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MR. BICKNELL's death.

He addressed a dying exhortation to the pious chief Tati, who stood at his bedside, bathed in tears. He also exhorted Mr. Crook to show more love to the natives, that they might love him more.

Mr. Bicknell, like Mr. Tessier, expired on a sabbath, and only one fortnight after his fellow labourer, at the age of fifty-four years.

How empty and faulty do the best spent lives appear, when viewed upon a death-bed! This pious missionary had laboured twenty-three years in Tahiti; (for he was one of those that had come in the ship Duff;) he had borne scorn, and poverty, and dangers, and desolation for Christ's sake; yet when he came to die, he felt that he had cared too little for souls, and too much for earth. What, then, may some feel on their deathbeds, who have lived chiefly for their own pleasure, and done little, or nothing, for Christ!

The people of Papara had received a solemn lesson by the loss of both their teachers, in the space of one fortnight. They had reason to fear, lest God was punishing them for their negligence, and lest he should quite remove the candlestick out of its place. Mr. Davies, however, came from Huahine, to fill the post of the departed brethren, and laboured with unwearied diligence in preaching, teaching, and translating the Scriptures.

CHAPTER XXXV.

1821.

THE STRANGERS FROM THE SOLITARY ISLE.

You have already heard that the gospel spread from island to island in the South Seas; but the manner in which it came to one of them is so remarkable, that it must be related.

There was a little island called Ru-ru-tu, that lay so many hundred miles from those where the brethren laboured, that it had never even been heard of in them. Though it was only seven miles long, it was so fruitful that six thousand people inhabited it. At length it was visited by a dreadful plague, which mowed down the people like grass, till only three or four hundred remained alive.

Amongst the chiefs of Rurutu, was a young man named A-u-u-ra. He felt a great desire to leave the island, which he feared would soon be his grave. The thought came also into his heart, that in some other land he should hear something good, although he knew not what. Auura persuaded some of his friends to accomhim in a large canoe. pany His wife also went with him. There were in all twenty-five

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THE TEMPESTUOUS VOYAGE.

persons in the canoe, and a good store of food, and water. They arrived at length at a heathen island called Tu-bu-ai, a hundred miles off, where they were treated well, and their health was restored. After some time had passed, they set sail to return to their native island, hoping either to find the plague abated, or to persuade the inhabitants to remove to a happier spot, as they feared that the curse of the gods rested on their country. During their voyage a tempest arose, which drove them out of their course. They rowed day after day, but could see no land: at length their food and their water were spent; they could only refresh themselves with sea-water, and they grew so weak that they often were obliged to suffer their canoe to float idly upon the water, while their terror was increased by the fear lest they should be swallowed up by the evil spirit of the waters. Yet He, who holds the wind in his fists, was guiding their little vessel to a right haven.

After three weeks spent at sea, they saw land. It was one of the christian islands, and was called Ma-u-pi-ti. The astonishment of the strangers was great to find people dwelling in white cottages, clothed from head to foot, and to see men and women eating together. They now heard for the first time of the unseen God, and they appeared struck with what they heard, and anxious to learn to read.

THE TRACTABLE STRANGERS.

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They did not stay at this island, but proceeded to Raiatea, where they were kindly received by Mr. Williams and Mr. Threlkeld. These brethren immediately desired some of the natives to teach the strangers to read. Auura and his wife paid very great attention to all the instructions they received, but some of the others appeared slothful. Auura asked many sensible questions, and expressed a great desire to return to his own land to tell his poor dying countrymen the wonderful news of a Saviour: for he was one of those strangers of whom God says in the eighteenth psalm, "As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me." God seems to have prepared his heart by the Holy Spirit to receive the gospel with gladness.

In a few months Auura could both read and write, and was ready to return to his own land; but he could not venture to make so long a voyage in the canoe in which he had arrived.

At this time a ship visited the island. It was the Hope, commanded by Captain Grimes. The captain kindly offered to take Auura and his companions back to the island of Rurutu.

When Auura heard this proposal he was delighted. Only one thing grieved him: he felt he was not fit to instruct the people of Rurutu, and yet how could he hope that a teacher would

* Mr. Orsmond, who at first was stationed at Raiatea, had removed to the neighbouring island of Bo-ra-bo-ra.

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NATIVE MISSIONARIES.

accompany him to his distant land? But though the missionaries could not go with him themselves, they determined to see whether any other persons would accompany the strangers. That evening they sent for all the people, who professed openly to love Christ by taking the Lord's Supper, and inquired whether any would go and dwell in Rurutu. Two natives arose, and said, "Here are we; send us." Their names were, Ma-he-me-ne, and Pu-na. The missionaries agreed to send them, as well as their wives and little children, (for one of them had two children.)

That whole night these two good men spent in preparing to leave their native land, in order to sail next morning.

There was another plan that the missionaries had formed. They wished to learn the way to Rurutu; so they asked the captain to tie one of their boats to his ship, and they desired some of the natives to go with the ship, and to return in the boat. By this means they hoped the natives would learn the way to Rurutu, so that they should be able to send men to it whenever they pleased.

This was a busy night indeed. Everybody in the chapel went home to find some present to give the native missionaries at parting. One brought a razor, another a knife, another a roll of cloth, another a few nails. The mission