210 DEATH OF MR. SCOTT. he expressed a strong desire to be baptized, the brethren felt too much dissatistied with him. to comply with his request; yet they did not baptize any of his people. He still continued firmly resolved to be a Christian in name, but, alas! he did not appear to possess a renewed heart. CHAPTER XXVI. 1815. HOW THE IDOLS WERE PUBLICLY INSULTED. THE brethren had long feared that death would soon take away one of their number. At the beginning of this year, the thing they feared came upon them. Mr. Scott, who had often been ill for a few days, fell ill again, and died. No one was alarmed on his account, till the day before his death. He spoke very little to his friends during his last hours, but seemed peaceful, and was heard to repeat the following verse "Jesus sought me when a stranger, THE PRIEST'S DECLARATION. He also repeated the hymn beginning "Guide me, O thou great Jehovah!" 241 In one respect he was more happy than Mr. Jefferson had been, for he had lived to see many of the heathen turn unto the true God. He had been a very diligent labourer, and was much lamented by his brethren. He left behind him a wife, and two little children. The people in Eimeo grew more, and more anxious for instruction. There were now above three hundred names written down, and three hundred scholars (chiefly grown-up people) who attended the schools every day. At this time a very striking conversion took place, which shook exceedingly the power of Satan, among the heathen. One evening Mr. Nott, after preaching at the tents of one of the great chiefs, who had visited Eimeo, was returning home by the sea-shore, when a priest, called Pa-ti-i, followed him. He had listened to Mr. Nott's sermon, and now seemed anxious to converse with him. Mr. Nott was astonished to hear him say, "Tomorrow evening, I shall burn the idols under my care." Mr. Nott replied, "I fear you are jesting with me; you know we wish you to burn them, but do you really intend to do so? I can scarcely believe what you say." R 242 IDOLS DESTROYED BY A PRIEST. "Don't be unbelieving," replied Patii, “wait till to-morrow, shall see." The rest and you of the way Mr. Nott and Patii conversed only about Jesus Christ and his salvation. When Mr. Nott told his brethren what Patii had said, they wondered whether he would keep his word, and feared, that if he did, the people would be much enraged by his burning their honoured idols. The next morning Patii and his friends were collecting wood near the sea-shore; in the afternoon they were splitting it, and making a great pile near the idols' temple. A great number of the heathen, as well as the missionaries and their friends, assembled at the place in the evening. Just before the setting of the sun, Patii appeared and ordered his servants to set fire to the pile of wood. He then went to the idols' house, and brought the gods out, one at a time, as he had often done before. But he did not now praise them, as in former times, but after spreading them in a row upon the ground, he tore off the cloths which covered them, stripped them of their ornaments, and then threw them one by one into the flames; and as he threw each, he pronounced its name, and repeated its foolish history, calling upon the people to observe what a helpless log it was. Never had the sun set upon a more joyous sight, than upon those GRACE BEFORE MEAT. 243. expiring flames, which had consumed the chief idols of Eimeo. The heathen returned home, astonished at what they had seen. Some expected that the gods would soon show their anger, while others doubted more than ever whether the gods had any power at all, and began to burn their idols and to destroy their temples. Patii himself from this time diligently listened to the missionaries, and walked worthy of the blessed gospel of Christ. The queen's sister, about the same time, publicly showed her contempt for idols. She had arrived the year before at Eimeo, accompanied by a great train of servants. Amongst them was a man called Farefau, who became a Christian, had his name written down, and attended the school. This spring the chiefs of Eimeo sent, according to the custom, a large present of pigs, and fruit, as a feast for the princess. Before the feast was given, the princess (who was herself inclined to be a Christian) consulted the king and her other friends on the subject. She wished to prevent the ears of a pig, or the head of a fish, being taken to the marae, as an offering to the gods; for she desired the food to be sanctified by the true God. It was determined that some person should offer a prayer to this God over the food, before it was eaten. 244 THE RED FEATHERS. It required great courage to offer such a prayer before the idolaters. Farefau, however, undertook to do it, and kept his word. The priests, who were waiting near, ready to carry the food to the marae, were enraged; but yet they durst not take it there, after it had been offered to the Christians' God. Soon afterwards the queen's sister went over to Tahiti, accompanied by the queen herself. Pomare gave them a book to convey to his little girl, who was now three years old, and who was residing at Tahiti with her nurse. When the idolaters in Tahiti heard, that the king had sent a book to his little daughter, they saw that he intended to bring her up in the new religion, and they were more determined than ever, not to let Pomare be king. The chiefs, as usual, gave a feast to the queen and her sister, on their arrival in Tahiti. Some of the priests, observing that these ladies despised their gods, began to speak to them in an insulting manner, and to threaten them with the anger of the beings they despised, and, at the same time, pointed to some bunches of red feathers, which were hanging near, and which were intended to represent their gods. Farefau, hearing these speeches, exclaimed, "Are these feathers the mighty things, with whose anger you threaten us? I will soon |