planting, and other laborious work, which necessity obliged us to
undertake, was likewise a principal cause of the prevalence of various
disorders and complaints of the liver, the region of the stomach
swelling, and becoming quite hard below the ribs. All who were thus
affected, died either in the island, or soon after their return to
Tranquebar. I was not seized in this manner, but, besides other
illnesses, got a quartan ague, of which I have not lost the symptoms to
this day. When I mentioned it in a letter to Dr. Betschler at
Tranquebar, he wrote in answer: "Ah, my friend, if you have got the
Nicobar ague, it will keep you company all your life, if you live to be
an hundred years old." Thus far his words have proved true, and to this
present time, after thirty years have elapsed, I perceive the remaining
symptoms regularly returning every fourth night. While I was at
Nancauwery, they were very violent, and weakened me so much, that I
often thought my life in danger. After my return to Europe, they abated
considerably; but on being appointed, to the service of the Missions in
the Danish West India islands, the heat of the climate caused them to
increase in strength, though by degrees they again became bearable, and
the fever almost imperceptible. At present the symptoms are various,
sometimes a great degree of thirst, sleepless nights, and uneasy
sensations; at other times heavy yet restless sleep, with dreams
approaching to delirium; but whatever they are, never failing to recur
every fourth night regularly. I will not venture to say, whether, if I
had staid in Europe, the use of proper means, under skilful treatment,
might not have entirely removed the complaint, but the fact, as it
exists at present, has verified Dr. Betschler's prediction.
To return to the former subject, I must add, that not one of us ever
learnt the Nicobar language so perfectly as to be able clearly to
explain the will of God concerning our salvation to the natives. But I
am of opinion that they are not the most hopeless subjects, and think
that the gospel might be preached to them with success, if the
abovementioned obstacles were removed.
LETTER VIII.
The birds-nests, which I have described in a former letter, brought a
great number, both of Malays and Chinese to our coasts, in quest of
them. These people always created much confusion and quarrelling among
our otherwise peaceable islanders, by their knavery and frequent
assassinations; and also gave the Missionaries a great deal of trouble.
In general, fifteen or sixteen, and in one year, nineteen, large prows
full of these vagabonds came to Nancauwery. After the officers and
soldiers who had accompanied the Missionaries to this island were all
dead, and it was known, that the latter would not quit their post, the
government at Tranquebur required, that always one of them should be
appointed Danish Royal Resident, and hold, as it were, the presidency
of the islands. The patent was always signed by the King. Brother
Voelcker was the first who filled that station, and was succeeded by
Brother Armedinger. He was followed by Brother Blaschke, and after his
return to Tranquebar, I was appointed. As I thought it was left to my
own option, whether I would accept of it or not, I declined it, in a
letter to the Governor of Tranquebar, conceiving it to be inconsistent
with the duties of a Missionary. However, I was obliged at length to
yield, and became Resident. I was succeeded by Brother J. Heinrich, and
Brother Soerensen was the last.
I will add an instance or two to show, how this office proved
frequently a source of much vexation to us. The Danes, when they formed
their first settlement in Kar Nicobar, an island 75 English miles in
circumference, to which they gave the name of New Denmark, had conveyed
a considerable number of cannon thither; but after the death of all the
soldiers, the carriages rotted, and I saw seventeen of these guns lying
on the ground. By one or more at a time, the Malays kept stealing them
away. It happened, however, that a Nacata, or general of the King of
Queda, as he styled himself, arrived at Nancauwery with a large prow,
and being informed by the natives, that he had no less than five of
them on board, I thought it my duty, as Resident, to protest against
this theft, and spoke to him about it. He flew into a great rage, and
began to use threatening language, pleading the orders of his king. I
answered, that his king very well knew, that as he had laid nothing
down there, he had no right to take any thing up; and that if he
persisted, I should give notice to the King of Denmark. I then left
him, but heard, that he afterwards threatened soon to prevent my
reporting his conduct; adding, that when I was dead, I should be quiet
enough. The natives also assured me, that it was his intention to kill
me, but that they would stay with me for my defence. I replied, that
though I thanked them for their kindness, yet they, as well as we, were
much too weak to withstand the diabolical influence which actuated
these murderous people; every inclination to commit that and other
crimes, being of the devil; but that our hope and trust was in God our
Saviour, who was infinitely more powerful than the devil, and could and
would protect us against all the designs of wicked men. We took that
opportunity of speaking to them again of the love of our Saviour, and
of His desire to deliver them from the power of Satan, and grant them
everlasting life. They heard us with attention and surprise, and staid
with us till late at night, when we desired them to return home, but
could hardly prevail upon them to leave us.
