Ben Hadden; or, Do Right Whatever Comes Of It

by William Henry Giles Kingston

  CHAPTER ELEVEN.

  MORE EXPLORATIONS AND ADVENTURES.

  Shortly after the events mentioned in a former chapter, the Ajax came insight of a cluster of mountains, rising, it seemed, directly out of thesea, to the height of four thousand feet. It was the island ofRaratonga, of which Mr Martin had told Ben. It is surrounded by acurious barrier-reef of solid block coral, thirty-five miles incircumference, and from a quarter of a mile to half a mile broad. Athigh water it is completely covered to a depth of four or six feet, butat low water it is almost bare. This vast reef prevents the sea frombreaking against the island. Outside the reef there is no anchorageground, as no cable could fathom the depth. Inside, the water is smoothand beautifully clear, but no ship of any size can pass through thereef. There are several passages for canoes and boats, and one for avessel of forty-five tons. This is, however, a very great advantage tothe inhabitants in a social point of view, as it prevents theestablishment of a seaport town in their island, while, at the sametime, they can enjoy intercourse with the rest of the world. This wasthe very island of which Mr Williams had heard, and which he so longlooked for before he found it. Here the missionary Papehia landedalone, trusting in Jehovah, among its then savage inhabitants. It washere the great missionary Williams spent many months, and builtsingle-handed the schooner--the Messenger of Peace mentioned before--inwhich he crossed over so many thousand miles of the Pacific Ocean, tocarry the glad tidings of great joy to many of the numerous islandsscattered over it. It was here that a fierce chief, Tinomana, became ahumble, lowly-minded Christian, and died strong in the faith. This isthe island, the inhabitants of which were among the fiercest of all theisles of the Pacific, and are now among the most consistent and truestChristians. It has sent out more missionaries than any other to convertthe heathen of the isles of the Pacific. It contains a training collegefor missionaries, with numerous churches and schools. The houses of theinhabitants are well-built, neat, and clean; and it is hardly too muchto say that, in the same space, and among an equal number of peopleliving together in any part of the world, a larger proportion of trueand consistent Christians will not be found.

  As soon as the frigate hove to, near the land, several canoes came offto welcome the well-known flag. The natives were decently dressed inshirts and trousers, with straw hats; and their manner was particularlyquiet and at the same time cheerful. They offered to bring off anyprovisions which might be required; but the captain wished himself to goon shore, and said that he could then purchase what he wanted. Twowhalers were at the time standing off and on the land, while their boatswere on shore. Ben was glad to find that three boats from the frigatewere going on shore, to one of which he belonged. A native pilot in hisboat led the way, the captain's gig following; but, as the wind waslight and the tide high, there was no difficulty in passing through thebarrier, and, once inside, the boats were in smooth water.

  The officer on landing was met by a respectable-looking native, whoannounced himself as the salesman of the station, putting out his righthand, and saying, "_Ria-ora-na_!" (Blessings on you.) The officerswere then conducted to the market-house, where there were stores ofbananas, yams, pumpkins, potatoes, cocoa-nuts, fowls, and various otherarticles. The purser of the frigate then stated the quantity ofprovisions he required. The salesman informed him of the current price,a calculation was made, the money was paid, and the salesman undertookto engage native boats, in which everything was taken off in excellentcondition.

  The captain first visited the mission establishment. It consisted of acentre building, and a great number of small houses. These were theresidences of the married students; every single student had a room tohimself. Nearly two hundred students have been educated at the college.A very important part of the establishment is the printing-press, whichsupplies with a number of valuable works, not only Raratonga, butnumerous other islands of the Pacific where the dialect of theinhabitants is understood. The students also consist, not only ofnatives of the Hervey Islands, but young men from far distant places.In each village there are schools and churches and native pastors.Children also are brought from other islands to the chief school, underthe English missionary, to receive instruction. Thus from this oncesavage country the true light now shines forth over a wide circle of thePacific--that light brought to those shores by the once heathen Papehia!

