288

ARRIVAL OF SIX MISSIONARIES.

to drive the pig out, unless he mended the fence, which he was afraid to do, because it was the sabbath day. The men, who related these anecdotes, wished to know whether they had acted right. The brethren told them that they were mistaken, though they were right not to do what they thought was wrong. It is written in the Scripture," Whatsoever is not of faith is of sin." Rom. xiv. 23. We should, therefore, like these natives, take great pains to find out what is wrong, and what is right, for even if an action is not wrong, we must not do it, while we think it is wrong.

There were some godly parents, who were grieved by the conduct of their wicked, disobedient children, and who asked the brethren's advice respecting their treatment of them. The brethren told them not to send these young people away from their homes, but to endeavour by kindness to melt their hearts, and continually to beseech the Lord to convert them.

Towards the end of this year a very joyful event occurred. Six missionaries and their wives arrived at Eimeo.

Their names were

They landed at Papetoai in Talu Harbour,

where they found six brethren residing, namely.

Nott.
Wilson.

Bicknell.

Tessier.

Henry.

Hayward.

THE MEETING OF SIXTEEN MISSIONARIES. 289

When the four brethren at Afareaitu heard that some missionaries were arrived at the other side of the island, they were very anxious to see them. Mr. Crook and Mr. Orsmond set out immediately for Papetoai.

The day following, Mr. Ellis and Mr. Davies received a letter requesting them to come also; therefore, leaving the printing for a while, they set out. They did not go by water, as they usually did; and they found it hard work to cross the high mountains, and often were obliged to sit down to rest. They were much surprised when a blind native with his leader overtook them. This blind man was going to visit his brother, who had just arrived in the ship with the missionaries. He crossed the

brooks, climbed the steep rocks, and went down the slippery places with the greatest ease, while the two brethren toiled behind him and his leader, ready to faint with fatigue. There was a delightful meeting between the two companies of brethren, who spent the evening together at Mr. Nott's.

As there were now sixteen missionaries in Eimeo, it was desirable that all should not remain in that island. Yet it was thought necessary that the ship, still on the stocks, should first be finished, and the books in the press published. The ship which the brethren had been building for four years, was now ready to

U

290

LAUNCHING OF THE SHIP.

be launched; but the masts and sails were not yet added to it.

On December 7th, the launching of the ship took place in the presence of the king, the missionaries, and vast crowds of people. The natives pulled it by ropes into the sea, amidst the shouts of the multitude.

Pomare had chosen it should be called the Haweis, in honour of the excellent Dr. Haweis, who had taken so much trouble to send out the first missionaries to Tahiti. Perhaps you may remember how he took the Lord's Supper with them in the Duff before they left the shores of England. It is pleasing to find that Pomare felt grateful to this benefactor, though he had never seen him.

May not Pomare's gratitude to Dr. Haweis remind us how we ought to love One whom we have never seen, and who has been kinder to us than any earthly benefactor could be?

Pomare sometimes wrote letters to Dr. Haweis, who was still living. I will show you part of one that he wrote a short time before the ship was launched.

"DEAR FRIEND,

May you be blessed, and your family, with the salvation of Jehovah the true God.

"I was startled at receiving your letter, for I thought you had been taken away by our

LETTER TO DR. HAWEIS.

291

Lord. The small watch that you sent me is in my hands, and remains as a keepsake from you, dear friend.

"Your name has been given by me to the vessel, which has been built here. I was urgent about it, for some said it should have another name, but I said, "No, the name must be the Haweis." The reason I was so urgent about it, was, because you were so very attentive to us of Tahiti, yea, indeed all of you; for the Lord put the thought into your minds, to send messengers here to Tahiti, that they might sound the trumpet, and make known the way of life.

"I send you two little fans, which the royal family of these countries, were accustomed to fan themselves with. When the day of the feast arrived, and the king was prayed for, those were the fans that used to fan away the flies.

“What am I to do with the little pearl box which was in the little parcel you sent me ? Had it been directed to me, it would have been right, but there is another name on it, that of the Queen of Lattakoo; that is the reason I inform you of it. I have sent back the little pearl box to Mr. Marsden at Port Jackson, that he may return it to you.

"If you write to me again, I shall be glad. If it be agreeable, send me three books: one

292

RIGGING OF THE SHIP.

very large Bible, one to carry about, very small, and one book of geography. If it be not agreeable, very well. Do not think evil of me, dear friend, for the small request that I make at the end of my letter.

66

May you be blessed by Jesus Christ, the true king of salvation, by whom we must all be saved.

"POMARE."

How great must have been the pious joy of this aged minister when he received this letter from a once heathen king! The warm hopes he had entertained twenty years before, were now fulfilled, and his pleadings with God and man for the poor idolaters, were now returned in blessings on his hoary head! How happy are the righteous in old age! They then begin to eat the fruits of the labours of their youth, when the ungodly, who "have sown the wind, reap the whirlwind." Hos. viii. 7.

I have already mentioned that the ship had neither masts nor sails. The brethren were not able to rig it themselves, but some English sailors were come to the island on purpose to rig it for them. It was supposed that about three months would be spent in rigging it. When finished, the brethren hoped the ship would be useful in conveying them to distant islands to preach, as well as in taking pork