| Show It I 4 i Ilk r Y H I FROM THE SOUTH SEAS Iflh I I J I I I r j Elders Visit a Number of tlm MnntlsForbiddou t 4 4s I 1 to Pxcach on SoiiioLonlty Ship J 1F F 1t i ij q t 4 AlvA Tongatabu friendly blinds 11 II q Januar 9th 1897 To the ration J II 1 Thinking a few of our experiences of I t the last three months would be of Interest In-terest to some of the many readers of II 0 4i 7 your valuable paper we pen you a 11 I it sketch of a trip we made to a few of the I I South Sea islands which none 01 our 1 e Elders had before visited We boarded t l the schooner ricetvurg October I4th f 0 i 1896 and began to sail front Nukuitofa I I l to Vavau a distance of 175 miles north 11 i I l i Alter sailing two days and nights over rough sea wo arrived at Nehlu Vavau I 11 where we met Elders Allred A Kofocil i I I I I and Amos A Atkinson who had just I 1J arrived from Ha I pii the day before and i I also Elders Charles E Jensen and I I i Albert S Jones who were laboring on I 4 the Vavau group We stopped there I four days and a hall with the brethren > holding lo meetings in the Tongan 1 language with a very lair I earing of f Tongnns and one counsel meeting We had a very pleasant lime together and 1 a good portion ol the spirit ot the Lord I J I 4 which had a tendency to strengthen and I buoy us up In our labors and fill our II I I i hearts with thanksgivings to the Lord l Wednesday October Jisl the brethren i it took Elder Smith and Ito 1 a little village Tuunuku five miles Irom Nelafil where I the schooner was anchored We there I took leave or them and again boarded I the ship which began to tall early tile A next morning for Niuatobutabu The k weather was good and the wind lair Ihertlore erphlng Hnl along very I smoothly Tilda the 3jrd it to a m t l we had sailed 140 miles northward fro u Vavau and we could then see Nmalo butabu a betutilul little island that I I appeared in the distance to be a tiny I I I I green mound In the mighty deep At 6pm A the ciotain I cast anchor In I a II t narrow passage leading inlo Ihe harbor I darkness preventing him from taking I at I the ship in until the next morning I I I Saturday the S4lh Brother R A I al 1 h I Smith and I went ashore and called on I 1 I the governor George Hnau and made known to him the object ol our visit 11 He received us very kindly mid listened I l I to what we had to say and also asked I 1 some questions about the Gospel We I t I hd a very pleasant conversation oa tire i I r Gospel lor about one hour and a half I I lie said for Ul to go ahead and preach t I i the Gospel oul the people as we believed H I I it I t as they were free to joln j any church I I I that they may desire We then called 11 on Mr Robinson and Mr Klespwette European traders who were very lies j pliable the latter telling us his House I was open lor us as long as the sc ooner I I i I 0 I stayed there i e were very grateful i t our heavenly Fattier Jar raising up such t I a kind friend to provide for our wants j In that Strange land We then took our lp grips and started out among the people lfrsJf t A i f try and disseminate I sonic of the seeds Ith of truth among them but were privileged I i tl f privileg-ed to I meet very few that day as the most of them were out in the bush at I t work but however we were successful i 1 In getting a few Gospel conversions 1 Ioonl 7 with the people and also In making I 4 arrangements for holding i meeting Sunday 11 Ij I Sun-day at 13 rohfJ then returned to V 1 Mr Klesewetlies place and partook of i I his kind hospitality hS I I d f Sunday the jjlh at 8 a m we went I 4 1 I tall the free church meeting alter P j which we gave out notice that we would H hold forth at noon and would like toil I I to-il j have all come that wished to heir the I I I j Gospel of Christ us it was taught in I the I l j 1 date ol the Savior I and His apostles i 4 I At the appointed time we went to t the A I place r lepton J limfri who OI had I I I I proflered the use ol his house lor meetIng i i meet-Ing and found the house lull ol people I would judge a hundred or upward i were present The spirit of God was poured out upon the congregation i In great abundance thereby enabling us t I to explain the first principles ol the Gospel Gos-pel in plainness and simplicity At the I close ol our meeting t we were asked to JIdeaO ii I hold another meeting in the t evening at I I 1 i i 7 oclock which we gladly consented to 1 do A I doWe I We gave out a number of tracts to those who wished them and made some i t explanations to questions that they asked j l ask-ed We met according to appointment i Itl I in in the evening with another large crowd I to that paid good attention to what we