  When the boats got back to the frigate, Ben found that the captain ofone of the whalers, the Grand Turk, was on board. Captain Judson--thatwas his name--was well-known to Mr Martin, who had once sailed withhim. He was waiting to see Captain Bertram, to prefer some request orother. He was evidently a rough style of man, and was complaining muchof the way he had been treated the day before, which was Sunday.

  "Two boats were sent on shore, but none of the people were to be seen,"said Captain Judson. "There were a number of neat, whitewashed housesin rows, some way from the beach, and near them three larger buildings.One had a tower. After waiting for some time, people came streaming outof the door of the building with the tower, all neatly dressed incottons or native cloths.

  "`Why, they look just as if they were coming out of church,' said one ofmy men, who had never been out in these parts before, and thought allthe people were savages and cannibals. After some time, a whitegentleman appeared in a black dress. `And there comes the parson, I dodeclare!' he added.

  "The first mate, who had charge of the party, on this went up to thegentleman, and told him what we had come for.

  "`I am very glad to hear it,' said the gentleman. `I have no doubt thatto-morrow morning the people will bring you all you require.'

  "`To-morrow won't do--we want the things to-day; we must be off againthis evening,' said the mate, in an angry tone, for of course he wasvexed.

  "`I will tell the people what you say; but they have been taught toremember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy, and I do not think that theywill supply you, unless you are starving, or have scurvy for want ofvegetables, and then I am certain that they will give you all yourequire,' answered the missionary, who then spoke to several of thepeople; and a young native came forward, and in very good English toldthe mate that he was the interpreter, and would be glad to attend him.The mate thought that he could manage him, and was very much surprisedto find that no trading could be allowed that day.

  "`But our people may go on shore and amuse themselves?' said the mate.

  "`No,' answered the young native. `Too often the crews of whalers havecome on shore, and have set a bad example to our people, who think agreat deal about white men. We allow no strangers to wander about ourisland on the Sabbath.'

  "`Then your people will come off to us, as they do at other islands!'said the mate.

  "`No, no, no,' answered the young native, with a grave look. `Suchthings were, but they were very bad; we have learned better now.'

  "On hearing this, the mate came away, abusing the missionaries forhaving taught the natives such things. It is fair to say, however,that, as he was leaving the beach to come on board, a number of nativesappeared with baskets of cooked vegetables and fruits, enough for thedinner of the whole crew. All the families near had given up some fromtheir own store. I was in a hurry to be off, and sent on shore in theevening, offering to pay double for what we wanted; but the people werestill obstinate.

  "`To-morrow morning we will trade gladly,' was the answer.

  "From every cottage came the sound of prayer, or voices singing hymns orpsalms. Certainly these people, little better than savages as they are,do keep the Sunday very strictly. I never saw it kept like thatelsewhere. Some people who care about those things might say that theyput us to shame.

  "The next morning, when we stood in at daybreak, the vessel was soonsurrounded by canoes, full of all the provisions we wanted; and we weretold that, if we required, men would be ready to help us fill ourwater-casks. Still, I don't like to be put out as we have been, and Ishall go when next we want fresh provisions to one of the islands wherethings are carried
on in the old-fashioned way."

  Captain Judson had come on board to get some lime-juice, the best thingto prevent scurvy. He said that he had bought a good supply of what wascalled lime-juice; but, when the surgeon examined it, which he did when,in spite of the men using it, the scurvy appeared among them, he foundthat it was some common acid, of no use whatever. How horribly wickedwere the manufacturers who could thus, in their greed for grain,knowingly destroy the health and lives of seamen who depended on theiruseless mixtures for preserving them from one of the most terriblemaladies to which those who make long voyages are subject! Whether ornot the owners of the Grand Turk had paid less for this mixture thanthey would have done for good lime-juice is difficult to say; but itmight certainly have cost the whole crew their lives, and it certainlycost them the loss of some hundreds of pounds while the ship was sailingaway to procure vegetables, with a third of her crew on the sick-list,instead of catching whales.

