we arrived in Port 
 Resolution, and met the " Dayspring " on Wednesday ; 
 the wind came round, and we started for Aneityum, 
 where we anchored on Friday. On Monday we went 
 round to Aname, and the Annual Meeting commenced 
 next morning. The only absentee was Mr Copeland, 
 who could not see his way to leave, owing to the 
 unsettled state of his island. The sittings were closed 
 on Saturday, and the next day. Sabbath, we all sat 
 down to the Lord's Supper in Mr Inglis' parlour. The 
 circumstances brought vividly to my mind the company 
 who sat down in a large upper room in Jerusalem. 
 
 After being detained by adverse winds for several 
 days, we at last, with a nice light wind, started from 
 Aname with a straight course for Kwamera, which we 
 reached just at dark. As we were anxious to get on 
 shore, Captain Eraser gave us a boat, and accompanied
 
 ilti .K.'XES C. r. WATT. 
 
 by ^Jr and Mrs Cosh and two children, and Mr and Mrs 
 Milne, we made for land. On our arrival, we found two 
 large fires and lots of torches lit to guide us through 
 the reef We were glad to find all well. Mr Watt 
 having been appointed to assist in the settlement of 
 Messrs Milne anil Goodwill, next day we made our 
 arrangements, and again bade adieu to Kwamera. 
 Mrs Cosh's two little buys were the novelty of the day. 
 They were carried about in all directions, and mucli 
 iidmired by a wondering crowd, who thought Mrs Cosh 
 must be a sterling woman, seeing she was the mother of 
 two such fine boys. 
 
 After a pleasant sail all night, we arrived next 
 morning at Erromanga. While the "Dayspring" was 
 raking Mr Milne's goods on board, the missionaries were 
 busy erecting a small cottage for Mr Macnair on a 
 more healthy site. His present house is situated at 
 the bottom of a gully, where they suffer very much 
 from fever and ague. Poor Macnair was very weak 
 <luring the meetings, he was never clear of fever. He 
 is to have a change this year. We went ashore to the 
 native service. The attendance of Erromanoans was 
 good, and the earnestness and fervour with which they 
 sang impressed me much. The address was given by a 
 young man. Oh, huw delightful the sight ! to see 
 those who once gloried in human fiesh, yea, ow whose 
 shores the blood of God's martyrs was poured, sitting 
 clothed and in their right minds, singing the praises of 
 the Lord. . . . 
 
 Saturday, July 9th. We left Dillon's Bay last 
 Monday for Potinia Bay, the station of Mr Gordon. 
 The wind was light, and it was Tuesday ere we reached
 
 SETTLING NEW MISSION A HIES. 117 
 
 the place. Some of us wuiit ashore and spent the 
 night with Mr Gordon. He has a pretty little place, 
 but there is one great want, and that is, he has no wife. 
 No missionary should come out unmarried; his wife can 
 do as much as he can, especially among the women. 
 Mrs Milne and 1 were the first white women the 
 natives had seen, antl you would have laughed at the 
 astonished looks of some of our black sisters. A few 
 collected round the verandah, and Mrs Milne proposed 
 that we should go and shake hands with them. I 
 agreed, l)ut no sooner had we risen from oui' seats and 
 began to walk towards them, than terror .seemed to 
 take hold on them ; foi' they made off", clinging to each 
 other as if pursued by witches. Once outside the fence, 
 they turned to have another look at their supposed 
 pursuer.s. After leaving Portinia Bay we called at 
 Cook's Bay. The gentlemen went ashore and met with 
 a few natives who seemed friendly, but all agreed that 
 it was not a place for Mr Milne to settle in. . . . 
 
 As Mr Milne wished to visit Ifua, Erromanga, we 
 called there next, but on landing found only twenty 
 people living there, while the neighbouring tribes were 
 at war. Of course that was not a field for a missionary, 
 and so many hundreds on other islands willing to 
 receive the gospel. Erromanga is now very thinly 
 peopled. This is partly through disease, but chieHy 
 from wars and the ([uasi-slave trade now so briskly 
 carried on in these islands. ... 
 
 August 'ird. Since last I wrote we have effected Mr 
 Milne's settlement at Nguna, a little island to the north 
 of Efate, under the most encovnaging circumstances. 
 His desire was for Erromanga, but none of the places
 
 lis A<.XJ-:s C. /'. WA TT. 
 
 there seemed suitable. . . . The chief of the villaf>-e 
 received us with pleasure, and said he would <4ive 
 any piece of land the missionary liked t<j choose. 
 Accordingly a large piece was bought, and operations 
 commenced. Capt. Fraser kindly sent the "Davspring" 
 men to assist, and, with speed, a nice little cottage was 
 <Mected ; indeeil, the captain himself worked dailv. 
 The missionaries went in very early, and Mrs Milne 
 and I took their dinner a.shore. Mi.ssion life is sur- 
 rounded with a great deal of romance in the minds of 
 some people at home ; but were you to see the every- 
 day life of a New Hebrides missionary, your romantic 
 ideas would take flight. It is a very delightful fancy 
 to picture the new station being opened, and the 
 missionary, in broadcloth, with Bible in hand, making 
 known to wondering crowds, for the first time, the 
 tidings of salvation. Such sights cannot be seen here ; 
 for the curse of Babel has fallen so heavily on these 
 people, that every island has a ditierent language, and 
 very often those on one side cannot understaml those 
 <m the other side of the .same island. A missionarv has 
 many months of hard study before he can declare to 
 the people in their owmi tongue the womlerful works of 
 God, Mrs Milne and I often wished some of our 
 friends had been there to see us sitting under a larire 
 tree or in a native house, with the brown earth for our 
 table, and the missionaries and captain all s(juatting 
 around. . . . We were very hapjjy, and all went 
 merry as a marriage bell. The natives of Nguna built 
 a store and cook-house, and, while the "Dayspring" 
 went to Efate with some Chri.stian natives who had 
 come to assist, we remained with Afr and Mrs ^lilne.
 
 SETTLING XEW .]/ ISSIOX.l h'JES. Mil 
 
 Durino- all the time the conduct of the natives was most 
 gratifying-. They were always ready to give a lielping 
 hand when asked, and manifested good feeling 1)y bring- 
 ing yams and other native products for sale. On the 
 " Dayspring" returning from Efate we bade adieu to our 
 friends. I felt for them being left alone on a heathen 
 island for the first time ; and though the natives are 
 friendly, one has not the satisfaction as in cases where 
 teachers have pi'eceded the missionary. The people 
 can speak a good deal of broken English, as a goofl 
 many of them have been to Sydney and elsewhere. 
 They dress very much better than those living south of 
 Efate ; indeed, if they were becoming Christians they 
 would require no more covering than they have at 
 present. I wish I could get the Tannese men to wear 
 as much. We have good reason to hope for this 
 becoming a large and prosperous station. Not only is 
 the island important in itself, but it is also near a great 
 many other islands, and has a fine hai'bour in which 
 the "Dayspring" can anchor. 
 
 Leaving Nguna, we proceeded to Santo to settle 
 Mr Goodwill, at his own request, at Cape Lisbuni. 
 I would have liked to have visited the numerous litth- 
 islands which lie between here and Nguna. We saw 
 the large island of Malekula in the distance. 'J'ht- 
 natives are said to be so savaoe that few vessels go 
 there. The cause of their ferocity is not known, but it 
 is supposed that they have been ill-used by some 
 ungodly traders. We need not Avonder that thesi- imor 
 heathen are savage to traders, because the cruelty that 
 some have suffered at their hands is almost incredible. 
 Since comins: to Santo, wr have heard of a case of
 
 1-JO A(;XES C. /'. ]\ATT. 
 
 man-Stealing and woman-stealing, in which the victims 
 were carried on board, bound with ropes, then put into 
 the hold, and the hatch fastened hard down lest they 
 should escape. The natives here know about the 
 " Dayspring," and two came oti" to ascertain who we 
 Mere. As soon as they found out that we were the 
 missionary ship, they waved on all the other canoes to 
 come alongside. They told us not to send a boat near 
 the place from which the natives had been taken, as 
 the people were set upon having revenge on the first 
 white man they coukl lay hold of. We are quite safe, 
 but if the natives ditl not know us we would stand a 
 poor chance. 
 
 Mr Goodwill has got a good reception. For the last 
 two days he and Mr Watt, with the "Dayspring" men, 
 have been busy building. In a few days we will be 
 leaving them. I have no doubt he will feel lonely after 
 we go ; he has left his wife at Aneityum, and he is 
 upwards of a hundred and fifty miles from the nearest 
 missionary. We can commit him to the care of the 
 Keeper of Israel, who neither slumbers nor sleeps ; and 
 who has promised to be ever with those who go forth 
 t<» preach His Gospel. 
 
 . . . The population seems large. The natives, 
 however, go about in a state of greater nudity than any 
 others I have seen; the ladies dress, however, will 
 not stand description. One day I visited a \illage. 
 They build better houses than the Tannese, and have 
 their villages fenced in. Everything looks neat and 
 uiderly. On arriving at the principal chief's house we 
 were invited in, and his royal highness sjDread a mat for 
 me to sit on. Our words were very few, and we
 
 SETTI.LXa NEW MISSION A lUKS. 
 
 communicated most of our thoughts to each other by 
 signs. After resting a little, and having given his wife 
 a present of beads, we bade them good-bye, and went 
 to see more of their houses. 
 
 We were beset on all sides for beads, and as we had 
 given some to a woman because she was the chiefs 
 wife, t^uite a number began to count up the relationship 
 in which they stood to him, so that they might claim 
 beads. Going through the village, we heard a strange 
 noise, and enquired the cause. They said a woman 
 was sick, and advised us not to go. But as some of 
 our party were anxious to see, we went. The woman 
 Avas dead, and laid in a sort of trough or canoe. Her 
 face and the upper part of her body was painted red, 
 and the lower part covered with a mat. A large bunch 
 of feathers was stuck in the left side of her head. On 
 one side sat tw^o women, and on the other a man and 
 woman, all making a most dismal wailing. The man, 
 I suppose, was the dead woman's husband. As we 
 came up the cries got louder; but on offering them a 
 present of beads their grief was assuaged, and they took 
 them with a smile. The quiet w'as, however, of short 
 duration, as the doleful sounds began again, and 
 continued until we lost them in the tlistance. On 
 Santo, they do not bury their dead, but keep them in 
 their houses until they decay, and then take the best of 
 their bones to make spear heads and arrow points. 
 The rest they gather up and bury. This is a most 
 revolting practice. I wonder if, when they are selling 
 the bones of perhaps their father or mother, they never 
 think that some one will yet make spear heads and 
 arrow points of their bones. Every day they came off
 
 A<;yES C. p. WATT. 
 
 to tlie vessel with yams, bananas, spears, bows and 
 arrows. I couKl have bought any ninnber if T had had 
 plenty butcher's knives, which were in great demand. 
 
 August 10th. W.' are now one week from Santo, 
 antl are lying at Fate waiting for Mr Cosh, who is 
 going to New Zealand. On our way, we called on 
 Mr Milne, and found all well, the natives friendly, and 
 t]i<' iimspects •■ncoiu'aging. . . . 
 
 A«iNKs C. p. Watt. 
 
 \
 
 VI. 
 STREAKS OF DAWN. 
 
 1. ']'0 THE GLASGOW FOUNDRY KOYS' RELIGIOUS SOCIETY. 
 
 October, 1S7<). 
 
 My Dear Young Friends, — You will no doubt be 
 thinking it a very long time since I wrote to you ; but 
 we have so few opportunities of getting letters sent off 
 that our correspondence cannot be frequent. You will 
 have heard that we took a large number of our natives 
 to Aneityum, so that they might see what the gospel 
 had done for the people of that island. It was a serious 
 undertaking, for if any sickness had broken out among 
 them soon after our return, we would have been blamed 
 for it. I am happy to inform you that our visit was a 
 great success, and the results thereof gratifying. The 
 natives returned " strong for the worship," as they 
 express it, and with high opinions of the Aneityumese 
 and their hospitality. They said, " We thought if we 
 worshipped our food would be scarce, but instead of 
 that, they have so much, and gave .so much to us, that 
 we were obliged to leave a great part of it behind. 
 They have plenty of everything." 
 
 On the first Sabbath of our return we had an 
 attendance at worship of si.\ty-si.\. Since then we 
 have not had so many ; still, there is an avirago of
 
 1_'4 A(,-XES C. /'. UATT. 
 
 forty-five or fifty, which is very eDcouragiug'. Kut only 
 on the Sabbaths do we see the good results, but their 
 general behaviour towards us has been much mt^tre 
 respectful : while they have also manifested a willing- 
 ness to assist U8 in several ways. One young man 
 named Kwanung has been bringinw and cutting our 
 firewood for the last month, to get a pair of trousers; 
 and now he wishes a shirt, and says after he has gut it 
 he will come and worship. A young chief of about 
 fourteen years of age, from a neighbouring village, has 
 come forward and manfully offered to supply us with 
 fresh water. We feel very proud of him, as, after he 
 grows up, he will have great influence, being a high 
 chief His name is Saba. He is a very smart boy. 
 I am sorry to say that he has not yet come to church, 
 but we hope that daily intercourse with us will help to 
 break down some of the superstitions that at present 
 hinder him from joining us. There are several others 
 who occasionally give us a helping hand. Indeed, we 
 have only to express a wish and a great many come 
 forward, willing to work on very moderate terms. You 
 may think this of very little importance ; but were we 
 not respected by them, they would not work for us even 
 for mone}'. 
 
 When I received the box of clothing you so kindly 
 sent, I had little prospect of having many calls for 
 garments. Of late, and especially since their visit to 
 Aneityum, the desire for clothing has greatly increased. 
 Among thirty women who come to church there are 
 only one or two who do not wear an u])per garment. 
 These they have either bought for a nominal price with 
 yams or fowls, or have worked for them. We do n(tt
 
 STREAKS OF DAWN. i-T. 
 
 approve of giving dresses for nothing ; we rathei wish 
 them to be independent and vakie their clothes. So as 
 to put clothing within the reach of all who worshi]), 
 we have employed them as much as we coulil in 
 making plantations and arrowroot, besides doing 
 our ordinary work. Now, T have something to tell you 
 which will interest the girls, and, I trust, the boys also. 
 During the last two months we have had two little 
 girls staying on our premises, and although several 
 attempts have been made to take them away, these 
 have hitherto been unsuccessful. The two cry whenever 
 any hint is given of leaving us, and persistently insist 
 on being allowed to remain. They say they want us to 
 be father and mother to them, as they love us very 
 much. Kaianga, the youngest, is a bright little thing, 
 about ten years old. She can now read by spelling, 
 and name all the short words. I have begun to teach 
 her to sew. She is the first that came to school, and 
 she is still the brightest. Kauea, the elder, is not so 
 bright, but she is a nice girl ; she has mastered the 
 alpliabet, and is making good progress in sewing. 
 Kaianga got a prize for learning her lessons well some 
 months ago, and that was a dress to come to church in. 
 This she wore faithfully until she and the other came 
 to stay, when I gave each a new suit out of your box. 
 After they had stayed a month I gave them others ; the 
 latter are kept carefully, and only worn at church. You 
 may be sure they are a great contrast to the naked 
 painted girls around, with their clean clothes, their 
 faces and hands well washed, nice little scarlet turbans 
 on their heads, and a great many strings of coloured 
 beads round their necks. They are much interested in
 
 IJti .H.XES C. /'. W ATT. 
 
 tlie boys aud girls in Scotland who thiuk of them 
 ami make clothes for them. They set our table 
 and <lo any little thing I may require. We have 
 lately added two new hymns to our "Service of Song" 
 on Tauna. We took the sheets of large print hymns 
 you sent me, and cut them up to form the words. We 
 have them hung up on the walls of our dining-room. 
 They have mastered one, and can sing it nicely. The 
 tune is " Morning Light." I will send you a copy of it. 
 We have worship with them every evening, and it is 
 very impressive to see them close their eyes and repeat 
 the Lord's Prayer. The absence of paint, and the 
 wearing of European clothes, has effected such a change 
 nil TJK^in that one requires to see in order to believe. 
 This is the day of small things on Tanna, but, 
 with the blessing of God, we expect to prosper. Pray 
 for us, and for the poor benighted Tannese, and 
 especially for (jur two little girls, that soon we may 
 have the joy of seeing them walking in the truth. If 
 there are any questions you wish to ask, just make 
 them known, and I will be most happy to answer them. 
 1 feel very happy, when lonely in this distant land, to 
 think that you are all praying for us. We trust and 
 pray that in blessing others you may be abundantly 
 blessed. 
 
 Now I must close, as my little girls are wearying to 
 have worship and get to bed. 
 
 I remain, 
 
 ]\Iy dear boys and girls. 
 
 Yours most faithfully, 
 
 Agnes C. P. Watt.
 
 STL'EAh'S or DA \VX. IJT 
 
 2. TO THK TREASURER UK THE (iLASliOW R)IM)|;V lutVS 
 RKLKilOl'S SdflKTY. 
 
 November, 1S7I. 
 
 My Dkah Mr Martin, — Since last I wrote you, we 
 have been a vovaoe lomul Tanna ; but owino- to a "-ale 
 of wind we could only visit a small part of the island. 
 The great obstacle to our visiting Tanna efficiently is 
 the diversity of language. There are evidently se\eral 
 languages in this one island ; and how many dialects it 
 would be difficult to surmise. Hence our principal 
 means of communication is in brctken Ensflish ; or as it 
 is better known here as sandal- wood English (being the 
 broken English used by the sandal-wood traders in past 
 years), which is very unsatisfactory. The other means 
 of communication, which is the better of the two, is to 
 have a native, who knows the language of the place, to 
 act as an interpreter. 
 
 At the tirst two places we visited, we were told in 
 answer to our question, " Will you take a teacher and 
 'mafwaki' or worship ?" "At present we are fighting, 
 but perhaps after a time we will receive one." They 
 are putting off to a more convenient time, which may 
 never come. The people at another boat-harbour were 
 willing to take a teacher, but as none of us knew their 
 language, and they sj^oke broken English very imper- 
 fectly, it is extremely doubtful if they understood what 
 we said. They seemed to want a missionary, but in all 
 probability they knew not what that meant. Tiie 
 truth is, it is traders, not missionaries, that the Tannese 
 want. The people here at Kwamera, doubtless, wanted 
 the missionary chietly for the worldly goods that would
 
 l-JS A'.XK.^ C. /'. II'. I •/"/'. 
 
 come to thc'Uh and n«it for the sake of the gospel; as 
 we have foimd in our experience. They hate the 
 gospel and its messengers. But eau it be otherwise, for 
 the Scripture saith, "The carnal rnind is enmity 
 against God : for it is not subject to the law of God, 
 neither indeed can he"l At the last place we visited, 
 we found a man named Johnny Pata, who could speak 
 verv fair EnoHsh. He told us that he had been stolen 
 away from Tanna by a whaler about fifteen years ago. 
 After he was some time on board, the vessel called at 
 Tongatabu, where he escaped and hid on shore. He 
 was picked up by King George, who took him to look 
 after his plantations. There he received great kindness, 
 and was taught to fear God and shim evil. King 
 George also taught him to read in the Tongatabu 
 language. About two months previous to our visit he 
 had returned home. He has built a little church in 
 which on the Sabbaths he assembles all who will listen ; 
 while he, to the best of his ability, tries to tell them of 
 Jesus. Through his influence, the people are an.xious 
 to get a missionary. Alas ! that there should be an 
 open door, and no one ready to enter ; but, sad though 
 it be, such is the case. We have no supply of teachers 
 to spare. Our principal dependence is on Aneityum, 
 and you know the population there is very small. 
 ' Besides, she has already given out a goodly band of 
 pioneers ; of whom, many have died, and even at this 
 present time there are twenty men and their wives 
 stationed on heathen islands. It is only on certain 
 islands or in certain districts that they have any 
 influence. Again, it is well to follow up a teacher's 
 settlement by placing a missionary soon after. These
 
 STh'h'AKS OF DA \VX. l-_".) 
 
 men have but lately emerged from heathenism them- 
 selves, and unless supported by a missionary it is 
 doubtful whether they will do much good. 1 am afraid 
 the name teacher conveys a wrong idea to your mind ; 
 the proper word is " pioneer." We are expecting three 
 or four new missionaries next year, perhaps some one 
 of them may be willing to occupy this station. I hope 
 and pray that such may be the case. Poor Johnny 
 Pata will have much to suffer if he remains consistent 
 to his profession. Even his good example iii wearing a 
 fathom of calico will be a subject of ridicule. We did 
 all we could to strengthen his hands, and we pray that 
 the Lord, who has the hearts of all men in His hands, 
 may incline some one to enter this wide door, and may 
 it prove " effectual." . . . 
 
 Shall we ever welcome to the shores of Tanna one of 
 those boys Avho bade us adieu in Eglinton Hall ? and 
 shall he come supported by that very Society under 
 whose training he was taught that his first duty was to 
 give himself to the Lord, and, having tasted that the 
 Lord is gracious, to make known to his fellow-men the 
 love of Jesus ? . . . 
 
 At present -vve have four teachers and their wives. 
 Two are at out-stations and two live on our premises. 
 Kauaneli accompanies Mr Watt to the different 
 out-stations on Sabbaths, can manage a boat, and is a 
 very useful man in assisting at translating. Yawila, who 
 has lost his eyesight, can do little active work, but his 
 becoming walk and conversation is powerful for good, 
 and his wife is a very active woman ; she is extremely 
 useful to me. She has charge of the Tannese girls 
 who live with \is. She ami Kauaneli's wife assist 
 9
 
 i:W At.XES C. /'. WATT. 
 
 me in household duties, and teach in the Sabbath 
 School. 
 
 Our newest out-station is about two miles from here, 
 anil is called Irumien. There Kaka and his wife are 
 labouring, but it is very uphill work. Previous to our 
 coming here the people of that district had been driven 
 inland by a neighbouring tribe, who blamed them for 
 burning i\u]ial\ and thereby causing the death of one 
 of their principal men. On that account, they seldom 
 came down to their old village, and when they did so 
 it was stealthily. However, about two months ago, 
 peace was made up, and a number have returned and 
 live near the teacher ; all have liberty to do the same. 
 Although they wished the Aneityumese teacher to 
 remain, very few attend church, and still fewer can be 
 constrained to try to learn to read. Let me give an 
 instance of how much they dread the gospel and books, 
 and how disheartening it is. I lately accompanied 
 Mr Watt on the Sabbath, and was much disappointed 
 to find only a few old women labouring away at the 
 alphabet. No little girls were allowed to go, and, as we 
 heard one day, they were all hidden as we were 
 approaching, lest we should invite them to worship and 
 they should comply ; in which case, they say, they 
 would turn sick and die. . . . 
 
 The next out-station, and by far the most important, 
 is Umeiyahau. There Manman and his wife have 
 laboured for two years, and not without success. The 
 district is densely peopled, a good many attend service, 
 and a few are learning to read. . . . We are anxious 
 to do all we can for this important station. During 
 our two years' residence here, besides visiting them on
 
 STREAKS OF UAWX. 131 
 
 Sabbaths, we have occasionally gone and spent a week 
 at a time with them, so as to become better acquainted, 
 and make the teacher a little more important among 
 them. We have not been able to stay there for 
 some time, as the only accommodation we have is the 
 teacher's house, which is made of grass, and has only 
 holes for doors and windows. We are thus exposed to 
 the night air, and we have been advised by our more 
 experienced brethren not to expose ourselves to the 
 malaria. We caimot work this station unless we go 
 and live among the people ; so on that account we 
 purpose erecting there a small lime house in which we 
 can live for a week at a time, and thus benefit both the 
 people of Umeiyahau and the tribes beyond. We are 
 looking anxiously for the two shipments of boxes from 
 you. We cannot get on without the temporals. As 
 soon as we have the materials we shall have the house 
 built. At Umeiyahau the teacher and Tannese put up 
 a very nice church, for which they received no pay, it 
 being pure mission work ; but we do not wish to make 
 the gospel at all burdensome to them. Hence, when 
 they do anything for us we pay them. I fear many of 
 them follow us for the loaves and fishes ; but God makes 
 use of the most common things for the furtherance of 
 His own glory. . . . 
 
 Yours most truly, 
 
 Agnes C. P. Watt.
 
 VII. 
 HOW WE SPENT THE HUT SEASON (JF lb70. 
 
 Ani\v\, October, 1S71. 
 
 My Dear Father, Mother, Brothers, and Sisters, 
 — As all the letters you get during the cool season of 
 the year are only hurried notes sent by passing vessels, 
 I have thought that perhaps you might be interested 
 by hearing what has been transpiring since this time 
 last year. After the departure of the "Dayspring" we 
 had a schoolhouse put up, as I found it very incon- 
 venient to keep school in our own house. I then 
 commenced my girls' reading and sewing class. We 
 read every day, and sewed or wrote on slates two days 
 in the week. During the first Aveeks we went on very 
 encouragingly. The numbers were small, but they 
 came with great regularity, and manifested a desire to 
 receive instruction. Just then, however, I was laid up 
 with a sore ankle, which compelled me to keep to the 
 sofa. As my scholars were all of my own sex, they 
 would not come when I was unable to attend to them. 
 From that time till this, one thing after another has 
 interrupted our meetings. By the time I Avas able to 
 resume my duties, all our people were laid down with 
 intluenza. Scarcely one escaped, old and young alike 
 suffered, and no sooner did they begin to rally than
 
 //Oir II'A' SPENT TllK HOT SEASOX OF /s:u. \:\^ 
 
 they were attacked anew, and that continued until the 
 " 13ayspring " returned. Mr Watt dispensed a great 
 deal of medicine, while I was kept busy making up tea. 
 Sometimes a little boy would be sent to get tea and 
 carry it to those who were unable to come for it. ] 
 sent it along in old fruit tins, which they could set on 
 the hot embers to warm. There were no deaths, 
 although in some cases the attacks were very severe. 
 Some came along asking for medicine when they were 
 hardly able to stand on their feet, but staggered likt- 
 drunken men ; others were quite delirious for a day or 
 two. No human being, unless his heart was adamant, 
 could look at these poor brothers and sisters of ours in 
 afHiction without stretching out a helping hand. 
 
 Seeing these natives in health, and during fine 
 weather having plenty of food with very little toil, one 
 is apt to think, "Well, after all, they are pretty comfort- 
 able " ; but visit them in trouble, see them lying in a 
 wretched hut, like Job, literally lying in ashes, having 
 no bed but the leaf of a cocoa-nut tree, no kind friend 
 to minister to their wants. Although there may be 
 many sitting by, in all probability they will be busy 
 chiding either the sick or their relatives for having 
 neslected to guard aoainst " nahak." In several cases 
 there was severe vomiting of blood ; for these, Mr Watt 
 used laudanum, and in each case it was efficacious. 
 The three most valuable medicines to us have been 
 (piinine, laudanum, and English paregoric elixir. The 
 last wrought most wonderful cures, and along with a 
 few drops of sal -volatile was the means, with the 
 blessing of God, of raising up some that were very low. 
 At Port Resolution, Mr Neilson's station, they suffered
 
 I:M AdXES C. p. WATT. 
 
 from something of the same kind, but seemingly much 
 more virulent, and the deaths were not a few. . , . 
 Durinsf these times of sickness we missionaries on 
 Tanna have an anxious time of it, for a Tannaman 
 believes that few, if any, die natural deaths; they must 
 have been brought about by witchcraft, and the 
 missionary is as likely to be blamed as any other. 
 Hence we have to act with great caution, and never 
 give medicine unasked. One instance will suffice to 
 show the wisdom of being slow to offer medicine. 
 There is a trader, a black man, a native of America, 
 living near us. He has given himself out as a Doctor 
 of Medicine, and professes to cure all. Only you must 
 " pay the piper." He will not prescribe unless you lay 
 ilown the " guinea " or its equivalent, a large porker. 
 That secured, he " will see what he can do for you." 
 There was one case in which he received either four or 
 •five very large pigs. It was a little child who was all 
 covered with sores. He cleared away all the sores, it is 
 true, by means of mercury, I think, but he left the 
 poor little sufferer without eyebrows or eyelashes, and 
 scarcely a hair on its head. In this state, they brought 
 the child to us. We saw at once that it was dying, 
 and told the mother we could do nothing for him. 
 Her maternal feeling made her slow to believe that she 
 was going to lose her little darling, and she pled 
 with us that we woulil at least try. With great 
 reluctance we gave a little medicine, and two or three 
 days after we administered a second dose, at the 
 mother's urgent request. We trembled to think of the 
 result, as we knew that the infant was likely to die 
 soon. You can imagine what (^nr feelings were when
 
 now in-j .s'/'Awy the hot skason of is:ti. i.sr. 
 
 we heard the announcement of his death next morning. 
 We were afraid they might trace his death to us, but 
 instead of that we had to defend the trader from ])ein<r 
 blamed, as no one can tell what savages will do when 
 irritated. Some time afterwards we went to visit the 
 sorrowing mother, and she told us that she had suffered 
 much from the heathen around, who reproached her 
 with having caused the death of her child through our 
 medicine ; and that the trader had told them so. 
 Whether the people were telling the truth or not, we 
 cannot tell. We gave the trader the benefit of the 
 doubt ; but it taught us the lesson still more effectively, 
 to act warily in dealing out medicine among a heathen 
 people. Many of them have a superstitious dread of us, 
 believing that we have the power of life and death ; 
 that being quite in accord with their notions. May 
 God, in His mercy, open their eyes to see that it is in 
 His hands all our ways are. 
 
 Our church attendance is much the same, and our 
 two classes on Sabbath are regularly attended, chiefly 
 by women. The first is like a reading school, and is 
 held immediately after worship. The second is held in 
 the schoolroom in the afternoon, and partakes largely 
 of the character of a Sabbath School and conversational 
 meeting. It is opened by praise and pra3^er, and closed 
 by repeating simultaneously the Lord's Prayer. I 
 admire a plan followed by Mrs Paton in her Sabbath 
 School, on calling on one of the scholars to engage in 
 prayer. It tends to expand the mind and teach them 
 Avhat true prayer is : " The offering up of our desires 
 unto God." The progress our scholars are making in 
 reading is encouraging, although far from what we
 
 l;^ A'^XES C. I'. WATT. 
 
 could %vish ; but until they can come every day we 
 cannot expect great strides to be made. 
 
 ... If the sons of Adam on Tanua were half so 
 pliable as his daughters, both Christianity and education 
 would advance; but they seem to think that the 
 worship is only fit for women, inasmuch as it requires 
 them to wear a garment, and that, of course, is not 
 manly. Anything mean, weak, or cowardly, is called 
 by them xcomo/aly. My dear sisters, you know not 
 how much we owe to the gospel, for having elevated us 
 from that state in which heathenism places every 
 woman. Some who are able to judge say, that the 
 women on Taniia are better treated than on other 
 heathen islands. Nevertheless, their case calls for 
 sympathy. Indeed, the best blessing you can bestow 
 on them is the gospel. Many of them, when boro, are 
 left in the bush to die. If spared, they are given away 
 in infancy, and at an early age are sent away to their 
 future homes, where they become the slaves of their 
 husbands : and if in an}' trifle they oftend, they will in 
 all probability receive a more demonstrative proof of 
 atiection than they relish, in the shape of a thumping 
 with a cudgel, or having a knife thrown at them. 
 Not but that I think there are times when they require 
 a little coiTection, for some of them are unsparing in 
 the use of the " unruly member." . . . 
 
 About two months ago a couple came to live with 
 us, at the earnest desire of the wife. Their names are 
 Naurita and Yemeitahak. I have mentioned her 
 before ; they are the parents of the child, of whom I 
 wrote, who died. Yemeitahak used to live with Mrs 
 Mathieson when a little girl, and when we first came to
 
 HO\r WE srh'XT riir. hot ska.^ox of isro. v.r, 
 
 Kwamera she alone came to school. She has told ine 
 since that it was at the risk of a beating from her 
 husband. On Wednesday, we were about to hold our 
 Prayer Meeting when Naurita came in. Seeing us 
 prepare for worship, he rose to leave, when both 
 Mr Watt and 1 (unknown to each other) invited him to 
 remain. He did so, and ever}^ Sabbath since has seen 
 Naurita in his place. Now he has come to live on our 
 premises, and that is a great thing for a Tannaman. 
 To go and live with a trader is nothing, but to live 
 with us is a partial renunciation of heathenism. 
 
 Lately we had a grand assembly or " Nukwiara " as 
 it is called. It was a soiree, concert, and ball. For 
 weeks the preparations were going on. The gentlemen 
 were fasting, that they might look slender and neat. 
 They got their wigs powdered with paint, also their 
 belts and bodies coated to their heart's content. At 
 the same time, the belles were oetting- fine new skirts. 
 Indeed, they seemed to do nothing but bathe and paint. 
 To-day they would have one design, and to-morrow 
 another, until they thought they were perfect. For 
 two or three days previous to the " nukwiari," they all 
 sat up, night and day, lest they should spoil the paint 
 on their faces. When all preparations were completed, 
 they sent invitations to every tribe for miles around. 
 From the west they came a distance of fifty miles, and 
 as it was a time of enjoyment, they were all in holiday 
 dress. While waiting for the feast, each one took his 
 friends to see the novelties of the place, chief of which 
 were the "lions" at Kwamera. The assembly lasted 
 three days, and during these and the two preceding 
 ones we were obliged to hoM a levee. They came in
 
 l:i8 AdXES C. r. WATT. 
 
 bands of from twenty to thirty. We showed them the 
 house and save them a tune on the harmonium, after 
 wliich Mr Watt generally gave them a biscuit. They 
 were delighted, and full of wonder. They had to 
 examine our outhouses, hens, ducks, turkeys, and cows. 
 When done, they said "their hearts were weak," and 
 didn't our people feel proud to say, " All these things 
 belonof to our Missi." As we wished to see the 
 " Nukwiari " we went up on the last day. All the 
 people were assembled in the public square. In the 
 centre of the square, under the shade of a banyan tree, 
 the women were dancinsj. Most of them had on white 
 skirts trailino- on the ground, and over these were worn 
 short skirts and panniers in light green, yellow, and 
 sometimes bright scarlet. These, with beads, green- 
 stone, paint and feathers, constituted the full dress of a 
 Tanna lady. One chief's daughter had five long 
 feather ornaments in her hair, with her maid to hold 
 them up while she danced. Their songs and dances 
 are dramatical. There was no promiscuous dancing. 
 While the women were dancing, the men and all their 
 visitors were sitting on the adjoining logs, admiring. 
 So far as we saw, the dance was as modest, if not more 
 so, than our own country dances. The part that 
 shocked me most was at the end, when they brought in 
 a lot of pigs, killed in a sickening manner. They were 
 brought in one by one, bound to poles which were 
 carried shoulder high, with a man riding on each pig's 
 back, and holding a number of long feather ornaments 
 in his hand. We have seen some of these feathers 
 twelve feet long. They are made up of a number of 
 small feathers hung on to reeds. Although there was
 
 HOW WE SPEXT THE J/OT SEASOX OF 1S7(>. 139 
 
 nothing indecent connected Avith these dances, they 
 ought to be stopped, as they cause sickness, and, in 
 several cases since we came here, consumption. 
 
 Puhnonary consumption seems to be very prevalent 
 in these islands ; and as none recover who take it, the 
 natives arsfue the truth of their " nahak." This 
 disease, they say, is caused by it ; and as medicine 
 seldom does any good in such cases, they think that a 
 convincing proof; for if it were otherwise, "medicine 
 would be strong to cure." Well may the belief in 
 disease-making be called the backbone of the devil's 
 kingdom here. Break it, and the whole fabric will be 
 ready to fall. They hold tenaciously to it, they drink 
 it in with their mother's milk. 
 
 A high chief died lately, and previous to his death, 
 we heard, that should he die, three women were to be 
 strangled — his aged mother and his two wives. We 
 iletermined to do our utmost to prevent this, but, he 
 being a high chief, we had little hope of success. 
 However, we went inland to see him, and to request 
 the young men of the village to promise they would 
 not do such a thino-. On arriving, Ave found the sick 
 man unable to speak, but told the others the object of 
 our visit, and they promised that we should be obeyed. 
 As soon as the sick man was able to .speak, we 
 conversed Avith him. We spoke of our sinful hearts by 
 nature, and of Jesus the Saviour, of the perishing 
 nature of all earthly things, and of that bright home on 
 high for all Avho trust in Jesus. As we spoke, he lifted 
 up his eyes to heaven, and Avhen Ave came to that last 
 sentence, " for all Avho trust in Jesus," he looked 
 earnestly at me and said, Avith great pathos, " Yesu."
 
 140 At.XES C. P. WATT. 
 
 Poor man, he was unable to speak more; he grasped 
 ray hand as I sat on the ground beside him, and I 
 prayed that the Lord would have mercy on him, even 
 at the eleventh hour. A week afterwards he died. 
 On hearing of his death, we hastened to the funeral, 
 as we had our suspicions regarding the sincerity 
 of those who promised that our words should be 
 obeyed. From what we afterwards learned, the 
 dying man had the same, for he could not rest, day or 
 nif^ht, for ursinof them to " hear the words of Missi." 
 At times he was unable to speak, but as he came near 
 death he gave charges as to his burial, and mentioned 
 particularly that they were to do our " word." Lest his 
 wives should neglect to make his wishes known, he 
 requested that witnesses should be brought, which was 
 done. He told them they were to bury him as a 
 Christian ; they were to put no muskets nor kava nor 
 gods into his grave, but simply to bury him in a 
 garment ; and, above all, to take no lives. When we 
 reached the village we found all the women from the 
 neighbouring villages gathered together to weep with 
 the bereaved. The body was laid out on the ground 
 on mats, and a mat over it for a covering; only the 
 shoulders and head visible. Round this a great 
 number of women sat, while the rest sat at a distance. 
 The api)roach of each new comer was the signal tt» set 
 up a fresh howling. Some of them came along 
 lauffhinsr and talking till within sight of the corpse, and 
 then commenced to wail. I had some difficulty in 
 keeping myself from smiling. The grief may be real. 
 In some cases I know it is ; but in a great many cases 
 it is doubtful. Each village that goes to mourn
 
 now iTA' si'i:xr the hot season of is:i>. ui 
 
 receives a pig, and each individual, two or three yams, 
 " to make their hearts good," as the Tannese say. 
 
 We remained until after the burial. The grave was 
 dug at the side of the house. After digging down a 
 sufficient depth, they cut in under the house, so that 
 the body was literally laid " in the sides of the pit." 
 Even after the corpse was laid in the grave an old chief 
 remarked in a sad tone, that it was a pity such a great 
 man was allowed to die alone. We were informed 
 afterwards that the women, when they saw that we 
 were come to see the funeral, said to each other : 
 " What do these two mean coming here to prevent us 
 carrying out our intentions ? Why did not they stay 
 at home, and leave us alone ? " 
 
 Pray for us and our deluded people. Oh ! when 
 shall heathen Tanna stretch forth her hands unto God ? 
 
 I have been staying here these last three weeks, 
 under the hospitable roof of our dear brother and 
 sister Mr and Mrs Paton, while Mr Watt has been 
 away at Santo and the other northern islands ; and 
 dispensing the Communion at Fate, in the absence of 
 Mr Cosh, who is at present in New^ Zealand. . . . 
 
 With much love, 
 
 I am. 
 Your daughter and sister, 
 
 Agnes.
 
 VTTI. 
 FIRST EXPERIENCE OF A HURRICANE. 
 
 Tt) THE FAMILY. 
 
 January lltli, ls7:i. 
 
 My Dear Ones at Home, — This is Saturday night, 
 and I am very tired, but I cannot allow this eventful 
 week to close without telling you about our trials and 
 troubles. It is a week past on Thursday since we 
 landed from Aniwa. As the sea was rough no one but 
 ourselves came ashore. . . . The weather continued 
 rough until Sabbath, and although it was dirty and 
 blowing, still we had no idea of what was going to 
 happen. Every year we get wood laid on the top of 
 our roof over the sugar-cane leaf to keep it down in 
 case of a hurricane. We generally get it put on in the 
 first week of this month ; for, according to some who 
 ought to know, a hurricane has never occurred before 
 the twelfth of January. Believing that, and partly 
 owing to our being away on Aniwa, we had not put on 
 our storm rigging ; and thus were ill prepared for what 
 followed. 
 
 On Sabbath, as it was very wet, we had short service 
 so as to let the natives away home quickly. The day 
 was very dull, and as we were newly home we felt a 
 little dull ourselves. After our Enjrlish and native
 
 FIRST r.X PKRIEXCE F A III' I: i;l('.\ XF. I VA 
 
 worship we went to bed about nine o'clock. There was 
 a good blow of wind then, but as it was only the fourth 
 of the month, I did not think much about it, althousrh 
 the aneroid was very low. I went to sleep, but whatever 
 was the cause of it, William could not sleep. About 
 twelve o'clock he wakened me, and said he thought 
 he would go into the dining-room and look at the 
 aneroid. . . . By this time the wind was coming down 
 in great gusts; accordingly we both rose and went to the 
 dining-room, and found that the glass was falling fast. 
 I took the precaution to take down the pictures from 
 the walls, which I put in a chest. All our albums, 
 work-boxes, ornaments, &c., I put in boxes or drawers ; 
 I put the lamps and all breakables in the sideboard, 
 and a large tray over my seam basket and sewing 
 machine, so as in every way possible to be prepared for 
 the worst. While this was going on the aneroid was 
 still falling, but as we could do no more I lay down on 
 the dining-room sofa. The house shook at such a 
 rate, and the Avind having torn off the roofing 
 up at the ridge pole, the rain soon soaked our beds 
 through and through. Not knowing the moment the 
 roof might fall in, we thought it better to abandon the 
 house to its fate and seek shelter in a native house. 
 At this time my chief anxiety was to save my locket 
 for the sake of your cartes, and also our albums ; but 
 William assuring me that there was no danger of the 
 walls falling but only the roof, I left all. We betook 
 ourselves to the yam house. I took out a lot of 
 cushions and, laying them in a row, made a bed for 
 myself William was groping about in the dark, being 
 too excited to lie down, and at the same time adding
 
 144 AdXES C. P. WATT. 
 
 to ray excitement, as I feared that a tree or something 
 else mi<j;ht fall on his head and kill him. All was 
 dark as pitch, and the wind was roaring like a mighty 
 cataract ; we could hardly hear ourselves speak. The 
 wind came down in fearful strength, and caused the 
 hou.se in which I was to shake at such a rate that I felt 
 as if I were on shipboard. Being cold and wet, and 
 fearing the hou.se would fall on me, again I made 
 another " flitting," trying the teacher's house, in which 
 was a good fire. I thought to warm m3^self, but here all 
 our strength was needed to try and hold up the walls of 
 the house. I once more rushed out into the darkness 
 amidst pelting rain and terrific wind to make my way 
 to Kaipapa's cook-house, which, being made after the 
 native shape, was less likely to be blown down than our 
 European-shaped houses. I Avas not long there until 
 our teachers, having given up their house to its fate, 
 came in, as also did William, wearied with his watching. 
 There being a good fire, we warmed ourselves. One of 
 the natives gave me his bed, and the wind being a little 
 calmer, I lay down and dozed. About five a.m. the 
 day dawned, and William proposed that we should 
 leave the native house and go into our own and try to 
 get some rest. The wind was now quite moderate, and 
 I rose to go into our own house to have a sleep. On 
 coming out of Kaipapa's house the sight that met ray 
 eyes drove all thoughts of sleep far from me. All 
 around was desolation. Yards and yards of new and 
 old fencing lay on the ground ; fencing that had cost 
 us pounds and the natives many days' work, all laid 
 level in one night. On we came to our desolate house, 
 with every floor swimming and the roof torn up ; not
 
 FIRST EXrJ'JRIEXCE OF A HUItlilCANE. 14.> 
 
 a dry place to sit on. The house looked so dismal that 
 I went out to look about the premises. What a sight ! 
 The teacher's house and yam-house were blown off the 
 straight, the mangle-house was a heap of ruins, and so 
 was our washing-house, &c., &c. During the day we 
 heard that the church roof was also injured, the church 
 fence lying flat on the ground, and that the boat-house 
 was a total wreck. Our premises were in a fearful 
 mess with broken fences, fallen trees, &c. We did not 
 know where to begin ; and, shall I confess it ? I began 
 by a good " greet." This cleared my eyes a little, and 
 I was able to see my way somewhat, although, owing to 
 having had no sleep, I felt unable for much. At first 
 the natives could do nothing but stand and shout in 
 W(jnder and amazement at the thorough desolation, and 
 instead of trying to put things to rights, only stood and 
 talked. I daresay that was the chief cause of my 
 shedding tears. Soon afterwards, however, a band of 
 Tannese came and, along with our Aneityumese, put 
 our house in repair, so that by twelve o'clock we had a 
 roof over our heads once more. William remarked to 
 me m the morning, " We are homeless wanderers." 
 How much cause for oratitude have we when we think 
 how readily the Tannese came and helped in our 
 extremity. Two days afterwards we had all the fences 
 propped up, and now, January 15th, our new boat- 
 house is finished and the cow-house is to be commenced 
 to-morrow ; and all our other houses have again been 
 made water-tight. The severity of the storm and grief 
 at the loss of property unnerved me very much, but 
 fear as to the impression which might be left on the 
 natives' minds troubled me most. They believe many
 
 14ti AUXES C. r. WATT. 
 
 can make wiud, ami I feared that thev might blame us, 
 or each otlier, and so lead to war. The latter was the 
 case as far as blaming each other went. The shore 
 people had a previous (juarrel with the inland people, 
 and the hurricane raised all their latent wrath. War 
 .seemed likely to ensue. On Sabbath we heard that 
 they were going to fire on each other, so we determined 
 to see what our intervention might do. Early on 
 Monday we, and Kauea, wh(j comes from that district, 
 went inland and succeeded in getting the people there 
 to promise not to fight. After that we hastened down 
 to tell the shore people and try to get them to do like- 
 wise. On our return we found them all gathered 
 together in the public square, and to our delight were 
 informed that they had decided not to fight ; because 
 if they fought their plantations of yams would go to 
 ruin. Thus this untoward event was brought to a 
 happy conclusion. It was not fear of war that caused 
 us to interfere, for we are on the best of terms with both 
 parties and had nothing to fear as to personal safety ; 
 but when (quarrels are abroad the natives are so 
 excited that we can do little among them. Just last 
 Sabbath the people at church seemed so inditierent to 
 what was being said, that 1 felt sad to think that we 
 were labouring as if in vain. Now this was out of no 
 disrespect to us, but just because their minds were 
 taken up with other things. As I have said, we have 
 got our houses and premises into pretty fair working 
 order ; the natives are coming forward readily to help, 
 and we will get over our loss (though native food will 
 be very scarce), but I have my fears as to the safety of 
 our dear little vessel. She would be near Aneityum.
 
