Mr. Coates told me that the Conservative Government was in power with Lord R. Churchill as Premier, and that the English Government had sent an ultimatum to the French to withdraw their troops from the New Hebrides, or their action in sending them there would be looked upon as a breach of faith and an act of aggression. There will be troubles down here yet I fear, with all the shilly-shallying there is over the annexation of these islands. The French are evidently intending some forward step, for they have troops both in Havannah Harbour, and Port Sandwich (Mallicollo), and the Nouvelles-Hebrides Company are buying land right and left all over these islands. It would not be pleasant to find myself a prisoner in France instead of a free man in England, and I hope there may be no fear of such a criterion.
Our evening duties as usual ended with singing.
Thursday, September 9th.—Another most glorious morning, and a bright warm day. My home duties kept me here till far on in the day, when I joined a large picnic party at Ruosi. Certainly these natives take life easily, and in their own way get a good deal of enjoyment out of it. They seem utterly devoid of that care and worry which kills so many of us, and certainly follow the Scripture injunction as to taking no anxious thought. Nature affords them all they want for their bodily comfort, and I trust religion supplies the rest. It is perfectly wonderful how far more merry and light hearted they are than their heathen neighbours, and I fondly hope the secret is within, such jolly, amiable, good-natured creatures they are, and so happy and friendly and harmonious among themselves. The sportsmen to the number of twelve or fifteen went off in search of wild fowl, or any other of the feathered tribe they might come across, the cooks setting to work to get the oven alight and start the cooking. Prawns were caught in abundance, and were eaten with roasted taro, as a sort of lunch, and green cocoanuts were secured as the refreshing beverage. It was an animated and picturesque scene, and in the evening the sportsmen returned with five fowls and one owl, an odd looking object, as the result of their day’s sport. These birds were soon consigned to the oven with the other food, and were partaken of in the evening. I came away beforehand and had my dinner here. It was a most gloriously still and beautiful evening and the native songs sung by the boys coming home, sounded very pretty in the distance. There seems to have been an exuberant joyous spirit about to-day, animating everyone, and never since I have been here, have I known so hearty and bright a service as we had this evening.
After school most of the boys and younger men went to “Unduna,” a suburb of Tanrig, to a great dance, which is to be kept up till morning light. The occasion of it is the ‘nasu’ing of two gamals to-morrow, and nothing can be done without a dance. Arthur, who has neither the strength nor the inclination to go, has been keeping me company, and we have had some nice and profitable conversation. He has left me now, and in the stillness of the most glorious night, the song of the dancers breaks upon one’s ear, and makes one conscious that one is in the Melanesian Islands. Besides that one sound, nothing else is audible, and I myself am going to prepare for the quiet and rest of my humble couch.
Saturday, September 11th.—Started this morning after breakfast for Tasmate by boat, and saw a vessel heading in for the watering place. This was the Southern Cross from the islands, and before long she came to anchor and we were on board shaking hands. We were somewhat surprised to see the Bishop, but he was not well and was going for the change to Norfolk Island. None of the party on board looked very well, but they were going South and would soon feel the benefit of the colder weather. Mr. Turnbull came back with me and spent the night here. After service I held a consultation with the teachers as to Arthur’s going to Norfolk Island, and they were unanimous that he ought to go. A. P. Huqe offered to stay in his place. The vessel was much earlier than I expected her, but none too early. The news generally, very good.
There were five earthquake shocks to-day, one of which was very severe, felt equally on shore and at sea. The Captain fancied the ship was on a rock.
