We now set off with Alea and her friends through the woods to the other
side of the island. The natives kept at a respectful distance, the
children peeping at us out of the entrances to their huts or from behind
the trees, we being the first white people they had ever seen. We
reached at length the shore of a beautiful sandy bay, where in a grove
of cocoa-nuts we found Vihala busily employed in forming divisions in a
large native hut to suit our requirements. So assiduously had he and
his Christian converts worked, that it was almost ready for our
reception. The people began immediately to assemble round us, expecting
that the missionary would address them, as Vihala had been accustomed to
do, but he told them that we were weary from our long voyage and needed
rest, as indeed we did. "No, no, my friend," said Mr Bent, "do not
send the people away till we have bestowed on them some portion of the
bread of life." On this, greatly fatigued though he was, the missionary
spoke to them in plain and simple, yet in tender and glowing words, of
the great love of God for a perishing world, which caused Him to send
His only Son down on earth, that all who believe in Him should not
perish, but have life everlasting. Many wept and cried out that they
were sinners, and entreated that he would talk to them again of this
matter as soon as he was able.
After an ample repast, provided by the natives, we retired to rest
without fear, for we felt that we were watched over by One who never
slumbers nor sleeps. I do not believe that I ever slept more soundly in
my life.
The next morning the people again assembled to hear the missionary
deliver his message, his glad tidings of great joy, and glad tidings
indeed they were to many of those long-benighted beings. They had never
dreamed of a God of love; their only notion of a superior power was one
which inspired them with awe and terror. I have frequently observed
that the unsophisticated minds of savages grasp the simple and glorious
truths of the gospel with an avidity and a power of comprehension which
would be surprising to those who have been accustomed week after week
and year after year to set the same truths before those to whom they are
familiar. As I heard Mr Bent and Vihala addressing the people, whose
upturned eager earnest countenances I watched, my heart glowed within
me, and I longed to be able also to spread the same glad tidings among a
race so eager to receive them. Mary Bent was not idle either, for she
had collected round her a number of young women and girls, to whom she
was telling the same truths in a way calculated to fix them on their
memories.
I deeply regretted that we could not remain on the island till some at
least had been thoroughly instructed in the doctrines of Christianity,
but it was clearly my duty to return as soon as I possibly could to my
ship. "Find out what is right and do it, independent of all other
considerations," was a maxim in which I had been instructed. Mr Bent,
although more anxious to remain for some time longer even than I was,
saw things in the same light I set to work, therefore, with my crew to
prepare our boat for sea, so as to commence our return voyage directly
the storm should cease and the sea become calm.
A week, however, elapsed before I considered that we might safely
venture to put to sea. When the natives heard that we were about to
take our departure, they entreated with tears that we would remain some
time longer. Finding that they could not prevail, they then of their
own accord begged that Vihala might be left with them. This was a sore
trial to him, for Alea had been convinced that it was her duty at once
to return to her father, and the separation was grievous to both. Still
the path of duty seemed clearly marked out for them. There was no
hesitation. Vihala felt that he could not abandon those who had been so
lately taught to know the truth, and who so much needed further
instruction. The young people consoled themselves that they might soon
again meet to be united for ever. "Fear not, dearest," said Vihala.
"Let us put our trust in God. We are doing our duty. He always
protects those who do that." Still, though they thus bravely spoke,
they were both deeply affected at parting.
A large multitude of the natives accompanied us to the beach, and
earnest prayers were offered up for our safety. Mary and her friend
were already in the boat, when there was a cry among the crowd, which
opening in the centre, several men appeared dragging by ropes what
looked like logs of wood. "Here, take these things," they shouted.
"These were once our gods--we are ashamed of them; but they will serve
to show the people of other lands that we are no longer what we were,
trusting to blocks of wood and stone, but disciples of the true God, who
made the heavens, and the earth, and all things therein. Take them--
take them with you, or cart them into the sea, so that we may never
behold them again." The boat was already fully loaded; but we could not
refuse this request, so fixing one at the stern, and another at the
bows, and some smaller idols under the seats, we, thus freighted, pulled
out through the reef and made sail for the mission station.