 FIRST LXI'KUIEXCK OF A JIURIUCANE. 147 
 
 Has she escaped unhurt < or is she lying a wreck on 
 Aneityum ? * If she is safe you ^vill have heard of her 
 arrival in Sydney ere this reaches you. When we will 
 know it is hard to conjecture. I am glad we have 
 plenty of stores for ourselves if anything is wrong. We 
 are expecting a mail daily by the vessel that will take 
 this up to the colonies. In all probability .she will tell 
 us of the " Dayspring." We are sending this overland 
 to Mr Neilson, to be posted there. We have not heard 
 from him since the hurricane. 
 
 Kauea is still with us, but during our absence on 
 Aniwa, Kaianga was married, and owing to the natives 
 quarrelling she has not been down since our return. 
 She is very young, not over twelve years of age, and 
 her husband is about eighteen or nineteen. They have 
 built a nice European-shaped house, and have taken 
 up housekeeping already. All the rest of our establish- 
 ment remains as it was, excepting Yemeitahak, who 
 had a baby girl on Christmas eve. They carried out 
 our request, and performed none of the heathen 
 ceremonies usually done on children, and I am happy 
 to say she is a fair, bright little baby. The fears of 
 those who thought that some evil would befall the 
 child, because they had departed from the command- 
 ments of their ftithers, have been disappointed, and we 
 are much gratified, as we hope others may follow their 
 example. When we came home from Aniwa, I made 
 up a little present for them, and named the baby 
 " Nancy," after myself. The natives could not 
 pronounce "Agnes," besides William always calls me 
 
 'Tlie " Dayspring" ?m.s wrecked on Aneityum.
 
 148 A'.XES a. r. WATT. 
 
 Nancy when alone. I visit Nancy and her mother 
 several times a day, and it is pleasant to see how she is 
 thriving. It" spared, she will be my little table-maid 
 by and by. While I am writing this Kauea and Yarere 
 are bus}"^ making dresses for themselves, by the light of 
 the lamp. Yarere is quite a little old-fashioned woman 
 of ten years old, and .sets the breakfast and tea table 
 daily. How precocious the native children are ! The}' 
 could buy and sell children of the .same age at home, so 
 far as knowing things is concerned. 
 
 Friday 17th. All is quiet. Yesterday, no fewer 
 than thirty natives came forward and repaired the 
 church, and the fence round the grounds, also cleaning 
 and sweeping the premises, for nothing. We told 
 them that if we asked them to work on our own 
 private premises we would, and always did, pay them, 
 but that this was quite different. The church and its 
 fence were public property, and that if they felt the 
 worship to be a good thing, they would repair it for 
 nothing. Our invitation was responded to by the 
 thirty. I felt very much gratified. I boiled a large 
 pot of beans, and another of rice, besides a piece of salt 
 meat, for their dinner. 
 
 September 30th. I fear you will be writing to 
 enquire why I am writing so few letters this year, but 
 it is no fault of mine, I can assure you. I am thinking 
 and speaking of you all every day. The reason for my 
 letters being fewer is the want of time. In past years 
 I wrote long letters in the hot season, but then we 
 could not get the natives to come to school, and had 
 long days to devote to writing. On the contrary, 
 last hot season we had school for five hours a day three
 
 rinsT h'X /'/■:/,'/ /:\c/: <>/■■ A ii ii;i:ic.\xi:. \\:\ 
 
 (lays in the week, and that hrokc up my tiiiie very 
 much, besides I was so wearied after it that I couhl uol 
 write. With making up seams for them, over and 
 above my own sewing, I iind more tlian I could 
 overtiike. That state of things continued until Mrs 
 Paton and family came here, and after they left I wrote 
 a good lonjj letter for the mail which left here about a 
 month ago by the Mission vessel. What we have 
 been doing since then I will tell you presently ; and 
 though it may hjok small on paper, it has been so big 
 as to put writing out of the question. 
 
 When the Mission vessel left, we had just got the 
 pantry finished. The doing of it made a great mess: 
 what with chopping wood and mixing lime, every 
 corner was more or less abused. After the vessel left, 
 we commenced another lean-to at the back. It 
 consists of two apartments — one a bath-room, the othei 
 a printing-office. These two are finished, except tlu- 
 doors and windows, which William hopes to finish 
 to-morrow. 
 
 You understantl that all our roofs are thatched with 
 svigar-cane leaf, which requires to be renewed now and 
 again. Ours have lasted since we came till now, and 
 this year we are putting on new thatch. Now we have 
 no ceiling on our rooms, all is open up to the ridge 
 pole ; so you can fancy the mess when the old thatch is 
 stripped off. Our bedroom was done last week ; and I 
 can assure you that the day after the new thatch was 
 put on, Yemeitahak and I had a hard job cleaning up. 
 The day after to-morrow we hope to get the dining- 
 room done, and after that the study and the store-room. 
 We have also been <'etting a utw roof for our school-
 
 1.W A';\/-:s ('. r. watt. 
 
 liouse. To-day, William has been .superintending the 
 putting up of a cow-house. 
 
 But you will say, what have you to do with all that 
 building ^ Well, I will tell you. I bought all the 
 thatch, and am still buying it, although I have got 
 upwards of five hundred roots already. Then I have to 
 see that the workers get some food, besides helping 
 William with my sage advice. 
 
 The bustle we are in with building, thatching, 
 bartering, &c., has been increased with printing. We 
 have spent two days last week, and the same this week, 
 printing a copy of our hymns. The Society (Glasgow 
 Foundry Boys') only sent out as much of the large type 
 as would print one page ; and as the small is so very 
 small, and our natives prefer the large, we thought it 
 l3etter to spend extra time and give it to them. They 
 are not too fond of reading, so we wish to encourage 
 them as much as possible, and humour their likes and 
 dislikes. I have no doubt but, if the Tannese make a 
 good use <jf this book in large type, the Foundry Boys 
 will send us out as nmch more as will do at least four 
 pages, and save us all the extra trouble.* 
 
 Another thing that is occupying our time, and I do 
 not grudge it, is the evening school. Three weeks ago we 
 commenced it, and seven outsiders came, making a class 
 of eleven, who are learning to read and write. William 
 printed one hymn, a translation of the Hundredth Psalm, 
 and we aie teaching them to read without spelling. 
 Mr Inglis seems to think they learn ([uicker that way, 
 and certainly it is the more interesting way. We have 
 
 * A larije sujjply of ty|)«^ was rei-eived later on.
 
 rii;sT i:\i'i:i!ii:Mn: OF A iiriinicAM:. i".i 
 
 tea about six, and about seven we beat the bell and the 
 
 service commences. We have it in the dining-room. 
 
 The new-comers are mostly boys ; five of them .-ire 
 
 under seventeen. . . . 
 
 But I must be done, hoping this will find you all 
 
 well. May oar God bless you all both temporally and 
 
 spiritually, 
 
 Is the daily prayer of 
 
 Your own 
 
 Agnks.
 
 IX. 
 
 A GLIMPSE OF CIVILISATION. THE 
 MARTYRDOM OF TAUKA. 
 
 1. TO THE FAMILY. 
 
 Aneityum, 14th July, 1874. 
 
 My Dear Ones at Home,— I will write a family letter 
 now, for though I have a large mail ready for you all, 
 there is still a months news to write up. My last 
 letter was from Aniwa, where I was enjoying myself 
 immensely in the good comjDany of three worthy ladies, 
 Mrs Paton, Mrs Milne, and Mrs Annand. Aniwa, with 
 the dear friends there, is the dearest spot in these seas 
 to me, and I shall ever look back to the pleasant days 
 spent there. We four " sistern "' w^ere three weeks 
 together, and were very sorry to part. On leaving us, 
 the Rev. Dr Steel of Sydney said he supposed we were 
 going to hold a New Hebrides Ladies' Synod, and that 
 he would be much interested in seeing a copy of our 
 minutes. However, we must have thought it more 
 judicious ri> keep ou)- resolutions to ourselves, as we 
 did not put any of our deliberations on jDaper. We 
 spent our time writing letters, playing and singing 
 hymns, sewing, reading aloud, and a little painting in 
 water-colour.
 
 A liLIMrSK or riVllASATlOX. If).} 
 
 On Saturday, June 20th, the Mission vessel returned 
 and brought back our husbands. On Monthly we all 
 left, except Dr Steel (who was to spend a few days 
 there), and shaped our course for Tanna. It was 
 evening when we left, and we ladies kept on deck till 
 near ten, admiring the volcano, talking of pleasant 
 memories, and, I fear, building castles in the air. 
 Early next morning we were off Kwamera. where 
 Neptune seems to hold his revels, and very often 
 puts a veto on passengers going ashore. Mr and Mrs 
 Iiiglis and we two had to land, as those dear people 
 were going' to honour us with a visit ; and although 
 there was a good deal of sea on, Mrs Milne braved it 
 all, only to be an hour or two on shore. 
 
 ( )n landing, we found our people rather shy ; the 
 cause of w'hich we afterwards found out. There ha& 
 been a great deal of sickness, and the devil had been 
 busy. He always is ; and on Tanna he has succeeded 
 in breaking up the Mission twice through superstition 
 connected with sickness. The Tannese, as you are 
 already aware, believe that they have the power of 
 causino- sickness and death by means of " nahak " or 
 witchcraft, and the missionary being a sacred man, they 
 attribute the same powers to him as to themselves. 
 Now% as there has been much sickness during the 
 whole season, they sent messengers daily among them- 
 selve's to enquire who was causing it, and met daily to 
 harangue each other in their villages. As they could 
 find no clue, they came to the conclusion that it must 
 be the Aneityumese teachers. From the teachers it 
 passed to the missionaries, and during our absence they 
 came to the conclusion that thev had better ask us to
 
 l.%4 At.XES C. r. WATT. 
 
 leave. But how could they get quit of us, with our 
 teachers, and the gospel I If only we had never come * 
 — but to drive us away would doubtless be followed by 
 sickness and death wholesale. Some took our part, 
 and some were as^ainst us. One man volunteered to 
 bum our house, as he thought that would be the most 
 effectual wav of ofettincf us to leave : or he would fire 
 on the boat as we were going to land. But they had 
 not said, " If the Lord will." The devil overreached 
 himself; for we landed in safety and found not a single 
 fowl of our stock awantins, nor the sliorhtest damasre 
 done. Those who were friendly before have become 
 more attached to us ; having sutfered shame for His 
 name and for His servants. 
 
 Mr Inglis had brought Nokoanpakou, the chief of 
 the one side of Aneityum, from whose district our 
 teachers come. He is quite an authority among our 
 Tannese. I think his was a most provi<lential visit, 
 and did much to restore a right state of affairs. Our 
 *' noble " Tannese confessed their faults, said there 
 would be no more of it, and exchanged presents with 
 the Aneityumese. 
 
 Now, I fully expect to hear that you are worrying 
 yourselves more about these things than we do who 
 are on the spot. The Tannese talk plenty, and are 
 very brave in words, but there it ends. Not even an 
 ATieityumese teacher has been killed by our people. 
 But I trust in higher strength than theirs. They have 
 no power except it be given them from above, and till 
 the Lord will, no evil can befall us if we trust in Him. 
 When He shall .see fit to will it, neither we nor any 
 mortal can avert it. Huw comforting' are those
 
 A (iJAMrsK OF dVILISATIOy. 155 
 
 words: "The Lord reigneth," "My times arc in Tliv 
 hand." 
 
 As our cow and bull have been very troublesome in 
 breaking into the natives' plantations, we killed them. 
 We distributed a good deal of the beef amonjr our 
 Tannese friends and enemies. Some could hardly eat 
 it, as they associated the cow's death and their bad talk 
 together. Others took a different view of the matter, 
 and said we had killed it to feed them and "make their 
 hearts good."' We had roast-beef every day for a week 
 at Kwamera, and all the way to Aueityum on board. I 
 don't know how others feel, but I could wish myself in 
 Old England for the sake of its roast-beef We get 
 sick tired of the unchanging round of pork and fowl, 
 fowl and pork, occasionally changing to salt beef, and 
 may be, on some other island, to nothing at all. 
 
 On Saturday, the 11th. the good ship "Paragon"* 
 came off Kwamera, and oh. what a bustle we had. 
 The " Kurimatau " had to be killed, so as to have a 
 piece to take off; and to help us forward, the natives 
 came selling yams. I was quite worried to get all 
 done, but shortly after dinner we finished, made all 
 necessar}' arrangements for leaving, and walked down 
 to the beach, where the boat was waiting. What a 
 contrast from the day we landed three weeks before. 
 Avhen the natives were all ashamed ! Quite a crowd 
 came down to bid us good-bye, and many asked us if 
 we were really coming back again. Considering their 
 bad talk, and .seeing we had killed off our cows, they 
 
 *The vessel chai-tered to take th.e jdace of the " Daysprincr," 
 which had been wrecked in Januarv, 1S73.
 
 l.Vi AoXJlS C. J'. WATT. 
 
 seemed rather doubtful. What a waving of hands as 
 we pushed oti' from the shore ! A few good strokes and 
 we were outside the reef, and exposed to the fury of the 
 waves. It had been cahn in the morning, but was now 
 blowing half a gale, and we were close on the wintl. as 
 the sailors say. As the water was coming in and 
 drenching us, I took refiige untler good Mr Inglis' 
 shoulder and got but little, but William and Mrs Inglis 
 got a good deal. ])r Steel, who saw us from the ship, 
 said we were more like a flying-fish than a boat, as our 
 bows were quite out of the water at times. Soon after 
 getting on board, we became very meek, and were glad 
 to lie down quietly. What a queer thing a ship is ; 
 especially a mission ship. At times we have mission- 
 aries with their wives antl children, white men from 
 the captain to the sailors, black men from the king of 
 one of our islands, or a part of it, to the most degraded 
 of the devil's slaves. We have cows, pigs, goats, and 
 fowls. What a satherinw', and all in a small vessel ! 
 and yet, not one stands in another's way. Things are 
 all so well ordered and regulated on board ship. The 
 punctual bells, the ready "aye, aye, sir" to the 
 captain's commands, are all very pleasing to one who 
 admires discipline. 
 
 But now I had better tell you where we are, and 
 where we are bound for. Well ! we are at Dr Geddie's 
 old station, enjoying the company and hospitality of 
 those good people the Murrays, who do so much to 
 make one feel at home. I can assure you that down 
 here, where we have to bake our own bread, superintend 
 the firing of it, not to speak of the thousand and one 
 other duties we have to attend to, it is a great relief to
 
 .1 dLIMI'SE OF CIVII.ISATIOX. ir,; 
 
 be where you do not ie([uire to look after the culinary 
 arrangements. 
 
 T()-niorro\v we leave the harboui- for Sydney, where, 
 among other things, I will gratify you by getting a 
 photograph taken, a life-like one I hope, of two real 
 live missionaries from Tanna. 
 
 With much love, 
 
 1 am, my dear ones, 
 
 Your affectionate sister, 
 
 AoNES C. P. Watt. 
 
 2. KXTK.ICTS FKU.M .KJl.KNAL. 
 
 Thursday 16th. After dinner, saw the "Paragon" 
 start full sail for Sydney. We followed after in the 
 boat about six miles, and got on board at dark. I told 
 the captain that surely he thought I had a weakness 
 for the vessel's side at sea. 
 
 Monday i^Oth. Heavy sea, head wind. Saw Mare 
 yesterday. To-day, running more freely. Saw Isle 
 of Pines. 
 
 Wednesday 29th. A stormy day and stern sky. 
 The captain, William and I were sitting on the hen- 
 coop when up came a sea and ducked the two former. 
 Dr Steel conducted the Prayer Meeting, and spoke 
 on " Be ye followers of God, as dear children." He 
 e.xpressed his satisfaction at seeing so many turn out 
 regularly to w^orship. 
 
 Thursdav 30th. The wind fell light during the 
 evening, and during the night we were becalmed. Oh, 
 the rolling and the rumbling of the blocks on deck !
 
 158 Ai.XL'i^ C. /'. WATT. 
 
 All (Jay we found ourselves alteruatelv becalmed ami 
 in a fair wind till about three p.m., when the wind fell 
 linht and we began to settle on a lee-shore. For an 
 hour and a half we were drifting in. I saw the captain 
 was beginning to look uneasy, and glad was I to see 
 the telegraph tiag go up, and soon a tug steamer in the 
 ottiug came up. " What will you give us to tug you 
 in?" "What do you want?" "£10." "Oh, that is 
 too much ! " " We wont take j-ou for less." " All 
 right, take us in at £10 ! '" So here we are in Sydney 
 harbour. How I did enjoy .seeing everything ; the 
 lighthouses, and the steamers passing to and fro. I 
 felt what I had not experienced for more than five 
 years, viz., a touch of civilisation. Though it was 
 raining hard I stood on the deck dressed in my 
 waterproof and large plaid. It was only after the tug 
 came alongside, and we were at anchor, that I went 
 below. 
 
 :3. TC» THE FAMILY, 
 
 KwA.MKKA, October ITth, IS74. 
 
 My ever Dear Ones, — I purpose making this a 
 family letter for you all at Pollok Road and 
 elsewhere. The natives are very busy with their 
 plantations during the day, and the fact that they 
 prefer to imitate Nicodemus prevents them from 
 coming to day-school. So we, striving to our utmost, 
 in season and out of season, have a night-school about 
 an hour after sunset. We had it last year, and it was 
 well attended, and since our return from Sydney we 
 recommenced it. We have worship first, read half an
 
 A (ILIMPSK OF CIVIUSATIOX. ir>9 
 
 hour, and write the other half. ( )ui own establishniciit 
 provides eleven worshippers, eight df whom lemain U\ 
 school; six outsiders come to worship, tour of wliom 
 remain. Thus at worship, seventeen meet every 
 evening in our dining-room, and twelve remain to read 
 and write. They are all making fair progress. Now 
 this breaks up our evenings com])letely, so that 
 Saturday is my only clear night. We have some who 
 have come long distances during all the vears of our 
 residence here, ever}^ Sabbath while in health, and yet 
 they seem as far as ever from the Kingdom of God. 
 Many a time my spirit fails me when I think of tin- 
 days and years we have spent here, the thousands in 
 Glasgow and elsewhere that are praying for us, and 
 yet, these bones are still very diy. Showers of blessing 
 falling all around, and we like Esau still crying, " Bless 
 us also, O Father." If there is an Achan or a Jonah 
 in our work, O for sight to see it, and grace to cast it 
 out ; and for patience to wait the Lord's time. 
 
 Our goats make havoc in the natives' plantations. 
 We are anxious to keep them because they give us 
 milk and mutton. The natives are ver}' much annoyed 
 wnth them, and proposed selling us a piece of land and 
 putting a fence around it ; to this we agreed. During 
 our absence they made the fence; but, alas! for our purse, 
 and alas ! alas! foi- our feelings ; no less than sixty-tu'O 
 ])eople had been at it, and really I do not know how 
 much they expected to get. We gave about £10 worth 
 of goods, chiefly in adzes and axes, and yet they were 
 not pleased. ( )n(' man gave us a fearful tonguing: but 
 as no one backcij him, he felt rather small and left. 
 Public opinion was on uur side, and he was lield in
 
 mt Ai.XES C. I'. WATT. 
 
 disrepute.* A week later he brought a pig as a peace- 
 
 <jtiering, and we gave liini several yards of rope. He 
 
 was delighted, ami since then he has been ijuite 
 
 friendly with us personally : l)ut he is a very wicked 
 
 man. His name is Misauarin. He was seven years in 
 
 Fiji, and judging from his conduct since he came home, 
 
 I think Tanna might bless the trader who took him 
 
 away. While in Fiji he was involved in a murder, for 
 
 which he was nearly hanged, and was kept in gaol for 
 
 a long time. The natives .say that his long confinement 
 
 in prison is the cause of his ill-natui'e. I very much 
 
 <loubt it ; still he has said that he will never rest until 
 
 he has killed a trader in revenge. He breaks the 
 
 seventh commandment on every hand, and for some 
 
 time back he has dogged the footsteps of a woman who 
 
 lives with us. Her name is Tauka, and she is a very 
 
 nice woman. He has tried to seduce her several times, 
 
 and last Thursday renewed his request. She told him 
 
 that she had joined the worshipping people and could 
 
 not do that great wickedness. The villain ran for a 
 
 club and struck her two severe blows on the forehead, 
 
 breaking her .skull, and ran off leaving her for dead. 
 
 -Some people happened to come to the place soon after, 
 
 who came and told us and her husband. He brought 
 
 her home, and she now lies in a precarious state. The 
 
 villain is under the protection of his father-in-law. 
 
 Our young chief Nahi-abba is very angry about it, and 
 
 says he will not rest until he drives the wretch out of 
 
 the place, although it should be by war. There was a 
 
 *The fence enclosed three or four acres of UukI, and would have 
 to be renewed every two years at loncfcst. — T. W. L.
 
 .1 HUM l'>iE OF CIVILISATION. Mil 
 
 murder here early in the year; the victim was tlie 
 mother of Houye (one of our boys). The murderers 
 tied and took refuge in a village near. Soon after, in 
 that village, two people died, and all the rest, with only 
 two exceptions, were sick, whilst the instigatoi- of the 
 murder ilied of a grievous running sore. This has been 
 a lesson, but seemingly not to all. I believe that the 
 Lonl often follows up crime by punishment, in a very 
 marked manner, when dealing with heathen. In cases, 
 where no one has remarked it, the person concerned has 
 spontaneously said it was a judgment. 
 
 20th October. We were afraid the above-mentioned 
 cpiarrel might hinder the people from coming to church, 
 but last Sabbath the attendance was about the usual. 
 We have commenced lately holding two services on 
 Sabbath, but they are lazy as regards the second. 
 They have again got reeds and put a new fence round 
 the church, free ; and I think a few are more interested 
 in the services than before These few, and those who 
 come to school at night, with those living on our own 
 premises, are our earthly stay here, and impart a 
 ■comfort to our hearts, in this dark heathen land. 
 What could I do without the few loving ones who live 
 with us? The least in age, but not the least in love, is 
 Nancy. She calls me " Tattin," a word of her own 
 making. I take her on iny knee at night at worship, 
 and she sits quite quietly. She beats time to the 
 hymn with her hands, and when the prayer commences, 
 it would make you laugh to see her pretend to put her 
 hands over her eyes while all the time she is peeping 
 through her fingers. When the rest say " Amen " she 
 ^ivcs a long sigh of relief and looks up, quite glad that 
 II
 
 162 A'.XES C. r. WATT. 
 
 the service is over. When her mother is cooking their 
 evening meal, and Nancy feels hnngry, she puts her 
 hands over her eyes and mutters in imitation of asking 
 a blessing. This she does over and over again until 
 the meal is ready. As her mother, Yemeitahak, says, 
 she seems to think that she has only to ask a blessing 
 and the meal Avill be cooked. 
 
 I said before, that I got much comfort from my 
 home letters. I always prized them, but since the 
 visit of Moody and Sankey, they have been peculiarly 
 dear. Often I find myself saying, " Oh that I had been 
 at home, how I would have enjoyed the hymns." I 
 sing and say, 
 
 " Lord. I hear of showers of blessing 
 Thou art scattering full and free, 
 Showers the thirsty laud refreshing ; 
 Let some droppings fall on me." 
 
 I got and copied the words and music of " Jesus of 
 >sazareth passeth by," while in Sj'dney. I wish I had 
 a copy of the book, well bound, and in large type. 
 Often I play a hymn when I can't be bothered with 
 secular music. 
 
 October 2-ith. Poor Tauka died on Saturday 
 morning. She suffered a great deal. I had hope of 
 lier recovery till Friday, when she grew quite listless. 
 I asked her if she were dying, and she said she was. 
 When I said, " Who are you trusting to help you in the 
 hour of death ? " she at once said emphatically, " Yesu." 
 We trust she has gone to be with "Yesu" in that 
 happy land where people of every kindred and tongue, 
 who have trusted in Christ, shall be.
 
 A (HJMI'SEUI'CIMLISATIU.W W.i 
 
 November ITtli. We hail a severe gale on the 11th 
 which lifted tho thatch off the roof at the ridjije, ami 
 drenched all oiir Ixd. We didn't jjet to bed at all. 
 William slept on the top of the dining-room table and I 
 on the sola. It reminded me of the hurricane in which 
 the " Dayspring " was lost, but it was far less severe. I 
 think I mu.st be getting more hard-hearted now, or else 
 .strongor-minded, as I have not bothered my head 
 crying over it as I did last time. It is a sad drawback 
 that we cannot get some kind of roof here which would 
 last, and not be damaged by every strong wind. There 
 is no appearance of the " Dayspring " yet. Since the 
 storm, we have been rather anxious about her safety. 
 I will have letters ready for any chance vessel after she 
 leaves, but really we know of no chance until she 
 comes back again. If you get no mail for months, 
 don't wonder at it. As so much has been said about 
 the " slave trade," few vessels are seen here. 
 
 My dearly beloved ones, I know how trying these 
 long waits are to you ; but do ever strive to realize 
 that we are on our Father's footstool and under His 
 fatherly care. There is a " need be " for every trial, 
 and we know that all things work together for good to 
 
 o o o 
 
 them that love God. . . . 
 
 I am, 
 
 My dear, dear ones, 
 Your atiectionate sister and daughter, 
 
 AONES.
 
 X. 
 
 "EARTH(,)rAKES, WARS, AM) RUM()URS 
 
 OF WARS." 
 
 TO THE FAMILY. 
 
 KWAMKKA, TaNNA, 
 
 July Ttli, 187."). 
 
 Mv Dearly Beloved Ones, — I do not know whether 
 you have noticed it or not that I have written a great 
 (leal less during the past year. The chief cause of this 
 is the long unsettled state of things. The past 
 twelve months have been the most trying we have 
 had since we left home, and often when I ought to 
 have written I felt loth to do so, because the only 
 news I had was such as would alarm you, and in all 
 probability the cause of alarm would have subsided 
 long ere the letter reached you. I was very dull at the 
 time the vessel left in November; for owing to the 
 state of ferment we had been in at the time of Tauka's 
 murder, and the subsequent quarrels among the natives, 
 I had a strange presentiment of coming evil. That 
 night after the vessel left, Nahi-abba shot one of his 
 wives in the arm. We were awakened by an old 
 woman coming to tell Yemeitahak, to see if she would 
 go and dress the wound. The young woman got better, 
 and soon after got another ])rot>f of Nahi's attection, in
 
 h'A/rj / /(,)(. IK h\S, ir.l/.'X, a-. 
 
 !<>.-> 
 
 the t'urm oi a burning. Although Nahi-abba is our 
 friend, he is, 1 think, the most wretchedly in id husband 
 on the islantl. He is jealous about his wives' conduct 
 wiiile he was away in Fiji for seven 3'ears, and when in 
 the least they offend him he takes a lighted stick and 
 scorches their bodies. When it gets cold h<' ]iuts it in 
 
 KW.VMKKV NATIVKS AM> TKACIIKKS ( N A II I - A I'.l'.A To Till. KIi:1IT). 
 
 the fire again for a few minutes and then resumes the 
 diabolical process, no one daring to interfere. He was 
 very ill lately, and the ajiplication of medicine was 
 blessed by God in a very special manner. He seemed 
 surprised at the speedy cure, and I took the opportunity 
 of refreshing his memory regarding his evil deeds and
 
 ir.«) AfiXKS C. r. WATT. 
 
 God's great mercy to him. T hupe his spared life may 
 yet be devoted to Christ ami His cause, though, in the 
 meantime, he never comes to church. . . . 
 
 On the .SOth December the Neilsons came round to 
 spend New Years Day with us. We invited the 
 natives to come and shoot at a bottle and have games. 
 I am sorry to say it failed, as the non-church-going 
 people came in great numbers, and instead of looking 
 on the games as mutual fun and the prizes as proofs of 
 our generosity, they seemed to think that they were 
 playing for our amusement and the prizes were 
 payment. They sometimes wondered whether the pay 
 were enough for the feats they had performed. We 
 gave them dinner of native food, rice and tea, &c. The 
 rice was in two basins, and, as we had lots of spoons, we 
 told them they could keep them. We knew we would 
 not get them all back, so to prevent them from stealing 
 part w^e gave all. I felt rather annoyed, however, when 
 I heard they had taken the two basins to the bargain, 
 saying, they would do well to feed their pigs in. You 
 may be sure I sent messengers after the delinquents 
 and got back my two basins. We have made up our 
 minds, if spared till next New-year's-day, to have a 
 soiree in the church, and in that way only church-goers 
 will come. . . . 
 
 On the 14th of January we had a hurricane which 
 destroyed our church and .school-house, also much of 
 the natives' food. This added fuel to the Hame, and 
 about a fortnight after, one poor wretch was shot dead 
 and left in the bush until the morning. Narin, the 
 murdered man, was notorious in more ways than one. 
 He often gave us no small trouble by spearing and
 
 EA I! ril<,> I -A KES, \\\ I //X, .(• 
 
 Stoning our goats. Among his own people he was very 
 officious. He had killed more than one, and was 
 plotting the death of other two when he was treacher- 
 ously shot by the party into whose hands he was 
 playing. He was nearly killed two days before, but a 
 friend took him away in time. Knowing this, he 
 adorned himself in holiday paint and earrings, so that 
 when he was killed he might be dressed ready for 
 burial. In this attire he sat on the day of his sad end, 
 seemingly waiting for a signal from his friends. A 
 single shot was heai'd, and, saying to his wife that he 
 must go and see what that shot meant, he left the 
 village in all the style of a Tanna chief and warrior, 
 carrying his loaded musket. It was supposed he went 
 to inveigle two of his own relations into the hands of 
 their enemies, but, as was afterwards seen, it was to 
 meet his own untimely end. On the day that his 
 body was found and buried, war was declared. His 
 friends were strong for revenge, and most extravagant 
 were the threats made, even by those who had been 
 regidar church attenders for years. We were amazed 
 to hear some of the most hopeful talking about making 
 an oven of some of their enemies. Of course their 
 blood was up, and they said many things they never 
 performed. There were .several .skirmishes on both 
 sides; two villages were nearly burned, and the jjeople 
 moved nearer here. There was then a lull for a week 
 or two, and they plotted a morning attack. Both sides 
 seem to have laid the same plot, unknown to each 
 other. They met in the grey dawn, and could not 
 <listingui.sh between enemies and friends. Muskets 
 were fired at random ; a man on the one side and a
 
 KiS M.XES C. /'. WATT. 
 
 youth oil the othur were shot, and buried in the same 
 grave ; and a few days afterwards a man died from 
 injuries received in the aftVay. Although this was the 
 last blood shed, yet the alarming threats did not cease 
 for long after. We had our share of them ; and our 
 house was to be burned over and over ajjain. I think 
 things wore pretty much this way. Our ])eople knew 
 that their enemies were on friendly terms with us, and 
 irom that, tancied that they would not come within 
 range of our house, and so, to disabuse their minds, the 
 I'uemy kept making our house the subject of all their 
 threats. We knew this, and I must confess that I felt 
 rather uneasy, seeing that, as a rule, houses are burned 
 at night. About seven miles from here, our old 
 teacher, Luka, had live shots tired at him. One 
 knocked otf his hat am\ another grazed his side. Since 
 then, Luka stays with u.s. The wife of a man who had 
 been killed gave a poisonous fish to Milliama, Luka's 
 wife, and she, being in delicate health, died from its 
 effects. In this state of tmcertainty we slept but little, 
 never knowing when the rumours might prove realities. 
 On Sabbath, '2()t\\ March, we had not long retired to 
 rest when, at a <piartor-past eleven, we were startled by 
 an earthquake. We rose and ran to the door, lest, if it 
 were becoming severe, some of the rafters might give 
 way. It .soon subsided, however, and as we have been 
 six years here and have never experienced a severe one, 
 we went again to sleep. Again at half-past three we 
 had another, and repeated our exit. This was severe, 
 ami as the hous(; rocked to and fro, I was half way out 
 to the cook-house before it subsided. We ajrain went 
 to bf'd, but no) to sleep. I sat all the time till
 
 KARTllQUAKES, W'AUS, <(•'•. lti!> 
 
 daybreak, ami ere the morning Jawneil I eounted no 
 fewer than seventeen shocks. 
 
 After breakfast, as Mr Watt was enfjfnirecl, 1 was 
 acting the part of architect in the erection of a new 
 grass church ; and the girls were in the pantry washing 
 the breakfast dishes. I had just been putting in marks 
 where the windows were to be, when suddenly the 
 ground began to shako and the trees to rock violently. 
 I ran home as best I could and found the ofirls in a 
 great state of anxiety, as so nu\ny dishes had been 
 broken. This was at half-past seven. We had all 
 resumed our duties, and I was over at the church again ; 
 the few who were working were gettino- on well ; when, 
 without any notice, a volley of shots were fired towanl 
 us. I saw several bullets fall into the sea, but the 
 excitement was so great that I could not make out 
 whei-e they came from. 1 went up to where Mr Watt 
 and the girls were and we went into the house. Very 
 soon, thereafter, every native in the place was off in 
 the direction from which the bullets came. That was 
 the final volley, and seems to have been levelled at no 
 one, but only fired into the air; and, although no 
 formal peace has been proclaimed, there has been no 
 more war. I cannot saj^ the same abi>ut the earth- 
 ([uake.<;. They occurred at all hours and in all weathers, 
 and gave no warning. Between the 27th of March and 
 the 7th of June I have twenty -sern} marked in my 
 journal. Thev came at irregular intervals. On some 
 days there woulil be three and four, then perhaps none 
 for a week. After a day when we had one or two, T 
 never went to bed, but lay on the dining-room sofa, 
 with the door unlocked, so as to get out tpiickly : for if
 
 170 A(,X£S C. /'. UATT. 
 
 von are nervous and shakiui; with the house rocking, 
 it is a dithcult thing to unlock the door. Again, after 
 a few (lays had intervened, I took courage and went to 
 bed. If there ha<l been none all day, we tried to 
 persuade ourselves that we would have none till 
 morning. Strange to say they often occurred at eight 
 or nine o'clock, and served to jiut sleep out of my head 
 at least. 
 
 Between hurricanes and wars and earthipuikes, this 
 has been by far the most trying season we have had. 
 As yet, we have suffered little from the earthquakes 
 compared with those on other islands. On the first 
 night, one of the earthquakes was accompanied by a 
 tidal wave, of which we knew nothing until the next 
 (lav. At Erromanga, the sea rose and broke awav a 
 stone wall four feet thick, washed up close to Mr 
 Robertson's door, and I believe he, with his wife and 
 child, took shelter in a cave till morning. On Aniwa, 
 the tidal wave ran far inland and left a great manv 
 fish, among which was a fine turtle. The Patons kept 
 blankets on the verandah, so that when they rushed 
 out they would not be cold. At Mr Inglis' station on 
 Aneityum the tidal wave broke through the front door 
 and went through the house. Mrs Inglis was sick, and 
 happened to be up and dressed. Hearing the natives 
 call that the eartht^uake had brought up the sea, she 
 escaped in safety. Mr Inglis was behind her in 
 fleeing, and the sea was already up to his waist. It 
 was only by the assistance of the natives that he was 
 saved from being carried off his feet. At the other 
 side of Aneityum there is a small island, on which has 
 been ;« trailing station for twenty vravs. The sea broke
 
 EAHTJKJ (JAKES, UMA'.s', a-. i:i 
 
 down all the houses on it, and the inhabitaiits were in 
 great danger. Several houses, and the stone church ow 
 Aneityum, were rent. But we have to sing of mercy as 
 well as of judgment. A trader's house, within two 
 hundred yards of us, was smashed to atoms by the 
 January hurricane, while we escaped, having only our 
 thatch damaged. . . . 
 
 Notwithstanding war, excitement, and hurricanes, we 
 succeeded in getting our new buildings finished and 
 the gfround laid out in good order. While the natives 
 were running off day after day to fight, their missionary 
 was busy correcting and printing the " Parables of our 
 Lord," and the four little girls and I kept up our daily 
 sewing school. Some of our teachers seem to have 
 despaired of the power of the Gospel on the Tannese, 
 and expressed freely their opinion of our foolishness in 
 persisting to finish our premises or print books. They 
 said, "These are times to fiee, not to build.'' Our 
 reply was, " You can flee if you like ; as yet, we see no 
 cause to flee." And so here we are, as safe as ever, and 
 in some ways we never had more encouragement in our 
 work. Like the walls of Jerusalem, our building was 
 done in troublous times, in which, owing to the 
 excitement among the natives, we could do no Mission 
 work. I often said, it was fortunate we had it to do, 
 otherwise we would have been idle. Tf the mind is 
 distracted, it is hard to study, but not so hard to do 
 manual work. 
 
 We have had evening school more or less regularly 
 for two years. Our experience here has been that the 
 natives turn out then, when they will not look near 
 during the day. About two years ago a few boys
 
 17:.' AOXES C. I'. WATT. 
 
 joineil, but a boat from Aneityum came and took them 
 away to labour for a trader there. Those who were left 
 came only occasionally. After Tauka's murder they 
 were afraiil to come, so only those livinu- on our own 
 premises attended. The excitement was abating-, and 
 they were beginning to come back, when Narin's 
 murder led to war and so stoj>]>ed their learning once 
 more. 
 
 However, in the end of March the boys came a great 
 ileal about our premises and bothered us much coming 
 into the house and touching everything. As a punish- 
 ment, we told them that ever}' one who came in must 
 take a lesson on the alphabet, and whenever tired of 
 learning was to go out, as this was our private house 
 and we would not allow stragglers. One boy named 
 Yako took quite a fancy to his punishment and came 
 day after day for his le.sson, and hearing that we had 
 evening school came to it also ; others followed. In 
 order to induce them to attend more regularly, we keep 
 a roll which is called nightly. I offered a prize for 
 regular attendance, and the thing most valued is a ofood 
 fishing line. The number on the roll is nineteen, and 
 the average attendance fifteen. We ring the bell at 
 half-past six, have worship, teach a passage of Scripture. 
 I read and they repeat a new verse every week. Those 
 already committed to memory are, " Behold the Lamb 
 of God " ; " God so loved the world " ; " Seek ye first 
 the kingdom of God," .kc. We have now begun to 
 learn the Ten Commandments. After that the roll is 
 called and the reading commences. We teach by 
 syllables, and read until half-past seven, then tho.se who 
 write get their copy-books and write till eight o'clock.
 
 EAirrJKjIAKJ'JS, WAJi'S, dr. 17.S 
 
 On Saturday night we have only worship and singing 
 of hymns ; and on Sabbath, worship and a Bible story. 
 We have also a mid-day school, but the attendance is 
 very irregular, somehow or other they cannot be induced 
 to come in daylight; not Nicodemus-like for fear of the 
 Jews ; but just because there are so many other things, 
 such as Avork and play, to take up their attention 
 during the da}'. We also give a prize when one 
 masters a given task. Four boys got clasp knives, 
 and five girls necklaces of red and blue beads. A 
 goodly number wait for reading after service on 
 Sabbath, but alas ! some have been so learning for over 
 six years now and cannot read yet, and never will at 
 the present rate of progress. 
 
 Our out-stations at present are few and unoccupied. 
 As I have already said, old Luka has had to leave his 
 station after being fired at. The natives there were 
 very unkind to him, and he was too far off for us to 
 help him. Meiyahau is also vacant, as Manman has 
 been forced to leave on account of his health. He had 
 a very severe illness in January last ; indeed, we almost 
 despaired of his recovery. He has since returned 
 home, whether permanently or for a time we do not yet 
 know. He was our most energetic teacher, and had by 
 far the most missionary spirit. He held service at 
 several places besides the one at which he was located, 
 and was very much liked by the people. 
 
 . . . The Aneityumese are somewhat weary of 
 well-doing on Tanna. They have told the people what 
 is right and what is wrong, and, because they have not 
 obeyed their word, they think them unworthy of being 
 taught. They fear the Tanuese, who are ver}' rude ;
 
 174 A(;X£i; C. J'. WATT. 
 
 tor although their knowledge is very limited, I have 
 even heard a little boy criticise a teacher forty years 
 old. 
 
 Some time ago, we went to see a place called Ifefe, 
 where in heavy rain there is a waterfall. The natives 
 profess to jump from the top into the pool below, a 
 height of fifty feet. There was a good depth of water 
 in the pool, yet none were brave enough to show their 
 jumping powers. The water was too shallow, they 
 said, so we had to content ourselves with a siyht of the 
 place from which they ought to have jumped. The 
 natives are very much given to exaggeration, and I 
 doubt if ever they did it. . . . 
 
 I must not forget to tell you of Kauea, who, although 
 owing to the surrounding darkness is obliged to be one 
 of two wives, has never joined in any heathen dance, 
 and never returned to the custom of wearing heathen 
 ornaments, nor of painting her face. Lately, when all 
 the women in the district Avere dancing thev called on 
 her to join. She gave them an evasive answer ; but 
 fearing their entreaties might prevail, she went twice 
 into the house and prayed. She told me that after she 
 prayed the second time she felt strong, and would not 
 have yielded ; but the temptation was not repeated. 
 She is now teaching a few to read every morning. She 
 has been a great comfort to us, and makes us feel that 
 our labour has not been in vain. 
 
 When sick the natives try all means in their power 
 to escape death : still, although they fear death, they do 
 not fear the after con.sequences. Hence the frequent 
 attempts at suicide. They generally take care to be 
 seen. The men shoot themselves, and the women
 
 W ATKKFAIJ., JFK!!;, TANNA.
 
 I7G A«;XES C. P. WATT. 
 
 either climb a cocoa-nut tree aud throw themselves down 
 or hang themselves ; very often for paltry quarrels. 
 
 Perhaps it is the heat of the climate that leads to the 
 custom of every individual man, woman, or child having 
 their separate things, such as house, bed, blanket, or 
 axe. In a house there was but one blanket, which 
 belonged to the wife, who is a regular attender at 
 church ; she had got it from us in payment for some 
 work done. Her husband took a fancy to it and took 
 it over to his side of the lire. For this his better half 
 took him to task ; but he retorted that he had both the 
 will and the power to strangle her, and so saying, drew 
 -a small rope to him and began to trifle with it. All of 
 a sudden she snatched it from him, saying, " I '11 .save 
 you the trouble, and deprive you of the honour of 
 strangling me." In less time than it takes me to write 
 this, she tied one end to the rafters of the house, made 
 a noose of the other end and put it over her head. 
 Had not her lord and master cut the rope smartly, no 
 doubt she would have died. 
 
 If a wife wishes to chop some wood she must either 
 take her own axe if she has one, or else break the 
 sticks over a large stone. 
 
 Among the many bad traits of character among the 
 Tannese there are a feAV good ones. Whatever food 
 one gets he divides among those around him. Even 
 little children are taught to share their things with 
 other.s. Those who do not are called mean. Meanness 
 is considered one of the cardinal vices, and liberality 
 one of the cardinal virtues. If a native has been out 
 all day, and has cooked, and is just about to eat the 
 only bite of food in the house, he will ofifer it to a
 
 K. I /,' 77/0 1 •. ( A' AW, If. 1 Its, dr. 
 
 neighbour if he happens to come in, and if it is accepted 
 he will go supperless to bed, rather than be called 
 stingy. You will rarply meet a native woman who 
 has not her bag on her arm, in which she carries 
 whatever cooked food she has. She offers it to those of 
 her friends whom she meets, and if after having given 
 it all away, she meets another, she opens the bag to let 
 her see she is speaking the truth. Hence if they want 
 to keep anything for themselves they have to deny that 
 they are in jjossession of it. Need I say they do not 
 think lying a sin ? With regard to stealing. If one 
 steals and is not found out, he is praised for his- 
 cleverness. Alas ! if he is found out, he is " a thief" 
 
 If I had to study my writing and composition, it is 
 rarely I would write, for endless are the interruptions I 
 have had in the scribbling of this lengthy epistle. I 
 meant to have a nice quiet afternoon to-day ; but, as usual, 
 we have had visitors. I have just to look as pleasant 
 as possible to our intruding friends, who walk in 
 without asking leave. While writing the first part of 
 this page two friends came in. They chatted away 
 quite freely, to the extent of putting an end to my 
 writing, and paid no attention to the many hints I 
 save as to the desirableness of being left alone. I at 
 last took refuge in flight, and paid a visit to the goat- 
 house and saw all our little kids. On my return, I 
 found that the object of my absence had been gained. 
 But as I fancy you will agree with me that I have 
 written enough, I will add no more. 
 
 I remain. 
 
 Yours affectionately, 
 
 Agnes C. P. Watt. 
 
 12
 
 XI. 
 RAIN-MAKING. 
 
 Aniwa, August •_'4th, isTti. 
 
 My Dear Father, Mother, Brothers, and Sisters, 
 — . . . After the " Dayspring " took away our mail for 
 Sydney in the end of Decembei-, we had very dry 
 weather, and the natives became much concerned about 
 their t-rops. As they beUeve in their power of making 
 rain, they set about it. I have not seen them do it ; 
 but I know they have sacred stones, which they use 
 somewliat in this manner. When rain is wanted the 
 rain-maker takes a canoe, puts it somewhere in the 
 bush, and fills it with water ; fresh water, it must not 
 be salt. He proceeds inland to some known pool, 
 accompanied by several others, who, though ordinary 
 men, want rain, and help him. Each makes a cocoa-nut 
 leaf basket, into which he puts leaves of certain trees 
 and plants (I am not aware that any of them are from 
 fruit trees), such as stone palms, &;c., and a small 
 banana plant. When they think they have enough, 
 taking a few leaves, or a branch of kava, they go direct 
 to the aforesaid pool, where the rain-maker commences 
 his incantations. Taking a basket of leaves, he calls on 
 his departed father and friends and asks them to join 
 him and his party in making rain, and then places the
 
 /;a/.\'-.wakj\(;. 179 
 
 basket in the pool. He does the same with each basket, 
 until he has placed them all in the water. He then 
 rolls a large stone over them to keep them down. This 
 done, he places the twig of kava on a letlge of earth (jr 
 stone near. He calls on his departed relatives to note 
 the fact of his having brought kava for them to drink, 
 and enjoins them to see that even now the clouds may 
 darken the sky, and that by the time they reach home 
 the first drops may be falling. The whole party then 
 start for home. On the way the rain-maker suddenly 
 breaks from the party, and following a bypath, 
 gathering certain leaves as he proceeds, he carries them 
 to the place where he had previously put the canoe full 
 of water. 
 
 On reaching it he puts in the leaves he has gathered 
 and the sacred stones, only reserving one or two. With 
 a prayer to his departed relatives he returns to the 
 village. That day he must not eat anything that has 
 been cooked in an oven ; only such things as have been 
 roasted on an open fire ; nor may he bathe in or even 
 touch the sea. I knew once of our young chief Nahi- 
 abba beinff under some such vow when a vessel was 
 seen coming. He was very anxious to get on board for 
 some tobacco, and in order to do so, he caused the boat 
 to be pulled up so far on the beach that he could step 
 in without even wetting the soles of his feet. Some of 
 the more scrupulous objected even to that, suggesting 
 that if the boat were leaking he might touch it in 
 that way. 
 
