THE MELANESIAN MISSION.

West Coast Times, Issue 338, 23 October 1866, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE MELANESIAN MISSION.

A VISIT TO THE ISLANDS.

THREATENED OUTBREAK AT

ERROMANG-A,

(FROM THE SOUTHERN CHOS3 [ATjCKIAXD],

OCT. 10.)

The Melanesian mission yacht Southern Cross returned from a cruise of the South Sea Islands on Monday evening, bringing Bishop Patteson and forty-five natiA'e scholars for the missionary eollegc > at Kohimarama. An interesting account of the cruise Avill be found in our shipping columns. Through the courtesy of Mr Brooks, of the mission college, who accompanied the scholars, and Captain .Tilly, Aye are also enabled to furnish some additionnl particulars of the islands visited by the Bishop, and the very interesting cruise of the mission schooner. The result of the visit has been, upon the whole, most encouraging to the missionary cause, anct especially to those more immediately connected Avith the mission in question. The Bishop and teachers met a hearty reception amongst their old friends at the islands, and during their visit to a new field of missionary enterprise in the course of {ho cruise succeeded in producing a faA'orable impression upon the minds of the na-tiA-es, and furthering the mision cause in these vast undeveloped spheres of labor. The island of Erromanga was not A'isited, and Bishop Patteson would no doubt be surprised to hear on his return that a quarrel had arisen amongst the natives of that island, which portended consequences, the most disastrous to the mission cause sustained there. From information Aye have received, Aye are able to state that the disagreement arises from the annoyance of the inhabitants at the removal of the Sandal- wood Company — which has been so profitably conducted on that island — to the northeast of the Island of N.ow Caledonia. The roinoA r al was effected solely to suit .the convenience of the "company, but the natives appear to think" otherwise, and are said to attribute the cause to the missionaries located on the island, whom they have CA r en threatened to murder when the sandal-Avood trade is removed. In consequence of the receipt of this information, the departure of H.M. s,. Esk has been hastened. She leaves the harbor to-morrow, on a cruise of the islands, and Avill proceed direct to i Erromanga. After leaving Auck-

land on the 28th of May, the Southern Cross called •at Norfolk ' Island, Ncugone, Loyal cy Group, Mai or : Three Hills Island. Ncav Hebrides, ' Fate Island, Pangopango Bay, Whitsuntide, and Leper's Island, reaching the latter place on the 21st of June. The vessel then called at Aurora Island ; where there is a fine double waterfall, ; in order to take in a simply of Avater, ' and in the evening, proceeded to Star ' Tsland, distant about tAventy-five miles. This island Avas found to consist of -an extinct Volcanic cdne, rising abruptly from the' sea, the sides of which are so ', steep that a .stranger is apt to wonder ; how the inhabitants can preA-ent themselves ' from slipping off into the sea. i On the folloAving morning the Rev John Balmer Avent ashore at Mota ' (Sugarloaf Island), Banks's AVchipclago ] for a three month's residence amongst '' the native people, and the ' Southern ] Cross' proceeded Avithout delay on a visit to the Solomon Islands. The vil- \ lages of Übuna and Tawatna,, near the < north-west end of San Christoval, Avere 1 visited by the Bishop and catechists. 1 The next place of call Avas the island of Florida, in the ] Indispensable Straits. Florida Island \ presents a striking exception to the j general appearance of these tropical j lands, having none of the dense vegeta- i tion Avhieh is their usual characteristic, i but recalling rather the grassy slopes of < Norfolk Island. After visiting several ' other islands the vessel proceeded, on \ the 4th of July., to a place called Ma- ] rowa, which Ava's A'isitcd for, the first '' time, taking two natives to Ysabel as , guides and interpreters. The village is ] situate about half-Avay along the north- ; crn side of the island. The coast of ] NeAV Georgia is only imperfectly known. ' It is bordered by a chain of coral islets, « running parallel to the shore at a dis- ' tanee of five miles. Off the mouth of ' the bay some twenty-five of these small ' islands are to be counted. They are for the most part connected by coral ( reefs, and form an archipelago of great beauty. There is deep water close up i to the reefs, and Sydney traders have anchored at Marowo NeAV Georgia is- : some 90 miles to leeward of Mahaga, and, in going to and fro, the intermediate islands of Pavahu and Buragoi ; (Murray Island, inhabited only by pigs) \ are used as stopping-places. The inhabit ( ants of MaroAvo Avere A r cry shy at first* < but soon gained confidence when they 1 heard their 1 own language spoken, or '•■ rather yelled, from the shrouds of the '• schooner, by the natives of Ysabel. At ' ! SaA*o Island the vessel AA r as soon surrounded by a flotilla of five canoes, some' of Avhich contained betAveen twenty and thirty men. ■ The stems and , sterns of these craft taper to a height of over ten feet, and when overtaken in a squall they heave too, stern to the i Avind, and crest the AvaA r es like so many sea birds. The Savoans exhibit considerable' ingenuity and skill in the manufacture of their ornaments and weapons of Avar. On the 17th July, the schooner called at Wango, Avhere Bishop Patte'son Avent ashore for a few days as an initiatory residence among the natives. Meanwhile the vessel went on a surveying tour. On the 27th, the vessel left Avith the Bishop for Santa Cruz, Avhich Avas reached on the 2nd August. A fine view of the active volcano Tenacula Avas obtained here, nit unfortunately the ' Southern Cross' was too far away at night to afford an opportunity of beholding the eruption iv all its glory. Communication Avas held Avith the inhabitants of Lomlom, Pileni, and other small islands, aa'lio speak a dialect akin to Maori. Marau Sound, and the south-east extremity of Guadalcavcr were visited Here the A r essel Avas hoA r e-to for a short time, the natives being excessively noisy and unmanageable, and the decks so croAvded that locomotion became all but impossible. This beautiful island presents a most imposing appearance. Hill behind hill, ridge above ridge, rise in wavelike succession till, overtopping all, a lofty green billoAv heaves its rigid back to a height of 8000 feet above the sea. The day Avas exceptionally fine, and but a few light clouds hovered about the noble mountain ridges, affording a rare opportunity of ascertaining the correct outline of these usually cloud-capped summits. The Bishop and the HeA r . J. Palmer remained at ' Mota some days, the latter gentleman haA'ing been left there Avhile the Bishop continued the cruise. The state of the people of Moto was found very satisfactory. The influence of the Bishop has led to a general disarmament, and it is iioav rare to meet . a man going about with his bOAV and arroAVS, Avhich, in old days, he Avas neA T er without. There Avere sixty natives taken on board for the return trip to Auckland, A r ia Norfolk Island. The Rev. J. Palmer, Avith fifteen natiA r es, Avas landed at Norfolk Island, where a branch mission has just been established, the Bishop and fortysix scholars coining on to Kohimarama, where they arrived on Monday cA r ening. Shortly after leaving Moto, two of the mission scholars accidentally fell overboard. A boat Avas " immediately lowered, and the Bishop and some of the crew put off from the vessel, rescuing the boys from their perilous position.