[AMONG CANNIBALS]
[CHAPTER I.]
JAMES S. BROWN'S EXPERIENCE PREVIOUS TO BEING SENT AS A MISSIONARY TO THE SOCIETY ISLANDS—REMARKABLE PREDICTION BY PRESIDENTS BRIGHAM YOUNG AND WILLARD RICHARDS—PERILOUS JOURNEY TO CALIFORNIA—TRAGIC FATE OF MOST OF THE COMPANY—ARRIVAL IN SAN FRANCISCO—LANDING IN TAHITI—OPPOSITION FROM PRIESTS AND MINISTERS—GOVERNOR OF FRENCH PROTECTORATE ARRAYED AGAINST HIM—ELDERS SCATTER OUT—LEWD WOMEN, INSTIGATED BY MINISTERS, TRY TO ENTRAP HIM—HIS FIRST CONVERT—RECOGNIZED BY A NATIVE WHO HAD SEEN HIM IN A DREAM.
The late Elder James S. Brown, who for many years was a resident of the 17th Ward of this city, (and who died in 1902) had a most interesting and eventful life, and a few incidents therefrom, in which a special providence was manifest, are here given, the facts being mainly culled from his autobiography published under the title of "Life of a Pioneer."
Elder Brown was a member of the famous Mormon Battalion, and on being mustered out of service in California in July, 1847, he journeyed to Sutter's Fort on the Sacramento river, and became one of the original discoverers of gold in California. After working in California for an outfit, he with others made a hazardous journey eastward in search of their friends the Pioneers, who, under the leadership of Brigham Young, had located, as they understood, somewhere in the rocky mountains, but just where they were uncertain. He arrived in Salt Lake valley on the 28th of September, 1848, and found the pioneers living in a fort on what is now Pioneer Square. There he was warmly welcomed by relatives and friends and settled down to help develop the country.
In the summer of 1849 he witnessed the threatened destruction of the whole of the crops being raised in the valley by the onslaught of crickets, and the miraculous saving of the crops by swarms of seagulls coming from the west and devouring the crickets.
Then he was called to go upon a mission to the Society Islands. President Brigham Young said to him "I promise you in the name of the Lord, God of Israel that if you go you will be blessed, and do good, and be an honor to yourself and to the Church and Kingdom of God. Although men will seek your life, you shall be spared and return to the bosom of the Church in safety." President Willard Richards also said to him "Brother James, when you are upon yonder distant islands, called to preside over a branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, men will seek your life, and to all human appearance there will be no possible escape; then look unto God, and His angels shall drawn near unto you, and you shall be delivered to return home unto this people."
In company with Elder Addison Pratt, who had previously filled a mission to the Society Islands, he set out, first proceeding to California by the southern route. They had occasion to feel that they were providentially preserved on the journey, as, through a disagreement as to the road they should travel, the majority of the company (including about 500 emigrants bound for California from somewhere in the east) and who persisted in going contrary to the advice of Apostle Charles C. Rich, got lost and nearly all of them perished from thirst and starvation in Death Valley. The missionaries were content to follow the advice of Apostle Rich, and, after a somewhat perilous journey arrived safely in San Francisco. There they secured passage on the brig "Frederick" and sailed away to the southwest for Tahiti April 20, 1850.
They landed at Papeete, the capital of Tahiti, the largest island of the Society group, May 24, 1850, where they were met and welcomed by a few natives whom Addison Pratt had converted while on a previous mission.
They soon learned that they would have to meet the combined opposition of Protestant ministers and Catholic priests, who were determined, if possible, to prevent them from becoming established there. These opponents had great influence with the representatives of the French government that maintained a protectorate over the greater part of the Society Islands.