Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

fair proficients; and this must give them, hereafter, with God's blessing, access to the Heathen.

rian People, with the intention of drawing up a minute statement of their state and condition; and I hope that shortly I Preaching in Syrian Churches. may be able to effect this very desirable Some time since I commenced the im- object. We have now formed a Tract Soportant work of preaching in the Syrian ciety, and hope we shall shortly be able Churches. I was most kindly received to send through the length and breadth and attentively heard by the people. I of the land some silent but efficient mesconfess I felt that I never before acted sengers of Truth. In reference to this, so much the part of a Missionary in this we mean to solicit funds in our neighland as when I raised up my voice within bourhood. Having a Press to work, the walls of these venerable Churches. heads to translate, and a reading popuIt is my intention, with God's help, to lation, our great desideratum will be continue this practice; and, on such money. occasions, to take with me one or two of the Deacons, in order to familiarize their minds to the preaching of the Gospel. Circulation of Scriptures, and Formation of a Tract Society.

I cannot tell from personal observation; but, from what I have heard, I be lieve the Translation made and circulated by my excellent friend and brother, Bailey, is beginning to be a blessing to the people. I have been long desirous of making a tour throughout the whole Sy

New Zealand.

About nine months ago, I employed the Catanar Marcus, of whom the Committee have often heard, as General Superintendant of the College. In this, certainly, he is very useful to me. He keeps his eye steadily fixed on every thing that goes on in my absence, and reports to me accordingly. I have a great regard for him. He can, I think, enter fully into one's feelings; and this, in such a land, is no small matter. He occasionally writes for me a little English.

AUSTRALASIA MISSION.

A GENERAL View of the Proceedings of the Society in New Zealand, to gether with many interesting particulars, was given at pp. 179-186 of our Volume. We now present our Readers with some Extracts from the Journals of the Rev. William Williams and the Rev. William Yate, Extracts from the Rev. W. Williams's

Journal.

May 22, 1829-Went to Kauakaua, with Mr. Davis, for the purpose of examining some land, which we have thought of purchasing for the benefit of the Society. It did not answer our expectation, and the people are unwilling to part with that which is of better quality. We spoke to as many Natives as the time would allow, and retired to our tent. In the evening, we were much interested by an account given by a Chief, who has lately visited Tahiti. He simply confirmed the testimony given by others before, that the Natives of that Island have undergone a very great change. I asked if they never fought now? "Fight!" said he, they are all become Missionaries." The Natives, who listened to him, said they should like to go

[ocr errors]

66

there, and live at Tahiti, but that their own Island would never leave off its present customs.

[ocr errors]

May 23-Went to Waiomio, distant A Niece four miles from Kauakaua. of Christian Ranghi has lately left my her father at this place. The family house in a dying state, and is with is in a pleasing state, and have generally paid more attention to us than other Natives. The father made a striking remark to the child, when calling her to come to me. He said, This is your parent, who is come to see you, who has taken care of you so long." She has lived in our house about a-year-anda-half, and I hope has not been with us in vain: she has never been very communicative; and the most I have been able to obtain from her, relative to her Saviour, is, that she prays to Him in her heart.

[ocr errors]

May 27-Set out with my Brother on an inland expedition. We proceeded on our way about two hours, when the weather became bad; and, after being wet through, we resolved to return. The rain afterwards blowing over, we retraced our steps, and reached the Aute in the evening, just in time to put up our tent before the weather assumed

an unfavourable aspect. We took no harm, and were much refreshed for our journey in the morning.

May 28, 1829-Spoke to two parties at the Aute. The people were very civil, but for our message to them they manifest as much indifference as any Natives we know this we attribute, in part, to the frequent intercourse which this Tribe has had with the ships. We afterwards proceeded to Taiamai, and returned to our old quarters in the evening. Some of the people of the latter place have behaved very ill to us on various occasions, and we went into their neighbourhood with the expectation of meeting with some insult: but we did not fall in with the party in question; and in that district they were restrained, as they have been on many other occasions.

[ocr errors]

May 29-At the Aute we spoke to other Natives, who have had no connection with the ships, and were as attentive as those yesterday were careless. Passing through several villages in the course of the day, at each of which we spoke, we returned in the rain, and were completely drenched by the time we reached home.

June 1-Prayer-Meeting at Pyhea, which was attended by three of the Brethren from Kiddeekiddee. The greater part of three days was spent in revising Chapters iii. iv. v. of St. Matthew.

June 2-I was obliged to leave the Meeting; and go to Kiddeekiddee, to see Rewa, who had seriously injured his hand by the bursting of a gun. It was necessary to amputate three of his fingers, which I proposed to do; but the superstition of the people was so great, that every one was opposed to it: and I was also given to understand, that if I had cut his hand, a party of strange Natives, who had just arrived from the southward, would probably have been cut off by Rewa's Tribe, as a payment for his accident.

ters iii. iv. of 1 Cor. were examined, and passed. On our return, we found that a party of 70 Natives had been, during the day, to take away a large canoe, which we had bought a few days before the canoe was stolen by the party from whom we purchased it.