 But to return to the sacred man. While he has 
 been thus employed, a little boy or girl has been 
 fishing. What has been caught is cooked, and the
 
 18U A(;XES C. I'. WATT. 
 
 raiu-maker presents it on an altar, formed of two or 
 three reeds, set up near the enchanted canoe. He 
 again calls the attention of his departed sires to the 
 food he has prepared for them, and invokes their help. 
 The food is generally the poorest possible. Unripe 
 fruits, miserable fish, or the worst parts of a pig are 
 selected for the altars of the gods. Nor are these gods 
 the spirits of long ago ; many of them are men who 
 were living in oui- own day. It would appear that as 
 soon as a man dies he is worshipped. The power of 
 rain-making is hereditary ; and, as all a man's brother's 
 children are his children, there is seldom dithculty in 
 finding a successor. In the evening the rain-maker, 
 having drunk his kava, spits, crows in his usual way, 
 and calls on the gods to send rain. Next morning, a 
 while before day, he is up and away to visit his baskets 
 in the pool. He removes the stone, stamps the baskets 
 down a little, replaces the stone, and returns. Although 
 he should see no signs of rain he will go on from day 
 to day, calling on his gods over his kava, putting in 
 new leaves now and again, and replenishing the altar. 
 If it seems likely to rain soon, he puts the remaining 
 stones into the canoe, and when the rain has actually 
 begun to fall he goes to his kava with a glad heart ; 
 praises the gods for assisting him, and appeals to his 
 fellow-drinkers, if he is not good to them in causing 
 such a plenteous rain to descend on tlicir crops. To 
 all this they assent most emphatically. 
 
 But I think I hear you saying, " If there is no rain, 
 does he not feel put out ? " Not a bit. If his rain 
 charm does not succeed, it is because some one is 
 making such doses of sunshine, and perhaps messages
 
 i;ai\-makix<,: isi 
 
 to that effect will be sent out in different iliroctions. 
 If no one will own that he is making sunshine or wind 
 to keep away the rain, then they are telling lies, and 
 doing it secretl}'. I have known cases where the rain 
 did not fall for weeks, and yet their confiden<>e in their 
 power did not slacken in the least. W«; have tried 
 -every argument to persuade them of their impotence, 
 ami taunted them with their failure ; all to no effect. 
 The furthest that they will go is to say that it is wrong 
 to make it ; but as to their power they have no 
 doubt. . . . 
 
 On New-year's-day we had a "Soiree." At about 
 ten a.m. the drum was beaten, and we assembled in the 
 ohurch. After singing a hymn, and prayer, several 
 speeches were made by teachers and Tannese. Mr 
 Watt addressed them on several subjects of a temporal 
 and secular character, which he thought hardly fit for 
 Sabbaths. After the speeches, they were served 
 with as nmch rice, goat-mutton, pine-apples, and rose- 
 apples as they could eat, and as much tea as they could 
 drink. The tea would not hurt their nerves, as it was 
 very weak ; but there was plenty of brown sugar in 
 it, which is the principal thing. When 1 say they 
 got as much as they could eat, I mean they got a 
 sutticiency ; for I really do not know the limit of their 
 mating. They can eat an immense quantity of food at 
 a time ; and on the other hand they can do with very 
 little. The power of endurance in them is very strong. 
 I have seen even children go for a whole day without a 
 morsel of food. At W(jrk, or on a journey, they do not 
 care to .stop for food, not even to eat what they may 
 have brought with them. They prefer to go on, and
 
 18-2 AaX£S C. J'. WATT. 
 
 then fill up and go to bed. I often wonder how they 
 can sleep comfortably after sut.^h heavy suppers of rich 
 cocoa-nut and banana, or cocoa-nut and yam-puddings, 
 or taro and pork. Of the last, they eat ravenously. I 
 have known one man sit down to a leg of pork, without 
 either yam or taro to eat to it, and consume the greater 
 part of it, go to bed, and next morning resume his 
 tearing at it (for they have neither knives nor forks), 
 and leave little or none. 
 
 The past hot season has been a very pleasant one ; 
 fine clear weather and few earthquakes, and the 
 absence of war in our immediate neighbourhood. 
 About two miles from us there has been a deal of 
 firing, through which several of our parishioners have 
 been wounded, and two have died of their wounds. It 
 did not affect what we may call "our people," except 
 that every other day they went to assist in the 
 shooting, and came home laden with spoils. 
 
 In this late war I saw that should it reach us, I 
 might well say, " Save me from my friends " ; for as 
 soon as a, district is vacated in time of war, whatever 
 has not been carried off in the flight is a prey to all ; 
 and generally to your allies. In passing through the 
 village, they will do more in the way of plundering 
 than the enemy. Fowls, dogs, cats, pigs, yams, fcc, are 
 all taken ; and yet, after all, though you have had the 
 w^orst of it, when there is a cessation of hostilities, you 
 have to give them a large pig and other things for 
 fighting for you. Of course, the tables will be turned 
 some day, when you find yourself the ally, helping 
 yourself to whatever comes to hand, and getting a large 
 pig for your valour.
 
 i,'Any-MAKix<;. ish 
 
 Althougli the season has been a pleasant one, it has 
 been the hottest since we came to the islands. The 
 perspiration poured off us from day to <lay, and we felt 
 quite unable for work. We both had wonderful health 
 until the 2.")th of March, when William took a severe 
 vomiting of blood, which left him very weak. It came 
 oil in the evening and continued until nine o'clock, 
 when he got rest. Abel, our cook, stayed with me 
 until he got relief; and neither Yemeitahak nor the 
 girls would go to their own houses till they knew he 
 was out of danger. Next morning, old Luka and 
 Kauaneli came. It was quite affecting to see how they 
 sobbed and cried when they shook hands with him. 
 He had scarcely recovered strength when, on the 
 1st April, J took ill with fever and ague of a very 
 severe type. My head ached for days ; and although 
 William gave me double doses of opium, I could not 
 sleep. This continued until the 17th, when we went 
 round to Port Resolution in our boat, hoping to catch 
 the " Dayspring," and go north with her to Nguna, to 
 see if the change would do me good. The "Dayspring," 
 however, was gone, but a home mail cheered me up, 
 and I grew stronger every day. There was a great 
 deal of sickness among the natives. Nearly every one 
 was laid aside for a time, and some were brought to the 
 very brink (»f the grave. 
 
 You know their notions of " nahak " and "foreign 
 di.sease," for which the missionary, being a sacred man, 
 often gets blamed. 1 am happy to say that in this 
 instance they did not blanie us. but showed their 
 confidence by coming for medicine, which they after- 
 war<ls paid for. Witli regard to children, they have
 
 1S4 ACXES C. P. WATT. 
 
 unbounded confidence in my skill. Many a dose of 
 castor-oil have I administered to the little black things, 
 who often manifest a determined opposition to my wish 
 that they should open their mouths for the nauseous 
 dose. 
 
 So remarkable were some of the cures that we could 
 only say, " This is of the Lord." One woman who had 
 been ill for some time was taken for dead, and liad her 
 grave clothes put on. She was laitl out to be wailed 
 for, but as the pulsations of the heart continued, some 
 proposed that they should come to us for medicine, 
 though others pooh-poohed it. Toko, one of the chiefs, 
 came himself. When he told me how she was, and 
 how they had dashed cold water on her face in vain, I 
 said it was no use sending medicine. He was ver}' 
 importunate, so I gave him half a glass of raspberry 
 vinegar, with a little extra acid in it to make it irritate 
 the throat. (She had a cough, and I understood that 
 the phlegm had gathered in her throat.) I told Toko 
 to give her that if possible, and if she opened her eyes 
 and could swallow, he was to come for other medicine, 
 which he did the next day. He said that our medicine 
 had made her live, and soon she would be down to see 
 us. In a week she was able to walk about, and now 
 she is as strong as ever. He showed his gratitude b}' 
 giving us a pig. . . . 
 
 1 am, 
 Your loving daughter and sister, 
 
 Ar.NKS.
 
 XII. 
 THOTT(;hTS about HOME-GOING. 
 
 TO IIKK I'AKK.NTS. 
 
 KWAMKKA, TaNNA, 
 
 .lune -'211(1, IKTS. 
 
 My Dkar Father and Moth kk, — . . . Truly it never 
 rains but it pours, for from the middle of (3ctober until 
 the end of April I never saw a letter, and since then 
 you know what a budget J have received from home, 
 besides thirty from colonial and island friends. All 
 your letters were intensely interesting, and I will 
 answer them individually, though this letter to the 
 heads of the family may be looked upon as ihe letter. 
 When the first lot came in A])riL after such a long 
 silence, I could not trust myself to read my mail before 
 any one, and so went to my room, where I could laugh 
 and cry as I saw fit, or as my highly-strung nerves 
 might cause me to do. . . . 
 
 This letter will convey news to you whicii will occasion 
 you both joy and .sorrow. In your last letter, my dear 
 father, you .say you cannot think of my coming 
 home only to leave again. That ] cannot altogether 
 understand ; for ten years ago you parted with me to 
 go to an unknown region, and that, too, when my 
 husband and I were to be supported by a church
 
 186 J(..VAW C. r. WATT. 
 
 which neither knew us nor our mission, at a sahiry of 
 £120 to cover all our expenses. I can assure you I 
 sometimes felt homeless then. But now we have a 
 comfortable house, a salary of f200 a vear from a 
 church which gave us such a welcome two years ago. 
 We have the respect of all the tribes by whom we are 
 surrounded ; and many other blessings. I think it 
 ought to be less hard to part with me now. True, our 
 second parting is more likely to be our final one on 
 earth ; but why, if we believe in the recognition of 
 friends in our Father's house, nay, more, of our love 
 being perfected towards each other there, why cannot 
 we part and tryst to meet tliere ? You are no nearer 
 Home in Glasoow than we are on Tanna. If it be the 
 Lord's will, I hope to lie in a forest grave ; for I have no 
 desire, indeed, I dread being buried in a crowded 
 graveyard. ])i<l T think my coming home would pain 
 you because of the parting, I would forego the hope on 
 which my heart has been set all these years ; for 
 although it will be like plucking out a right eye or 
 cuttintc oft' a ris^ht hand to sever myself as^ain from 
 home, still I believe that afterwards I will be only glad 
 that I have again seen your faces in the tlesh. Our 
 Great High Priest, who wears our nature and knows 
 our every feeling, who gave us strength to part and 
 live, and labour so long separate, will give us parting 
 ffrace again when the time comes. 
 
 I am almost afraid to say we are coming home. It 
 seems too good to be true, and " there 's man}' a slip 
 'twixt the cup and the lip." I suppose you feel like me, 
 that you wont believe it until you see it. Well, well, 
 so let it be ! We have got leave of absence from the
 
 Tiio uu u Ts A no i: r home- < ;uim /. i h7 
 
 New Hebrides for sixteen months, and if all goes well 
 we will spend next siunnier with 3'ou. We are afraid 
 to come home earlier than April or May, lest the 
 sudden change from the tropics mi^ht aflect our good 
 health. William especially is very " cauldrife." 
 
 I cannot yet over the thought of how good God has 
 been to us, seeing we are all spared for these ten long 
 years, and such a large family. Some day there will be 
 changes, but wont it be grand to be all gathered Home 
 safe, never to part < . . . 
 
 I am sorry I failed to tell you how well all the 
 things had come out, but in writing one is apt to miss 
 something if it is not noted just at the time. We 
 notice omissions and repetitions in the letters we 
 receive, and I suppose you do the same. But though 
 correspondence is unsatisfactory, what would we do 
 without it ! I see the want of it among the natives. 
 When one of their number goes to the colonies he is 
 nearly as good as dead until lie returns. It is no 
 uncommon thing for a father to hear of his son's death, 
 which plunges him into sorrow and makes him long to 
 be revenged on the supposed disease-maker. The 
 family goes into mourning, cuts down trees, kills pigs, 
 and gives presents. Soon after another report comes to 
 the contrary, which also is believed, causing quite a 
 revulsion of feeling. Perhaps by this time the man's 
 wife has been given to another, she is taken from him 
 to await her former husband's return ; and so on, 
 until either the one report or the other be verified by 
 the young mans return, or his wages being sent on by 
 some one else. 
 
 The Neilsons have had a rrving time of sickness. The
 
 18K AGNES C. J'. H'ATT. 
 
 little twins which were born about Christmas hail poor 
 health, and are now for ever free Ironi sorrow. 80 the 
 Neilsons have now three infants' graves on Tanna. 
 They came round and stayed with us for a few days 
 after Charlie's death. The boys and girls were much 
 delighted with Tommy and Jessie. 
 
 After they left I made preparations to receive my 
 dear .sisters Mrs Paton and Mr.s Milne. Owing to a 
 terrific hurricane which occurred in January, near Fate 
 and Nguna, the "Dayspring" was detained irntil Mr 
 Macdonald's house was made habitable. While in the 
 colonies he got a letter from Mr Milne informing him 
 that his house was blown over. The first intimation 
 we received of the hurricane was when the " Uayspring " 
 came down from the colonies in April. The two ladies 
 and their chikli-en and I enjoyed our.selves immensely 
 for a fortnight. ... 
 
 As to our proposed transference to Aneityum, not- 
 withstanding that the two churches were agreeable, 
 the Synod disapproved. . . . They said that were we 
 to leave Tanna the island would go down ; nobody could 
 fill our places there ; that Mrs Watt (not Mr Watt, mind 
 you) had the true ring of a Tannese linguist ; and to 
 take us off Tanna would be to write Ichabod over it, 
 &c., &c. ... I would rather go to Aname than see it 
 left without a missionary : but if we long for fame and 
 the praise of the churches, this is the sphere. . . . 
 
 I remain now, as ever, 
 
 Your loving daughter. 
 
 Agn?:s.
 
 XIII. 
 BACK TO TANNA. 
 
 To IIKR FATHER. 
 
 K\\ A M KRA , Ta N N a , 
 
 27tli August, 1880. 
 
 My Dear Father, — . . . We stayed two nights with 
 Mr Dean in Sydney, and again resumed our watery 
 way, not in a big Orient steamer, but in the wee 
 " Day spring," which was lumbered up with tanks, wood 
 for houses, new boats for missionaries, mission-boxes, 
 and stores, maybe for starving folks. Hearing of the 
 hvnricane made us very anxious regarding our friends 
 in the islands. 
 
 On leaving Sydney, we set out upon a heavy sea ; 
 and how the little thing did pitch ! We all made for 
 our bunks at once, and but for the kindly visit of the 
 captain to see how we were getting on, or to reproach 
 us in sport for being bad sailors thus to give in to 
 Neptune after having come all the way from England, 
 we lay in a state of silence and semi-seasickness for 
 two or three days. Gradually we began to crawl on 
 deck, and although it was rough weather, there was 
 no rain, so we spent a good deal of time there. On the 
 whole, it was a dull voyage. The sea was rough, the 
 vessel was heavily laden, and we made slow ))rogress.
 
 HKt AdXES C. /'. IVATT. 
 
 Mr Mackenzie, who had gone up for his health, was very 
 ill, so it was with joy that we saw dear old Aneityuin 
 again. We were detained there tor a week with adverse 
 winds and a rough sea, so that it was the 4th of May ere 
 we landed at Kwamera. We got a fairish day to land, 
 and were met on the beach by a few people. I was 
 disappointed at our welcome, for they had made such 
 demonstrations of grief at our leaving that I expected a 
 much more hearty reception. But knowing there had 
 been a hurricane, the .sight of the gaunt, hungr}- faces 
 told me why they were sad. Besides, some had died in 
 our absence, and our return reminded their relations of 
 their loss. How wild and desolate the country looked ! 
 great trees blown down in every direction, their 
 bleached roots pointing to the sky, and bare branches 
 instead of rich foliage. Our house looked like a 
 weather-beaten ship, " only, not a wreck." It seemed 
 very dreary to me, after the nice well-carpeted rooms I 
 had lately left. The natives had done Avell ; had 
 repaired the thatch, whitewashed the walls, and 
 scrubbed the floors. Outside, they had put up a new 
 goat-house and servants' houses, and had put a new 
 fence all round the premises. As the sea had been 
 washing up inside the fence, they must have had a 
 great deal of work to bring things to the appearance 
 they presented. 
 
 . . . Graduallv we came to know of all the chanses 
 that had taken place during our absence. We were glad 
 to see that, although there had been a high death-rate 
 among our people, they had continued to attend church 
 and school as when we were here. The great cry here 
 just now is, "If we worship, we will die"; and as more
 
 1!»-' AdXES C. r. WATT. 
 
 ot" the chiirch-g'oers in proj)ortion than of the heathen 
 have died in our absence, there seems to them some 
 ground for it. He who rules above will do all for the best. 
 I was gladly surprised at being met once more by all my 
 girls. It was more than I expected, for some of them 
 are far bigger than many that are married. However, 
 they all came back and are still with us, and can all 
 read and write fairly. After unpacking, &c., we began 
 to settle accounts. We had left some twentv men and 
 women to fence and look after the premises, so that if 
 a hurricane should come they would the sooner get the 
 place in order. I see from my day-book that twenty- 
 iive men and women have worked ; each of the men 
 for at least four days. The women had brought from 
 five to twenty-five bundles of reeds each. It was no 
 small business to get all these people paid justly, giving 
 them neither too much nor too little. We gave them 
 from sixpence to a shilling a day in blankets, axes, 
 adzes, knives, print, &c. Axes, adzes, and blankets 
 were in great demand, and one or two saucepans. It 
 was pleasant, however, to see all arranged to the 
 satisfaction of every one. William was kept very busy 
 repairing the damage the natives had not been able to 
 repair. No fewer than twenty-three panes of glass had 
 been broken, and the school-house had been thrown 
 over. With a block and tackle and a band of natives, 
 he got it straight again. We were sorry to see the 
 bairns coming round with hungry faces and having 
 nothing to give them. We needed a great deal of help, 
 and altogether we had nineteen mouths to feed. We 
 gave out bread and tea in the morning, soup and rice at 
 mid-day, and bread and tea again in the evening. In that
 
 HACK TO TASSA. I!j3 
 
 ^vay we used a cask dI Hour, a cask of biscuit, and two 
 
 bags of rice in a month ; even then it was only a mere 
 
 existence. 1 was ,L;lad when tin- ni(»iitli was cncr and 
 
 we got the chance of escaping, for a little, from distress 
 
 we could not relieve, for we had only two casks of flour 
 
 and were 1300 miles from the market. We knew that 
 
 when we were away they would scour the bush for roots 
 
 and leaves, and so put in an existence; besides, we left 
 
 sufficient Hour and rice to spin out the time till we 
 
 returned. We had arranged with the captain that if it 
 
 were calm weather he was to call here before }ioin<i- to 
 
 Aniwa, so that we might visit our dear friends the 
 
 Patons. We got a lovely start, but were becalmed, 
 
 iind took five days to do what we have often 
 
 <lone in our boat in eight hours. We grot our 
 
 usual hearty welcome there, and oh what a happy 
 
 ten days we spent together ! . . . From Aniwa 
 
 we went on to the Annual Meeting. We were 
 
 but one night on Erromanga, where we were delighted 
 
 to see the change on the people. Such a band of clean, 
 
 well-dressed natives ! We were present at the second 
 
 ^)pening of the Martyrs' Memorial Church (a wooden 
 
 building presented to the natives of Erromanga by 
 
 friends in Sydney in memory of the five missionaries 
 
 wht» were murdered on that island). It is a nice 
 
 biiilding, but the devout appearance of the people 
 
 assembled in it was still more pleasing. Next morning 
 
 we were off Erakor, and found Mr Mackenzie a great 
 
 deal better, although not able to f'o to the meet in £r. 
 
 The next again we entered Nguna Bay, and were ashore 
 
 in time for mid-day dinner. We were introduced to 
 
 little Miss Milne, a sjtlendid baby with lovely dark eyes. 
 13
 
 194 AGXES C. P. WATT. 
 
 Next day the gentlemen and Mrs Robertson went oH" 
 in the " Dayspring " to Havanah Harbuur, where the 
 meeting was to be lield, leaving Mrs Lawrie and myself 
 to keep Mrs Milne company. \\v spent a pleasant 
 time together, and I was delighted to see the change that 
 had taken place on Nguna since we were last there. 
 Then, scarcel}' one would come to church ; now, the 
 same church is tilled with earnest, devout people. 
 
 After the meeting was over the " Dayspring '" came 
 round, and we proceeded north to Tungoa, where we 
 landed Mr Michelsen. Nearly all the mission party 
 accompanied him ashore. The landing is not of the 
 easiest, as there is a heavy surf. The boat lies out in the 
 water while natives wade out and in, carr3'ing passengers 
 and goods. The gentlemen are carried on their backs, 
 while the ladies have a queen's chair, made by two men 
 crossing their hands. One moment the men are up to 
 their knees in water, the next, the wave has receded 
 until they are standing high and dry. On the way to 
 the Mission Station we passed through a native village. 
 The women and children turned out in a body to see 
 us. They expressed little wonder at the gentlemen, 
 gave a look or two at the ladies, but, getting a sight of 
 little Johnnie Lawrie, rushed round him shouting and 
 yelling in great excitement. I suppose they had never 
 seen a white baby before, for they seemed like to devour 
 him. Mr and Mrs Lawrie had considerable ditiiculty 
 in getting through them. Some of the women were 
 rather good-looking, although covered with yellow 
 paint and grease. If only washed and clothed, they 
 would be quite passable. The mission house is some 
 little distance from the beach, and as it was near
 
 HACK TU TAXAA. 195 
 
 sunset, and wf liavc little t\vili<,dit, we had to make 
 haste. After the same how-d'ye-do gettinjLf into th(^ 
 boat throui^h the surf, we got safely on board, leaving 
 poor Mr Michelsen all alone. There is not one white 
 person on the island ])ut liimself. He looked so lonely 
 as he stood on the beach waving his bat to us. Next 
 morning we were oif to Epi, and the missionaries went 
 on shore to see about Mr Holt's settlement. He is a 
 layman sent from the Church of Victoria, and appointed 
 to Ej>i in accordance with his oAvn and the Church's 
 desire. 
 
 Leaving Epi we came .south, calling at all the 
 stations, and at last an-ived back here, having got some 
 flour, rice, and beans, which we purchased from our 
 neighbour missionaries, to help to feed the starving. 
 Since our return, things have been going on quietly. 
 While we were away, two of our people took to 
 themselves wives according tcj heathen custom. We 
 got them to be married after the Christian mode in 
 church. One of the men had two wives ; but at our 
 request he gave up one, who has since been married 
 accordinfj to Christian fashion. These are our first 
 Christian marriages here, although I hope they will 
 not be the last. It is really painful to see how 
 backward the Tannese are in adopting any of our 
 Christian or civilized customs. 
 
 Last Monday, with the help of two of my women, I 
 made seven shortgowns. Some of the women could not 
 sew, and two of them lived ten miles away. They had 
 sent fowls in payment for dresses. They have no teacher 
 in their village, but a Tannaman conducts service with 
 a few women. Poor man, he is very ignorant, for he
 
 196 Ah'XES a r. uwrr. 
 
 has had but little teaching, but he endeavours to walk 
 up to the light he has. He was along here lately, and 
 stayed one night. Next morning, as usual, I sent out 
 to Yemeitahak a canful of tea a\u] a piece of bread. 
 He happened to enter her house just after she had 
 eaten all the bread and had only a little tea left. This 
 she offered to him, but before he drank it, he took the 
 covering off his head and thanked God for watching 
 over him during the night, asked Him to give him His 
 Word as a relish or " kitchen " to the tea, and to watch 
 over him in the way he was that day to go. When 
 Yemeitahak told me, I thought what a reproof it was to 
 many of us, who, unless it be a regular meal, never 
 think of asking a blessing. He was talking to the 
 people here, and telling them how many greater 
 advantages they have than either he or his people. 
 They are midway between two mission stations, and 
 have not had a teacher for years, yet they cling to the 
 form of worship. 
 
 One of the single men now living with us is a young 
 Tannaman. He has been to the colonies, and, since 
 his return, has attached himself to our party. His 
 name is Kaiasi. He is about twenty-two years of age, 
 and, if spared, he may be a comfort to us. He is 
 learning to read and write ; the latter he does well. I 
 felt so cheered by his coming and otiering to stay with 
 us to be taught. 
 
 Since our return, William has resumed itinerating. 
 We are ill off for teachers, so the work devolves on the 
 missionary. Every morning we rise between five and 
 six. On weekdays we have to do so for the sake of 
 our reading and writing school, and on Sabbaths for
 
 iUCK TU TA.\\\A. 197 
 
 his itiiieratiiiir. < )ii thr Sabbath h« ffoes four miles 
 along^ the coast, lias worship, and converses with any 
 he finds on the way. Some days he is encouraged with 
 good gatherings : other days cast down, having only seen 
 a few persons. Some weeks ago, I accompanied him, 
 along with some of our girls; and as their eyes are much 
 sharper than ours, we were often amused, yet vexed, to 
 hear them say, " Missi, there is So-and-so making ids 
 or her escape." Once or twice I saw a young man 
 stooping and running under trees to get out of sigiil. 
 In some cases it was because they did not wish us to 
 catch them naked, and ran to get their girdles; but in 
 others, they wished to avoid the service we were about 
 to hold. You can fancy what a hard day Sabbath is, 
 walking eight miles, either along the beach or inland, 
 in such a climate as this, holding short services at 
 several places, then the usual service here, followed by 
 the Sunday School and a meeting for men, a women's 
 meeting, and in the evening, meetings for teachers and 
 boys and girls. One of these last is conducted by the 
 missionary, and the other by his wife. 
 
 The great obstacle to the progress of the gospel, ami 
 the chief cause of war and quarrelling, is the belief in 
 " Nahak." Till that is given up, we have little hope of 
 decided success. On Aneityum, the disease-makers 
 gave up the practice of it and broke up their sacred 
 stones. I doubt much if they do not yet believe that 
 they had the power: only they feel it is wicked f<>r 
 Christians to exercise it. 
 
 < >ne Sabbath morning, when Mr Watt was away 
 itinerating, a labour vessel came off here and sent in 
 her boats. From mv bedroom window I saw one of
 
 19S AaXES C. /'. WATT. 
 
 the white men in charge of the boat hold up turkey- 
 red and muskets to excite the cupidity of the natives, 
 and jret them to go as labourers. I saw one or two take 
 «lown shallots for sale, and then I went off to look after 
 something else. Soon the cries of the people led me to 
 look out, and I saw they had succeeded in getting three 
 to embark. The wife of one of them was crying 
 bitterly to get away with him. On going out, I heard 
 the people on the beach calling on some young men to 
 launch a canoe and take oti" the man's wife to him, as 
 she was running along the edge of the reef. The 
 boats returned to a ledge of the reef, and soon a 
 crowd was gathered to the spot. Two more of our 
 parishioners embarked, although they had to swim 
 through the surf. The lads in the canoe got up to 
 them, and, one of the white men having spent two 
 months here, while we were away in Scotland, Kaisai 
 knew him, and said, " Dan, if the missionary had been 
 here you would not have come in on a Sabbath 
 morning for nought. Why do you come from the 
 religious land of Britain and teach us to break the 
 Sabbath ^ I shall inform the missionary of 3'our 
 ■conduct." 
 
 Having got the five natives thev again left without 
 the woman. Meanwhile, William returned and we 
 resumed our duties. The bell was ringing for service 
 and the people Avere all gathered, when the cry of " the 
 two boats are again conung" was heard. We saw we 
 would have no peace as long as they were there, so 
 William went down and awaited the arrival of the first. 
 He accosted him with, " I am amazed at you, my 
 fellow-countryman, openly profaning the Lord's day."
 
 J!.\ CK TO TAW. I. I!l!) 
 
 He replied, " I do not like it myself, hut I am under 
 authority and must obey." "Well," said William, "it 
 is very sad to see you, of whom we expect better things, 
 trading in goods and men on Sabbath." He .seemed to 
 get angry at this, and said that Sabbath Was a lucky 
 day, for he had got five. " Yes," said William, " but 1 
 question if you will gain much by your luck ; you shall 
 yet have to answer for this day's work." Whether some 
 chord in that man's heart had been touched, or how it 
 was we know not, but he turned himself round in the 
 boat and sat down and never looked up once again. 
 The natives say the tears were streaming down his 
 cheeks. For some reason or other they diil not take 
 the woman, but slipped away out to .sea where the other 
 boat was lying, never having plucked up courage to 
 •come in. . . . 
 
 Your loving daughter, 
 
 Agnes.
 
 XIV. 
 FORMATION OF THE CHURCH ON TANNA. 
 
 TO TTIK FAMTLV. 
 
 KwAMKRA, Tans A, 
 
 •ioth June, 18S1. 
 
 My j)i:ar Father and Family, — ... I had written 
 to no one since the " Dayspring" left here in December 
 till the day she returned in April, anil, oven then, it 
 was but a note. To my grief. I have had no cause to 
 wTite all these months, for we have been, as it were, 
 buried alive or banished. We have not had the 
 remotest chance of sending off a mail, and, of course, 
 we have received none. Often have I said, that the 
 four hurricane months looked like a tunnel to me. I 
 fear to enter, and I breathe freely when I reach the 
 further end". The longer I am here, I feel it the more. 
 Perhaps never since our settlement have we been so 
 shut up as during the past year. Very few traders 
 have called at TannA, and still fewer live on Tanna. 1 
 am not aware of any white trader being on the island 
 at the present time. < >iic poor fellow died of dropsy 
 during the year. He lived all alone, except for some 
 foreign natives, who, after he died, went in a canoe for 
 Mr Neikson's teachers to bury him. They brought his 
 bodv to the Mission burying-ground, and laid him in
 
 ron.MATiox OF TiiK ('II men ox taxxa. jni 
 
 his last resting-place there. I know not all who lie in 
 that little "Gods acre," but I know ol' some. There 
 Mr Johnston rests, having only put his hand to the 
 plough. The club of the savage did not break his 
 skull, but he never recovered from the shock he 
 received when he saw what a narrow escape he had 
 had. There lies also the first Mrs Paton and her 
 infant son. There several native teachers rest, who 
 have been found faithful unto death ; and a goodly 
 number of little children. There, too, was buried all 
 that remained of John Underwood, who was blown up 
 with his own gunpowder while in a state of intoxication. 
 So shattered was he, that only one foot and his chin 
 were left to be buried. Near him lies Dana, who, 
 while out shootinsf on Sabbath, accidentallv shot 
 himself, and died of tetanus. Close by, we buried poor 
 Bell, who was killed by a shot from a Tannaman some 
 years ago. What a strange medley, gathered from 
 many parts of the world ! Scotlanil, England, Nova 
 Scotia, Germany, Raratonga, Aneitymn. The helpless 
 infant and the sinner old in wickedness ; all awaiting 
 the resurrection morning. That is at Port Resolution, 
 and from there to here, a distance of fifteen miles, I 
 only know of one European grave. It contains the 
 precious dust of little ]\linnie Mathieson, aged but a 
 few months. Her father is buried on Mare, in the 
 Loyalty Islands, and her mother on Aneityum. Their 
 graves are severed far and wide, but thcii spirits aie 
 united liefore the throne of God. 
 
 When the " ]);iyspring " called here last December I 
 went on board according to appointment, and was put 
 ashore at Aniwa. On arriving', v.-e were almost afraid
 
 *3»'J A(;XL'S C. J'. WATT. 
 
 to ask how Mrs Patoii was, she had been so low when 
 the vessel was last there ; Mrs Braithwaite, the 
 captain's wife, had kindly remainetl with her. The 
 captain, Mrs Mackenzie, Mrs ^lilne, and I, landed in 
 the nioonliyht, and so came upon them unawares. 
 While Mrs Mackenzie and 1 stood upon the verandah, 
 fearing to enter lest we might disturb, we heard an 
 intant cry. Soon we found that Mrs Paton was 
 improving, though still very low. She had been 
 ill for six months, during which time she passed 
 through much trouble. I spent Christmas and New- 
 year's-day there, making totfee for the children to 
 cheer their young hearts. About the beginning of 
 January, Mr Watt came over in his boat to take me to 
 Kwamera ; and as Mr Paton had so much to do, we 
 prijposed to take Frank and James with us, and this 
 being agreed to, we started on the 10th. We got a 
 lovely day, but so calm that we had to row the whole 
 way, and thus were nearly twelve hours on the sea. 
 We landed in the moonlight and got such a welcome, 
 not only on account of the children but because Mr Watt 
 had left on a rough day, when the natives feared that 
 he and his boat's crew would be drowned. About six 
 Aveeks after our return we got a letter by canoe from 
 Aniwa telling of Walter Watt Paton's sudden death, 
 only ten days after we had left. What a shock to the 
 lonely parents, as the child was but an hour and a half 
 ill. The father made his coffin, and the next day, he 
 and Robert, with the natives, laid him to rest beside 
 his sister Lena. Jesus only knows what the parents 
 suffered. ... As the Synod is now past, we expect the 
 "Dayspring" back here soon, on her way to Melbourne,
 
 FORMATION OF TIIF cnriU'll OX TAXXA. Ju:} 
 
 whither it is to go with the Patons. Mr Paton will 
 reside there at present as agent for the Church of 
 Victoria, whose funds are at present very low. 'J'he 
 Holts go too ; they came down last year with us, bringing 
 with them a beautiful house. They got a promising 
 station on Ejii ; and through their own indefatigable 
 <iflforts and the help of others, in a few weeks they 
 found themselves in possession of a fine house and 
 grounds. But they had put the stove pipe through the 
 thatch of the cook-house without a fender ; so on the 
 •day that the vessel was to leave them for five or six 
 months, and while Mr Holt was on board with his 
 latest letter, the flames of all he possessed rose to 
 heaven. He rushed on shore to find all reduced to 
 ashes. What a mercy the "Dayspring" was not off. 
 She made a trip to Havanah Harbour and got what 
 she could for them ; and the captain having given what 
 he could spare, left them with an anxious mind. After 
 that, Mr Holt set to work to build a house, cutting the 
 wood in the bush, but in a short time was so prostrate 
 with fever and ague, that they were glad to get off 
 by a chance vessel to Mr Macdonald's at Havanah 
 Harbour. . . . 
 
 On Aneityum the chief topic is the destruction of 
 " kava." For some years back, the growing and 
 drinking of it has been far too prevalent. Lately a 
 movement has been set on foot to repress the evil. 
 Several have publicly rooted up and burned their stock 
 of kava. The missionaries have also instituted an 
 " Anti-Kava League," and numbers have signed the 
 pledge neither to give, nor take, nor grow it. 
 
 The kava question will be a grave one on Tanna,
 
 •204 a<;xj:s c. r. watt. 
 
 where every ailult male thiuks it at sundown. It will 
 be like plucking out a right eye or cutting ot!' a right 
 hand to give it up. But wt- have still graver sins in 
 our niitlst to war against, which more than occupy all 
 our energies. The missionaries were pleased to see the 
 marked improvement on our people. The recital ot" 
 what is going on in other islands is stimulating our 
 backward Tannese. Matthew and Kapere have 
 commenced to conduct morning worship in two villages. 
 
 . . . November 17th. I am afraid that the events of 
 the last two days will cause a tinge of sadness to 
 pervade my correspondence. Yesterday and to-day we 
 lost seven of our church-going people by emigration to 
 Queensland. A vessel from Brisbane has been lying 
 off, and sending in her boats to recruit labour for the 
 colonial market, and I am sorry to say she has got many 
 willing labourers from our immediate neighbourhood. 
 One of the recruits was Keianga, our first girl, as you 
 may remember, and of whom we had such hopes ; for 
 she did promise well. Alas, she fell deep into sin, and 
 many an aching heart we had over her. 
 
 Lately, she and her husband came to live in our 
 neighbourhood, and for some time we have been 
 cheered by her earnest desire to folkiw that which is 
 good. Her husband, who left her ixud went to the 
 colonies for three years, is the very personification of 
 jealousy and revenge (though tndy she gave him 
 cause). Since his return, three years ago, he has 
 beaten her unmercifully ; yet, poor thing, she bears it 
 patiently, without a grumble, believing it to be the 
 cross she is called upon to bear on accoiuit of her 
 backsliding. She told nic th(^ other dav that she
 
 foumatws of tjip: rnciK.'ii uy vj.v.vj. -ju;, 
 
 prayed for grace to be patient, to bear the just rewards 
 of her deeils, and that her trials might be sanctified to 
 her. This morning, she came to ask my advice, as her 
 husband wished her to go. Would it be right for her 
 to go away from us who had taught her to worship 
 Ood ? I said she ought to follow her hu.sband, and 
 that she could worsiiip the Lord wherever she went. 
 ♦She was so pleased to hear me say .so, and said, "I'll 
 try to give my heart to Him. If I pray in my heart 
 daily to Him, will He love me although 1 cannot get to 
 •church ? " Having got our consent, she went away 
 cheerfully ; and though I mourn her absence, still it is 
 so hard for a young woman to live a pure life, when 
 left by her husband, that I think it better .she has 
 gone. May the Lord guide her into a Christian home '. 
 
 Since writing the above, we have had a letter from 
 Mr Neilsou, informing us that the " ])ayspring " had 
 called there from her northern trip, and landed Kiri, 
 •one of our lads who has been acting as boat's crew. 
 On hearing that so many of his companions had 
 *;migrated, he would, no doubt, wish to join them. 
 L^nfortunately for us, the same ship called there two 
 days after he landed, and he, with some others, sailed 
 in her. I cannot tell you how sorry I am, for he was 
 such a hopeful lad, could read well ; and, believing the 
 Scripture, " The entrance of thy word giveth light," we 
 looked forward with pleasure to his approaching 
 manhood. They will go for so much per head in 
 Brisbane. If they fall into good hands, they will be 
 cared for ; if not, they will be attended to according to 
 their market value. 
 
 The vessel's name is the '" Ceara." The man in
 
 •J"Ai A'.XES C. /'. WATT. 
 
 charge of the boat is wliat the traders call a '' good 
 shot." He captivated the natives here bv lavishing 
 articles of barter on them, throwing bunches of tobacco 
 on shore for them to scramble for, promising £2 10/ a 
 month as boat's crew, and giving gin all around for 
 nothing. How far he succeeded in his mission here, 
 you already know. Those got here would realise at 
 least £70; not a bad return for two days' hunting. 
 Our church is manifestly thinner, and at morning and 
 evening school the blanks are even more noticeable. 
 
 Though the love of novelty has a great deal to do 
 with taking our lads away, as well as the ile.sire for 
 property, yet the chief cause is discomfort. In this 
 district, Nahi-abba, the chief, is a constant torment. 
 He is always causing trouble by stealing other people's 
 wives, beating his own, and otherwise leading all 
 connected with him into trouble. The lads here have 
 been saying that they are tired of carrying muskets 
 daily for the protection of one who is so fool-hardy and 
 wicked ; and that if they got the chance they would 
 emigrate. This they have done. You say, "Why do 
 they defend him ? " I cannot tell you ; the only reason 
 they give is, " He is our chief" 
 
 While 1 was in Melbourne, William had a visit from 
 a man-of-war, H.M.S. "Miranda." A trading vessel 
 reported that she was fired at by the natives here, and 
 Her Majesty's ship came down to caution the people. 
 Of course the charge was refuted. A boat had been 
 fired at away to the west of us, by people who are at 
 enmity with ours. After a very pleasant visit. Her 
 Majesty's representative took his departure, and my old 
 man was again alone. I never felt anxious about his
 
 fo/:matwx of riiF cue nan ox taxxa. l'm; 
 
 comfort, for I knew that with Yanit'ii as cook and 
 Yamon's wife as betlroom maid, thest* matters would be 
 duly attended to. The other helps arv not so etiicient ; 
 still, with a little supervision, they get on very well, and 
 I hoped for the best. All went on favourably in my 
 absence; and having a .splendid passage both up and 
 down, T arrived before being expected, and gave them a 
 glad surprise. There was a gi'eat " hurry-scurry " that 
 morning trying to put things in order before their 
 exacting friend arrived. There was a sort of pride in 
 letting me see how nicely they could get on without 
 me. Nevertheless, it was not difficult to see that I got 
 a hearty welcome from the Kwamera missionary and 
 his parishioners.* 
 
 The printing of the Acts of the Apostles had been 
 finisheil a few days before, and our best readers hail 
 been presented with copies. They were pleased to get 
 them, for they liad been reading for a long time in 
 Matthew. 
 
 The second annual free contribution of arrowroot 
 was made, amounting to about -ioO lbs. The people 
 dill not enter so heartily into the work as they did last 
 year ; but then they had put up a large grass building 
 to worship in, and so well did they turn out, and so 
 heartily did they work, that the whole structure was 
 up in four days. The proceeds of the arrowroot we 
 intend to use in len(;theninii' our school-house and 
 making it do duty for a church as well. At present it 
 is too small for our congregation; hence the erection 
 
 • Mrs ^Vatt Ii;i(l hutii iiiitl(.r tlie neceissity of going up to 
 Melbourne for medical aih ice.
 
 ■2US A<;X£S C. /'. WATT. 
 
 of a temporary grass building whicli, along with the 
 arrowroot, is the frc.' contribution tor the year. They 
 also put up a school-house, but that was in payment 
 for medicine. 
 
 Almo.st from the beginning of our Mission we have 
 got the natives to put up their own places of worship, but 
 to give anything for the gospel's sake is a new idea on 
 Tanna. Like many of old, they follow Christ for the 
 loaves and the fishes, and thought they were conferring 
 an honour on us by attending service, expecting 
 to 2fet all their clothes for nothiniif. These erroneous 
 ideas are being dispelled. 
 
 Tn anticipation of my return, the six girls had 
 learned by heart the fourteenth chapter of Matthew's 
 gospel, and repeated it to me; in many cases without 
 a mistake, in others with only one or two promptings. 
 I oave them each a shoulder handkerchief in acknow- 
 ledgment of their diligence. 
 
 The most important event of the year, nay ! of our 
 whole mission life, if not of the history of the missions 
 of Tanna, is the formation of a church here. We have 
 liad a communicants' class for over a year. First we 
 waitetl for Mr Neilson's return, thinking it would be 
 nice for us all to be together ; then for the Annual 
 Meeting, and, finally,, my absence postponed it till 
 October Gth. After all, Mrs Neilson could not leave 
 her station, but Mr Neilson came. On the Friday 
 evening Mr Neilson preached, and William baptised two 
 men, four women, and three children. On Sabbath, 
 October 6th, eighteen of us .sat down at the table of 
 our Lord: three Europeans, nine Aneityumese, and 
 six Tannese. Mr Neilson admini.stered the sacrament.
 
 r. 
 
 H 
 V. 
 
 14
 
 •2li» AdXE.'S C. J'. WATT. 
 
 It was a happy, solemn time. In the course 
 of my daily Bible reading I got this promise : 
 "From this day will I bless thee." — Haggai ii. 19. 
 May we indeed realise that precious promise ! Mr 
 Neilson expressed himself pleased with the general 
 demeanour and appearance of our people. He took a 
 severe attack of asthma and was detained for several 
 <lays, thus causing, I have no doubt, much anxiety to 
 Mrs Neilson, who was expecting him back on Monday. 
 
 Having made abstinence from daily kava-drinking 
 a term of communion (on account of heathen associa- 
 tions), several were kept back, as they were not 
 prepared to give it up. Like Felix, they put off, 
 .saying : " By and by, missi, we will join you." . . . 
 
 With heart's love to you all. 
 Ever yours, 
 
 Agnes C. P. Watt.
 
 XV 
 1 NC 1 1) E N '1\S— KU L k L( ) HE. 
 
 COMPILED FROM LETTERS IN 1882-83. 
 
 . . . On I he ITtli of December, 18(S1, we went to 
 Meiyahau, where Nalvatimi is teacher. We have only 
 a reed church there, and one end is partitioned off for 
 our use. A reed bench and a mattress stuffed with banana 
 leaves form uur bed. We hung up our mosquito 
 curtains, wliich kept off lizards, centipedes, and rats, 
 with which the house is infested. We had taken a 
 number of traps which we got in Scotland from a good 
 Midlothian friend, and every now and again I was 
 awakeneil by the screams of our unwelcome visitors. 
 On Sabbath I had to talk and sing from six in the 
 morning to nine at night, and, need I say ? I was 
 perfectly e.Khausted. We had good meetings, and, for 
 Tannese, they listened well. Next morning at sunrise 
 we started again for Kwamera, overland ; as good as 
 four miles over rocks, up and down, now through bush, 
 now sinking deep in sand, then over rough stones. 
 We must have looked a grotesque company, for many 
 natives followed us carrying our mattress, &:c., on poles. 
 Our own good house with its boarded floor looked .so 
 cool and inviting after camping out in a grass hut, and 
 our hot walk that morning. 
 
 In April we had a sore trial. Wabu, who was born 
 in December, 18(J9, and was tlius far too young to be
 
 A<;y/-:s c. /: watt. 
 
 nianied, was dvafftjed awav and lifted into a canoe like 
 a pig, and sent to a heathen district ten or twelve miles 
 away, to be trained in heathen manners and dress, and 
 at last become the wife of a heathen. Some time 
 previous wo heard that this was proposed : then a 
 deputation waited on us. We said we could not agree 
 to it, that they ought to let her stay until she was 
 full-ffrown, and then the intended husband might come 
 and get properly married ; and, as she had long conformed 
 to Christian customs and dress, they ought to have 
 respect to the same. In vain were our expostulations. 
 I felt it so keenly that I neither ate nor slept for three 
 days. But time heals the sorest hearts, though I have 
 still a tender spot for poor Wabu. She was so 
 alfectionate, that on my return from anywhere, when 
 she came to meet me, she leapt up and clung to my 
 neck like a big dog. Her cries when being dragged 
 away rang in my ears for weeks. Dark, dark Tanna ! 
 She sells the bodies and souls of her children for a piece 
 of pork and a drink of kava. Wabu was a good 
 reader, could sew well, and was exceedingly smart at 
 committing Scripture to memory. May her knowledge 
 be blessed to herself and to those among whom she is 
 sent. I have called her " Joseph " ; for, like him, she is 
 .sold by her relatives into a heathen land. If only the 
 Lord would bless His own word, so that she might 
 become a light in a dark place ! It is hard to see those 
 you have thus watched over, taught, nursed and prayed 
 for, compelled to return to their former life. We have 
 had much to grieve us in this way from time to time. 
 But the work is God's. Oh to be able always to 
 remember that is so ! . . .
 
 ^1 Ki;\M AT KU XMlt; \.
 
 2U AUXES C. r. WATT. 
 
 The other day I noticed that the nm of water was 
 rather slow in the stream, anil said : how dry the 
 brook is! Oh, said Reriapui, the source is going dry. 
 How is that '( is it want of rain ? I asked. Oh no, 
 there has been plenty of rain lately : but the spring 
 that bubbles up is going ilry. Some one has bewitched 
 it. There is nothing in earth or heaven that these people 
 do not profess to be able to do. Even the story of 
 Joshua commanding the sun to stand still would excite 
 no w^onder ; for they believe they can do that. William 
 saw a reed with its leaves tied together, and asked 
 what it meant. He w^as told that if one saw the sun 
 was going to set before a certain piece of work was 
 finished, and was anxious such should not be the case, 
 he tied up the leaves of a reed round its stem. 
 
