MELANESIAN JOTTINGS.

Waiapu Church Times, Volume I, Issue 5, 1 November 1907, Page 12

MELANESIAN JOTTINGS.

Whilst Bishop John Selwyii was staying in the Solomon Islands there passed down the coast in full view of the place where he was, three canoes of suspicious appearance. He himself was laid up with ague, but Hugo Goravaka (then the head teacher in those parts) had the promptitude to get out his boat and follow them, arriving just as a crowd of armed natives had assembled on the shore' to prevent their landing. The firing had actually begun^ but Hugo lost no time. He at once pushed his boat in between the canoes and the 'shore right in the firing line, and by himself taking the strange chief on shore, stopped the battle before any harm was done. They were allowed to land, and were hospitably treated. Nevertheless these very men went on to Soga (the chief of Bugotu) and asked him so urgently to sell them heads at 7s 6d apiece that Soga sent post-haste for the Bishop to back him in his refusal. The Bishop told them very forcibly what he thought of • them for demanding other people's lives when they had just had such a very narrow escape of losing their own, and Soga sent them back to New Georgia without any heads except those they wore on their shoulders, and, it is to be hoped, thankful that those were still there. But we must not forget to mention Marsden Mamkalea, who was heroic, too, in his own quiet way. When he went to Ysabel he was as other teachers, except; that his eyes were not strong ; but in removing a creeper some dust fell into them

and poisoned them, so that they got terribly painful, and when the " Southern Cross " returned it found him in total darkness. He was at once sent to Norfolk Island, but it was too late ; he would never see again. Perhaps he felt as did another blind Melanesian who, when his friends tried to persuade him that his blindness was a punishment for deserting his Lindalo, and would be removed by returning to him, answered that he "was quite contented that God's face should be the first thing he ever saw again." At all events, Marsden took his trial with equal courage and cheerfulness, and did not let it spoil his usefulness. He r;ou]d, and did, still teach, and he fearlessly went to reprove a chief for some misdeed, although he knew the chief meant to have him killed for his boldness. A man was standing over Marsden with raised tomahawk ready to beat out his brains when the chief gave the signal ; and though he could not see Marsden felt this. But he wanted to have a smoke, and turned to this very man and asked him. for a light. The ,man was so astonished he let his weapon fall harmlessly. It was done in absolute simplicity, not in bravado. Marsden knew he might be going to be killed, but as he was calm enough to wish for a pipe he saw no reason why he should not ask for it. Another time, when a long way from land, on a preaching tour, the boat upset and he had to swim for his life. Of course, like all Melanesians, he could swim— they learn it as they learn to walk— but it was a serious difficulty not to be able to see the laud he should make for. His companions guided him ashore with their voices. When he started, he knew well the danger of such a journey, but he preferred to •do his duty, even at a risk, rather than shirk it for a safe and easy round of walk as some people would have done.— Ex. " Isles of the Sea."