This is a cheap way at all events of purchasing blessedness and no wonder they are eager with the small price for it. A fighting man formerly was looked upon as having more claim to their Walhalla than a man who refused or who had failed to take blood. This title certainly of late years has not been so eagerly coveted, and so far it is, thankworthy, but “when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness and doeth that which is lawful and right he shall save his soul alive,” this last clause as yet is omitted from their programme.
On our way back I could not refrain from paying another visit to the dying child. There still sat the faithful mother, and there still lay her pretty child, life was not yet extinct, and she had turned since I saw her before. I determined when I got off to the ship to try and get some medicine as a sort of dernier resort. I doubt if medicine will ever more do any good. We got off to the ship before 5 p.m., and at that hour had tea, bread and sardines, and cake which the cook had concocted. The “Cabinetto” was going most of the evening, Brown having thoughtfully brought some sacred sheets for Sundays. At 7 p.m. we had Evensong in English and afterwards in Mota with an address on the Gospel, “Be ye therefore merciful,” “not only were we to ask mercy for ourselves I said, but we too must extend it to others, and we should find plenty of opportunity of doing so, in the places to which we were going. If we only felt for a moment the mercy of God towards us as revealed in Christ Jesus, we must be merciful to our fellows, and we must show them the same mercy we had experienced and known in our Saviour’s dealings with our own souls.”
We had great singing afterwards, which they always enjoy. It was most resplendent on deck afterwards, and one was thankful for the quiet and refreshment throughout of the day of rest.
Monday, 19th July.—Mr. Brittain well enough this morning to go ashore to collect his things and make arrangements with his teachers. It is his intention if health permits to stay ashore in Mr. Palmer’s district at Mota and the Banks’ Islands, but in his present condition such a step would scarcely be wise. However, time will tell. While he was ashore Mr. Huggett, the mate, always ready to lend a helping hand, and myself put the teacher’s things together, and when he came off Mr. Brittain had nothing to do but give them out according as they had been deserved. Meanwhile there were crowds of people round about the ship, and much trading was carried on by the boys and girls on board. They use here canoes with outriggers, and the larger ones are very clumsy, unwieldy monsters. The Captain hates the sight of them alongside for they rub the paint off the ship, and sometimes even damage the copper. In the Solomon Islands they have no outriggers, and the natives are much more expert in the management of their canoes, both large and small.
Here at Araga they have a very large number of canoes, but they are very bad.
We weighed anchor at noon and stood across to Opa and were at anchor at Tavolavola by about 3.30 p.m.; a very nice breeze took us across, and on arrival there we made preparations for going ashore at once. I found matters satisfactory ashore, and the school in full swing, the young teachers all neatly and nicely dressed.
They were glad to have Charles back again and the women walked off with his pretty wife, dressed in all her bit of best. She had done a good deal of weeping between the ship and shore, evidently being very reluctant to leave her friends on board. Her eyes therefore were slightly tear bedyed, and her cheeks also, before she got ashore. The school looked cared for, and I was pleased to see a very nice new house built for me. The people were very glad to have me back and received me in their usually cordial fashion. An English Trader had built a house, and had resided some months near the village, but had lately taken his departure, why I know not, but I believe there was not trade enough.
There are a number of white men now trading all over the island, the mystery is how they can make it pay. Monica was very tearful again when I bid her good-bye, poor girl I dare say she will have a hard struggle at first among her own country women, but I trust she may have strength given her to resist the wiles of the Evil one and his agents among them. She is a pretty, flighty girl, but much improved of late, and became a great favourite on board. She has a most estimable husband and I hope she will make him a good helpmeet.
We passed a very pleasant night at the snug anchorage and all the boys came off to the ship next morning.
Tuesday, 20th July.—We weighed anchor and dropped down to Lobaha, about four miles along the coast to the Westward. Here we found Herbert Arudale well. He came off to the ship with his wife Mary who was not well. They seem to live much happier now, and both were beaming over with smiles. He gives but a poor account of his work, which is much in statu quo. The fact is his field is very limited if he must confine himself to his own people, and it never suggests itself to a Melanesian to go farther a-field. The mountain must come to Mahomet, for Mahomet never dreams of going to the mountain. However, now with Didi and his wife, a most exemplary pair, and seemingly very devoted, they ought to make a fresh start. Baitagaro I saw ashore and he seems to have improved, but it must be heart breaking work to labour on year after year, and get little or no attention to what you say, no appreciation of the message you bring, and no interest taken in all you endeavour to do. However, it is what the Man of Sorrows passed through, and it is what His true followers have to experience also.