| Show 11 iif I I I FROM THE SOUTH SEAS Ft j If 1 I I i I Elders Visit n Number of tlm Ilnn Forbiddoii f1t I to Pi each on Somo Lcnky Ship I if i I l I I 1 tlUA Tongatabu Friendly Islands r Ji I I 1 January gth 1897 To the Ldllon r i j Thinking a few of our experiences of j I the last three months ould be of Interest In-terest to some of the many readers of I f I 1 I 4 your valuable paper we pen you n I I sketch of a trip we made to a few 01 the I il I i South Sea islands which none of our I a Elders had before visited We boardtd the schooner Fleetwlrg I October t I4th II t I I 1896 and began to sail Iron Nukualofa i II to Vavau a distance of 175 miles north I Ii 1 After sailing two das and nights over i rough sea we arrived at Neialu Vavau I I I where we met Hiders Alfred A Kolocd I q i and Amos A Atkinson who had just arrived from Haapni the day belore and i ii I also Elders Charles E Jensen andS and-S I Albert S Jones who were laboring on I I the Vaiau group We stopped there I I four days and a hall with the brethren lit I holding two meetings in the Tingan language with a very lair hearing ol 1 1 Tongaus and one counsel meeting We j i had a very pleasant time together and I a good portion ol the spirit ol the Lord t and f I which had a tendency to strengthen t buoy us up in our labor and fill our 1 I I I i hearts sat ith thnkYolvlllg to the Lord i i t Wednesday October j 1st the brethren 0i I took Elder Smith and 1 to a littlevillage Tuunuku five miles I front Nmfu where I the schooner was anchored We there II took leave of tt them and again boarded I the ship which began to sail earl he I I next morning for Nmatobutabu The I I I Mialhcr was good and the wind 1 lair i I i IJ eefIit le rv ili therilore eier > ihhiR went along very j II smoothly FJldal the Jjrd at lo a mo I we had sailed 10 little northward fro n Vavau and we could then see Nitrate 1 I It butabu a beaulllul little island lint I it appeared in the distance to be a tiny I I green mound in the mighty deep At I 6pm the captain cast anchor in a t nai IIY i narrow passage leading Into the I harbor I darkness preventing him from taking t the ship nP until the next morning I I I Saturday the 4th Brother R A i I Smith and I went ashore and called on 1 the goernor George Fiuau and made I known to him the object of our visit He received us very kindly and listened I I to what we had to say and also asked hn8o i some questions t about the Gospel We i I 1 had a very pleasant conversation on the I Gospel for about one hour and n half p 1 J I He said for us to 10 ahead and preach t the Gospel to the people as we believed I j it as they were free to join j any church that they may desire We then called eJIs li tAgeo I on Mr Robinson and Mr Kiesewetle European traders who were very lies I I pliable the latter telling us his House I I l was open lor us along as thesc > ooner I I stayed there We were very grateful to f our heavenly Father far raising up such 11 a kind friend to provide for our wants i I I in that strange land We then took our 1 11 11i grips and started out among the people 11 to try and disseminate some of the seeds j it of truth among them but were pnviltg ad to t very few that day as tire 1 1 I most of them were out in the 1 bush at j I work but however we were successful I I in getting 1 a few Gospel conversations tl r 11 t with the people and also in making 1 arrangements lor holding meeting Sunday I Sun-day at u oclock We then returned to 1 I Mr Kiesewellles I place and partook ol I his kind hospitality I Sunday the 35111 atSa m we went to the 1 ree church meeting alter which we gave out notice that we would I hold forth nt noon and would like to j I have all come that wished to hear the Gospel of Christ ns it was Hugh In the I I dajs ol the Savior and Ills apostles I At the appointed time we went lo the t place of our native rind who had I proflered the use of his house for meetIng meet-ing and found the home lull ol people lit J I would judge a hundred or upwardl were present The spirit of God was t J Poore Siestrit poyhfhpl I congregation in I great abundance thereby enabling us I to explain the first principles of the Gospel Gos-pel in plainness n < simplicity At the 11 close of our meeting we were asked to I hold another mentini In the evening at I j I 7 oclock which we gladly conseliteu to I I do I I We gave out a number of tracts to those who wished them and made some explanations to questions that they asked I ask-ed We met according to appointment I in the evening with another large crowd that paid good attention to what we had t to say At the close of the meeting we I ti told I ahe people we would I be pleased to I answer any questions they might desire lo ask regarding the Gospel There f I were a number of Inquiries respecting