July 5: Sunday-We have occasional causes of difference with the Natives, in consequence of thefts committed in our Settlement. I met with a party to-day at Waitangi, which has been often troublesome; and some of the Slaves committed considerable depredation last week. It is not unworthy of remark, that the Chiefs expressed their disapprobation of the conduct of the Slaves, and treated me with civility.

July 14-Went to Kauakaua with Mr. Davis: one of the principal Chiefs has been much afflicted with bad eyes, and is strongly impressed with the idea that he is bewitched: several others are sick. I was most interested by two Natives from Waikato, just arrived, with a large party, to trade with the Bay of Islanders. I gave them an outline of our Message, of a part of which they seemed to have some idea. They said, that a woman of Waikato had been up to heaven lately, and reported it to be a very good place: there were great multitudes of people, who lived peaceably: that when they had any slight quarrel, they had rushes to fight with instead of guns, and leaves of flax instead of the stone" meris" (mayree).

July 19: Sunday-The day was wet, and I was unable to leave the Settlement. I had a cheering conversation with Pita, one of our Natives. He and his Wife have lived with Mr. Davis more than four years, and for some time past have manifested much attention to instruction. From the nature of Pita's remarks to-day, I think him a proper subject for Baptism: every question on material points he answered most properly. I particularly questioned him on the last subject from which I had spoken-that of Baptism. The Natives have a baptism for their children; but, as Pita observed, their baptism is intended to make them wicked, while ours makes them holy. Of Prayer, he said, that, after our daily Evening Service, he and his wife were in the habit of praying to Jesus Christ; and that, if at any time they neglected it, they felt very uncomfortable. I had spoken a short time previously on the words June 22, 23-Attended a Meeting for Give us this day our daily bread: the Language at Kiddeekiddee, when Chap-spiritual meaning of them he received,

June 21: Sunday-The Wicked One is now especially on the alert, to prejudice the Natives against us, in the matter of their temporal diseases. They say, that before we came to the land, few persons died before they were old; and that we have imported sickness among them, to which all ages fall victims. This was the principal subject of conversation with two parties to-day.

I believe, in his heart-that Christ was the salvation of his soul, as bread is that of the body. His wife was not present; but she is in a similar frame of mind.

July 20-22, 1829-Meeting for the Language at Pyhea, when Chapters vi. vii. viii. of St. Matthew were examined for printing.

July 26: Sunday-We received a public application from Taiwanga last night, in behalf of his children, whom he wishes to have baptized. His Letter is short, and, being much to the purpose, will not be uninteresting :

Here am I thinking of the day when my Son shall be baptized. You are Messengers from God; therefore, I wish that he should be baptized according to your ways. I have cast off my native ideas of rectitude, and my native thoughts. Here I sit thinking, and untying the rope of the Devil; and it is shaken, that it may fall off. Jesus Christ, perhaps, is near, to see my evils, and to look into the hearts of men. It is well, perhaps, that the heart should grieve in the morning, in the evening, and at night, that every sin may be blotted out.

Aug. 6-Went to see one of our neighbouring Chiefs, who has had his hand blown to pieces by the bursting of a gun. I had an opportunity of speaking to some Natives from the southward, who are on the eve of their return: they have heard a few important truths while here, which may not be without effect.

Aug. 8-The Chief whose hand is injured was removed to this Settlement, for the purpose of being attended to. The Natives are exceedingly superstitious ; but we oblige them to break through many of their practices, at these times.

Aug. 11-Went up the River Kauakaua. The people were as attentive as I ever found them; but they are still, I believe, without exception, in a state of darkness.

Aug. 14-The Chief with the wounded hand was removed from our Settlement this morning. In consequence of excessive irritation from the mangled parts —which, when I first went to see him, he would not by any means have removedlock-jaw came on, and there is now little hope of his recovery. He could not understand at all how his back and jaw could be affected by the hand, and attributed this new affection to some neglect of the "tapu" in the erection of a little house which his relations have constructed here to shelter him. Others, again, think it is owing to my applications to his hand,

after the Native Priest had exercised his priestcraft over it; and, that if it had been left entirely to me, or entirely to the Priest, it would have done well.

Aug. 16 Sunday-Spoke to a party of Natives at Waitangi. It is reported that a Slave has been shot, on account of the Chief.

Aug. 17, 18- Attended a Language Meeting at Ranghehoo, when Chap. iv. of St. John was examined, and passed for printing.