had I to say At the close of the meeting we < i told the people we would be pleased to I answer any questions they might desire I to ask regarding I the Gospel There il A were a number ol inquiries respecting < baptism which we answered satisfactorily I I satisfac-torily seemingly to those Alto asked t al them I h I 1 themWe appointed another meeting to be i l held Tuesday aljht in the same place t i j It Ii Monday and luoJay 5lh and 271h we 11 went out canvassing taiong the people I 1 giving out tracts and talking nith tin l ll people wherever an opportunity i afforded reople r T I f ilsell i lr baelf There being oiy lour villages on i I the Island we v tiled them all holding i one meeting and It con ll W versations Hut we met vilhagreat I p deal ot opposition as the evil one began I be-gan to see that his craft was in danger I I t therefore he did all in Ins power to A I I I embitter the I minds of the people against us and the message he bore Again we i went to hold meeting as appointed but 1 on arriving III the house 10 our surprise I I we found the doois closed and no one I around II I t was some time before we I l could find the owner of Ihe hou > e to learn Its I meaning However we I succeeded In finding him and teamed J I that the governor had told him it was I contrary to law to let us hold meetings I l in a private dwelling house Hid hu also l told the people to let us hold no more meetings The man who had let us I I have the use ot his house said he would 11 like to have us hold another meell g i we could get pernilsion of tire govcr I I couIMJ him we would seethe I I governor the following day III1 Wednesday the 28 h we called on the I I I governor and asked l hm why he Iran I stopped us from ho ding meetings He i I I begin to try to ju > tily lumsell by read II i I t r nbrh eta rYp Ing a few points ol law I from the law i book and alO to prove that we had A Ii i I been violating i the law hv rreachlng the Guspel in a private dwelling house I But A c sr Uwe d u t it fionshiswArciambLok i that all peup e are given the pnulec to hold rueeliqgs und worship God In any i I place they might appoint and that he i I I WM laj he huuseli uVipoint mine law by I Inteifeuig with us lie aked lo i I paidion 111m and go aD with our work i I 11 nd he auld do nothing more to re I I lard the progress of the same We I then went to the man that previously had been so Und as to give us the use i I I tf his house awl t annniv bim ot the I I result ol our visit to the governor He aid me were welcome to hold another an-other inciting that evening in his house If we to desired During the afternoon we informed the people we would hold meeting tint evening at 7 oclock When Ihe time aitKed we were on hand as usualbut there were only a few present We cornmenced melIn g aDd while singing the house was filled and many gathered around outside The spirit ol II f me Lord rented upi n us as I had never tell It before and the people sat almost spellbound far one hour und a quarter Many whom we learned afterwards had come to make fun and try to break up the meeting were Ihe t most attentive listeners Alter the dismissal the meeting we had a long Gospel conver motion with some 01 the people that stated tj ask questions regarding some of the principles we had been preaching about And before we left them there were a few who said they wished tube biptiied before wo left the Mind Thursday the 29111 while visiting among the people the man In whoe house we had been holding meetings came to us and Slid he and live of his friends Ished lo be baptizedand wanted want-ed us to oppoint a time l to perform tire dl eaPtV told flo to l WIII of his friends I that wished to be baptized lo gather at hi 1 Is house in the evening and we would hate a talk with I them that they might more fully understand the responsible step that they were about to take In the evening we called at his house as greed anti found sam 01 ihem there nailing lor us but they seemed to treat us much cooler than they had previously clone We asked the meaning of it and they said the clnels and mmille ol their churches had been making lun ol them and callIng call-Ing them Mormons After talking with them for some time they began to lee I better and te appointed 7 oclock the next morning as the time to perform the ordinance ol baptUm Still we had our doubts Irom the tenor of their conversation conversa-tion whether they 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 felt ol them are willing to sacri fice their worldly praise and stand Ihe mockings f and ridicule that they t would I receIVe front their friends for Ihe t Gospel sake Tildiy the jothno were nt the waters edge