The Express.
London, England, 1861-10-02 00:00:00

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LaNIX)N, WEDNZSDAY, um 1

TO OUR READERS

lIPOGTING INTELLIGENCE.

A !ate e.l.teis .4 the Express et published every
seems.: durna4 tIW reelsw season, contaibiug the
results ul the face.

Tilt. sunup Island of &amanita has for years
past been tragically distinguished amongst the
I•olynesian 4roup as the theatre of one of the most
savage atrocities in the historyof Modern Missions.
About twenty years ar, as many of our readers will
remember, 31r. who had successfully
devoted his life to the work of Christian inatnic-
tion and charitable effort amongst the fierce and
heathen populati••n of theseislands, was barbarously
munlered in cohl blood, together with bin c pa-
Ilion in miiiiimiary lalvour, Mr. If APULIA. During
the last few months this murderous scene has been
re-enacted on about the same spot, in the massacre
of Mr. and Mrs. Goeotec, a missionary and his
wife, who had been living on the island, and
labouring amongst the natives for the last five
years. Thu cause of the murderous attack was, how-
ever, it appears, a holly different in the two cases.
WILLIAMS was not murdered because he was a
Miasionary, the inhabitants being ignorant of his
character, but simply because he was a
white man. It was an act of blind revenge on the
part of the natives for outrages against their fellow
countrymen committed by white men who had
previously touched upon the island. Mr. t hIRISIN
WWI murdered because he was a Missionary, and in
that capacity presumed by the natives to command
supernatural powers which ho had exerted against
them. This fanatical feeling, and its tragical
result, throw so instructive a light on the native
character, as well as on the way of dealing with it
for purposes of religious instruction, that the case,
on this ground alone, well merits special atten-
tion.

The massacre was perpetrated on the 20th of
May last, and the main circumstances connected
with it may soon be told. Mr. and Mrs. GORDON,
as it appears, are the first missionaries who have
resided on the Island of Eramanga since the mar-
tyrdom of Wru.r•irt and HARRIS. They went
there in 1857, and have remained there ever
since, labouring for the temporal and spiritual
benefit of the natives, and it would seem with a cer-
tain measure of success. A small chapel had been
built, and K ACIAV, tho murderer of WILLIAMS,
WWI one of the few natives who showed • friendly
feeling towards the now settlers and received reli-
gious instruction. The natives Si a body were,
however, still hostile and suspicious, and a few
months before the massacre these feelings had
been roused to savage intensity by the breaking
out of the measles amongst them in a violent form.
The infection, carried by trading veletas from
Sydney and New Caledonia, spread with alarming
rapidity, and—as might naturally be expected
amongst • savage population—with the most fatal
results. As the distemper had previously been
unknown amongst the natives, they attributed its
presence to the foreigners, mid denounced it as
the " white msn's curse." Hut while popular
feeling in the island was thus raised against
white men in general, there were special circum-
stances which directed it against the missionaries
in particular. Mr. Goitteis hail at this very time
more than once solemnly warned the people
against impending judgments if they continued
their idolatrous practices. This is sufficiently
shown by the following extract from his diary
refeniii4 to the prevalence of the disease :—" It
" was preceded by nearly • universal opposition
" to the Gospel, and much murder and idolatry.
" I felt sure that Gun would visit them in
" judgment, and warmed them most solemnly but
" a few days before they were attacked."
From the disesae following close on these warnings,
the natives, we are told by • correspondent on
the spot. believed that the Missionary had prayed
to his Goo fur it ; had, in fact, invoked the
" white inie.'s curse " on their heads, and that it
had been sent in answer to his prayers. This
belief readily gained acceptance amongst the
natives, because it perfectly harmonized with the
notions of witchcraft and evil influence which pre-
vail unreservedly amongst them. Mr. (!cram
knew, indeed, that his life was in danger from
this very cause. In recording in his diary a danger
from which he had kist escaped he says :—" It is
" almost impassible for a minister to fall into
" greater perils than amongst such • people, for
" their belief in witchcraft is universal, and they
" seem to look upon me as their destroyer." Still,
however, he did not desist from his warnings
and denunciations. About • fortnight before his
death, we are told, he preached at Bunk-
hill, and sharply rebuked his hearers for
their idolatry and wickedness. This roused the
excited feeling of the tribe to • pitch of vindictive
hostility, and they resolved on his death. How
this resolve was carried out will be seen from the
account of the massacre given by the only
Englishman on the island at the time :
From the amounts which I Ism pthered from the
attar. ithe writer Rem) yen may nil, sa the correctness of
the following deeriptiee of the anuessus attack. About
soon of the 20th a party of nine natives,
of whoa the chief, Lova, was the leader, called at the
inquired for Mr. Gerdes. They were
Wormed Chet he was working • little farther dowc the
bin, at • home which he was building as • winter reed-
&ace. 71,y went towards the place, but in passing
throegli a grove seer the house eight of the moo cociemded
themselves, while the Math, wised Neru-bu.leet, went