Aug. 22-After attending to the instruction of the European Children in the morning, engaged, during the rest of the day, in translating the Baptismal Service for Infants into the Native Language.

Aug. 23-It having been considered that the application made by Taiwanga in behalf of his children should be attended to, I baptized his four children, together with my own little Boy, after the Second Lesson. The names given to them were, Richard Hill, Samuel Marsden, Mary Anne Davis, and James Davis. Mr. Yate, Mr. Clark, and all at this Station, were Sponsors; the nature of this office having been previously explained to Taiwanga. The Service was very affecting, and the attention of the Natives marked; and I think this public celebration of the Rite, in their own language, will not fail, under the Divine Blessing, of making some of them thoughtful on this point. Pita observed, afterwards, that he wished to be "wakatapu," that is, consecrated by this ordinance to God, as soon as possible. In the afternoon, in addressing the Natives, I explained to them, that, by Baptism, a Believer is admitted into the visible Church, and that without it none could be considered members of the same; while,unless the outward sign was accompanied by inward grace, it would be of no avail. I endeavoured also to shew the reasons why Infants are received.

Aug. 24-Went up the River Waikari, accompanied by Mr. Yate; but found very few Natives, the body of people being absent, planting potatoes. Old Toru, the principal Chief, was lying sick. He observed, as many others have done, that he was sick because he did not attend properly to our "karakia," and asked, with apparent sincerity, what he must do.

Aug. 25, 26-Engaged in School, and translating the Catechism. This morning, a Priest of some celebrity made a commotion among our Natives. He was ex

hibiting the vocal powers of the native god "Witi;" which was nothing more than a whistling sound, which he made to proceed from his head by a trick of ventriloquism. We told him that, in England, people would make an oyster or even a dead man talk, but they were not called gods on that account. I then asked,

[ocr errors]

Why, if this is a god, does he not cure your sick people?", "The Native God," said the man, "is dead since you are come "This to the land, and can do nothing.' is something like the Oracle of Delphi ceasing to prophesy on the first promulgation of the Gospel.

Aug. 27, 28,1829-We all went to work at our Fortification behind the Settlement; which we hope to finish so far this season, as to afford us a place of retreat in case of danger. It is currently reported, as on a former occasion, that the Natives of the River Thames are thinking of paying a hostile visit to the Bay in the summer.

Sept. 6: Sunday-Last night, a party of Natives were in the Settlement, one of whom has been a cause of much

trouble to us. I expected to meet this party at Waitangi to-day, but found only one of the Chiefs. He is a quiet old man, and Chief of the Tribe. He spoke more rationally than most of the Natives, in reference to our instruction; and seems disposed to be friendly. Conversing with another party, whose faces I did not recollect, my Brother, who was with me, asked whether they had heard before of our God. A woman replied, that she had heard from me; and that I had told her father to pray for a new heart, which he had continued to do ever since.

Sept. 7-The Monthly Prayer-Meeting at Pyhea, when Messrs. Yate, Kemp, Baker, and King were present. On this and the following day we examined a Translation of the Catechism for the use of the Natives, and the 9th Chapter of Matthew.

Sept. 14-Went to Rangheehoo, to see Mrs. Shepherd, who has been ill for the past week from an attack of influenza.

Sept. 15, 16-The weather being unfavourable for our expedition, we remained at home, and examined the 5th and 6th Chapters of the First of Corinthians.

Sept. 17-Returned to Pyhea, by way of Rangheehoo; where we found Mrs. Shepherd much worse, and in very considerable danger.

Sept. 19-Went to Rangheehoo with Mrs. Williams, and remained there until the 21st. Mrs. Shepherd is still in a [RECORD, Oct. 1830.]

very precarious state, and frequently delirious: when her mind is collected, she appears to be in a pleasing frame.

On Sunday, the 20th, I went, with Mr. Shepherd, to visit some of the neighbouring Natives, who were, for the most part, busily employed about their nets. Waikato, who went to England with Shunghee, is as superstitious as any of the Natives, and would not, on any account, neglect one of his tapus. With a new net there is very much ceremony; and the whole of the sea in the immediate neighbourhood of Rangheehoo is now sacred in consequence, and no canoe allowed to pass under any pretence. Waikato would fain have prevented my boat from returning on the morrow; and I was only allowed to pass on the promise of steering as far from the net as possible. Mr. Yate's boat, from Kiddeekidee, was the same day obliged to return, without reaching Rangheehoo; and the day following, on going there to see Mrs. Shepherd in spite of their tapu, he and Mr. Kemp and the crew were treated with great violence. Waikato justifies himself, by saying that we have our sacred days, and are angry if they are violated; and that they have a right to do the same.