baptism which we answered satisfactorily satisfac-torily seemingly to those who asked I 1i I I I them We appointed another meting to be held Tuesday = ih I I in the same plac Monday and Tuesday 5th and 2711 we went out canvassing rnong the people giving out tracts and talking with I the people wherever an op > irturiiy allorded I Itself There being only four villages on l t the Island we Muted them all holding I one meeting and several Gopel can I ersaUon But we met vhil a great 1 d cat I at opposition as tile evil one I t1herellore that his craft was fit danger therefore lie did all in his power tot t Ii to-t embitter the minds of the people against i I I us and the message he bore Again we ea 1 I went to hold t meeting as appointed but f on arriving tit the house to our surprise c I te found Ihe deals closed and 3 o one 4 I around It was some time belore we could find the owner or the house tot to-t learn Its meaning However we I succeeded In Undine him and lelI1ed t that the governor had told him it was i contrary to law to let m hold meetings in a private dwelling house anti he also I told the people to let ui hold no more meetings The man who had let us I J lime the use of his house said he would I like to have us hold another meeil g li I i we could get permission of the goer 1 nor We told him we would see the I It t 1 governor the following dAY r I Wednesday the keSd h we cal h ed on the III fl S governor and asked him why he hau I f f slopped us from ho ding meetings He I la I began to try to lustily nimsell by read tl nlt r br 1 Inf a few points ol law 1 from the law I r I book and alto to prove that we hid l I I been violating the law hy rreaching tin Gospel m a private dwelling house Hut 11 a showed him i tiont hisovst i ol law btl ok I that all peup e are glen the pni1ege 10 hold mttttqgs and wLrshlp God in any I I place valas lasing tile might r latosell Ia ol Ia ti litl hJetll I tll I a a lie y I InleeUlig tb us lie Lusted us to pardon film and go on with lour work t a nd he would do nothing more to re I lard the prigress of the same We I f then went to the man that previously had been so kind as to give us the U53 of his house and navirille him ot the I I lov result ol our visit to the governor lie said we were welcome to hold another an-other inciting that evening in his house II we 10 desired During the afternoon we Informed Ihe people we would hold meeting that evening 7 oclock When the time arrived we were on hand as mualbut there were only a few present We commenced meeting and while singing the house was filled and many gathered around outside The spirit ol fh L lifinever the Lord rested uptn us ai I had never felt It before and the people sat almost pellhound for one hour end 2 quarter Many whom we learned ailtrwanU had come lo make fun and try to break up the meeting were Ihe most attentive listeners Alter the dismissal ol the meeting we had a long Gospel conversation conver-sation with some ol the people that stayed tJ ask questions regarding some of the principles we hid been preaching about And before we left them there wee a lew who said they wished tube I baptized before we left the island Thursday the 29th while visiting I among the people the man In whoe house el had been t hodmg I meetings I come to its ROil a too lIe and live if ills friends wished lo be baplized jnd wanted want-ed us to appoint a lime to perform the C Id I n ell ePrV ca tot ljh I him to l tell all of his friends I that wished lo be baptized to gather at his house in the evening and we would have italic with them that they might more fully understand l the responsible step that they were about to take In the evening we calico I at hH house ns agreed and found some of them there waiting lor ui but they seemed lo treat us much cooler than they had previously Done We asked the mean ng of it and they said the chiefs and mmisle of their churches hid been making lun ol them and call ing them Mormons After talking with them for some time they began to eel better and we appointed 7 oclock the next morning the time to perform Ihe ordinance ol biptbm Still we had our doubts train the tenor of their conversation conversa-tion whether the would be able to carry out their resolutions as the opposite oppo-site power was so strong against them The Tongan people are very proud and but very lew of them arc willing to sacrl fice their worldly praise and stand the mockiiigs and ridicule that they would receive from their friends for the Gospel sake Friday the 30111 we were at the waters edge at the appointed time ready to baplize those who applied for baptism the evening before but they did not appear There are three churches on this Wand namely the Free church or the Kings church the Weslevan and the Cathul The latter has but lew