Life of John Coleridge Patteson : Missionary Bishop of the Melanesian IslandsYonge, Charlotte M. (Charlotte Mary)
Religion
Life of John Coleridge Patteson : Missionary Bishop of the Melanesian Islands
Yonge, Charlotte M. (Charlotte Mary)
Missions -- Melanesia; Patteson, John Coleridge, 1827-1871
'As we were lying to, about half-way along the coast, we espied a brig
at anchor close on shore. Manned the boat and rowed about two miles to
the brig, found it was under the command of a notorious man among the
sandal-wood traders for many a dark deed of revenge and unscrupulous
retaliation upon the natives. At Nengone he shot three in cold blood who
swam off to his ship, because the people of the place were said to be
about to attempt to take his vessel. At Mallicolo but lately I fear he
killed not less than eight, though here there was some scuffling and
provocation. For the Nengone affair he was tried for his life at Sydney,
Captain Erskine and the Bishop having much to do with his prosecution.
He is now dealing fairly (apparently) with these people, and is
certainly on very friendly terms with them. The Bishop has known him
many years, and baptized some years ago his only child, a son. We are
glad to let these men see that we are about in these seas, watching
what they do; and the Bishop said, "Mr. Patteson is come from England on
purpose to look after these islands," as much as to say, Now there will
be a regular visitation of them, and outrages committed on the natives
will probably be discovered.
'Well, on we rowed, half a mile to shore--such a lovely scene. A bend
in the coral reef made a beautiful boat harbour, and into it we rowed.
Clear as crystal was the water, bright as tropical sun at 2.30 P.M.
could make it was the foliage on the shore. Numbers of children and boys
were playing in the water or running about on the rocks and sands, and
there were several men about, all of course naked, and as they lead
an amphibious life they find it very convenient. They work little;
breadfruit trees, cocoa-nut trees, and bananas grow naturally, and the
yam and taro cultivations are weeded and tended by the women. They have
nothing to do but eat, drink, and sleep, and lie on the warm coral rock,
and bathe in the surf.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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