Before we got to Lobaha it began to rain heavily, and I was overtaken with a fit of ague, and had to lie shivering on the beach while the Bishop went alone to examine the school. It poured in torrents all the way home, and I was very miserable.
Thursday, November 11th.—Away early from Opa and started for Araga, distant over twenty miles from this part of Opa. There the school was examined, and we left in the evening for the South end of the island. This we reached on
Friday, November 12th, the Bishop going ashore in a strong gale of wind, and in pelting rain, to examine the school and bring off Mr. Brittain, who had been spending some days there. They were not long before both were on board, and Mr. Brittain, thank God, quite well.
When the boat was hauled up we stood out to sea, and so on our homeward journey for Norfolk Island, which we reached after a stormy but quick passage on November 18th, and found all well at home. “Praise thou the Lord Oh! my soul, and forget not all His benefits.”
Rev. A. BRITTAIN.
For the year 1886 my contribution will be concerned with the time between April 3rd and November 18th. On the former date the Southern Cross left Norfolk Island on the first trip of the year, and on the latter we reached it again at the end of our voyaging season. I had never before left for the islands on the first voyage, but our plans gave me a longer stay than usual. My own island, Araga, was to take up the usual time, but I was to make a stay also in the Bank’s Islands, which would be out of the ordinary course. As it turned out, however, the arrangements were of necessity altered, and no stay was made in the Bank’s Islands.
The Southern Cross left Norfolk Island with a wind very strong, but altogether fair. None of the regular Araga boys were on board, as they were to return home on the second voyage, according to our plan. One lad, however, we had with us, whose presence in the Southern Cross was quite out of the ordinary course. The explanation concerning him will show something of the individual efforts made in various places to give some sort of instruction to those who are taken from our islands to work on the plantations and elsewhere. On the whole they are simply neglected, with the result that they return home having learnt almost all the vices, and none whatever of the virtues, of the white man. Personal interest has in some cases induced thought and work for their benefit. In Sydney was one instance of this. The visit of a young lady to Norfolk Island on the occasion of the Consecration of the Memorial Chapel increased her interest in the Mission, and on her return to Sydney she sought some kindred work. A class was established for natives from the islands engaged in different kinds of work in the city, and it has proved most successful. Several of the lads are from our own islands, and as it has happened that the Bishop has been in Sydney at convenient times, he has twice held Baptisms of members of the Class. One of these Baptized lads made a request that he might be taken home in the Southern Cross. His home was Araga, and he came to Norfolk Island in readiness for the first voyage of the Southern Cross. It was apparently five or six years since he had been taken away in a labour vessel to Noumea, whence he had found it possible to make a move to Sydney. And this was the end of his life in foreign countries—he was returning home a Christian, with, in some respects, a surprising knowledge, with a perfectly good character from all who knew him, and with a great desire to do something for the benefit of his fellow-countrymen. All that had hitherto been done in Araga is in the northern part of the island, the remainder of the island being partially known only, while the extreme southern end was quite unknown and inaccessible. The lad, Thomas Rorsal, gave us to understand that his village was right in the south, close to the neighbouring island of Ambrym, and we had then the prospect of breaking into new parts.
On April 8th, that is on the fifth day from Norfolk Island, we were in the passage between Araga and Ambrym. A boat was lowered, Tom’s belongings placed in it, and we pulled in shore to find his village, which he could not distinguish from the vessel. A clump of cocoa-nuts was recognised by him, and at last we pulled into a good sandy beach with very good landing, where a crowd had already collected for our reception. Their returning brother was at once recognised, and his goods shouldered with great readiness. The Bishop’s bad foot forbade his leaving the boat, but I landed and went up with the people to their village, which was quite close at hand, though invisible from the beach owing to the very thick bush. Tom had previously expressed his determination to build a house for school purposes as soon as possible, and I, through him, told the people of our plans and something of what we hoped to do among them. We thereupon, in consequence of the readiness they expressed, chose a convenient site for the house, and I promised to make a boat voyage to them as soon as I could conveniently get away from the northern district. It was evident that there could not be a great population in the immediate neighbourhood, as there was only a small level tract lying off the beach, backed up by somewhat high hills, which would doubtless form a separate district from the beach villages.
On the next day, the 9th, we arrived at the north end of the island, having been almost becalmed on the way thither. The Southern Cross anchored, my belongings were put together, and in two or three hours I landed at the usual place, and was at home again at Qatvenua. It was not a bright reception—the unusual quietness all about, the absence of the usual vociferous greetings, and the depressed looks of the teachers were not enlivening, and it was easily seen that there were unpleasant tidings to be heard. Gradually all became known. With regard to the chief school at Qatvenua the report was altogether favourable. It had decidedly advanced. Several outside adults, who had hitherto kept aloof from us, had come forward and joined themselves to our congregation, and the ordinary work had proceeded quite satisfactorily. But the other two schools in the district had met with interruptions, and one was in a state of temporary suspense. The cause of all was the fruitful source of trouble to us, the labour vessel. Some short time before one had visited that part, and a party of men and lads, almost entirely baptized or scholars, had departed in her. It was all to be put down to one man who had been of some importance. He had done wrong, and to avoid the retribution that in some form or other would have fallen upon him, he decided to leave the place, and then persuaded some of these men to accompany him, and the rest followed them. Amongst them was the teacher who had been in charge of the school at Lamoru, whose going was a great surprise, as he had always been so quiet and well-conducted. Fortunately his helpers were able to continue the school work by themselves without any intermittence. At the other place, Vathuqe, the school was closed for a time, as there was no one to take the erring teacher’s place. He had been left there with some misgivings, as he was not of equal standing with the teachers generally, but it was thought that his zeal and expressed desire for the post would be equal to the demand made upon his steadfastness. Some of the others that embarked were his relatives, and so he had the unusual temptation before him, and gave way to it.
My first fortnight on shore was spent at Qatvenua. The landing was done in very unfavourable weather. It rained very heavily, and the very steep path leading up to the school village, bad enough in fine weather, was extremely troublesome for carrying up my goods and chattels, and they got very wet. My own little house was not in good condition, and until we repaired it I slept in the large boys’ house.