登陆注册
15421800000089

第89章

The schooner was now put before the wind, and, after making a long run to the south'ard, we put about and beat up for the south side of Mango, where we arrived before sunset, and hove-to off the coral reef.Here we awaited the arrival of a canoe, which immediately put off on our rounding to.When it arrived, a mild-looking native, of apparently forty years of age, came on board, and, taking off his straw hat, made us a low bow.He was clad in a respectable suit of European clothes; and the first words he uttered, as he stepped up to Jack and shook hands with him, were, -"Good day, gentlemen; we are happy to see you at Mango - you are heartily welcome."After returning his salutation, Jack exclaimed, "You must be the native missionary teacher of whom I have heard - are you not?""I am.I have the joy to be a servant of the Lord Jesus at this station.""You're the very man I want to see, then," replied Jack; "that's lucky.Come down to the cabin, friend, and have a glass of wine.

I wish particularly to speak with you.My men there" (pointing to Peterkin and me) "will look after your people.""Thank you," said the teacher, as he followed Jack to the cabin, "Ido not drink wine or any strong drink."

"Oh! then, there's lots of water, and you can have biscuit.""Now, 'pon my word, that's cool!" said Peterkin; "his MEN, forsooth! Well, since we are to be men, we may as well come it as strong over these black chaps as we can.Hallo, there!" he cried to the half dozen of natives who stood upon the deck, gazing in wonder at all they saw, "here's for you;" and he handed them a tray of broken biscuit and a can of water.Then, thrusting his hands into his pockets, he walked up and down the deck with an enormous swagger, whistling vociferously.

In about half an hour Jack and the teacher came on deck, and the latter, bidding us a cheerful good evening, entered his canoe and paddled to the shore.When he was gone, Peterkin stepped up to Jack, and, touching his cap, said, -"Well, captain, have you any communications to make to your MEN?""Yes," cried Jack; "ready about, mind the helm and clew up your tongue, while I con the schooner through the passage in the reef.

The teacher, who seems a first-rate fellow, says it's quite deep, and good anchorage within the lagoon close to the shore."While the vessel was slowly advancing to her anchorage, under a light breeze, Jack explained to us that Avatea was still on the island, living amongst the heathens; that she had expressed a strong desire to join the Christians, but Tararo would not let her, and kept her constantly in close confinement.

"Moreover," continued Jack, "I find that she belongs to one of the Samoan Islands, where Christianity had been introduced long before her capture by the heathens of a neighbouring island; and the very day after she was taken, she was to have joined the church which had been planted there by that excellent body, the London Missionary Society.The teacher tells me, too, that the poor girl has fallen in love with a Christian chief, who lives on an island some fifty miles or so to the south of this one, and that she is meditating a desperate attempt at escape.So, you see, we have come in the nick of time.I fancy that this chief is the fellow whom you heard of, Ralph, at the Island of Emo.Besides all this, the heathen savages are at war among themselves, and there's to be a battle fought the day after to-morrow, in which the principal leader is Tararo; so that we'll not be able to commence our negotiations with the rascally chief till the day after."The village off which we anchored was beautifully situated at the head of a small bay, from the margin of which trees of every description peculiar to the tropics rose in the richest luxuriance to the summit of a hilly ridge, which was the line of demarcation between the possessions of the Christians and those of the neighbouring heathen chief.

The site of the settlement was an extensive plot of flat land, stretching in a gentle slope from the sea to the mountain.The cottages stood several hundred yards from the beach, and were protected from the glare of the sea by the rich foliage of rows of large Barringtonia and other trees, which girt the shore.The village was about a mile in length, and perfectly straight, with a wide road down the middle, on either side of which were rows of the tufted-topped ti tree, whose delicate and beautiful blossoms, hanging beneath their plume-crested tops, added richness to the scene.The cottages of the natives were built beneath these trees, and were kept in the most excellent order, each having a little garden in front, tastefully laid out and planted, while the walks were covered with black and white pebbles.