 Many of their beliefs they hide from us, because they 
 know that we white people laugh at them. It is only 
 now and again that we find them out. There was an 
 old woman to the Avest of us who professed to have 
 communication with the unseen world. Many who had 
 lost relatives sought unto her ; and she brought beads, 
 turkey-red, tobacco, pipes, and knives, from the 
 departed. One man, a very sensible follow in many 
 respects, brought a knife he had got from a deceased 
 son-in-law ; I forget the maker's name, but it was a 
 Sheffield-made knife. In vain we showed him the 
 maker's name, and told him it was all a hoax, that the 
 old witch was befooling him. He declared that he 
 heard his deceased son-in-law speak to him, and tell 
 him to .stretch forth his hand in the direction of the 
 voice and he would receive the knife. He did so, and 
 there was the knife ; — now, was not that proof positive ?
 
 iXiinKXTs -j'Oi.Ki.oiii:. ji.-) 
 
 Day by tla-y >u'\v niessafj^es canio from the ik-ail ; sonic 
 sendiiiff for <n>ods ami otlicrs jjivintj back icturii 
 presents. As one piece of turkey-red is much the same 
 as another; why, the jxxir dehuled creatures actually 
 believed that that very piece of turkey-red or that pipe 
 which had been buried with their relative, was now sent 
 back from Ipai (Hades) ! Of course, we were branded 
 as deceivin<; the people. We challenged tlx.- old witch 
 and her believers to come and take something out of 
 our house. If she did so, with clo.sed doors, as slie 
 professed she was aide to do, we would reward her 
 liberally. "Oh, she was coming, she was coming; 
 Missi, you will see that you are wrong. She can get 
 things out of a house without opening the door ; her 
 deceased husband is the medium." I fancy she was 
 more rogue than fool ; she did not come, and, as a 
 reason, she told the people that her hu.sband refused to 
 go to premises where there was so much worship. He 
 could not work where the gospel was. Lately she has 
 given up her trade, and is now a poor decrepit body, 
 unable to walk. 
 
 We often purj)ose gathering together all the folk- 
 lore, &c., of this people that we know ; for, doubtless, 
 many of their old beliefs are passing away. 
 
 One of their legends is very interesting to me. It 
 seems to .speak of a vague belief in immortality, of the 
 depravity of our nature, of our willingness to remain in 
 condemnation, of our rejection of eternal life, and our 
 preference for the things of this world. The legend is 
 this: — An old woman went to the sea along with her 
 grantlchild. She set the child down among the 
 pandanus trees that fringe our beach, and went to
 
 •J16 AOXES C. r. WATT. 
 
 the sea. There she cast off her old wrinkled skin, as 
 lobsters cast their shells, and she became a young and 
 beautiful woman. She returned to her grandchild and 
 said : " My grandchild, let me take you in my arms." 
 But the child refused, saying, " You are not my 
 grandmother ; she is old and wrinkled : and 1 11 not 
 come to you." In vain the grandmother pled ; the 
 grandchild would not go to her. So after manv 
 entreaties, .she said to the child : " I willed good for 
 you, I offered you good, but you have chosen evil." So 
 saying, she returned to the sea, put on the old skin, 
 returned and called the child, who immediately went to 
 her. Thus it was designed at first that we were not to 
 die, only to be changed. 
 
 We have tried in several ways to find out who were 
 the parents of the child, if the grandmother was any- 
 one in particular, and where she was said to have come 
 from ; but the people say, " Oh, it is only a legend ; we 
 <lo not know any more about it." 
 
 There is a large rock on the other side of the island 
 which is spoken of as "that old woman" ; but whether 
 they believe that her spirit dwells in the stone, or that 
 she has turned into stone, I cannot make out. 
 
 Not far from us there are a great many stones 
 representing different actions of, or articles belonging to, a 
 being named Yanuavau. He must have been a person 
 of like passions with them.selves ; for they showed us 
 the impress of his knees where he knelt on a stone, 
 raising himself up over a rock to see and admire the 
 women who lived at the neighbouring point. There is 
 also a cave full of moss-grown stones representing the 
 many pigs he had killed atagreat feast which he had made.
 
 XVI. 
 IN PERILS BY SEA. 
 
 GENERAL LETTER, 1S84. 
 
 Isn't it strange to be writing in February I'ur a 
 
 mail in August? but that is what I am now doing! 
 January is past, and with it many cares; for in that 
 month we have always experienced the worst hurri- 
 canes; but our fears were not realised this year, for 
 we have had a pleasant month ; only we are sadly 
 ill-off for want of rain. The grass is parched and looks 
 dead, and the natives are crying out at the loss of their 
 crops. The rain-makers are at their wit's end, but 
 remain unconvinced of their powerlessness. The Lord 
 alone can dispel such darkness. . . . 
 
 The statistics of our mission do not figure largely on 
 paper. One hundred at the principal service does not 
 sound much, but when we know that many of the.se 
 have come over long and rugged roads, I tell you that 
 we feel glad to .see them, and give them a hearty 
 smile of welcome. 
 
 Many are inclined to ask, " Can any good thing come 
 out of Tanna ? " I am grieved to hear people harping 
 on the old story of how Tanna has resisted the gospel, 
 of how long -she has had it, and how strenuously she has 
 opposed it. I found lately in a newspaper a statement
 
 •218 A<;XES C. /'. WATT. 
 
 to the eftect that while Messrs Turner and Nisbet were 
 on Tanna, mission work was commenced in earnest. 
 True, but it was only commenced. Any om^ who 
 knows the Taunese hmguage. or indeed any of the New 
 Hebrides languages, will agree with me, that it is but 
 lame mission work one can do during the first twelve 
 months. Besides, the Eastern i.sland teachers never 
 learned to speak Tannese properl}'. Even after 
 fourteen years' chattering away in this tongue I 
 have difficultv in making out the few sheets of 
 Samoan-Tanvej^e which I have seen. Thus I say the 
 Tannese never had a fair ofter of the gospel until a. 
 much later date, and even then in only one small 
 part of the island. Why condemn the whole, for the 
 backwardness of one or two tribes ? 
 
 Tanna is a hard field. The network of superstition 
 is close ; the people cling with a tenacity worthy of a 
 better cause to the traditions received from their 
 fathers; but is tJtat any reason why Ave should give 
 them up, or that we should send men past Tanna, 
 saying — "Wherever you go, don't go to Tanna: Tanna 
 is doomed " ? We trust in God that poor doomed 
 Tanna shall yet shake herself from the dust, and arise 
 and shine ; and that on the last great day it shall be 
 said of her as of Zion, " This man and that man was 
 born there." 
 
 To us who labour down in this deep mine of 
 heathenism, in darkness, loneliness, and longing, — 
 receiving, from time to time, fmm tliose who are 
 working in the lioht and sunshine of social life, 
 messages to the effect that we are wasting our time, 
 spending our stiPiio'tli in \aiii. and digging where gold
 
 /.V I'KUILS IIY SLA. I'lO 
 
 can never be found, — it is cheering to realise that to 
 our Master we stand or fall, and that work faithfully 
 done in His name shall not only be rewarded, but 
 rewarded openly. Besides, we never know when, in 
 digging, we may strike the precious ore. 
 
 What an amount of discomfort we have endured in 
 twelve months! During that time we have re-thatched 
 and lined our own house, re-thatched the printing- 
 office and store-room, taken down our school-house and 
 put up a new church, and re-thatched Mr Neilson's old 
 house at Port Resolution. Mr Neilson gave in his 
 resignation at the Synod ; and we are left in charge of 
 his station ; but the general opinion is that it would 
 be well to let the people take charge of them.selves, 
 for a time at least. Thus, you see, we have the care of 
 three stations — Mr Neilson's, Mr Paton's, and our own. 
 Formerly the house was thatched with cocoa-nut 
 leaves, which require to be renewed every two years. 
 Now we have succeeded in procuring sugar-cane 
 leaves, which at Kwamera last five years. A great 
 quantity was carried for miles; yet in one day we 
 bought nearly eleven hundred reed.sful ! 
 
 Next day a band of men and youths came to put it 
 on : anil just after the whole of one side of the roof was 
 bared, down came a heavy shower. Soon the floor was 
 flooded. We dragged our bedstead to one side and 
 barely saved it. In despair I took off my shoes, and 
 with a long-handled broom switched out a good deal, 
 and so kept down the water on the floor. 
 
 Things did look a bit dreary, and led me to exclaim : 
 "Who would be a missionary's wife?" and how 
 manv hundreds a year more would it take to induce
 
 ±20 AO-NES C. P. WATT. 
 
 me to continue such a life i But we have higher 
 motives to live for. 
 
 However, the shower, though hearty, was soon over ; 
 the sun shone out again, all became dry, and the men 
 were again at work. When one half was done we gave 
 them a lunch of rice and tea ; and as both we and our 
 boatmen were anxious to be home again, we urged 
 them to go on with the other half, and by sunset all 
 was finished. Meanwhile, the women had been 
 cooking ; and two pigs, one fowl, and a lot of native 
 puddings were brought and laid down at the back door, 
 cis a present to the workers. We gave return presents, 
 and paid for the thatch and labour. 
 
 We had much to discourage us during February. 
 About the beginning of the month, a promising young 
 man died, and his death threatened to shake his 
 father's reason. The father had begun to come 
 regularly to church, and- had cut oti" his long hair, wore 
 clothes, and was otherwise a hopeful character, but this 
 sudden and unexpected blow was too much for him. 
 On Sabbath 10th, we went inland to visit him, and to 
 hold service at his village. Whether he hid or not, I 
 cannot tell, but he was not there ; and as Mr Watt had 
 to preach at other villages, he and a teacher went on, 
 while I and a little lad waited patiently. A long 
 weary wait we had, but, just before sundown, Tero 
 <;ame. He looked wild and restless, but I spoke kin<lly 
 to iiim, and tried to impress on him the fact that 
 sickness is in God's hand alone, and even if some one 
 had so hated his son as to do what he believed would 
 cause death, it was not his to avenge, but that God would 
 do .so. He listened to all I said, and promised not to
 
 c 
 
 (-. 
 a. 
 K 
 
 a 
 
 c 
 c- 
 
 r- 
 H
 
 AdXLiS C. /'. WATT. 
 
 take revenge, and by anJ by to resume his church-going. 
 In the gloaming I returned home, not over sanguine 
 of his promise, but hoping for the best. On the 
 FricUiy following, just at sundown, a poor, miserable 
 wretch was crossing from the water's edge to the 
 " kava-house," carrying a bottle of water to prepare his 
 evening potion, which was being chewed by a little 
 boy, when he discovered Tero peering at him through 
 the surrounding under-scrub. The poor victim said, 
 "Tero, wherefore art thou here?" The reply was 
 a shot that laid him low, followed by a volley from the 
 people who had been hid in the bush, who now rushed 
 out and lired on the lifeless body. This over, they fled 
 <md left Kauki to lie till some of our servants — who 
 were the first to recover from the shock of so much 
 musketry fired close to our house — took up the 
 mangled body and buried it. Thus Kauki, well and 
 intent on heathenism at sundown, was laid in his grave 
 ere another day had dawned. He was a noted 
 " nahak-taker, " a notorious thief, and an arch deceiver. 
 No actual war followed, but the state of excitement 
 consequent on such a tragic occurrence thinned our 
 previously well-filled church. I indeed feared that we 
 would have no worshippers on the following Sabbath, 
 but upwards of fifty came, and soon after it rose to 
 seventy, and continued so. According to native ideas, 
 revenge must yet be taken ; but a better spirit rules 
 many of the aggrieved people, and we trust that 
 peaceful counsels may prevail. 
 
 When the " Dayspring " came, I)r and Mrs Gunn 
 came ashore to stay with us while the vessel went 
 north.
 
 JX J'L'JULs ny SEA. •_'•_':{ 
 
 William hail arranged to go tor arrowroot to J'ort 
 Resolution and thence to Weasisi, and l)r and Mrs 
 (lunn expressed a wish to accompany him. 
 
 We intended to go, stay one night at each place, 
 and then return home. So, taking what was needful 
 for a night's encampment, w^e started. The sun was 
 strong, and there was no wind ; hut we were sick. Wc 
 landed at Port Resolution, had a cup of tea, and again 
 resumed our voyage — the voyage that gave us such 
 experiences that we won't seek another for many a day. 
 I call it our famous trip ; William says, Infamous. 
 We reached Weasisi that afternoon, and left next day 
 at 1 p.m. It wasn't looking over bright, but little did 
 we think that we would take from that hour till eight j^.m. 
 to reach our destination. As we pas.sed the volcano or 
 Sulphur Bay, darkness fell on us. Though the 
 flame from the volcano seemed lurid and terrible, we 
 were glad to watch its ever-recurring eruptions. The 
 men were worn out pulling, but as the moon was 
 rising, we struggled on for Port Resolution ; and, 
 although we had but an empty house Avithout a fire to 
 welcome us, w^e felt glad to be thus for on our journey. 
 We got a fire lit, and tea made, and having thankeil 
 the God of life for preservation, retired to rest. I slept 
 little, as 1 knew from the howling of the wind that we 
 should be prevented from getting to Kwamera. The 
 note in my daily journal speaks volumes. Here it is — 
 Thursday 8th. Still blowing, and no food, but the 
 "Caledonia" (French ship) came into the harbour in 
 the afternoon, and my spirits rose. Dr Gunn and 
 William boarded the "Caledonia" for .«;upplies, and 
 returned laden with mucli kindness. The captain
 
 224 AUXES C. r. WATT. 
 
 would take nothing, but only asked them to give a few 
 francs as a contribution to the " Company." Mrs Gunn 
 and I did our best at housekeeping under the 
 difficulties, and so we lived until Monday, 12th May. 
 
 We rested the Seventh day, according to the 
 Commandment, and had two services with those who 
 met for worship. On Monday morning, two of our 
 boat's crew, who had walked to a point of land where 
 the sea is usually roughest, pronounced it practicable. 
 They and William would go round in the boat, while 
 the Gunns and I walked over a neck of land and 
 saved a nastj^ point. This agreed to, we dismantled our 
 beds, packed up what was to go with us, and divided 
 all our cooked food. The boat started, and we did the 
 same. We had a pleasant walk, and got some 
 cocoa-nuts to drink on the way ; so in good spirits wo 
 emerged from the bush to see our boat careering along 
 like a racehorse. Our spirits sank ; but how could we 
 go back ? All our necessaries of life were in the boat, 
 and it could not turn ; while once home we would be 
 all right. On William and the natives landing and 
 sapng that they had been out in worse days, we put a 
 brave face on it, and stepped into the boat. The men 
 pulled with a will, and soon we had up sail and were 
 away before wind and sea at a tremendous rate. We 
 thought that the worst was past, and hoped that the 
 further on we went, the calmer it would become. But 
 alas ! other sad experiences were in store for us. The 
 wind was puffy, and the sea was evidently rising. 
 Now and again a spray broke over us, but the good 
 boat mounted every wave ; and the taking in of a spray 
 was only followed by a shake of the head from the
 
 /.V I'EIULS liY SEA. 
 
 recii)ient and ;i laugh from tho spectators. Already we 
 were in sight of our house. Having risen over .so 
 many waves, anil having kept ourselves pretty comfort- 
 able by constant bailing, we were hojieful. As wo thus 
 careered along, cheered by the steersman's "It's all 
 right," and the prospect of soon being on shore, a heavy 
 wave is seen coming behind us. It breaks over my 
 devoted head with a heavy thud, fills the boat, so that 
 we are now wet from above, and our feet and legs in 
 water. Things are floating ! Bail, for your life ! 
 Away with that paltry meat tin, and get a bucket ! 
 Vahai springs over two thwarts, and Dr Gunn renders 
 eflicient help ; while Mrs Gunn looks after her sleeping 
 infant gasping for breath — having been rudely awakened 
 by a wave dashing on his face and filling his little 
 mouth with salt water. Old Niath looked round 
 him in bewilderment, then recollecting his position, set 
 to and bailed also ; only he poured the water on 
 Dr Gunn's legs instead of over the side. To this the 
 Doctor objected, and calling the good man's attention 
 to the fact, he came to his senses. Another wave may 
 come and swamp us ; but a few more plunges and we 
 are landed on the beach, like drowned rats, hardly able 
 to crawl with the weight of water in our clothes. 
 
 Thus were we baptised in the cloud and in the sea ; 
 nay, we had passed through the sea. As we looked out 
 on the still rising sea, after a cup of warm tea and a 
 change of clothing, we felt more than ever what a merciful 
 providence had been vouchsafed to us. I told Mrs 
 Gunn she hud indeed experienced the romance of " a 
 missionary's holiday trip." 
 
 15
 
 XVll. 
 ON ANIWA. 
 
 COMl'ILEI*. 
 
 For a imniber of years Mr and Mrs Watt were 
 appointed bv the Mission Synod, at the request of 
 Mr (now Dr) Paton, to take charge of the work on 
 Aniwa during his absence. Besides visiting that 
 island by boat from Tanna, they usually went over in 
 the "Dayspring" when on her way north, and stayed 
 with the people until the vessel returned. Their visit 
 usually lasted from six to eight weeks at a time. 
 Some of the most interesting references to these visits 
 are presented in this chapter. 
 
 1882. Aniwa. We arrived here on the 1st July. 
 We were landed, with all our train, including goats, 
 kids, helps, boxes, &:c., and the vessel went away 
 north before seven a.m. 
 
 We found much to give encouragement. The people 
 were glad to see us, and clamorous for clothing. In 
 two days I had disposed of one hundred girdles 
 ffathoms of calico) for men ; cut, pinned, and saw 
 made, twenty women's dresses. Another day I cut 
 eleven. My fingers were blistered. I got a fowl for a 
 dress ; still they came and came till I had torn up all
 
 O.V AM 11 A. 
 
 the sheets 1 could spare, and liad v\\iu made dresses 
 out of a sofa cover. My inventive powers were severely 
 taxed ; every scrap I had was used ; even the parings 
 of the dresses were sewn together for a handkerchief 
 I was indeed sorry I could give them no more ; it was so 
 pleasant to see them wish clothing, and be glad to buy 
 it. 
 
 On the second day after our arrival, they gave us a 
 present of four pigs and twelve fowls, with a pile of 
 yams. We gave a return present of shirts, calico, axes, 
 and soap. . . . From what I have said, you will see I 
 have not been idle. I have had to write all this 
 to-day, with many interruptions ; bartering, giving out 
 medicine, and seeing my new cook, who, by the way, is 
 an Erromangan, and cannot speak Tannese; so we 
 carry mi our conversation in broken English, thus: 
 "What for you no cook yam?" "You no speak me 
 before." "You tell woman belong you, he eat this 
 fellow yam." " He no hke him," kc, &c. William 
 accuses me for writing "jumpy " letters. If you think 
 this one "jumpy," just remember all I have to do. 
 
 After the Communion here we returned to Kwamera. 
 
 1883. We arrived here on the 9th July, about 
 live p.m. We got a hearty reception on the shore, and 
 the people carried up oar baggage at once, though the 
 Mission house is a good way off. As the sun was down, 
 and all was dark in the empty house, I did feel like 
 entering a dungeon. The rooms had been whitewashed 
 three months before, but no one had been inside since ; 
 and cobwebs can be spun in three day.^. Tlu' rats had 
 been trvini,'- wlint sort of a na-ai thev could make out of
 
 •-"Jb A(;X£S C. p. WATT. 
 
 the straw palliasses, and they ilid not look inviting after 
 their doings. However, after sweeping up, we got out 
 our napery and stores, and had a fairly comfortable tea, 
 and a good night's rest. On the afternoon of Thursday, 
 12th, Mr Watt gave out new books in the church, and 
 I never saw such anxiety manifested for the Word. 
 The people seemed quite desperate when they knew 
 the Gospel of John had run done. 
 
 The darkest-hearted man (Nesi) in this island has 
 now begun to attend church ; so that heathenism can 
 truly be called a thing of the past, as far as open 
 profession is concerned. 
 
 I have had a great deal to do in millinery and 
 ilressmaking. The week before the Communion we 
 were kept busy from morning till night — so many 
 wanted new dresses, and there was so little time to 
 prepare them. 
 
 On Sabbath, August 5th, fifty-nine sat down at the 
 Lord's Table. On the previous Friday, which was our 
 Fast-day, Mr Watt baptised five adults and ten 
 children. The little children specially interested me. 
 In one case two little boys and their sister stood in a 
 group, being admitted on the faith of their mother, who 
 had just been baptised. Their father is still outside 
 the pale of the church, though a regular attender. 
 The little ones looked up so enquiringly into Mr Watt's 
 face as he sprinkled each in the name of the Triune 
 Ood. I thought of the Saviour's words: "Except ye 
 become as little children." 
 
 One of the unusual events that took place while we 
 were here was a divorce. A young man and woman 
 were married some few years ago because their parents
 
 ox AXIIVA. 229 
 
 and guardi.-ins had arranged it; but they |iul)licly 
 disowned each other, and were causing great scandal. 
 Lately, the wife, who has ail along been a gipsy, eloped 
 with another man. The deserted husband wished 
 divorce, and all the ihland concurred. On Wednesday, 
 after the prayer-meeting, in presence of the whole 
 congregation, the husband and wife stood side by side 
 in front of the missionary and declared their desire for 
 divorce. The missionary read, in their own language, 
 all the Scripture on the subject ; and after a short 
 address declared them put asunder. The divorced 
 husband then left her side and went to his seat ; while 
 the claimant came forward, and they were formally 
 married : the bride giving as emphatic a " yes " to the 
 question whether she would marry this man or not, as 
 she had oiven when she declined the former. I 
 sincerely hope this is the end of the uidiappy affair. 
 
 1884. On Tuesday, 24th June, we started on our 
 watery way. When we reached Futuna, it was blowing 
 hard, so I did not go on shore, but Mr Watt did, and, 
 through some mistake, we did not get from there 
 that night. Next day, the boat went in and brought 
 otf our passengers, and we sailed away for Aniwa, 
 where we landed at daybreak, after a rough night — 
 Messrs Mackenzie, Eraser, Murray, and two children 
 accompanying us. Having only two tea-cups, wc 
 had to use tin pannikins, but our friends expressed 
 much relish for the tea and sweet milk (thanks to ^Irs 
 Annand, who had given us two milk goats). Three boat 
 loads brought in all our things ; our friends left us, and 
 we began our thinl annual visit to Aniwa. When once
 
 tJSo A<;XES C. /'. WATT. 
 
 our boxes were unpacked, and the necessiiries of life 
 conveniently laid out, we began to feel somewhat at 
 home. The people gave us a very hearty welcome, and 
 we found things in fair order. An attempt to steal a 
 girl last year after we left, and of which we heard at 
 the time, had caused some unpleasant fueling, but it 
 went no further ; and since we came, the man who 
 wished to steal her has come again to church, and is 
 now attending the candidates" class. He has made 
 considerable progress in reading tluring the past year, 
 and we earnestly trust the Word may be blessed to 
 him, and that soon he may become a help to us and the 
 good cause here. We are pleased to note the marked 
 advance in reading during the year; it speaks well fur 
 the teachers, who only get £10 divided among six of 
 them. Soon after our arrival, we set the people on to 
 their annual contribution of arrowroot ; and after the 
 grown up people had made theirs, Mr Watt proposed 
 that the young people should follow the example of the 
 children at Aname and Kwamera, and make some as 
 their special love-token, for they had already assisted 
 the grown up people. 
 
 It was very encouraging to see one after another of 
 these bright boys and girls coming along, laden with a 
 basket of the raw material, having scoured the bush 
 in search of it, and now bringing it to be weighed, for 
 we wished to see who had gatheied most. Even after all 
 had brought in their offering, and the day had been 
 fixed for grating it, a few rose at daybreak and 
 searchetl tor more, tlius supplementing their previous 
 lot. The making day was a great day, and from early 
 morning till late in the evening these young people
 
 ON AXnVA. -'HI 
 
 scraped, orated, and washed at anowroot. So now we 
 have the pleasure of saying they have made a whole 
 cask. 
 
 Yesterday, July 25th, the year's contributiun was 
 exhibited in church, and formally dedicated to the 
 Lord, as a free-will otfering for the Gospel. We have 
 celebrated here three Christian marriages this year. 
 As has been the custom, the three brides never saw the 
 dresses they were to be married in, till within 
 half an hour of going to church. I then called them 
 in, arraying them in nice print robes and new straw 
 hats, and a silver(-less) ring each. They were quite 
 <leli<rhted. In the meantime, the bridegrooms were 
 dressing somewhere else ; I had given them a trifling 
 present of clothing. Tavo of the lads had been in the 
 colonies, and turned out in splendid style, even to 
 boots. (Had they any socks ?) 1 accompanied the 
 brides to church, and each sat down in front of the 
 pulpit, by the side of her respective betrothed, but in a 
 manner that would have made you laugh, as each one 
 was more anxious than the other to keep at a 
 respectable distance. After the prayer meeting (for it 
 was the weekly prayer meeting day), the three couples 
 stood u}) in the presence of the congregation, and were 
 solemnly married. Then came the benediction, and, 
 headed by the missionary anil his wife, the whole 
 congregation shook hands with the happy eouple.s, 
 wishing them much joy. We then all separated, the 
 brides going out at the one door, and the bridegrooms 
 at the other, as if nothing had h:i])pened. We were 
 just in the heat oi' the arrowrout-making, but as I stood 
 a minute to speak to some one at the church door.
 
 232 AGXES C. P. WATT. 
 
 fancy my surprise when, on entering the hc»use, I found 
 one of the bridecrroonis with a big sheet full of 
 arrowroot on his back : he had thrown off his coat, and 
 was thus giving a helping hand at putting past the 
 arrowroot for the night. So you see we have no 
 stealing away of the happy pair, no wedding tour, no 
 honeymoon holiday ; but three couples are sensibly 
 married, and seem well matched. Next day there was 
 a big feast, almost like a welcome home, and the 
 minister got his marriage fees, in the shape of two large 
 pigs and five fowls, from two of the couples, and one 
 fowl from the third, with the promise of something 
 better by and by. 
 
 It is rather unfortunate that our mail and our visit 
 to Aniwa come together ; for while here I have such an 
 amount of cutting and pinning of dresses, repairing of 
 books, k.c., while Mr Watt has school examinations, 
 elders' and teachers' meetings, that our time is much 
 occupied. Last week we had an ordination of five 
 deacons — one of them goes as a teacher to Tanna. We 
 are also sendino- out another teacher and his wife to 
 Futuna. Two years ago we sent out the first teachers 
 from Aniwa, a couple and a single man ; and last year 
 a couple left to help at Weasisi. (The first Aniwan 
 teachers on Tanna were Natshia and wife, and Pavenga. 
 The couple who went to Weasisi last year were Litsi 
 sori and her husband Nuperau.) 
 
 On Sabbath, 3rd August, we joined with the people 
 in commemorating the death of our common Lord. 
 We numbered from fifty to sixty, and were much 
 encouraged to see the progress in the appearance of this 
 band, compared with a similar company that sat down
 
 ox Axn\'A. -2:^:1 
 
 some years ago ; and we earnestly hope that the- out- 
 ward improvement is an indication of advance in heart. 
 
 IS80. We have had charge of this island for four 
 years, and this year we were much gratified by seeing 
 the progress that had been made in the art of reading. 
 We utilise the best readers by employing them to read 
 the Scripture for the da3% both on Sabbaths and at the 
 Wednesday Prayer Meeting. It is amusing to see each 
 take his turn. It may be an old man with spectacles 
 in the morning and a child of twelve or fifteen in the 
 afternoon. To be deprived of one's turn is regarded as 
 a loss, and to have one's name struck out is considered 
 a disgj-ace. We baptised seven : five infants, one man, 
 and his son about ten years of age. The man is by 
 birth a Tannaman, but was adopted here in infancy. 
 His name is Nesi, and he has been a notorious 
 character. For years he was the dread of Mrs Paton's 
 life, and a decided opponent of the gospel. Two years 
 ago we spoke earnestly to him and he promised 
 to reform. Last vear he began to read, and we 
 commended him for so doing, telling him to ask God 
 to bless the Word to him. He has attended the 
 catechumens' class for a year, and professes to have^ 
 undergone a change. As all the eklers esteem him 
 worthy, we have, at his own earnest request, admitted 
 him to the membership of the church. He is a clever 
 man, and we hope he may yet be a power for good in 
 his own land. 
 
 Till we came here, none had left the island on 
 Mission service, as teacher or servant. Three years ago 
 we sent three to Weasisi, and since then others have
 
 234 AOXES C. J'. WATT. 
 
 gone there. Last year wo placed one couple at Port 
 Resolution and sent another to Futuna. The man was 
 an elder in the church, and very energetic, though far 
 from strong. Alas, in a few short months, he and his son 
 fell ill and died. . . . Even to write this, though 
 months have i)assed, wrings my inmost heart. I feel so 
 deeply for the afflicted woman losing first her only 
 child, and then her husband, while she was a stranger 
 in a strange land. 
 
 On the 19th of August the " Dayspring " reached 
 Aniwa, and our pleasant visit was at an end. The 
 natives cheei'ed us as we went otf, with a thorough 
 British " Hip, hip, hurrah 1 "" We had only eighteen 
 miles between us and our destination, and as the 
 weather was moderating, we thought we were sure to 
 be there next morning. One night of cockroaches 
 wasn't much ; and so comforted, we went to our 
 bunks. But alas! ne.xt morning, " No landing at Port 
 Resolution." "Well, let's try Weasisi." Away we go, 
 and I feel the squeamishness vanish before the hopes of 
 landing. Though we would be twenty miles from 
 Kwamera at Weasisi, and mioht underjjo yreat 
 discomfort in the boat voyage, still, the present being 
 disagreeable, we will shut our eyes to the future. 
 Knowing that we are nearing Weasisi, I rush on deck 
 just in time to hear the captain .say, " No landing here 
 to-day." To-morrow is Sabbath, we can do nothing- 
 till Monday. No landsman, none save tho.se who have 
 been in ii wet- l.")0 ton vessel in a stormy .sea can 
 tell how ini.serable one feels in such a position. 
 Mai de mer, like toothache, elicits little sympathy, but 
 both try the temper in no small degree. With her
 
 0\ AXJHA. J.Tj 
 
 head to the sea, under easy sail, the poor tossed 
 " Dayspring- " ploughed into the waste of waters. I 
 retired to my little stuffy cabin, where in a small bunk 
 I got fixed or jammed, and, having my head down, 
 felt comparatively comfortable. All that day, and 
 Sabbath, and till three }).m. on Monday, we did penance 
 in our floating, tumbling prison. 
 
 On ^londay we called at Futuua, and found the 
 Uunns well, then stood away for Tanna, for now wind 
 and sea were really going down. At break of day we 
 stood in for Port Resolution, but the wind headed us 
 off, then it fell calm, and it looked almost as if we 
 wouldn't get landed that day. However, a gentle 
 breeze brought us to Kwamera, and we took it first, 
 though we knew that as soon as possible we should have 
 to sfo back in our boat to Port Resolution. 
 
 1888. Aniwa is a delightful place to land at. 
 Although the sea was hiyh outside, it was wonderful 
 the shelter we got from this little, low-lying island. 
 As we ran close along the shore we heard the glad 
 shouts of the people rejoicing at our approach ; and just 
 as the " Dayspring " was wearing round in order to 
 lower her boat, one on .shore called out in English : 
 " Ready, bout " ! 
 
 What a Avelcome we got on shore ! But, as the 
 vessel was in a hurry, we told them to show their joy 
 by quickly getting some pigs, fowls, and oranges for the 
 ship. This was soon done and all put into the boat, 
 reatly for a start. 
 
 Every day has been well filled with useful work, and 
 a i:<»od amount of it.
 
 •23G AOXES C. /'. WATT. 
 
 The forms or pews for which they have paid in 
 arrowroot are expected by tlie " Dayspring " : so we set 
 them on to put a lime floor in the church, and also to 
 thatch one side of the roof While some were mixing 
 lime, and })lastering, the women and frailer men were 
 making sugar-cane leaf thatch. What the Aniwans do, 
 they do heartily, so in less than a fortnight all was 
 finished. Meantime, 1 took ill with fever, and 
 vomiting, and was wvy mi.serable for eight davs. 
 During my enforced retirement, the poor missionary 
 was terribly worried, having so much to attend to. 
 He was medical attendant, general store dealer, and 
 overseer of labour ; had to hold session meetings and 
 general consultations ; and one day he had a marriage. 
 Ill in bed, I had to direct the dressing of the bride ; for 
 we always deck out the young couple, and they, in 
 return, sometimes give us a present as a marriage fee. 
 In this case, as they were people of some importance, 
 we got a splendid porker, some fowls, and a pile of 
 yams. Some one has remarked, that the advantage of 
 receiving a present is, that you can give the donor far 
 more than its value in return, and feel that you are not 
 wronging him. 
 
 On the Monday after the Connnunion we had our 
 Thanksgiving service, at which we laid in front of the 
 pulpit, as is the custom, the annual contribution of 
 arrowroot. 
 
 We received the boxes sent by Mrs Mackie, South 
 Yarra, and Mrs Bovd, South Melbourne, and fouml 
 them very useful. Seventy-three people had weeded 
 and cleared all the Mission ground. We gave them each 
 as niiK-li j>iint as would make a lava-lava ; besides, we
 
 ox AXIUA. 
 
 hail eighteen regular sweepers of premises. Of three 
 {.lozen dresses and fifty hats I liad brought from 
 Kwamera not one is left. Everything goes here. 
 Why, even old shirt fronts or " dickeys " have been 
 made to serve as garments. Two seamed together 
 formed a little boy's blouse. Last Sabbath, while 
 looking at some young darkies thus arrayed, walking 
 out and in at their pleasure, during service, I thought 
 how much harder a mother's life is at home, where the 
 care of a large " small " family may keep her from 
 church for nearly twenty years. Here no one is left at 
 home. Whenever the mother can come the infant is 
 brought, and the stirring " two or three-year-olds " do 
 not tend to quietness in church. I carry a bag of 
 broken biscuits and hush many an impatient spirit 
 with them, until I am charged by the missionary with 
 giving too much attention to the loaves and fishes. 
 But I dearly love the little brownies, and often picture 
 the time when their jDarents, having served their own 
 generation and fallen on sleep, the promise will be 
 tulfilled, " Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children," 
 
 I have called this place my Bethany ; where, after the 
 turmoil of Tanna, we enjoy comparative rest among 
 more like-minded spirits than are in the "great land" 
 (Tana sore). This year it is a perfect land of Goshen. 
 I never saw food so abundant, large yams and plenty 
 of them, while the orange crop has been so great that, 
 as the natives express it, " They are weak to eat 
 them." 
 
 We expect the " ]3ayspring " any day now to take us 
 to Tanna, and we hope and pray for good weather for 
 our landing there.
 
 238 AaXES C. r. WATT. 
 
 « 
 
 I am tired with writiiifj tu-dav. so I crave you to be 
 lenient in your criticisms and continuous in yo^r help. 
 Be not like the man of whom the Rev. R. M. Thornton 
 of London told, who said, " I 've given a shilling a year 
 for the last twenty years, and do you mean to tell me 
 that the heathen are not converted yet ! " 
 
 A. C. P. Watt.
 
 XVI II. 
 A MONOTONOUS SUMMER. 
 
 GENERAL LETTER, 1885. 
 
 As the " Dayspriiig " will soon again be leaving for 
 the colonies, I suppose you will look for a few more 
 jottings from my daybook. So little to interest and 
 encourage has taken place since the last " General " 
 left, that I had almost made up my mind to wTite none 
 this trip ; but the deep interest many express in these, 
 causes me again to pen a few rambling sentences. One 
 word would express all that has occurred in the past 
 half-year, viz.. Monotony. Nothing striking has 
 occurred. Things go on in the even tenor of their 
 way, — we hope advancing ; but daily we feel how- 
 suitable the passage of Scripture is to our case, ",Ye 
 have need of patience." Emphatically we have ; for 
 the night of toil is proving long. In dark times I try 
 to remember that the darkest hour often precedes the 
 dawn, and thus hope against hope ; or else cry out, 
 '' Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a 
 fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night." 
 Not that crying does them any good, while it gives me 
 a violent headache ! It makes me feel desperate at 
 times to see so many going down to death eternal, and 
 we cannot save them. Daily do I remember that
 
 :i4i» A(;XES C. I'. WATT. 
 
 hundreds of Foundry Boys and Girls say that they are 
 praying tor Tanna, and yet the light is weak. We are 
 a small and feeble tiock, while the heathen are 
 numerous, and talk big, as in the Second Psalm. 
 Nahi-abba has been raised up from the gates of 
 death — where he longed for and got our daily 
 administrations — only to return again to his heathenism. 
 This is the time of year when feasting and dancing 
 goes on, and so engrossed are the majority in these 
 aft'airs that they have no ear for anything else. 
 
 The past history of Missions on Tanna has been a 
 sad one, and, in our experience, the present is not 
 unlike the past. For instance, since the formation of a 
 church we have lost two of the four who first joined us, 
 and these the two youngest and most promising. Now 
 this tells sadly on our work, as many say, " See how 
 the Christians die 1 They become Christians, fall into 
 sin, and are cut off; therefore shun the Gospel, and you 
 may live as you like." You and I know how silly such 
 reasoning is, but yet we are altogether unable to uproot 
 this belief. About a month ago, a young woman, who 
 had identified herself with the worship, died, leaving a 
 helpless infant. Her death, too, has been a sore blow, 
 and has taken many away from attending the church. 
 How foolish 1 you say ; so do I, nevertheless it is true. 
 " This people's eyes are closed, lest they see." Like 
 the Church at Pergamos, we dwell where Satan's seat 
 is. I would despair, did I not know that the Gospel is 
 the power of God, and that it is that Gospel we preach. 
 
 Had we but an outpouring of the Spirit, what an 
 incoming there would be I So many know the truth 
 theoretically. We are like a ship ready waiting for
 
 .•1 MoXoToXDfS SLMMKl:. .lU 
 
 wiml, every sail srt ; l»ut what if tlu'ie is no wind? 
 "Ye have need of patience." . . . 
 
 This has been the finest hot season we have spent. 
 It has been quite uniijuc : and were all the seasons like 
 it, half the misery of oui' life would br none. We have 
 neither had a blow, nor a big sea, nor an earth(|uake. 
 Besides, I have enjoyed exceptionally good health ; not 
 for years have I felt so well. This only confirms the 
 medical man's opinion, that my trouble was on the 
 nerves ; so, there being nothing to cause them to tingle 
 has permitted me to enjoy perfect health. In the end 
 of March and beginning of April, William had a severe 
 illness, which ended in his vomiting a little Vjlood. He 
 had excruciating pain during the night jMevious to this 
 occurrence, but after that he soon recovered. These are 
 the times when we long for human sympathy, and 
 would fain have medical advice. True, Dr Gunn is on 
 Futuna, and we can see his rocky Ailsa-Craig-looking- 
 island out of our windows, but fifty miles of ocean 
 ilivide us, with no conveyance save an open boat. In 
 all likelihood, going there would be impracticable, and 
 so would his coming here, even although we cotdd 
 bottle up our sickness until he arrived. In vain I try 
 to persuade William that we are getting old — having 
 been seventeen years in the Mission field, and that soon 
 we must retire. He, however, shows me how some of 
 our NfW Hebrides folks were as old as he when they 
 entered the field, and yet laboured for over twenty 
 year.s. So I have to keep quiet. Rest will be very 
 sweet when it comes ; that is, if I cat} rest. 
 
 January and February were filled up with the 
 monotony of daily life — Ciitting and sewing dresses, 
 Ki
 
 A<;yES c. r. watt. 
 
 reading proof sheets, correcting and printing Exodus as 
 tar as the end of the Ten Commanchnents, making and 
 printing a number of new hymns, which brings (»ur 
 collection uj) to sixty-nine. The chief favourite 
 among the new ones is " The Great Physician." I 
 must send home a copy to the Glasgow Foundry Boys' 
 Society, from whose Press they were printed. . . . 
 
 The event of March was the opening of the new 
 church at Ituko, where Yamen was settled in the end 
 of last year, and where we have had more to encourage 
 us than at any previous station. Almost without 
 exception, every man, woman, and child lent a willing, 
 helping hand in its erection, and that without any hope 
 of fee or reward. On the 26th of March the place was 
 formally opened, by our going up aiid holding a 
 service in it. We arrived in the afternoon, the people 
 there having prepared food for us and ours. We made 
 them a present of fifty calico girdles, besides shirts and 
 women's dresses and other small articles. They gave 
 us four pigs and fifteen fowls. We gave returns for 
 these next day, as we wished ours to be a free gift, 
 showing our appreciation of their good-feeling. 
 
 In the evening, we had a Magic Lantern display to a 
 crowded house, people having come miles to see it. 
 The pictures were explaineil, and in that way we hope 
 some heard the gospel who would not attend a service 
 either in churcli or the open aii'. 
 
 We could not get home, so had to remain all night. 
 We were a party of twenty-two, and slept in the 
 church. We had just settled down comfortabl}- wheu 
 all sprang to their feet, shouting "yasuk, yasuk " (a rat, 
 a rat !) This, you may be sure, drove all sleep from
 
 A MONOTONOUS SUMMER. 243 
 
 our eyes, and, like I'uul, ' \V(3 uislud for ilay."' In vain 
 1 tried to compose myself; my fertile imagination made 
 nie apprehensive of rats on every hand. At last I took 
 refuge on the preaclur s platform, ami although it was 
 o\\\v four feet Ion*; ami lailfd on ihree sides, I contrived 
 " to double myself up a wee ! " I had some snatches of 
 sleep, now and again awaking to realise where I was, 
 have a look round on my sable companions on the floor 
 below, or listen to hear il' William were sleeping or not. 
 We burned a Rowatt lamp, the gift of that generous 
 friend, now no more : and each group of natives had a 
 fire, rouml which they slept. Tu the morning I rose 
 refreshed, but poor William had never slept a wink. 
 We got some of the past day's food warmed up, and 
 had a " bite " before we left. We made speedily for 
 home, whither we were soon Ibllowed by nearly the 
 whole population, who had iuten<led to escort us, had 
 we not stolen a march upon them by getting away so 
 early in the morning. All that day we held a levee ; 
 William being loth to lose so good an opportunity of 
 conversing with them on various and vital subjects. 
 But, alas, we had to pay for it. I had to go to bed 
 with a rending nervous headache, and William was, 
 never <{uite well from that time until he vomited the 
 blood. 
 
 In A})ril, there was a triple cold-bl(X)ded murder 
 within two miles of our door. Three men, all 
 relations — two of them being father and son — were 
 shot and clubbed to death bv relatives, who lived in the 
 .same village, and drank kava together nightly in the 
 same house. They were reputed to be takers of nahak, 
 and had given .some other cause of ort'ence ; so they
 
 244 AdXES C. r. WATT. 
 
 were summarily dealt with. But as it was like a 
 iamily quarrel, and nearly all acknowledged that they 
 oujiht to die, it caused no excitement. The nearest 
 relatives were the muulerers. Had others done it, they 
 would have been the avensers of blood. The whole 
 thing has passed away without even being a nine days' 
 wonder. . . . 
 
 The "Dayspring" brought me forti/-^even letters! 
 Wasn't that a feast { But I had to wait a wee before 
 devourinu' them, as our friends Mr and Mrs Robertson, 
 and our new fellow-labourers Mr and Mrs Charles Murray, 
 had come on shore to see us. Though always glad to 
 entertain visitors, we are specially' so when they come 
 as these did, through a rough sea. Mrs ]\Iurrav was 
 drenched with salt water. It did my heart good to see 
 such a thorough Scotch woman. Though, like 
 ourselves, supported by the Presbyterian Church of 
 New Zealand, and thus in a special sense our fellow- 
 labourers, they will not work on Tanna, but take up 
 the standard on Ambrim, in place of their brother, 
 Mr \V. B. Murray, whose failing health has obliged him 
 to leave the field. His case is sad ; having studied for 
 long years to specially qualify himself for the work, and 
 then, when almost reaching the goal, to have contracted 
 the disease which has cut otf his Mission life ere it was 
 well begun. God's ways are mysterious ! 
 
 After lunch our friends left, and we sat down to our 
 mental feast. Before midnight I had all my letters 
 devoured, but not without inducing a most excruciating 
 headache. Really, how much pain can be compressed 
 into a small head ! Once and again I poinded cold 
 water on it, but the relief was only momentary.
 
 A MONOTONOUS SUMMER. 245 
 
 However, sleep eaine to the rescue and southed tlie 
 jmiii. Next day it was nearly gone. . . . 
 
 October 20th brought the cry of " Sail oh ! " at break 
 of day. But alas, the " Dayspring" is carrying her Hag 
 half mast high. This kept us in suspen.se, wondering 
 what evil tidings she wished to prepare us for. On the 
 boat reachino- the shore we heard of the sudden death 
 of Mrs Inglis. In her a mother in Israel has passed 
 away. To us who came here in the somewhat early 
 days of the Mission, her house always looked like home. 
 We also heard that Mr \V. B. Murray hail entered into 
 his rest. He lay down at night asking for refreshing 
 sleep, being in great distress through shortness of 
 l)reath. His prayer was heard, for ere day dawned he 
 passed calmly and peacefully away. " So He giveth 
 His beloved sleep." 
 
 (Jod's ways are truly very mysterious, for to our minds 
 Mr Murray was peculiarly well fitted for work, and we 
 thought him a great acquisition to our ^Mission ; but 
 the Highest has decided otherwise, for just as he had 
 irirded on his armour, the call came to enter into his rest. 
 
 ... By the afternoon all our goods were stored, and 
 after an early ctip of tea, William went on board to 
 visit Aniwa, and T read letters till 
 
 ■Tlif woe short lioiir nynut tlic tw.il." 
 
 Next day 1 had Yamen in to open one of the Foundry 
 Boys' boxes for the precious Hunter's Cough Mixture, 
 to give to a poor little baby that was suffering, and 
 keeping its parents' awake as well. Ten drops that 
 night ])rocured sleep to all parties concerneil, and in 
 le.^s than a week fbi- cnu^h \vm\ disappeared.
 
 •_>4li Al.'XES C. r. ir.l TT. 
 
 On the second day William returned, having been to 
 Aniwa and set xi\> a tank there, then on to Port 
 Resolution and landed a tank there. I fancy that tank 
 did good, for now the people see that we mean to live 
 there. They seemed to look on us as interlopers, 
 coining into their missionary's house and claiming his 
 tank, when really it was more theirs than ours. A few 
 days after that, we went round to Port Resolution by 
 boat. Fortunately, we had a fine day, but even with it 
 all, Nalupas and Naume, my bedroom maids, were both 
 sick. The latter being (paite unable to look after her 
 two-year-old baby, I took little Tt)i in my lap, and with 
 my strong arms round liim he was comforted ; for this 
 was his first voyage by boat. We got round in good 
 time, and received a very hearty welcome. The 
 following day the people helped us well in getting the 
 tank uphill and into its place. On both Saturday 
 evenings we have had native puddings brought tu us 
 for our next day's dinner. On the second Saturday, while 
 some boys and girls stood round, one remarked that it 
 was cooking day ; and I said, " Oh, dear me, I forgot to 
 order a pudding for to-morrow. " Fancy my amazement 
 and gratitude when a woman brought one at sundown, 
 and on my remarking how opportunely it had come, 
 she replied that her little son had told her to make it, 
 owing to my remarks in the morning. Wasn't it good 
 of him ? 
 
