The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1837-12-12
MISCELLANEOUS
From N"rrattoe Of Missionary Enterprises IN the
South Sea Islands. By Rec. j. Wtuiams.
THE WAR AT RAIATEA.

From .NarratiDc Of Missionary Enterprises IN the
South Sea Islands. By Rec. j. WtIlianas.
THE WAR AT RAIATEA.
The heather party were so eXasperated al this
circumstance, that they determined to make war
upon the christians and put them all TO DEATH
For this purpose, they invited the chief of Tahaa
to come over with his army and assist them in
eflectng their object. They erected II house,
which they encircled with the trunks of cocoa,
nut and bread fruit trees, into which they re-
solved to thrust the christians, and then TO set it
| on fire, and thus burn them alive. Terrified at
these and other frightful preparations, Tamatoa
sent frequent overures of peace, but tie invaria-
BILE reply was, "There is no peace for god burn-
ers until they have felt the effects of The fire with
which they destroyed Oro." AS i last resource,
the chief sent his favorite daughter; and IA small
shower OF rain happening to descend just as she
entered the camp, priestess of Toimata, the
daughter of Orc, commenced singing the follow
l ing .,,,cr,
lis the afflicted Toimata weeping for her sire"
This reused the spirit of the people to such a
pitch, that the heathens shouted simultaneously,
| "Ihere is no peace to be made with god burn
ers, until they have felt the effects ofthe fire with
which they destroyed Oro," and determined to
make the attack on the following morning The
night was sccpless one to both parties, Cor The
heathens were employed in listening to the vo-
alterations OF their priests in teasting, in rioting
coming day; while the christians spent the hours
IN prayer, and in raising an embankment of
stones, behind which to defend themselves us
long as possible. Early the next morning the
heather party, with flying banners, the shout of
the warriors, and the sound of the numpet-shell,
bore down in an imposing attitude upon the af-
trlghteu chrlStlanS white they ,hair i,".-.'s.J
knees, were supplicating the protection of God
against the fury of their enemies, whose numbers,
whose trlghtful preparations and superstitious
lnINl
A long shoa of sand stretched from the shore of
the christian encampment; in consequence of
which the heather party were compelled TO land
at distance of half mile from the spot. Be-
fore they arrived at the place of Decentralization;
one ofthc christians formerly a noted warrior,
said TO the chief, ''allow me to select all our eff
fective men, and make an attack on the heathens,
while in the confusion of landing. panic may
seize them, and God may work a deliverence for
u.s. The proposition was agreed TO; but the
chic! himself said, "before you go, let lis unite in
prayer" Men, women, and children, then knet
down outside their stone cubankment, and the
king implored the God of jacob to cover their
heads in the day of battle, and, on concluding
thus addressed his little band of faithful follow
crs: Nov 60, and may the presence ofJesus so
with YOU" Taking a circuitous route behind
the brushwood, until he arrived opposite to the
place where the heathens were landing the COM
mander extended his little army as far as it would
reach, aud gave strict orders that no noise should
be made until they were emerging from the
bush. The arrangement proved most successful
The heathens were seized with CONSERVATION,
and after Il short resistance, threw away their
arms, and fled for their livcs fort they expected
TO have met with barbarous treatment, similar to
that which they would have inflicted had they
been the conqucrors. But perceiving that no
injury was sustained by those of their brethren
who fell into the hands of the christians, they
peeped from behind the bushes or shouted from
the trees in which they taken refuse, "Here am
l; spare my life, by Jesus, your new God" The
remainder of the day was spent by the christians
IN conducting their prisoners into the presence
of the chief, who remained for several hours up
Oh the very spot where in the morning he COM
mended his little band to the protection OF God.
A herald stood by his side, and shouted, as the
fugitiyes approached, "Welcome! welcome -
you are saved by Jesus, and the influence
OF the religion of mercy winch we have
embraced" When the chief Of Tahaa, who
led the heather, was taken, and conducted, pale
and trembling, into the presence of Tamatou, he
exclaimed, Sam / dead?" His fears however
were Immediately diss pated by his brother chief
tain, who replied, ono, brother; cease to tremble;
you are saved by Jesus" A feast was immed
ately prepared for the prisoners, when nearly a.
hundred large pigs were baked WHOLE with IL
proportionate quantity of bread fruit and other
vegetables. The heather sat down 10 eat, but
wcould swallow their TODD, being overwhelm-
ed by the astonishing events of the day. While
they thus seated, one of the party arose, and
said, "This is my little speech: Let every one be
allowed to follow his own inclination, Tor my
part, l will never again. to the day of my death,
worship the gods who could not protect US in
the hour of danger We were four times the
number of praying people, yet they have con
quered us with the greatest case. Jehovah is u
the true God Had we conquered them, they
would, at this moment, have been burning in the
house we made strong for the purpose but in
stead of injuring us, or wives, or our child
rem, they have prepared for us this sumpuous
feast. Theirs is religion of mercy. l will go
and unite myself to this people," This declara-
ton was listened to with so much delight, and
similar sentiments were so universal, that every
one of the heather party bowed their knees that
very night, for the first time, in prayer to Jeyo-