WESTERN POLYNESIA. ber killed, and many of them severely burned. The poor creatures supposed that this terrible accident was a judgment from the white men's God, to punish them for what they had done; but instead of being afraid, they resolved to revenge themselves on the first white men who should visit their shores. They had not to wait long. Soon after, an open boat containing seven Englishmen visited Maré. Five of these were killed, and, horrible to relate, their bodies were cooked and eaten by the revengeful savages! The other two of the seven Englishmen happily escaped to another part of the Island. I have told you this story, to show you what the people of the Island of Maré were at that time. A few years passed away, and again a ship was seen off the shores of Maré; but this time it was a ship of war, and the natives knew that it was come to call them to account for having killed so many Englishmen. The old chief was dead, and the young chief Nasilini and his brother were now Christians, as were many of their people; for though they had no Missionaries, two native teachers had brought to them the knowledge of the true God. Nasilini and his people were greatly alarmed when they saw the British man-of-war; and asked the teachers to advise them what it would be best for them to do. They told them that the 'great English Captain,' would not kill them, or destroy their village at once, but would most likely call the | 21 chiefs and people together, and calmly inquire into the whole truth, and the best thing they could do, would be to confess all that they knew of the murders they had committed in their heathen state. Nasilini then called a meeting of the people to consider the matter, when several of the under chiefs made speeches. One of them said,— "You see the white man's fighting ship has come to us; the great captain will be on shore to-morrow; he is come to be revenged on us for the murders we have committed on his people. We all know that we have done wrong; but what can we now do to deliver ourselves? We have no property that the captain will value. It may be that our chief will have to suffer. Now this is my inquiry to you all: Who is there amongst us that will pity our chief and our land, and of his own accord will come forward and give himself up to the English captain, either to be put to death or to be put in confinement on board ship, as may be agreed on? O people, think of this; it may be by this means the foreigners will forgive our past crimes, and save our land from destruction." This touching appeal was not in vain; four brave men stepped forward, and offered to go to prison or to death, if that might save their people from destruction. It was the warm light of the Gospel of Jesus which had begun to illumine these dark hearts, and which was teaching them to love one another. Before, they were "hateful and hating one another;" now you see them ready to lay down their lives for their brethern. As the teachers expected, Captain Erskine, the commander of the ship of war, demanded an interview with the chiefs. The Captain was much struck with what he saw of the people. He says in his journal : 66 The whole population was gathered together in solemn silence, and the two young chiefs were seated in the centre. It was evident from the anxious countenances of all, that they considered the great question of forgiveness or punishment for past offences was now to be settled. After recounting the deeds of bloodshed they had committed in the seizure of ships and the murder of white men, I alluded to the report I had just received from the Christian teachers, respecting their improved disposition of the abandonment of savage customs, and of their desire for instruction, and concluded by saying that, in consequence of their altered habits and the sorrow they had expressed for their former misdeeds, I was willing to forgive the past, and should inflict no punishment." You may imagine the joy of the people, and especially of the four whom I mentioned, on hearing this. As proof of their sincerity, they brought to Captain Erskine everything they had which had once belonged to the British ships. The young chief expressed his sorrow for their former wicked practices, and said— "In those days it was not our good fortune to have Christian teaching; but now I hope nothing of the kind will ever occur again." And so the ship of war sailed away. There was no need now of guns to frighten the natives from deeds of bloodshed; the Bible had far more power than either guns or ships of war. I will tell you in the next chapter how this great change had come about.. NATHANIEL AND NAOML merits, and to believe in Jesus Christ as the Saviour of sinners. He there THERE lived a man in Benares named Ram Ratten. He was a famous Hindoo, and had been an earnest worship-fore left the Missionary and joined the per of idols from his childhood. One day a tract was put into his hand; he read it, was struck with what he read, and wished to hear more of the truth it contained; so he went about to try and find a teacher, and was directed, by a native Christian whom he met, to a Missionary; but at first he was too proud to give up all idea of his own enemies of the Gospel. But he now knew too much to be easy in the worship of idols; and, as he could find no peace, he soon came back to the Missionhouse and confessed to the Missionary that he could resist the truth no longer. From that time it was plain that he was a sincere believer; for he lived as a true Christian, and was baptized by 66 SOMETHING TO MAKE IT FLY." the name of Nathaniel, a name which he himself had chosen, because, he said, he wished to be a man "in whom there was no guile." He had three little boys, and those he called Abel, Noah, and Moses. 23 her husband, who died with joyful faith, and in bright hope of a glorious resurrection and eternal life. The widow wept, but still her heart remained hard and unbelieving. A third time God knocked. One of her sons became ill and died. Once more she wept; but it was for her son, not for her sins. A second son died; but even this did not bring her to the Saviour, though she mourned very much on account of her loss. She had now but one child left to comfort her heart, and support her in her old age. At length he died also. This stroke laid her low and brought her to the Saviour. In her bitter grief she cried, "It is enough, Lord; it is enough. I humble myself before thee, and give myself up to thee." From this time she placed her entire hope in Christ. At her baptism she wished to be called Naomi ; for," she said," the Lord has treated me as he did Naomi. I went out full, but now I am empty." It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn thy statutes." Her sorrow was now turned into joy, and she went forward towards that world where the days of our mourn His wife, like all Hindoo women, could neither read nor write, and had never been able to learn. Nathaniel felt very much about her, and earnestly prayed that the Lord might open her heart, as He opened the heart of Lydia. But whenever he talked with her on religious subjects, she used to say, "Do you really believe that God has sent his Son to die for us? I can't believe that. If we had been good people, then I would believe it; but He could not have let his Son die for such sinners as we are." The poor woman thought that this was too great an act of love in God. And no wonder; for even we can hardly understand how "God so loved the world as to send His only begotten Son" to die for our salvation. But all this time He was knocking at the door of the heart of this heathen woman. First He did this by the preaching of the Gospel. Then He pressed home its truths by taking awaying are ended-Juv. Miss. Mag. 66 SOMETHING TO MAKE IT FLY." THE following words occur in the 72d Psalm :- "Unto him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised." Prayer and praise are thus connected with giving. We have heard of a woman in Jamaica who was very fond of going to missionary meetings, and singing, with great apparent zeal and fervour— "Fly abroad, thou mighty gospel!" but whenever the plates went round, she always sung with her eyes fixed upon the ceiling. On one occasion, however, a negro gave her a push with the plate, and said, Sissy, it no use for you to 66 ANOTHER VERSION OF Most of our young readers have seen that beautiful hymn, beginning, "O thou, my soul, forget no more The Friend who all thy misery bore." Perhaps they know that it is a transla- He who yielded once His breath, Price 6d. KRISHNA'S HYMN. Cease thy fruitless toil and care; He is truth and mercy mild; Faithful Friend! On Thee I call, doz. or 3/6 100; 20 copies sent free by post for 10d., paid in advance. Published by GALL & INGLIS, 38 North Bridge, Edinburgh. HoULSTON & WRIGHT, London, FROM the story you read in our last | went among them. And yet you cannumber, you will have some idea of the not imagine their horrid cruelty; you fierce, revengeful character of the peo- must live among them, as these two ple of Mare, when the teachers first Christian natives did, to understand it April 1857. |