at the appointed time rcidy to baptize those who applied lor baptism the evening before but they did not appear There are three churches on this island namely the Free I church or the Kings church the Wesletan and the Catholic The latter has but few followers follow-ers The Free church is the most popu lar throughout Tongan kingdom Tuesday November 3rd we said good bve lo our kind friends Mr and Mrs Kleseweltle whom we had been making headquarters with during our A May on the island and again boarded he schoonlr and were soon sailing In he mighty deep Itouards Niualoou which lies too miles west of Nmatobu tabu Thursday the jth we arrived at Niu foou nWo were lortyeiBht hours on the 0 age as the wind was very light This island is i ol volcanic orlginand Ira an iron bound coast here are only two places where boats can land 1 cargo Skilled boatmen have all they can do to keep their boats Irom being smashed on the rocks as the sea Is always rough having heavy swells dashing against he rocks Cargo and passengers are taken ashore in small boats Hitler Smith and I wcre landed l safely at Agaha and the boat went to 1 utu and anchored There are nine villages on the island l and about one thousand inhabitants who are labored with three trading stations We ate dinner with Mr Le Yannlon one of Ihe traders and theta started out can va < sul some nl the villages We first called on the governor and were privileged l privil-eged to explain to him some of the first principles ol the Gospel We gave some tracts to him and others that were in his house but they did not seem to circ much about the Gospel as we taught it We visited four ti laces dur ing the afternoon Although we were the only Mormon Elders w ho had visited the island the people seemingly cared tu have but very litlle to do with us We asked a liiilekolo mayor of a village if he could entertain us over night He said we could sleep In lib house but there w as such a lamme in Ihe land that they could not give ui nulling to eat lie I 1 said his family was living on roots and it kept them all their time chewing 110 satisfy their appetites We told him we could chew roots U they could He said e no you can not and A hoe hall better go to another village I Although we had walked but a few miles we were ijuite tired Hating clten but very little 310 on board shipwe weretiuite weak and did not feel kewe walinginuch farther However I we trudged on until we came to Die tillage where the chief ol Ihe island lives and called on the JJCk as he is called I b rdl the natives I and asked him it we could I get to stay with mm overnight liooJ answered i yesbut we have no food to offer v ou We however accepted his hospitality After a brief conversation with him regarding re-garding our labors tic lie sent a girl out to one of the neighbors to get sonic rice and In a few minutes we sat down to rice and fried chicken We had neither silt nor sugar but relished it all the same Alter supper Elder Smith proposed l to gite us some music on the harmonica knotting it would please the natives The playing of the music filled the house with people who sang a few songs and then we distributed l a Until her g1 tracts I They asked us to explain our form of belief to which we cheer lully responded 1 hey were very alien live and asked some questions respect lag baptism We were then shown to a room where we Acre to repose lor the night Thursday the 6lh we took breakfast with Ihe Nobeli and then went to Iulu to get some more tracts There were natives gathered there front all pans of the island butl e provhious as the dh grovi4ous = dU f ai nl schooner had just brought in a new supply here I was H scarcity nl I Ihe native food there owing to the long elrouth they had had but the rainy season sea-son had begun and they would soon have plenu We availed I oursjtesof that oppoilune gathering by distributing tractf and mak n t known the object of our visit We then returned tuAcahi mil caled MI Mr Iump one oil > e traders who had just come In Irom the lake here he had been slaying a few daIs for his health He I renited us very klijan4 made U3 itelcoine hi place luting our stay on the island The latti is live uty four miles in circumference I circum-ference and has a lake art II five miles in diameter the depth ol which is nol kaownand the water is a little brackish fhero are three small islands In i the I lake one of them hat in g Iresh water In it One ot the others was formed In 1887 On August Jilt of that yearn lire burst lorth about a hall of a mile out In the lake and enl forth sand and office until Stplmbr 17lb covering the northeastern part of the Island with sand and mashing down ail vegetation and