The wind was light, and we could scarcely expect to accomplish the
voyage within three days. As however the boat was large, we were able
to fit up a small shelter, in which Mary and Alea could sleep with
tolerable comfort while the weather was fine. The conversation of Mr
Bent I found of unspeakable advantage. He and I kept watch and watch,
though I insisted on keeping five to his three, not to run the risk of
fatiguing him overmuch. I remember, during a midnight watch, feeling
some uneasy sensations come over me with occasional shivering, but at
the time thought little of it.
The second morning dawn had just broken, when I saw in the distance an
object, which, as we neared it, proved to be a large double canoe.
Where she could have come from, and what was the character of the people
on board I could not tell, and this caused me no little anxiety. Still,
without going much out of our course, it would be difficult to avoid
them. I awoke Mr Bent, and we agreed to sail directly on, taking no
notice of them, unless the people showed a friendly disposition. In a
short time we got near enough to ascertain without doubt that she was
crowded with heathen warriors, who were indulging themselves in every
conceivable variety of violent gesticulation. We had too much reason to
believe that they would attack us. Our men loaded the firearms, but I
hoped that we might avoid having to fight for our lives. Providentially
the wind was light. Under sail the canoe could beat us hollow, but we
could pull faster than she could. I accordingly ordered the oars to be
got out, so as to avoid her if necessary. Suddenly, however, as she got
close to us down came her sail, and all the warriors prostrated
themselves on the deck, where they remained as we glided by. Had we
been alone we should have boarded them, but with Mary and Alea on board,
we felt it more prudent to avoid them.
The wind soon again springing up, on we sailed, and as long as we could
distinguish the people on the deck, they were seen still lying down as
they were when we passed. The cause of this strange behaviour did not
till then strike me, when my eye fell on the hideous idol in our bow,
and I found many months afterwards that I was right in my conjectures,
when I met with one of the men who had formed the crew of the canoe. He
and his companions were among the most ferocious of the cannibals of the
Pacific. On seeing us they had borne down upon us intending our
destruction. When, however, they saw the two hideous idols stuck up at
either end of the boat, they were impressed with the idea that some
powerful gods were on a cruise, or about to visit some new country, and
completely awestruck, they dared not examine us further. Thus were we
delivered from another great danger. It was not till we were out of
sight of the war-canoe, that Mary and Alea awaking, we told them of what
had occurred. The Indian girl trembled, as well she might, for there
was much reason to suppose that it belonged to the heathen chief to whom
she was betrothed, and that had she been discovered she would have been
carried away as a prisoner. Again a feeling of illness came over me,
for which I could not account, but I exerted myself and succeeded in
overcoming the sensation.
Our voyage continued prosperous though our progress was slow, and it was
not till the morning of the fourth day that we sighted the high land
above the missionary station. As we sailed in through an intricate
passage, under the guidance of Mr Bent, we saw people collecting on the
beach. He stood up and waved to them with his daughter resting on his
arm. A minute passed, when it was evident that he was recognised, for
there was an immediate hurrying to and fro--numbers rushing down to the
beach from all quarters, clapping and stretching out their hands, and
leaping, and dancing, with other demonstrative gesticulations; and as we
got closer we could hear them shouting forth their welcomes, and then a
song of gratitude and praise arose from the mouths of the many hundreds
collected together. The reception was truly touching and gratifying.
"Oh, how they love my father!" said Mary. Those words spoke volumes. I
did not propose allowing myself more than an hour on shore, intending to
start immediately for my ship.
Scarcely, however, had I walked ten paces than I tottered, and should
have fallen had not Mr Bent and some of the natives caught me; and I
found myself carried away to his house. My impression was that I was
dying, and Mr Bent insisting that he would not allow me to undertake
the voyage, I begged that my men would return to the ship. As the
coxswain was a steady fellow, and the wind was fair, I had no anxiety as
to their finding their way. The boat, therefore, immediately sailed,
and I was left alone at the missionary station. I have ever felt that
it was providential my illness seized me when it did, for had I
embarked, I do not believe, humanly speaking, that I should have
survived. I use the term providential, at the same time that I believe
nothing happens to us which is not subject to God's providing care. For
many days Mr Bent believed that my life hung by a thread, as the
expression is, and it was owing, as far as human means were concerned,
to his and his daughters watchful care that I recovered, and to his
knowledge of medicine.
