The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-10-27
An Unknown Eand.

1He SanuWlcn lSlanuS collected to-
gether in three groups, the Gilbert, tile
Caroline, and the Marshall groups, con-
tain nearly 5000 inhabitants and Gov
or 4 considerable area. The islands lie
5000 miles west of. the Sandwich Is
lands, and though termed South Sea Is-
lands, are yet, with one exception, all
north of the eq uator. Few vessels have
visited Micronesia, and the history. the
traditions, the customs, even the very
existence Of the islands remain almost
unknown. One vessel alone makes
yearly trips to these coral shores, the
Morning Star, owned and equipped by
the American Board ofAEoreign. Mis-
sions, and kept for the scle purpose Of
supplying the misSi ionarieS OH tho is
lands with the nocesssLries of civilization.
Once every year this brig sails from
Honolulu, and after Drawing dangers of
which the ordinary seaman has little
idea, sailing through currents unknown
and ever changing, and among isles
whose coasts have never been explored
by white men, at last after u trip nearly
OF five months reaches the desired port
and brings to the few strong hearted
Christians their news from That home
Of which for twelve months they have
heard nothing. In command OF this
vessel for the last five years has been
Capt. Isaiah Bray u Boston boy, WHO,
although now comparatively young in
years, has by long years Of service and
by ability and uprightness won lead
Ing position among navigatols. Capt.
Bray is now ut home in Boston on a
years leave of absence, and visit to
his house found him very ready to talk
Of his work and Ills desire to enlarge
the sphere Of that work.
"Yes," he sad, "we now have mis-
siOnarics Oh almost all tho islands.
The only other white people are a few
dried cocoa meat, called cobra, to Ell-
rope, where it IS made into oil. These
traders are low class of men. 1t is
noticeable, too, that they always wait
until missionary has visited an island
anu found it safe before they vcntured
TO land there. Are the islands safe?
\ es, those where our missionary reside
are, but To the south and west of us arc
numerous little dots OF coral peopled'by
cannlbalS. The natives generally receive
the Morning Star, whose reputation has
spread I'LL through these groups, with
confidence, and never attempt any in
jury. But others are not received 80
cordially. It's their own fault, how
ever. In the Ruk lagoon one white
man did venture, and began at once III
an unprncipled way to play his games
upon the natives. He mixed himself
up in their wars-for all the tribes are
hostile To one anotler--ss,SS;;4l as a conse-
auelco was murdered. Hne natives ell
lic@d him to them by Offering pig
from a boat in the river, and the mo-
menL they got the white man in their
power tney butchercd him in the most
terrible manner"
And does your wife accompany
you to these places?" Quericd tho re-
porter.
| "Oh, yes; and you would he amused
to zee how astonisled the natives are ut
seeing white woman. L remonbur
after the Star had just arrived and was
at anchor, the natives came clambcring
up the vessels sides and perched them
selves, as they always do, on the rail, to
look about. My wife and another lady,
Mrs. Logon, came OH dock just then,
and the moment those fellows saw the
ladies', with acry of alarm they tumbled,
rolled and pitched heau first down the
side of the ship into their canoes, where
ut a safe distance they jabbered away
and stared in perfect wonder at the UNI
known DelnSS.'
| els the navigation in that vicinity
thoroughly understood by scamep, cap
tain?"
"N0, it caunot be. 1t is never safe
Tor sailing vessel there. There is no
regularity about the currents; one day
they will run ut the rate Of ~ miles in
one direction, the next day they will be
running 81 miles in the opposite direc-
ton. Furthermore, you never can de-
pond on Il breeze. What is needed is d
larger sailing vessel, with auxiliary
steam power, which can be used in case
or adverse currents or lack OF wind.
| Three hours steaming would often save
three weeks of time. | remember one
time / sighted an island only ten miles
away, but tho wind gave out, the cur
rent was adverse, and as a CONSEQUENCE
we were thirteen days in reaching that
island, and travelled, instead of lU miles
nearly sou miles"
"lIave you ever had any accldents?n
mo serious ones. TIE vessel used
before this one was lost OH tho island
shore, and mino also had Il narrow es.
cape ut the same place. Two years ago
we were left in Il dead calm three miles
from shore. The strong current took
hold OF the vessel and carried her rapid
ly in toward the breakers. We felt sure
we should be dashed 10 pieces, and gave
up everything as lost. Quickly lower
ing the boats we placed tho ladies and
as many others as possible in them,
and then the rest of us waited for the
crash. A few minutes more, we wore
almost Oh tho breakers, when shoal
water was discovered, and like q flash
our anchor chain flew out, the anchor
caught and the stern of the vessel
swung round just twenty feet from the
rocky shore, but safe from all danger.
Another time our copper plate wore
through and worms gnawed hole in
the bottom of the vessel. BY pumping
day and night we managed to reach an
island in safety, but even this could not
have been done had any other sailors
Than Hawaiian natives. Those men
are natural watermen, dive and swim
like fishes, and they, diving beneath the
vessel, managed partially to stop up the
leak. l may say, as an instance Of the
danger, that Of tie eleven vessels which
five years ago accompanied the Morn.
ing Star to that vicinity, every one has
been wrecked in those islands.?"
| a ra tha iaIa apIara ,Inrfanf bo