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 then whispered something to his company which I did not hear; and,
though their muskets were still raised, I saw in their eyes that he had
restrained them. I therefore began gradually to move backwards, still
keeping my eyes fixed on them, till the bush hid them from my view,
whereon I turned and ran after my party, and God kept the enemy from
following. I would like to think that Sirawia only uttered the cruel
words which I heard as a blind to save his own life; for at this time he
was joined to Miaki’s party, his own people having risen against him,
and had to dissemble his friendly feelings towards me. Poor Sirawia!
Well I knew that Miaki would only use him as a tool for selfish
interests, and sacrifice him at last. All this showed how dangers grew
around our path. Still we trusted in Jehovah Jesus, and pressed on in
flight. A second hostile party encountered us, and with great difficulty
we also got away from them. Soon thereafter a friendly company crossed
our path. We learned from them that the enemies had slaughtered other
two of Manuman’s men, and burned several villages with fire. Another
party of the enemy encountered us, and were eager for our lives. But
this time Faimungo withstood them firmly, his men encircled us, and he
said, “I am not afraid now, Missi; I am feeling stronger near my own
land!”
Hurrying still onwards, we came to that village on their high ground
called Aneai, _i.e._, Heaven. The sun was oppressively hot, the path
almost unshaded, and our whole party very exhausted, especially
Faimungo, carrying his load of stolen goods. So here he sat down on the
village dancing ground for a smoke, saying,—
“Missi, I am near my own land now. We can rest with safety.”
In a few minutes, however, he started up, he and his men, in wild
excitement. Over a mountain, behind the village and above it, there came
the shoutings, and anon the tramp, tramp of a multitude making rapidly
towards us. Faimungo got up and planted his back against a tree. I stood
beside him, and the Aneityumese woman and the two men stood near me,
while his men seemed prepared to flee. At full speed a large body of the
tallest and most powerful men that I had seen on Tanna came rushing on
and filled the dancing ground. They were all armed, and flushed with
their success in war. A messenger had informed them of our escape,
probably from Miaki, and they had crossed the country to intercept us.
Faimungo was much afraid, and said,—
“Missi, go on in that path, you and your Aneityumese; and I will follow
when I have had a smoke and a talk with these men.”
I replied, “No, I will stand by your side till you go; and if I am
killed, it will be by your side. I will not leave you.”
He implored us to go on, but that I knew would be certain death. They
began urging one another to kill us, but I looked round them as calmly
as possible, saying, “My Jehovah God will punish you here and hereafter,
if you kill me or any of His servants.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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