Sept. 24-In the evening, we had a merciful deliverance from fire. Taiwanga's house, which is very near to Mr. Davis's, caught fire, together with other Native Dwellings built of rushes, and presented a most awful spectacle. The wind was high, and blowing direct on Mr. Davis's house, which is built of the same material. Particles of fire were alighting on the house in showers; and one spark, if left, would have kindled the whole. Great exertions were used, by Natives, and Europeans who were stationed all over the roof, to beat out the fire as fast as it came down: but that the house was preserved from danger I can only attribute to the merciful interference of our Heavenly Father. It was also a providential circumstance that no strange Natives came near us. was a troublesome party not far off, who would have taken great advantage if on the spot; but they were ignorant of the event till the next day.

There

Sept. 29-Mrs. Fairburn was brought to the border of the grave, and was as speedily restored. In consequence of exertion at the fire on the 24th, she was so alarmingly ill, that I thought, for a time, she was actually dying, and felt it necessary to apprise every one in the 2 H

Settlement of what was to be expected. Her mind, in the mean time, was in a gratifying state; and it was cheering, to those who beheld her, to have the evidence which she was then enabled to manifest. It was as it were in a moment that she was brought back from the brink of eternity. Thus, in the short space of a week, mercy on mercy has been heaped upon us, and our cup has overflowed with blessings.

Oct.11,1829: Sunday-At the conclusion of our Afternoon Service, we were much disturbed by the violent conduct of Tohitapu, a Chief who has been many times mentioned from his causing trouble in the Settlement. He has for some time manifested himself friendly towards us; but, cccasionally, he exhibits his native disposition, and shews how little any outward good conduct avails until there is a change of heart. His anger was caused this afternoon by the escape of a Girl out of my house, whom he was minded to take as a wife: when he found that his prey was gone, he came before our Chapel and vociferated his intentions of burning our houses and driving us all away. In a little time his rage was spent, and he left the Settlement quietly.

Oct. 21-Accompanied my Brother up the River Waikari. The principal Chiefs were occupied with a new fishing-net, which was just completed. Though the whole neighbourhood was sacred, we were permitted to approach them, and had a very pleasant conversation.

Oct. 22-Mr. Hamlin came from Kiddeekiddee in a boat, to fetch me to see Mrs. Kemp, who was taken dangerously ill. He had occasion to pass within halfa-mile of Waitanga, where the Natives are preparing a large mackarel-net. The sea, for some distance around, is sacred; and a very troublesome Native being the person principally concerned in the net, he determined to give us some trouble, and brought his party, about 50 in number, at full speed towards our Settlement. Mr. Hamlin's crew, in the mean time, seeing what was passing on shore, pulled as if for their lives, and reached our beach just in time to put themselves in array against the assailants: a rush on the .boat immediately ensued, in hopes of finding some booty there, which, according to native custom, would have been lawfully forfeited. Not succeeding in this, an attack was made on the boat's crew, which occasioned many of us to interfere also: the result was, that Marupo,

the Chief, was upset by one of the Kiddeekiddee Natives, and his musket and cartridge-box thrown into the sea. It was not until the affray was nearly over that I learned the occasion of Mr. Hamlin's coming. Such occurrences as these would a little disturb some of our good friends in England; but we are obliged to meet with them not unfrequently. On arriving at Kiddeekiddee, I found Mrs. Kemp dangerously ill, but somewhat relieved.

Oct. 23-Went to Rangheehoo to see Mrs. King, who is also seriously ill. We were told that we should pass another sacred net in our way; and, accordingly, we went prepared to stand an assault, with a crew of twelve Natives. We were allowed to pass this time, without being pursued.

Oct. 24-Returning to Pyhea on horseback, I found our friend Marupo in a very different mood, and very ready to put me across the River Waitangi in his canoe; and I learned, afterward, that he had been smartly reprimanded by a superior Chief.

Oct. 26-Went to Kiddeekiddee to see Mrs. Kemp, who is now materially recovered.

Oct. 28-We have been threatened for some days with a hostile party from Taiamai, to obtain satisfaction for a trifling offence committed by one of our Natives: we deemed it expedient to meet them in their own territories, in a quiet manner; making our journey at the same time, a Missionary Expedition. My Brother and I set out this morning, and slept at the Aute, where we found but few Natives; and the next morning early proceeding on our way, we met the party in quest of which we were going, and settled the difference in few words. They afterwards continued in our immediate neighbourhood for some time, and received our visits among them with attention.

Nov. 3-Went with my Brother to Maunganui, the fishing-ground for Mackarel, near the south-east head of the Bay of Islands: nearly the whole of the Natives of this part are gone thither, and this is a most convenient season for visiting them. At twelve o'clock at night we reached a small island about four miles from the place, and pitched our tent for the night. The next morning, we found ourselves in the midst of parties from almost every Settlement with which we are connected, all brought together within

« AnteriorContinuar »