The Nukupa Tragedy.

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combated with all his might the degrading consequences of their ordinary intercourse with white men. In the last letter he ever wrote, he deplored the horrors of kidnapping, by which whole islands had been depopulated. Striving in vain during his lifetime to put down this atrocious. and inhuman crime, he struck a fatal blow at its continued perpetration by his death.

On the 20th September 1871, Bishop Patteson entered a boat in company with two chiefs, with the intention of landing on Nukupa Island. The inhabitants, about one hundred in number, resemble the Eastern Polynesians, and are said to be a high-spirited race, singularly attached to their homes, and were consequently incensed against the kidnappers-one of whose vessels was supposed to be off the coast. When the Bishop had crossed the reef, the islanders urged his boat's-crew to follow in his wake, but when they found that their exhortations were unheeded, they let fly a volley of arrows a yard long, with poisoned heads of human bone. Mr Aitken was wounded in the shoulder, a black teacher named Stephen received seven arrows in his chest, and another named John was touched on the head. The crew instantly pulled back to the ship, and being reinforced, returned to fetch off the Bishop.

The boat was steered by Mr Aitken, who alone was acquainted with the coast. As they approached the shore, two canoes were seen, one towing the other, and, as the boot stood in, the latter was cast off. A few more resolute strokes of the oars brought the boat alongside. There lay the dead body of the martyr-Bishop, stript of everything save the shoes, but reverently wrapped in a tapa cloth, with a palm branch laid over the wounds. Five knots were tied in the leaf to indicate that revenge had been

taken for five acts of brutality committed by white men calling themselves Christians-probably for five lives unjustly cut short. Five wounds, too, had been inflicted, two on the head, three on the body and legs. A sweet smile still wreathed the lips. On the morrow the body was committed to the deep. Multis ille bonis flebilis occidit.

Five days later, the Rev. Joseph Aitken died of tetanus, caused by the poisoned arrow, and on the following day Stephen was added to the melancholy list of innocent men sacrificed to expiate the crimes of the guilty. Their death, however, has already produced good fruits. Public opinion, shocked by this horrible outrage, has compelled the Government to take decisive action to suppress kidnapping, and no long time will now elapse before that shameful traffic shall have been utterly stamped out.

CHAPTER XX.

NEW CALEDONIA: LOYALTY ISLANDS.

New Caledonia-Missionary attempts-Perilous position of the teachers-French in possession-Isle of Pines-Fearful massacre-Nengoné or Maré-Massacres-Missionary progressArrival of Romish priests-Civil war-The French interfere— Brutal conduct of the French soldiery-Fruits of the Imperial Commission-Lifu- Pao, the Rarotongan teacher - Samoan teachers in jeopardy-Temporary retirement and subsequent

success.

"WHAT a noble island!" Mr Turner exclaimed, when he first anchored off New Caledonia. The last link in the great Pacific chain, this island extends 250 miles in length, varying from thirty-five to fifty in breadth. Through the centre rises as it were a backbone of rock, while a barrier of coral from two to twelve miles distant runs almost entirely round. The climate is said to be delightful, and remarkably favourable to the cultivation of a large variety of fine fruits and vegetables. The inhabitants somewhat resemble the Fijians, though differing in language and religion. They are mostly strong robust men, considerably above the average stature. Tatauing is unknown among them, and very few paint their persons. Their complexion is of a dark drab colour, and their hair is decidedly woolly, betraying their Papuan extraction. Their houses are said to have very much the appearance of circular hayricks, and

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are entered by extremely low doors. Captain Cook, who discovered the island in 1774, describes the people as civil but shy, and mentions their possession of large earthen jars capable of containing from six to eight gallons. Here, as throughout the South Pacific islands, women are mere drudges, and are treated as inferior beings.

Mr Williams, the "martyr of Erromanga," had intended to place native teachers in New Caledonia, and five months after his death the attempt was actually made by Mr Heath but without success. In 1841, however, two teachers took up their abode on the island, one of whom shortly afterwards died of consumption, but this vacancy was speedily filled, and for a time the prospect was not without encouragement. A chapel was built and a dwelling-house for the teachers, and schools were opened for both children and adults. This hopeful state of things soon passed away.

Though much the larger island of the two, New Caledonia was dependent on the Isle of Pines, then governed by a fierce barbarian named Mantungu. This savage sent over an axe already stained in Christian blood, and commanded that the teachers be put to death; and when he heard that his instructions had not been fulfilled, he threatened to "make food" of the whole district. From that time the lives of the teachers were in constant jeopardy. On one occasion they were surrounded by a band of armed ruffians thirsting for their blood. "Come on," cried Taunga, "kill us, we are not afraid; close our lips in death, if you please, but remember you will not thereby silence the Word of God." The would-be murderers were so astonished by the calm courageous bearing of their intended victims, that they desisted from their fell purpose, and went on their way.

At another time four men rushed into the house, seized the teachers by the arm, and stood over them with uplifted hatchets. Taunga bowed his head in silent prayer, but his companion, Noa, prayed aloud, "Father, if it be Thy will that we this day fall at the hands of the heathen, receive our souls, through Jesus Christ our Saviour." The perfect faith evinced by these poor fellows touched the hearts of the assassins and, lowering their weapons, they hurried out of the house. As no good could be done commensurate with the risk incurred by these devoted teachers, they were removed in 1845, and at present the island is in the possession of the French, who have turned it into a penal settlement, to which many hundreds of the Parisian Communists have already been transported. The Papists are here all-powerful, and do not scruple to employ forcible means for effecting the conversion of the heathen.

Rather less than thirty miles from the south-eastern extremity of New Caledonia lies a small island called by the natives Konil, but better known as the Isle of Pines, the name bestowed upon it by Captain Cook because of the great profusion of those trees. Teachers were first placed here in 1840, and by the following year heathen practices appeared to be abandoned. Mr Murray and his companion were received by Mantungu with much distinction, but he evinced in his own conduct such sickening brutality that the missionaries were glad to find themselves once more on board the good brig Camden. If the natives in passing him did not bend as lowly and reverently as he considered due to his rank, the chief struck at them furiously with his club. One of his sons also laid about him with such ferocity that the teachers interposed, and gradually soothed the two human monsters. Mantungu