LEAVING the revolting subject of cannibalism10, I will return to our missionary11 labors12. Peace and quiet having been restored, the people assembled in Putuhara on October 5th for conference, Elder James S. Brown presiding. After reports of the various branches had been made, as presiding Elder I reported the condition of the Church generally on the island, made a few opening remarks, and called on the different Elders to speak. One after another these referred to themselves and the people generally having a desire for me to write home to the Church authorities, to get a missionary to each village. All spoke13 of their love for the Gospel, and their wish to have it preached on all the adjacent islands. There was such enthusiasm among the people that it seemed unwise to hold a lengthy14 conference. The zeal15 of the people there was such that it well nigh drove them into a frenzy16; so after the business of the conference had been done, I addressed them on the object of a house of worship, that it was a place in which to worship the true and living God, and not a dancehouse or a place to have lawsuits17, quarreling, fighting, and worshiping of idols18 in, as they had been doing. A motion was made and carried that our building be kept exclusively for a house of worship. Thus everything else was forbidden by the landholders. At the close of the conference eight persons were baptized and confirmed.
The schools of the different villages met on October 6th, to read and spell in friendly contest. October 7th, the school in Putuhara had increased to one hundred pupils. That day the rougher element of the place assembled again in their wild dancing; they sold their jewelry19 for fat dogs and pigs. On the 11th, the non-Mormon women of the place prepared a great feast for us, and turned it over with pride, saying, "Here is a token of our love for you, and we desire you to accept it and remain in our town and teach us of the Lord."
We preached on Sunday, the 12th, and on that day also baptized and confirmed five persons. Next day, school was opened with one hundred pupils. A great deal of sickness was reported in the town. On the 14th, school was continued in good order, and we departed in a small canoe for Otapipi, where we found the people pleased to see us. The school there was intact. Next day I wrote to Elder Alviras Hanks that I had heard of his having been cast away on another island.
Sunday, October 19th, I preached, and baptized two persons. On the 24th I went to Temaraia, where I met with more opposition from the Catholic priest, with regard to school matters, and learned that he had bribed Governor Telidha, also Parai, the mouthpiece of the town, as he was called. Having them for his backing, the priest was very bold and defiant20, and no doubt thought that by keeping up an excitement the Catholics would gain some support for the foul21 and false charges which he had made against me. By the means I have named, the priest got a decision against us, and for the first time we were compelled to yield, but much against the people's desires. Still, all settled down from high excitement to peace and quiet, till October 28th, when the French frigate22 Durance made its appearance northwest of the island.
The warship had on board the governor's aide de camp, who landed at Tuuhora with his guards. On the 29th he crossed the lagoon23 to Temaraia, where we were. At 8 p.m., while I was engaged in expounding the scriptures to a few of the natives, in came a French gen d' arme and a native officer. They presented me with a warrant, which, being in the French language, I could not read. The officers stood for a minute or so, when I gave them to understand that I was unable to decipher the document. Thereupon the native officer said that it meant that I was to appear before the governor's aide de camp, down at the stockade24, at 9 o'clock, and if I did not come willingly, they had orders to drag me there like a dog. They being armed with swords and pistols, I thought it wisest to go willingly, especially as there was no chance to do otherwise. The officers were quite haughty25, yet somewhat nervous, for they had been told that I was prepared to make a strong resistance. Of course, I accompanied them readily and without a word, and was soon ushered26 into the august presence of the governor's aide. I found him seated in a small room, in which were four or five other officers and a few soldiers armed with muskets27 and cutlasses. When I entered, the interpreter arose, read a long list of charges, and asked for my plea. I answered not guilty to each accusation.
It will be remembered by the reader that when I first landed on the island I sketched28, at the request of some of the natives, a rough outline of the United States, pointing out my birthplace, also Salt Lake City, and where gold had been discovered in California. From that time the Catholic priests had conspired29 to entrap30 me, to break my influence, and to close my schools.
The charges against me began, as near as I now remember them, and with memory refreshed from brief notes taken at the time, by an assertion that I had subverted31 the laws of the French protectorate; had interfered32 with government schools; had hoisted33 the American flag; had enrolled34 some three thousand men for the American government, to be controlled by the Mormon Church; had armed the men; was a civil engineer of no mean ability; had ordered the people to demolish35 some of the towns, and rebuild with better fortifications; that my walk and general movements indicated military ability, and undoubtedly36 I had been brought up at a military school in the United States; that I had mapped out plans of defense37; had great power with the native people, and was capable of doing much mischief38 in the country. These, and many other charges of a frivolous39 nature, were in the list, all of them without the slightest foundation in fact, except that I had much influence with the people.
