CHAPTER XVII.

THE NEW HEBRIDES.

Early discoverers-Futuna-Teachers massacred-Failure of the mission-Aneiteum-Missionary troubles-Tanna and the Tannese Teachers landed by Mr Williams-Arrival of European missionaries-Their ill-treatment and flight.

WESTWARD of the Fijian Archipelago lies the large cluster of singularly picturesque and productive islands designated by Cook the New Hebrides. The principal and most northerly island, Espiritu Santo, was discovered by the Spanish navigator Quiros in 1606, who seems to have been at a loss for words to convey an adequate idea of its exceeding loveliness. He was under the impression, however, that it formed part of the great southern continent, the existence of which was at that time an essential article of geographical faith, and this notion was commonly accepted until De Bougainville visited the group in 1768, and learned its true character. The southern islands somehow escaped his notice, and were first seen by Cook in 1774. They are all of volcanic origin, and about thirty of the entire number are partially inhabited, the population being estimated at 150,000. The principal islands, beginning from the N.N.W., and extending over 400 miles to the S.S.E., are Espiritu Santo, Malicolo, Bartholomew's Island, Lepers' Island, Aurora, Pentecost or Whitsuntide, Ambrym or Chinambrym, Apee, the two Paum Islands, Pyramid,

Monument, Two Hills, the five Shepherd's Isles, Three Hills, Montague, Hinchinbrook, Vaté or Sandwich Island, Erromanga, Niua, Tanna, Futuna, and Aneiteum.

A report having gone abroad that the natives of the New Hebrides surpassed all their neighbours in ferocity and deceit, trading-vessels gave them a wide berth, and whatever intercourse took place between them and Europeans was extremely limited, and marked on both sides with a distrust fatal to commercial relations. Nor was it until 1839 that any attempt was made to introduce among them the civilising influences of Christianity. In that year the Rev. John Williams, one of the most devoted and zealous missionaries who have ever laboured among the heathen, landed three Samoan teachers on the island of Tanna, to prepare the way for European missionaries. It was the last public act of that faithful soldier of the Cross; for on the next day but one, the 20th November, he received the crown of martyrdom on the shore of Erromanga. It may be more convenient, however, to follow Mr A. W. Murray's example, and commence with Futuna, the most easterly member of the group.

This little island is described as a square table-shaped mountain, rising abruptly out of the sea to the height of 3000 feet. It measures about fifteen miles in circumference, and contains not quite one thousand inhabitants, who dwell in the narrow ravines. The natives, though speaking a dialect closely allied to that of the Eastern Polynesians, are identified by features and manners with the Western. They are a manly and vigorous race, but cruel, fierce, and intractable. Mr Williams, indeed, succeeded in mollifying them with a few trifling presents while on his way to Tanna, and so far facilitated the work

of his successors. Mr Murray had thus little difficulty, in 1841, in landing two Samoan teachers, Apela and Samuela, or in obtaining from the chiefs assurances of protection. For a time, indeed, things went on smoothly and pleasantly, until a fatal epidemic broke out, which was ascribed to their machinations.

One day, while Samuela was at work in his plantation, he suddenly found himself surrounded by infuriated savages, who hurled their spears at him, and transfixed his thighs and chest. They then surprised Apela and Samuela's little girl while returning home from the plantation, and killed them on the spot. On arriving at the teachers' house, the leader of the band offered Samuela's widow her life if she would live with him; but, on her steadfast refusal, he beat her brains out with his club. She and her dead husband were afterwards cooked and eaten, but the bodies of Apela and the little girl were cast into the sea. The final act of the murderers was to divide among themselves the tools, implements, and clothing of the ill-fated teachers, crowning the dismal tragedy by setting fire to their house. This happened in 1843, but it was only in 1845 that the sad fate of their fellow-workers became known to the missionaries. In that year Messrs Turner and Murray visited Futuna to inquire into the progress that had been made, and were at first told that their friends had removed to another settlement. The hostile attitude of the natives on the beach, and behind great blocks of coral, quickly opened their eyes to the truth, and warned them not to venture within range of slings and arrows. The islanders were thereupon abandoned to their own evil devices till 1853, when two native teachers were sent thither from Aneiteum. The soil, however, still proved barren, and after four years

of incessant labour, barely half-a-dozen converts could be found amid the entire population.

In 1858 the house of one of the teachers was burned to the ground by the friends of an individual who had recently died. At the time a sick man was lying in the house, too ill to escape, and was got out with much trouble, as the avengers accused him of having caused their bereavement. A little later, the brother of a chief having died, his death was attributed to witchcraft, and three men and three women were put to death on the charge of sorcery. In the following year Messrs Turner and Inglis were gratified to learn that no further molestation had been offered to the teachers, and were themselves encouraged to land and ascend the hill, being throughout their visit civilly treated. Christianity, however, is still in abeyance.

The most southerly island of the group is named Aneiteum, with a circumference of forty miles, and a population of 3600. The mountains in the interior are not less than 3000 feet in height, but the valleys are rich and beautiful, nor is there any lack of wood and water. The people are a mixed race, and much inferior to their neighbours. The men are nearly naked, and paint their bodies. Their hair, too, is long, while the women keep theirs cut short, and are decently clothed. All the worst practices of heathenism flourished in Aneiteum, but are now, if not wholly eradicated, greatly mitigated. Wars were of constant recurrence; the bodies of the slain were greedily devoured; murder was rampant, widows were strangled, orphans destroyed, and a plurality of wives, with its attendant evils, the rule with all who could attain to that luxury. A gross superstition prevailed, inspiring

the islanders with an abject terror of natmases, or demons, who presided over the various phenomena of creation. They were likewise fond of feasting and display, and generally addicted to sensual gratification.

Two teachers from the Samoan Mission Seminary were placed here in 1841, but were slighted and neglected by the people. One of them shortly afterwards died, and the survivor encountered both annoyance and peril. He was after a time joined by the fugitives from Tanna, nineteen in number, including the children, but this large reinforcement proved an encumbrance, owing to the scarcity of food, and the mission was subsequently broken up, and the whole party removed, with the exception of two Samoans.

In describing a visit paid to this island in 1845 by Mr Murray and himself, Mr Turner mentions that the teachers were gradually introducing the custom of burying the dead, instead of casting them into the sea. With such an abundant supply of wood close at hand, it might have been better to have recommended cremation; but native teachers usually display more zeal than either knowledge or discretion.

The two Samoans were at one time in imminent danger of their lives, it having been proposed to kill them for the "weeping feast," in commemoration of the death of the local chief. The poor fellows had the presence of mind to desire their would-be murderers to go to their plantations and take whatever they pleased. Their good-nature seems to have shamed their enemies, who thereupon took their departure in peace. Christianity, however, made little impression upon the islanders, who had too much reason to distrust a religion exemplified in the abominable conduct of the sandalwood-cutters who