small trees < But fortunately a heavy rain commenced about the time the lire ceased and continued for one I month thus washing of the sand from the larger species ol vegetation This ram was certainly a God send to the I people for hid It not come but very i litlle of the vegetation would have revived re-vived ref a very steep embank went of lava and 3 md about 300 feel high encircling the lake which appar enlly has ben thrown by volcanic action from the place where the lake now lies The balance ol our lime on the island I wat spent striving to sow the seeds ol truth hi the hearts ol the people by preaching hnS conversing 1 rI them I whenever onuortumty would permit I lowever the people are very Indlllrenl anti loatti 10 adhere lu our leaching They seemed tothink thallhe Gospel th yhav Is I sufficient for their salvation rolI fondly I the 1 9th lain lathe evening we set sill for Liven or Wallace Island which lies 133 miles north of Niualoou edmsday the lull at lo a m we I cast anchor In the Uvea harbor about mile Iron shore and the only means ol gelling ashore is by small boats At 4 I pmLldcl 1 1 Smith and I wnt ore and WdS soon successful In foding another kind friend who made us wel COIIIO at his place His name is Mr Harry Ducker The Uva langna e is i very similar to the Tonganso much so that we were able to converse very well with the people The Catholic church is I the only church on the island and his full sway m temporal things as well as in snirilual They hive 1 a king and claim he has power to rule the peopl but he is merely a cipher und is not able l to do anything without first consulting the priests Toe Trench government has ihls grou 1 of islands under Its protection protec-tion Our presence on the land caused much excitement among the people for a few day for as soon iq wo got ashore the news ol our arrival began to spread The pnest it Mui the village where we landed sent messengers to all the other priests on the island to warn the people against us Tuesday the nth after partaking ol a good breakfast with Mr IJucker tie started out to the kings place which Is seven miles tram Hua While on our way we were overtaken by a native who askyeel us where we w < reaLoinVgV ve told him ue were going to the kings place He said he had been sent as in interpreter as the king could not talk English lie talked very broken English We then began to talk to him m his own language Ohl he said You can speak our language and you dont need an interpreter We told him we thought we were equal lor Ih2 occasion and could get along without his assistance At 10 a in we arrived at the kings place and made our bust I ness nown 10 some men who were sl ling on the veranda making kava They said Ihe King would be tree lo receive re-ceive us In a lew minutes We waited lor a short time when lit came out and Introduced himself as King Lavelua lie asked us In the house and had a man serve the kava after which wo made known to him the object ol our visit i He would I not listen to anything II ooJteGl rh we had to say about the Gospel He said he knew that the Gospel he and his people had was true and lie did not want to hear any other We asked him II t he had ever heard any other lie said he hid not nor did not wish to as he and his people were satisfied with the religion that they have We then offered turn a tract but he refused to taken We had some nice views ol Salt Like City and thought he would be pleased to look at them We there lore proflered to show them to him but he declined to look at them We tried 10 reason with hm for about an hour but he would not listen to anything we had to say to him We learned later on that some ot the priests had been at the kmgijmt prior to our visit and told him not to have anything lo do with us as we were a very low class ol people After leaving the kinds WK made our way back to Mui giving out trrcts and talking with the people wherever we were privileged to The people were very shy ana many ot them were afraid 1 to talk I with i us anXlo s a m we again arrived ar-rived at Mr Duckcrs As we went in the house Mr Ducker introduced us to a member ol Ihe police who he said hid been waiting lor us all day We asked him what we had done that he should be walling for us He said he had a message from the king to deliver to us We told him we were free to receive re-ceive it lie then read the letter which forbade us preaching or conversing with the people on the Gospel whether on the road or in the villages and also forbade us distributing any tracts among them We were watched Cry closely from that time on during our stay on the island This group li composed alone island about twentylive miles in circum