John G. Paton, missionary to the New Hebrides, volume 2 (of 3) : $b An autobiography edited by his brotherPaton, John Gibson
Religion
John G. Paton, missionary to the New Hebrides, volume 2 (of 3) : $b An autobiography edited by his brother
Paton, John Gibson
Missionaries -- Vanuatu -- Biography; Paton, John Gibson, 1824-1907
For a time, Aniwa was left without any witness for Jesus,—the London
Missionary Society Teachers, having suffered dreadfully for lack of
food and from fever and ague, being also removed. But on a visit of a
Mission vessel, Namakei sent his orator Taia to Aneityum, to tell them
that now revenge was satisfied, the cut in the earth filled up, and a
cocoa-nut tree planted and flourishing where the blood of the Teachers
had been shed, and that no person from Aneityum would ever be injured
by Aniwans. Further, he was to plead for more Teachers, and to pledge
his Chief’s word that they would be kindly received and protected. They
knew not the Gospel, and had no desire for it; but they wanted friendly
intercourse with Aneityum, where trading vessels called, and whence
they might obtain mats, baskets, blankets, and iron tools. At length
two Aneityumese again volunteered to go, Kangaru and Nelmai, one from
each side of the Island, and were located by the Missionaries, along
with their families, on Aniwa, one with Namakei, and the other at the
south end, to lift up the Standard of a Christlike life among their
Heathen neighbours.
Taia, who went on the Mission to Aneityum, was a great speaker and
also a very cunning man. He was the old Chief’s appointed “Orator” on
all state occasions, being tall and stately in appearance, of great
bodily strength, and possessed of a winning manner. On the voyage to
Aneityum, he was constantly smoking and making things disagreeable to
all around him. Being advised not to smoke while on board, he pled
with the Missionary just to let him take a whiff now and again till
he finished the tobacco he had in his pipe, and then he would lay it
aside. But, like the widow’s meal, it lasted all the way to Aneityum,
and never appeared to get less—at which the innocent Taia expressed
much astonishment!
The two Teachers and their wives on Aniwa were little better than
slaves when we landed there, toiling in the service of their masters
and living in constant fear of being murdered. They conducted the
Worship in Aneityumese, while the Aniwans lay smoking and talking
all round till it was over. The language of Aniwa had never yet been
reduced to a written form, and consequently no book had been printed
in it. The Teachers and their wives were kept hard at work on Friday
and Saturday, cooking and preparing food for the Aniwans, who, after
the so-called Worship, feasted together and had a friendly talk. We
immediately put an end to this Sabbath feasting. That made them angry
and revengeful. They even demanded food, etc., in payment for coming to
the Worship, which we always resolutely refused. Doubtless, however,
the mighty contrast presented by the life, character, and disposition
of these godly Teachers was the sowing of the seed that bore fruit in
other days,—though as yet no single Aniwan had begun to wear clothing
out of respect to Civilization, much less been brought to know and love
the Saviour.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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