 You remark in your letters that .surely we are never 
 done thatching or whitewashing. Well, note that we 
 did neither during our two last trips to Port Resolution. 
 But we put on the storm-rigging this last visit, and 
 were romindf'd bv tlio toarhcr that we will recpiire to
 
 A MUXOTOXOi'S SUMMKll. 'IM 
 
 le-tliatch next year. Oh dear, isn't it trying, and yet 
 what ean we do { 
 
 Through the generosity of fiiends, we have been abh- 
 to be much more liberal of late. One and another 
 have got clothing from us. About a month ago, we 
 sent a parcel to an intere.sting district called " Isumu," 
 where a form of worship has been kept up for a long 
 time, and where Kauraka, a Tannaman, has a grass 
 church, assembling a few people every Sabbath, although 
 he never received any pay from us. He cannot read, 
 and has small knowledge of the " way of life," but still 
 he gropes away. While we were at Epi this year, 
 Narpai (one of our old girls) and Matthew made a 
 runaway marriage, and fled to that district. After 
 being there for a few weeks, of their own accord they 
 took the lead in conducting service — Narpai reading 
 the Scriptures and leading the hymns (for she is a 
 splenditl singtir), and Matthew^ addressing the people. 
 God can and tioes make use of very unworthy means 
 for His own purposes : and we pray that even this dim 
 light mav do something to illumine the surrounding 
 darkness. They sent lately for books (3'ou know the 
 Tannese have a great dread of books), and when we 
 sent them we sent also some shirts, women's dre.sses, 
 ami handkerchiefs as turbans. The shirts came out of 
 the (ireen Stn^et bo.ves ami the handkerchiefs out of 
 tln' Foundry Boys' box. We feel deeply grateful to 
 Miss Brown and others in Great Hamilton Street 
 Congregation, and our old tried friends the G.F.B.R.S., 
 for sending us such valuable clothing. \\'e are thus 
 reminded that we are not forgotten, and reproved for 
 our lai-k of t';uth. While we are ])lod(litig along.
 
 248 AoXBS a r. UATT. 
 
 thinking we are forgotten, kind hearts are phmning, and 
 nimble lingers are sewing surprise gifts for us. There 
 was one item in Miss Mackay's parcel specially prized 
 by nie, and that was the " Life of (ieneral Gordon." 
 In a place like this, where nothing happens, where 
 letters are months old when we get them, and where 
 new books are rarely seen, such a book is worth its 
 weight in gold. . . . What a spice of novelty there 
 was about it! I read it at once, and have enjoyed it 
 very much. If you could only read through my 
 present mail of thirty-five letters, you would find that 
 much of Gordon's experience and many of his sayings 
 have taken a deep hold on my mind. I cannot help 
 feeling that in many ways his experiences and ours are 
 th6 same, while some of his remarks are so strikingly 
 applicable to our circumstances that I cannot help 
 repeating them. 
 
 The Bible says that he who soweth, weepeth ; and 
 I believe that invariably the sower has the mournful 
 part to perform, for he must wait and maybe even die 
 ere the reaping time comes. I have been thinking 
 a great deal to-day of that passage of Scripture, 
 " Blessed are the dead which die in tiie Lord : . . . 
 they rest from their labours ; and their works do follow 
 them." 1 infer that though their works do follow 
 them, they often have not seen the fruit of their 
 labours while on earth. " One soweth and another 
 reapeth," but I can't help envying the man who reaps. 
 We have laboured long, we have spared no ])ains, we 
 have shrunk from no danger in seeking the salvation 
 of Tanna. Once and again have we hailed a gleam of 
 light, thinking it the dawning of the day; as often have
 
 .1 Mo.yoTOXors x/M/.i/ /;/.'. .mm 
 
 \v»' st'cii it fade away ami tli(! darkness ifrow more 
 intense. 
 
 I fancy we are ddwu in tlic valley of hnniiliation 
 just now. Two years ago, and tor months before that, 
 we had over one hundred at our principal service, and 
 we had ffrave thoughts of "lettinij out" our ehuirh to 
 accommodate the increasing numbers. A young lad 
 died; his fathi^r believed he was killed by "nahak," 
 au<l all we could say was of no avail. The father and 
 a band of armed men came down, and, a few yards from 
 our door, riddled with bidlets a poor defenceless man. 
 That caused a scattering of the tribes and a thinning 
 of iiur congregation from which we have not vet 
 recovered. Last year sickness and death were busy, 
 an<l several who had identified themselves with the 
 gospel were cut oti' in the prime of life ; flmf raised 
 a hatred to the worship which has not yet subsided. 
 This year one of our two male church members fell into 
 sin. and has taken to kava-drinking. "J'his has been 
 the hardest blow of all to me, for while I grieve at 
 .seeing the advance moving so slowly, that is as nothing 
 compai'ed to witne.ssing this going back. I am doubly 
 thankful that Naurita (the other male chiu'ch member) 
 retains his integrity and proves a true friend to us. 
 
 You have all hearrl of Nahi-abba, our notorious chief. 
 He has always been opposed t(j the gospel, but 
 nevertheless sent his wife to church. Last year he was 
 at death's door, and begged for medicine, daily vi.sits, 
 an<l prayer. He recovered ; his first act was to perform 
 a heathen rito on his soji, shun us in every way, and 
 indeed let us know that we were not wanted. Again 
 he became sick; we again visito»l and prayed with him,
 
 ->i) A^.XES C. I'. WATT. 
 
 uiviiiir liiin cordials ami medicine ; once more* hu has 
 recovered, only to be tenfold more a child of lit-ll than 
 before ; and now he has forbidden his wife to come to 
 church, and is doing all he can to prevent others. 
 Thus far he has been successful, for the lads in his 
 villaire have not been to church since his wife ceased 
 coming. " Render unto Ca-sar the things that are 
 Ca'sar's" is the Saviour's command, su we always pay 
 him deference as the chief, and give him a small 
 present each time the "Dayspring" comes from the 
 colonies. Though we knew from others of his more 
 decided opposition lately, still we took no notice of the 
 fact, and sent him the usual " custom dues "as I call 
 them. Nancy took the present along — a piece of calico, 
 some biscuits, and a piece of salt meat. He received 
 them graciou.sly, but so far he manifests no softening 
 towards our message. As I have already told vou, "an 
 eye for an eye " is the law on Tanna. When any one 
 gets medicine from another he invariably pays for it. 
 As a rule we get something in recognition of the 
 medicine we give, but in Xahi-abba's case we don't 
 even get thanks. Whether, if he were a Christian, his 
 influence for good would be much, I cannot tell ; but 
 his influence for evil is very great. " The king's heart 
 is in the haml of the Lord," wherefore I entreat you, 
 my friends, to make him a special subject for prayer. 
 
 Oh, for a Pentecostal shower I Nothing but an 
 outpouring of the Holy Spirit can cause the long-sown 
 seed to grow. I want the Foundry Boys en mo^se to 
 pray for Tanna ; not in a general way, but that this 
 very year the dawn may come. The Tannese are 
 uni(|ue in their long resistance to the gospel. Forty
 
 A MOXOTOXOUS KUMMKU. -J.-.l 
 
 years a^o, the good news came to Taniia. They drove 
 Turner and Nisbetaway; they withstood the eloquent 
 pleadings with tears of a Paton ; they resisted for 
 thirteen years the exhortations of a Neilson : and they 
 have tried to weary us out. 
 
 To us, indeed, they are quite respectful ; they adndre 
 our kindness, nay, more, they say our message is good ; 
 but " liow can we give up the customs of our fathers ? " 
 Again I beseech you, " Pray for them." After the long 
 years of sowing, with the vast amount of Scripture^ 
 knowledge they have, and the way in which news 
 spreads like wildfire over the island, if we had a revival, 
 you would hear of one of the grandest incomings that 
 have yet been witnessed in the New Hebrides. . . . 
 Whether the reaping time comes in our day or not, we 
 know that we belong to the " Ever Victorious Army," 
 and that sooner or later Tanna will be won for Christ. 
 There is a day coming when both " he that soweth and 
 he that reapeth may rejoice togethei." . . . 
 
 Agnp:s C. p. Watt.
 
 XIX. 
 AN ILLFSTRATEl) LETTER. 
 
 GENERAL LETTER, 1886. 
 
 Ill this "general" you will be .surprised at my going 
 over the past, but as the circle of readers has enlarged, 
 and many of them know little of us, I think it well to 
 give some account of ourselves and our establishment. 
 
 A lady who joined our Mission a few years ago, on 
 becoming intimate with us, told me how surprised she 
 had been to find on her arrival that there were no gray 
 hairs on our heads. On my asking " why ? " she said 
 that when she was a little girl in the Sabbath School, 
 she had heard of the New Hebrides anil Mr and Mrs 
 Watt of Tanna, so naturally expected to meet two 
 staid, gray-haired people. In the same way, some may 
 wonder what we are like, when told that we have been 
 seventeen years missionaries ; and would like to see 
 such lion.s. 
 
 Here is a cojjy of our photographs, taken by Fergus 
 of Largs in 1(S79. There are people in the world who 
 think that missionaries shoidd never seek a holiday until 
 w(jrn out. So many of our fellow-labourers have from 
 time to time returned home pale, thin and shattered, 
 that it has become an understood thing that foreisfn 
 missionaries .should appear so. When we visited Sydney
 
 AX ILLUSTUATEn LETTEU. 
 
 .'.").•{ 
 
 a few years ago, one and another said to us, "Why have 
 you come up ? you don't look sick." I replied that the 
 climate of the New Hebrides had got such a bad name, 
 and so few would join us, that I had coino up to bear 
 witness to the goodness of the climate, and so see if I 
 could induce others to follow me. In the same way, 
 our photographs may encourage some to think seriously 
 of casting in their lot with us. 
 
 We have the most 
 
 un-get-at-able station in the group, being on a weather 
 shore ; and many a scare has been experienced in 
 landing here. I fancy so much wind and salt spray 
 must be conducive to health, and, judging from our own 
 experience, would say that this is a healthy station. 
 
 The salt spray is not at all pleasant ; for it rusts 
 every bit of ironmongery, and keeps us constantly 
 cleaning windows. Every fresh blow sends up clouds
 
 .J4 Ai.XES C. J'. WATT. 
 
 of spray wliich drift inland like steam, and so dims our 
 windows that we cannot see out. It is very destructive 
 also to plants, for after a strong breeze everything- has a 
 blasted look. Hence we have only grass in front, with 
 a border of soil round the gravel or coral walks, while 
 our shrubbery is at the back of the house, in the square 
 formed by our dwelling-house, store-rooms and work- 
 shops. 
 
 What is our house like ? It is weather-boarded 
 outside and lathed and plastered inside, with a 
 thatched roof. The weather-boards, studs, flooring, 
 doors and windows are from the colonies. The 
 thatch is New Hebridean, and so is the lath and 
 plaster. The former is made of flexible branches or 
 young saplings ; the latter is coral burned. When we 
 tirst came down in 18(J9, we got whatever is colonial of 
 two rooms, and by degrees, as we found it necessary, we 
 ailded thereto until the place stands as you see it. The 
 main house consists of bed-room, dining-room, parlour, 
 and study, with four small " leans-to " on the ends of 
 the verandah, front and back, forming two bath-rooms 
 in the front, and a pantry and box-room at the back. 
 Of the two houses forming the sides of the square, that 
 on the right is the store-room, and that on the left the 
 printing-oltice, workshop and yam-house ; both, as you 
 see, are connected with the main house by passages. 
 The doors and window-frames are all painted inside and 
 out. The annual outside painting is no joke ; for so 
 strong is the sun here that in less than a year not 
 a particle of oil is left in the wood ; it would therefore 
 spoil if we did not repaint it. The weather-boards 
 outside and the plaster inside are all whitewashed with
 
 '2.-^ A(;XhS C. /'. WATT. 
 
 coral lime. That too means much hiboui. Wcir it not 
 that in omployinga hit of i)eople you me bringing them 
 under your intluenceand providing them witli the means 
 of honouiably working for clothes and other necessary 
 things, besides teaching them new and useful arts, you 
 would often feel heart-broken at the amount of manual 
 work needed to keep up a station. The thatch roofs 
 alone are a great labour, expense and trouble, and after 
 all, they only last from four to five years at Kwamera, 
 even when there has been no hurricane to damage 
 them. At Port Resolution the one we put on two 
 3^ears ago has already begun to leak. The best thatch, 
 and that which we use, is sugar-cane leaf tied on a reed 
 about four feet long, forming long fringes. These are 
 laid on in rows overlapping each other, and tied 
 severally to the rafters by cinet. On our main house 
 we have as many as two thousand reedsful, and when 
 last we thatched, as many as ninety women were employed 
 making it. Imagine, if you can, the stir ; and oh, what 
 a mess ! Oh, ye who dwell under slate and other 
 lasting roofs, think of us having our whole house 
 unroofed up to the ridge-pole, time after time, dirty 
 rotten thatch* falling in every direction, while scatl'olding 
 and greasy natives crowd up your rooms. AVoe betide 
 vour bits of treasured furniture or gifts, if down comes 
 a tropical shower ! 
 
 * In .<onie of the noithein islands, tliatcli i.< much more dnralile. 
 When well made and put on closely, a roof will last for many 
 \c'ais. 1 have suvn thatch which was at least fifty years old, but 
 that was larfrely due to the pre.«erving action of the smoke .and 
 heut from tires inside the house. — T. AA'. \..
 
 .1 .V / /. L i 's Til A TKi) L }■: 'rri:i!. -joT 
 
 Another constant trouble is the puttinj^^ <n\ each 
 December, and takinjs^' off' each April, of the storm- 
 rigging. That consists of poles oi wood put on like 
 network, and tird with strong creepers. Under the 
 wood we lay rows of old reed fencing, partly to make 
 it more secure, but chieHy to keep the wood from 
 rotting the thatch. The soil here is so damp that we 
 have found it absolutely necessary to have a Jievv reed 
 fence put round our premises every year, else our 
 place would be overrun with pigs — these creatures 
 beino- allowed to rim about loose. When new the 
 fences look very pretty ; they are of light, open 
 basketwork. Some fifteen to twenty women bring 
 about two hundred bunches of reeds, and five or ten 
 nien put up the fence. I suppose we will have about 
 four acres enclosed. 
 
 All this thatch-making, roofing, reed getting and 
 fencing, cleaning and sweeping, and the knowledge 
 that all has to be paid for in goods — clothing and 
 ironmongery — will lead you to infer that we require 
 Sfjme storage room, and can utilise well a box or two of 
 mission goods. Many a time I have wished we could 
 do with less house-room, though indeed we find the 
 house too small when the " Dayspring " sends in a 
 mmiber of people who more than once have been 
 detained by wind or sea. (While I write this, the wind 
 is howling and the sea running high, the poor wee 
 vessel tossing to and fro in sight, but no landing. I 
 sincerely pity those on board.) 
 
 Again, when you remember our numerous connections, 
 teachers, helpers, boatmen and general parishioners, 
 who are all dependent on us (for we rarely .see a vessel), 
 17
 
 •25S Ai.XES a r. WATT. 
 
 yuu will not wouiler that we need every nook ami 
 cranny in whieli to store away goods. Besides, we only 
 get supplies twice a year, and have to be prepared for 
 emergencies — shipwreck or hurricane. (Jiir grounds 
 are not too large when you think how numerous our 
 stall" is. We have seven grass liouses for native 
 accommodation, besides a house for tire-wood — a most 
 necessary thing in wet weather — a fowl-house and goat- 
 house. These latter will commend themselves to you, 
 seeing we are 1200 miles from market ; and unless 
 we provitie creature comforts we can not have them, 
 and will not live long. So in order to labour we must 
 live. Housekeeping here is no play; foj- not only must 
 you invent comforts, but with native help you must be 
 at the beginning, middle, and end of everything 
 yourselves. 
 
 At present we have, living on our premises, two 
 married couples, four cliildren, two single men, five boys 
 and four girls. There are nineteen entirely dependent 
 on us besides IS'aurita (the late Yemeitahak's husband, 
 and Paipai his mother). Naurita was an inveterate 
 kava-drinker, a savage and a cannibal. Now he is a 
 consistent church member, and we believe a true and 
 sincere Christian. Paipai too is a church member. 
 Here is a specimen of our girls, and another of our 
 boys. They are fed, clothed, lodged and educated by 
 us, and in return do what they are bid. 'i'he girls act 
 the part of table and pantry-maids, sew, and keep each 
 ;i part of the premises clean. The boj's clean knives, 
 brush boots, rake the gravel walks, clean goat and fowl- 
 houses, and feed the fowls. 
 
 Houye is our present poultry-man. He is a handy
 
 ^.V Il.l.fSTn.\Ti:i> I.KT'I'KU. 
 
 •_'.")'> 
 
 fellow ill the printiiig-oftice, and one year he was very 
 proiul when he received a sovereign as his year's salary. 
 
 VEMEITAHAK ANIi NANCV (j). 'J.IS). 
 
 But I hear some say, " Why keep so many on your 
 premises, seeing they involve you in trouble and
 
 •_'»... A<;NES a J\ WATT. 
 
 expense, as doubtless fewer wouKl give you all the help 
 you need ? '" True, but the absence of appliances to 
 lighten labour, and the many departments needful for 
 life, render more hands indispensable than in civilisa- 
 tion ; besides, think of the sweltering heat ! However, 
 the main reason is — Tanna is a hard fiekl, and except 
 by taking them into our establishment, we have found 
 it dithcult to get any one to wait on regular instruction. 
 
 Another " connection " is our boatmen. These are 
 indispensable; for, as a rule, we visit Port Resolution by 
 boat, and on this weatherbound coast a good boat and 
 trusty seamen are required. During the past hot 
 season we have visited Port Resolution by boat six 
 times, and twice overland. 
 
 Speaking of our staff, I mentioned teachers. Of 
 these, we have six on Aniwa and three on Tanna. The 
 latter are supported by the Glasgow Foundry Boys' 
 Religious Society. Niath is at Port Resolution, 
 Nalvatimi at Meiyahau, and Yamen at Ituko. Narpai 
 and Mattlipw are at Isumu, but they are not recognised 
 teachers. 
 
 June 17th. We have now been ready for the 
 " Dayspring" for a week ; and having a breathing time, 
 I devoted it to writing the foregoing. While in the 
 middle of my story, the cry of " Sail oh ! " caused me to 
 fling down my pen and rush out to the welcome sight. 
 Welcome to us, snug on shore, but our joy is mixed 
 with grief, seeing the weather is such that the 
 passengers cannot land ; and wc know from experience 
 that they are in a sorry plight : crowded in a .small 
 stuffy cabin, seasick, and knocked about in their bunks 
 with the rolling and pitching of the vessel. Next da}^
 
 .1 .V //././ "x 77/. I Ti:i> I. /■; rTi:i;. 
 
 •_'(ii 
 
 just after breakfast, "' Sail oh !" and until twelve o'clock 
 hopes of a landing. Then it began to blow, and the 
 "Dayspriug" went further and further away, till four 
 o'clock, when she was out of sight. All my preparations 
 for (lining a goodly company were useless, and until a 
 week had elapsed we heard no more of her. On the 
 24th, she was seen between this and Futuna, and the 
 
 <;IRI.S IN MISSION IIOCSK AT KWAMKRA [\\. -JihS). 
 
 weather was fine. On the 2.")th, Nahi-abba shot a man, 
 a little to the west of us, in revenge for a friend of his 
 who had died. 
 
 We were sure we should see the" Dayspring'' on the 
 Sabbath, if all was well, and so were much grieved on 
 the Saturd;iv to .see tlie sea rising again. Just after
 
 ee-J A(;\£ii C. J\ WATT. 
 
 morning" service on Sabbath, we saw the poor wee 
 " Dayspring" oflf here, with a big sea running and the 
 wintl high. I wonder if you can imagine how nmch 
 our Sabbath rest was bnAen bv thinking of and 
 pitying our friends on board. We rested but little that 
 night. Next morning, it was still blowing hard, but 
 the wind was veering round to the north, and our 
 hopes rose. By mid-day it was well round, and in the 
 afternoon the landing- be^an. Tliree boats brought all 
 ashore — twelve adults and five children. The single 
 gentlemen occupied our store-room, which was for the 
 time arranged as a "barracks." After the tumblings 
 and tossings at sea, every one was more pleased than 
 another to be on shore, and expressed their joy ; so 
 we were a happy company. 
 
 Next morning at nine o'clock the Synod meetings 
 began, and by four o'clock Mr Patou left in the 
 " Dayspring" for Noumea, to try and get to Sydney in 
 time for the Federal Assembly. We would all have 
 liked could he have stayed longer, but " time and tide 
 wait for no man." Our company at table now 
 numbered eleven (for we had a separate children's 
 table), and continued so till that day fortnight. 
 
 During that time "work, work, work" was the order 
 of the day, from six in the morning till twelve at night. 
 Church bell for native worship at (5.30 a.m. : at 7.1 o 
 we met io the parlour for family worship : 7.45, 
 breakfast ; and at !).30 the Synod met and sat till 
 dinner-time, 1 p.m. The afternoons were occupied 
 with committee meetings. Tea at G p.m. Then 
 nsnally all were busy with printing, writing, transcribing, 
 or committee work. Several I rarely saw, save at
 
 264 A(.XKS C. r. WATT. 
 
 meal-times. Such ;i Busy Bee never was, as the one 
 we held here. Mr Murray set uj) a Primer of twenty- 
 eight pages in the language of Ambrim, and that 
 meant many a weary hour's woik for him. William 
 corrected the t^^pe, while Mr L;iwrie, Huuye, and 
 i>thers printed it off and distributed the type again. 
 ^Ir Robertson and Mr Lawrie also had leaflets 
 printed. 
 
 On Thursday, 30th June, baby (Jrray fell asleep. 
 Next forenoon, we had a service in church, and buried 
 him in a plain deal cofHn. made by his father. We 
 felt much for our brother and sister in their trial, but 
 were very glad Mrs Gray had not been left alone at 
 their station. In the afternoon, when the Synod met, 
 we heard reports of stations, — all encouraging. On Emae 
 or Imai, the work is wonderful. Two years ago, all 
 were heathen cannibals, now many are learning to rend, 
 and the teachers are much blessed. 
 
 Though our Mission is small — and when compared to 
 Africa or China, the New Hebrides are insignificant — 
 still, some of the greatest triumphs of the gospel have 
 been accomplished here. According to their means, 
 our converts will compare favourably in liberality with 
 converts in any other field. 
 
 On Sabbath we had a good attendance at church — 
 the Isumu people having come all the way to see the 
 mis.sionaries. In the evening we celebrated the Lord's 
 Supper, Mr Murray preaching, and Mr Laurie dispensing 
 the elements. We had a happy time, although 
 saddened by remembering Mrs Fraser and Mrs Murray, 
 who had been with us at the same feast last year. 
 Later, we helil a concert of sacred music ; the
 
 .'1.V lUJ-srnATKh LETT Ml,'. 
 
 •_'»)') 
 
 missionaries singing- in Knglisli aii<l the Tanneso in 
 their own language alternately. All agreed in saying 
 
 ji0^- ^9^^ 
 
 
 Mill VK — KKOM A I'lloTO TAKKN TN M KIJ-.orKNK (p. li.'iS). 
 
 that the native singing was the best ; for tiie hynin.'- in 
 English were not particularly v.cll known to us all ;
 
 266 AdXL'S C. I'. WATT. 
 
 ^vhile the natives were in full force, knew their hymns 
 well, and sang heartily. 
 
 On Friday we held the Bible Society meeting, and at 
 
 the close several of unv pt-uple, teachers and helps, 
 
 cuntribute<l. Kaiasi gave ten shillings last year, and 
 
 the sjime this year. Very good, I say, seeing a native's 
 
 salary is only £4! Vahai and Nalvatimi both gave£l each. 
 
 Our boys ami girls were sorry, when the others 
 
 contributed to the Bible Society, that they had no 
 
 money. Afterwards, when the missionaries gave them 
 
 presents, instead of buying gay handkerchiefs and 
 
 beads, they made a thank-otiering to the Glasgow 
 
 Foundry Bovs' Society, in most cases of their all. It 
 
 amounted to 13/. I was much pleased with Nancy's 
 
 unselfishness. She had got 1/ from two ditierent 
 
 persons ; the others had given 1/ and so had she, but 
 
 Kiser who cleaned the knives had been overlooked, and 
 
 so had no money, yet was longing to join in giving. 
 
 Well, Nancv gave him her other shilling:, and enabled 
 
 him to participate in the pleasure of giving. 
 
 As Tanna has long been looked upon as a specially 
 hard field, we asked our friends to join us and pra}' for 
 a, special blessing on this island. We spent the evening 
 ■of Sabbath 11th thus, each one joining in turn. T 
 liked an expression in Mr Fraser's prayer, that "from 
 henceforth we may not think of Tanna as a hard field, 
 but as a field tor which we have j^rayed." Yes, I fear 
 too many have looked upon Tanna as hard, and so have 
 ilone nothing for its evangelisation. As of old they 
 say, " Can any good thing come out of Nazareth ^ " 
 "Can these (dry) bones live?" It requires more faith 
 to preach to dry bones than to living men.
 
 TANNA WOMAN.
 
 268 A(;XI-:S C. /'. WATT. 
 
 On the loth the "Dayspring" returned from 
 Noumea, but tdo latu to take oti' our visitors, so Ave 
 spent the evening singing hymns, supposing it to be 
 our last together. Next day the sea was so rough that 
 the captain sent word that no one was to come oft'. In 
 this way we had another " U\st evening," but half 
 expecting to have our friends till Monday. However, 
 on Saturday morning the wind and sea had fallen, and 
 H.M.S. "Opal"' and the " Day.spring" were both off 
 here. The captain of the former kindly sent word that 
 he would take Mr Robertson to Erromanga, Mr 
 M'Kenzie and Mr Fraser accompanying him. Immed- 
 iately after breakfast all left except Mr Milne and Mr 
 Murrav, who went off in the last boat. Thus ended the 
 raeetins of 1886, but we trust that the results svill 
 continue to all eternity. IIV enjoyed the society of 
 kindred spirits immensely, and were gratified by 
 thinking we had made thcrit comfortable. C)ur lielps, 
 both Aneityumese and Tannese, rose to the occasion, 
 and there was no hitch in the arrangements. Indeed, 
 they were far better than colonial servants, who are said 
 to crrumble at visitors. Thev made common cause of 
 our meetino-, were deliiihtetl to exert themselves to 
 make all comfortable, and expressed great grief when 
 they left. Mr Murray's loneliness has elicited many 
 expressions of sympathy. Poor fellow ! he will feel 
 very much alone on Ambrim. Mr Fraser had left his 
 two wee motherless bairns on Erromanga. What a 
 sad time he had, when left with an eight-day-old son I 
 He made a coffin for his wife, and alone, among black 
 people, laid her in the narrow house. Side by side 
 .she and her infant daughter lie. Jessica had died
 
 A X J /.LI N 7'/,'. I 'I'/:/) I. ETTEU. -im 
 
 shortly before, wliile Mr Fraser himself" had a serious 
 illness. 
 
 Seeing we had so enjoj'^ed congenial society, and had 
 such a lot of it all at once, you can imagine the blank 
 we felt, when, after seeing the last safe on board, we 
 re-entered our deserted hcjme. 
 
 It v.'as Saturday, and the porker J had got killed tor 
 Sunday's dinner had to be divided among our darkies. 
 But alas, ere I had commenced giving my directions, 
 the yells of the people caused me to rush out and away 
 up the banks of the neighbouring stream. There I was 
 reminded that we were still on dark deluded Tanna, and 
 that we needed strength from above and strong faith to 
 face the stern realities of life. Sitting in the stream 
 with a crowd of women around him, was a young lad who 
 a few minutes before had been shot in the left arm near 
 the shoulder. We ran for a do.se of laudanum to 
 relieve the lad's distress. Poor boy ! when he saw 
 compassion on my face he began to cry. His father 
 carried him home on his back, and he now lies in a 
 precarious state.* This is part of the revenge for the 
 man Nahi-abba shot the Friday before the missionaries 
 arrived. It may interest you to know that the natives 
 took out the broken bones and put a stick in their place. 
 
 On Monday we dismantled our barracks, and soon 
 our whole place resumed its wonted look. We are 
 now packing up for a camping-out at Port Resolution. 
 It takes no small thought to remember everything 
 necessary for a live or six weeks' stay in an empty 
 
 * The lad I'ecoveved, anrl in about .-ix moiitlis \va.< ai^aiii well and 
 fitroni'.
 
 •_'7"' .H.XES C. /'. WATT. 
 
 house. The house is in such bad repair that we cannot 
 leave things thert\ but wc have new the piomise of 
 an iron roof for it. 
 
 After visiting- Port Resohition we come back here to 
 await tlie return of the "Dayspring" from Sydney, 
 when we are appointed to proceed to Malekula as part 
 of a deputation to assist in the settlement of our 
 nephew (T. Leggatt), who is to be known as the " Amy 
 Gertruile Russell '" missionary. A Victorian gentleman 
 named Russell supports him in memory of his daughter. 
 
 Agnks C. p. Watt. 
 
 K\VAMKi:.v, .Tiih .Snth, 1SS(5.
 
 EXTENDING THE MISSION NOKTHWARI). 
 
 GENKRAL LKTTER, 1887. 
 
 The hot season of ]88()-87 was to Mrs Watt a very 
 trying time. It was less so perhaps among the people 
 than in the mission house, where there was much 
 sickness and anxiety. Mr Morton and mj'self with our 
 wives being unable to open up our own stations owing 
 to the lateness of the season, remained at Kwamera 
 until April. Acclimation is never a pleasant experience; 
 but when it has to be undergone in the unhealthiest 
 season of the year, together with other illnesses, the 
 result is distressino- in the extreme. Mrs Morton had a 
 still-born s^n in February, and my wife a daughter in 
 March. Both ladies recovered but slowly, and Mrs 
 Watt herself suffered from severe fever and ague with 
 other complications, while Mr Watt was prostrated for a 
 long time with a return of his old complaint, " vomiting 
 of blood." What follows is best told in her own words. 
 
 For weeks, nay months, before the vessel came, we 
 rarely, if ever, all met at the table. Always one or two 
 unwell, and oh how I longed for the "Dayspring" to 
 come ! We were all a good deal recovered, when on the 
 26th April the cry of " Sail oh '. " greeted our ears. It 
 was like life from the tlead. . .
 
 272 ACXES a. r. WATT. 
 
 On Friday ^fJth, the anniversary of our marriage day, 
 we k^ft Kwamera. We were a good boat-load — four 
 couples and a baby, witli quite a number of natives, for 
 we took two as boat's crew, two as house-builders, and 
 Yecrimu to mind the baby. . . . 
 
 Wednesday, 8th May. We iett Epi tor Ambrim at 
 sundown. After tea, we had very vivid lightning, and 
 I remained on deck till late, watching it. The sight 
 was magnificent ; theie was no wind : all was still and 
 peaceful. Being up late, I slept soundly, and knew no 
 more till, about half-past two in the morning, I was 
 awakened by the captain shouting, " Let go the anchor." 
 1 knew something was wrong ; for we never anchor 
 save in the daylight. Soon I learned that the current 
 had carried us down on Ambrim, that we were close in 
 to the rocks, and that some of the passengers were 
 dressed, ready to take to the boats. I didn't wish to 
 see our danger, so remained in my bunk. At daylight, 
 I went on deck, but by that time a " kedge " anchor 
 was out, and the boats pulling ahead. How relieved 
 our minds were when we .saw that we were slipping 
 from the shore I — a little God-sent breeze jilidino- us 
 safely off. Just when we were moving, a boat put off 
 from the shore. At first the natives were shy, but when 
 they learned that it was a missionary ship, they came 
 on board. The captain gave them a present, and they 
 returned on shore much pleased. The breeze was now 
 freshening, and carried us along until we reached the 
 anchorage at Mr ^Murray's station at one p.m. 
 
 How much can be crowded into twenty-four hours ! 
 During the night we realised that we were in imminent 
 peril ; then the rebound (jf joy when deliverance came ;
 
 KdVS WITH VAMS. 
 
 IS
 
 -_»74 A(;XES c. /'. ir.i TT. 
 
 now another sorrow awaited us. Dur fellow-labourer 
 from New Zealand was in sore trouble ; he had had 
 fever, and looked so ill. The Landels, too, had suffered 
 much ; they were but the wrecks of their former selves. 
 Here, at Ambrim, the Annual ^leetiny- of Synod was 
 held, we going ashore and setting oiit dinner, while the 
 other meals were .served on board, and all being 
 prepared by the "Dayspring's" cook. The "Dayspring" 
 and " Cairndhu " lay here at anchor until Thursday, the 
 2nd June, when we parted. The object of the 
 " Cairndhu " was to settle Messrs Annand and Landels, 
 and it carried, as a deputation, Messrs Mackenzie, 
 Robertson, Fraser and ^rurray. With us in the 
 " Dayspring" were Messrs Morton and Leggatt, on their 
 wav to be settled, with Me.'^srs Watt and Lawrie as a 
 deputation. The " Cairndhu " sailed for Malo, and we 
 for Sasun Bay, Malekula. We found that the French 
 priests had effected a lodgment there, but their presence 
 onlv seemed to make the people more anxious for an 
 English missionary. They said, " Man Malekula he no 
 like French missionary, he no got boat, he no got wife, 
 he no got piccanniny, he no got nothing." Their joy 
 was great when they saw that T. W. L. had got all 
 three, or rather all four. They gave him a good site 
 for his house, plenty of good land, with fruit and other 
 trees on it, beside a nice little stream of fresh water. 
 For two weeks the missionaries and their sable 
 assistants wrought late and early, first clearing the 
 land, and then house-building. They left the ship at 
 six a.m., and returned at six p.m., their dinner being 
 sent ashore to them. When beginning the house, it 
 was di.scovered that there were no nails. What was to
 
 EXTENDINd 77/ A' MISSION NONTHWA HI). JT.-) 
 
 be done ? We had a few, Mr Morton could spare a U-w 
 more, but still we were short. Gladly did wo lemember 
 that Mrs Mackie of Melbourne always sent nails lor 
 Aniwa. We got up her box, ojjened it, and found a 
 splendid parcel of nails. How pleased we were, and 
 how opportune ! 
 
 On the 20th June, we left them very comfortably 
 .settled. That forenoon we visited the nearest native 
 village. We saw an exchange of pigs take place, over 
 which there was a good deal of ceremony. First thei-e 
 was a great beating of native drums, then a conch was 
 blown, and a pig held shoulder-high for some time ; 
 another blast of the conch, another pig offered, and so 
 on till all had been presented. Why was this done ? 
 Was it an offering to the gods ? What more followed 
 we did not see, for they let us know that we were not 
 wanted ; but after we left we heard an}' amount of 
 conch blowing and shouting. 
 
 Though we bade Mr Leggatt adieu on the 20th, we 
 were not to sail till the next morning, so we rose before 
 daylight and went ashore to have another peep at 
 him and his wife, then off" to breakfast and away to 
 Pangkumu, further up the coast, where we landed the 
 same day and visited a large village. The chief's house 
 here was remarkable, having an immense bird on the 
 wing carved in wood on the ridge pole over the door. 
 The whole village Avas enclosed by a coral wall, and 
 the chief's house was within a second wall. We wanted 
 much to get seeing through his sanctum, and tried in 
 our best broken English to make him understand, but 
 in vain. At last we discovered the secret ; he objected 
 to us ladies going, but willingly took the gentlemen.
 
 •J7t; AaXES C. /'. WATT. 
 
 The next day was a big day ; we searched for a site, 
 visited a village a good wav oti", saw a magnificent i)uhlic 
 square, near by which were no fewer than forty-five 
 images painted in green, red, and yellow colours. 
 Each would be from eight to ten feet high, ornamented 
 •with a human face. The road to and froni the village 
 was level and broad, and I enjoyed the walk. Another 
 day we went to see the young chief, Netinmar, who 
 constituted me his friend, and got several clubs for me. 
 He was such a nice young fellow, and so polite : one of 
 natures gentlemen. Having got a site' for Mr Morton's 
 house, we had to return to Ambrim for the timber, and 
 were one night at sea. Again there was sad news 
 awaitinii" us. Before our anchor was down we 
 were met by a boat in charge of Mr Norrie, the chief 
 officer of the " Cairndhu," who told us that that vessel 
 had been wrecked on Malo. I have not time to tell of 
 our surmises as the boat approached, of our suspense 
 while Mr Norrie told of the wreck, of the dread lest 
 any lives were lost, or of the sense of relief and the 
 fervent "Thank God!" when we knew there was no loss, 
 save of the ship. Our first impulse was to hasten at 
 once to the rescue, but we were already crowded, and 
 heartl that the Malo people, like those of Melita, had 
 showed the shipwrecked people no little kindness. 
 
 Monday was a busy day, missionaries and natives all 
 working to the utmost of their strength, and the 
 " Day spring " people doing their best. Thus we were 
 ready for sea on the next day, and I wish you could 
 have seen our little " Dayspring." So crowded was 
 every inch of room that I hid in my bunk, not wishing 
 to see the confusion. Tlie poop and main deck — every
 
 /■,„„. I'll., I,, I,,, /.•..•. /•. If. I.i-jijatl. 
 
 iTi'.i.K' si,ir.\Ki;, \i \i !■;!<!;. A.
 
 27« AOXES C. P. WATT. 
 
 Corner, indeed — was lumbered up, iiiul 1 feared lest we 
 should have a niorht at sea. But God is ffood : He 
 knew our frames, and so tempered the wind that in a 
 few hours we were ajjain at anchor at Pan«rkumu. 
 From Wednesday till the Thursday of the next week 
 all wrought late and early. ( )n that day the Mo'rtous' 
 goods were sent ashore, and after dinner we bade them 
 adieu. The wind, however, was towards the bay, and 
 we couUI not get out ; but early next morning we lifted 
 anchor, and were away for Malo. We made Malo 
 early, but the wind falling light, we could not get up to 
 the anchorage. A boat was sent ashore, however, to 
 relieve anxiety with regard to the search-party, for they 
 had been gone so long, and had had a very trying 
 voyage. The wind had been high and the sea rough, 
 and they had been driven hither and thither for three 
 nights at sea. At one place the savages had put off" in 
 canoes to come to them, and they had had a shark 
 biting at their oars most persistently, although they 
 fired at him. Truly they deserve great credit for their 
 pluck. 
 
 We felt keenly for Captain Eyre when he boarded 
 us. Those who were in the ship when she went ashore 
 speak very highly of his disregard of self in seeking to 
 save the cargo. 
 
 We visited the Landels in rheir new home, and were 
 much pleased with the people of Malo.* These 
 northern islanders seem much le.ss savaoe and heathenish 
 than those down south. Though the vessel was wrecked. 
 
 *Tlii-y <l<i not ilH|)r(>\<', liowevxT, on ;i loliLifl' ;u;(|ii;iiiit!in(_'e. 
 -T.W.L.
 
 I'JXTKXDiXd rill': .uissiox xo/rr/i ]VA /; />. i'ti* 
 
 and miglit have been looked on as a " God-send " to 
 them, these Malo people stole nothing and treated our 
 people with courtesy. 
 
 As soon as possible Mr Annand's goods were got on 
 board, and we, with very lumbered decks, made for 
 Tangoa, Santo. While waiting for the " Dayspring " the 
 deputation had gone by boat ; and, rafting over some of 
 the timber, had laid the lower wall plates of Mr 
 Annand's house. ( )n the day of our arrival the studs 
 were set up, and that day week the house was so far 
 finished that we could leave them, which we did on 
 Thursday, the 21st July. They have got by far the 
 finest station of the four new ones, and so nice are the 
 people of Santo that I wished I were being settled 
 there myself No one could feel nervous among such 
 quiet, docile people. The bad name these people get 
 makes one suspicious of them ; but at each settlement 
 we were more and more pleased with our reception. 
 We could hardly realise that they were heathens and 
 cannibals. 
 
 We were all night at sea between Tangoa and Malo, 
 where we took on board all the cargo of the "Cairndhu'" 
 and her crew. We spent a delightful Sabbath at 
 anchor there, having a service of song in the forenoon 
 and worship in the evening. 
 
 From Monday till Friday we were beating up against 
 ;t headwind. Fortunately I was not sea-sick, and 
 enjoyed life on board. 1 read much of Dr Pai'ker's 
 •• Inner Life of Christ." His way of putting things 
 charms me. ... At Emai we were again laden to the 
 utmost limit with arrowroot, yams, &c., so that there 
 was not a corner left I .shov.jd have mentioned that
 
 t>SO AdXES C. I'. WATT. 
 
 ten of Mr Mackenzie's people, having heard of the 
 wreck of the " Cainnlhu," had come in a boat to 
 Tangoa to look for him. These we had on board, so 
 that, with our own " Dayspring" party, the shipwrecked 
 pt'ople. and this boat's crew, we were over fifty in 
 number. Every room, every bunk, every available 
 corner was occupied as sleeping quarters, the very 
 galley and the cabin floor being crammed full. . . . 
 During two tumbling days I read Bishop Hannington's 
 Life. It has a strange fascination for me, and I am 
 intensely interested in his journals. What a bright 
 active Christian he was ! Although the Robertsons 
 were only returning home after a long absence, yet 
 they invited us all on shore, and we spent a very happy 
 time. During the night, Korkor, an Aneityumese 
 man who had been with Mr Murray on Ambrim, and 
 who had been taken on shore to die, passed away to his 
 eternal rest. He gave testimony to his faith in Jesus 
 and his hope of eternal life. Now he is among the 
 blessed dead, yea, rather, among the living who have 
 died, whose works do follow them. He did good 
 service in the Master's cause on Ambrim, though he 
 was "only an armour-bearer." His body now rests 
 close by the graves of the martyred Gordons and the 
 sainted Macnair. " Precious in the sight of the Lord 
 is the death of His saints." 
 
 We left Erromanga on Thursday, and reached Aniwa 
 on Saturday, the 13th August. We landed about four 
 in the afternoon. Mr and Mrs Lawrie and two children, 
 and Messrs Eraser and Murray kindly accompanying 
 us on shore. We had a busy evening rigging up and 
 extemporising beds for all in the empty house. All
 
 EXrENJ>IN(l THE MISSION XORTJl WAUD. liSl 
 
 were willing to make things pleasant, so everything 
 went smoothly. The natives gave us fowls and yams 
 for Sabbath, and one good friend sent us a big manihot 
 (manioc or cassava) pudding. In the evening we had 
 sOme fine hymns, and every one seemed happy. 
 
 Seeing that the people here get so little attention 
 from missionaries, and have to stand so much alone, we 
 weie anxious to get our friends to spend the Sabbath 
 with us. This they did, giving us much pleasure, and 
 I trust profit too. You know hoAV keenly I feel for 
 these poor sheep ; do you wonder then that the depths 
 of my heart were stirred when Mr Eraser read his text, 
 " Fear not, little flock " ? Mr Murray followed, his text 
 being Isaiah xli. G, " Be of good courage " ; then in the 
 afternoon Mr Lawrie spoke. All three addresses were 
 most appropriate. After dinner we itinerated, visiting 
 the Sabbath schools, and were followed about from 
 place to place by many. We spent a delightful hour 
 that evening. Each of the four missionaries sang a 
 hymn, read a portion of Scripture, and engaged in 
 prayer. The shadows of the parting on the morrow 
 hung dark and heavy over me, and I was glad that no 
 one referred to such events, but directed our thoughts 
 to the cross of Jesus, the love of Christ that passeth 
 knowledge, and the boundless comfort the Lord gives 
 His Church ; also to the power of prayer. Such a day 
 and such an evening are " Elims " in our wilderness 
 journey. . . . 
 
 Agnes C. P. Watt.
 
 XXI. 
 
 TOILING ON. 
 
 GENERAL LETTERS, 1887-88. 
 
 A missionary's wife once said to me, " It is easy for 
 you to write interesting letters, there is always some 
 exciting event ; a great war, or a cokl-blooded murder 
 taking place on Tanna, and that gives you something 
 to write about. It is not so with me here, where all 
 goes on in the even tenor of its way, and I find nothing 
 to make a story about." Well, I am happy to tell you 
 that for once I am in the pleasant position of having 
 no sensational news to record. Since I last dropped 
 the thread of my narrative, no war, no murder, no 
 e.xciting event has disturbed the delightful lull on 
 Tanna. 1 cannot point to any great advance, but there 
 is a growing dislike to war on the part of our people. 
 Perhaps the last six months have been the happiest we 
 have ever spent on Tanna. We landed on the 2Gth 
 of August from our northern trip, and were met by 
 an unusually large number of our parishioners. We 
 heard of fewer declensions during our absence, and 
 experienced greater comfort among them. This happy 
 state of matters has continued ever since. Our good 
 reception, after landing, was some compensation to me, 
 as it was very rough ; and T did pity those who had
 
 TOILISC OX. -JHli 
 
 to return to the ship in blinding rain, wind, and a 
 heavy sea. It was two days ere they were able to 
 return with the remainder of our goods. On Wednesday 
 we gave a present of salt and soap to all our people, 
 in accordance with the wishes of some friends in New 
 Zealand who had supplied the same. Two days before, 
 we had paid all our helps, and fortunately all were 
 pleased with their pay. Whether that and the 
 subsequent gifts may have had something to do with 
 it, I cannot tell, but on Sabbath two backsliders 
 resumed church-going after an absence of six years. 
 My diary expresses my wishes, " May the incoming 
 begin now ! '" 
 
 The morning of Monday, 5th Sept., was very wet, but 
 on its clearing up we made an early dinner and started 
 for Port Resolution, with a boat's crew and working 
 party of fourteen. Next day we w^ent to Weasisi, where^ 
 I kept Mrs Gray company while Mr Gray returned to 
 Port Resolution with William, to assist him in roofing. 
 I was anxious about those two gentlemen while keeping 
 " bachelor hall," but I found all my fears had been 
 groundless, as the people had risen to the occasion 
 and kept our baud fully supplied. Daily did they 
 contribute yams, puddings, and drinking cocoa-nuts, 
 gratis. Indeed, the repairing of this house seems to 
 have been owned of God to further His cause. The 
 people realise our love to them, seeing we have spent 
 so much in making- this house habitable. Thev look 
 on it as our joint property ; hence they carried up all 
 the iron, wood, and bricks free of charge, supplied us 
 with daily rations of food, besides making us a present 
 of a pig, fowls and yams. On giving them some fish-
 
 •284 
 
 Af.XES a I'. WATT. 
 
 hooks they expressed amazeineut, and said they had 
 only done a little towards the ^ood cause. 
 
