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THE

Missionary Magazine

AND

CHRONICLE.

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VOL. XXXI

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2 H

THE ERAMANGAN ADDRESSING HIS COUNTRYMEN.-(See page 162.)

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Is our number for August, 1950, we inserted a notice of the voyage performed by the Missionary ship to the New Hebrides and New Caledonia in the autumn of the preceding year.

We have now the pleasure to present a narrative of the highly interesting and important events connected with the last visitation of those groups, in the summer of 1852, communicated in the journal of the Rev. Messrs. Murray and Sunderland, of the Samoan Mission. From the narrative it will be seen that at all the principal islands visited, and which, up to a very recent period, were in the lowest stage of barbarism, considerable numbers of the people have, through the Divine blessing upon the labours of the native evangelists, joyfully received the Gospel; that promising Mission settlements have been formed, places of worship erected, and congregations and schools collected; that darkness and superstition are gradually fading away before the rising beams of the Sun of Righteousness, and that, in a word, the only apparent obstacle to the speady and thorough evangelization of these interesting islands is the want of European labourers to stimulate and direct the important movement now in progress,

"We sailed from Apia, Upolu," write Messrs. Murray and Sunderland, on Tuesday, the 20th day of April last, and, after calling at Havali, stood for the New Hebrides."

NOTICE OF PASSENGERS AND CREW, "Wo had on board five Teachers, with their wives, from the Hervey Group, and two Teachers from Samoa, unmarried; also four natives of Savage Island, four Eramangans, and four Fatear, who have been in Samoa since last voyage of the John Williams to the West, with the exception of three, who have been there for a much longer period. They ara now returying to their respective homes, where we trust they will be of some use in niding us in our operations. They enn all read a little, and most of them can read quite fluently and intelligently in the New Testament. They have a considerable acquaintance with the truths of the Gospel, and some of them are decidedly hopeful as regards their spiritual state, So far the end of taking them to Samoa has been answered,

"Paring our guage between Sampos and the New Rebrides, John Sands the cook of the ship and subsequently Geoge Chanberg, were waited to the Title Church on bosol

They had been candidates for some months, and they afford very satisfactory evidence of having undergone a saving change. The ship's company, on the whole, are in a very interesting state. There are only three or four among them who do not manifest concern for the salvation of their souls, and much the greater number are decidedly on the Lord's side."

ARRIVAL AT TANA.

"We could not, as we had intended, make Aneiteum first, owing to unfavourable winds. Instead of this we found ourselves, on the morning of Saturday, the 9th of May, between Tana and Aramanga, and in the evening of the same day we got to anchor in Resolution Bay, Island of Tana. The natives were greatly delighted at the return of the vessel. It had been so long absent that they had begun to despair of seeing it again."

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killed is involved in some mystery, but the fact that he met his death on board the said vessel is not disputed even by those most seriously implicated. His death had well nigh led to the murder of four foreigners, belonging to a Hobart Town whaler, then at anchor in the bay, who were on shore at the time the chief was killed. They were made prisoners by the natives, and, from all that appears, they would have lost their lives but for the exertions of our Teachers. The following

extracts will be interesting to the friends of missions. The first is from a paper left by the captain with the Teachers.

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'Barque Eliza, Hobart Town. "While lying in Port Resolution, four of my crew were made prisoners by the natives on the south side going in, and were in great danger of their lives. I believe they would have been killed but for the Missionaries, who used every means to save them. I was obliged to pay nine muskets and twelve pounds of powder for their release. The cause of their keeping my men was, one of their chiefs was killed on board the schooner, the same night.' &c.

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"The following was written on the fly-lear and cover of an English Prayer-book :

"This book is presented to the Missionaries by me for their kindness to us while prisoners on shore. Peleasara and Opetaid, Missionaries on Tanner's Island (Tana) were the persons who saved the lives of four of the crew of the barque Elizabeth, of Hobart Town, who were taken prisoners while on shore, as Capt.- of the schooner, Sydney, killed their king, Gaskin. ***** We were condemned to death two separate times, but the Missionaries did all that was in their power to save our lives,' &c.

F. A. CARTER,

One of the relieved prisoners.' "We made full inquiry into the above unhappy affair, and were satisfied the Captain of the vessel on board of which the chief lost his life, is not chargeable with wilful murder, but the particulars are too long for insertion.

REVIVING PROSPECTS AT TANA.