As soon as they were gone, having performed our usual evening
devotions, we were preparing to retire to bed; when we heard a noise
without, and immediately after, a violent knocking at the door. On
opening it, I was not a little alarmed to see a great number of Malays
surrounding the entrance. I cried silently to the Lord to protect us
against their evil designs; but though my fears were great, I assumed
an authoritative air, keeping my station in the door-way, as if
determined not to let them enter. The foremost, however, pushed in, and
now the Nacata himself came up. He treacherously held out his hand; but
on my offering him mine, he grasped it firmly, and dragged me with him
into the house. The Malays immediately filled all the chairs, and I
stood before them. I had no other hope but in the mercy of God, to whom
I sighed for help in this trying moment. Meanwhile more of them crowded
into the room, and sat down on the floor, closely watching me, armed
with their creeses or daggers. Though I preserved a firm and undaunted
appearance, I cannot describe my feelings, for I expected to be
immediately sacrificed to their fury. The Nacata addressed me by
saying, that he was come hither to ask, whose property the cannon were
to be, his or mine? I answered, "that he came to the wrong person to
make that inquiry; for I was only a servant of the King of Denmark, as
he, according to his own account, was only the servant of the King of
Queda. Neither of us, therefore, could determine who was to have the
cannon. Our respective masters, and they only, were able to settle that
point. He had told me that he had received orders to fetch them; and I
could assure him, that I had orders to protest against it: we both,
therefore, had only done our duty. All now depended upon this point,
whether my king, or his king, had any right to give orders in these
islands, and to claim the property in question." At this answer, he
became quite furious, and began to talk about the ease, with which the
Malays might murder us all. Some of them even drew their daggers, and
shewed how they were tipped with poison. They looked, indeed, more like
a host of devils, than a company of human creatures. On a sudden they
all jumped up, and seemed to rush upon me. I commended my soul to the
Lord, and called upon Him for deliverance, awaiting the issue in
silence, when, to my surprise, they quitted the room, one by one, and
left me, standing alone, in astonishment at their conduct. I shall
never forget the dreadful scene, and think of it at this moment, with
shuddering. As soon as they were all gone, and I found myself in
safety, I fell on my knees, and with tears, gave thanks to God my
Saviour, who had heard my prayers, and rescued me out of the hands of
these savages. My Brethren, who had very properly retired into the
wood, when the Malays first burst into the house, now returned, and we
wept for joy to see each other alive.
Having somewhat recovered from our fright, I went to the village, and
told our old Nicobar captain, Jan, what had happened, upon which he
sent messages to all the neighbouring villages, when in a short time,
great numbers arrived, well armed, and watched at the landing-place all
night. Had the Malays offered to return to shore, not one of them would
have escaped with his life.
In the morning, the Nacata's prow, with two others, were seen at anchor
under Tricut, many miles from hence. The people there told us
afterwards, that the Nacata had said, that the Danish Resident at
Nancauwery was a very great sorcerer, for he had tied their hands, and
they could do nothing with him. It was not I who tied their hands, but
God, who heard the cries of a poor, defenceless and trembling child,
trusting alone to His mercy and power.
I might add many other instances of the trouble and mischief occasioned
by the visits of these robbers, and which it was my business to
prevent, if possible; but will close my account, with relating only one
more, to show in what manner they treat even their own countrymen; and
also, how willing our neighbours were to defend our rights.
Having this year obtained, by foul or fair means, a pretty considerable
booty, no less than nineteen prows, full of Malays, came, the ensuing
season, into our roads, for birds-nests. I had, however, got the start
of them. As soon as the north-east wind commenced, I went to the
southern islands, where I staid a month, and not only collected a vast
quantity of nests, but purchased all those which the natives brought
for sale. The Malays, therefore, were disappointed, and got but few. We
expected that they would have been thereby discouraged, and
discontinued their visits. But we were mistaken. While I was at
_Manjoul_, a small island, east of the channel of St. George, a prow
with about sixty Malays arrived there, commanded by a Nacata, who
called himself _Sayet Ismael_, a priest of the King of Queda. He was
the most civil and well-behaved Malay I ever conversed with. I advised
him therefore to stay where he was, to make a regular agreement with
the natives about the price of the birds-nests, pay faithfully, and
keep good order among his men, so as to prevent all cause of complaint;
and assured him, that thus he would get a good cargo. He took my
advice, and procured a considerable quantity of nests, while those, who
followed him, got none.
Among the latter was a man who styled himself a Prince of Queda, and
had two Nacatas, some women, and a numerous crew on board his large
prow. He committed everywhere the grossest acts of barbarity, and in
Kar Nicobar murdered two persons, of which I was soon informed. Shortly
after, he came into our neighbourhood, and anchored under Tricut, where
he seized upon Sayet Ismael's prow. The latter, having sent his palong
to Nancauwery, with eight sacks of rice, two of nests, and other goods,
soon followed, claiming our protection. Thus, though we ourselves were
in a defenceless state, the oppressed came and sought help from us. We
suffered the priest to occupy one of our negroe-houses, where he
remained very quiet. Meanwhile the prince heard, that we had obtained a
large quantity of nests, and thought it would be no difficult matter to
plunder us likewise. For this purpose, he arrived with two large prows,
filled with some of the most ferocious of the Malay race. They entered,
occupied our house without any ceremony, and seemed to be a determined
set of banditti. I was alone in the midst of them, and cried to the
Lord to take me under his protection. While I was walking to and fro
across the room, the prince inquired, whether I had any birds-nests. I
replied in the affirmative; upon which he pretended, that he was come
to purchase them of me, and wished to see them. As I happened, during
this conversation, to step towards the door, one of our Caffre
servants, who stood near it, thought I had made a sign to him, to call
the natives to my assistance, though, in fact, I was so much agitated,
that I had not even observed him. He ran immediately into the village
Malacca, and called the people together. Meanwhile I spoke in a
decisive tone with the prince, forgot all his grand titles, and assured
him, that he should not get a single nest from me, sharply reproving
him for having murdered two men at Kar Nicobar, who were under the
protection of my sovereign. He flew into a passion, saying, that he
would soon shew me, that he had it in his power to sieze all my
birds-nests; and as to the two men, who had been stabbed at Kar
Nicobar, he was not bound to answer for that deed to me.