erence and a few smaller ones grouped lonely around the large one It has I population of 5000 Saturday 1411 tic again boarded the schooner to sail to I utuni which lies 130 miles west ol Uvea Sunday isth al S a m Iuluna was in sight and at i p m we cast anchor in the harbor The boat had slopped but a few minutes when a number or natives came out to it In their canoes The Futuna language is much different from the Tongan therefore it was very difficult for Ali lo understand the natives This Hland is I ruled by the same power pow-er as Uvea and tile people are all Catholics Oily one European trader it living there at present Although he is a Catholic he proved to be a very true friend making us welcome at his place during OJr sojourn there The Island ol Htltuna has an area of about seventyfive njuue miles and is very mount inous It has I two kings 7 g and a population I of about 1400 M e found a few people there who were able speak the Tongan language 1 ec je lf and conversed with them I on religion and also gave them some tracts But as soon ai the priests heard of it they informed in-formed the king who sent a message to in by a member of the police brbid ding us to give tracts 0 the people and the ones that we had distributed came back to us again as the priests said t hey were ol tire devil We stayed there one week while our bol was beIng be-Ing loaded ttlih cobra ullday tile 2aad e Set sail lor Vavau leaving the hArbor all2 n m again a hood laid There were Iwentyfue native passengers on board We sailed on the starboard tack un il MX oclock Mum ay morning At that time the log was drawn in which marked mark-ed a distance ol fifty miles traveled We thin sailed on the port tick until eight ocloek when one of the sailors ml rmed Ihe captain that the boat was filling with water The latter Im inctliAtely made an examination and lrean a1 niT 1 da found leak had sprung There was then three or four feet of water in the boat and the bow began to dip under the waves Of course this caused great ftrjtcment on board althouh the klki I m p captain was cry cool and headed the tIAPt for Fnluna al Once The pumn was Immediately put 10 work and all there buckets and kegs ere used for balling I the water Irom ihi main anal lorcholds The natives knowing that it was the only chance for their live Avolked Lnesre Mic illy urging each other on by Slating It is either work or drown A A Thus the I work continued until twelve oclock try that time we had lowered the water about two feet From that time on until un-til we reached land the pump was sufficient to keep the water down On examining the boat it was round that the oakum had fallen out 01 a Joint near the surface of the water maki a gap nbobt three feet in VI length Tile nfi1 was corked as well ns it could be nl Fuluna and the cargo shifted that II might dry Thursday 261h we again set sail for Vavau This time there were no native passengers as they were afraid to trust the boat again The wind was still con tray I tit erdirewe made little headway Monday 3011 at 3 p m the bolt again sprang a leak allre Sam joint as before We Were then IH miles fran I muni 200 Iron Vavau and joj frontS front-S iva FIJI The wind being fair lor the header latter point the boat the for captain there immediately While sailIng sail-Ing un the starboard tack the pump wa tiiRMent keep the water down Friday December 4th we arrived at Suva A governmental survey was made on the boat at once and it was found to be in a very had condltlcn a numbr ol the timbers were decayed and had given way Alter enduring unh a deck passag thus fir and undergoing under-going many hardships we were pleased to get ashore where we could obtain shelter from the rain and the excessive licit of the sun while waiting the arrival ar-rival of the steamrr Irom Svdney on its way to Tonga and New Zealand Of course a had no money to pay for a house to stay In but we had neen taught by former experiences that if we would llo on the Lord He would I never forsake for-sake us Wednesday 91h It rained very hard until 4 pm I when Ihe storm abated for a short time and Elder Smith and I decided de-cided to go out in search of n place 10 stay We ere directed to Mr Nicholson Nichol-son a carpenter and on arriving at his shop ne met him and bade him good day About the first thing he said was Gentleman Is It cry uncomfortable staying on the boat during the Sturm I he jut been thinking about jour condition con-dition We told him we were now out I looking for a room to stay in during our scjourn In the city while awaiting the arrlvai of the steamer but we had no money to pay rent with lie said here is a room up stairs In the shop you can have free ol