The Hawaiian gazette., 1869-01-27

NUMBER -FOUR.
Written for the Gazette.

Some may very naturally ashland some
have already asked the writer of these
sketches-"W Was it not rather Imprudent
to go so far into the interior Of a confess
edy savage and cannibal country, as was
your river voyage of fifteen or sixteen
miles, and your subsequent sojourn and in
termixing among the people for days ?"
No; and for ore very good reason, which
| will tell Just here. There had been mis-
sionaries at Rewa, some years previous to
the time of my visit, and our captain knew
that wherever there we've missionaries re-
ceived among, and who had acquired an
influence upon. a savage and uRcivilized
people, he could venture without fear of
molestation. This has since been my own
experience among the many islands of the
Pacific which have visited. Wherever
there were missionaries, one could safely
land. The pioneer missionaries at the
Fijis. belonged to the English Wesleyan
Society. They had several stations in DIFF
ferent parts of the group and were, appar-
emily. . hard-working and sincere set of
men, though their efforts did not meet
with much real success, at that time.
Since, however, and at the present time,
| am informed that the principal chief of
the Islands has nominally become con-
vert, and as consequence, the islanders
may be said to be Christianized. The
Rev. Mr.. jaeger and wife were the resi-
dent missionaries at Rewa- They did not
live in the town, but had neat and com
modious straw-thatched cottage on the
side of the river just opposite the Kings
house, hidden amidst bread-fruit trees,
bananas, sugar-cane. and all the nameless
varieties of tropical vegetation.
After Charley and l had left Phillips to
his potations-he had somehow obtained
bottle of New England rum from our
vessel-Charley suggested that we should
make call on the "Parson." THIS glad
ly acceeded to. and we were padded across
the river in one of the many canoes lying
in front of Phillips house. We were po-
litely received by the Missionary, whom
found to be Of the usual Methodist type
modest and unassuming. but evidently very
earnest in his mission. l must give Char
ley credit-rough beach-comber as he
was-to say that he took off his hat and
bowed bis head respectfully as he entered
the Parsons" house. The missionarys
wife did not make her appearance during
our visit, being unwell from fever that
sometimes attacks foreigners living on the
low. water-pervaded grounds of Rewa, but
which never, so far as l could learn, had
proved fatal Mr. Jaeger had several na-
tives sitting on the mats in the verandah.
who, on inquiry, found were some of his
pupils, each intently studying little book
"a Catechism, translation into Fijiian
of the General Assembly" Catechlsm,
under which had been brought up in my
New England home. Mr.. j. presented me
with copy, and verbally translated to me
several of the first questions and answers,
giving me an insight into the construction
of the language, which was of much use
to me afterwards in acquiring considera
bic degree of skill in speaking and writing |
it. l asked, what success he met with in
teaching and eivilizing these people? His
countenance fell for moment, as he re-
piled" but little" and then lighted up |
again. as he added, ''yet have great hopes
The time is coming. sure. During scenes
of war, carnage, and terrible cannibalism
all around US, we have been wonderfully |
preserved from harm. The King and the |
Chiefs have somehow given us their pro-
lection, and no one dares to molest us or
make US afraid"
This man, so meek and modest, and yet
SO confident of the ultimate triumph OF
the cause to which be had devoted his life,
and for which he had exiled himself aud
his companion from the comforts Of civ
ilized home to spend his days among saw
age cannibals, made an impression on my
then youthful mind, that can never be ef-
faced
The missionaries, as have observed, had |
reduced the language to writing, and had
a printing press, and among the runaway
sailors had picked up printer, whom they
kept at work whenever they could. say,
whenever they could, for he was wild,
erratic fellow, as great many printers
unfortunately are, and whenever a yes
sci arrived at the islands, the printer
would Immediately drop his work and start
of for the ship. no matter how many long
miles she was away-to get rum. While
we were laying at Rewa, be left bis print
ing at Mbiwa, in an open whaleboat, and
rowed about one hundred and fifty miles, to
see if we had any Of the ardent. We
did-for Salem merchants 10 those days.
always sent little venture" Of that kind
Il II i Il l. I