WAITING AT KWAMERA.
BEFORE I left the Harbor I wrote and left with Nowar letters to be given
to the Captains of any vessels which called, for the first, and the
next, and the next, telling them of our great danger, that Mr. Mathieson
was almost without food, and that I would reward them handsomely if they
would call at the Station and remove any of us who might be spared
thence to Aneityum. Two or three vessels called, and, as I afterwards
learned, got my letters; but, while buying my stolen property from the
Natives for tobacco, powder, and balls, they took no further notice of
my appeals, and sailed past Mr. Mathieson's, straight on to Aneityum.
"The tender mercies of the wicked are cruel!"
Let me now cull the leading events from my Journal, that intervened
betwixt this date and the break-up of the Mission on Tanna--at least for
a season--though, blessed be God! I have lived to see the light
rekindled by my dear friends Mr. and Mrs. Watt, and shining more
brightly and hopefully than ever. The candle was quenched, but the
candlestick was not removed!
On the 23d January, 1862, Mr. Mathieson sent for Taura, Kati, and
Kapuku, his three principal Chiefs, to induce them to promise protection
till a vessel called to take us away. They appeared friendly, and
promised to do their best. Alas! the promises of the Tannese Chiefs had
too often proved to be vain.
On Friday, 24th January, report reached our Station that Miaki and his
party, hearing that a friendly Chief had concealed two of Manuman's
young men, compelled him to produce them and club them to death before
their eyes. Also, that they surrounded Manuman's party on a mountain,
and hemmed them in there, dying of starvation, and trying to survive on
the carcasses of the dead and on bark and roots. Also, that Miaki had
united all the Chiefs, friends and foes alike, in a bond of blood, to
kill every one pertaining to the whole Mission on Tanna. Jesus reigns!
On Sunday, the 26th January, thirty persons came to worship at the
Mission House. Thereafter, at great risk, we had Worship at three of the
nearest and most friendly villages. Amidst all our perils and trials we
preached the Gospel to about one hundred and sixteen persons. It was
verily a sowing time of tears; but, despite all that followed, who shall
say that it was vain! Twenty years have passed, and now when I am
writing this, there is a Church of God singing the praises of Jesus in
that very district of Tanna. On leaving the second village, a young lad
affectionately took my hand to lead me to the next village; but a sulky,
down-browed savage, carrying a ponderous club, also insisted upon
accompanying us. I led the way, guided by the lad. Mr. Mathieson got the
man to go before him, while he himself followed, constantly watching.
Coming to a place where another path branched off from ours, I asked
which path we took, and, on turning to the left as instructed by the
lad, the savage, getting close behind me, swung his huge club over his
shoulder to strike me on the head. Mr. Mathieson, springing forward,
caught the club from behind with a great cry to me; and I, wheeling
instantly, had hold of the club also, and betwixt us we wrested it out
of his hands. The poor creature, craven at heart however bloodthirsty,
implored us not to kill him. I raised the club threateningly, and caused
him to march in front of us till we reached the next village fence. In
terror lest these villagers should kill him, he gladly received back his
club, as well as the boy his bow and arrows, and they were lost in the
bush in a moment.
At the village from which this man and boy had come, one savage brought
his musket while we were conducting Worship, and sat sullen and scowling
at us all the time. Mocking questions were also shouted at us, such as,
"Who made the rains, winds, and hurricanes? Who caused all the disease?
Who killed Missi Mathieson's child?" They sneered and scoffed at our
answers, and in this Taura the Chief joined the rest.
On the 27th, at daylight, a vessel was seen in the offing, as if to
tantalize us. The Captain had been at the Harbor, and had received my
letter from Nowar. I hoisted a flag to induce him to send or come on
shore, but he sailed off for Aneityum, bearing the plunder of my poor
Mission House, purchased for ammunition and tobacco for the Natives. He
left the news at Aneityum that I had been driven from my Station some
time ago, and was believed to have been murdered.
On the 29th of January, the young Chief Kapuku came and handed to Mr.
Mathieson his own and his father's war-gods and household idols. They
consisted chiefly of a basket of small and peculiar stones, much worn
and shining with use. He said, "While many are trying to kill you and
drive the Worship of Jehovah from this island, I give up my gods, and
will send away all Heathen idols from my land."
On the 31st, we learned that a party of Miaki's men were going about Mr.
Mathieson's district inciting the people to kill us. Faimungo also came
to inform us that Maiki was exerting all his artifice to get us and the
Worship destroyed. Manuman even sent, from inland, Raki, his adopted
son, to tell me of the fearful sufferings that he and his people were
now passing through, and that some were killed almost every day. Raki's
wife was a Chief's daughter, who, when the war began, returned to her
father's care. The savages of Miaki went to her own father's house and
compelled him to give her up as an enemy. She was clubbed and feasted
on.
On Sabbath, 2d February, thirty-two people attended the Morning Service.
I addressed them on the Deluge, its causes and lessons. I showed them a
doll, explaining that such carved and painted images could not hear our
prayers or help us in our need, that the living Jehovah God only could
hear and help. They were much interested, and after Worship carefully
examined the doll. Mr. Mathieson and I, committing ourselves to Jesus,
went inland and conducted Worship at seven villages, listened to by
about one hundred people in all. Nearly all appeared friendly. The
people of one village had been incited to kill us on our return; but God
guided us to return by another way, and so we escaped.
During the day, on 3d February, a company of Miaki's men came to the
Mission House, and forced Mrs. Mathieson to show them through the
premises. Providentially, I had bolted myself that morning into a closet
room, and was engrossed with writing. They went through every room in
the house and did not see me, concluding I had gone inland. They
discharged a musket into our Teacher's house, but afterwards left
quietly, greatly disappointed at not finding me. My heart still rose in
praise to God for another such deliverance, neither by man nor of man's
planning!