同类推荐
  • 医门法律

    医门法律

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 云栖法汇

    云栖法汇

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 佛说大金刚香陀罗尼经

    佛说大金刚香陀罗尼经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • The Spirit of Place and Other Essays

    The Spirit of Place and Other Essays

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 列女传

    列女传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 我的邻居鬼谷先生

    我的邻居鬼谷先生

    或许是因为过的时间太久,忘记了是在什么时候开始的。每次在雾雨蒙蒙的时候,她就会看到窗外站立的影子。忽隐忽现,好像是飘忽不定的火苗,在雨雾之中熊熊燃烧。开始并不在意,甚至已经变成了生活中的一部分。可是自从遇到了鬼谷先生,罗舒然才明白这原本司空见惯的事情,竟然是麻烦的开端……
  • 误打误撞来相爱

    误打误撞来相爱

    内容简介:我安晓苒,一个没心没肺且不知天高地厚的小丫头,第一次恋爱竟遭遇劈腿,被劈腿的对象既然是那变态男人的老婆,这世道,难道连谁是小三都分不清楚了吗?好吧,这种骚男不要也罢,就当我年轻,认人不清。可这又是怎么回事,我就去酒吧买个醉,为什么会招惹上这个来历不明,非要让我住他家……天要灭我,无处可逃啊!看安晓苒如何大战"流氓",并和他发生一系列爱恨纠葛
  • 魔君何太息

    魔君何太息

    见证了人类的诞生,看过了枯荣凋零,沧海桑田,月落月升。掌控沙暴的力量,创造了暗夜种族始祖,如此高高在上的你!因何叹息?双月同存,煌煌荧荧,照耀一代魔君历程。
  • 人牲如梦

    人牲如梦

    【变身小说】盛世末年,群雄并起。军阀,门阀,逐鹿天下;功法,军法,问鼎九州。王候将相宁有种乎?有。八千万士族,数万万百姓,烽火连天,民不聊生。劳兵者治人,劳力者治于人。一个卑贱的生灵,如何挣脱宿命的轮回,一步一步攀上绝顶,救赎自己的双亲?这一切,尽在《人牲如梦》。演绎最强武将传!
  • 天道之天玄剑

    天道之天玄剑

    一个地球怪咖,莫名其妙的穿越到了一个修真界,灵武大陆!于是他便带着满腔热开始奋斗;江湖儿女笑天下,生死一线常徘徊,仗剑了断恩怨仇!他一人一剑纵横捭阖,无人能敌,终成传奇撼天动地;他飞升仙界后,阵阵风暴以他为中心掀起,强敌汇集围困搏杀,他狂傲的仰天长啸道:“执玄剑万夫莫开,禀民意邪魔难当!风云再起我为雄!上下九界我为尊!星海川宇我为王!无尽苍穹我最傲!哈哈哈!”
  • 重生之王爷独宠妻

    重生之王爷独宠妻

    翼王楚渊戎马半生,平叛乱,收匈奴,战功赫赫;却落得一个犯上作乱,横尸街头的下场。临死之前,楚渊看着假惺惺求他归降的侧妃冷笑,笑他楚渊对这个女人呵护敬重,到头来这个人带着太子的人进了王府搜出那些所谓的证据,唯一一个肯陪他死的就是他从来不正眼瞧的正妃秋霁言,那个人白衣翩迁,美的倾国倾城。楚渊死时想着,若有来世倾尽所有,护她一生平安喜乐,若无来世,此刻拥她入怀再不分离。醒来后的楚渊,发现自己回到了五年前,那个时候他刚得胜归来,还未与那人成婚……重来一世,楚渊决定夺下那张龙椅,再不负秋霁言。
  • 起点千年之称号

    起点千年之称号

    在这个充满幻想和萝想的世界,故事的主角王郭因为救人,然而来到了这个一切的东西,都是名字与称号的世界到底何去何从...
  • 查理九世之诡异的黑森林

    查理九世之诡异的黑森林

    DODO冒险队和唐晓翼,埃克斯,凡卡去了黑森林,会发生什么呢?
  • 大泼妇

    大泼妇

    泼妇是怎么炼成的,一个农村姑娘的转变,看我大泼妇笑战江湖,智斗色狼客户······!男人不坏女人不爱,女人不泼男人不乖,看我大泼妇休夫、骂街、揍小三,痛扁美女二奶·····!无数男人拜倒在我大泼妇的石榴裙下,想上老娘的床,哼哼······先看看你的诚意······!
  • 生活方式与身心健康

    生活方式与身心健康

    本书融会了大量生活事例、从医经历、实用口诀、调查数据、经济核算及人生体验,把健康生活、延年益寿的道理说得生动名了、简便易行。