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"An Outlying Hamlet," etc. 1902. |
"Wherefore glorify ye the Lord in the east, even the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel, in the Isles of the Sea."--ISAIAH xxiv. 15 (R. V.)
Note on Names and Pronunciation
Chapter I. Where is Melanesia?
Chapter II. Norfolk Island and Santa Cruz
Chapter III. In Mota and Merelava
Chapter IV. "Besopè"
Chapter V. What People Said when They Heard it
Chapter VI. Five Years' Interval
Chapter VII. Two Cruzian Castaways
Chapter VIII. Everyday Life at Norfolk Island
Chapter IX. Changes and Developments
Chapter X. In Ysabel: Bera's Mourning
Chapter XI. The New Chiefs of Bugotu
Chapter XII. Soga's Mourning
Chapter XIII. Florida Chiefs and Teachers
Chapter XIV. The Village of Mango
Chapter XV. The First Vaukolu--1888
Chapter XVI. "A Centipede"
Chapter XVII. The Vaukolu of To-day--1901
Chapter XVIII. Guadalcanar and Mala
Chapter XIX. Ulawa--A First Sermon
Chapter XX. Taki
Chapter XXI. Santa Cruz
Chapter XXII. Waiting at Toga
Chapter XXIII. Mota and Motalava
Chapter XXIV. Up-To-Date--Forty Years Ago and To-day
Appendix I. Head-hunting
Appendix II. Labour Traffic
Appendix III. Political and Ecclesiastical Spheres
Appendix IV. "Footprints"
Appendix V. General Statistics of the Present Day
Map of the South Seas.
THERE is already so much printed literature about the Melanesian Mission, that it seems at first sight as if another book on the subject could not be needed; but the very plenteousness of the supply has been found to confuse and discourage the would-be reader. He does not know where to begin.
Therefore the authorities have felt there was room for a short statement of facts, which would act as an index to those who are anxious to study the subject in the existing literature; whilst it would tell the general reader who does not wish to give much time to learning about each particular Mission, what the Melanesian Church has done and is doing. It could in no way rival Mrs. Armstrong's most interesting History, which is, and will long remain, the standard authority on the subject.
It had at first been intended that the book should take the form of a continuation to "The Story of a Fellow Soldier," a small life of Bishop Patteson, written some thirty years ago by the present author, but as the scheme developed it was found necessary to tell the story from the very beginning, although years of the Founder, and of Melanesia's first Bishop, have been merely sketched in.
The author can claim to be very little beyond a compiler. The story has been largely told in the words of the Missionaries themselves, but she hopes that her love for the subject may be found to have enabled her to arrange the materials in an attractive form. It has been grievous to have to leave out so much that is of the deepest interest.
[viii] It is impossible to thank by name all who have so kindly helped her in the. work--Mrs. John Selwyn, Dr. Codrington, and the Rev. J. Still, as well as those at present on the Mission staff. She has been largely indebted to Bishop Montgomery's "Light of Melanesia" and to the Rev. C. W. Browning's papers on the Solomon Islands, in the Evangelist Monthly of 1901; whilst personal help has been given her by the last named, as well as by the Rev. H. Welchman, and, above all, by the Organizing Secretary, the Rev. L. P. Robin. Without the constant co-operation of the latter the work could not have been done, and she feels it impossible adequately to thank him for the time and trouble he has given up to it.
Such as the little venture is, it goes forth to the world with earnest hopes that it may be used for God's glory and the good of His Church in Melanesia.
Winchester, December, 1902.