 On Sabbath, 23rd October, the old ship was seen, 
 and on Monday she landed our goods and iron for the 
 roof of our church at Kwamera. This is the year of 
 the Queen's Jubilee, while I call it the "Iron i/ear" : 
 for within twelve months William has assisted at no 
 fewer than i<Lc iron roofs, so he may be called 
 "experienced " in that branch. To show how smartly we 
 do things, I "11 tell you this. The iron was landed, as I 
 said, on Monday. That same night, at evening school, 
 all were told to undo the thatch at daybreak. One 
 half of the roof was covered on Tuesday, the other on 
 Wednesday, and the ridge capping put on by Thursday ! 
 But that meant working from six in the morning till 
 six at ni"-ht ; the missionarv being the head and the 
 centre of all, while his wife, acting as Lady Bountiful, 
 provides and ilivides meals for all. . . . We eat not 
 the bread of idleness. 1 can .say, like Paul, " in 
 labours more abundant,"' and as the end of each week 
 comes, I feel that we have not lost a moment. 
 Whether all will stand the fire as pure gold, or only 
 prove to be wood and stubble, the day will declare. At 
 least we do all for flic Master; and He who rewards 
 €ven the cup of cold water will doubtless accept the 
 offering of our whole energies. 1 live for Tanna 
 (indeed many think I have Tanna on the brain), and 
 will die for it, ii' need be. Can you wonder that we 
 love the Tannese ? Although they have opposed the 
 gospel till they have become a proverb and a byword, 
 and have by their waywardness sorely tried our faith, 
 yet they are a most affectionate people. Besides, one
 
 TOllAXd OX. 28;- 
 
 can never tell how much is being done in a quiet way 
 on Tanna, Could you but hear our hearty singing, and 
 see the people here turning out twice daily to worship, 
 would you not think that seed was being sown? We 
 are strong in hymns on Tanna ; we have over seventy ; 
 and doubtless our people sing well. " Bright, beautiful 
 home " is an immense favourite with the young folk. 
 The children may not sing skilfully, but they obey the 
 other injunction of the Psalmist and sing " with a loud 
 noise." The iron makes their voices resound clearly, 
 and sometimes we are almost deafened. May they all 
 join in the "Hallelujah Chorus" above ! 
 
 The early months of this year were dark and gloomy ; 
 much sickness prevailed, my hands were too full, and 
 I was prevented from attending to my usual mission 
 work. The later months were bright and cheery ; our 
 people were open to instruction. At Port Resolution we 
 have classes three times a day, and much encouragement. 
 At Kwamera several more have resumed church-sfoina', 
 and above all, Tero has decided to refrain from a 
 heathen rite on his son and grandson. We hope for 
 two more. This, if carried out, is a very decided 
 advance. Two of the boys are already clothed (a sign 
 that they are to escape), the other two await our 
 return. In eighteen years we have only rescued three. 
 Clothing is a badge of Christianity. When one begins 
 to worship he puts on a garment, and if he becomes 
 disaffected, one of the first acts is to lay aside the 
 cloth. 
 
 A little girl, the other day, seeing a picture of the 
 " Holy Family," exclaimed, " Why has the Virgin Mary 
 no garment on her child?" Some think we put too
 
 isu A aXFS c. r. WA TT. 
 
 much importance on clothing, but 1 cannot imagine 
 Christians going about naked. 
 
 1888. 21st April. The " Dayspring " left us on the 
 21st December, and we were to be alone for over 
 four months. Do I hear you ask, What have you been 
 doing during all these months of uninterrupted quiet ? 
 Well, I hardly know how to begin, or how possibly to 
 tell you. Month by month, week by week, and day by 
 day, Tanna alone — its people and its interests — has 
 absorbed our attention. Perhaps the most important 
 part of our season's work has been translating. We 
 have spent a great deal of time over it, but I am happy 
 to say that we have now the whole New Testament 
 gone over for the first time, and are now engaged in 
 revising. We have two pundits, both of them 
 satisfactory ; and we hope during this year to get all 
 re-written and ready for the press. 
 
 We have also been doing good work with the Glasgow 
 Foundry Boys' Press. The want of paper and binding 
 material has crippled us, however. The number of copies 
 printed was 250, and part of these on coloured paper. 
 We had to use ordinary print cloth for binding. For 
 weeks the missionary stood at the composing-case or at 
 the printing-press, the result being a new edition of our 
 hymn book and catechism in one. We have made 
 additions to our catechism, including the Apostle's 
 Creed, terms of communion, two short prayers, and 
 ([uestions on Bible names similar to those in Willison's 
 Mother's Catechism. We have also added three new 
 hymn.s, so that our hymnal now contains eighty-two 
 pieces. The Tannese are passionately fond of music.
 
 TOILING ON. 287 
 
 mid the demand for new hymns is endless. Ofttimes 
 they listen to us while at worship, and if the tune takes 
 their fancy, they give us no rest till we make a hymn 
 to suit it. Though to some ears the Tannese language 
 may sound harsh, yet I can assure you I feel the power 
 of many of our hymns ({uite as much when svuig in 
 this barbarous tongue as when sung in English ; and 
 we hope and pray that the singing of the Gospel will 
 prove a source of glad tidings to man3\ One of our 
 newest hymns, " Take my life and let it be," is a great 
 favourite, and also "Jesus is mine." The latter is the 
 work of a Tanuaman, Kaiasi, and is the first instance 
 we know of a native in this group translating a hymn. 
 
 How easily one writes and another reads the words, 
 " we have printed a new edition of our hymn book and 
 catechism," but how few of you can guess what an 
 amount of time and how much labour it costs 1 We 
 bound up the whole of the edition printed this year, 
 and with the exception of some fifty copies all are noAv 
 in use. We have also printed and bound a new edition 
 of our Primer. 
 
 . . . This year, the dread of books, so common on 
 Tanna, seems to have broken down. It was pleasant to 
 see so many anxious to get a book. At Isumu, 
 Pavenga, the teacher, has forty in constant use. I told 
 you before of the interesting movement at Isumu, 
 under Matthew and Kauraka, and how we got a 
 teacher from Aniwa for them. We settled Pavenga 
 and wife early in January, and have been much 
 encouraged with a school and orood church attendance. 
 We spent a very happy night there and had a magic- 
 lantern exhibition. I confess I did not relish the bed
 
 288 A'.XES C. r. WATT. 
 
 all on a slope, for it took all my time to hold on. 
 Of course, I had been sea-sick on the voyage, and after 
 our arrival we spent hours telling them of the good 
 news, and singing hymns. God knows the spirit was 
 willing, although the tlesh was weak. Pavenga lives 
 there constantly, and on the first Sabbath of each 
 month we send a deputation from here. We have no 
 drones in our hive ; for our cook, herdsmen, kc, all 
 take their turn itinerating. Every Sabbath they 
 conduct service at several villages for miles around, and 
 once a month there is an exchange as far as Isumu. 
 At Port Resolution this is not practicable, so we sent 
 Matthew and Narpai in .January, Vahai and Ripa 
 following them in February. They have had encouraging 
 meetings for worship, reading, and singing, on all days 
 of the week. We have also had boarders from Port 
 Resolution and Isumu for some length of time to give 
 them further instruction. 
 
 ... At Kwamera our morning and evening school has 
 been particularly encouraging. Houye left in a labour- 
 vessel and sent back a letter to Naswai, which seemed 
 to give a new impetus to learning, for they saw the 
 advantage of beinu" able to read and write. We have 
 had between thirty and forty present nightly (almost 
 the whole near population). The writing class was the 
 most popular. We gave three whole days each week 
 entirely to the natives. I cut garments on the one, and 
 taught sewing on the other two. We made thirty 
 patchwork counterpanes, and one hundred and twenty- 
 one dresses, besides men's and boy's jumpers. The 
 patchwork quilts they got for the making, and each got 
 a dress for helping to sew the others. I find the cutting
 
 TOILIKV ON. 2S0 
 
 heavy work, but I get so nuich more out of" the material 
 than if I entrusted it to them, and we can ill atitord to 
 lose any by waste. I often wonder where all the dresses 
 go to ; for although we make so many, the demand far 
 exceeds the supply. A new tribe have, as they express 
 it, " taken the worship," and the cry then for clothing is 
 great. This tribe, the Kapitevemi, has heretofore stood 
 aloof, and as they are reputed to be the chief disease- 
 makers, they are nuich dreaded. We cannot say that 
 they have taken a very decided step yet, but they turn 
 out en masse to service on Sabbaths, and refrain from 
 work on that day. In this respect they act better than 
 two tribes between this place and theirs, who have long 
 had teachers, and who, knowing what is right, persist in 
 doing what is wrong. . . . 
 
 We have had what we call a pleasant season ; no 
 hurricanes, only very slight earthquakes (although they 
 have had very severe ones at Port Resolution), no war, 
 and the general health has been good. . . . 
 
 The 1st of January was a Sabbath. ()n that day we 
 had the Communion. On the previous Friday we 
 baptised five, — Matthew and his two daughters, Narpai, 
 and an old woman called Kaku. On Sabbath the three 
 grown up people joined with us at the Lord's Supper. 
 Matthew grieved us sorely some years ago by breaking 
 ofi from the catechumens' class, and falling deeply into 
 sin. Our joy now at his return and decided advance in 
 Christian character is consequently great. He is a most 
 faithful itinerant preacher ; and when lately he and our 
 cook went to hold a service inland at a new village, and 
 only saw the backs of the fleeing people, he followed them. 
 Meantime the fugitives had laid a barrier of wood on 
 
 19
 
 20«i .K.XES C. r. WATT. 
 
 the way, warning them not to go beyond. When he 
 came to it he gave a look to his neighbour and said, " Let 
 lis be strong and go." They removed the obstruction and 
 walked on. When they reached the public square they 
 found all the men gathered inside the kava-house. One 
 entered at one door and the other at the other, and so 
 cut otf all way of escape. The fugitives, feeling safe from 
 all interruption, seeing they had laid down the barricade, 
 which they judged sufficient to deter the preachers, 
 had gone info the kava-house to rest and twist their 
 hair. Fancy their amazement when these two men 
 confronted them ! Neither party spoke for a considerable 
 time, and the fugitives looked very angry, but Matthew 
 broke the silence by saying, "We are ready to die if you 
 like to kill us, but we are come here to have worship." 
 One, more hardened than the rest, replied, " You 
 cannot have worship here, and hinder us from getting 
 on with twistinij our hair. You drove us out of our 
 own village, and now you follow us here." The silence 
 thus broken, Matthew discoursed on the vanity of all 
 earthly things ; especially what was purely heathenish. 
 The result was, worship was conducted, although some 
 showed ill-feeling by refusing to close their eyes during 
 prayer. They asked Matthew what he meant by thus 
 hunting them ; did he mean to drive them to the other 
 side of the island? It is a common thing on Tanna 
 when you arrive at a village to see numbers vanish into 
 the bush rather than endure worship. An amusing 
 incident occurred lately. A man wlio lives quite close 
 to us sent a retpiest for a fathom of dungaree for a 
 waist-cloth, to come to church in ; his little son having 
 previously joined us. We, of course, gladly gave it, but
 
 TOILING ON. lU 
 
 three Sabbaths passed and no Taake came. On the 
 evening of tlie fourth Saturday we sent Matthew to try 
 and persuade him, for we know that, if unwilling to 
 come, our approach would be the signal for him to flee 
 or hide, whereas Matthew could go round by byways 
 and through the bush, and so come on him unexpectedly. 
 When Matthew entered the village, he found that 
 Taake was still in the public square, so he sat down 
 and waited patiently for him. One and another offered 
 to go and tell Taake and not keep him waiting, but 
 Matthew said No, fearing if Taake knew he was there, 
 he would not come. At length, just before dark, he 
 came, and was reminded of his request and promise. 
 He replied that it was true he had failed, but he 
 intended to come on the morrow, even if he had not 
 been reminded of it. After some friendly conversation, 
 Matthew left, in high hopes of the morrow, but almost 
 before he had time to deliver his message to us, the 
 retreating form of Taake was seen in the darkness 
 wending its way up the hill behind our house ; and so 
 he went away inland to another village, where he 
 remained till sundown on the following day. He 
 stated that he feared Matthew would renew his 
 pleadings on the following morning and he would not 
 be able to resist him, so he took safety in flight. For 
 days after that he scanned the path to see that none of 
 our people were about, before he would venture to pass 
 our premises. We have little doubt he intended to 
 come when he first asked for the girdle, but that some 
 one persuaded him not to join the worshipping party. 
 
 You are aware that the Tannamen believe that they 
 have the power to do everything by means of sacred
 
 •_>ttJ AaXES C. /'. W'A/'T. 
 
 Stones called Nukite Qiari The Bibk- runs contraiv ti» 
 all such belief's, and it appears that Nahi-abba and 
 others have been feeling sore at us for saying that God 
 alone has all the power. Nahi-abba has been going far 
 and near to get the sacred men to make a tidal wave to 
 rush specially up the stream near here, and come down 
 carrying our house out to sea. Many of the Tannese 
 were quite excited, and could not sleep for fear of being 
 washed out of their houses during the night. They 
 stared at us in amazement when we and our Christian 
 people said we had nothing to fear, as all was in God's 
 hands and not in man's. We are not certain that they 
 ever went through their ceremonies, as there were some 
 dissenting voices ; but as the sea remained particularly 
 moderate about that time, they thought it best to say 
 they had not done so. They are loth to own that they 
 are beaten, even when at their wit's end. . . . 
 
 " All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy," and 
 nothing but Tanna and its people tends to make one 
 " cranky," so ofttimes we snatch a wee while for a 
 quiet peep into a book. We are now reading the life 
 of Mrs Prentiss. To me she seems such a reed woman. 
 In the world, fulfilling all its duties, yet not of the 
 world. A thousand times have I thanked Mrs James 
 Paton for the book. Lately, I enjoyed exceedingly the 
 memoir of F. L. Mackenzie, also the "Seeking Saviour" 
 by W. P. Mackay. Mr Chalmers tells tlie story of 
 " Life in New Guinea " well, and the illustrations 
 enhance the value of the work very much. How 
 intensely interested our people are in the pictures ! . . . 
 
 AciNES C. P. Watt.
 
 TOILINf.' OX. 293 
 
 P.S. — Ladies proverbially put their most important 
 news in a postscript ; hence do not wonder that I have 
 failed to tell you of the change on " terrible Tanna." 
 Lately there have been several severe shocks of 
 earthquake at Port Resolution ; and living there, we run 
 the chance of going up in a chariot of fire, for we have 
 now two volcanoes instead of one. On the 20th April 
 there was a tremendous earthquake, and one side of the 
 bay was again uplifted a considerable number of feet. 
 What was once sea-room is now high and dry. We 
 have not seen it, and have only had a very slight shake 
 at Kwamera. Rumours of the change having reached 
 us, we sent a trader to learn the exact truth. He 
 brought a letter from a teacher residing there, who 
 states that the water at the bar of the harbour will now 
 only allow small vessels to anchor. The ground on 
 the west side of Yanikahi was rent and torn in all 
 directions ; but although many had narrow escapes, no 
 lives were lost. ... 
 
 Don't we live in exciting times ? but how comforting 
 are our Saviour's words, " Let not your heart be 
 troubled." 
 
 A. C. P. Watt.
 
 XXII. 
 
 AND THEY WENT FORTH AND PREACHED 
 THAT MEN SHOULD REPENT." 
 
 GENERAL LETTER, 
 
 December, 1S88. 
 
 I have already told you that there has been a 
 
 severe earthquake and upheaval at Port Resolution. It 
 seems there had been a second on the 24)th of June. 
 The two upheavals have completely changetl the 
 harbour ; indeed, we might almost say that the harbour 
 has ceased to exist, as only small steamers can now 
 come in with safety. Here at Port Resolution we 
 relnained six weeks, then we had to go back to Kwamera 
 to meet the "Dayspring" on her return trip. We had 
 a good deal of encouragement. The Sabbath services 
 were well attended, and at the mornincj and evening 
 school they were hearty. On moonlight nights we had 
 quite a crowd, and on dark nights as many, nay more 
 than we could reasonably expect, seeing the native 
 paths are crossed and re-crossed with roots, and that 
 the natives have a great fear of ghosts. They bring 
 torches, and it is a fine sight to watch the lights 
 flickering and flashing as the natives wend their waiy 
 through the bush. In respect of daily attendance at 
 school, the people here far outstrip tho.se at Kwamera.
 
 THEY WENT FORTH AND PREACHED. 295 
 
 There, only those boarded with us, or living on our 
 premises, come regularly, but here all within a reasonable 
 distance attend with commendable regularity. Besides 
 teaching and direct Mission work, we had a busy time 
 getting new fences and thatching done. All wrought 
 heartily and with good-will, and we embraced many 
 op])ortunities of speaking for our Master. 
 
 During these weeks we had oft-repeated requests for 
 teachers for two hitherto unoccupied districts ; but as 
 we have been sorely tried by the fickleness of the 
 Tannese, we turned a deaf ear to all. At last a 
 special pleader came, and we determined to visit the two 
 districts and people. On Friday, 21st September, 
 accompanied by our cook and his wife, we went to 
 Yakwarur, where w^e met the entire male population. 
 We enquired as to the sincerity of their requests, and 
 they promised fair to attend school and learn to read. 
 We then went inland to Ikurnpu, but not finding the 
 man who is the moving spirit in the desire for teachers 
 there, we retraced our steps. On meeting him and 
 some of his people on the way, we sat down by the 
 road-side and heard his story. As in the last case his 
 promises were fair, so we agreed to try and get teachers 
 for them. We had a lovely day, bright sun but a cool 
 breeze, and I was pleased with my walking powers. I 
 had gone partly as an experiment, for if I stood that 
 walk well, I had a long one in prospect. Often have I 
 walked between Port Resolution and Kwamera, but 
 have been so knocked up, that of late 1 have always 
 gone by boat. Each voyage the strain on my nerves has 
 been more tr^nng than bodily fatigue. Besides, the 
 people of Isumu had put up n lu-w grass church, and
 
 296 AOXES C. P. WATT. 
 
 wanted us to go and open it. The landing there is 
 very unsatisfactory, and I was determined not to risk it 
 again, so we planned the bold project of walking to 
 Kwamera and spending a night at Isuniu. Accordingly, 
 we started, about a week later, on a Saturday, accom- 
 panied by our cook and his wife, who carried sleeping rugs. 
 The morning was dull, but we enjoyed immensely the 
 walk round the bay ; I could not help saying what 
 feasts of delight we have in this world. On cool 
 mornings I can think of nothing more inspiriting than 
 the view in this bay. The mountain range in the 
 centre of the island, suggestive of eternity ; the calm 
 sparkling water smooth as a sea of glass ; the clear deep 
 impenetrable blue of the sky, and the surrounding 
 landscape rich in tropical verdure and gayest colours. 
 After we left the head of the bay we followed a well 
 beaten track, and in due time reached Ikurupu. Here 
 we got three guides, and, passing on to the next village, 
 we met by appointment an old chief named Maruki. 
 He has a son in Queensland who has professed his 
 faith in Christ and been baptised, and has been under 
 instruction with a Mrs Robinson. The old man 
 was very glad to hear about his son, but shook 
 perceptibly at meeting us. His one cry was, " Bring 
 him home 1 bring him home ! " We said. Yes, if you 
 will allow us to settle him as a teacher, and you 
 promise to worship. Oh yes ! he would do anything if 
 only we would bring him home. After some further 
 conversation we resumed our walk. The road now lay 
 through a deep natural cutting of rock, .something like 
 the entrance to a railway tunnel, and a veritable 
 " Balaam's Pass," suggestive of a terrible .squeeze if a
 
 THEY WENT FORTH AX I) 1' REACH El). 297 
 
 severe earthquake should occur while we were there. 
 Soon we emerged at the top, for we were on the slope 
 of a mountain, and I felt relieved when done with our 
 almost subterranean walk. When we reached the 
 summit we should have had a fine view, l)ut the 
 mountains were enveloped in mist. This is very 
 disagreeable in a country where you brush against 
 every plant and shrub ; and woe betide your shoes and 
 skirts ; for soon vou are as wet as can be. So thought 
 I as we marched along oiir mountain path, but soon 
 found we could be still wetter, for the rain began to 
 descend in earnest ; and now all our care was to keep 
 our rugs and changes of clothing dry. By piling 
 bunches of leaves on the top of our basket we hoped to 
 keep the rain out. On we trudged, our three naked 
 darkies dripping from head to foot, and the water 
 making their dark skins shine. Owing to war a 
 great part of the road had become overgrown, and once 
 anil again we had to stand while a path was cut through 
 the reeds. Thus in some bodily discomfort we pursued 
 our way. By and by our guides could go no further in 
 safety, and were doing all they could to describe the 
 path, when a voice was heard ; so they called, and the 
 speaker came forward. He proved to be a friend, and 
 we were handed over to him, our three guides retracing 
 their steps, while we went down hill to our destination. 
 Coming to the beach I was in a sorry plight with rain 
 and mud, so the first thing I did was to seek out a pool 
 and wash some of my garments ; and by wringing and 
 shaking them made all drier than before. Then 
 liirplin' along the shore, barefooted, I reachetl the 
 church which was to be our homo till Monday, whither
 
 •j;»s AOXES C. /'. HATT. 
 
 the Missionary had preceded me, who under many 
 dirticulties had supplied a change of garments that were 
 at least dry. 
 
 On our arrival at Isumu, Pavenga, the teacher, and 
 one or two ot" his pupils <lid their utmost tor us. 
 The tirewood was wet, and it was hard to kindle. 
 By and by, however, we had some water boiling in an 
 old meat tin, and got some tea — tin pannikins doing 
 duty as cups and saucers. Thereafter the cook antl his 
 wife started otl" in the pelting rain for Port Resolution, 
 to conduct the Sabbath services, as Niath, the teacher, 
 had gone on a visit to Aneityum. Several of the 
 peo})le brought native mats and native skirts. With a 
 bundle of the latter we made a pillow, and laying some 
 on (Mir vvvi] beil, we spread our rug ;ind hung up our 
 indispensable moscjuito netting. The drenching with 
 rain acted as a soporific, and we awoke next day quite 
 refreshed. Though it still rained, we had a good 
 congregation, and, besitles the regular service, we 
 talked and sang hymns the livelong day, being well 
 repaid with such a crowd of eager listeners. We had 
 only tea and sugar with us, but were well su})plied 
 with native food, ami almost as soon as Mondays sun 
 arose, one friend, of his own accord, brought us a fresh 
 cooked yam for breakfast. After breakfast, morning 
 prayers, and school, we packed up our rugs and 
 resumed our march, accompanied by a band from 
 Isumu. We walked leisurely, and talked to all we saw ; 
 visited and prayetl with seviial sick ones on tin- way, 
 and finally reached Kwamera in time for an early 
 tea. . . . 
 
 On the 2.')th October we went tf) Ininrakak. We
 
 THEY UEXT FORT II AXI> P REACH El). l".»!) 
 
 took our boat to Meiyahau, and then walked vip hilL 
 We were a large and heavily-laden party. Some were 
 carrying bedding and others garments for the new 
 scholars ; others, again, the magic-lantern gear. The 
 people were expecting us, and on our arrival we found 
 all the women engaged cooking. We rigged up our 
 sleeping quarters and then unpacked our gifts. By and 
 by the food began to flow in, and soon wc had a pig, 
 a pile of yams and taro, uncooked ; and a pig and 
 twenty-five native puddings, cooked. We, on the other 
 hand, gave a shirt to each man, and dresses to all the 
 women and girls. Some of our Isuma friends had 
 come to see the opening of the church. 
 
 In the evening we had a most successful magic- 
 lantern exhibition, from which our friends went home by 
 torch-light. We found our reed bed much improved by 
 having taken a cotton quilt iwith us, which we got from 
 Mrs Anderson, Christchurch, twelve years ago. Next 
 morning all came to school, and we started for home in 
 the afternoon. 
 
 We again left Kwamera on 2nd November, called on 
 the way at Yakumaruan, and had a mid-day prayer 
 meeting with the few who attended church there, and 
 gave them a girdle or a dress apiece. It is the first 
 free gift they have ever received from us. Thence we 
 went to Imerakak, staying over night, and had good 
 meetings both at night and in the morning. Thereafter 
 we resumed our journey, accompanied by a numerous 
 band of worshipping people. We took an inland road 
 to visit a village and speak to the people there ; and 
 then on to Isumu. As we passed along, we invited all 
 church attenders to meet with us in the school-house
 
 300 AOXES C. r. WATT. 
 
 that afteriiooii, when we distributed over seventy 
 garments. Each dress I fitted on, and you should have 
 seen the unbounded satisfj^ction it gave to these 
 daughters of Eve to be tluis arrayed in gay print. 
 Pavenga, the teacher, has what I call a school-house up 
 at the principal village, and a church at the sea at 
 Isumu. He is an Aniwan, and is by far our best 
 and most energetic teacher. He is very natty, and had 
 a nice reed bed put up, enclosed on three sides, and hung 
 with pictures from the " Graphic." He has a congrega- 
 tion of ninety, and the people are very hearty. Next 
 morning, when all were dressing for church, an appeal 
 was made to me for more men's garments. Kapere, a 
 notorious disease-maker, and a terror to all the people, 
 had come to join our party, also a young man. Not 
 knowing that we had spare shirts, the already 
 worshipping people had rigged them out most 
 comically in women's garments. This Kapere, if won 
 over, will be an acquisition ; for, like Paul <>f old, he is 
 well known for his opposition to " the way." We had 
 meetings from morning till night. U]) hill, down at 
 the sea, and up hill again. The eager crowds and the 
 heartiness of the people prevented us from feeling 
 weary, and it was far on into the night before Bible 
 stories and hymn-singing came to an end. 
 
 Next day, after morning school, accompanied by a 
 great band, we took the inland road through villages, 
 and one by one our party bade us adieu as each 
 reached his or her home, only a few remaining as 
 guides, and among these Kapere. We had one heavy 
 hill to climb, V)ut, as usual, my good angels, the 
 Tannese, helped me up. Passing through one or two
 
 THEY WENT FORTH AXJ) I'liEACHED. :i(>l 
 
 small villages, we at last reached Yanasirei, a village 
 nestling so beautifully at the foot of the highest range 
 of mountains. Here Kapere made his first speech in 
 favour of the gospel, and told that he intended to 
 renounce the works of the devil. From Yanasirei we 
 continued to rise up a spur of mountain, and, while 
 doing so, Kapere described a tragic murder that had 
 taken place on that road during the past year. Yeru, 
 a man from Meikasaru, had been visiting at Isumu, and 
 was returning home, some friends convoying him, 
 native-like, in single file, each one laden with food or 
 firearms. They went up this way, Yeru leading. But 
 a plot had been laid to kill him in revenge for certain 
 things he was supposed to have done ; such as causing 
 the volcano ashes to fall in a certain direction and spoil 
 their yams. He was shot as he reached the summit 
 of the hill, just when he would get the first view of his 
 home in the distance. He ran back a few steps, calling 
 for his son to be brought to him ere he breathed his 
 last. Many of his party fled in terror, but a few 
 remained (Kapere among them) while life ebbed away. 
 They carried him carefully back to Isumu, and buried 
 him with all due respect ; for he was interred in the 
 kava-house in the public square. As we trod the path, 
 and were shown each spot, I confess I felt a little 
 " eerie." But now we had a magnificent view. We 
 saw, close by, the coast toward Kwamera, and, beyond 
 the ocean, the island of Aneityum. Before us were the 
 volcano and the harbour of Port Resolution. Looking 
 a little round, we saw Sulphur Bay, Weasisi, and the 
 far point of Tanna, Cape Clear : while across the ocean, 
 in the same direction, lay Erromanga. Now we began
 
 3(t'_' AaXES a F. WATT. 
 
 *:ratluallv to descend, iind as we passed through the 
 villages a wondering erowd of savages followed us until 
 ■we reached Isarkei, where we sat down and waited 
 .Maiuki's arrival. The public square here is very 
 picturesque, and there is evidently a large population. 
 After some time, our old frii-nd came, and it was 
 interesting to see how changed he was. The first time 
 we met him and told him about his son, he shook with 
 fear ; now he welcomed us with open arms, and pointed 
 out a site near the public square where he would build 
 a school-house, were his son to come home. If the son 
 is really a converted lad, what a power he might be at 
 home ! but I fear lest the great force of heathenism 
 around should draw him aside, and he relapse into his 
 original state.* Maruki accompanieil us to the next 
 village, and from thence we found our way across to 
 Port Resolution in time for tea, that being our first 
 meal since sunrise. We felt cheered by all we had 
 seen, and much encouraged. The great advantage of 
 these journeys is, that we see and talk with people we 
 would otherwise never meet. The more we know of 
 Tanna, the more do we. see how closely interlinked the 
 tribes are, and how necessary it is that all should be 
 influenced. T .feel somewhat remorseful at the thought 
 that we have not made many more such journev's. 
 The fear of fever and ague, through roughing it, and 
 Avar, have often deterred us. Besides, we have always 
 had more than enough to do at our principal stations. 
 Kwamera may be called the centre. There all the 
 
 * The son ilid not return, and Maruki was shot some years 
 after.
 
 THEY WENT FOJiTJl AX J) I'UEACIIED. :io:i 
 
 printing, bookbintling, dressmaking, &c., arc carried 
 on. Tliis year our New Zealand frien<ls, by sending 
 made dresses, have enabled us to do nioi'c for the 
 " regions beyond." . . . 
 
 We are having a long tack of drought and no 
 prospect of rain, to procure which our deluded people 
 are using all their enchantments. The supposed rain- 
 makers are being threatened with a violent death if 
 they do not make rain quickly. 
 
 I must tell you of another long walk we had to see a 
 famous waterfall called Ifeker. We have heard of the 
 falls for the last twenty years, and were anxious to see 
 them, but as of Canaan of old " an ill report " had been 
 brought up ; " the way was long," " we would never 
 reach them," "we would be benighted," "the people 
 through whose land we had to go were cannibals," k.c., 
 kjC. But, undeterred, we prepared to go, for rarely had 
 there been so long peace among the tribes We rose at 
 four and started at six a.m., acccompanied by four 
 Christian natives. The morning was dull, and before 
 we had gone very far rain came on, wetting the bush 
 and us too ; and, to add to all, we went for half an hour 
 off the road. Returning, we found the footpath and 
 reached a village called Irromanga, where we were 
 expected, and two men volunteered to go with us as 
 guides. Two women and five girls also joined us ; thus 
 we numbered fifteen. Our path lay through level 
 country until we came to the foot of the stream, at the 
 head of which Avere the falls. Not wishing to wet our 
 shoes we were carried across, and began to climb a steep 
 hill. For hours we went on our mountain path, through 
 villages and past plantations, till we reached the last
 
 3l>4 AaXES C. r. WATT. 
 
 village. Ere then we had made some veiv steep 
 descents, and mv heart sank as I thoufdit of our return 
 journey. Here our friend Naru-Niatengei joined us. 
 Having heard of our passing inland, he set out in 
 search of us an hour and a half after we had left his 
 village. He at once offered himself as my bodyguard, 
 and not even a proverbial Frenchman could have been 
 nn)re gallant than my dusky, painted companion. Now 
 we were down to the level of the stream. We took 
 note of the time as we went on our journey, so as to see 
 how long we might safely stay at the falls. But, alas, 
 we had taken six and a half hours to reach the falls, so 
 there would be no time to spend there at all. We 
 estimated the height of the fall at about eightv feet ; 
 and I felt quite recompensed for my long walk by the 
 grandeur of the scene. To sit down for ten minutes was 
 all we could spare ere we retraced our steps. Mr Watt 
 photographed the fall : but had the special correspondent 
 of some paper been nigh with his camera, he would 
 doubtless have secured some comical views worthy of 
 " Punch." At each village a number of gaping, wondering 
 savages had joined our part}', until we now numbered 
 fifty. When we got to the foot of the stream our friend 
 and the big crowd left us ; and when we reached the 
 nearest village we rested our third ten minutes, drank 
 a cocoa-nut, and then pressed on, as it was already half- 
 past four. Being too tired to walk quickly, we ran 
 down and with an effort reached the head of the bay at 
 seven o'clock, having been thirteen hours on the way, 
 and not forty minutes' rest all day. Weren't we glad to 
 hail our canoe and paddle ourselves home ? 
 
 Although I have somewhat prolonged this epistle.
 
 THEY WENT FOliTJf AN/) I'liEACUED. 305 
 
 still I cannot close without referring" to the loss this 
 Mission has sustained in the death of Kaiasi, who for 
 the last ten years has been identified with us. He was 
 one of the few remaining of the tribe Narainiene who 
 received the missionaries fifty years ago, antl he was 
 the only one who professed faith in Christ. Nearly 
 all his life he was on the Christian side. He learned 
 to read and write, and gave a helping hand in all 
 mission work, although he was only admitted to the 
 membershi}) of the church two years ago. When the 
 Frasers joined this Mission, and went to Epi, he 
 accompanied them, and Mr Fraser said he was as 
 consistent a Christian as he had seen in the New 
 Hebrides during his three years' service there. After 
 spending a year at home on Tanna, he again went forth 
 to the high places of the field as a helper to Mr 
 Leggatt at Malekula, where he died this year. Poor 
 fellow, he was never robust ; but we hoped to have left 
 him durine our absence at Port Resolution, and had 
 arranged for his coming home ; but the Saviour he 
 loved and served has taken him to a better home. 
 Mr Leggatt said that when dying he gave no uncertain 
 indication as to where his trust was placed, and that 
 during his life there, in dealing with a fellow-servant 
 (an Ambrim lad and a heathen), he often put even 
 a missionary to shame by his earnest endeavours to 
 win him over to the Saviour. Though he has passed 
 away far from his home, and no one near who could 
 speak to him in his own tongue, his death has 
 impressed the Malekulans, who say "he was a good 
 man." Nor will he soon be forgotten on Tanna, for he 
 did a unique thing in this Mission : he made a hymn 
 •20
 
 3(H) Aa^ES a p. WATT. 
 
 to the tune "Jesus is mine," which has become a y;reat 
 tiivourite on the island. He lived to receive a copy 
 ut" our new hymn book, in which his hymn was 
 included. Often 1 think how his kindly eyes would 
 have sparkled had he been spared to return and hear 
 the eulogies passed on it by his fellow-islanders, and the 
 heartiness with which it is sung everywhere. Thus 
 within twelve months, one of the pioneers at each of 
 the four new stations has died, and the ground has 
 been taken possession of in the Master's name. 
 
 Of Kaiasi it could be truthfully said that he loved 
 his Bible. He was a diligent student of those portions 
 which he had : and once and again he contributed ten 
 shillings out of his salary of Five Pounds to the British 
 <ind Foreign Bible Society. 
 
 The "Dayspring" has arrived before all our letters 
 are written, and Mr Robertson has responded most 
 heartily to our request for teachers, and has brought 
 ashore two couples to-day, so that I will be able to tell 
 you of their settlement when next I write. We have a 
 busy season before us, preparing for leaving here next 
 December. Pray for Tanna. 
 
 Yours, &c., 
 
 A. C. P. Watt.
 
 xxiri. 
 
 CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE. 
 
 GENERAL LETTEK. 
 
 Auu-u.st, issy. 
 
 Oil the last Sabbath of 1888, along with our teachers 
 ami Tannese church members, we commemorated the 
 dying' love of our Saviour. We wei'e a .small, yet 
 interesting party, for we represented five different 
 languages. Except the Erromangan teachers, who had 
 lately joined us, all were familiar with Tannese, and so 
 could enjoy the services. To say that Tanna is a hard 
 field, is only repeating what you have already heard ; 
 how hard it is, none know so well as we ; but if even a 
 few souls are saved, have we not cause to thank God 
 and take courage ? During the year, we have had no 
 additions to our church membership, but, on the 
 contrary, our losses have been great. Three church 
 members have died within twelve months. . . . The 
 W'hole of January and February and part of March 
 Avere taken up principally in printing and binding 
 one thousand copies of our catechism and hymn book. 
 William spent hours daily in the printing-office, and I 
 was glad to see it finished ; for several times, after close 
 work with the type, he seemed to take an illness like 
 lead poisoning. 
 
 While the printing work was under weigh, we had a 
 severe experience. On the 28Lh of January the sea
 
 308 AirXES C. F. WATT. 
 
 rose verv high, right into our premis^t'S, ainl it \v:is with 
 dirticulty we got the boat ilragged ahmg into a phice of 
 safety. The wind did >is comparatively little damage, 
 but we have learned since that it blew down 
 Mr Lawrie s new tlnireh at Aname, and also the 
 greater part ot l)r (innn's house on Futuna, as well as 
 his church, school-house, and other l)uildings. 
 
 For the encouragement of the new^ teachers, and as a 
 stimulus to those only commencing to learn to read, as 
 well as for a break in the printing and other sedentary 
 work at Kwamera, we packed up in the beginning of 
 February for a week's tour among the stations. As we 
 rounded a near point of laud it seemed as if the whole 
 of Port Resolution point were on fire. We learned that 
 this was revenge, the people there having been credited 
 with making the late storm. We spent Satiuxlay 
 and Sabbath at Vanatuan, and on Monday went to 
 Yanumarer, where we had afternoon and evening- 
 meetings, and slept over night. Next day. after 
 morning worship, we started for Port Resolution. We 
 had great difficulty in getting there as the roads were 
 so blocked with fallen trees and branches, that our 
 progress was slow. Though exhausted with the journey, 
 on reaching Port Resolution we went to see the 
 desolation caused by the fire. Two whole villages had 
 been burnt to ashes, and the plantation fences thrown 
 down. All the people had fied to the IMission premises, 
 and were now herding together in the two villages 
 nearest the Mission house. No lives had been taken, 
 the enemy feeling that a destruction of property would 
 be a fair revenge for the property they had lost by the 
 gale.
 
 CLOUDS AXJJ SC'XS//JXh\ 309 
 
 Leaviug Port Resolutiou we retracetl our steps, visiting- 
 Ikiirupu and Iineraliak by the way, and reached 
 Kwamera exactly a week from the day of starting. 
 ■Can you imagine Avhat a week of such life involves, in 
 hodily tliscomfort and mental exercise? Or can you 
 realise the happiness experienced in feeling that we are 
 following the example of Him who went about from 
 village to village and preached the gospel? Unlike 
 Ifim, we cannot heal the sick, but we can alleviate 
 human suffering as we go along, by prescribing for and 
 praying for the afflicted. Had we only strength of 
 body and means of travelling, 1 believe the more we 
 mixed among the people the more good we would do. 
 
 Nahi-abba, the chief here, who has hindered our 
 work so much, and who has been so opposed to the 
 gospel, had a severe illness last year, and as usual 
 attributed it to Nahah, and blamed the neighbouring 
 tribe. He nursed his wrath, and waited patiently for 
 an opportunity of revenge. At last he determined to 
 strike the blow. On the loth of March lie went to 
 a neighbouring village, but left a message with the 
 young men, that they were to shoot the man before 
 rundown, adding, "If you do the deed, it is well; but 
 if not, I will shoot one of you instead of him in the 
 evening." It was Friday, and I was holding my weekly 
 sewing class. We had wrought hard all forenoon, taken 
 a rest at lunch -time, and were about to resume our 
 sewing, when a conch shell was heard. In less time 
 than I take to tell it, the whole po])ulation was in a 
 state of intense excitement. The women threw do\vn 
 their seams, and some even left their infants while they 
 ran to save their household goods, for no one knew
 
 ,S10 AnXES C. I'. WATT. 
 
 what would happen next. The man was shot, but the 
 avenger of blood might take revenge on any one, and 
 soon the whole district might be in flames. While 
 every one ran hither and thither I nursed the infants, 
 and, like one of old, sat in the gate to hear the news a& 
 the events occurred. For weeks from that day there 
 was nothing but war and suspense. The outlying 
 families flocked into this district, and for many a night 
 few slept. As for mo, I spent the first night \\\\ to ten 
 o'clock pasting books, and proposed finishing the work 
 the followiny- dav : but about midniuht T awoke in 
 severe pain, and for six weeks I did no more active 
 work. For five days I neither ate, drank, nor slept in 
 any sense, and for four weeks thereafter the only sleej)- 
 I got was when under morphia. The poet says : 
 
 "They also serve who only stand and wait," 
 
 but the hardest of all service is waiting. This I 
 realised fidhj when laid aside all these weeks. How 
 we lonoed for friends and medical advice, while at the 
 same time we sang, 
 
 '• I leave it all to .Fesus. for He knows." 
 
 By degrees I recovered strength and resumed my duties, 
 and by the time the " Dayspring " arrived on the 7th 
 May, I was fairly well. How late she was! It was 7th 
 May before she reached Kwamera, but she brought us 
 a fat mail-bag and our old friends the Patons. The 
 "Dayspring" hail no fewer than eight passengers, 
 and of these three were new missionaries (Rev. 
 T. Smaill, B.A., and Rev. J. and Mrs (Jillan), whom we 
 were specially glad to see ; for still there is room. We
 
 CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE. UY 
 
 had a pleasant although very short visit from our old 
 and new friends, and were glad to see the Rev. Mr and 
 Mrs Bannennan of Otago. I hope their visit will 
 advance the interests of the Mission as a whole, and 
 encourage the churches to send down deputations to see 
 for themselves what is being done. We are not afraid 
 of the eyes of the world, and feel that the better our 
 churches know the nature and extent of our work, the 
 more help and sympathy will we get. 
 
 On the Monday after the " Dayspring " passed here, 
 while we were revising proofs in the evening, about 
 eight o'clock, the cry of " Sail oh ! " startled us, and we 
 rushed to the beach and found a boat about to land. 
 This was a party from the U.S.S. Co.'s steamer 
 " Fijian " in search of help. The steamer had run 
 ashore that morning on the other side of Tanna. Poor 
 fellows ! they had had twelve hours' hard pulling to get 
 here, and arrived cold and Avet, but were cheered by the 
 accommodation we could give them. Next dav 
 William accompanied them in his boat, leaving here at 
 seven in the morning and returning about nine p.m. 
 He brought back six passengers: Hon. Mr and Miss 
 Buchanan, Mr Stookes the Captain, and ]\[rs Groom 
 the stewardess of the wrecked vessel. From October 
 of last year until May of this year no boat had landed • 
 and we felt it might be very awkward for the 
 shipwrecked party (nearly forty) if left here for such a 
 length of time. They were fortunate in their 
 misfortune, however, for on the second day, when we 
 were looking for the rest of them, and were planning 
 Avhere the tents should be placed, a boat came round to 
 tell that a vessel had been spoken to, and that it would
 
 31-i A(;XES C. /: WATT. 
 
 take them off". The boat returned to the wreck that 
 day, and it was arranged tliat the mission boat should 
 tbllow next morning. During that night the S.S. 
 " Tenterden's " Hghts were observed, and by means of 
 blue lights her attention was arrested, and she was 
 brought to the rescue. Having taken all on board at 
 the wreck, she came round here and took away those 
 who were with us. Thus on the fourth day after the 
 wreck, help came, and we parteil with our shipwrecked 
 friends, who had proved so agreeable, that we were 
 «orry when they left. I am sure they were glad to get 
 away from these hostile shores, for the Tannese stole 
 right and left at the wreck. The more we know of the 
 Tannese, the more we are amazed at the peace we have 
 enjoyed in this terrible land, and the less do we wonder 
 at the little progress made. Like Uriah, we have been 
 set in the forefront of the hottest battle ; but the battle 
 is the Lord's, and He will look after His own interests. 
 After the " Fijian " party left, the next big job was the 
 arrowroot. We have made 1 04-4- lbs. ; the people 
 working willingl}^ and well. One day we had over a 
 hundred helping. This is the contribution in free 
 labour of the people here. 
 
 We had invited the Synod tu meet here, and were 
 looking forward to it with some anxiety, as I had been so 
 ill ; but oui- helps ilid well, and we were all ready for 
 it when tlie members arrived on June 28th. As 
 previously arranged, our beloved fellow-labourers, Mr 
 and Mrs Gray, came round a week before. The two 
 veteran Tanna missionaries maile a boat voyage round 
 the little world of Tanna, leaving their worth}' wives to 
 look after affairs at Kwamera. After the "Dayspring"
 
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 •M4 A<;XES C. /'. WATT. 
 
 came, we tornied a jiarty of twenty adults ami four 
 children. Every available i»laco was used as a 
 sleeping apartment ; even the storeroom was turned 
 into a barracks with beds for six. We had a busy but 
 very pleasant time, a delightful communion season, and 
 a nice little prayer meeting. It was most enjoyable. 
 Our large party were with us for a fortnigiit and a day. 
 And oh '. it was nice to have the Patons here. But the 
 happiest meetings come to a close, and soon we had to 
 part with our dear friends, who went forth each to his 
 or her own special work. We found the promise true, 
 " As thy days, so shall thy strength be " : and we stood 
 the extra duties well : duties all the heavier, as some of 
 our helps were completely laid up, and others worked 
 on while suffering fi-om influenza. This epidemic came 
 just as the Synod met. As the Grays were going back 
 by boat, we had to wait for suitable weather, and in the 
 meantime we packed up for a visit to Port Resolution 
 and the out-stations. After about ten days we started, 
 ofettiny a fine sea. On our way we landed goods at 
 three stations to await our return overland. The goods 
 were from various parts of the world, but the boxes 
 were the gifts of our never-failing friends, the Sinclair* 
 of Timaru. 
 
 We remained over a week at Port Re.solution. 
 There, too, we have suffered loss. Navau, Sasairo's 
 wife, has died, leaving an infant a few months old. 
 Sasairo and she have been the most decided among tht' 
 young people there. She often led the singing ; and 
 we sadly missed her sunny face. But wo have good 
 hope of her. Among her last words to her mother 
 were, " I am going to leave you and go to heaven."
 
 CLorns AX I) srxsiuxi:. sir, 
 
 Since tlie opening of the new station at Ikurupu, 
 Niath, the Port Resohition teacher, has been there, as 
 the Erromangan teacher could not speak the language, 
 and Sasairo and Braun (another lad) have taken charge 
 of the meeting. May they be kept steadfast ! The 
 death also of Yauteki (Braun's father) has been a great 
 loss to our mission, for he was by far the most 
 energetic friend of the gospel at Port Resolution. We 
 trust he, too, has reached the golden shore. 
 
 We had arranged to leave Port Resolution on 
 Tuesday (July 30th), but it rained heavily all night, so 
 we waited another day. However, on Wednesday, the 
 Ikurupu girls came to carry our things, and we left. 
 What we dreaded befell us before we had gone far, for 
 the rain came down in torrents, and all our belongings 
 were drenched. Bundles of bedding, changes of 
 clothing, biscuits, &c., were all wet ; while we literally 
 swam in our shoes, and were wet to the skin, — rather a 
 cheerless prospect for the night ; but there being no help 
 for it, we got up a good fire and dried our clothing. 
 At the two meetings we examined the people in reading 
 and hymn-singing, and were much pleased Avith the 
 progress made. Already one young man prays in 
 church. As they have no other way of getting clothing, 
 and we were leaving for a long time, we gave each of 
 the forty-one scholars a dress. 
 
 Next morning was fine, and we went on to Yanumarer. 
 There the attendance of males and the progress made 
 is very gratifying. Sani and his wife Yecrimu are 
 proving good teachers, and are loved and respected 
 by all their parishioners. There also Ave distributed 
 dresses, and after staying one night Avent on to Isumu
 
 .:U6 At.XKS C. /'. WATT. 
 
