THE CONVERSION OF YOUWILI.
THESE events suggest to me another incident of those days, full at once
of trial and of joy. It pertains to the story of our young Chief
Youwili. From the first, and for long, he was most audacious and
troublesome. Observing that for several days no Natives had come near
the Mission House, I asked the old Chief if he knew why, and he
answered, "Youwili has _tabooed_ the paths, and threatens death to any
one who breaks through it."
I at once replied, "Then I conclude that you all agree with him, and
wish me to leave. We are here only to teach you and your people. If he
has power to prevent that we shall leave with the _Dayspring_."
The old Chief called the people together, and they came to me, saying,
"Our anger is strong against Youwili. Go with us and break down the
_taboo_. We will assist and protect you."
I went at their head and removed it. It consisted simply of reeds stuck
into the ground, with twigs and leaves and fiber tied to each in a
peculiar way, in a circle round the Mission House. The Natives had an
extraordinary dread of violating the taboo, and believed that it meant
death to the offender or to some one of his family. All present entered
into a bond to punish on the spot any man who attempted to replace the
_taboo_ or to revenge its removal. Thus a mortal blow was publicly
struck at this most miserable superstition, which had caused bloodshed
and misery untold.
One day, thereafter, I was engaged in clearing away the bush around the
Mission House, having purchased and paid for the land for the very
purpose of opening it up, when suddenly Youwili appeared and menacingly
forbade me to proceed. For the sake of peace I for the time desisted.
But he went straight to my fence, and with his tomahawk cut down the
portion in front of our house, also some bananas planted there--the
usual declaration of war, intimating that he only awaited his
opportunity similarly to cut down me and mine. We saw the old Chief and
his men planting themselves here and there to guard us, and the Natives
prowling about armed and excited. On calling them, they explained the
meaning of what Youwili had done, and that they were determined to
protect us. I said. "This must not continue. Are you to permit one young
fool to defy us all, and break up the Lord's work on Aniwa? If you
cannot righteously punish him, I will shut myself up in my house and
withdraw from all attempts to teach or help you, till the vessel comes,
and then I can leave the island."
Now that they had begun really to love us, and to be anxious to learn
more, this was always my most powerful argument. We retired into the
Mission House. The people surrounded our doors and windows and pleaded
with us. After long silence, we replied, "You know our resolution. It is
for you now to decide. Either you must control that foolish young man,
or we must go!"
Much speech-making, as usual, followed. The people resolved to seize and
punish Youwili; but he fled, and had hid himself in the bush. Coming to
me, the Chief said, "It is left to you to say what shall be Youwili's
punishment. Shall we kill him?"
I replied firmly, "Certainly not! Only for murder can life be lawfully
taken away."
"What then?" they continued. "Shall we burn his houses and destroy his
plantations?"
I answered, "No."
"Shall we bind him and beat him?"
"No."
"Shall we place him in a canoe, thrust him out to sea, and let him drown
or escape as he may?"
"No! by no means."
"Then, Missi," said they, "these are our ways of punishing. What other
punishment remains that Youwili cares for?"
I replied, "Make him with his own hands, and alone, put up a new fence,
and restore all that he has destroyed; and make him promise publicly
that he will cease all evil conduct towards us. That will satisfy me."
This idea of punishment seemed to tickle them greatly. The Chiefs
reported our words to the Assembly; and the Natives laughed and cheered,
as if it were a capital joke! They cried aloud, "It is good! Obey the
word of the Missi."
After considerable hunting, the young Chief was found. They brought him
to the Assembly and scolded him severely and told him their sentence. He
was surprised by the nature of the punishment, and cowed by the
determination of the people.
"To-morrow," said he, "I will fully repair the fence. Never again will I
oppose the Missi. His word is good."
By daybreak next morning Youwili was diligently repairing what he had
broken down, and before evening he had everything made right better than
it was before. While he toiled away, some fellows of his own rank
twitted him, saying, "Youwili, you found it easier to cut down Missi's
fence than to repair it again. You will not repeat that in a hurry!"
But he heard all in silence. Others passed with averted heads, and he
knew they were laughing at him. He made everything tight and then left
without uttering a single word. My heart yearned after the poor fellow,
but I thought it better to let his own mind work away, on its new ideas
as to punishment and revenge, for a little longer by itself alone. I
instinctively felt that Youwili was beginning to turn, that the
Christ-Spirit had touched his darkly-groping soul. My doors were now
thrown open, and every good work went on as before. We resolved to leave
Youwili entirely to Jesus, setting apart a portion of our prayer every
day for the enlightenment and conversion of the young Chief, on whom all
other means had been exhausted apparently in vain.
A considerable time elapsed. No sign came, and our prayers seemed to
fail. But one day, I was toiling between the shafts of a hand-cart,
assisted by two boys, drawing it along from the shore loaded with coral
blocks. Youwili came rushing from his house, three hundred yards or so
off the path, and said, "Missi, that is too hard for you. Let me be your
helper!"
Without waiting for a reply, he ordered the two boys to seize one rope,
while he grasped the other, threw it over his shoulder and started off,
pulling with the strength of a horse. My heart rose in gratitude, and I
wept with joy as I followed him. I knew that that yoke was but a symbol
of the yoke of Christ, which Youwili with his change of heart was
beginning to carry! Truly there is only one way of regeneration, being
born again by the power of the Spirit of God, the new heart; but there
are many ways of conversation, of outwardly turning to the Lord, of
taking the actual first step that shows on whose side we are.
Like those of old praying for the deliverance of Peter, and who could
not believe their ears and eyes when Peter knocked and walked in amongst
them, so we could scarcely believe our eyes and ears when Youwili became
a disciple of Jesus, though we had been praying for his conversion every
day. His once sullen countenance became literally bright with inner
light. His wife came immediately for a book and a dress saying, "Youwili
sent me. His opposition to the Worship is over now. I am to attend
Church and School. He is coming too. He wants to learn how to be strong,
like you, for Jehovah and for Jesus."
Oh, Jesus! to Thee alone be all the glory. Thou hast the key to unlock
every heart that Thou hast created.