He had scarcely finished this insulting speech, when a party of natives
unexpectedly leaped in at the windows, with drawn sabres in their
hands. The Malays, terrified beyond measure, asked, what all this
meant. I replied: "They come to prevent your committing more murders."
In a short time, the house was surrounded by the natives, both men and
women being armed with sabres, spears, and bludgeons, their number
continually increasing. The prince and his men now began to beg, that
we would take them under our protection. At first I gave them no
answer, but continued reproving them for their base and treacherous
practices, among which I particularly noticed their plundering people
of their own nation. I asked: "Who therefore can trust to your word?
You deserve punishment at the hands of those you have so often provoked
by your injustice, and if I were now only to lift up my hand, not a man
of you would escape." Being convinced, that they were in my power, they
began to entreat me to interfere in their behalf, and the prince
offered to restore all he had taken. "How can you," said I, "restore
the lives of those you have murdered? However, you shall for once keep
your word, and restore the prow you took from Sayet Ismael, with its
whole lading." This he readily agreed to, and having called Sayet
Ismael, I made the prince repeat his promise, and asked Sayet, whether
he could trust him; which, after some words had passed between them in
their own language, he assured me he could, and they shook hands, in
token of sincerity. I now informed the prince, that his men might go
unmolested to their palongs, but that he himself should stay with me,
till Sayet Ismael's prow had been sent hither and delivered up to him.
He was exceedingly terrified at this sentence, and said, that unless he
was permitted to accompany his people, the natives would certainly kill
him. At length, Sayet Ismael himself warmly interceding for him, I
consented, that they should go away together, and went out to pacify
the natives. It was with some difficulty that I succeeded in appeasing
their indignation against these robbers, whom they now had in their
power, but when I told them that I should look upon their compliance as
a proof of their regard for me and my brethren, they were satisfied,
and made, of their own accord, a passage through their ranks, for the
Malays. Their appearance was indeed formidable, as they stood on each
side, armed with their spears and bludgeons. The Malays however were
still afraid to leave the house, till, after much entreaty, I myself
agreed to accompany them to their palongs. The prince seized my hand,
and would not let me go, till he had got into the boat.
I thought it my duty to avail myself of this opportunity to impress
these ferocious invaders of our islands, with some sense of the danger
they were in, and to teach them, that they might not always he
permitted to commit their depredations with impunity. For a time I
believe it had a good effect: but I confess, that I felt not a little
intimidated by this unpleasant visit, and much regretted the necessity
of holding the office, and doing the duty of a Resident, or agent of
government. God was my refuge, and had He not granted me presence of
mind sufficient to avoid all show of the fear I felt, we should
probably have fallen a sacrifice to the revengeful and murderous spirit
of these barbarians.
Sayet Ismael returned to us that very night, with his recovered prow
and cargo, thankful for the justice which he had obtained, and as he
offered us his services, we intrusted him with a parcel of letters to
our Brethren in Europe, which we found he had regularly forwarded, as
they all came safe to hand.
The prince had talked of nothing on the way to Tricut, but of the
wonderful power of the Missionaries, and declared, that he would
certainly never again set foot on Nancauwery.
You must, by this time, be quite tired of reading these fragments. I
hope I have succeeded in giving you some idea of our situation in the
Nicobar islands, and of the circumstances, by which our attempts to
convert the natives to Christianity were frustrated. I bless the Lord
my Saviour, for preserving me in the midst of all trouble and danger,
and if I appear to you to have endured some sufferings in body and
mind, in the East Indies, more especially by the total failure of our
endeavours to gain souls for Christ from among the heathen, in the
place to which we were sent, I call upon you now to praise the Lord
with me, for the great mercies I have since experienced, in the West
Indies, where I have beheld, with joy, the power of the word of His
cross, in the conversion of hundreds and thousands of negroes, among
whom I have had the favour to proclaim it. I still think of, and pray
for, the poor ignorant inhabitants of the East, and particularly of the
Nicobar islands, and trust, that now the time will soon come, when,
though some of Christ's servants have sowed in tears, others shall reap
with joy. May the glory of His saving name be made manifest in all the
earth, and the gospel be proclaimed in its most dark and distant parts,
by the present extended circulation of the bible, and the exertions of
His people of every denomination. With sincerest affection, I remain
ever, &c. &c.
JOHN GOTTFRIED HAENSEL.
_To the REV. C. I. LATROBE,
London._
_W. McDowall, Printer, Pemberton Row,_
_London._