 (Yanatuan). Pavenga continues to show himself a 
 workman that needeth not to be ashamed, ami he has a 
 fine fiekl for his enerfjies. We staved there three davs, 
 and in many ways tried to help the good work. On 
 Sabbath no fewer than six men engaged in prayer in 
 church. Old Kauraka has made wonderful progi-ess in 
 Scripture knowledge, and Kapere, the old sorcerer, 
 made a unique and impressive prayer. That, T think, 
 was one of our happiest days on Tanna. 
 
 The people contributed twenty-five fowls to the 
 New Zealand church as a token of love to them. \V<* 
 distributed seventy dresses, each indiviilual rewarding 
 us with a smile of delight. On Mondav we left them 
 and visited our third new station, Imerakak. The 
 women and girls turn out well, but the men are 
 backward. However, Vahai and his wife Ripa are 
 active teachers, and will devote their whole time to 
 teaching while we are away. Thirty-seven dresses 
 were given here. Amid many expressions of grief at 
 our departure we left, followed by a crowd who 
 accompanied us down the slippery path to the sea. 
 How good the natives are in clearing away every 
 •obstacle from our path, and taking our hands at 
 difficult places 1 It is well that they are so, for in 
 fording one stream, the current was so strong and the 
 water so deep, that without their help we would never 
 have got over. By the help of one on either side I 
 wadetl safely through. 
 
 All our homeward journey was characterised by 
 farewells, and since then one and another band have 
 come to bid us good-bye. The other evening, 
 including the j)eople of Kwamera. we had seventy at
 
 .318 A'.XJ-JS C. I'. WATT. 
 
 church. About half of these had come as good as ten 
 miles to say farewell. I am in a strait ; to leave them 
 is hard, but to cany the New Tc-stament through the 
 press is all important. We are leaving our stations in 
 good working order ; our teachers are as efficient as 
 any we have ever had, and Mr Gray has kindly agreed to 
 supervise all. May God greatly bless the people in our 
 absence, and prepare them for the printed Word of 
 I.ife we hope to bring to them. The revision of the 
 New Testament is complete I 
 
 Now about Nahi-abba the chief at Kwamera. The 
 scamp has begun to attend church and school once 
 more, and last Sabbath he brought his little adopted 
 son and heir for the first time ; but alas, he shows 
 no signs of accepting the Gospel. Pray for him, that 
 from whatever motive he has come he may get a 
 blessing. 
 
 In making arrangements for a prolonged absence 
 from our station, I am struck with the different state of 
 affairs now from what it was ten years ago, when we 
 left the islands. Then we left one teacher at one 
 station; now we leave eight, some of whom have 
 flourishing schoohs. Then there were thirty books in 
 circulation ; now there are at least three hundred. 
 
 Let lis not despise "the day of small things," but 
 pray that " the little one may become a thousand." 
 We have a hard field, and our faith is sorely tried ; the 
 Church ought to know this and take its share in the 
 burden of weary waiting. 
 
 Why should we be expected to fight against such 
 terrible odds, and yet be expected to write encouraging- 
 letters ? Let the Church continue to help us and
 
 CLOi'DS AX J) SUXSJUNE. :ilf» 
 
 iil)hold our hands by prayer, by Mission boxes, by 
 words of cheer, and so strengthen our hearts. Thus 
 doing, it shall not be said of it by the Angel of the 
 Lord, " Curse ye Meroz, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants 
 thtn'eof ; because they came not to the help of the Lord, 
 to the help of the Lord against the mighty." 
 
 October 7th. We left Kwamera on the 7th Se])tember, 
 and arrived in Sydney on the 4th October. Probably 
 we will leave for Scotland in a fortnight. 
 
 Agnes C. P. Watt.
 
 XXiV. 
 INTO HARNESS A(;A1\. 
 
 GENERAL LETTER. 
 
 December, 1891. 
 
 lu these days of New Hebrideuu niouthly mails it 
 seems a long time since I sent my last general epistle 
 in June ; but after all, this is just the month I would 
 have sent it by the " Dayspring." Our many friends 
 around tlie world may be thinking that we have 
 forgotten them, while we are having many proofs that 
 we are not forgotten by them. We have had several 
 tangible forms of deep interest in the form of Mission 
 boxes and periodicals. So much for the thoughtfidness 
 of friends : and now for an explanation of my seeming 
 remissness. 
 
 Well, vuu know how we were dracjg'ed round the 
 grouj) of islands, owing first to the severe weather, and 
 then, — owing to — well, I won't say what — landed far from 
 our own station. In this way it was long after leaving 
 Sydney before we got back to our station at Kwamera, 
 and even when we did get there it was in our own boat, 
 the gift of the Auckland people, and called the 
 " Aucklander." It did not seem at all like a return 
 from Scotland, landing twenty miles from Kwamera, 
 and then going there by boat. Our people there were
 
 INTO HARNESS AGAIN. .VJI 
 
 not a little soured at the long delay : but they were glad 
 to see us, and a day or two afterwards made us a nice 
 present of" native food. We missed not a few familiar 
 faces ; for in a little more than twelve months we had 
 lost four of our small band of church members — four 
 out of eight. This tells sorely on our Tannese, who, 
 being very superstitious, think there must be some 
 fatality connected with church membership. 
 
 We were gratified on our return to learn that no 
 hurricane had done any damage to our premises ; that 
 those left in charge had been faithful, and kept all in 
 fair repair, as far as natives can do ; also to find from 
 the teachers' reports that the attendance at church and 
 school and at the various places had been good. Thus 
 in every way we have much cause for gratitude to 
 God and happiness to ourselves. 
 
 The first duty that pressed on us after getting our 
 goods boated round was to pay those who had done 
 work during our absence. These were legion ; for in 
 this land of quick decay things are constantly needing 
 repairs or renewals. Then we had our annual 
 contribution of arrowroot made. At this our Kwamera 
 people worked well, and the result was four casks of 
 first-class arrowroot. The proceeds are to go to line 
 the roof of the Kwamera Church, which, as you know, 
 was built by the same means. 
 
 The arrowroot made, bagged, casked, and got 
 
 ready for shipment, we came round here (Port 
 
 Resolution) for the erection of the " Scotch Church " — 
 
 " a memorial of workers and work on Tanna." It 
 
 proved a very heavy job, for in this primitive land, 
 
 where there is no machinery, and all has to be done by 
 21
 
 :e_» AUXES C. J'. WATT. 
 
 Strength of arm. getting up some parts of the building 
 was no joke. We improvised a derrick by lashing 
 together the masts of the two boats, and with the aid 
 of these and blocks and tackle we got the principal parts 
 into their proper positions ; ami although carpenters 
 and builders may laugh at it, we heaved a sigh of relief 
 when the last one was secured. Mr Gray and Mr Watt 
 were the only skilled workmen. The others were all 
 inexperienced in such work, being natives of the island. 
 We had them all divided into two relays, w^ho 
 came turn about each alternate day; and I assure you, 
 there are no natives in these islands, or indeed in any 
 land, who would have come more faithfully, or worked 
 more heartily, than these much-abused Tannese. The 
 work went on every day, Sabbaths excepted, from 
 six a.m. till six p.m., for forty days. On ten of these days 
 Mr Gray gave very valuable assistance. In truth, I do 
 not see how we could have done without him. Day by 
 day the women prepared food, the boys pulled drinking 
 cocoa-nuts, and everyone worked willingly, while crowds 
 came and gazed on in wonder as the edifice arose. 
 
 Church building may not be considered by some as 
 Mission work, yet we believe that this church erection 
 has been the means of much good to the people, 
 for we have better attendances both on Sabbaths 
 and weekdays than ever we had before. We managed 
 to keep up the dail}' morning and evening meetings 
 during all the building time, and after the devotional 
 part was over the builders went out, the rest remaining 
 for lessons. 
 
 The thing that above all others has given an impetus 
 to our reading classes has been the distribution of the
 
 INTO HARNESS AGAIN. M-J.t 
 
 New Testament. Thou<^h in a difterent langfuage to 
 that spoken at Weasisi, yet Mr Gray uses our books in 
 addition to his own, and the accident of our beinsr landed 
 at his station instead of at either of our own, led to the 
 first New Testaments being given out there. By 
 arrangement, a representative man took them from the 
 missionary and handed them to the people, who seemed 
 much pleased to receive them. Then a boating party 
 being over from Aniwa, they also got a share, to their 
 no small joy, as they have not the complete New 
 Testament in their own language. The Kwamera 
 people were the next recipients. There, Naswai 
 received them from the missionary and handed them 
 round. He had been one of the final pundits, and was 
 thus keenly interested in the book. The last to get 
 their share thus formally were the people here at Port 
 Resolution, but I think they showed more joy at 
 getting them than any of the others, and ever since 
 have plodded diligently to be able to read them. 
 While telling you of the bright side, I must not fail ta 
 tell you that at one teacher's station, the young people, 
 at the instigation of the grown-up, refused to take the 
 foreign-made books. Although they use the books 
 printed at Kwamera, and have no fear of them, they 
 dread those printed in a foreign land * — another 
 proof of the dense superstition with which we have to 
 contend. Since then a few copies have been received 
 
 * Oddly enough, a somewhat opposite superstition prevails on 
 Malekula. A heathen man of rank will not take food that has 
 been cooked on, say, the ^Missionary's fire on Malekula, but he has 
 no fear of eating biscuits which were cooked in a foreign land 
 where the Malekulan spirits didn't see them. — T. W. L.
 
 :«4 A<,-XES c. r. n'AT7\ 
 
 in that district. Perhaps you will remember that the 
 dread ot" books is an old story on Tanna, and it is only 
 lately that the fear has be^^un to break down. 
 
 At present we have some interesting pupils, of whom 
 I hope to tell you more by and by. One of these, 
 called Nirua, alias " Monkey," is a married man, and 
 comes some miles for lessons. 
 
 When the building was so far finished that we could 
 safely leave it, we paid a visit to Kwamera. We 
 stayed there about a mo)ith, and then came back here 
 prepared for the church opening. On Wednesday, the 
 28th October, exactly twelve months to a day since we 
 left Liverpool, natives from far and near assembled for 
 the occasion. Mr and Mrs Gray and their two children, 
 Mr \'oullaire, a German teacher, and our neighbour 
 Mr Bramwell joined us. We were a somewhat mixed 
 company, speaking a medley of different languages. 
 The building was well filled, but the bigger crowd was 
 gathered outside, for our heathen onlookers were afraid 
 to enter the sacred edifice. We had a nice service, and 
 all seemed happy. 
 
 After it was over there was an exchange of gifts. 
 We gave a hundred yards of prints and calicoes, some 
 handkerchiefs, two pots full of cooked rice, a pile of 
 yams and taro, and two pieces of salt beef Our 
 neighbour gave some print, tins of beef, and rice. The 
 natives gave two cooked pigs, and puddings ad lib. 
 These things being divided to the satisfaction of all, we 
 had speeches, when doubtless some good impressions 
 were made. The weather was brilliant, and all passed 
 off satisfactorily. On the next Sabbath we had a good 
 attendance, Mr Gray addressing the people. On the
 
 c 
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 K 
 
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 H 
 
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 326 AoXES C. /'. WATT. 
 
 Sabbath following that, we made our first money 
 collection on Tanna. We were much pleased with the 
 hearty way in which the people responded to this the 
 first call to give a free gift to the Lord. One man, 
 whose whole purse was seventeen shillings, gave one 
 shilling himself and one shilling to each of his three 
 sons, so that they might have something to give. 
 Knowing how meanly the Tannese treated the spirits 
 whom they worshipped in heathenism, giving them the 
 scraggiest fish, the poorest bananas and the smallest yams, 
 we were highly pleased with what they contributed. 
 We asked them to give it as a thank-ofiering for 
 the remarkable exemption from accident during the 
 building of the church, for at times the work was rather 
 dangerous. The result was £3 5s. 
 
 During the last month we have been erecting much- 
 needed ofiices in place of some that threatened to 
 tumble about our heads. In this work, too^the people 
 have done well, and they and we have been very busy. 
 On some days I had to provide food for, and divide it 
 over, no less than forty people. I often think this mission 
 is conducted on wrong lines, and that an industrial 
 mission would suit our people better ; for in that way 
 one would get many more opportunities of doing the 
 people good, and putting in a word for the Master. 
 With manual labour on hand at which we can employ 
 them, they are brought more about us, and we can 
 confer more benefits, both spiritual and temporal. 
 Indeed, I sometimes feel that if we were allowed to 
 trade in copra, and had a market for it, we could make 
 •our mission self-supporting. 
 
 Surely Tanna bulks largely in some minds, though it
 
 INTO HARNESS Ad A IN. :V11 
 
 is only a small island — a little larger than Arran, — for 
 we have noticed that the "civil war" racing: on it was 
 referred to, not only in the Australian papers, but even 
 in a San Francisco paper anil the London Standard. 
 We have also been receiving letters of condolence from 
 friends who think our lives in danger. Personally the 
 said civil war has not affecteil us in the slightest, and 
 the Grays, who were in the centre of the scene of action, 
 and who more than once had the bullets whizzinif over 
 or around their house, were so assured of their personal 
 safety that Mrs Gray stayed bravely alone with the 
 children, while Mr Gray came up here to assist at our 
 church-buildinff. 
 
 '»• 
 
 Doubtless the kingdom of Christ is coming on this 
 <lark island ; nevertheless, the devil's kingdom has 
 been powerful during the past two years. Rarely at 
 any time will you not find war raging in some district ; 
 but this last year it almost seems to have been wider 
 spread than usual, and certainly the list of " killed and 
 wounded " has been unusually large for Tanna, while 
 the atrocities committed have been worse than we have 
 ever heard of before. Indignities were ottered to the dead 
 of both sexes ; and in one case, at least, the enemy 
 committed the sin that Elisha said that Hazael would 
 do, and, as in several other cases, the poor woman was 
 left unburied to be eaten by dogs, and would have been 
 completely devoured, had not one of our teachers come 
 on the scene next day, and, unaided, dug a grave and 
 buried her. One instance of the disgusting depravity 
 of these people has shocked me much. A man who 
 attends service in the district where the above-mentioned 
 dreadful affair took place, on seeing the poor mutilated
 
 32S A(;X£S C. /'. iVATT. 
 
 form lit" the woman, addressed it thus: "If only tlie 
 Gospel had not reached my village, how I would 
 have enjoyed a feast oft' you." I cannot tell you how 
 much this has preyed on my mind, or how glad 1 I'eel at 
 realising that Jesus is an Almighty Saviour, and can 
 save to the uttermost, else 1 would despair of these 
 people. 
 
 Some have said that the backwardness of the Gospel 
 on Tanna is due to the want of faith on the part of her 
 missionaries; but I agree with our fellow-labourer, Mr 
 Gray, who says it is only those who have girjantic faith 
 that could have laboured so many years in Tanna. 
 
 I have been snftering for three months with a pain on 
 the instep of my right foot, which has prevented me 
 itinerating, and so William has had to go alone, to 
 the no small disappointment of the women. Lately 
 he visited Yanumarer and Yanatuan, staving from 
 Saturday till Monday at the latter place. Just the day 
 before he arrived a sad accident occurred. A band of 
 women and girls, while bathing, were carried out to sea. 
 All saved hail a narrow escape. Two were much 
 exhausted, and one woman, alas, was drowned. 
 
 December 17th. — I had written up to this yesterday, 
 and hoped to have to-day printed it on the trypograph. 
 Yesterday we devoted to entertaining the natives, as 
 we would not be here on New-year's-day. We had a 
 religious service in the church, and then distributed the 
 Cilasgow Foundry Boys' -Religious Society's gifts, 
 reading the texts sent by them, and telling the people 
 here something of the Society. After the meeting was 
 over we had sports in the mission premises, the " tug- 
 of-war" being, as usual, the favourite. We also showed
 
 INTO HA It NESS AGAIN. 329' 
 
 them the dolls sent, and men and women yelled with 
 delight. Many had never seen the like before. While 
 we were in the height of interest over a potato (lemon) 
 race, the cry got up, " There 's the steamer ! " She was 
 thus more than two days before her time, and 
 consequently we were not ready. To-day I am printing 
 this, and will leave it here for next mail. In a day or 
 two we leave for Kwamera, where we hope to spend the 
 greater part of next three months. 
 
 We heard two days ago that there is a great deal of 
 sickness at Kwamera, and as the steamer reported 
 influenza as very prevalent on Aneityum, we fear that 
 that dreaded scourge has at length found its way to this- 
 remote island of Tanna. 
 
 Agnes C. P. Watt. 
 
 T.ANNA, December 17th, ISOl.
 
 XXV. 
 SICKNESS AND WAR. 
 
 GENERAL LETTER. 
 
 Port Resolution, April, ls9'2. 
 
 " Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken 
 nothing : neverthele.ss at Thy word 1 will let down the 
 net." Where is this Christ-honouring faith nowadays ? 
 It seems to me that those who cull for religious papers, 
 for foreign mission reports, and for the Christian public 
 generally, pick out the bright things in missionaries' 
 letters and use them as arguments for obeying Christ's 
 command to disciple all nations, as if that were the 
 only way to get people to subscribe for the extension of 
 the Redeemer's kingdom ; whereas, the fact that Christ 
 has bid us disciple all nations ought to be enough to 
 make every chikl of God ready to give for the 
 advancement of His kingdom, whether the fruit be 
 seen or not. 
 
 I fear the searchers for encouragements only will 
 find little in this general letter to their taste, for, during 
 the past year, " deep has been calling unto deep " all 
 over the island. Our fellow-labourers, the Grays, have 
 felt this as well as we. Indeed, it seems to me as if it 
 had been the most trying year that they have had on 
 Tanna. I remarked latelv in a letter to them, that 
 their letters to us read like a second book of the 
 Lamentations of Jeremiah. Nearly a year ago
 
 SICKXESS AND IVAIi. 331 
 
 Ya-ko-le, one of their most promising natives, was shot, 
 and in the subsequent war their only ont-station was 
 broken up, and they were in the centre of the 
 inter-tribal fighting, and had the bullets whizzing 
 round their house, and finally found themselves 
 deserted, as neither side for a time dared to come 
 openly to their premises for fear of the other. The war 
 scare was not well over, when that dread scourge, 
 influenza, laid them and all their parishioners low% and 
 for weeks they were under a heavy cloud. This cleared 
 away, and things seemed brighter when the "Para" 
 brio-, a labour vessel, brought back and landed six men 
 and one woman — returned labourers from Queensland. 
 One man and the woman belonged to the west side of 
 the island ; but for some reason or other they were 
 landed at Weasisi, some of Mr Gray's parishioners 
 professing to be their friends, and the man assenting 
 thereto. The " Para " left, and the natives scattered to 
 go to their different stations. Mr Gray had resumed 
 the house-building, which had been interrupted by the 
 arrival of the vessel, when a shot was heard. The 
 Tanna lads working with Mr Gray then revealed to 
 his two Aniwan helps the plot that had been 
 laid to kill the man and keep his wife and property, 
 and now asked leave to stop working, which was 
 granted. Mr Gray determined to go and see for 
 himself; so, headed by the two Aniwan helps, he went 
 in the direction of the shot. On the way they saw a 
 Tannaman, who tried to dissuade them from following 
 a certain path ; but Mr Gray made signs to the 
 Aniwans to proceed. They had not gone far when the 
 foremost stood still, and pointing over the brae-side,
 
 332 AUX£S C. I\ WATT. 
 
 said ill Weasisian, " He is there "" ; and there, a few 
 yards below the path, against the foot of a tree, the 
 man lay dead, stripped of everything but his shirt. 
 Mr Gray went down and examined the bodv. Putting 
 aside the left arm and tearing open the shirt, he found 
 a large hole, into whicli the bullet or charge had 
 entered. Mr CJray says he must have been stripped 
 and thrown over the bank before he died, for his right 
 hand was laid over his left breast (the wound was on 
 the left side and near the armpit). He ])robably laid 
 his hand there as he died. Mr Gray went on to the 
 village and saw Kapakini and Tuman (the latter was 
 the murderer). They still persisted in saying that they 
 were the dead man's friends, and wished Mr Gray to 
 believe that the man was killed by people from the 
 west side of the island. Mr Gray begged leave to bury 
 the body, but could not get it. He even offered them 
 two big axes if they would let him have it, but no. 
 He then gave them a bit of his mind, and for weeks 
 after they showed their resentment at him for 
 condemning this foul deed. Such is Tanna. Two and 
 a half hours after this man was landed he was coolly 
 murdered, his wife and property being confiscated. (The 
 wife, however, has since fled and reached her home.) 
 His body was carried as good as twenty miles, and given 
 to his enemies there, who cooked part and threw part 
 into the sea. 
 
 The ill-feeling about this affair was not over when one 
 of Mr Gray's helps gave him a long night of weaiy 
 watching and talking, trying to pacify an offended 
 husband, who said the Aniwan had acted improperly 
 with his wife, for which cause he went :dong with an
 
 SICKXESS ANIJ WAR. ;«:i 
 
 iron " kawas " and a loaded rifle, bent on revenge ; and, 
 but that Mr Gray was stronger than ho, 1 suppose the 
 Aniwan's life would have gone. As it was, he had 
 much trouble and a sleepless night. When in Scotland 
 I sometimes heard people complain about needing to 
 pay taxes or police rates. I wonder how they would 
 like to live in a lawless land like this 1 
 
 My last "general" left just as the influenza was 
 raging at Kwamera and Weasisi, the two principal 
 mission districts. We were sorry we wore not at 
 Kwamera, if by any means we could alleviate the 
 sufl^erings of our people there ; but though we were all 
 ready, we were detained by the weather a whole month. 
 During that month the influenza spread from district to 
 district between Kwamera and Port Resolution, and 
 we were daily receiving tidings of its ravages. Husband 
 and wife frequently succumbed; and in one case husband, 
 wife, and grown-up daughter — the whole family — were 
 cut off", the two former being laid in one grave. The 
 much-dreaded scourge came nearer and nearer. Like 
 the disciples of old, " we feared as we entered into the 
 cloud." At length it reached here — Port Resolution — 
 and out of the whole population living around — 
 about 100 — we alone escaped, like the messenger who 
 told Job of his calamities (a man and his wife are one, 
 are they not?). Niathuanipciv, the teacher, was 
 on the verge of the grave for days, and many others 
 seemed more like death than life. We went round 
 twice a day with medicine, tea, and biscuit, and our 
 visits seemed to cheer them, besides, we believe, 
 preventing the sickness having the effect it usually has 
 on Tanna, of driving the people away from church.
 
 334 At.XES C. /'. WATT. 
 
 Here alone, of all our stations, have we none who drew 
 back from church attendance because they had been 
 sick. . . . 
 
 Those who have followed the history of mission work 
 on Tanna know that sickness has been the cause of the 
 breaking up of the mission time and again, and you will 
 see that the same superstition still aftects the public 
 mind. Here, only one death occurred, and that was 
 due very much to the fact that the poor woman in her 
 weak state got a severe beating, in which some of her 
 ribs were injured. 
 
 On January 19th, after nearly a luuntli s waiting, 
 and after our boat's crew had three times walked 
 overland for us (doing as good as fifty miles in all), 
 w^e got a fair wind and went to Kwamera, taking 
 Niathanipciv, the teacher, with us, as he was too ill to 
 be left. The people there were glad to see us back, but 
 we missed some familiar faces out of church. Five had 
 died. Of these live, one was Yarere, wdio (as many who 
 read this know) stayed eleven years in our house, and 
 was a jjood faithful daughter and servant to us. Our 
 loss was her gain ; for, though not a member of the 
 visible church, we believe she has joined the church 
 above. These deaths made everything seem sad at 
 Kwamera ; but the darkness was not yet passed. 
 Rukweisiari, one of our brightest and best girls, died in 
 very sad circumstances. She had had a daughter who 
 only lived a few days. She said from the first that she 
 would like to follow her baby, but added, " I am trying 
 to say like Jesus, 'not my will, but Thine, be done.'" 
 After the baby died we got her to stay in our premises^ 
 and did all we could for her. She was a very pleasant
 
 SICKX^SS AXJ} WAR. a.V) 
 
 patient, and though often in much pain she never 
 murmured. She trusted in Jesus, and read and sang 
 up to the very last ; for she was sensible, and sang a 
 hymn a few minutes before the blood seemed to rise up 
 in her throat and choke her. Her death made a great 
 impression on those around, for they saw that religion 
 gave her pleasure even in death. In Rukweisiari we 
 lost a good scholar, a faithful servant, and an ever-ready 
 help ; but we mourn not as those who have no hope, 
 for we believe she has changed the songs of earth for 
 the songs of heaven. 
 
 Jehovah reigneth, and all must be well ; but in less 
 than nine months we have lost three of our old girls, 
 our best and most promising young women, and our 
 hearts are weak, while the heathen exult and say, 
 " Now, are we not right, the gospel kills, for are not 
 all the Christian girls dying ? " These deaths have 
 weakened our hands, and in the meantime none seem 
 willing to run the risk and fill up the blanks caused by 
 death. During the last three years or so we have had 
 no additions to the membership of our little church ; 
 but on the other hand, death has carried off more than 
 half. The cause is the Lord's, and the faithful servant 
 is commended, not the successful one. Man praises 
 the successful one, though in his success God knows 
 he has sufficient joy without any congratulations. The 
 Lord perfects strength in w^eakness. 
 
 We never seem to get ahead of the manual labour 
 needed. We have been very busy at Kwamera 
 patching up our rotten houses. Galvanized iron, that 
 lasts I know not how long in other places, has quickly 
 rusted, and at the end of five years we have had to
 
 .•«6 AliXES C. r. WATT. 
 
 renew much of our roof, as the iron was completely 
 jLfone. Then we printed and b(ninil a new edition of 
 our Primer, and latterly we printed and sent away 
 one hundred copies of a photograph of our " Scotch 
 •Church " at Port Resolution. These have been sent to 
 as many friends in Scotland, America, Nova Scotia, 
 New Zealand, and Australia. We hope in this way to 
 show what we did with the money we raised in 
 Scotland, and enable those who so willingly gave it to 
 realise what a nice church we have got. That church 
 is a lasting sermon to this people, and we are pleased 
 to see that it still exercises a good influence over them ; 
 for we continue to have good classes in it daily, and 
 good congregations on Sabbaths. We are gratified 
 with the progress they have made during our absence 
 in reading the New Testament, and we labour and pray 
 that the blessed truths may enter their hearts, and the 
 entrance of the Word illumine their darkness. Has 
 God not said that His Word will not return unto Him void ? 
 April 21st. As intended, we came round to Port 
 Resolution a little over a week ago, and found 
 everything satisfactory. . . . We are now on tiptoe 
 expecting the steamer, when we hope to welcome back 
 returning missionaries, and also Dr and Mrs Lamb. 
 We and the Grays would like if they would choose 
 Tanna ; for though Tanna is Tanna still, and would 
 doubtless prove a tough piece of work for Dr Lamb, as 
 it has done to many before him, yet nothing but the 
 gospel will heal the sore of this island, and perhaps a 
 medical man will commend its soul-healing properties 
 by healing their bodies. 
 
 Agnes C. P. Watt.
 
 XXVI. 
 THE CARE OF ALL THE CHURCHES. 
 
 TO MISS CROIL, MONTREAL, CANADA. 
 
 My dear Miss Croil 
 
 Tanna, Nkw Hei'.kidks, 
 
 Julv IGtli, 1892. 
 
 •■ Duties waiting on the threshold 
 
 Will not be denied, 
 Others, coming round the corner, 
 
 ( 'rowding to their side, 
 How shall I their number master V 
 
 How shall 1 get through? " 
 
 These words strikingly describe our circumstances, 
 and express the question constantly on our lips during 
 the tirst eight or ten months after our return to Tanna 
 from our recent furlough. We were so fully occupied 
 at the two principal stations that it was hard to find 
 time to visit the out-stations. Mr Watt did make one or 
 two trips to all the stations, but evidently the people 
 were disappointed that Missi Bran did not go. Many 
 were the enquiries about the sprained foot, for all had 
 heard of the accident. It almost seemed as if we could 
 not have pressed more work into each day than we did, 
 yet had it not been for said painful foot, doubtless I too 
 would have itinerated.
 
 :i;is AaXES c. r. h'att. 
 
 At length I made up ray mind to try and visit one 
 or two places in tlu- |)art of our district where the 
 uativf paths are fairly gooil. Accordingly on Monday 
 morning, May 30th, we started from Port Resolution. 
 The day was tine and the road good. Our destination 
 was Yanatuan, Pavenga's station. The first four or 
 five miles wa^ on comparatively level ground till near 
 our first halting-place : the path then led by a bleak 
 sand hill, on going down which the foot sinks several 
 inches each step taken. Once down the sandy 
 hill-side we were at the sea-beach, and then we wound 
 our way up a gully for some distance and climbed a 
 steep path to the village, which is named Yanumaier. 
 Sane and Yecrimu taught there while we were in 
 Scotland, but owing to certain circumstances we took 
 them away, and now Sane only goes on Sabbaths, or 
 for a spell of a week or two at a time. We intend 
 spending a week there ourselves in a month or so. 
 
 We were well received by the few worshipping 
 people, and supplied with luncheon of native roots 
 roasted, and green cocoa-nuts as a beverage, our long 
 walk making us enjoy the simple meal. After that we 
 had a service in the church with the people. I should 
 have said that at Yanumarer we have a nice grass 
 hut of our own, with reed bench for bedstead, &c. Our 
 Aneityumese teachers, Niath and Sane, had been our 
 burden-bearers thus far, but now they turned back, and 
 the Yanumarer people took their places and conveyed 
 us to the next station. Now, however, all the level 
 road was behind, and one hill after another lay before. 
 I did realise very vividly that every hill has its hollow, 
 for it was up and down, up and down, very much like
 
 THE CARE OF ALL THE CHURCHES;. 
 
 •xm 
 
 the switchback railway we saw in the Edinburgh 
 Exiiibition grounds, only more trying to feet and 
 lungs. I had travelled the same path before, but this. 
 
 <:^- 
 
 YECRIMU, 
 
 time vowed I would never go again so long as I could get 
 to see our friends by any other road.
 
 34«J AtiXES a P. WATT. 
 
 On the way we passed through two villages, but, 
 unfortunately, saw no one. As the Jay was becoming 
 far spent and our attendants had to return home, we 
 trudged on, or as I expressed it. " hirpled," for t^very 
 step gave me an aching foot, which I set down most 
 gingerly. 
 
 At length the last hill was climbed, and we reached 
 Yaneveker. There Yamen has been teaching for a few 
 months, but before he went there the services were 
 conducted by a Tannaman named Rabyiahammer, 
 Yaneveker is the new station that was opened in our 
 absence ; it is really a branch from Yanatuan. Here 
 again we were supplied with food, and our burden- 
 bearers were sent back with eatables both cooked and 
 raw. As we had still some distance to go we had no 
 service, but, getting fresh help, we resumed our march. 
 Alas for me, the last descent into the valley and ascent 
 up the opposite side were the worst of all ; the path 
 was very steep, and at some places I had to be literally 
 dragged up by a native. At times I felt clean 
 " forfochen," but set a " stout heart to a stey brae," and 
 so reached the top, panting for breath, and drenched 
 with perspiration. But we got a hearty welcome ; and 
 when, after tea, we had a wee service in our grass hut 
 with the natives of the village, and heard how heartily 
 they sang, and how fervently two or three prayed, I 
 forgot the long road and the steep climb. 
 
 \Vorship over, we hung up our mosquito netting to 
 keep off lizards, spiders, rats, &:c. ; laid our cotton mats 
 on the reed bench, the one to do duty as mattress, 
 sheets, kc, the other as a covering, and, with an air 
 pillow for each, we sought rest. We slept well, and
 
 342 Aay£S c. r. hatt. 
 
 rose refreshed. After a breakfast of yams and tea we 
 had service, gave a present of a dress to each individual, 
 and, with many a kind word and look, left Yanatuan 
 antl returned to Yaneveker. Along the steep path, 
 however, I would not go, preferring the longer way 
 down to the sea-beach on the one side and up on the 
 other side of the valley. Our burden-bearers had less 
 to carry now, but even when we take only the bare 
 necessaries of life, we retjuire one or two porters, or 
 more generally porteresses ; for the women are the 
 burden-bearers on Tanna. At Yaneveker we had a 
 nice service with a hearty people, and then, bidding 
 them good-bye, started to go back to Port Re.solution. 
 
 On our return journey we took what I call the 
 " mountain path," rising gradually up the spur of the 
 hill. On the one side nothing is to be seen, l)ut on the 
 other you have a splendid view of the mountains 
 towering some 4,000 feet high, while between you and 
 them lies a lovely valley, with magnificent tree ferns 
 waving their most graceful fronds to every passing 
 breeze, and nearer you see some fine fields of taro, yam, 
 and other nati\e crops. By and by w^e reach a place 
 called Yakuribus, where a splendid stretch of ocean, 
 harbour, hill and valley bursts on the view, with our 
 Workers' Memorial Church distinctly visible as it 
 uestles on the point of land at Port Resolution. This 
 land is known to the natives as the " fish's tail," and 
 indeed, as seen from the high laud, it very much 
 resembles the tail of a fish. 
 
 Leaving Yakuribus, we had a little of the hill and 
 valley road to encounter, but only a little. A strange 
 custom prevails on this part of the road. Every native.
 
 THE CARE OF ALL THE CHURCHES. H48 
 
 as he passes along, puts a fern or other leaf either on 
 the ground or on the branch of a tree, just as the 
 withered leaves which have been laid down by those 
 who have gone before indicate. We, of course, pay no 
 attention to the custom, but every native does so most 
 faithfully, and gives as a reason that were they to fail, 
 the god or spirit haunting that part of the mountain 
 would hide the path from them and they would lose 
 their way. 
 
 A little after passing this place, we began to descend 
 gently, and went through a defile which I have called 
 " Balaam's Pass." It is a deep fissure or chasm, most 
 probably a rent in the earth caused by an earthquake. 
 It is only a foot or two wide at the bottom, and rises 
 at some places twenty or thirty feet. The narrow 
 cutting continues for some distance, and shortly after 
 emeroino' from it we came to the villas^e of Yakwanemee. 
 There we rested and waited for an old man named 
 Nasueiyu, who had promised to join the worshipping 
 party. He and his old wife came, but the latter drew 
 back in terror when I offered to shake hands with her, 
 and uttered an exclamation of horror when she saw her 
 husband being dressed in a shirt as the outward sign 
 that from henceforth he was going to attend church. 
 I tried all I could to explain that we have to do with 
 God whether we would or not, and that He wishes all 
 of us to worship and love Him. I fear, however, she 
 was not convinced, and since then I have heard of her 
 <leath. The ceremony of clothing Nasueiyu over, after 
 a little personal dealing with one or two wild-looking 
 fellows, we resumed our walk, and in a short time 
 arrived at the next village, Ikurupu. There we got
 
 :i44 AaXES a J'. MATT. 
 
 fresh porteresses, the others returnin^^ to Yaueveker, 
 while we plodded homewards. By this time my foot 
 was paining me much, and when a few miles further 
 on we reached the head of Port Resolution Bay, I was 
 very glad to get a sail down in a canoe. Though jaded 
 in body we felt refreshed in mind, for we were 
 encouraged by the attention of the natives at each 
 place ; and, have wo not the realisation of that 
 blessedness spoken of in Scripture, " Blessed are ye 
 that sow beside all waters " ? 
 
 About a week after making this tour, in which 1 
 limped painfully so much of the way, the inter-island 
 steamer called here on her way to Aneityum, where the 
 Synod meeting was to be held. She had nearly all the 
 missionaries and their wives on board, and we joined 
 the party. 
 
 Last year I told you of the dirt and discomfort 
 experienced on board the " Croydon " : and, as the 
 contrast this year was verv strikino-, it is onlv just to 
 those in command that I should say something on the 
 .subject. All that could be done here was done for the 
 comfort of the mi.ssionaries. Bedding for shakedowns 
 had been provided, greater cleanliness was everywhere 
 apparent, there was a good table, and, last but not least, 
 there were obliging stewards. To adtl to our enjoyment 
 we bad tine weather, especially on the return trip from 
 Aneityum to Tanna, so that our voyage was a pleasant 
 one, and then how quickly it was done 1 We lifted 
 anchor in Port Resolution, Tanna, about four a.m., reached 
 Futuna a little after mid-day, taking I)r Ounn and 
 family an board, and finally cast anchor in Anelgauhat 
 Harbour, Aneityum, a little after midniirht.
 
 THE CARE or ALL T HE CHURCHES. :U;>- 
 
 I was fast asleep when we entered the harbour, and 
 Would have known nothing about it, but the captain 
 blew his whistle to let Mr Lawrie know of our arrival, 
 and William thought it well to come down and tell me 
 lest T should imagine something was wrong. He 
 simply awoke me saying : " We are at anchor, and the 
 whistle was blown to arouse Mr Lawrie." As nearly 
 every one preferred sleeping on deck, I had the comfort 
 of a cabin, the one occupied by Dr and Mrs Lamb, and) 
 hearing we were at anchor, I thought they might want 
 to dress in it for going on shore, so with all speed I 
 rose, and with bag in hand ready to land, went up 
 on deck to announce to the Lambs that their cabin was 
 free. Fancv mv discomfiture when one and another 
 took a good laugh at my expense, and I was asked if I 
 was going ashore at two a.m. I did not go ashore, but 
 returned to my bunk and slept till daylight. 
 
 We had a very pleasant time on Aneityum. It was 
 so refreshing to be with so many kindred spirits. 
 Owing to Mrs Lawrie's absence, Mr Lawrie had asked 
 me to take charge of the domestic arrangements, which- 
 I reluctantly agreed to. My mission daughters helped, 
 efficiently, and the natives worked famously, and so all 
 went well, although latterly we were a company of 
 twenty-nine adults and twelve children. We enjoyed 
 the society of the deputation from New South Wales. 
 It consisted of the Rev. Mr Paterson of Pyrmont, and 
 his most amiable wife ; Dr Marden, Principal of the 
 Ladies' College, Croydon ; and Mr Aitken, law agent of 
 the New South Wales Presbyterian Church. At 
 several meetings we had excellent addresses from the 
 deputies. True, I have not heard all the deputies from
 
 ;:uti At;XEs c. r. watt. 
 
 year to year (being iu Scotland at the time 1 missed 
 Professor Drumnioud), but to me it seemed as if 
 l)r Marden's address was the most finely worded 
 composition I liad ever heard in the New Hebrides, 
 while the matter thereof was intensely interesting. It 
 was listened to with rapt attention. The subject was the 
 successful, and apparently non-successful parts of the 
 life of John the Ba])tist. One sentence was particularly 
 soothing to me, seeing we so long have fought against 
 such odds, and can see little advance. He said : " The 
 soldier on the battle-field, though ho be cut tlown and 
 • lie while the conflict is still doubtful, has done his duty 
 no less than he who, with shouts of acclamation, 
 carries his sword on to victory." 
 
 While at Aneityum I consulted \h- Lamb as to the 
 pain in my right foot. He examined the foot and says 
 there is a small tumour on the bone, most probably 
 •caused by something having fellen on the part, and 
 that the only cure is to cut it. Unless, however, it 
 becomes absolutely necessary, 1 will not agree to 
 that. 
 
 Just on the eve of leaving Aneityum, it transpired 
 that there was some hitch in the arrangements for next 
 Syntxl's meeting. The alterations consequent on Mr 
 Lawrie's probable resignation had not been considered. 
 As no one else volunteered to take action in the matter, 
 and as Anelgauhat is the only place where there is 
 -sufficient accommodation for a Synod gathering, 
 William and I offered to entertain the Synod next year 
 at Anelgauhat, and allow the usual grant of £40 for 
 Synod expenses, to go towards buying bedding, napery, 
 •cutlery, a stove, &c., which would thus become Synod
 
 
 > 
 
 > 
 
 V. 
 
 O 
 
 O
 
 34N A'.XES C. J'. WATT. 
 
 property, and be seviceable for future meetings. Our 
 offer was accepted. 
 
 Returning from Synod, after landing the CJunns. we 
 went to Weasisi. Some fourteen of us spent the night 
 on shore, and next morning a party of twelve started 
 about .").30 to walk overland to Port Resolution, visiting 
 the volcano en route ; the re.st of us went round by sea 
 in the " Croydon," and had dinner ready for the tired 
 travellers, who had been on the march for eight hours, 
 and were very glad to get a bath and refreshments, but 
 who nevertheless thought the sight of " Yas(jor '" worth 
 the trouble. After family prayers, conducted bv 
 Mr Aitken, of whom we had formed a particularly high 
 opinion, we adjourned to the church, where we had the 
 usual evening worship with the natives. After worshijj 
 William took the party off to the " Croydon," and we 
 resumed our lonely life. It did seem so lonely after 
 all the excitement of the previous fortnight : but 
 "to the work, to the work!" sounded in our ears, and 
 we were soon up and doing. 
 
 After a little more than a week, durino which time 
 we were much encouraged by the Port Resolution 
 people turning out well to church and school (old 
 Nasueiyu, who had at least four miles to come, coming 
 regularly on Sabbath), we prepared to visit Kwamera. 
 We purchased the arrowroot (raw material), and sent it 
 round by boat, but we ourselves took the road, as we 
 wanted to settle Kamil and his wife (an Aneityumese 
 couple who had just come from Aneityum), at Ikurupu in 
 place of Sempent, the Erromangan teacher, who had died 
 during our absence. During the vacancy, Nirua( Monkey), 
 a Tannaman, had been conducting meetings here.
 
 THE CARE OF ALL TJIE CHURCHES. 849 
 
 (Ju Friday, Ist July, we left Purt Kesulution, aecom- 
 panied by three Aneityumese teachers and their wives 
 all laden with goods, for we were going to give presents 
 at Ikurupu. The people there had the mission ground 
 in good order ; a new fence had been made all round, 
 and our own grass hut had been repaired and aired for 
 our reception. 
 
 Calling all the worshippers together into church, 
 William formally inducted Kamil, after which we gave 
 over thirty garments out of a box sent by the North 
 Belt Church, Christchiirch, and which had arrived by 
 the "Croydon" just in the nick of time. The natives 
 had cooked a nice supper of fowl and bananas, and to 
 this we did ample justice. We then held an evening 
 meeting, at which prayer was offered by several, and 
 hymn after hymn sung. 
 
 We had got a great heat on the road, and perhaps 
 caught cold ; be that as it may, we rose from our reed 
 bed next day far from refreshed, but after breakfast and 
 morning worship with the people, we resumed our 
 travels past Yakwanemi, through Balaam's Pass, over 
 the mountain path to Yakuribus, and down to 
 Yaneveker. There we had a reed bench put up for us 
 in the church, and so spent the night. Alas' we rose next 
 morning more tired than when we lay down. We had, 
 however, good and hearty meetings in the forenoon, and 
 after mid-day we went on to Yanatuan, where, that 
 afternoon, evening, and next morning, we had most 
 pleasant services. My very lungs felt sore with the 
 hard benches, so we made up our minds to go on to 
 Kwamera, staying only an hour or two at Imerakak, a 
 ■station where Vahai goes to conduct service on Sabbath,
 
 :i.jn AhXES C. r. W ATT. 
 
 and of which Weesep. a Tannaniati, lias char^je iluriug 
 the week. 1 would like to have told you of the road 
 between Yanatuan aud Imerakak, first round a stony 
 beach, over rocks and boulders, where a native on each 
 side took my hand and helped me along ; then 
 up one steep hill and down another; over a running 
 stream, and then up another hill ; of the meeting we 
 had with the heathen in the public square ; of the 
 ditticulties they see to accepting the Gospel ; of the 
 good repast the worshippers gave us ; of the steep path 
 ilown to the shore; of the clamberinjj over rocks, throusfh 
 sinking sand, round rocky points, &:c. At last we 
 reached Kwamera, where, alas 1 no welcome awaited us, 
 for the people were shy, being busy reviving an 
 abominable practice that had been in abeyance for 
 nearly twenty years. We felt that had we no field but 
 Kwamera, we would either die or leave in despair. 
 One by one our best people there have died. Nearly 
 all my old girls are dead, and the people whi» are left 
 are " wishy washy." Nahi-abba, our chief, has been an 
 enemy to the Gospel, and a thorn in our side for many 
 years, and we believe he is the moving spirit in all this 
 sin and heathenism. . . . 
 
 Perhaps some one may ask what kind of buildings 
 we have for churches at these out-stations. Well, they 
 are simply grass huts, European-shaped, having 
 doorways but no doors, and windows but no glass. In 
 the one at Yaneveker, which on this trip had to do duty 
 as church, school, reception-room, and bedroom, there is 
 a single doorway and ten windows, aud through these 
 numerous openings the wind blew rather strong to be 
 agreeable, and may have had more to do with our
 
 THE CARE OF ALL THE CHURCHES. :S.->I 
 
 wearied bones than the hard benches. We are having 
 grass huts for bedrooms put up both at Imerakak and 
 Yaneveker. 
 
 I have failed to mention that on our arrival at 
 Aneityum we had ocular proof that the labour traffic 
 had been resumed by Queensland, as we found the 
 " May " lying there at anchor ready to start on her 
 leaalised, but nefarious search for natives. Sir 
 S. Griffiths may think he can frame laws to prevent 
 abuses, but many of these laws must simply be so many 
 dead letters, as no Government agent, however well 
 intentioned, can carry them out. Who, for example, is 
 to know whether the man accompanying a woman on 
 board is really her husband? He may be, but the 
 probability is that he is not. 
 
 I am told that without these natives Queensland 
 
 cannot prosper. I believe the curse of God will rest on 
 
 Queensland until she washes her hands clean of this 
 
 matter. 
 
 Yours very sincerely, 
 
 Agnes C. P. Watt.
 
 XXVIJ. 
 
 A COOL SEASON'S WORK. 
 
 <;eneral lkttek. 
 
 Tanna, Nkw Hkhrtdes, 
 
 Deceinbei- .">th, 1S9'2. 
 
 My last general epistk' was made up on July 16th. 
 We were then in the middle of our annual arrowroot 
 making ; of which I told you. . . . 
 
 Early in August we went to the opening of a new 
 -church at Itaku. There was the usual exchange of 
 gifts on both sides. We had an encouraging prayer 
 meeting, at which, from the prayers of some, I was 
 -convinced that the kingdom of light was beginning to 
 penetrate the dense darkness. 
 
 Friday, August 5th. Began to retrace our steps Port 
 Resolutionwards, again walking overland. Went to 
 TJkwarep, where we halted, and had a prayer meeting 
 and gave gifts. At Imerakak we also gave rewards for 
 regularity and progress. Rain came down heavil}' all 
 the afternoon and evening, so that the Magic- Lantern 
 Exhibition was poorly attended. We occupied our new 
 grass cottage for the first time, and overheard Kawa 
 and Naba singing a hymn; went out and called on them 
 afterwards, and found they had family wor.ship daily. 
 This was a gla<l surprise to us, for this is one of the
 
 .1 cooj. SKA SOX s WO UK. ^^r^•^ 
 
 darkest spots in niir district. (Have since heard that 
 both Kawa and Naba are dead.) 
 