followers follow-ers Tire Free church it the most popu lar throughout the Tongan kingdom Tuesday November 3rd l we said 3rdad good hve to our kind funds Mr and Mrs Kiesewetlie whom we had been making headquarters with during our stay on the island and again boarded he schoontr and were soon sailing in the mighty deep towards Niualoou which lies too miles west of Niuatobu tabu Thursday the jth we arrived at Niu foou 1 nW were lortyelght hours on theo > the-o > age as the wind was very light This island Is J of volcanic origin and has an iron bound coast There are only two places where boats can land cargo Skilled boatmen have all they can do to keep their boats Irom being smashed on the rocks as the sea Is always rough I having hey sw ells dashing against he rocks Cargo and passengers are taken ashore in sm ill bolt LMcr Smith and I were landed safely nt Agaha and the boat went to 1 utu and anchored There are mile villages on Ihe island and about one thousand inhabitants who are favored with three trading stations We ate dinner wllh Mr Le Yarmlon one of the traders and then started out can va smg some of too villages We first called on the governor and were privileged privil-eged to explain to him some of the first Principles of the Gospel We gave some tract lo him and others that were in his house but they did not seem to care much about the Gospel as we taught it We visited four vi lages durIng dur-ing the afternoon Although we were the only Mormon Ciders who had visited the Island the people seemingly cared to have but very little to do with us We asked a llulekolo mayor of a village if I he could entertain us over night He said we could sleep in his house but there was such a famine in the Und that they could not give us Ani thing to cat He said his family was living on roots anti It kent them all tit r a ir ti I n me c ie ng to satisfy their appetites We told him I we could chew roots il they could lie said no > ou can not and vou had b atria 10 lo another village Although i we had walked but a few miles we were quite tired Having eaten but very little while Ji3 board slupwe were quite weak JIr fk and did not feel like walking much farther lIoweer e trudged on until we came to the village where the chief ol the island lives and called on the Nobell as he l is called I by the natives and askeel him il we could get to stay with him overnight lie answered esbut 11 we have no food to offer j ou We ho ever accepted his hoMula ily Alter n bnel conversation with him re gardmg our labors etc he sent a girl out to one of the neighbors to get some rice and In a few minutes we sat dome to rice and fried chicken Wi had neither salt nor sugar but relished it all the same Alter supper Elder Smith proposed to give us smile music on the harmonics knowing u would pleas the t natives TIe pla > ing of the music filled the house wllh people who song a few songs and then we distributed t a Hum IheTI her of I tracts They asked us lo explain our form of belief to which we cheer lully responded 1 hey were very attentive atten-tive and asked some qlletlon respect log baptism We were then shown to a room here e ero to repose for rthc night Tho < < day the 6th we took breakfast wilh Ihe Nubcll and then went to 1 utu 10 get some more tracts There were natives gathered there from all pins of the island buvl g provisions as tile ho or nl schocner had just brought fit a new supply ooJ here I was a scarcity ut the sulirly fv II native food there owing to the long drouth they had had but the rainy season sea-son hd begun anti they would soon have plenty We availed ours lUel ot that opportune githennp bv distributing tract anti lOak n kn > wlIthe object of our visit We then returned to Agah anti calcd t n Mr Pump one 01 t Ie traders ho had lust cone In i from the lake I fit ghehad l been sta Jag a few days for his health He I receded us very Uidl > anl 1 made us uelcomeai hi place ilurinf our Hay on the iiljnd The latter is lurnly four miles in circumference circum-ference and has a lake In il I live miles in I diameter the depth of which is not knownand the water a little brackish There are three small islands in ihe I I lake one of them having fresh water in It One 01 the others was formed in 1837 On August jmt of that year afire a-fire burst forth about a 01 hall cf a mile I out In the lake and sent forth sand and ashen until September 1711 covering the northeasten part of the island wllh and and mashing down ail vegetation a nd small trees Rut lortunalcl a heavy ram commenced about the time the lire ceased I 3c continued for one I month thus washing oil the sand from the larger species of vegetation This ram was certainly God send 2 to the people lor hid It not come but very little of the vegetation would have revived g rtallon 6 vived ref a