Fourth Visit to New Zealand--Trials and Successes of the various
Missions--Shipwreck and Danger of Mr. Marsden and the Rev. S.
Leigh--Returns home--Letter to Avison Terry, Esq.
In July, 1823, we find Mr. Marsden again taking ship and embarking for
New Zealand; his intention being to visit the stations of the Church
Missionary Society, and to arrange its affairs. Since his last visit
fresh causes for anxiety had appeared. In consequence of Shunghie's
misconduct, the natives were now alienated from the missionaries; they
had become indifferent to education and agricultural improvements; and
the gospel, it was too evident, had made little progress hitherto.
Shunghie declared that as to himself, "he wanted his children to learn
to fight and not to read." The Maories about the settlement insisted
upon being paid for their services in fire-arms and ammunition. "Since
Shunghie's return," writes one of the missionaries, "the natives, one
and all, have treated us with contempt. They are almost past bearing;
coming into our houses when they please, demanding food, thieving
whatever they can lay their hands on, breaking down our garden fences,
stripping the ship's boats of everything they can. They seem, in fact,
ripe for any mischief; had Mr. Marsden himself been amongst us, much as
he deserves their esteem, I believe he would not escape without insult;
but the Lord is a very present help in time of trouble." Amongst the
missionaries themselves certain evils had appeared, the growth of a
secular and commercial spirit, which had injured their cause, and
threatened to frustrate the great end for which the mission was
projected. Mr. Marsden heard of these untoward events, and hastened his
departure, full of anxiety, but not abating one jot of his confidence in
the final triumph of God's cause. What his feelings were his own journal
testifies:--
"I am still confident that this land of darkness and superstition
will be visited by the day-star from on high. The glory of the
Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for
the mouth of the Lord has spoken it. O Lord, let thy kingdom come;
thy will be done on earth as it is done in heaven. I have suffered
so much annoyance and persecution for some time past, from
unreasonable and wicked men, that I am happy in leaving the colony
for a little time, in which I have experienced so much annoyance.
In reflecting upon the state of New Zealand there are many things
which give me both pleasure and pain. I am happy the Church
Missionary Society has not relinquished the cause, but have sent
out more strength to carry on the work. Many have been the
discouragements from the misconduct of some of the servants of the
Society; but I am confident that the sword of the Spirit, which is
the word of God, will in time subdue the hearts of these poor
people to the obedience of faith."
He was accompanied on his voyage by the Reverend Henry Williams and his
family, who now went out to strengthen the New Zealand mission, of which
he soon became one of the most effective leaders. One of Bishop Selwyn's
first steps when he was appointed bishop of New Zealand, was to make Mr.
Henry Williams one of his archdeacons, and since then he has been
designated to a New Zealand bishopric in a district inhabited
exclusively by Christianized Maories. Could Mr. Marsden have foreseen
the course which awaited his companion, how would his soul have been
cheered! but it was for him to sow in tears, and for others to reap in
joy. The field was not yet ripe for the harvest; other men laboured, who
now sleep in the dust, and we of this generation have entered into their
labours. Mr. Marsden was not mistaken in his estimate of his new
companion. Indeed he appears to have been very seldom mistaken in the
judgments he formed about other men. "I think," he notes, "that Mr.
Williams and his family will prove a great blessing to the Society. I
hope he will be able to correct and remedy, in time, many evils that
have existed, and also to set an example to the rest what they as
missionaries should do."
This was his fourth visit to New Zealand, and though in some respects it
was painful, yet in others there was ground for joy. The cloud which the
prophet saw from Carmel, though no greater than a man's hand, foretold
abundance of rain; and so now too, at length, after nine years' toil, a
few hopeful symptoms appeared amongst the Maories. Their anxious visitor
observed with much pleasure, he says, that since his last visit, the
natives in general were much improved in their appearance and manners;
and now for the first time he heard them, with strange delight, sing
some hymns and repeat some prayers in their own language. This convinced
him that, notwithstanding the misconduct of a few of the Europeans, the
work was gradually going on, and the way preparing for the blessings of
the gospel. "I have no doubt that the greatest difficulties are now
over, and that God will either incline the hearts of those who are now
in New Zealand, to devote themselves to their work, or he will find
other instruments to do his work."
