CHAPTER XIV.

1810, 1811, 1812.

BRIGHTER DAYS THAN ANY THAT HAD GONE

BEFORE.

THE greatest part of the missionaries were now at Port Jackson. Soon after their arrival, Mr. Bicknell returned from England, accompanied by a wife, and four young Englishwomen. He was much surprised to find his brethren at Port Jackson, as he knew nothing of the alarming events that had lately happened. He waited with his brethren at Port Jackson, to see whether the Lord would again open a docr for the gospel in Tahiti.

At the end of some months the brethren received a letter from Pomare, in which he told them that many chiefs had brought men from other islands to help him to subdue his rebellious subjects, and that he was now acknowledged king, and at the same time he entreated them to return.

Soon afterwards letters arrived from Mr. Hayward and Mr. Nott, mentioning that they were with the king at Eimeo, and that peace still continued. Most of the missionaries now

RETURN OF A FEW MISSIONARIES.

219

determined to return the first opportunity to the poor heathen.

In July, 1811, a little vessel set sail from Port Jackson to fetch pork from the South Sea Islands. There was only room in it for a

few of the missionaries.

Mr. Bicknell, with his wife and one of the young women, lately arrived from England, named Sarah Chrystie, embarked in the little ship, as well as Mr. Scott, and a wife he had lately married. After a fatiguing voyage they arrived at Eimeo, on the last day of October. They found the king there, as well as his mother Idia, Mr. Hayward, and Mr. Nott.

Pomare received them with great delight. The brethren soon observed that he appeared to regard his idols less than he had done in time past partly, perhaps, from having found the prophecies of the prophet Mitia respecting his success so false; partly, perhaps, from his afflictions, and the company, at such a season, of Mr. Nott and Mr. Hayward.

The missionaries had to suffer great inconveniences, as they had no comfortable houses, like those they had built in Tahiti. They lived at first with the king in a native house, while they erected better dwellings. The Englishwomen suffered much from the water overflowing the house, and Sarah Chrystie never recovered from the ill effects of this

220

POMARE'S ENTREATIES.

circumstance. A few months after her arrival, she married Mr. Hayward, and soon fell very ill from pains in her limbs, and was unable to leave the house.

Before these missionaries had arrived, Pomare had written another letter to Mr. Henry, entreating him to come. This is part of his letter.

"Where are Mr. and Mrs. Eyre? Are they settled? I am grieving for them. Where are the other missionaries? Where is their dwelling place? I shall not give over my sorrowing for them. We do not regard our dwelling places here, since the missionaries are not here; they are wanted to make us happy. We are now lonesome-Notty, and Mr. Hayward also. My good friends, agree to my request to you, and then I shall be happy: come you here, my dear friend, come you here to Tahiti. When you come, procure a little wine for us. If you come, I shall be happy. Write to me, that I may know your sentiments, my dear friend. Do not be neglectful, as I am grieving for you, my dear friend. Don't you closely look at this badly written letter.

"Health and happiness to you, and Mrs. Henry; may you live and prosper-Tare, Tiritahi, and little Jo also.*

*These were the names that the natives gave to Mr. Henry's children, Sarah, Samuel, and Eleanor.

SEVEN MISSIONARIES IN EIMEO. 221

"May we all be saved by Jehovah, the true God of this world-our Confidence.

"POMARE."

Pomare's desire for the return of the missionaries was soon gratified: that autumn, Mr. Henry, his wife, and children, and Mr. Davies and Mr. Wilson, set sail. Mr. Davies and Mr. Wilson had lately married two of the young women, who had come from England with Mr. Bicknell, and of course they took their wives with them. After having been absent from the king about three years, they joined him in Eimeo.

There were now seven missionaries in that island, namely,

They were all married, except Mr. Nott; and he, soon after his brethren's arrival, went to Port Jackson and brought back, as his wife, one of the four young women who had accompanied Mrs. Bicknell from England.

Four of the missionaries, who had left Tahiti at the time of the war, had not returned to their work. Mr. Warner had sailed to the East Indies; Mr. Eyre was engaged as a schoolmaster in New South Wales, and was prevent

ed by circumstances from removing. Mr. Elder, for some reason, that is not stated, never joined his brethren again; and Mr. Tessier did not yet feel inclined to return to a field that had produced no fruit.

The place where the seven faithful misssionaries settled was called Pa-pe-to-ai, and was situated near Talu Harbour, a safe and convenient place for ships to cast anchor in.

Here they built dwellngs, and planted gardens; they built also a very small chapel, in which they had service every sabbath in the Tahitian language; but very few people attended, as most of the chiefs had gone with their servants