very steep I embankment embank-ment of r lava and s md about 300 feet high encircling the lake which upper any IMS ben thrown by volcanic action from the J place where Ihe lake now lies The balance of our lime on the Island was spent striving to sow Ihe seeds of mull In the hearts ol the people by preaching and conversing with them whenever opportunity would permit I I owever the people are very Indifferent and loath to adhere to our teachings They seemed lo think that the Gospel thyliav is I sufficient fortheircalvillon I th1 01 fondly 1 theotb Ute lathe evening we set sill I for Uvea or Wallace land which lies 133 miles north of Niualoou Hcdnesday the I fill at ion in we cast anchor in the Uvei harbor nboula mile front shore and the only mean 01 getnnj ashore IS by small boats At 4 it tit Eiliel Smith and I Wtnt nslure and was soon successful in finding I another kind friend who made us welcome f wel-come nt Ins place Ills name Is I Mr Harry Oucker The Uvea language is i very similar to Ihe Tongin so much so tint we were abie to converse very well with the people The Catholic church Is I Ihe only church on the island and his full I sway in temporal things as well as in spiritual They have a king and claim he I has power to rule the people but he is I merely a cipher and is i not able lo do anything i without lint consulting the priests Tne French government has this croup of islands under its protection protec-tion Our presence on the ISland caused much excitement among the people for a few oJas for as soon as we got ashore he news ol our arrival began to spread I The P fast at Mui the village where we landed sent messengers to all the other priests on the Und i to warn the people against us Tuesday the 12th after partaking of a good breakfast with Mr Ducker we started out to Ills kings place which is I seven miles from Mua While on our way we were overtaken by a native who a Ve us where we were going We told him we were going lathe kings place He said he hid been sent as jn interpreter as the king could not talk English He talked very broken English We then began to talk to him morns own language OhI10 he said I Zult can peak our language nd yon dont need an interpreter We told him we thought we were equal for ilia occasion mil could get along without his assistance At ro am we arrived al Ihe kings place arid made our bust ness nown to some men who were Sit ling on the veranda making kava They said Ilie King would be Iree to receive re-ceive us in a Jew minutes Wei waited lor a short time when he came out md introduced himsell ns King Lavelua lie asked us in the house and had a man sere the kava after which wen we-n a tie known to him the object ol our visit He would not listen to anything we had to say about the Gospel He said he knew that the Gospel he and his people had was true and he did not want lo bear any other We asked him It he had ever hear any other lie said he had not nor did not wish to as he and his people were satisfied with the religion that they have then odered him a tract but he refused lo take it We had some nice views of Salt Lake City and thought he would be pleased to look at them We therefore there-fore proflered to show them to him but lie declined to look at them We tried to reason with hm for about nn hour but he would not listen to anything we had lo say to him We learned later on that some of the priests had been at the kmgjjust prior to our visit and told him not to have anything to do with us as we were a very low class ol people After leaving the kings we made our way back to MUd giving out tracts and talking with Ihe people wherever wu were privileged to The people were very shy ana many ol them were afraid to talk with us At 5 a m we again arrived ar-rived at Mr Duckers As vic went In the house Mr Ducker introduced us to a member of Iho police who he said had been wailing lor ui all day We asked him what we had done that he should be waiting for us He said he had a message from the king to deliver to us We told him we were free to re cehe it lie then read the letter i4hicit forbade us preaching or conversing with the people on the Gospel whether 00 the road or in the villages and also forbade us distributing any tracts among them We were watched very closely from that time on during our stay on the island This group Is composed alone island about twentyrive miles in circumference circum-ference and a few smaller ones grouped closely around the large one It has a population of 5000 Saturday I4th we again boarded the schooner to sail to FUluna which he 130 miles west ol Uvea Sunday 15th at S a m Tuluna was in sight and at 2 p m we cast anchor In the harbor The boat had stopped but a few minutes when 1 number of natives came out 10 It In their CAnoes The TUIUIU language is much