John G. Paton, missionary to the New Hebrides, volume 1 (of 3) : $b An autobiography edited by his brotherPaton, John Gibson
Religion
John G. Paton, missionary to the New Hebrides, volume 1 (of 3) : $b An autobiography edited by his brother
Paton, John Gibson
Missionaries -- Vanuatu -- Biography; Paton, John Gibson, 1824-1907
He continued then, “Missi, some years ago, Kaipai, a sacred Chief, and
certain Tannese, went on a visit to Aneityum, and Missi Geddie gave him
these books. On his return, when he showed them to the Tannese, the
people were all so afraid of them, for they thought they were the sacred
Books of Jehovah, that they met for consultation and agreed solemnly to
bury them. Yesterday, some person in digging had disinterred them, and
at once our Inland people said that our dead Chief had buried a part of
Jehovah’s Word, which made Him angry, and that He had therefore caused
the Chiefs death and the plague of measles, etc. Therefore they were now
assembled to kill the dead Chief’s son and daughter in revenge! But,
before that should be done, I persuaded them to send these books, to
inquire of you if this be part of Jehovah’s Book, and if the burying of
it caused all these diseases and deaths.”
I assured him that these books never caused either sickness or death to
any human being; and that none of us can cause sickness or death by
sorcery; that burying these Tracts did not make Jehovah angry, nor cause
evil to any creature. “You yourselves know,” I said, “the very ships
that brought the measles and caused the deaths; and you killed some of
the young men who were landed sick with the disease.”
The Inland Chief declared, “Missi, I am quite satisfied; no person shall
be put to death over these books now.”
They went off, but immediately returned, saying, “Missi, have you any
books like these to show to us? And will you show us the sacred Book of
Jehovah beside them?”
I showed them a Bible, and then a handful of Tracts with pictures like
those they had brought; and I offered them the Bible and specimens of
these Tracts, that they might show both to the people assembled. The
Tracts they received, but the Bible they refused to touch. They
satisfied the Inland people and prevented bloodshed; but oh, what a
depth of superstition to be raised out of! and how easily life might be
sacrificed at every turn!
On another occasion I had the joy of saving the lives of Sandal-wood
Traders, to whom neither I nor the Mission owed anything, except for
Christ’s sake. The _Blue Bell_ cast anchor in the Harbour on a beautiful
morning, and the Captain and Mate immediately came on shore. They had
letters for me; but, on landing, they were instantly surrounded by the
Chiefs and people, who formed a ring about them on the beach and called
for me to come. The two white men stood in the midst, with many weapons
pointed at them, and death if they dared to move. They shouted to me,—
“This is one of the Vessels which brought the measles. You and they made
the sickness, and destroyed our people. Now, if you do not leave with
this vessel, we will kill you all.”
Of course, their intention was to frighten me on board just as I was,
and leave my premises for plunder! I protested,—
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account