Yet he had a painful duty to discharge. Firm as he was and lion-hearted
when danger was to be met, his nature was very gentle, and his
affections both deep and warm; and he had now to rebuke some of the
missionaries whom he loved as his own soul, and even to dismiss one of
them. Of those whom he had been obliged to censure, he writes
thus:--"They expressed their regret for the past, and a determination to
act in a different way for the future. Some, I have no doubt, will
retrace their steps, and will be more cautious and circumspect, but I
have not the same confidence in all. Some express sorrow, but I fear not
that which worketh repentance." Again he remarks: "Missionary work is
very hard work, unless the heart is fully engaged in it. No
consideration can induce a man to do habitually what he has a habitual
aversion to. The sooner such a one leaves the work, the better it will
be for himself and the mission." But though compelled to blame, he did
not forget to sympathize. "The present missionaries, though some of them
have erred greatly from the right way, yet have all had their trials and
troubles. Some allowance must be made for their peculiar situation, and
their want of Christian society, and of the public ordinances of
religion."
Several chiefs, among whom was Tooi, warmly took up the cause of the
missionary who had been dismissed. The conversation which followed is a
beautiful illustration of the too much forgotten Scripture which tells
us that "a soft answer turneth away wrath," while at the same time it
presents an interesting view of the Maori mind and character at this
critical period of their national history.
"Tooi addressing me, said a missionary had informed him that day
that he was going to leave New Zealand, and the chiefs wished to
know whether this person had been dismissed for selling muskets
and powder to the natives. To this I replied that Mr. ---- was
directed by the gentlemen in England who had sent him out as a
missionary, not to sell muskets and powder; that it was not the
custom in England for clergymen to sell muskets and powder; and
that no missionary could be allowed to sell them in New Zealand.
As several of the chiefs present had been at Port Jackson, I
observed that they knew that the clergymen there did not sell
muskets and powder. They knew that I had not one musket in my
house, and that they had never seen any when they were with me.
They replied, they knew what I said was true. I further added we
did not interfere with the government of New Zealand; they did
what they pleased, and the missionaries should be allowed to do
what they pleased. Tooi said that this was but just, and observed,
'We are at present in the same state as the Otaheitans were some
time back. The Otaheitans wanted only muskets and powder, and
would have nothing else, and now, as they knew better, they wanted
none; and the New Zealanders would care nothing about muskets when
they knew better, which they would in time.' All the chiefs
acquiesced in the observations Tooi made. I was happy to find
their minds were so enlarged, and that they had begun to take such
proper views of the subject. I said, Tooi's remarks upon the
conduct of the Otaheitans were very just, and told them that the
Queen Charlotte brig, which had sailed from the bay the preceding
day, belonged to the young king Pomare; that the Otaheitans had
sent oil and various other articles to Port Jackson, and that they
had received in return, tea, sugar, and flour, and clothing, as
they wanted these articles, and that the New Zealanders might in
time have a ship of their own to procure sperm oil, spars, etc.,
which they might sell at Port Jackson, and many of them were able
to kill the whales, having been employed on board the whalers.
When they got a vessel of their own, they would soon be equal to
the Otaheitans, and give over their cruel wars. They expressed
much pleasure at having a vessel of their own. After some further
explanation the chiefs were satisfied that Mr. ---- had violated
our laws and had brought all his distress upon himself."
The conduct of the natives confirmed the impression which Mr. Marsden
had previously formed, and which their subsequent history down to the
present day entirely sustains, that they are a noble race of men, of
considerable mental capacity, of great perseverance and enterprise, who
never lose sight of an object upon which they have once set their minds;
powerful reasoners upon any subject that has come within their
knowledge; possessed of a quick perception and a natural sagacity, which
enables them to form a just acquaintance with human nature as it
presents itself before them. Who would not wish that they too may form a
happy exception to the rule which seems in every land to condemn the
native population to waste away before the advances of European
enterprise? Who would not desire that the Maorie tribes may long be a
great and powerful nation, protected, but not oppressed by English rule?
Mr. Marsden now paid a visit at Wangaroa, to the Wesleyan missionary
station there. Over the Wesleyan missions he had of course no control or
oversight, such as that with which he was intrusted towards the missions
of the London Missionary Society in the South Sea Islands. This,
however, did not prevent his taking an affectionate interest in their
affairs. He found Mr. Leigh, the founder of their mission, very ill, and
invited him to return with him on a voyage of health and recreation to
Port Jackson; and having taken leave of the Church Missionary brethren
with solemn and affectionate counsels he embarked on the 6th of
September, 1823, with feelings which he thus describes.
"I now felt much pleasure in the prospect of a speedy return to my
family and people, and being very weary with various toils and
anxieties both of body and mind, I longed for a little rest, and
retired to my cabin with much thankfulness and comfort. I had
cause to be thankful for continual good health during the period I
had been in New Zealand, as I had not lost one day. I felt great
confidence in the Rev. Mr. Williams, and I doubt not that God will
prosper the work, and raise up a seed in this benighted land to
serve him; for many shall come from the south as well as the
north, and shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the
kingdom of God."