I stated that I proposed to prove myself innocent of every one of the accusations40 made. To this the officer made answer that they had the most positive proof to establish the charges, which were very serious. He gave me two hours to settle my business, and see friends, when I would have to return to the stockade and stay where the governor's aide thought proper. The next day I was to be taken on board the man-of-war. and go as a prisoner to Tahiti, for trial.
Upon receiving this information, I claimed the right to be tried where I was accused of having committed the offense41, and where I had the witnesses in my behalf. "No;" said the officer, "your crime is too great to be tried before any less authority than the governor." I asked to have witnesses summoned, and the officer inquired if I had any way of taking them to Tahiti. He knew, of course, that I was helpless in that regard, and being so answered, told his men to take me in charge. Accordingly, they marched me to where the arrest had been made.
I gathered up some of my effects, bade goodbye to my friends, and returned to the stockade. There I was ordered to a seat under an open shed till daylight, being guarded by two lustful42 police, who took unwarranted liberty with some lewd43 females, behaving most shamefully44 in the prisoner's presence. My friends brought bedding for me and attempted to spread it, but were rudely driven away by the guards, who took turns at pacing in front of me, while the other interested himself with the females spoken of, who were void of shame.
That night I was mortified47 and disgusted as I never had been before with peace officers. At last the long night wore past, and dawn appeared. Then close to my right, in a stockade, I saw about fifteen native cannibals, who could barely hide their nakedness. They had been captured by French soldiers on some island in the north, and were accused of killing48, upon different occasions, the white crews of three small schooners49. They were also charged with eating their victims, as well as robbing and scuttling50 the schooners.
I took my last glance at those fierce-looking monsters just at sunrise on October 30th, when I was called before the aide de camp to sign my name four times in English, and four times in the Tahitian language. Then I was ordered into a filthy51 old boat that was used to collect oil. The boat's crew were rough and dirty, and scoffed52 and jeered54 at me and otherwise made the sail across the lagoon to Tuuhora as disagreeable as they could.
When we landed at Tuuhora it was among about one hundred and fifty French marines. They, too, must jeer53, and satisfy their curiosity by gathering55 around and impertinently staring me in the face, jabbering56 together and laughing, while the natives met me with sympathy expressed in their countenances57. Two soldiers kept close to me, however, and did not allow much opportunity for conversation with anyone. I was served with a bowl of fish broth58 and a small piece of bread, and when this was eaten I was ordered to the landing, to one of the boats from the warship. By this time there were probably five hundred native people gathered. These followed to the boat, declaring that where their missionary went they would go, too, and saying, "It is the Catholic priests who have done this, with their lies."
The news of the arrest had been heralded59 during the night to every village, and boats and canoes were coming in, laden60 with sympathizing friends, not only Church members, but full as many that did not belong to the Church. They said, "E mea hama teie" (a shameful45 thing, this). The excitement became so general that the guard was increased to about twenty armed men, and the prisoner was urged to hurry into the boat. As the water was from shoe-top to knee-deep between the shore and the boat, I attempted to take off my shoes and turn my pants up, but I was forbidden to stop, and was crowded into the vessel61. When I reached it, it was full of sympathizing men, women and children, weeping and accusing the Catholic priests. Fully46 five hundred people lined the shore, some with rolls of bedding, while others were laden down with baskets of cocoanuts.
When the guards arrived with their prisoner, the boat was ordered cleared, and as the native people were rather slow to obey the command, the soldiers pricked62 them with their cutlasses and bayonets. I was urged into the boat, which was soon manned, and the boatmen soon pulled from the shore, while many scores of people wept aloud, shrieking63 out my native name, "Iatobo, Iatobo; no te Catholic te i a ne peapea" (James, James, of the Catholics this trouble). They waved handkerchiefs as long as we could see them.