  Captain Judson obtained the lime-juice for which he had come; indeed,the Ajax had brought out a quantity on purpose to supply ships whichmight require it. He then took his departure, and, whatever he mighthave thought, the rest of the crew continued to grumble greatly at nothaving been allowed to go on shore and amuse themselves, as they calledit, and expressed a hope that it was the last missionary island theyshould touch at in their voyage.

  The captain of the other whaler afterwards came on board. He was awiser man than Captain Judson. He said that he made a point of visitingthose islands where missionaries were established, as he was certainthat he could then trust the people, whereas among the heathen islandshe lived always in dread of having his boats' crews cut off, as hadhappened to many others to his knowledge.

  On leaving Raratonga, the Ajax bore away for Savage Island, or Niue.Captain Cook describes the inhabitants as among the most savage of thosehe encountered. As his boat drew near to the shore, they rushed downtowards him with the ferocity of wild boars to drive him away. Inconsequence of the behaviour of the natives, he gave it the name ofSavage Island. Subsequent visitors, for many years after that, fullyconfirmed the account he gave of the people.

  The Ajax came off the island about five days after leaving Raratonga.The two islands are about of an equal size, but in other respects arevery unlike each other, as the highest part of Savage Island is not morethan a hundred feet above the level of the sea. Instead of the savagesCaptain Cook encountered, and those who, as late as 1846, would havebeen on the coast, several canoes, with well-dressed, quiet-lookingnatives, came off to the ship. They all wore sad countenances, for theyhad indeed a tale of woe to tell. Captain Bertram inquired what hadhappened to them.

  "Sad, sad," answered the interpreter. "Early one morning a strange shipappeared off the coast. We thought nothing of that, as many have comeand gone and brought missionaries to us, and others have called forvegetables and other produce, for which they have paid. This one had noflag to tell us whence she came, or what was her object in coming. Assoon as we had finished our usual morning prayer, several canoes put offwith fruits and vegetables to take to the strangers, and to learn whatelse they required. Among those who went off were some of our leadingmen, the lawmakers and law-enforcers of our island. There were thirtyor more church members, a deacon, and many candidates, most of themamong our most promising young men. They were at once welcomed onboard, and treated with great attention. Suddenly the white crew rushedin among them with clubs, knocked down all on deck, and then they firedtheir guns at those attempting to escape in their canoes. Several ofthe people in them were shot or drowned when the canoes were destroyed.The people in most of the canoes were so astonished that they did noteven attempt to escape. Instantly they were ordered on board thestrange ship, which continued firing at the retreating canoes. Threeonly of these got away, and one of them conveyed the corpse of Simeon, achurch member, shot through the head. The stranger, finding that noother canoes would go off from this part of our island, sailed away,with our fathers and brothers, and our other Christian friends, onboard. Our hearts were bowed down with grief; but we prayed earnestlythat we might forgive our enemies, and that God, in His great mercy,would change their hearts. (A fact.) We would not curse them, we wouldnot pray that God would wreak His vengeance on their heads; for are wenot told that, as we forgive our enemies, so alone can we ask God toforgive us?"

  The slaver, it appeared, had sailed along the coast, the natives beingdecoyed on board wherever met with, and then she had gone off to otherislands to pursue the same nefarious system. Captain Bertram went onshore to make further inquiries. He found that all the inhabitants hadprofessed Christianity, and that, though not so advanced as the nativesof Raratonga, who have been so much longer tinder instruction, they weremaking fair progress in Christian, as well as in secular, knowledge andcivilisation. As no time was to be lost, the Ajax again sailed inpursuit of the slaver. She first stood across to Samoa, in thedirection of which the slaver had been seen to steer. She looked in atseveral of the ports of that fine group of islands, and here also gainedinformation of the transactions of the slavers, for several hadappeared, and succeeded in kidnapping many natives. It was supposedthat some of these slave-ships had sailed to the north-east, purposingto visit the groups of islands lying on either side of the equator.Many islands were touched at, and inquiries made. A sharp look-out toowas kept, for all were eager, from the captain to the youngest boy onboard, to catch the miscreants who were outraging all laws, human anddivine, in thus carrying off the innocent natives into slavery.