different from the Tonlan thercfure itmas very difficult torus to understand the natives This inland I is ruled by the same power pow-er as Uvea and the people arc all Catholics Only one European trader living there at present Although he is a Catholic he proved to be a very true friend making us welcome at his place curing our bfJollusm there The Island of Tutuna has an area of about seventyfive square miles and Is I very mountainous It has two kings and a population I i of about 1400 We lound a few people there who were able speak the Tongan I language and conversed wilh them on religion and also gave them some tracts But as soon as the priests heard of it they Informed in-formed the king who sent a rmssate to Ui by a member of the police forbidding forbid-ding us to give tracts to the people and the ones that we had distributed came back lo us again as the priests said they were of the devil We stayed there one week while our boat was beIng be-Ing loaded with cobra Sunday the 2ind we set sail for Vdau leaving the harbor at to a m against n head wind There were ventyfive native passengers on board We bailed on the star bond lack un II six oclock Mnay morning Al that time the log was drawn in which marked mark-ed a distance of fifty miles traveled We thin called on the poll tack unlil eight oclock when one of the sailors Sot rmed Ihe captain that tae boat was filling Mill water The latter 1m anedutely made an examination and lrea1 da if found leak had sprung There was then three or four feet of water in the boat and the bow began to dip under Ihe waves Of course this caused great rxnlement on board lthou11 the I captain was very cool and headed the boat for Futuna at once The pumn wa Immediately put lo work and all the InintedialelS Oftd buckets and kegs were used for balling the water from the main and loreholds The natives knowing that II was the only chance lor Mow I ink worked energetically energetic-ally urging each other on by saving It Y is i either work drown Thus the work continued until twelve oclock By that time we had lowered the water about two feet From I that time on ua III we reached land Ihe pump was sufficient to keep the wHer down On examining the boat It was found that the oakum had fallen out ol a Joint near the < surface of the water making a gap about i three feet in l vl length The faint was corked as well ai it could be at Futuna and tile cargo shifted that it I might dry Thursday 26th we again set sail for Vavau This lime there were no native passengers as Ihey were afraid lo trust the boat Again The wind was still contrary con-trary thertforewe made little headway Monday 30111 al 3 p m the boat again sprang a leak at the I sam joint as before We were tlien 145 miles rom Ilituna 200 Irom Vavau and 3OJ Irom Siva Fiji The wi id being fur for Hi a Miter point the captain immediately Ir hr aderj r Ihe ti boat for there While gallIng gall-ing on the starboard fck the pump waj sulTllent to keep the water down Friday December 4th we arrived al Suva A governmental survey was made on the boat at once and It was found to be In a very bad condlllel a number of the timbers were decayed md had given way After enduring fill a deck passag thus lar and undergoing under-going IIUIlY hardships we were plead lo gel ashore where we could obtain shelter Irom the rain and the excessive heat of the sun while walling the arrival ar-rival of the steamer from Sydney on Us way to Tonga and New Zealand Of course we had l no money to pay for a house to stay in but we had been taught by former experiences that if we would rely all the Lord He would never forsake for-sake us Wednesday Almt1hiilitie rained very hard until 41 p m hellihe storm abated for a short nine and Elder Smith and I deeded de-eded to go out in search of a place to stay We were directed to Mr Nicholson Nichol-son a carpenter and on arriving at his shop we met him and bade him good day About the first thing he said was Gentleman Is II very uncomfortable slaying on the boat during Ihe storm I he lust been thinking about your condition con-dition We told him we were now oul looking for a room to stay in during our sojourn In the city while awaiting the arrival of the steamer but we had no money to pay rent with He said There is a room up stairs in the shop you can have Iree of charge if > ou wish to accept a room of that kind We went and looked at the loom and found It would answer our purpose very well and ery thHully accepted the same IV e then went to the boat got our valise and returned to the room About dusk Mr Niclnlsin brought m a nice warm supper From that time on until we left Suva hi proved a very kind Iriend to us and he and Ills wife began to investigate Ihe Gospel They said we were the first Mormon Elders whom the hid ever had the