Journal of Residence in the New Hebrides, S.W. Pacific OceanBice, C. (Charles)
History
Journal of Residence in the New Hebrides, S.W. Pacific Ocean
Bice, C. (Charles)
Missions -- Vanuatu
_Wednesday, October 6th._--On board the _Southern Cross_. The tide did
not serve till nearly noon, and then the watering began. I took no part,
because I was not very well, and I had to get my things together
preparatory to going ashore. In the afternoon the Bishop and Mrs. Selwyn
went ashore for a scramble, and her enthusiasm when she came off was
quite refreshing and most charming to see and hear. The watering, too,
was finished, and I was to have gone ashore, but I stayed for another
night on board, intending to start very early the next morning. However,
I was not very well, and the Bishop kindly postponed the time of
sailing, so that the vessel did not leave till after breakfast on
_Thursday, October 7th._--Mrs. Selwyn kindly came in with the Bishop to
see the last of me, and A. P. Huqe and myself sat some time after our
farewells had been said, deliberating the stupendous undertaking of
getting to Tanrig. We were both much refreshed by our stay on board, and
quite ready for our stay on shore again. I shall certainly not want for
medical comforts and dainties, or even medicines, for the Bishop was
kindness itself in lading me with one good thing after another, until my
paraphernalia of travel have increased to the no small consternation of
my bearers. When the vessel was well away we made our start, and with
the expenditure of most of our strength, and certainly of all our
moisture, we got at length to the top of the first hill. Then it was all
plain sailing, and we got to Ruosi, where we rested and bathed. In that
refreshing water I seemed to have left all my ailments and distresses,
and I was quite another being when I started again for Tanrig. Hither we
arrived in due course, and Huqe, too, seemed quite like another being.
It is so nice getting back here again, with the cool invigorating air
and the cheery welcoming faces all so pleasant. I miss Arthur, though,
very much, and now that Patrick has gone in the ship, the place is
almost devoid of teachers, ourselves excepted. The first evening ashore
was fine, and the moon shone out brightly as we were coming from
Prayers.
_Friday, October 8th._--It rained very heavily during the night, and
this morning and all day it blew very hard, with heavy rain squalls at
intervals. I did not go out all day, and indeed, I had enough to keep me
at home. The people were away busy with their gardens, and the women at
home preparing the food for the men. I had almost interminable visits
from one and another, during the day, to see the pictures which I had
taken of the place, and which Dr. Codrington has printed and sent down
to me. They were quite charmed with them, and were much more clever in
finding out faces and details, than ever I expected they would be. The
day drew rapidly to a close, and the evening was fairly pleasant, but
somewhat cold and damp. We had a fair attendance at evening school, and
I gave them an address instead of school.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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