CHAPTER XII.

INTRODUCTION OF THE GOSPEL INTO THE AUSTRAL ISLANDS.

Epidemic at Rurutu-Voyage of Auura-His return to Rurutu with Raiatean Teachers-Their reception-Gods delivered up to the Teachers-Improvement of the People-Shrewdness of the Teachers-Native Missionaries sent to Rimatara-Their success-Reception of the Gospel at other Islands.

WHEN this group was discovered, its inhabitants, like those of the other South Sea Islands, were in a state of barbarism. In this condition they continued till the year 1821, when the Gospel was introduced under circumstances somewhat remarkable. In the latter part of the preceding year, Rurutu was visited by an epidemic which proved exceedingly fatal. As the natives considered this calamity as an evidence of the anger of their gods, they resorted to every means which they supposed would pacify them. Day after day prayers were offered, and gifts presented; but the scourge still continued its ravages. Threatened with destruction, Auura, a young and enterprising chief, formed the project of flying from the evil spirit, and seeking safety in some less devoted island.

He communicated his design to some friends, who, thinking with himself that to remain would be inevitable death, and that they could but die at sea, deter. mined to accompany him. All things having been prepared, Auura, his wife, and their companions, set sail and were soon out of sight of their native land. After a propitious voyage, they reached the island of Tubuai, about one hundred miles distant, where they experienced great hospitality and kindness from the natives, and remained with them some time. At length, hoping that the plague was stayed, they concluded to return to their own island. On their voyage a storm drove them out of their course, and for three weeks they were drifted about at the mercy of the waves. Many of the crew died, and all suffered much from want of food and water. The storm at length abated and hope dawned upon the voyagers, as they discovered the high land of Huahine. Unable to trim their sails or steer their canoe, they were carried past the island within a few miles of the coast. Borne onward by the current, they successively passed the islands of Raiatea, Tahaa, and Borabora. Happily, however, another little island remained in sight. It was Maurua, the most westerly of the Society Islands. Hither they were driven, their canoe struck on the reef, and their progress was stayed. Had they not reached this island, they must have perished. The hospitality of the inhabitants soon restored the strength of the voyagers, who related the dreadful calamities which had befallen their country and themselves, ascribing

them to the anger of the evil spirits. The Mauruans informed them that they formerly attributed every misfortune to the wrath of their deities, but that now they had renounced their idols and become worshippers of Jehovah, the one living and true God. Conducting the strangers to the groves once regarded as sacred, they pointed in proof of their assertions to demolished temples, prostrate altars, and broken idols. Astonished at what they saw and heard, the strangers inquired the cause of all this. The Mauruans proceeded to give them an account of the manner in which Christianity had been introduced into their island, and informed them that white men, who had taught them these things, still lived in islands whose summits were in sight. The curiosity of the strangers to see these men, who had come from a distant country, was so great, that they determined to proceed immediately to Borabora in search of them. They accordingly set sail for that island, but missing the entrance to the harbor, Auura, his wife, and one or two others were conveyed to the shore by a boat which came off for the purpose. Nothing could exceed their astonishment, as they landed on the extensive coral pier or causeway, and passed through the settlement to the dwelling of the missionary. The remainder of the party proceeded to Raiatea, where they were soon joined by Auura and his wife. Here their wonder was again excited; every thing was new and strange. The missionaries and their families, the European hats and bonnets of the natives, their neat white cot

tages, the chapel, school-house, and the various useful arts which had been introduced, all filled the strangers with surprise and admiration. On the Sabbath they were conducted to the chapel, and beheld with astonishment the assembled multitude. The songs of praise in which the people joined, and the sermon from one of the missionaries, excited the deepest interest in their minds. They were at once convinced of the superiority of the Christian religion, and desired to be instructed in the knowledge of the true God. They became pupils in the school, and soon learned to read and spell correctly. Auura was exceedingly diligent in learning, and made very rapid progress. In a little more than three months he was able to read and write well, and had committed to memory the greater part of the catechism.

Having publicly renounced their idols and professed themselves worshippers of Jehovah, the strangers became anxious to return to their own island, that they might carry to their countrymen the knowledge of the true God and of his Son Jesus Christ. No opportunity for accomplishing their wishes occurred, until a vessel bound for England touched at Raiatea. The captain, having been told their history and their wishes, readily agreed to land them on their native island. Auura and his friends were delighted with the prospect of returning to their country, but they objected to going to their "land of darkness without a light in their hand." Hastening to the missionaries, the chief earnestly requested

them to send instructers to his native land. They accordingly assembled the people and inquired who among them would go as teachers to the heathen of Rurutu. Two of the native deacons, Mahamene and Puna, came forward and said, "Here are we; send us." The night previous to their departure was spent in providing them with the necessary articles for their voyage. Every member of the church at Raiatea brought something as a testimony of his affection, one a razor, another a knife, a third a roll of native cloth, and a fourth a pair of scissors. They brought also paper, pens, ink, and a variety of useful tools, which they presented to the teachers.* The missionaries supplied them with elementary books and a few copies of the Gospel in the Tahitian language, from which their own does not essentially dif fer. Thus equipped, the Raiatean Christians embarked on the 5th of July, 1821, with Auura and his friends, and on the third day after their departure arrived at Rurutu. When the vessel had approached within a few miles of the land, Auura entered a boat and proceeded to the shore, where he was welcomed by the remnant of his countrymen. The tidings of his return soon spread through the island, and the whole population came to offer their congratulations. On the night of his arrival, Auura conveyed his own idol on board the ship in which he had returned, and

It should be remembered that these articles are of much greater value in the Islands than in America or Europe.