The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-06-12
AMONGST ISLANDS.
Of the South Seas on the Morn
ing Star.
HARRY SWINTON ON THE GILBERTS
Sketch of the Work of the
Missionaries.
Splendid Teachers With Splendid
Results-Young Students With
Musical Voices.

In this article Harry Swinton con-
tinues his narrative of the trip or the
Morning Star through the Gilbert ISL
ands.
We stayed in Butaritari until the
of December 23d. After taking
on board all the missionary stores we
left there on our way down from Ho-
nolulu, we weighed anchor at $50 a.
m. for Maxim, an island just six miles
across to the eastward of this one. The
way we had to go to get to 1T made the
distance fully 20 miles. We went out
of the lagoon on the west side, then
around the north point, and then we
steered almost due east as soon as pos
sible. After getting out of the lagoon,
found the wind very light and well to
the eastward. Steamed all the way, ar
irving at Maxim station 2:1O p. m, De-
cember oath.
We lowered the boat, and while do
ing so. the teacher came off in his ca
noe with some of the school girls of the
island They were all neatly dressed,
as was the teacher. After greeting one
another, they all got into the ships
boat, with Mr. Channon, Mr.. Walkup,
Miss Wilson, the principal of the Gill
bert Islands Girls School, and the
school girls and boys. In fact, all those
who wanted to go ashore did so. /
would say here that the teacher of this
place is one of the most energetic of
all those of the group. He is a young,
but well-educated man. I am told by
Mr.. Channon he was the best scholar
he had at the school. He looks every
inch a teacher, and is fortunate
enough to be married to one of the
training school girls. I am told that
she spent a little while at Kawaiahao
Seminary. She, too, is very tidy wo-
man. and a great help to her husband.
Mr.. Channon had intended to trans
fer this young man to another island,
if such was his desire. For that reason
we brought a teacher from Butaritari,
who was helping Mr.. Mitchell. Upon
our arrival. we found that the young
man had made up his mind to remain
in his old position another year.
This is one of the islands of the Gill
bert group where it is necessary to
lay off and on. as there is no entrance
into the lagoon. BY the way, the Ia
COON of this island is the finest in all
Micronesia. 1t is cosy and we'll shell
tered More, then, the pity there is no
entrance into it. This laying-off bust
ness means more "boX-hauling than
the law allows"
We found there very neat church,
with a large membership. There is,
also a large school of boys and girls.
and to judge from the appearance and
behavior of these children, the teacher
and his wife have taken a great deal of
pains to bring them up to the stan
dard in which we found them.
Towards evening Mr.. Channon and
his party came off aboard, having COM
pleted the work ashore. After Mr..
Walkup had paid off the teachers. we
squared away for Marakei, distant
about 20 miles. going through the pass
age separating Butaritari and Maxim.
Tt might be interesting to know that
each teacher in the Gilbert group is
paid $50 a year in trade. If there is
ANYTHING left after each has picked out
what he needs. this is paid in cash.
AS we were sailing away from the
station the teacher, with his girls and
bows. commenced singing from their
canoes. Shall We Meet Again" We
could hear them even after we had got
fen a mile or two down the coast. The
music waited to us by the gentle breeze
that was blowing at the time. caused us
to think deep thoughts and made us
silent. I would say here, they are born
musicians. just as the Hawai1ans, ano
their voices are of Splendld quallty
They can read music like OLD music
ians. showing conclusively that tnelr
training in that line. at Kusaie, was
not neglected. Great credit is due Mrs
Channon for the pains she has taken III
teaching these children.
Nine O'Clock next day (25th), by OBJ
eervstion. found a strong easterly sea
had taken us off our course. conse-
ouently we had to keep off more TO the
westward. steaming SW by w TO make
Narakei. which we did at 12:45 p. m
Cot abreast of the station 1:45. or one
bor1r later When nearing the land
we could see the people hauling thell
canoes into the sea to come OF TO us
When abreast Of the mission station
we stoDped steaming and lay aDack
Some four or five canoes came along
side. There being no lagoon we mac
70 Law off and on. There is an anchor-
age near the shore but 1t IS unsate
The teacher or pastor or the Isiano
came off Did not stay on ooard ions
as we lowered one big boat ana ne
wont ashore with Mr. ChannOn. Mr.
WalEup. MISS WILSON, the SCANOi 'OS
and girls We put ashore there man
belonged to the place. He went up &c
Kusaie as sailor in the Hiram Blng-
ham" she being short handed when
she was down on her last trip.
We found there. as elsewhere, a fine
church. The people, however, are not
as far advanced as those on the last
island visited. However. taking 1t as
whole. they are doing very Well AS
we wanted to get to Apaiang before
night. did not STAY here very long
BY doing a little hustling. Mr. Chan
non and Mr.. walkup got through with