Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-04-13

| anchored I'M the harbur OF fapcelt'
The following detailed account OF the
| first introduction of the iulness of the
| GOSPEL on the island of TuDuai is
| cull8d principally from The private jour
| nal of Elder Addison Pratt.
Aprn 80. 1874, at o'clock in the morn
| ing. on board the rimOieOn Elder
| Pratt heard the cry OF Land ahoy' he
forthwith went on deck and obtained
| "a plain view Of the island OF Tubuai,
Soon afterwards he impaired the good
news To- his missionary companions. El-
ers Grouard ana Rogers who slept be-
lnW. Early in the morning the shlp ran
| down along the coral reef which sur
rounded the ISLAND, and when it came
10 an opening In the reef, leading into
the smooth water inside a canoe was
seen coming out 20 meet The snip, which
now tackled its main top SAIL and lay
20. As the canoe was approaching Elder
Pratt observed, 10y looking through his
Spy glass, that the natives manning the
little craft were precisely like those he
had been familiar with on the sand
WIch Islands. His heart leaped for 10y
for they looked like old acquainlances
When they came alongside the ship
their canoe dropped under the lee1main
chains. Elder Pratt jumped onto the
rail and greeted one OF the natives Who
was Just mounting the chain plate Win
the word aloha The native grasped
Elder Pratts extended hand with great
warmth, and shook it with a cordially
pecnllar 70 the race. Elder Pratt called
out haere mai or (come here yUu).
The native understood him and irnme-
dlately Jumped on board, In the broken
conversation which ensued II was as-
cartained that there was plenty Of pro-
visions TO be obtained on the island.
and Captain Plaskett thereup0n or
dered two boats lowered preparatory to
going on shore Elder Rogers was the
only one Of the missionaries who ac-
companied the party who landed that
day, The native canoe piloted the way
for the boat through an opening in the
reef and they reached the island in
safety. The party remained on shore
during the night
May LIST. The boats returned to the
ship loaded with hogs, hens. cocoanuts.
pine apples, pantans, bananas. vans
tora, bread fruit, etc. CAS- we had been
shut up on ship board for seven
months writes Elder Pratt. 1T Is not
easy 10 describe the sensation the sight
of such Injuries produced upon US, The
captain, who had remained on the ISL
and. sent word that all the passengers
might so on shore If they desired to do
so. We were not long getting ready for
the boat When we came to the reef,
we had TO watch our chance to dodge
through the passage, as the surf was
rolling over the reef In great commo-
ton. The scenery around us was grand
indeed. The clearness Of the water was
extreme, IL afforded beautiful view
Of the bottom even when It was very
Deep Among the great variety OF curt
Gus coral formations we could see large
numbers OF beautifully coIored fish
sporting at leisure, and also a variety
of handsome sea shells. After passing
the reef we found ourselves in smooth
water, and now rowed at leisure to the
landing place near the village meeting
house, which was the only building we
could see from the ship, for the native
village stands in thcket of cocoanuts
ANA other beautiful trees. The inhabi-
tants came down 10 bid us welcome;
we went to their houses. and they
treated us with great hospitality
Brother Grouard and were introduced
as missionaries and the people We're
very glad to see us. As /. with my linn
tied knowledge of the Hawaiian Ian
guGge, could make myself understood a
little. they soon began to urge me TO
stay with them instead Of all three Of
us going to Tahiti. But could not rec
onclle myself to the idea Of being left
here alone by my companions. Still !
was unable to satisfy the two native
missionaries TIN | promised that /
gaen Tahiti We gtaid with them over
night. The head of the family, with
whom we lodged. was one of the Prot
estant native missionaries. lie asked
a blessing at meals; and before retir-
ing 90 bed he read a chapter from his
native Bible then the whole household
sang a hymn and he offered a prayer
during which we knelt with them. His
meek and humble appearance, the sol
emn tone Of his voice and the reveren.
tlal awe In which he and his family
presented themselves before Deity. i'm
pressed upon my mind such feelings of
devotion that / cannot express"
MAY 2ud. In the morning the Elders
attended church with the natives, and
were again very favorably impressed
with the solemnity which prevailed
and also with the melodious singing
After meeting the brethren took a walk
along the beautiful beach, and about
noon when they were getting ready TO
return TO the shin. some natives ar
rived from the other side of the island
and told the CAPTAIN that provisions
were more plentiful and cheaper there
than where he had landed, he con-
chded 10 20 and see. and the Elders
accented his invitation TO accompany
him Consequently. after eating some
food for dinner the party walked across
the island. The first mart OF their way
led through taro patches and then
through a delightful valley lying be.
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