But his bright visions were overcast. Like the first and greatest of
Christian missionaries, it was ordained that he, too, "should suffer
shipwreck and be cast upon a desert island." His own journal gives us
the story of his danger and deliverance.
"_Sunday 7th._--This morning we weighed anchor. I spent some time
this day reading the Scriptures with the Rev. S. Leigh, our
subject for contemplation was the 1st chapter of St. Paul to the
Romans. The weather was very threatening and stormy; the wind from
the eastward and strong, blowing directly into the mouth of the
harbour. We lay in Korororika Bay, on the south side of the
harbour, and had to sail along a lee rocky shore. In working out
with the wind dead on the land, the ship being light and high out
of the water she would not answer her helm, and twice missed
stays. The lead was kept continually sounding, and we soon found
ourselves in little more than three fathoms water, with a rocky
bottom and a shoal of rocks on our lee, and it was then high
water. When the captain found the situation we were in, he
immediately ordered to let go the anchor, which was done. When the
tide turned the ship struck, the gale increased, and the sea with
it; a shipwreck was now more than probable; there appeared no
possible way to prevent it. The Rev. Mr. Leigh was very ill, and
felt the disturbance much, Mrs. Leigh also being very ill. I
requested the captain to lend me the boat to take Mr. and Mrs.
Leigh to the nearest island, where we arrived very safely, the
island being but two miles distant. The natives expressed much
concern for us, made a fire, prepared the best hut they could,
which was made of bulrushes, for our reception. I requested them
to send a canoe to Rungheehe, to inform Mr. and Mrs. Hall of the
loss of the ship, and to bring their boat to assist in bringing
the people to land. At the same time, I desired they would tell
the natives to bring a large war canoe. The natives for some time
alleged that their canoe would be dashed to pieces by the waves,
but at length I prevailed upon them. They had between five and
six miles to go, through a very rough sea. About three o'clock,
Messrs. Hall, King, and Hanson, arrived in Mr. Hall's boat, and a
large war canoe with natives; they immediately proceeded to the
ship, and we had the satisfaction to see them arrive safe, and
waited until dark with the greatest anxiety for their return. The
rain fell in torrents, the gale increased, and they had not
returned; we lay down in our little hut full of fear for the
safety of all on board. The night appeared very long, dark, and
dreary. As we could not rest, we most anxiously wished for the
morning light, to learn some account of them.
"_September 8th._--When the day arrived we had the happiness to
see the vessel still upright, but driven nearer the shore. No boat
or canoe from her; the gale still increased; about mid-day we saw
the mainmast go overboard. The natives on the island screamed
aloud when the mast fell. I concluded they had cut away the mast
to relieve the vessel. We spent the rest of this day in great
suspense, as we could not conjecture why all the passengers should
remain on board in the state the ship was in. At dark in the
evening Mr. Hall returned, and informed us that the bottom of the
vessel was beaten out, and that both her chain and best bower
cable were parted; and that she beat with such violence upon the
rocks when the tide was in that it was impossible to stand upon
the deck; at the same time, he said, there was no danger of any
lives being lost, as he did not think the vessel would go to
pieces, as she stood firm upon the rock, when the tide was out. He
said, the passengers on board had not determined what they would
do, or where they would land as yet; they wished to wait till the
gale was abated. Mr. Hall's information relieved us much; as it
was now dark, the wind high, and the sea rough, we could not leave
the island, and therefore took up our lodgings in our little hut.
"The natives supplied us with a few potatoes and some fish. My
pleasing prospect of returning to Port Jackson was at an end, for
some time at least. I was exceedingly concerned for the loss of so
fine a vessel on many accounts, as individuals who are interested
in her must suffer as well as the passengers on board, and spent
the night in reflections on the difficulties with which I was
surrounded; while the raging of the storm continued without
intermission.
"_Tuesday 9th._--At the return of day we discovered the ship still
upright, but she appeared to be higher on the reef. I now
determined to return to Kiddee-Kiddee in Mr. Hall's boat with Mr.
and Mrs. Leigh. We left the island for the missionary settlement,
where we arrived about nine o'clock. Our friends had not heard of
the loss of the ship until our arrival, as there had not been any
communication between the different settlements in consequence of
the severe weather. We were very kindly received by the brethren;
I informed them in what situation we had left the ship, and
requested that every assistance might be given to land the
passengers and luggage. The wreck was about twelve or fourteen
miles from the settlement. Four boats were immediately sent off;
Mr. Hall's boat took the women and children to Rungheehe, and two
of the boats returned with part of our luggage, and we went to the
station of the Rev. Henry Williams. All the brethren rendered
every aid in their power. The boats on their return brought the
welcome news that all was well on board, and Mr. Leigh did not
appear to have suffered much injury from the wet and cold he
endured on the island, though in so weak a state. Divine wisdom
has no doubt some wise ends to answer in all that has befallen us.