charge If you wih 10 accept 1 rcon of that kind We went and looked at the loom and lound it would answer our purpose very ell and very thinkfully accepted the same iVc then went to the boat got our valises and returned to the room About dusk Mr Niclnlsin brought in a nice warm supper From that time on until e left Suva he proved a very kind friend to us and he and his wife began to intcsllgate Ihe Gospel They said we ere the first Mormon Elders ham they had eter had the opportunity of meeting We gave them some tracts and a book to lead When they had perused them they asked a number ol questions about various principles of the uospel thus giving us a good chance to explain the Gospel them Alter conversing con-versing for some lime on the first principles of the Gospel they siid they had always had a wrong impression In their I m dste regarding relh doctrines hm f I which we tcicii and that the were pleased to learn the truth about us Our conversation was the means ol allaying al-laying much prtjjdice in their minds whch had arisen from false reports that they had 1 read and heard respecting us us a people Before we lell Suva they aid that they had a much higher opinion 01 the Mormons than before and askeJ us to send them some more tracts when we arrived at Tonga When the tune drew near lor the steamer lo arrive we called on the agent of the Union Steam hip company and then asked him what the fare was Irom 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 it he would be so kind as to let us have two tickets to Tonga and we would pay for them on arriving g at that point He said You gentlemen say you are Mormon Liters but you are strangers in the city anti how am I to know We told him there was no one in tire city it Ith ham we were acquainted except the captain and the crew of the boat which we came on He said I I believe jour people to be all right you may M in when the steamer conies and get your tickets When we called to get them he gave us a discount of ten per cent Thursday Ihe 34th we bade our friends on the Fleetwing good bye and also Mr Nicholson who had been so kind to us during our slav In Suva At I a m we boarded the Tavmni which In a low minutes began to sever herself Irom the wharf and was soon steaming olTm the mighty deep towards Samoa which lies 665 miles northwest ol Suva Fijiitto Monday the aSth t which was Sunday In Samoa as there Is a change of time between I iji and that place upon arising aris-ing I I Irom our cots we could see the island is-land Upolu in the distance and at 8 p m cast anchor in Apia harbor Elder Smith and I were soon on a small boat going ashore Wetheninadecturay alont the beach to Fagalli a distance 01 three miles wlrp e wore kindly reo calved by thirteen Elders who were very much surprised to meet us at lint time as they were not thinking of any thing of that kind We had the pleasure ol meeting Brotber Wood and two other Elders who had just arrived from Zion a few daIs Previously In the evening we held a meeting where all the Elders bore their testimonies I never before mt a more noble > band of E ders all had the spirit ol 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 respect-ing the Tonga branch of the Samoan mission Tuesday the 2jb at i > oclock we took leave of the brethren and went to Apia and boarded the steamer which began to sail at 5 p m lor Vavau After a run ol thirty eight hours over a very rough sea we arrived at Neialu 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 so much longer than we expected on our trio We here received lur mail from Zion and if there Is any one thing that causes an Hider heart lo rejoice more than another it Is to receive good news from his dear one al 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 Haapii and arrived at that point at 5 p m Eider Smith and I got the permission per-mission from the purser to go ashore in the ships boat As the little 1 boat drew near the shore we saw Elders George W Sh II und Archie 1J licruum coming up to the beach where we were going 10 limit We had 0 good hearty handshake hand-shake and conversed with them about twenty mmUllS when lIe whl tie began I 10 blow and we had 10 Lid Ihem guod bye and return tn the steaer which was soon IJwlng the u ovts it 1 r Ton galabu January the IS al S a m the steamer made connection with tire wharl at Nukualola TongAlahu Soon after we gal ashore we were mel by Elders George Al LtonArd and George W Home who cmy fn to gel their mail and lake us back across the 13oon 10 the mission house There are many things connected with ou trip that would be worthy ol note butler want of space I have tried to be finer Utirs R tt ELKIIR lMrS oaT A SMITH |
