AS we were leaving the Tahitian harbor we encountered a strong headwind, and beat our way against wind and waves until our little schooner9 became somewhat disabled. Provisions began to be scarce, and everything seemed to be against us. Finally we changed our course, heading for Tubuoi. When we got within about eighty miles of that island, our food supply became exhausted; we had not one mouthful on board, and were in a dead calm for some time. Then a gentle breeze sprang up and wafted10 us to port, where we arrived on November 29th. Before this relief, however, we suffered considerably11 from lack of food.
I supposed that I had to remain on board the schooner until it was ready to sail for Raivavai; but when Pitamai Vehene, the queen, heard that I had been banished12 she came off in her own canoe and invited me to go ashore with her, saying, "This is my island, and the French have no right here. I will be responsible for all the trouble that may arise." As the brethren and general authorities of the island thought it was safe to do so, I accepted the invitation, going ashore in the queen's canoe, and remained on the island till December 8th. Then I boarded the little schooner again, and we started for Raivavai, where we landed on the 9th, and found President Pratt in good health.
On December 10th, Elder Pratt sailed away in the schooner, leaving me to take his place in presiding over the interests of the Church on the island. Brother Pratt's friends became my friends, and gave me food and shelter. There were eight Church members on the island; all the rest of the inhabitants, three hundred and eighty-three in number, opposed us, many of them being the most savage and rudest I had met—in fact, they were scarce removed from cannibalism13. Some of them did not hesitate to tell of their experiences in eating human flesh, and that they had sacrificed infant children to their idols14. They showed the coals before their heathen gods, where they had roasted their babes. Some of them felt proud to relate these things, saying it was in their heathenish days, before the Gospel had come to their land, but now they thought it very bad, and they had no disposition15 to repeat their evil deeds.
I was shown to the house of Governor Fate, who received me very kindly16. He and his wife had received the Gospel on Anaa, and although he was the legal heir to the throne, as they called it, through his joining the Church he had lost much of his influence. But he was a very good man, rendering17 me all the assistance in his power, while I visited from house to house, trying to make the acquaintance of the people. I went to every home on the island, endeavoring to inform the people on the Gospel, but they were unwilling to give heed18, and treated me with marked indifference19, often passing by and looking as surly as mad bulls.
The island was not to exceed fourteen miles in circumference20, its high and very rugged21 peaks penetrating22 the clouds, which nearly always were hanging over and about. The mountains were so steep as to defy all but the wild goats, of which there were some hundreds among the cragged rocks. It was said that the beginning of the existence of these animals on the island was that a sea captain had turned three or four pairs of them loose some years before, and they had increased to hundreds.
Having satisfied my curiosity by traveling over and around the island, visiting the ancient places of worship and seeing the heathen gods and places of skulls24 and sacrifice, I again called at every house, trying to become more friendly and sociable25 with the people; but the same stolid26 feelings still prevailed. I attended their meetings, told them my business in the land, and asked the privilege of preaching to them. Part were favorable, and part were not. I baptized a few, and that caused much excitement.
A council was called to adopt some way by which the islanders could get rid of Mormonism and the American plant, as they called me. Some proposed to fasten the "plant" on a log, and tow it out to sea, where the sharks would eat it, while others suggested burning or making a roast of me.
At last the matter was carried so far that it was decided28 that I must leave the island or be killed. I learned that they had just about decided on the latter course, so I hastened to go before the council to try and allay29 their feelings, if possible, and appease30 their wrath31, but I found it utterly32 impossible to reason with them. My presence, instead of having a conciliatory effect, created the wildest confusion. I was confronted by a native called Tabate, who was a very stout33, heavy set man, and who exclaimed, "I will slay34 you!" At that moment my friend, Governor Fate, stepped between us, and some of the more peaceably disposed took hold of Tabate, while my friends insisted that I leave the house to save bloodshed, saying that Tabate was a very desperate man, but if I left the room they thought the council could restrain him. Accordingly I withdrew with my friends. The council had a hot time of it for awhile, but finally the more consistent party prevailed, so that the matter passed over for the time being. Still, a bad feeling rankled35 in their bosoms36, and I could hear threats that the more rabid party was going to have a fat missionary37 for a roast.
Although this bitterness continued with many of the people, I baptized some twenty souls, and blessed several infants. I also administered to the sick, and, as I can now remember, all were healed but one child, which died of hip23 disease, it being a mere38 skeleton when I was called.
Other councils were held to see what could be done to get rid of the "plant Mormonism, from America," before it spread over the island and became master. But the friends and relatives of those who belonged to the Church would oppose any harsh measures, saying, "Wait until our missionaries39 of the English church come and we hear what they say."
Now, Elder Pratt had baptized one man who was seventy-five or eighty years of age. He was one of the first born, and his feet had never been wet in salt water. His name was Tauteni (thousand), because he had slain40 so many people in war, and he could count skulls in his mori or place of skulls, with the best of them. He was well acquainted with the taste of human flesh; had been a great high priest of the natives in their heathenish days, and was supposed to have great influence with the spirits of men. He had a grand-daughter who was said to be the heir to the throne. This girl was brought forward by the old man for baptism. He had reared her, and her parents being willing, I baptized her. This created great excitement and another council was held, where feelings ran so high that it was very hard to conciliate our opponents. But the old man told them that it was his and her father's fault, and not the missionary's, that she was baptized. The girl, whose name was Teraa, also declared that it was by her wish and not mine that she became a member of the Church. This cooled them down a little, but occasionally local difficulties would arise, and the natives would take sides and arm themselves for war. One time I heard the shrieks41 of the women, and the warwhoops of and commands given among the men.
