The Polynesian., 1841-09-18

IN the evening. he ceased to speak. | adj
m'n'stered ohm, and applied to him the
INDULGENCE ola good death [l'indugence
de la bonne mort lie seemed 20 un-
derstand the words which from time TO
time addressed to him. His hands were
joined, his yisage calm aud serene his
lips were repeating doublces. some OF!
those prayers which he had so often sun-
gested to the dying. | began to rccire
over him the prayers for the diving. and
two hours after midnight received his
last sigh. We were then in the midst Of
the ocean, and | greatly feared that he
would be cast toihe mercy Of the waves :;
but he was spared, and eight days after
wards. that is, on the 18th of December.
1887, we arrived at Ascension. The
next day | Inferred the first apostle of
Oceanica, in little island of the Ascen-
sion group, called Naho. Two unbap-
tised Sandwich Islanders and two Tahi-
tians carried the corpse. the grave was
dug by natives and was the only one to
pray for him n engaged the king, or
chief, of that settlement to build me a
cabin near the tomb wkere had placed
the mortal remains of the friend who was
so dear to me. He commenced the work,
and in a few days | was able to take pos
session of it. On ST. NoeI's day, had
the happiness of saying mass in land
where that holy sacrifice had never before
been offered.
AS there is no relation between the Ian
guage Of Gambler and that of Ascension,
it was long time before | could under
stand those who came to see me in my
solitude. Yet, by attention and study,
became able to guess out part of what
they said to me, and to s,ammer some
words before them. | have spoken to
them of the creation of the world, the
unity Of God, the Immortality of the soul,
the punishments and rewards of the life
to come, the fall Of man, and the incarna-
ton. How much good may be done in
that island Doubtless, the cross will not
be planted there without suffering for
the islanders are strongly attached TO their
superslitIons, and very corrupt, but they
have not yet abused grace The king
has always been fall of goodness TO me {;
the queen has shown me the same kind
ness they supplied me with food for sew
en- months. regret that have not time
to furnish you with other details. II is
near midnight, and the vessel sails tomor-
row morning can only say that have
built little funeral chapel over the grave
of M. Bachclot. Jul y 20, 1898; | left
Ascension, and on the 10Th of November
arrived at Gambler, where every thing
continues to 60 on according to our wish
es."
After so many affecting details concern
ing christianity at the Sandwich Islands,
N an Alexis BacheIot was aged Al years;
born at St Cyr, near Beiesme, (Orne) Feb
ruary % 1896, he was named apostolic pre-
feet of the Sandwich Islands IN 325, and
left for Oceanica about the close of 1896
Here is the eulogy which my my lord of Nj
lopolis pronounccs upon him, in letter in
: which he teelingly deplorcs his death. "Ihe
mission in Oceanica has lost much in the
death of its founder His application to his
missionary duties, his zeal for the service of
God, made him man truly apostolic; the
lntrepidity with which he always faced dan
gers when laborng for the salvation OF souls,