The chief arose, and, on opening his eyes, beheld the same glaring lights, and heard the same ominous sound.Impelled by the extreme urgency of the case, he commenced, with all possible vehemence, to vociferate the alphabet, as a prayer to God to deliver them from the vengeance of Satan! On hearing this, the cat, as much alarmed as themselves, fled precipitately away, leaving the chief and his wife congratulating themselves on the efficacy of their prayer."We were much diverted with this anecdote, which the teacher related in English so good, that we certainly could not have supposed him a native but for the colour of his face and the foreign accent in his tone.Next day we walked out with this interesting man, and were much entertained and instructed by his conversation, as we rambled through the cool shady groves of bananas, citrons, limes, and other trees, or sauntered among the cottages of the natives, and watched them while they laboured diligently in the taro beds, or manufactured the tapa or native cloth.To some of these Jack put questions through the medium of the missionary; and the replies were such as to surprise us at the extent of their knowledge.
Indeed, Peterkin very truly remarked that "they seemed to know a considerable deal more than Jack himself!"Among other pieces of interesting information that we obtained was the following, in regard to coral formations:-"The islands of the Pacific," said our friend, "are of three different kinds or classes.Those of the first class are volcanic, mountainous, and wild; some shooting their jagged peaks into the clouds at an elevation of ten and fifteen thousand feet.Those of the second class are of crystalized limestone, and vary in height from one hundred to five hundred feet.The hills on these are not so wild or broken as those of the first class, but are richly clothed with vegetation, and very beautiful.I have no doubt that the Coral Island on which you were wrecked was one of this class.
They are supposed to have been upheaved from the bottom of the sea by volcanic agency, but they are not themselves volcanic in their nature, neither are they of coral formation.Those of the third class are the low coralline islands usually having lagoons of water in their midst; they are very numerous.
"As to the manner in which coral islands and reefs are formed;there are various opinions on this point.I will give you what seems to me the most probable theory, - a theory, I may add, which is held by some of the good and scientific missionaries.It is well known that there is much lime in salt water; it is also known that coral is composed of lime.It is supposed that the polypes, or coral insects, have the power of attracting this lime to their bodies; and with this material they build their little cells or habitations.They choose the summit of a volcano, or the top of a submarine mountain, as a foundation on which to build; for it is found that they never work at any great depth below the surface.
On this they work; the polypes on the mountain top, of course, reach the surface first, then those at the outer edges reach the top sooner than the others between them and the centre, thus forming the coral reef surrounding the lagoon of water and the central island; after that the insects within the lagoon cease working.When the surface of the water is reached, these myriads of wonderful creatures die.Then birds visit the spot, and seeds are thus conveyed thither, which take root, and spring up, and flourish.Thus are commenced those coralline islets of which you have seen so many in these seas.The reefs round the large islands are formed in a similar manner.When we consider," added the missionary, "the smallness of the architects used by our heavenly Father in order to form those lovely and innumerable islands, we are filled with much of that feeling which induced the ancient king to exclaim, 'How manifold, O God, are thy works! in wisdom thou hast made them all.'"We all heartily agreed with the missionary in this sentiment, and felt not a little gratified to find that the opinions which Jack and I had been led to form from personal observation on our Coral Island were thus to a great extent corroborated.
The missionary also gave us an account of the manner in which Christianity had been introduced among them.He said: "When missionaries were first sent here, three years ago, a small vessel brought them; and the chief, who is now dead, promised to treat well the two native teachers who were left with their wives on the island.But scarcely had the boat which landed them returned to the ship, than the natives began to maltreat their guests, taking away all they possessed, and offering them further violence, so that, when the boat was sent in haste to fetch them away, the clothes of both men and women were torn nearly off their backs.
"Two years after this the vessel visited them again, and I, being in her, volunteered to land alone, without any goods whatever;begging that my wife might be brought to me the following year, -that is, THIS year; and, as you see, she is with me.But the surf was so high that the boat could not land me; so with nothing on but my trousers and shirt, and with a few catechisms and a Bible, besides some portions of the Scripture translated into the Mango tongue, I sprang into the sea, and swam ashore on the crest of a breaker.I was instantly dragged up the beach by the natives; who, on finding I had nothing worth having upon me, let me alone.Ithen made signs to my friends in the ship to leave me; which they did.At fist the natives listened to me in silence, but laughed at what I said while I preached the gospel of our blessed Saviour Jesus Christ to them.Afterwards they treated me ill sometimes;but I persevered, and continued to dwell among them, and dispute, and exhort them to give up their sinful ways of life, burn their idols, and come to Jesus.
