The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1879-04-24
MICRONEsIAN MISSIONS.

The Queer Islands Visited by the Ship
Morning SARA South Sea Paradise
Converting the Natives.
From the Boston Journal
Doubtless there are those who know not
where those islands are situated, much less
Of the missionary work that is being done
among them by the American Board of
Commissioners for Foreign Missions. The
missionary packet Morning Star sails
from the Sandwich islands on the mission
airy work among the Micronesia islands
every year, and in order to become we'll in
formed upon this subject, it may be well
to take the readers Of The Journal along
for a trip.
You will find this little ship comforta-
BILE one, fine sailer, and having the best
Of accommodations for quite number Of
passengers.
We will sail from Honolulu in June,
and the sailing of this vessel from tina:
place is quite an interesting event. Re
ligious services are held, aud great num-
bers of the people Of Honolulu who are in
terested in the missionary work come on
board to see US of, and to say farewell to
the missionaries that are returning 20 their
fields uf labor. At these services there is
seldom less than Eve hundred people, who
stand upon the wharf to watch the little
vessel as she sails out of the harbor on her
way to visit heather Islands, and TO take
to them missionaries and teachers. There
10 precious freight on board, for We have
the only provisions that the worthy labor
ers in this field can procure from one year
TO another. We have also hundreds Of
little packages, sent to them by their
friends in Honolulu and the United States.
There are boxes Of books that have been
translated into the language of these Is
lands, and the most precious Of all Is the
huge mail bags, tina. bring them their
yearly news from friends and the world.
After sailing from Honolulu in south
west direction for about two weeks,
through the northeast trade winds, and a
distance Of about two thousand miles. we
reach the first Of the Micronesia Islands.
These consist of the Gilbert, the Marshall
the Caroline and Lsdrone groups. The
general name, Micronesia Is suggestive
Little islands. They are situated between
the equator and latitude 20 degrees north.
and between longitude AS degrees and
IT'S degrees east. Most of them are small
coral islands about eight feet above the
sea, having beautiful lsgoons. A few of
them are larger and higher, of which we
shall speak directly.
The Morning Star usually makes the
first stop at
THE GILBERT ISLANDS.
At present there are no American mis-
sionaries in this group. The Rev. Hiram
Bingham and wife, who for many years
labored successfully here, were obliged to
return to the Sandwich islands on account
of his health, but not before they had mis-
sion stations established upon most Of the
islands in this group, with Hawaiian
missionaries or native teachers over them.
The Rev. Horace Taylor and wife were for
a few years in this group, but here Mr..
Taylor lost his wife and soon returned
home. The Morning Star first sights the
Island of Septenea. 1t can be seen twelve
or fourteen miles away. The first that
presents itselfto view in approaching these
coral islands is the tops OF the cocoanut
trees with which they are covered. Upon
this island there are two mission stations,
under charge of Lapu and Nalimie. They
each have a church at different parts Of
the island. This is the most southern ISL
and, and from here we 90 north TO Cope
mama. Here there is a native teacher,
kanoaro, who has charge OF the church
and school. Leaving here we sail north
west to Maiana, where We find the church
and school under Lono. North again I'M
til we come to Marakei, where kanoho is
settled.
A few miles to the east we stop at Apai-
ang. This was the home of Mr.. Bingham
from which he visited and superintendent
the work upon some of the other islands,
going from one to another in a boat, and
often at the risk Of his lite. Leleo now
has charge there. Sarawa Is visited next,
where we find Hama. The northern isl
and in this group, and the one We visit
last, is Butaritari. There are two sta
tions here under Kanoa and Maka. At
each Of these islands the Morning Star re-
mains about two days; delivers what she
has for the different missionaries. takes
their orders for the next year, their letters.
ETC., and whatever they wish to send back.
At all the churches upon the Microneslan
islands contribution is taken up. This
is sent every year 10y the Morning Star TO
pay for their books, and to assist in the
missionary work 1t consists Of cocoanu'
cord and oil, shells, mats. etc, Their lib
eral contributions would often put u
shame the scau.y ones of church al
home.
The climate is always warm, and thu
savage natives stalk around almost naked
They live in houses made only 10 keel
them from the sun. The natives Of th'
Gilber. islands are the least civilized o
any we visit. Their food consists of co
coanuts, pandanas, bread, fruit ant
raw fish. They have beautiful teeth
which they use in rough ways, such a
tearing the green husks from the cocoa
nuts, etc. Their fishing is done at nigh
as in all the groups. As soon as 1t !
dark lights will be seen along the reefs
which attract and enable them TO see tn
fish. They tie large bundles Of sticks to
gether and light one end; and with TIN
| in one hand and net IN the other the
dip out the fish.
| After having caught enough 10 satisf
them they have their supper and smok
the remainder for the next days use
They are very badly SCARED by numerou
skirmishes. They have a drink. which ]
the sap Of the cocoanut sprout. Ate
this has stood for three days and has fe,
mented, it is an intoxicating drink. Whe
under the influence of this they are yer
auarrelsome. and often en-, one anothe
fearfully. This sap. when fresh, Is an e,
cellent substitute for yeast. II makes th
bread taste as If sweetened. Immediatel
upon the arrival of the Morning Star a
the islands she is surrounded with canoei
and the natives crowd on board with gree
coeoanuts the water Of which Is deiiciou
10 drink. mats and baskets made froI
the cocoanus husk and leaves, spean
shells, etc
Every three year. or % general NEE
ing Of all the workers Is held upon som
island Of each group. In this case III
Morning Star take- each worker from b
station 70 the appointed place for ID