Mission Ship’s Visit to New Britain

Inangahua Times, 22 August 1931, Page 4

Mission Ship’s Visit to New Britain

Ad embarrassing experience befell Mrs Burgess, wife of Captain Burgess, master of the Melanesian mission steamer Southern Cross, during the vessel's visit to New Britain. The natives at several of the points at which the steamer called had never seen a white womem before and her appearance on shore cal'ed forth the greatest expressions of astonishment. Wherever she went she was followed by wide-eyed islanders, who stared at her as if she were a being from a remote world. “ Amazement at Mrs Burgess’s appearance was noticeable chiefly at Arawe and Sag-Sag.” said Captain Burgess. “ The natives at those places were familiar with white men, having seen both traders and missionaries, but a white woman was a new object to them, and Mis Butgess excited an enonnous amount of comment. » 1 The-Southern Cross visited those places for the first time on the present trip, and she was the largest ship the natives bad ever sent,” said Captain Burgess. “ I was told the only eDgioe-propelled vessel they bad seen before was a small launch, so the appearance of the Southern Cross was something of a miracle to them. They absolutely refused to come on board when we first put in, but they afterwards got over their fright, and we persuaded a few of them to inspect the ship.” Just on 11,000 miles were steamed by the Southern Cross, and it was the longest trip ever made by the steamer during the many years she has been engaged in the work of the mission.