 Saturday 6th. After such a nii;ht of rain, the prospt-ct 
 of travelling was far from pleasant, but go we must ; 
 for all along the line we were expected. So with Nisap 
 and Toi's help I got down the steep hill-side to the bed 
 of the stream, which we found in flood. Here we both 
 had to prepare for wading. 1 laughed, as T wondered 
 what a comical-looking photograph could have been 
 taken of us, as, shoeless and stockuigless, first the 
 missionary and then his wife were helped across 
 the rapid torrent by two strong young men, now 
 springing from rock to rock, now wading, and all the 
 while holding my arms with firm grasp. Safe across, 
 and foot-gear again adopted, we laboriously climbed 
 up the other* side of the gully. The rain again 
 beoan to fall heavier than ever. The native paths 
 were miniature streams, and we literally swam in 
 our shoes. The natives were sorely distressed about 
 us, and beu'oed us to take shelter under a tree, 
 which we did for a little. I again thought of 
 the camera and a photograph of nine or ten "' drookit 
 craws" trying in vain to find a dry spot even under 
 the big tree. No hope of it clearing up, so down the 
 .steepest and most slippery path of all we descended 
 Avith difficulty ; one of the women cutting foot-holes 
 for me in the path, while my two good angels held me 
 up, till at length we reached the sea-beach. Our path 
 lay along the shore for two miles, and then, after going 
 up another hill-side, we reached Yanatuan, where we 
 ofot such changes of raiment as we could. 
 
 Sabbath 7th. Kauraka-asori and his wife Kuau, and 
 •28
 
 AaXES C. r. WATT. 
 
 Nauawivau, were baptised, aiul thereafter we had 
 Conuuuniun : the teachers, the three new members, and 
 ourselves, makiu*: a company of eight. This is the first 
 time our Tanna Communion service has been used ; and 
 this is the first Communion ever celebrated in this 
 district : though for years Kauraka has taken a decided 
 stand on the side of the (Jospel. Our little love-feast 
 was a happy one. 
 
 Monday 8tli. Kaurakas son and namesake was 
 manied in church before an interested audience. The 
 biide and bridegroom were both rigged out by us. At 
 sundown there was a wedding supper, which consisted 
 of two good-sized porkers, with other things on a 
 like liberal scale. Had a splendid turn-out at the 
 Magic-Lantern Exhibition. The visitors were treated 
 to part of the marriage supper. This was the first 
 Christian marriage ever celebrated in the district. In 
 honour thereof, we had a live pig given to us, which 
 will be carried from village to village by willing helpers 
 until it reaches Port Resolution. 
 
 Tuesday 9th. Went to Yaneveker ; Maui, a girl, 
 accompanying us for medical treatment. Great exchange 
 of cooked food, and a substantial supper given to the 
 crowds who came to see the Magic Lantern. Slept in 
 our new gi-ass hut, which is rather green and damp, but 
 a great improvement on the many-apertured church in 
 which we slept on our last visit 
 
 Wednesday 10th. Maui coughed so much that we 
 got no sleep. I fear she is too far gone in consumption 
 to recover, but she is anxious to follow me. Reached 
 Ikurtipu. Old grass house very grimy. Quite a large 
 nmiil>er ha\ I' joined the school. Large Magic-Lantern
 
 A COOL SEASON'S wouk. '^-i-> 
 
 Meeting in the evening ; the cliurcli was too sniall, so- 
 we met in the open air, and here, as at other places, 
 many heard the story of Jesus for the first time. May 
 this seed sown by the wayside find good soil. The- 
 crowd gazed and listened most attentively. 
 
 Thursday 1 1th. Emerged at Port Resolution, having 
 been six nights on the way. Though very tired and 
 lame, yet we were very happy ; for we had tokens of 
 encouragement all the way, and felt sure more good 
 had been done than we could see. The day will declare. 
 
 Again, on the loth, we made a journey to Yanumarer, 
 staying one night and giving a Magic-Lantern Exhibition. 
 As the district is much broken up by gullies, it is hard 
 to get the people to meet daily, so we proposed that 
 Kapere-maur should build a school-house on his side of 
 the main gully, to which he heartily agreed. 
 
 Several friends in writing make reference to my 
 " generals," remarking how sad they have been of late, 
 and suggesting that I must have been "depressed," 
 " low-spirited," " not very well, &c. Only one, who had 
 lived for many years on Tanna, understood all, and 
 wrote : " We particularly sympathise with you in your 
 own trials " ; and again, " On reading your letter I felt 
 how much I could put between the lines." Yes ! we 
 had sad times in the end of last year and the beginning 
 of this, and in telling even half the truth, our epistles 
 would be sad ; but as you see, I have fewer trials to tell 
 of this time. The records of the cool seasons, one 
 of which is just closing, are always more cheering than 
 those of the hot seasons, when we suffer more from heat, 
 have generally more earthquakes, are in terror of 
 hurricanes, and the consequent quarrelling among the
 
 :i-Hi A'.XKS r. r. ]VArT. 
 
 tribes. In the i^ood ('!) old times when the "Daysjtring" 
 left us early in December, and we knew wf should bt- 
 isolate*! for at least four months from the outside world, 
 with all the may-be s which might happen during these 
 long lonely weeks, I used to say I was like one entering 
 a long dark tunnel, and felt clammy and <-reepy at the 
 thought. When we jjot bevond the middle of the 
 time, the hope of the return of the " Dayspring"' was 
 like a ray of light dimly gleaming in the far distance, 
 which dav by dav became brighter, till the vessel came 
 back laden with letters, messages, and tokens of love 
 from home and friends. 
 
 This dark tunnel has been greatly illuminated by the 
 monthly visits of the inter-i.sland steamer, which never 
 tailed once to call on us during last hot season : and if 
 the stopping of the New South Wales Government 
 subsidy leads to the steam service ceasing, and we have 
 to return to a sailing vessel, and two mails a year, I 
 fear we will not take kindly to the change. 
 
 ( )h the 2:^nd August we went on board the 8.S. 
 " Croydon," for a trip round the group on account of 
 some mission business. We had lovely weather nearly 
 all the time, and enjoyed our voyage much. The 
 vessel was so clean, and every one from the Captain 
 downwards was courteous and kind ; thus thinys were 
 in every respect a great contrast to what they had been 
 twelve months before. We called at nearly every 
 mi.ssion station, saw l)r and ^Frs Lamb still eniovinj; 
 tent life ; had a peep at not a few copra stations, met 
 a good many of the island traders, and formed 
 our opinions of each. I do not wish, however, to 
 express these opinions, for I have seen how true the
 
 .4 COOL SEASONS WOUK. 357 
 
 poet's words often are, "tilings are not what they 
 seem," and people making ;i hurried visit and getting- a 
 cursory glance, seldom come to right conclusions. 
 
 While at Aulua, Malekula, Tukoru, an Efatese 
 teacher, caught a fine turtle, and next morning Mr 
 Leggatt and we took it on board. Mr Leggatt shouted 
 to the Captain that he was bringing ot!" a fish for his 
 breakfast. Fancy the Cai)tain"s sur]jrise when the gift 
 weighed 2>S0 lbs. We had many a breakfast off it, and 
 when enjoying the cutlets, stew, or soup therefrom, we 
 thought of the proverbial London nlderman whose 
 mouth is .said to water at the sight of the delicious 
 soup or morsels of green fat. We spent about a week 
 in Fila waiting for the " Rockton," and were much 
 impressed with the march of civilisation there; if the 
 presence of four steamers in one day, besides otln-r 
 
 J. « , 
 
 craft, imply that. . . . 
 
 November 4th. Celebrated the anniversary of our 
 church opening by giving every individual in this 
 district some article of clothing ; also strings of beads 
 and Jews' harps as rewards for regular attendance at 
 school. We put up ropes on either side of the church, 
 and hung the gifts on these, instead of a Christmas 
 tree. Each gift had the recipient's name pinned on it. 
 We had a prayer meeting, and distributed them at the 
 close. We met again in the afternoon, when 1 made up 
 nearly one hundred portions of food, consisting of a 
 quantity of rice, a piece of salt meat and a biscuit. 
 Every man, woman and child had a share, and went 
 home glad. We had a grand Magic- Lantern <li.splay in 
 the evening to a crowded house, many heathen coming 
 for the occasion.
 
 :r>s A(.XEs c. /'. ir.iyy. 
 
 I think no one can call this a sail record, seeing we 
 can report three new church members, three Christian 
 marriages, a new station oj^ened, some encouraging 
 tours among our out-stations, and the renewal of an 
 • lid station. But I have still another encouraging fact 
 to note. — Man}' of you will remember that our j^eoph' 
 gave their tirst collection last year in money. This 
 year they have given in all eleven bags of copra, which 
 realised £4 -Vs. That has been dulv sent to the 
 Treasurer of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. 
 
 November oth. Kapere-maur having built the 
 school-house as we proposed, we went to-day to the 
 opening ceremony, at which we had a prayer meeting 
 and a native feast. We gave presents out of a parcel 
 sent by the Sytlney Ladies' Association. This new 
 station is called Iresban, and is our eighth out-station. 
 Here Kapere and his litth' daughter will conduct a 
 daily or even twice a day meeting, singing hymns, 
 praying, teaching the alphabet, and repeating by rote. 
 
 We have now six Tannese helpers, men who, in the 
 absence of a teacher, call their fellow- villagers to 
 ]jrayer. Their (jualifications are few, their lives far 
 from what they ought to be ; but they are superior tn 
 their fellows, and it is a decided advance on Tanna for 
 these men to take the position they do. They are all 
 •eloquent in prayer, and one or two of them seem very 
 much in earnest. We have given them £1 each this 
 year in recognition of their services. We hope they 
 will soon be wortliy of the ]ilac(' of teachers, and get 
 full salary. 
 
 November 3(Jtli. Kwamera. It is not quite a 
 fortniofht since we came here bv boat, accompanied bv
 
 A COOL SEASON'S WORK. :?.-)« 
 
 Mr and Mrs Gray and twu childrtMi. In that time, the 
 missionaries have made a tour to the west side of 
 Tanna, coming back by boat. That over, they printed 
 two books in Weasisian. At these they worked very 
 hard ; some days they were eighteen honrs in the 
 printing-office ; bnt this could not be avoided, as a 
 week was lost through weather, and our time was 
 limited, seeing we must be back in Poi't Resolution to 
 catch the steamer. The wind and sea are now high, so 
 the next move seems to be to walk overland. 
 
 December oth. Left Kwamera on the '2nd, and 
 slept that night at Yanevoker. Mr (Stray had his 
 Aneroid Barometer with an altitude scale, and bv it 
 Yaneveker was found to be 450 feet above sea-level. 
 Next day we came on here, taking the highest road, 
 and the highest point we reached was 870 feet. We 
 had good weather ; and having chosen the easiest 
 paths, we accomplished the journey in comparative 
 comfort, though very tired. 
 
 I often remark how good the Tannese are in helping 
 us along. This time we were a goodly band, and 
 needed many carriers from district to district. Besides 
 ■ourselves, Mr and Mrs Gray and the two children, we 
 had a g^oat which caused us no little amusement bv the 
 way, as well as toil. Man}^ .saw a goat for the first 
 time, and she pulled and dragged on her rope every 
 way but that in which she was wanted to go. The 
 children were carried a good deal in the first part of 
 the way, but as we neared Port Resolution and got to 
 the smooth level road, they trotted along merrily. 
 
 Agnes C. P. Watt.
 
 XXVlll. 
 " FAINT, YET rUKSLlNG." 
 
 (;knkkai. i.kttki;. 
 
 I'dKT .Hksoi.ituis. Tanna. 
 
 IJth . I line. I.S9S. 
 
 Ill inv last juurual, written in January, I relerred to 
 the remarks of some wlm thought eertjiin letters of 
 mini' liad been written when I was despondent. I 
 sug^esteii that probably the journals, vviitten as we 
 commenced the hot season, wen- darker-tinted because 
 of the prospect of all the may-be s of that usually 
 trvinu" time of the year. On the other hand, the cool 
 .-reason letters ought to be bright and cheery ; for our 
 life then is usually very enjoyable. The weather is 
 cool, there is no fear of hurricane, nml we usually see 
 some visitors. I have often said that April and May 
 are mv happiest months, as all the season lies before 
 me ; and with regard to things earthly, 1 find more 
 enjoyment in anticipatic^n than in realisation. 
 
 Well, at jjresent, 1 am as hap|»y as the day is long; 
 but, that you may keep pace with me. J must go back to 
 .January. Shortly after writing that month's mail, we 
 left I'oit lU'suJution and went overland to Kwamera. 
 Never lieforo did 1 feel so unwilling to undertake the 
 ioiuiiev, and never before did I aecdmjdish it in such
 
 FAIXT, VET I'L'llSUiya. SfJl 
 
 weakness. We spent live nights on the way, and day 
 by day we became more niiseiabh- in body, though 
 happy in mind, foi- the people were kindness itself, and 
 we were on the path of duty ; but on the last day 
 William fairly broke down, and had to lie for hours 
 under a tree on the beach, or in a native hut. When 
 somewhat rested we resumed the last stase of our 
 journey, and crawled home in time for tea. 
 
 We were so glad to be at Kwamera again, iiml away 
 from Port Resolution house, which, beino- some distance 
 from the sea and surrounded by dense vegetation, is 
 very hot, while Kwamera being on the ocean beach, we 
 knew that there we would get any breeze that was 
 going. Thus we entered hopefully on our work there ; 
 but alas ! the people seem twice dead ; nay, plucked up 
 by the roots. True, there was much sickness, and 
 many were ill, but that alone did not account for the 
 thin congregations and the small classes, which grieved 
 us from day to day. About that time I read a story 
 about the "Lone Star jNLission," and I felt that if 
 Kwamera were the only parish we had, I would call 
 this the " Lone Mission without the Star." Many 
 things have led to this state of affairs. In 1889 several 
 of our lads were taken away to Queensland in a laV)our 
 vessel ; then death took away a goodly number of our 
 best people. Since our return from furlough in 1890, 
 the mortality has been striking among our girls and 
 young men. Of a Sabbath Mornino Bible Class I had 
 before 1889, nearly all are dead or away in Queensland ; 
 and in January last, two of my three remainino- girls 
 emigrated to Queensland: one accompanying her 
 husband, the other eloping witl) a young man, though
 
 v$6_' Ai.XES C. r. WATT. 
 
 she was ;i L^rass widow, her hnsbaiul beinjj already in 
 •Queensland. The young boys who are left are turned 
 against school. They are told, " Look how all the 
 young people of the Mission have died." Whether if 
 We had kept our health and been able to go out more 
 among tiie people, things would have improved, T 
 lannot tell : but from being miserable and only able 
 to crawl through our iluties, we were laid comjiletely 
 aside. William had been out of sorts for months, but 
 on February 8th he became alarmingly ill. For ten 
 •days he was very weak, and had all the symptoms of 
 remittent fever. Then he began to recover, but oh, 
 liow slowly ! Fortunately I was able to nurse him ; 
 but I did long for civilisation with all its comforts, and 
 for friends with all their help and sympathy. He was 
 only one week well, when I took ill : and for a whole 
 month I was confined to bed or sofa. The nausea was 
 continuous: I was brought very low, and had to be 
 waiteil on like a child. 
 
 Having two head stations, we cannot keep Hocks of 
 goats at each, and so we had only two milk goats at 
 Kwamera. One of them was giving a good pint a day 
 while William was ill, but alas ! she died suddenly one 
 -day, apparently of poison, and so our milk su})ply 
 ce,ased. Milk diet was the best for us, and to me it 
 was a real trial to be without it. How I did loathe 
 raiUdesi-i gruel, mllkless arrowroot, aiid niilJcless sago, or, 
 for a change, tinned beef tea. Nor dare I take more 
 solid food even if I had had the appetite, which was 
 awanting. In the beginning of April I was brought 
 round here, to Port Resolution, on a mattress in the stern 
 of the boat. It was a risky thing, as I had not been out
 
 FAINT, YET rURSUjm;. :i(j.S 
 
 of bed for a month, but we had a fair passage, and tlie 
 change acted like magic. In a few days I was able to 
 move about, and recovered much faster than William 
 had done. Health returning, we did not repine, 
 a,lthough here, too, we are reduced to a milkless diet, 
 the trader's dog having worried the one milk goat, and 
 the other being strangled a short time after bv its 
 tether. 
 
 Many a time when we were ill, and often since then, 
 we have said, " What a blessing we were nt)t both ill 
 tooether, else there might have been no one left to tell 
 the tale." I, especially, was helplessness itself While 
 native Christians do very well when there is some one to 
 superintend and suggest, they rarely do anything of 
 their own accord. I have known of traders, men living 
 alone in grass huts, being five days without seeing a 
 human being, and quite unable to help themselves. 
 So you see the Old Book is right in this matter, 
 ^' Two are better than one." 
 
 We were informed by the last mail from the 
 " Croydon " that a vessel of some kind would leave 
 Sydney in April with stores and mails for the Mission. 
 It is now the 14th of May, but we have seen nothing 
 of the expected vessel. A sailing vessel is a very 
 uncertain visitor; she is so dependent on weather. I, 
 for one, will mourn all my days in the New Hebrides if 
 we have to return to the good (?) old days of the 
 " Dayspring." The " Croydon " came to anchor every 
 four weeks in this bay, where I could go on board, if I 
 wished, in smooth water. This made life much more 
 pleasant than when, as of yore, the "Dayspring" lay 
 miles off, and when I had to go on board, my tongue
 
 ■AM Af.XKS C. /'. ir.l TT. 
 
 littrallv clove to the roof of mv month, as reelincf and 
 sta,i;;irering throntjh a heavy sea onr little boat plonghed 
 her way t<» the " Dayfsprinij " ; and then, who can 
 d»'scribe the .scene at the ships siile ! 
 
 Notwith-standing all our sickness at Kwaniera, we 
 manat;ed to get .seven new hynuis printed, bringing our 
 hymnal up to niin'tu-jive. We added them to our 
 hvmn books, and bound about two hundred and fiftv 
 copies ; but WL- were never able to teach these. 
 Since coming here we have introduced four of the new- 
 hymns, accompanied by our baby organ, and the effect 
 has been very encouraging. Without doubt ourTannese 
 have an ear foi- music, and under training would prove 
 good pupiks. 'Go, .sound the trump on India's shore," 
 the\' sing with great gusto, and a paraphrase of our 
 Saviour's words as recorded in Matthew v. 43-48, sung 
 to the tune "' Barrow, ' has proved a great favourite. 
 But the greate.st favourite of all is a translation of 
 " Thou didst leave Thy throne, " sung to the tune to 
 which it is set in " Songs and Solos." We practise 
 morning and evening, and we pray that the saving 
 truths thus committed to memory may prove good seed 
 sown on a good soil. 
 
 Here, unlike Kwamera. we have excellent meeting.s 
 daily, and on Sabbaths all the population, with the 
 exception oi' one man and two women, attend the 
 services. Much Scri|)ture knowledge is being accjuired; 
 and We earnestly desire an outpouring of the Holy 
 Spirit to (juicken theii- hearts and apply the truth to 
 them : for although they thus fear the Lord, they serve 
 other tfods. and cling; to their heathen customs with a 
 tenacity worthy of a better cause. Many heathen
 
 FAINT, YET I'URSUlNd. m:> 
 
 customs have been given up, and tlir giusser liuathcn 
 ceremonies are things of the past; hut there is still 
 much to be imdone before real progress in Christianity 
 can be reported. 
 
 The past hot season has been exceptionally wet, and, 
 so far, the cool season is keeping up this peculiarity : 
 but I am pleased to say we have had no earthquakes, 
 no hurricanes, and no war. 
 
 On Tuesday, May 11th, the schooner "Sovereign" 
 called at Weasisi, and we received a mail by her which 
 had been landed at Efate by the " Rockton " about a 
 fortnight before. By her, we heard from l)r Lamb 
 that Ambrim was a desolation, and that their infant 
 twin sons had died. We also heard that two of 
 Dr Gunn's family had died on Futuna ; and, heaviest of 
 all, that Mrs Mackenzie of Efate had died of dyseiiter\-. 
 In her death, our Mission has lost one of the bravest 
 and noblest of its women ; and our hearts bleei] for 
 brother Mackenzie, left alone at his station, and the 
 four young people in the colonies left motherless. 
 Doubtless she is now realising the hundredfold reward 
 promised to those who leave all for Christ's sake. 
 
 We learned from the " Sovereign " that the " J^ark " 
 was the vessel chartered to do the Mission work, and 
 that she might soon be expected here ; but her arrival 
 was to be of little consequence to us, as the band of 
 brethren and " sistern " returning from furlough, whom 
 we expected to see in passing, had already arrived in 
 Efate by the "Rockton." Thus all hope of seeing 
 kindred spirits was cut off. We also learned that there 
 was to be no Synod this year. 
 
 On the 24th May the " Lark " cast anchor in the
 
 MHi AiiXE.'S C. /'. l\'ATT. 
 
 Bay. She brought the appalling news from Dr (Juun, 
 that, besides his two children who had died, lUith, the 
 youngest, had been at death's door, and he himself had 
 been very ill. The sickness was dysentery, and it has 
 cut oti" 130 people in Futnna, out of a popidation of 
 4.S0. 
 
 At this season of the year there is usually a great 
 amount of feasting and dancing on Tanna. Generally 
 a Tannese feast is accompanied with dancing, and a 
 Tanna dance by feasting. When we speak of a Tannese 
 feast we mean what is called here a " Niari," which 
 might be described a " Fair," only that the food is 
 exchanged in presents, and not bought and sold. 
 Dancing we use as the equivalent of the Tannese 
 " Nakwiari." At the Nakwiari, cooked food and live 
 pigs are exchanged, but dancing is the principal thing. 
 
 In our neighbourhood there was a " Niari." Our 
 church-goers gave the yams to a heathen tribe, who in 
 return killed and gave them fourteen pigs. We 
 estimated there would be about five or six tons of yams 
 given. Whole bunches of yams were hung from a 
 scatiblding built round the sides of the public square ; 
 single yams were hung by creepers from the branches 
 of the overspreading banyan tree, each draped in green 
 leaves. A pile of yams was raised in the middle of the 
 s([uare like an immense sugar loaf. It measured about 
 twenty-four feet round the base, and was about ten feet 
 high. We were pleased with the dress and demeanour 
 of our parishioners, who, by the absence of paint and 
 other signs of heathenism, and the presence of clothing, 
 testified to their profession of Christianity. 
 
 A small schooner, the " Harold " of Sydney, was lying
 
 FAIXT. YET I'UnsClXa. 3(57 
 
 iu the Bay, and the party on buaid were interested 
 witnesses of the above feast. The various hues and 
 designs of paint on several faces caused one to remark, 
 " If I had a girl like that (pointing to one) on exhibition, 
 I woukl make my fortune." Said girl IkuI on scarlet, 
 yellow and black paint in abundance, and evidently 
 thought she was a beauty. 
 
 The day following the feast there was a Nakwiari 
 at an inland village. To a heathen Taimese the 
 Nakwiari in his village is the event of the year. Special 
 dances and special music are got up for the occasion, 
 and for months these are practised almost daily. During 
 these preparatory weeks both men and women fast to a 
 certain extent in order to look slim and neat for the 
 dance ; but when all is over excess of every kind is 
 indulged in, as well as obscene practices. 
 
 How isolated our life is this year 1 what a contrast 
 to the previous years when we had a monthly mail ! 
 We are both feeling dragged down and in need of a 
 change, but that is next to impossible this year. . . . 
 
 Agnes C. P. Watt.
 
 XXJX. 
 
 WAITINC. 
 
 rHK LAST GENERAL LKTTER. 
 
 I'OKT RESdHTION. TaNNA, 
 
 Xi;\\ Hehkidks, 
 
 November JStli, 1893. 
 
 The (.-liief characteristic of this season has been rain, 
 ami here it never rains but it pours. To the natives 
 the incoming year threatens to be one of scarcity — they 
 say, famine : but then we know that natives exaggerate 
 at times. During twenty years' life on Tanna we never 
 saw the native gardens so far back; at Kwamera only 
 one is finished, all the rest are barely begun, as the 
 incessant rain prevents the work being done, and in 
 fact causes the bush to grow as fast as it is cut down. 
 As the Tannese believe that they have power over the 
 ■elements, one and another is credited with makino- this 
 rain. In some cases pigs have been given as bribes to 
 have it removed ; in other cases threats of murder 
 have been made for the same purpose ; but alas ! from 
 the Tannamen's point of view bribes ami threats have 
 alike been in vain, and it is still rain, rain, rain. 
 
 As rain is the special feature in the physical world 
 here, so waiting has formed a large part of our service, 
 and the grace of patience has been much called into
 
 WAITIXa. 369' 
 
 exercise. We have had a long wait tor health, weary 
 waits for an erratic maritime service, trying waits for 
 favourable winds to enable us to ijo between our two 
 principal stations, and a continual wait, looking for the 
 " early and latter rain " on our work. 
 
 Although our lives are eminently busy ones, yet in 
 another sense they are wholly made up of waiting — 
 waiting like the husbandman for the precious fruits, 
 which require long patience. During this year of 
 isolation I have felt the waiting much. I was deeply 
 impressed with an article which came to us last mail, 
 and as it expresses exactly our experience, I will quote 
 a part of it : " Every old soldier knows that the hardest 
 thing in connection with a battle is the waiting under 
 fire for the orders to move. To push forward in the 
 
 light is exciting work, so exciting as to call out the 
 energies of a man and keep his mind full with thoughts 
 of that which he has to do for the moment. He has no 
 time then to think of danger, or to speculate upon 
 chances. But when a man has to stand or lie in line 
 with the bullets whistling about his ears, and nothing 
 to do in the nature of action or effort, he is sure to be 
 thinking of danger and fearing the results of delay, and 
 to be suffering from the strain upon his nerves, which 
 is all the more intense because there is nothing for 
 his muscles to do. As it is with the soldier in physical 
 warfare, so is it with the soldier in life's battle. 
 Waiting under fire is harder than moving forward in 
 the thick of the fight ; yet waiting is a large part of 
 man's duty in life, when he would fain be actively 
 doing something. ... A city business man, who had 
 not indulged in the luxury of vacations, was induced to 
 24
 
 riTo AaXEs c. r. watt. 
 
 take :i holida}' in th'e country. It did not suit his 
 active mind, and when he was asked by a friend how it 
 seemed to him, he answered, ' I feel all the time as if I 
 was waitins: at the corner of the street for a car to come 
 along.' Many another man can appreciate that state of 
 mental strain. . . . Yet just because waiting is so hard, 
 waiting is the one duty of the hour to be endured 
 bravelv and in hope, when there is nothing to do but to 
 wait. Patience is the endurance in waiting at the call 
 of God, and such patience is enjoined and commended 
 as a Christian duty and a Christian virtue." The 
 apostle says, " Ye have need of patience " ; and our Lord 
 says, " In your patience ye shall win your souls." 
 
 Our illnesses of February and ]\Iarch had so pulled 
 down our strength that it was August before we 
 attempted any itinerating. In August, however, we 
 had a twelve days' mission in the bush. We spent two 
 nic^hts each at Yanumarer and Yanatuan, and seven at 
 Yaneveker. At the last place we superintended the 
 erection of a new grass school-house. The old one was 
 taken down on the Monday; the new one commenced on 
 the Tuesday and finished on Friday. Many hands made 
 light work, and we had over forty assisting. Some 
 were gathering material, some were building, and others 
 cooking. Saturday was the feast day over it ; the 
 inaugural dinner, so to speak. Two pigs were cooked, 
 and native puddings ad libitum were prepared. As 
 at home the minister's wife frequently provides a table 
 at the annual soiree or debt extinction social, so here 
 we did our part by giving dresses or girdles to all. 
 
 As some one wisely remarks, " A minister must teach 
 the poorest of his flock that he is something more than
 
 WAITINd. 371 
 
 a superior relieving officer, although he must bear in 
 mind that it is often in this capacity that he is able 
 first to reach their hearts. Christ not only taught, but 
 fed the multitudes that followed Him, and the proclama- 
 tion of the Gospel has ever been accompanied by deeds 
 of charity. Sympathy and silver are among the most 
 certain ways to popularity," Believing in the above 
 sentiments, we gave out about a hundred garments on 
 this tour, and feel that all will tend to the furtherance 
 of the Gospel ; for these love-gifts from Christians 
 enable our simple-minded people the better to under- 
 stand the love that led Christ to give Himself. Among 
 the heathen a pure gift is unknown. A gift only 
 means an exchange of goods, and often some article is 
 given with the expectation that the giver will receive 
 far more than its value. 
 
 On Sabbath the united congregations of Yanatuan 
 and Yaneveker met in the new church ; and being clad 
 in their new " braws," looked very well. We had 
 Communion, but of the Tannese, only Kauraka 
 communicated, as both Kuan and Kauawan were lying 
 very ill. Thus our company only numbered seven ; but 
 is not the presence of Jesus promised to the two or 
 three ? 
 
 Often I feel sure that the smoke and din of battle 
 keep us from seeing the victory that is being won ; for 
 doubtless the Tanna of to-day is not the Tanna of ten 
 years ago. We were most hospitably entertained by 
 the people, and in that alone we have a proof of the 
 great change effected on them. Lately, an old fellow 
 living near us at Port Resolution tried to incite us to 
 give presents indiscriminately, by telling us how the
 
 372 AGNES C. 1\ WATT. 
 
 first missionaries did, making the gospel a lucrative 
 profession to the Tannaman. Unfortunately for our 
 greedy friend, we were able to remind him of the 
 other side, better known to us, how three missionaries 
 had been robbed, their houses broken into, their 
 teachers maltreated, and even killed : anil they 
 themselves at last obliged to fiee for their lives. Now 
 the tables are completel}' turned, for not only are we 
 fed and cared for while in their villages, but on leaving 
 Yaneveker we had three splenilid porkers given us : 
 one preceded us by a few days, and one followed 
 a few days after, but the third headed the procession 
 as we returned. The comicality of our line of march 
 excited my risibilities. Of course we will give them 
 return presents ; but even double or treble their value 
 would not induce an unfriendly or heathen person 
 to give them to us. The sight of us returning, laden 
 with gifts, and followed by an atlectionate band of 
 church-goers, impresses the heathen with the idea that 
 there may be something in our message after all. 
 Notwithstanding our long walks and life in grass 
 huts, we were much benefited by our bush residence,, 
 and our hearts were cheered with tokens of advance. 
 
 On the 12th September, the "Lark" called with our 
 much-longed-for mail, and had on board Mrs Gillan 
 and Miss Jessie Mackenzie ; the former on her way to 
 Malekula to rejoin her husband and resume her work ; 
 the latter to join her father at Erakor. I had thus the 
 rare pleasure of seeing a white woman's face. I had 
 parted with Mrs Gray in December 1892, and from 
 that till September 1893 I saw nought of my own sex 
 save the sable beauties of Tanna. I felt so excited
 
 WAITIXt;. 873 
 
 with joy that I fear 1 failed to show them much 
 attention. That night we read and wrote letters till 
 two a.m., and were up and at it before six next 
 morning, this being the only chance of getting a mail 
 away for at least three months. 
 
 Since our illnesses we have longed for a chanofe, but 
 with the present maritime service, any change off 
 the island is next to impossible, so we made up our 
 minds to make a visit to the Grays suffice. We spent 
 a very pleasant fortnight under their hospitable roof 
 How I luxuriated in the freedom from household duties 
 and cares after more than a year of daily toil, save a 
 month on a sick bed ! and how pleasant we felt it to be 
 with kindred spirits ! We went and returned in our 
 boat. The going down was lovely ; the sky bright 
 blue and the ocean calm as a millpond. But coming 
 back it was just on the eve of a gale ; the sea was dark 
 and lumpy and the sky black as ink. We left Weasisi 
 in rain, but got little by the way. For more than a 
 week we were detained by high winds and heavy seas. 
 On the 11th October a boat's crew, who were here from 
 Aneityum, took us round to Kwamera. Both wind and 
 sea were still high, so to save what is usually the worst 
 part of the voyage I walked over a neck of land to 
 Kwanaris, and the boat met me there. I was prepared 
 to walk to Kwamera if the sea had been too rough, but 
 William persuaded me to go by boat. We did have a 
 spin through the water ; we surged and raced along 
 like a race-yacht, taking in a spray now and again. 
 Having a very heavy load of corrugated iron on board, 
 I felt no fear of a capsize ; but I felt sure we would 
 sink like lead if we took a sea on board, such as we
 
 374 A'iXES C. /'. n'ATT. 
 
 had doue suine nine years, ago when we barely escaped 
 being swamped. I am not ashamed to say I was 
 nen'ons, but I had to hide it. as Watonia* shook like 
 an aspen leaf; and though it took me all my time to 
 keep a calm exterior, I did my best to still her fears. I 
 believe a year of life and hard work is not so wearing 
 to me as an hour in the boat in such weather : and yet 
 this year I have travelled sixty miles of open sea, round 
 a coral-bound coast, and generally we have had rough 
 trips. It is very awkward having two principal stations 
 and only one boat ; for while the Tannamen are willing- 
 boatmen, they cannot walk overland for fear of other 
 tribes. After all, we were very fortunate in our run 
 round to Kwamera, for we got no rain, and our 
 unexpected arrival on such an unpropitious day helped 
 to bespeak an unusually hearty welcome for us. No 
 sooner were we and our perishables safe up at the house, 
 than down came the rain, and it fell in torrents all 
 afternoon ; yet one and another came through the wet 
 to shake hands with us. Truly, Nahi-abba's death f 
 has cleared the atmosphere, and we have greater liberty. 
 We had an important meeting the day after our 
 arrival, and persuaded the men to resume church 
 attendance. It was gratifying to see many, who had 
 turned their backs on all services for many years, 
 
 * A tiaclei's child .'*he had taken chart^e of. 
 
 t \Vedne.«day, .Itli July. Awakened last night about twelve 
 by our dog "Rockton" barking, and heard crying. On William 
 asking what it wan, we weie told, " Nalii-abbi is dead." Ctiuld 
 not believe it, but the daylight revealed it. " How are the mighty 
 fallen and the warriors laid low ! '" Crowds came to wail. He wa.* 
 buried at sundown. — Extract from hiort/.
 
 ft
 
 :?76 A'.XES C. /'. WATT. 
 
 returning on the fullowing Sabbath. During the 
 three weeks we spent there, we were much encouraged 
 by their attitude to the gospel, and their demeanour 
 toward us. I lonsf to see the Tannese embrace the 
 gospel, and pray that the Lord would seal them for His 
 ©wn. 
 
 We spent exactly three weeks at Kwamera, and they 
 were remarkably, busy ones, especially to the now 
 grey- whiskered missionary, who worked like a tradesman, 
 or rather a slave, putting corrugated iron on our 
 outhouses instead of thatch. He had willing helpers in 
 one teacher and the Tannamen, but much had to be 
 done by the missionary himself ; and I was often sorry 
 as I saw him crawling over the iron roof either in the 
 broiling sun or pelting rain ; for such work in this 
 climate is no child's play. The sad thing about such 
 roofs at Kwamera is that they last so short a time, 
 owing to exposure to the salt spray. Can any one 
 suggest a preventive ? We are at endless labour and 
 no little expense, but see no help for it. Even 
 painting the iron does not suffice. This roof-damaging 
 exposure to the sea air has its compensations. How 
 cool we feel there ! and now that all the men have 
 resumed church attendance and the lads come to 
 school, we intend to spend most of the ensuing hot 
 season at this, our ocean-beach station. 
 
 While at Kwamera we heard with deep sorrow that 
 war had broken out near Ikurupu. An old veteran 
 heathen had been shot in the bush as he was returning 
 home from a neighbouring village. His body lay all 
 night where he fell ; but next day his friends carried it 
 iiomn and burieti it. A few hours after, his friends
 
 n'AJTINf;. 377 
 
 sought revenge. They went stealthily to the village of 
 another tribe, but their approach being discovered by a 
 young woman, her life must go. Poor lassie, all 
 unsuspecting, she had gone a few yards from her own 
 door to cut some firewood, when the mean assassins 
 aimed at her. There were three shots fired ; two 
 missed, but the third took fatal effect. I cannot tell 
 you how unwilling I Avas to believe the report, but 
 alas ! it was too true. 
 
 My ever- willing lassie ! she who was one of our 
 regular carriers between the bush stations, who was 
 ever ready to obey our wishes, who was our best scholar 
 at Ikurupu, and who gave good help at teaching, has 
 suffered for the sins of others. The dreadful deed was 
 done about sundown, and one of the last acts of 
 Yauikau's life was reading some of the New Testament 
 just before going out. 
 
 The war has led to the partial suspension of work at 
 Ikurupu. Kamil (the teacher) and his wife have come 
 down here for the present, as the people are all too 
 excited to attend school. He goes up on Sabbaths and 
 <;onducts service. Not long ago he was late in going 
 up, and on his arrival found that two young Tannameu, 
 supposing he was not coming, had conducted a prayer 
 meeting instead. 
 
 The gospel on Tanna is like a plant on a foreign soil, 
 and yet there is here and there a fair show of leaves 
 and a promise of fruit. As you already know, the 
 New Testament has given an impetus to the work. 
 Here at Port Resolution all are learning to read, and a 
 few can do so fluently. We have four Scripture 
 readers who take their turn and read the chapter for
 
 37N AGNES C. I\ WATT. 
 
 the dav at the Sabbath services. To encourage jjood 
 reading, we are offering prizes to the vahie of ijiS and 5/ 
 each to those who will either read a chapter at first 
 sight or commit a portion to uieniory. 
 
 I must tell vou about Ka-u. He is a young man at 
 Itaku who never had lessons from us, but who learned 
 the alphabet and small words through the teacher. 
 Last year he was laid up for months with diseased feet. 
 He whiled away the hours of weariness deciphering 
 the New Testament. When we were at Kwamera he 
 came to see us, and in course of conversation asked 
 why Take (another man) had not got a New Testament. 
 I said, " Perhaps because he was ill when the)' were 
 distributed, or else he has just been forgotten." 
 " Well," he said, " it is good you give me one for him 
 now ; I sit beside him in the church, and I can point 
 the place for him with my pointer.'" I gave him a 
 New Testament, and I was amazed and gratified to see 
 him open it at random, and commence to read the first 
 chapter of 2nd Thessalonians. He told me of another 
 lad who .spends hours poring over the precious book, 
 and when surprise was expressed at his diligence, he 
 said, " The words in this book are not like the words of 
 man ; they are good." 
 
 I have always had great faith in the wortl of God 
 pure and simple, knowing that " The entrance of His 
 word giveth light," and would hail the day when every 
 one could read ; but, as many know, the Tannese are a 
 book-dreading people, and we have to keep dunning at 
 them to attend school. 
 
 I must not fail to mention that we have got tangible 
 and valuable help in our work from various parts of the
 
 WAIT I Nil. :i79 
 
 world in the shape of made dresses. As tar as I know 
 the donors, I have written thanking them for their 
 timely aid. The natives marvel at the love that incites 
 such gifts, and many a talk they have about the good 
 women who, out of pure love, cut and make garments 
 for them. 
 
 After the " Lark " calls, about December 1st, till next 
 April, we have the prospect of what I call solitary 
 confinement with hard labour and great heat. This 
 we understand to be the last call of the " Lark," and 
 what we shall have next year we do not know. We 
 hope it will be better. It could hardly be worse. The 
 present prospects are — nothing till April at the earliest. 
 Truly the " tunnel " looks longer and darker than usual ;, 
 but with good health and God's grace "All will be well." * 
 
 People wonder what we get to do down here. I 
 sometimes wonder myself; yet from day to day we have 
 more than enough. We have innumerable calls on our 
 time in the way of medicine. Many a day we have as- 
 many patients as if we were " medicals," while in the 
 matter of medical comforts (tea and tilts) the calls are 
 even more numerous. 
 
 Although it may seem rather premature, I wish you 
 
 all a Happy New Year ! 
 
 " Is the path difficult ? Jesus directs thee : 
 Is the path dangerous? Jesus protects thee. 
 Fear not and falter not, let the word cheer thee, 
 All through the coming year He will be near thee." 
 
 Agnes C. P. Watt. 
 
 *This "general" was sent by the "Lark," but before she had 
 left Port Resolution the s.s. "Croydon" arrived there on her way 
 to Fila to resume the inter-island steam service. — W. W.
 
 appenMy. 
 
 MEMORIAL MINUTES, ETC. 
 
 1. FOREIGN MISSION COMMITTEE OF TFIE PRESBYTERIAN 
 CHURCH OF NEW ZEALAND. 
 
 The Committee desires to express its sorrow at the 
 sad intelligence of the death of Mrs Watt, which took 
 place at Port, Resolution on April 26th, 1894. Mrs 
 Watt for twenty-five years has been the untiring 
 helpmeet of her husband in his efforts for the 
 evangelisation of the darkened people of Tanna, and 
 her own efforts for the salvation of the natives were 
 constant and untiring, and she was much beloved by all 
 the natives who were favourably disposed towards 
 Christianity. Mrs Watt was well known to the 
 members of our Church through general letters, which, 
 notwithstanding the pressing claims of the work on 
 Tanna, she found time to write ; and by all who had 
 met her personally she was highly esteemed and 
 beloved, not only for her work's sake, but also on 
 account of her beautiful and Christ-like character ; so 
 that the sorrow caused by the news of her death is dee}> 
 and widespread. It was not her privilege to see many 
 sheaves gathered upon Tanna, but amidst the more 
 difficult and trying labours of the long sowing she was
 
 :iS'2 A(r-XES C. /'. WATT. 
 
 sustained by an unshaken faith in the goodness and 
 purpose of God, " who will have all men to be saved,^ 
 and to come to the knowledge of the truth." Now she 
 rests from her labours until He comes, who shall 
 cause the sower and the reaper to rejoice together, 
 rewardiny' each a»s his work has been. To Mr Watt we 
 desire to convey our heartfelt sympathy in hi.s 
 unspeakable loss, while we pray that in his sad 
 bereavement he may be sustained by the Blessed 
 Master, whom he, and she for whom he mourns, so 
 diligently and faithfully served. 
 
 William Grant, Leeston, 
 
 Iidtrim Conrtiitr, Fortigu Misiiou Committee. 
 
 2. MINUTE OF THE PRESBYTERY OF AUCKLAND. 
 
 St. Andkkw's Church, AccKi.ANii, 
 Tuesday, .")tli June, 1S94. 
 
 Which day the Presbytery of Auckland met and 
 -was constituted. Inter alia : — On the motion of the 
 Rev. R. F. Macnicol, seconded by the Rev. Thos. Norrie, 
 it was unanimously resolved, "That the Presbytery 
 record their deep sense of the loss which the Presbyterian 
 Church of New Zealand has sustained by the death of 
 Mrs Watt, the devoted wife of our much esteemed senior 
 missionary. Rev. W. Watt. The Presbytery have, from 
 the beginning of Mr and Mrs Watt's labours on Tanna, 
 entertained a high estimate of Mrs Watt's adaptation 
 to the arduous and important position she was called 
 upon to occupy, and the <levoted and efficient services 
 which she rendered to the cause of Christ in that
 
 APPENDIX. 383 
 
 difficult field. They instruct the Rev. G. B. Munro, the 
 Assembly's corresponding- member of the Foreign 
 Mission Committee, to convey to Mr Watt their sincere 
 Christian sympathy with him in his sore bereavement." 
 
 ;l RESOLUTION OF THE I'KESHYTERY OF WELLINGTON. 
 
 The Presbytery of Wellington have heard with deep 
 regret of the death of Mrs Watt, wife of the Rev. Wm. 
 Watt, the church's esteemed missionary on Tanna, and 
 they desire to put on record their high appreciation of 
 her excellent Christian character, and of her valuable 
 services to the Mission. Closely associated as she was 
 with her husband, not only in their home life, but also 
 in his missionary life, she devoted herself entirely to 
 her duties in the home and in the work of the mission, 
 and thus proved herself in every way a true helpmate, 
 and a valuable coadjutor in the service of their common 
 Lord. Her kindly genial manner and high-toned 
 Christian character endeared her to all who came into 
 intimate acquaintance with her, and her energy and 
 devotion, combined with tact, judgment and sympathy, 
 made her influence felt in the work of the mission, and 
 in commending that work to the Church. Those who 
 knew her intimately feel that they have lo.st a warm- 
 hearted and sympathetic friend, and cannot but regard 
 her death as a loss to themselves as well as to the 
 Church. The Presbytery desire to express their 
 sympathy with Mr Watt in his sore bereavement ; and 
 they pray that the Divine Master, whom he has so long 
 and so faithfully served, may be with him in his 
 loneliness and in his work, consoling and strengthening
 
 .H84 AaxES c. r. watj: 
 
 him, and that this sad event may be made the means 
 ot" blessing to the native population of Tanna, among 
 whom he has so long lived and laboured. 
 
 4. LETTER FROM THE REV. UK GOULD, EDINBURGH, 
 CONVEYING SYMPATHY OF THE DIRECTORS OF THE 
 NATIONAL BIBLE SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 My immediate object in writing to you at present is 
 to fulfil a request of the Directors of the National Bible 
 Society. At a meeting of the Board this week they 
 requested me to convey to you an assurance of their 
 deep sympath}' with you, and of their sincere respect 
 for the memory of your late wife. Some of them knew 
 her personally, such as Mr Gardiner of Pollokshaws; 
 most of them knew her by report ; and all of them knew 
 how much the cause of the Bible is indebted to you. 
 A tribute of respect for her memory from some thirty 
 gentlemen is of some value, all the more that the chief 
 ground on which it rests is not private friendship, but 
 the public usefulness of the deceased to the cause of 
 Christ. It could have been no ordinary woman who, 
 after long service in a remote corner, evokes the 
 grateful recognition of her worth from a Board sitting 
 at the opposite end of the earth. 
 
 5. MEMORIAL MINUTE OF THE NEW HE15RIDES 
 MISSION SYNOD. 
 
 Aneli;.\chat, Aneityum, Nkw Hebrides, 
 May 2nd, 189."). 
 
 Which time and place the New Hebrides Mission 
 Synod met and was duly constituted. Inter alia : —
 
 . i I' I' EN nix. 38r> 
 
 "When on the eve of meeting as a Mission Synod, we 
 have been called npon to mourn the loss sustained by 
 the sudden and unexpected death of Mrs Watt, the 
 wife of the Rev. W. Watt, Tanna. louring a period of 
 twenty-five years she was permitted to go out and in 
 among the people of Tanna, whose eternal welfare lay 
 upon her heart. Being possessed of wonderful tact and 
 energy, she became all things unto all cla.sses, that she 
 mio'ht save some. She was ever devising new schemes 
 or improving old ones, that Christ might be glorified in 
 their lives. Humanly speaking, we should have 
 expected her amongst us for many years to come, but 
 God, whose she was and whom she served, has called 
 her to higher service, and our loss is great. To her 
 bereaved husband and relatives we offer our deepest 
 sympathy, and pray that the God of all consolation may 
 heal their wounded hearts." 
 
 25
 
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