Monday, September 13th.—Yesterday I spent at Tanrig. Mr. Turnbull slept the night with me, and spent the whole of Sunday. We had school in the early morning and after that, breakfast. Then followed Morning Prayer with a very large congregation. In the afternoon Mr. Comins, Mr. Plant, Mr. Brittain, the Captain, Engineer, and a large number of Melanesians came up to see the village and stayed to our social meal in the evening. They were all quite charmed with the people and the place, and enjoyed very much the pleasant walk. Mr. Turnbull took his departure, and Mr. Brittain spent the night with me. The party, with the exception of Mr. Comins, were not successful on the return journey and missing the track got into the taro gardens, and floundered about in the mud in the most helpless confusion. Not finding a way out of their difficulty they tried back, and hit happily upon the right track. This little episode threw somewhat of a damper upon the visit, and the party returned rather wet and crestfallen to the ship. Mr. Comins was accused of being the cause of the misfortune, and I believe those who fared worse than he heaped their approbrium on him when they got on board. The Bishop was not well, and we were all disappointed not to see him at our head quarters. Naturally, a visit from our Bishop is looked upon as a red letter day by our people, and if he cannot come the disappointment is very apparent. Mr. Brittain and I dined together and spent a most pleasant evening. It was a most glorious evening, and the calm peace of a cloudless sunset gave place to the most brilliant moonlight. We sat outside the house talking to the people until Prayer time. The service was a very impressive one, for I got Arthur to say a few words to his people before leaving them, and the thought of going away raised a great lump in his throat, and for some moments, although generally so ready and so eloquent, he could not say a word. Several times there was a tremble in his voice and he was nigh to breaking down, and his own undisguisable emotion produced a visible effect on his congregation. He said in the course of his remarks, that to-day they had seen a great concourse of people at their village, of many colours and nationalities. But though divided by race, differing in speech, and separated in locality, they were all one people with them, because through Christ they were all united in one, owning one God and Father of all, believing one Common Saviour, knit together by one Spirit, and professing one religion. Though so many and so various we were all one in Christ. And then he went on to speak of himself and them, still carrying on the same idea, and he said that although divided in bodily presence, unseen by the bodily eye, and separated by the wide ocean, they were still one in spirit and in heart. Oceans could not separate those whom God had joined together, and whether near or far they were still all one in Christ. And then almost overcome, he said it might be God’s will that they should never again see each others’ faces, but they must look forward to the great meeting time beyond the grave, where parting would again be unknown, and those whom Christ had joined together, and made one in Himself should be one for ever with Him and behold His glory. Because they were going to be separated it was no reason that they should forget each other, but day by day they should remember each other at the Throne of Grace, until such time as they should be reunited in this world, or if not, in the world to come. I followed with a few remarks, and a very impressive service concluded with the Blessing. After the service I called the teachers together to make final arrangements for our departure to-morrow, and Patrick was quite content to take charge of the school. I am very glad that he should, and I quite feel that the extra responsibility will be good for him.
Arthur Huqe will go with me to Opa for the change, and return again with me when the ship comes back from Norfolk Island. Two Maewo lads have expressed a wish to go with us to Opa, and I am very glad of any exchange of friendship between the two islands. It will do them good to see other places, and enlarge their minds and ideas to see other people beside themselves. Moreover, being with Arthur, a native of Opa, they will not feel so lonely as if going by themselves. They are two nice boys, and I hope they will profit by the little outing.
Mr. Brittain’s enthusiasm was quite cheering, and we were very late in getting to bed, being so busy talking over our mutual work, inasmuch as our district is one, and he knows the people here so well.
This morning we were astir very early, and after Prayers and breakfast were very busy getting ready for our departure. Many hands made light work, and soon our impedimenta were shouldered by willing bearers, and we were on our way for the Kerepei. We had a most pleasant walk down, Mr. Brittain most cheery and appreciative all the way, and we were all on board very soon after the stipulated time, 10 o’clock. We had a light wind to start with, but it soon fell calm, and the engineer’s services were called into requisition. It is very hot work steaming in these latitudes, and the cabin especially gets very stuffy. We anchored at Opa between five and six o’clock, and I got my things ready for the start ashore in daylight. Mr. Brittain and Mr. Turnbull came with me, and we visited the French Trader ashore, who was said to have the latest telegrams. We were quite astonished, not only at the polite manner in which we were received, but by the neat and tastey appearance of the little man’s premises and dwelling house. He is evidently a man of considerable genius, and far more energy than most of the Traders down in these parts.