As the boat was going out to the ship, it ran into what seemed to us to be hundreds or even thousands of whales. For a while the sea seemed to be black with them. At the same time the boatmen took in their oars64 and became pale and still as death, lest the monsters should take fright and knock us into eternity65 and the boat into splinters. The oarsmen were better aware of the danger than I was, and were ashy pale. Indeed, it may have been the same with me for aught I know, for I did not see my own face as I saw theirs. But I had been where cattle stampeded, where the wild buffalo66 was rampant67, or wild mustangs were charging by thousands on the plains by night and by day; had been surrounded by packs of fierce and hungry wolves; had been in the brush when grizzly68 bear were thick around, or when rattlesnake and deadly viper69 hissed70 in my ears; and I had been chased by savage71 Indians; still I do not remember a time when I felt that every hair on my head was trying to let on end more than I did for a few moments as these great sea monsters glided72 past so near that we could almost put our hands on their long, black backs, while they shot by swiftly, spouting73 the briny74 spray almost in our faces. The thought of the loss of the boat did not concern me so much as it did to think how easy it was for a whale, at one stroke of its monster tail, to make of us convenient shark's food. While in this truly great peril75, minutes seemed hours to us, and when it passed we breathed freely again, and soon gained the great warship that was lying off shore, for there was no harbor or anchorage at that island.
I was next required to try a new experiment, to me, that of climbing a rope ladder up the side of a ship as the latter rolled and pitched in the waves. After a struggle I succeeded in reaching the deck in safety, there to be surrounded by the marines as though I had been a wild beast. When their curiosity had been satisfied, I was ordered down on to what was called Swaltses' battery, the gun deck. There I found that as I walked my head came in uncomfortable contact with the beams of the upper deck, and at each one I had to duck my head. This greatly amused the marines, and they got a mopstick, a broomstick, or any kind of a stick. Some would press the sticks on the sides of their noses, while others held theirs back of them, poking76 their sticks up so as to hit the beams above. Then they would form into a squad77 and march by and duck heads with me, while some were giving commands which I supposed meant, "Left, duck, left duck"—at any rate, that was the action. Then they would shout and laugh.
Soon meal time came, and I was conducted into the hold of the ship, and there assigned to a small, filthy room. There was an old chair in it, and a bunk78 without bedding. The room swarmed79 with cockroaches, which seemed to be thicker than flies. I was served with a bowl of fish broth, and one small loaf of bread and a bottle of wine, for the day's rations80. Then an officer called me to follow him to the upper deck and to the bow of the ship, where he made me understand, by unmistakable motions, that I was to use the chains for a water closet. In disgust I remembered that I was among Frenchmen, the most stylish81, the proudest, and the most fashionable people in the world. I was an American, "honored" with two uniformed and armed French attendants, who never left me alone only when I was in my room, following me everywhere, allowing none to obstruct82 my path, and even being careful to keep me from falling out through the portholes, as, when I leaned over a big gun to look out upon the deep, they would take me by the arm, lead me away, and show me the big hole in the deck, and my room.
By this time the writer began to understand French courtesy, under some conditions, and to realize his own situation. He asked himself what the outcome would be, he reviewed every action performed on the island of Anaa, and could not see wherein he had trenched upon anybody's rights or done anything against the law. He failed to discover one intentional83 or other wrong; so he felt to trust in the Lord, and made himself as contented84 as possible, though he found the boards in the berth85 as hard as American boards, notwithstanding that they were French lumber86.