The word of God expressly says all things shall work together for
the good of them that love God, and the Scripture cannot be
broken.
"We cannot see through this dark and mysterious dispensation at
the present time; the why and wherefore we must leave to him who
ordereth all things according to the counsel of his own will. As
the gale continued with unremitting violence, if we had gone out
to sea we might have been cast on shore under more dangerous and
distressing circumstances. Our shipwreck has been a most merciful
one, as no lives have been lost, nor anything but the ship."
The shipwreck of the Brampton--for that was the vessel's name--occurred
on the 7th of September, and in consequence Mr. Marsden was detained in
New Zealand until the 14th of November, when he returned home in the
Dragon, and arrived at Sydney in the beginning of December, 1823. The
interval was not lost; for he seems to have been one of those who gather
up the fragments of time, and turn to the best account the idle hours
and spare moments of life. He drew up some excellent rules for the
guidance of the missionaries and Christian settlers in their intercourse
with the shipping which now began to visit the Bay of Islands. He
encouraged the erection of a school-house for the natives. "The
foundation," he says, "must be laid in the education of the rising
generation. The children possess strong minds, are well-behaved and
teachable. They are capable of learning anything we wish to teach them."
During his detention he also addressed a circular letter to the
missionaries respecting a grammar in the Maori or New Zealand language,
pointing out the necessity of adopting some more systematic method both
for its arrangement and pronunciation. This led to a new vocabulary of
the native language, and in a short time to a new method of spelling. We
have, of course, retained Mr. Marsden's orthography of New Zealand
names, but we may remark, by the way, it is very different from that
which has been since introduced. Shunghie became E'Hongi; Kiddee Kiddee,
Keri Keri; and so in other instances. But even Mr. Marsden, with all his
sagacity, did not penetrate New Zealand's future, nor foresee in how
short a time the well-known and familiar sounds of English towns and
villages would be transferred to that still savage island, superseding
even in Maori lips their native designations. It seems probable that the
New Zealand language may, in the course of another generation, come to
be known only by the grammar which the missionaries compiled and the
Scriptures which they have since translated. But whatever be its fate,
it is in a high degree sonorous and expressive, and had it but an
antique literature, a Tallessin or an Ossian, it could never perish.
Without a literature of its own no spoken language can long endure
against the assaults of that which is evidently destined to be the
universal speech of trade and commerce, the English tongue. On the other
hand the literature of a language, or even of a dialect, embalms it
after it has ceased to be a spoken tongue even to the end of time.
And lastly, a political object occupied some of Mr. Marsden's time and
thoughts. The incessant and desolating wars which the native tribes
waged against each other were, he saw, the great obstacle to the
progress of New Zealand. The missions were always insecure, for the
country was always more or less disturbed. Civil war is, under all
circumstances, the bane, and, if persisted in, the ruin of a country;
add the ferocity of New Zealand warfare, its cannibalism and its undying
spirit of revenge, and nothing more was wanted to degrade the finest
country under heaven into a very pit of darkness. All this Mr. Marsden
felt; he conceived that if he could succeed in establishing some one
chief as supreme, a plan of government might be drawn up securing life
and property throughout the island. He consulted Shunghie, Wyatto Riva,
and other powerful chieftains. Shunghie's ambitious spirit would have
embraced the proposal, the condition being, of course, that he should be
the sovereign; but the jealousy of the rest prevented anything like
unanimity. Riva justly remarked that to have any superior would degrade
them; yet all the chiefs appeared tired of war and the unsettled state
consequent upon it. So the project failed.
At length he returned home, accompanied by six New Zealand youths, whose
eagerness was such that they gladly promised to sleep upon the deck
rather than miss the opportunity. Mr. Leigh, the Wesleyan missionary,
was also his fellow voyager. Mr. Leigh's opinion of Mr. Marsden and his
labours is highly gratifying, and not the less so as coming from one who
belonged to another Society. "The shipwreck," he says, "which we have
experienced will, I have no doubt, prove favourable to the reputation of
the New Zealanders. For several days we were in their power, and they
might have taken all that we had with the greatest ease; but instead of
oppressing and robbing us, they actually sympathized with us in our
trials and afflictions. Mr. Marsden, myself, and Mrs. Leigh, were at a
native village for several days and nights, without any food but what
the natives brought us; what they had they gave us willingly, and
said--'Poor creatures! you have nothing to eat, and you are not
accustomed to our kind of food.' I shall never forget the sympathy and
kindness of these poor heathens.
