Melanesian Mission.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume VI, Issue 10, 1 April 1916, Page 138

Melanesian Mission.

GUI.ANIA. Probably maiiy of us are learning more about prayer than we ever knew 1 before — of its power and possibilities, and of our privilege m being able to take part m it. This is written m the hope that some of our readers may be able to help m that way during the next few months a little Melanesian girl at present with us at Norfolk Island. We only know her as Gulania, her heathen island name ; we hope she may have a Christian name before she leaves us next year. And it is while she is preparing for Baptism that our prayers can help her so mMch. I have called her a little girl, and such she appears to be — a small, childish person about thirteen or fourteen years old, though, of course, we have no means of knowing her age ; but all the same she is a properly married woman ! One of our teachers — a good boy too — was inveigled, almost forced, into marrying this mere child m the village m which he was teaching — a heathen place m Mala. He had na white missionary to advise or help him, and worldly wisdom said ll submit," even while his inmost heart told- him* that it was wrong for him, a Christian teacher, to marry a heathen girl, just heathen fashion. However, he acknowledged his fault at the first opportunity, and took his discipline m the right spirit, and now he has come up to Norfolk Island to gain fresh strength and courage, we hope, m order to go to work again and do better — and, of course, he brought with him this little heathen child- wife. Gulania has been brought up m Mala by foster-parents who have lived m Queensland, and when one comes to know such a child it is much easier to realise how the Islands are changing, and how it may very soon be possible to make oneself understood m most places m our own English tongue. Although from a wild heathen place, and quite an uncivilised Melanesian m many ways, this child's vocabulary holds an amazing number of English words. She knows no Mala word for such common things as grass, rain, road, house, hoe, etc., etc. ; indeed, she uses the English word, and says it is

the Mala name for the thing ! But this acquisition of English words, and of the knowledge of some few wliite people's customs and habits, seems to have come at the expense of some of the excellencies of native life. For instance, we do not expect a Melan-esian woman to know much about pianos, their name, or their nature ; but we do expect her to know how to keep a fire going m her own house, and aot to have to relight it several times a day ! But we find the reverse is the case with our little Mala lady ; and although she has gained perhaps m quickness of apprehension and the understanding of white people's thoughts and wishes, she has lost something of that characteristic Melanesian shyness, and consequently it is to be feared something also of the natural awe and reverence for " holy "* things which. has been always such ia beautiful trait m the lives of these people. But our big hope for her lies m her affectionateness. It- is apt to be a very jealous, exacting sort of affection — selfish, perhaps — certainly very quick to feel hurt or slighted — but still a very real affection for those who care for her or can heip her ; and something which may, we hope, be gradually purified and raised up into some semblance of that Divine charity which " thinketh no evil," and is above all else " the greatest thing m the world." 8.0.