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1
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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bribed
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| v.贿赂( bribe的过去式和过去分词 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂 | |
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warship
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| n.军舰，战舰 | |
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expounding
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| 论述，详细讲解( expound的现在分词 ) | |
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scriptures
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| 经文，圣典( scripture的名词复数 )； 经典 | |
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accusation
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| n.控告，指责，谴责 | |
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cockroaches
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| n.蟑螂( cockroach的名词复数 ) | |
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filth
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| n.肮脏，污物，污秽；淫猥 | |
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plank
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| n.板条，木板，政策要点，政纲条目 | |
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cannibalism
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| n.同类相食；吃人肉 | |
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missionary
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| adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士 | |
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labors
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| v.努力争取(for)( labor的第三人称单数 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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14
lengthy
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| adj.漫长的，冗长的 | |
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zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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lawsuits
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| n.诉讼( lawsuit的名词复数 ) | |
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idols
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| 偶像( idol的名词复数 )； 受崇拜的人或物； 受到热爱和崇拜的人或物； 神像 | |
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19
jewelry
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| n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝 | |
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defiant
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| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
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foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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frigate
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| n.护航舰，大型驱逐舰 | |
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lagoon
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| n.泻湖，咸水湖 | |
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stockade
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| n.栅栏，围栏；v.用栅栏防护 | |
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haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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muskets
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| n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
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28
sketched
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| v.草拟（sketch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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conspired
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| 密谋( conspire的过去式和过去分词 )； 搞阴谋； （事件等）巧合； 共同导致 | |
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30
entrap
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| v.以网或陷阱捕捉，使陷入圈套 | |
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31
subverted
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| v.颠覆，破坏（政治制度、宗教信仰等）( subvert的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某人）道德败坏或不忠 | |
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interfered
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| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
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33
hoisted
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| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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enrolled
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| adj.入学登记了的v.[亦作enrol]( enroll的过去式和过去分词 )；登记，招收，使入伍（或入会、入学等），参加，成为成员；记入名册；卷起，包起 | |
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demolish
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| v.拆毁(建筑物等)，推翻(计划、制度等) | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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defense
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| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
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mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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frivolous
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| adj.轻薄的；轻率的 | |
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accusations
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| n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名 | |
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offense
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| n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪 | |
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42
lustful
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| a.贪婪的；渴望的 | |
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43
lewd
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| adj.淫荡的 | |
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44
shamefully
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| 可耻地； 丢脸地； 不体面地； 羞耻地 | |
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shameful
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| adj.可耻的，不道德的 | |
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46
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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47
mortified
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| v.使受辱( mortify的过去式和过去分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等） | |
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48
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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schooners
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| n.（有两个以上桅杆的）纵帆船( schooner的名词复数 ) | |
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50
scuttling
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| n.船底穿孔，打开通海阀（沉船用）v.使船沉没( scuttle的现在分词 )；快跑，急走 | |
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51
filthy
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| adj.卑劣的；恶劣的，肮脏的 | |
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52
scoffed
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| 嘲笑，嘲弄( scoff的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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53
jeer
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| vi.嘲弄，揶揄；vt.奚落；n.嘲笑，讥评 | |
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54
jeered
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| v.嘲笑( jeer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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55
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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56
jabbering
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| v.急切而含混不清地说( jabber的现在分词 )；急促兴奋地说话；结结巴巴 | |
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57
countenances
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| n.面容( countenance的名词复数 )；表情；镇静；道义支持 | |
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broth
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| n.原(汁)汤(鱼汤、肉汤、菜汤等) | |
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heralded
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| v.预示( herald的过去式和过去分词 )；宣布（好或重要） | |
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laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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61
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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62
pricked
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| 刺，扎，戳( prick的过去式和过去分词 )； 刺伤； 刺痛； 使剧痛 | |
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63
shrieking
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| v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 ) | |
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64
oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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65
eternity
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| n.不朽，来世；永恒，无穷 | |
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66
buffalo
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| n.(北美)野牛；(亚洲)水牛 | |
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67
rampant
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| adj.(植物)蔓生的；狂暴的，无约束的 | |
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grizzly
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| adj.略为灰色的，呈灰色的；n.灰色大熊 | |
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viper
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| n.毒蛇；危险的人 | |
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70
hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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71
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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72
glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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73
spouting
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| n.水落管系统v.（指液体）喷出( spout的现在分词 )；滔滔不绝地讲；喋喋不休地说；喷水 | |
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74
briny
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| adj.盐水的；很咸的；n.海洋 | |
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75
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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76
poking
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| n. 刺，戳，袋 vt. 拨开，刺，戳 vi. 戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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77
squad
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| n.班，小队，小团体；vt.把…编成班或小组 | |
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78
bunk
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| n.(车、船等倚壁而设的)铺位；废话 | |
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79
swarmed
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| 密集( swarm的过去式和过去分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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80
rations
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| 定量( ration的名词复数 )； 配给量； 正常量； 合理的量 | |
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81
stylish
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| adj.流行的，时髦的；漂亮的，气派的 | |
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82
obstruct
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| v.阻隔，阻塞(道路、通道等)；n.阻碍物，障碍物 | |
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83
intentional
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| adj.故意的，有意（识）的 | |
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84
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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85
berth
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| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
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86
lumber
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| n.木材，木料；v.以破旧东西堆满；伐木；笨重移动 | |
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