opportunity of meeting We gave them some tracts and a book to read When they had perused them they asked a number ol questions about various principles ol the liospel thus giving us a good chance to explain the Gospel to them Alter conversing con-versing for some time on the first principles of the Gospel they said they had always had a wrong impression in their minds regarding the doctrines which we teicu and tfiat they were I pleased to learn the truth about us Our conversation was the mean 01 al laying much pnjjdice In their aimdf wh ch had arisen from false reports that they bad I read l and heard respecting us as a people Before we lelt I Suva they said that they had a much higher opinion ol the Mormons thou belore and asked us to lead them some more tracts is hen we arrived at Tonga When the tune drew near lor the steamer lo arrive we called on the agent of the Union Steamship Steam-ship company and then asked him what the fare was from Suva Ito Tonga He informed us that It would be twenty five dollars each We apprised him of our financial condition and why we were there then asked him il he would be su kind ns to let us have two tickets to Tonga and we would pay lor them on arriving at that point He said You gentlemen say you are Mormon Llder to tou are strangers in the city and l how am Ito know We told him Ihcre was no one In the city vi fill a ham we were acquainted except the captain and the crew of the boat which e came on He I said I I believe 3 our people to be all right you may 1 call Ii in when the steamer comes and get your tickets When i a called to get them he gave us a discount of ten per cent Thursday the 2411 we bade our friends on the Fleetwing good bye and also Mr Nicholson who had been bo kind to us during our Slav In I Suva At I a m we boarded the Tavmnl which in a few minutes began to fever herself from the wharf and was soon steaming off m the mighty deep towards Simon which lies 665 miles northwest of Suva Fiji I Monday the 2th which was Sunday In Samoa as there Is I a change of time between Fiji I and that place upon arising aris-ing Irom our cots we could l see the island is-land Upolu in the distance and at 8 p m cast anchor m Apia harbor Eider milh and I were soon oil a small boat going ashore We then made our way along the beach to Fagahl a distance ol three miles where we were kindly received re-ceived by thirteen Elders who were very much surprised to meet us at that time as they were not thinking of stay thing ol that kind We had the pleasure of meeting Blotter Wood and two other Elders who had jut arrived from Zion a few davs previously In the evening we dai sYherIe held a meeting where all Ie hn Llders bore their testimonies I never before met a more noble band of Eders all had the spirit of their mission resting upon them and bore faithful testimonies of the truth ol the Gospel During our short stay there we received many good instructions from Brother Wood respectIng i ng the Tonga branch of tile Samoan Mission Tuesday the 29b at 12 oclock we took leave of the brethren and went to Apia and boarded the steamer which began to sailt I I 5 p m lor Vavau After a run of thirty eight hours over a very rough sea a we arrived at Neiafu Vavau The steamer only stayed at this point one hour and A hall thus giving us avery a-very short visit with Elders Charles E Jensen and Alfred A Koloed who are laboring there However we held a short conversation with them and Informed In-formed them why we had been he i much longer than we expected on our trip We here received our mail from Zion and If there is i any one thing that causes tit Lldcrs heart to rejoice more than another it Is to receive good new from his dear ones at home especially when It has been two or three months since he has heard from them At 9 a m the steamer again started on her way for Haapil and arrived at that point at S p m Elder Smith and I got the permission per-mission i from the purser to go ashore in the ships i boat At too little boat drew near the shore we siw Elders George W Sh 11 and Archie 1J I emum corning I up to the beach where we were goht lo land We had a good hearly handshake I hand-shake and conveised l with them About twenty minuies when Ihe whittle began to blow and we had to UJ them goodbye good-bye and return to the steamer whicl was soon pi uIng Ihe wavrs It l r Ton galabu January the isl at 8 am the steamer made connection with the wharf at Nukualofa longaiabu Soot after we got ashore we were Tot by Elders George Ltonard and George W Home who CIIIKJ in to gel their mail and take us back across the lagoon to the mission house There arc many things connected with our tell that would be worthy ol note butler want wortity noble bbut fcr of space I have tried lo be bricl I I lAMf R ELKKR lAMCS ORT A SMITH |