"I do hope that the Rev. S. Marsden will be successful in his
endeavours to put an end to the frequent wars in New Zealand. I
have heard many natives and chiefs say, 'It is no good to go to
fight and eat men; we wish to cease from war, and retire to some
peaceful place.' I pray God that this object may be soon effected
among this people. The Christian world, and especially the Church
Missionary Society, will never be able fully to appreciate the
valuable labours of the Rev. Samuel Marsden. His fervent zeal, his
abundant toil, and extensive charity in the cause of missions, are
beyond estimation. May he live long as a burning and shining light
in the missionary world!"
Within a few days of his return home, Mr. Marsden, the impression of his
visit still fresh upon his mind, wrote the following interesting
letter:--
"Paramatta, December 20, 1823.
"MY VERY DEAR SIR,--I now sit down to thank you for your very
valuable presents, which you were so kind as to send me for the
natives of New Zealand. They arrived a little before I sailed for
that island. I was at Van Diemen's Land when the vessel which
brought them arrived at Port Jackson. On my return from the
southern settlements I prepared for New Zealand. Your spades,
axes, etc., made the hearts of many rejoice; and they are now
dispersed over the country, from the North Cape to the Thames.
When I arrived at the Bay of Islands there were several chiefs
there, who had fled for safety in the late wars, but returned when
peace was restored, and took with them some of your presents. I
have just returned from New Zealand, having been absent about
twenty weeks; was shipwrecked, but no lives were lost. The natives
have made considerable advances in civilization, and I have no
doubt they will become a great nation in due time. Much has been
done already to better their situation. I believe their
agriculture has increased more than twenty-fold since they have
got hoes, but it will be many years before every man in the island
will be able to procure a hoe. The Church Missionary Society has
done much for them, and their labour has not been in vain. All
that is wanted now is faithful missionaries to labour amongst
them; it will be very difficult to find such men. There are even
very few pious men who are qualified to be missionaries; it
requires much self-denial, much patience, and much perseverance,
united with the wisdom of the serpent and the innocence of the
dove. Men, also, of education and knowledge are wanted; ignorant
men, though possessed of piety, will be found ill-qualified for a
mission in New Zealand. The natives are a wise and understanding
people, and will pry into the very secrets of every man who
resides amongst them. Their study is human nature in all its
bearings; they talk more of the heart of man than we do, and of
the evil that is lodged there. They will soon find out a man's
real character, whether he is ignorant or wise, prudent or
foolish, and will estimate the benefits which they are likely to
derive from his knowledge, his good temper, his charity, and will
esteem him or despise him accordingly. A wise and prudent man
will have great influence over them, while they would laugh at an
ignorant man. A good farmer or mechanic would be much esteemed,
because they would be benefited by him. I have gained considerable
knowledge of their customs and manners in my last visit.
Cannibalism is interwoven through the whole of their religious
system. They offer up human sacrifices as sin offerings. Whenever
the gospel shall be revealed to them they will very easily
understand the doctrine of the atonement. They demand a sacrifice
or an atonement for almost everything which they consider as an
injury. Human sacrifices are offered for the death of their
friends, whether they are slain in battle or die a natural death.
Their eating human flesh has its origin in superstition. They pay
great attention to all the ceremonies of their religion, and are
very much afraid of offending their god. As for their wars, these
will not be prevented until an object can be found that will
employ their active minds. Agriculture and commerce are the only
means that promise to remedy their civil wars; when these can be
brought into operation they will have a beneficial effect. It is
only the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, that can
subdue their hearts to the obedience of faith. I am of opinion
that civilization and Christianity will go hand in hand, if means
are used at the same time to introduce both, and one will aid and
assist the other. To bring this noble race of human beings to the
knowledge of the only true God and Jesus Christ is an attempt
worthy of the Christian world. I believe as God has stirred up the
hearts of his people to pray for them, and to open both their
hearts and their purses he will prosper the work, and raise up a
people from amongst these savages to call him blessed. In time
the voice of joy and gladness will be heard in the present abodes
of cruelty, darkness, and superstition. I consider every axe,
every hoe, every spade, in New Zealand as an instrument to prepare
the way of the Lord. They are silent but sure missionaries in the
hands of the natives of that country. I was very happy to learn
that your dear mother was still alive, and all your family were
well at present. Remember us kindly to your mother, if still
alive, and to Mrs. Terry and our other friends.
"I am, yours affectionately,
"SAMUEL MARSDEN.
"To Avison Terry, Esq."