"With regard to the state of the mission at Tana it is not very easy to speak. The idea that disease and death are in some way

connected with the new religion has taken such a hold of the minds of the people, that they are ever ready to take the alarm. They do not now, as formerly, generally charge the Teachers directly with causing disease and death, but they stumble at the fact, that the lotu (profession of Christianity) does not preserve from these. Thus when the Teachers are taken ill, and especially when they die, they are greatly discouraged. And the difficulty in disabusing their minds on this subject is greatly increased by the conduct of wicked foreigners, who do all they can to mislead them, and prejudice them against Missionaries and the Christian religion.

"There is, however, a good deal for which to be thankful. A considerable impression has been made--a great change has been effected the door has been fully opened. Our object is now pretty well understood; the lives of the Teachers and their property are perfectly safe; they are very kindly treated, and are gaining upon the confidence and affections of the people. The Sabbath is observed to some extent. It is usual to cook on Saturdays, and refrain from out-door work on the Sabbath. All the above remarks apply only to the immediate neighbourhood of the mission stations. Throughout all the Island besides the reign of darkness continues unbroken. We noticed one interesting change on the present occasion-there was scarcely a war-weapon to be seen, whereas formerly no one was to be seen unarmed.

"From all we saw and heard at Tana, we were convinced that the way is quite open for missionaries, and we are further convinced that not very much more will be accomplished till missionaries be obtained. The difficulties to be encountered are such that our Teachers are quite unequal to cope with them. An extensive sandal-wood establishment is being formed in Resolution Bay, the influence of which will doubtless be, as far as those about it can accomplish their wishes, anti-missionary "We sailed from Tana on Tuesday, the 11th of May, and stood for

ANEITEUM.*

"Though the distance between this island

A few quotations relating to this Island, and also to Eramanga, were given in the abstract of the Society's Report, read at the late Anniversary Meeting, but as they will be new to many readers of the Missionary Chronicle, we now re-produce them.

and Tana is only about thirty miles, we did not reach it, owing to unfavourable winds and weather, till the 14th. On that day we anchored at Aniligauhat, the district where our esteemed friend Mr. Geddie is located.

A MORAL REVOLUTION.

An amazing change has taken place since our last visit. Had there been two or three Missionaries on the island instead of a solitary individual, it would have been very remarkable. As it is, it is pre-eminently so, and appears very conspicuously to be the doing of the Lord.' Less than three years ago a very slight impression had been made. Some four or five individuals had begun to discover some signs of awakening interest, some indications that the truth was beginning to take hold of their hearts; but the people, as a body, were scarcely a remove from heathenism of the lowest grade. They were living in all the cruel, degrading, and abominable rites and customs of Paganism, 'hateful and hating one another,' without God, and without hope in the world,' Now, in the neighbourhood of all the Mission Stations, four in number, there are a goodly number who have abandoned heathenism, profess themselves Christians, wear such clothing as they can procure, and steadily attend upon the means of grace and instruction. At the principal Station, the Sabbath congregation averages 100. The average attendance at the daily schools is about 80. All are striving with the utmost eagerness to learn to read. About half of those who attend the Schools can read tolerably, and a considerable number quite fluently. They are all pledged to external conformity to the requirements of Christianity. A Church has been formed, consisting of 13 members-6 males and 7 females. These were baptized in the forenoon of the Sabbath we were privileged to spend at the island. In the afternoon they were constituted a Christian Church, and the ordinance of the Lord's Supper was administered to them. It was an occasion of thrilling interest. A number of the crew of the John Williams, with Captain Morgan, and our Samoans and Rarotongans, and one native of Savage Island, united with us. It was not only the first time that the sacred ordinance had been administered to the natives of this island, but to the natives of Western Poly

nesia.

Aneiteum and its little Church and its faithful Missionary have thus the honour of leading the way, in the observance of Christian ordinances, among these extended and populous groups of islands. Viewed in this light, the events of that Sabbath appear invested with the deepest interest and importance; and, in the future history of this great division of the Polynesian family, the transactions of the 16th of May, 1852, will cecupy a memorable place and be regarded with imperishable interest.

