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
Yet in spite of this anxiety there was no flinching from the three
months' residence at Mota, entirely out of reach of letters. A frame
house, with planks for the floor, was prepared at Auckland to be taken
out, and a stock of wine, provisions, and medicines laid in. The Rev.
B. Y. Ashwell, a New Zealand clergyman, joined the Mission party as a
guest, with two Maori youths, one the son of a deacon; and, besides Mr.
Dudley, another pupil, Mr. Thomas Kerr, was beginning his training for
service in the Mission. Sailing on one of the last days of April, there
was a long passage to Nengone, where the party went ashore, and found
everything in trouble, the French constantly expected, and the chiefs
entreating for a missionary from the Bishop, and no possibility of
supplying them. Lifu was rendered inaccessible by foul winds.
'Much to my sorrow,' writes Mr. Patteson, 'I could not land my two
pupil-teachers, who, of course, wished to see their friends, and who
made me more desirous to give them a run on shore, by saying at once:
"Don't think of us, it is not safe to go." But I thought of what my
feelings would be if it were the Devonshire coast, somewhere about
Sidmouth, and no landing!' However, they, as well as the three
Nengonese, Wadrokala, Harper Malo, and Martin Tahia, went on
contentedly.
'Off Mai, May 19th.--Mr. Kerr has been busy taking bearings, &c., for
the purpose of improving our MS. chart, and constructing a new one.
Commodore Loring wanted me to tell him all about Port Patteson, and
asked me if I wished a man-of-war to be sent down this winter to see me,
supposing the New Zealand troubles to be all over. I gave him all the
information he wanted, told him that I did not want a vessel to come
with the idea of any protection being required, but that a man-of-war
coming with the intention of supporting the Mission, and giving help,
and not coming to treat the natives in an off-hand manner, might do
good. I did not speak coldly; but really I fear what mischief even a
few wildish fellows might do on shore among such people as those of the
Banks Islands!
'A fore-and-aft schooner in sight! Probably some trader. May be a
schooner which I heard the French had brought for missionary purposes.
What if we find a priest or two at Port Patteson! However, my course is
clear any way: work straight on.
'May 21st.--Schooner a false alarm. We had a very interesting visit on
Saturday afternoon at Mai. We could not land till 4 P.M.; walked at once
to the village, a mile and a half inland. After some excitement caused
by our appearance, the people rushing to welcome us, we got them to be
quiet, and to sit down. I stood up, and gave them a sermonette, then
made Dudley, who speaks good Mai, say something. Then we knelt down, and
I said the second Good Friday Collect, inserted a few petitions which
you can imagine anyone would do at such a time, then a simple prayer in
their language, the Lord's Prayer in English, and the Grace.'
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