FIRST FRUITS ON ANIWA.
THE two Teachers and their wives on Aniwa were little better than slaves
when we landed there, toiling in the service of their masters and living
in constant fear of being murdered. Doubtless, however, the mighty
contrast presented by the life, character, and disposition of these
godly Teachers was the sowing of the seed that bore fruit in other
days,--though as yet no single Aniwan had begun to wear clothing out of
respect to Civilization, much less been brought to know and love the
Saviour.
So soon as I could speak a little to them in their own language, we
began to visit regularly at their villages and to talk to them about
Jesus and His love. We tried also to get them to come to our Church
under the shade of the banyan tree. Nasi and some of the worst
characters would sit scowling not far off, or follow us with loaded
muskets. Using every precaution, we still held on doing our work;
sometimes giving fish-hooks or beads to the boys and girls, showing them
that our objects were kind and not selfish. And however our hearts
sometimes trembled in the presence of imminent death and sank within us,
we stood fearless in their presence, and left all results in the hands
of Jesus. Often have I had to run into the arms of some savage, when his
club was swung or his musket leveled at my head, and, praying to Jesus,
so clung round him that he could neither strike nor shoot me till his
wrath cooled down, and I managed to slip away. Often have I seized the
pointed barrel and directed it upwards, or, pleading with my assailant,
uncapped his musket in the struggle. At other times, nothing could be
said, nothing done, but stand still in silent prayer, asking God to
protect us or to prepare us for going home to His Glory. He fulfilled
His own promise--"I will not fail thee nor forsake thee."
The first Aniwan that ever came to the knowledge and love of Jesus was
the old Chief Namakei. We came to live on his land, as it was near our
diminutive harbor; and, upon the whole, he and his people were the most
friendly, though his only brother, the Sacred Man of the tribe, on two
occasions tried to shoot me. Namakei came a good deal about us at the
Mission House, and helped us to acquire the language. He discovered that
we took tea evening and morning. When we gave him a cup and a piece of
bread, he liked it well, and gave a sip to all around him. At first he
came for the tea, perhaps, and disappeared suspiciously soon thereafter;
but his interest manifestly grew, till he showed great delight in
helping us in every possible way. Along with him and as his associates
came also the Chief Naswai and his wife Katua. These three grew into the
knowledge of the Saviour together. From being savage Cannibals they rose
before our eyes, under the influence of the Gospel, into noble and
beloved characters, and they and we loved each other exceedingly.
Namakei brought his little daughter, his only child, the Queen of her
race, called Litsi Soré (=Litsi the Great), and said, "I want to leave
my Litsi with you, I want you to train her for Jesus."
She was a very intelligent child, learned things like any white girl,
and soon became quite a help to Mrs. Paton. On seeing his niece dressed,
and so smart-looking, the old Chief's only brother, the Sacred Man that
had attempted to shoot me, also brought his child, Litsi Sisi (=the
Little) to be trained like her cousin. The mothers of both were dead.
The children reported all they saw, and all we taught them, and so their
fathers became more deeply interested in our work, and the news of the
Gospel spread far and wide. Soon we had all the Orphans committed to us,
whose guardians were willing to part with them, and our Home become
literally the School of Christ--the boys growing up to help all my
plans, and the girls to help my wife and to be civilized and trained by
her, and many of them developing into devoted Teachers and Evangelists.
Our earlier Sabbath Services were sad affairs. Every man came
armed--indeed, every man slept with his weapons of war at his side--and
bow and arrow, spear and tomahawk, club and musket, were always ready
for action. On fair days we assembled under the banyan tree, on rainy
days in a Native hut partly built for the purpose. One or two seemed to
listen, but the most lay about on their backs or sides, smoking,
talking, sleeping! When we stopped the feast at the close, which the
Aneityumese Teacher had been forced to prepare before our coming, and
for which they were always ready, the audiences at first went down to
two or three; but these actually came to learn, and a better tone began
immediately to pervade the Service. We informed them that it was for
their good that we taught them, and that they would get no "pay" for
attending Church or School, and the greater number departed in high
dudgeon as very ill-used persons! Others of a more commercial turn came
offering to sell their "idols," and when we would not purchase them, but
urged them to give up and cast them away for love to Jesus, they carried
them off, saying they would have nothing to do with this new Worship.
Amidst our frequent trials and dangers in those earlier times on Aniwa,
our little Orphans often warned us privately and and saved our lives
from cruel plots. When, in baffled rage, our enemies demanded who had
revealed things to us, I always said, "It was a little bird from the
bush." So the dear children grew to have perfect confidence in us. They
knew we would not betray them; and they considered themselves the
guardians of our lives.