"At Aniligauhat the Christian party form a decided majority, as they do also at Umetch and Ipeki. Ipeki is next in importance to Aniligauhat. It is the place at which the first Teachers were landed in 1841. The state of things at it is nearly as encouraging as at the principal station. Among the Christian party there is a complete change as regards external appearance. Painting their bodies, wearing long hair, and other external marks of hea thenism, are now rarely seen. All have some article of clothing, and most are decently covered. They are most anxious to learn to read, but a few have also learned to write tolerably, and many are learning. Mr. and Mrs. Geddie have about eighteen boys and girls who are boarder's in their family. These can read and write well. Their progress in reading and writing is somewhat retarded owing to the scarcity of books. All they have in their hands are a spelling book, a doctrinal catechism, twenty-four pages of Scripture extracts, and a few hymns. More books are urgently needed, and will be supplied as soon as practicable. The few they have are valued beyond all price. A case was mentioned that occurred lately strikingly illustrative of this. A family had their house, with all their little property, burned. The loss of the house and property appeared to be nothing thought of. The only thing that seemed to occasion regret was that their books were destroyed.

"Mr. Geddie is of opinion that the happy change, now so extensively in progress, is not to be traced immediately to his own labours, or those of the Samoan and Raro. tongan teachers, but to the influence, example, and efforts of a few of the natives themselves. Of these there are six, who go out as evangelists, and instruct and persuade their fellow-countrymen to be reconciled to God.

They have clear views of the plan of salvation; they have warm hearts; they are examples of what they teach, and they give themselves with great zeal to the work of seeking the salvation of their countrymen. Of these, Waihit, the principal, has been most extensively useful. He was a distinguished character in former days. He was regarded as Governor of the Sea, and had, as was believed, the stormy element under his control. When the island was last visited, less than three years ago, he was a fierce and cruel savage. How amazing the change! What hath God wrought!

"It was not to be expected that so great a change would be effected without the occur. rence of much of a trying and painful character. In this respect the Aneiteum Mission forms no exception to the general history of Missionary undertakings.

A PROVIDENTIAL DELIVERANCE. "One of the most serious occurrences in its history, was an attempt to burn the Mission premises, and with them Mr. Geddie and family. This took place on the 24th November, 1850. A party of heathen natives proceeded to Mr. G.'s house during the night, and set it on fire while himself and all his family were in bed. Providentially Mrs. G. had been unable that night to sleep. Her attention was first aroused by the noise of something burning, and. the smell of fire. She alarmed her husband, who on proceedng to the part of the house whence the smell came found it on fire. Happily there was little or no wind, and the fire had not proceeded far, so it was soon got under by the assistance of the friendly natives. On the following night an attempt was made to Lurn the Chapel. The Christians, however, were keeping watch, and they gave chase to the incendiaries. The former were greatly excited about the affair. They found out who were the guilty parties, but were prevented by Mr. Geddie from inflicting any punishment upon them. They insisted, however, upon a public meeting being held with the heathen party, that they might, if possible, prevent the recurrence of such deeds. The mecting was held, and was attended with the happiest effects, for the heathen were made thoroughly ashamed, and the respective strength of the two parties was ascertained.

A YOUTHFUL MARTYR. "In the month of December of the same year, another melancholy occurrence took place. A young man fell a martyr to the cause of Christianity. A district named Anauanse, about seven or eight miles from Aniligauhat, is still wholly heathen. In that district the influence of the foreigners is greater than on any other part of the island, and the natives are bitterly opposed to Christianity, because on its account the foreigners from whom they obtain supplies of tobacco, &c., threaten to leave them. On the 8th of December, 1850, messengers were sent from this place to Ipeki, with an invitation to certain parties belonging to the lotu to come and pay a friendly visit and exchange property. The two districts had been for some time on visiting terms, so the invitation was accepted without suspicion. Five young men accompanied the messengers, taking with them a pig to present to those they went to visit. When they reached Anauanse, they went direct to the house of a man to whom some of the party were related. The owner of the house was out of the way-perhaps designedly $0. It was speedily surrounded by armed men. The strangers saw that evil was determined against them, and rushed out of the house. Three of them ran into the bush and escaped. The other two ran towards the sea. One of them was overtaken and wounded. When the other, who was related to him, saw this, he returned, seized his wounded companion in his arms, and said to the murderers, 'Kill me also.' This they would not do, as he was connected with some of themselves, but they killed the other poor young man in his arms. When he was dead, the survivor said, 'Now you have killed him, give me a canoe that I may take his body away and bury it. At this they scoffed, and took away the body and baked it. A part of it was sent to the heathen party in Mr. G.'s neighbourhood by their friends at Anauanse. Thus fell the first Christian martyr on Aneiteum by the hands of his own deluded and ferocious countrymen. His name was Waievai. He was a young man, about eighteen years of age, He had learned to read fluently, was well acquainted with the way of salvation, and was very well behaved. The savages who took his life came upon him suddenly, and the

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