I do not wish to trouble the reader of this narrative with more than is
seemly of my personal affairs, but I must briefly refer to what proved
the happiest event of my life. After having seen so much of Mary Bent,
I felt that no pain could be greater than that of having to part from
her, and I found also to my joy that she had given me her affection. We
at once told all to Mr Bent.
"My only regret, if I have one, David, is, that you are not a
missionary," was his reply. "I had wished Mary to have become the
helpmate of one entirely devoted to the glorious service of our Lord and
Master."
"But, sir, surely without being set aside exclusively for the work of a
missionary, I may labour not without effect in the Lord's vineyard," I
answered, promptly, for I had often read and often felt how much might
really be done by a Christian layman in the cause of Christ.
"True, true, David, and I pray God that you and many more like you may
thus labour in whatever course of life you are called," answered the
missionary. "I believe you, indeed I may say that I know you, to be (as
far as one man can judge another) a true and sincere Christian, or no
consideration would induce me to entrust my child to you. I do,
however, give her to you with confidence that you will watch over her
spiritual, as I am assured you will over her temporal welfare."
I will not repeat more that Mr Bent said to me on the occasion. The
exhortation he then uttered I have repeated often to others. Husbands
and wives, do you watch over each other's spiritual welfare? Are you
each jealously watchful over every word and action which may lead the
other into sin? With whom do you associate? In what sort of amusements
do you indulge? What sort of places do you prefer to visit? In these
matters your consciences do not accuse you. Very well. But do you pray
together, and pray aright? Do you read the Scriptures together? Are
you constantly pointing out to each other the heavenward way? Do you
more earnestly desire each other's salvation than all the wealth the
world can give, than all earthly blessings? Have you assured yourselves
that you will meet together before the great white throne clothed in the
bright robes of the Lamb? Surely those alone are truly happy and fitly
matched who can answer yes, yes, in a joyful chorus, to such questions.
It would be profitable if I could repeat many of the remarks made to me
from time to time by Mr Bent. "How sad it is that seamen are generally
so ignorant of their awful responsibilities, and of the immeasurable
amount of good they have it in their power to effect in the Christian
cause during their visits to foreign lands," he one day observed to me.
"Ay, alas! and to think of the immeasurable amount of harm they by their
too general conduct produce. Thousands and thousands of professed
Christian seamen are found every day in the year at seaports inhabited
by heathens. Into what disrepute do they too generally bring
Christianity, instead of exhibiting its beauty and excellence by the
propriety and correctness of their lives--I will not say, as I could
wish, by their purity and holiness.
"It is impossible to calculate the amount of harm nominally Christian
seamen have produced among these islands of the Pacific. There have
been bright exceptions, especially among the British ships of war
happily commanded by Christian officers; Sir Everard Home, Captain
Waldegrave, and others--names that will ever be honoured among the isles
of the Pacific. Several masters of whalers and merchantmen also have
come here and done credit to the Christian character; but the larger
number, with their crews, have done incalculable mischief to the hapless
natives, and when they have found their evil practices opposed by the
missionaries of the gospel, they have wreaked their revenge by spreading
on their return home reports intended to injure them, and to prevent the
spread of Christianity among the isles of the Pacific. God ever
protects those labouring earnestly in His cause; and although these
reports have done little harm at home, they will have to render up a
tremendous account for their own doings among the inhabitants of
Polynesia. The missionaries and their supporters only desire that those
at home should read their statements as well as the reports of their
traducers, feeling assured that every impartial judge will pronounce a
verdict in their favour. The missionaries to the Pacific desire that
their fellow-men should approve their proceedings, not for their own
sakes (for to their Master they joyfully and confidently commit their
cause), but that their so glorious cause may not suffer, and may obtain
the required support."
But to return to my narrative.