Although, one day when I was stopping at a village called Tatake, I had heard that there was going to be a battle fought, such rumors42 were so frequent that I did not pay much attention thereto till I heard the warwhoops and shouts. Then I jumped up, ran out, and beheld43 thirty to forty men coming from the upper village, Anatomu. They were armed with muskets44, and were in their war costumes, dancing and going through the manoeuvres peculiar45 to the natives just before going into an action. At the same time another party was approaching from the inland village of Atibona. These, too, were ready, and with their drums, whistles and shrieks made quite a showing. Still there were some among them inclined to conciliation46 rather than war.
With my friends, I went out and plead with the two parties to be reconciled, and finally we prevailed so that both bodies of men retired47 without fighting, and a few of each party met and shook hands, some of both parties seeming friendly to us for a time.
For a short time after this we had comparative quiet, yet threats came about the Mormons, and there was talk of taxing us for the support of the Protestant church. Our brethren claimed rights in the school and meeting houses, but were refused these; then they threatened to burst open the houses, and came to me to get my sanction to do so; but I could not consent to being a party to such a movement, knowing that would give the enemy the pretext48 they wanted, in order to carry out their threats. My party was not pleased with my position, and threatened to break in the houses anyway, and assert their rights to occupancy. I told them that if they did I would disown them; that they could not be my brethren if they indulged in anything of the kind, as it was for us to be on the side of peace and defense49, and not to be aggressors. Finally they said they would obey my counsel. Then things passed along more smoothly50 for a time.
Soon a schooner came from the island of Ruruta, with about one hundred passengers on board. They brought the alleged51 news that all the American Elders had left Tubuoi, and were going home. These passengers also seemed to have been well posted in all the old slanders27 about the Church, and with many new ones about the Elders. These slanders were industriously52 circulated by the new comers, who said that the people of Tubuoi were glad that the Mormons had left their land. From these stories, and the persecutions the Saints had endured on the island, the few Church members grew sorrowful and discouraged. When I went from Anatomu to Tatake, I found two of the native brethren and two sisters very sad, and as soon as we met they gave vent5 to their pent-up feelings, wept bitterly, and said that I had to leave the island, and they intended to follow me, no matter where I went. I told them not to fear, and tried to pacify53 them as best I could.
At our next appointment for a meeting there were but five out of thirty attended. This seemed strange, for there always had been a full attendance; but now everyone was sad and gloomy. The spirit of mobocracy seemed to thrive on the filthy54 slanders that had come by the Ruruta schooner. Meetings were called and threats made. Clouds of darkness lowered and filled the atmosphere; the spirit of death seemed to hover55 around, for the boisterousness56 of the people had given way to a sullen57, murderous disposition, more to be dreaded58 than when there was abundance of noise and threats.
At this time two young Protestant ministers came and made three or four inflammatory speeches, telling the people that they had admitted a wolf into the fold, and if they did not get rid of him the ministers would not call again. "Drive him off, and pluck up that American plant, or it will overshadow your land, and control you," said they. Thus the wild and heathenish passion was fanned into a lively flame of renewed persecution. Yet, strange to say, when the spirit of death seemed to rest most heavily upon us, the brethren and sisters returned to me with renewed zeal, and all but two men stood firm thereafter.
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1
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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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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unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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vent
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| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
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6
retaliate
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| v.报复，反击 | |
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persecution
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| n. 迫害,烦扰 | |
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zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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9
schooner
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| n.纵帆船 | |
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wafted
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| v.吹送，飘送，（使）浮动( waft的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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11
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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12
banished
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| v.放逐，驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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13
cannibalism
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| n.同类相食；吃人肉 | |
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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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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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rendering
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| n.表现，描写 | |
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heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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circumference
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| n.圆周，周长，圆周线 | |
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rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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23
hip
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| n.臀部，髋；屋脊 | |
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skulls
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| 颅骨( skull的名词复数 )； 脑袋； 脑子； 脑瓜 | |
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25
sociable
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| adj.好交际的，友好的，合群的 | |
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stolid
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| adj.无动于衷的，感情麻木的 | |
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slanders
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| 诽谤，诋毁( slander的名词复数 ) | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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allay
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| v.消除，减轻(恐惧、怀疑等) | |
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30
appease
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| v.安抚，缓和，平息，满足 | |
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31
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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32
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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34
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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rankled
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| v.（使）痛苦不已，（使）怨恨不已( rankle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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bosoms
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| 胸部( bosom的名词复数 )； 胸怀； 女衣胸部（或胸襟）； 和爱护自己的人在一起的情形 | |
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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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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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missionaries
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| n.传教士( missionary的名词复数 ) | |
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40
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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shrieks
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| n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
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42
rumors
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| n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷 | |
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43
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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44
muskets
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| n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
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45
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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46
conciliation
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| n.调解，调停 | |
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47
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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48
pretext
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| n.借口，托词 | |
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49
defense
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| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
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50
smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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51
alleged
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| a.被指控的，嫌疑的 | |
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52
industriously
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53
pacify
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| vt.使(某人)平静(或息怒)；抚慰 | |
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54
filthy
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| adj.卑劣的；恶劣的，肮脏的 | |
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55
hover
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| vi.翱翔，盘旋；徘徊；彷徨，犹豫 | |
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56
boisterousness
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| n.喧闹；欢跃；（风暴）狂烈 | |
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57
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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58
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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