The Pacific commercial advertiser., 1897-07-10


squall did not last very long and when
it was over, we made all sail again,
arriving in Tarawa same day at 4:10
p. M, distance of twenty miles or so.
Anchored abreast of the inlet where
the English Commissioner is located.
The Captain, Mr.. Channon, Mr.. Walk
up and Mr.. de la Potte went ashore in
the little boat to pay their respects to
the Commissioner. Here the captain
and few others on board got letters
from home They had been left there
with the commissioner by a steamer.
The steamer referred to runs through
this group and the Marshall Islands
from Sydney regularly every three
months.
Lay there all night. Next morning
about 9 o'clock got under way for the
mission station on the other side of
the lagoon We had on this island two
stations, some seven or eight miles
apart; one of the teachers boarded us
while we were at an anchor off the
British Commissioners station.
Came to an anchor 11:30 that same
morning, abreast the mission station.
We were not anchored long before the
other teacher came on board. Several
canoes also came alongside.
They do not bring much trade with
them, as they have not much to barter
away After dinner the usual crowd
went ashore for their meeting with the
shore people Mr.. Walkup stopped on
board to settle with the teacher who
belongs to the other station; also, to
take account of stock he had on hand
for the balance of the teachers in the
group. At 5 p. M. Mr.. Channon and
I,n ch in
Stopped there all that night. They
have there, as elsewhere, a nice church,
and by all accounts, they find it in
fiourishing condition. AS far as civil
lization is concerned, however, they
are behind the Marshall Islanders. All
through our trip there did not see one
wearing the garment they used to
wear % years ago. They were all nice
" clad in European costume. Outside
of the church people, they still adhere
to their old "paus."
Next day at 11:30 a. M, weighed
anchor and steamed out Of the lagoon.
Maiana was the next place to visit.
Found after rounding the southwest
end of Tawaia, wind favorable for our
next island, some so mile away to the
southeast Stopped steaming and made
all sail Daylight next morning, 30 OF
December, raised land II miles Off,
bearing south-southeast by compass.
Came up to the anchorage, $3.50 a. M,
and dropped anchor. There is lagoon
to this island, but the water in the
passage is too shallow for vessel like
the Morning Star to enter Small yes
sells. such as the Hiram Bingham, or
any vessel of her size, can go in. We
had to anchor outside the-~Feef@an
open roadstead-a safe anchorage on
the west side Of the island, when the
trade wind is blowing. If the wind
shifts around to the westward, it is not
very safe place to lay to an anchor.
An hour after anchoring, Mr.. Mahihi-
la. the Hawaiian Missionary located
here. came on board One of the school
girls, chiefess of this island, and
her husband a school boy, both be-
longing to the training school at Ku-
safe, were given permission to go
ashore to see their folks. Lowered
small boat and took them ashore.
One drawback about this anchorage
is it's great distance from the mission
station. Looking at the Star from Mr..
Mahihila's house, she was hull down,
which meant a good deal of "elbow
grease for the boats crew.
When the boat went ashore with
freight for Mr.. Mahihila it was low
tide. She could not go over the reef,
and consequently, she had to go some
distance to windward before she could
get into the lagoon. It took her very
nearly three hours to reach the station,
being stuck in the boat passage for
more than half an hour or so. Mr..
Walkup was the only one who went
ashore there. Mr.. Channon did not
deem it necessary to go ashore, as the
teacher and those he wanted to see
had already come on board.
Mr. Mahihila told me on board that
the work was not so far advanced as
he would liked to have seen it. He and
his Gilbert Island helper were doing
all they could, but, according to him,
the natives are, as whole, a hard
crowd to deal with. This is more es-
pecially true of those who are living
in the neighborhood where the Roman
Catholics are located. The methods
these people have of dealing with the
natives, are more to their liking. 1ney
are not as strict as our people are,
consequently, it suits them better.
Nevertheless, Mahihila tells me they
are still holding their own. The old
members of his church are true to their
VOWS In regard to new members, in
1896 he had only a few to add. Be
sides, his Gilbert Island helpers, he
has also one Hawaiian native, who
helps him. He was formerly second
mate of the Morning Star with Captain
Garland. Hahihila says he is good
help in the work.
We stopped here all that day and
night, and a good part of the day fol-
lowing At 4:30 p. M, weighed anchor
for Apamama, our next port. Wealth
cred the island before dark and kept
off east-southeast; 1880 that evening
came very near running into the
steamer which trades among the ISL
ands Of this group. She was on her
way to Butaritari from Apamama.
HARRY SWINTON.
ITO be Continued