1888 - Pompallier, J. Early History of the Catholic Church in Oceania - CHAPTER IV

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CHAPTER IV.

I AT once gave the captain orders to set sail for the islands of Wallis and Futuna, which are distant about one hundred and twenty leagues from Vavau, close to the equinoxial line. I had learned during my stay at Vavau that the Protestant missionaries intended establishing their mission in these two islands, whither I myself was going before them and without their knowledge. They thought I was going to Ascension Island--they had been told this by some of the schooner's crew, who thought so themselves, and had told them. Such, indeed, was my intention, should I not succeed in finding hospitality and safety on the islands I was about to visit during my voyage. But no one thoroughly knew my intentions. It was only at Vavau, that intolerant and first-inhabited island I visited within the bounds of my jurisdiction, that God caused me to conceive the resolution of carrying the work of salvation to Wallis and Futuna, in order to save these two islands from Protestantism and the intolerance which it had established at Vavau, and finally to bring to the true fold this interesting people, who as yet had not exchanged paganism for heresy. The American interpreter, of whom I have already spoken, not liking Vavau which he wished to leave, and desiring to go and live at Wallis and Futuna, came and asked me for a passage on board my hired schooner, offering me, as the price of his passage, his services as interpreter. I received him the more willingly as his desires accorded exactly with my designs and wants in the circumstances in which I was placed. But our captain, who had already been to Wallis on his former voyages, and knew the inhabitants of this island to be notorious thieves and strongly inclined to massacre the crews and passengers of any vessel that came, in order to give themselves up more freely to the pillage of their contents, hesitated in taking us to this place, because he said he had no cannons to intimidate the natives and make them more cautious. But after having reassured him and encouraged him, showing him the help the interpreter would be in making us understood to these people, and the confidence in God who guards the true ministers of His holy work, he decided on taking us to Wallis.

We left Vavau on the 28th October, 1837; the weather was beautiful and the sea and wind favourable. All Saints' Day we were in sight of Wallis. Before entering the vast port of this island, surrounded by coral reefs, I celebrated the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on board, in order that I might invoke on this new people the grace of faith, that they might one day be joined with the saints whose great festival we were celebrating.

Shortly after concluding the adorable sacrifice we saw coming towards us, on the open sea, a canoe on board of which was one, as we learnt afterwards, of the greatest chiefs of the island, and about half-a-dozen natives. These islanders with long woolly hair were clothed in a "tapa" reaching from the waist to the knees. We received them on board with an unspeakable inward joy. Two of them could speak a little

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English, and we were able to hold short conversations on matters the most necessary, but foreign to religion. The chief, whose name was Tungahala, could speak better than the others. He had made himself the pilot of the port. There were always some sailors, either American, English, or French, living with his tribe, and we found a Frenchman there when we arrived who had been able to learn fairly a few words of English. Thus he was able to talk pretty easily to the captain. I had advised the captain beforehand, and through him the rest of the crew, to make us known to these people only as travellers belonging to a powerful European nation, well instructed and desirous of learning their language in order to know them, and to establish between us reciprocal relations of good-will and friendship. I also advised the captain and the interpreter to tell the king when I went to him, that if after a stay of some months in his island we were not agreeable to him he had but to let us know and we would leave, and on our side, if after the same space of time we desired to leave his country, we would honestly let him know.

Though we were all dressed in cassocks, the natives had no idea who we were. Never had they seen anyone dressed as we were; they examined our dress with great attention and were astonished, but seemed far from displeased at our company; they wished to ask us very many questions and to hold long conversations with us, but the difference of our languages prevented it. We could only interchange a few expressions of salutation and good-will by means of gestures and the few words we had picked up at Vavau and with the aid of our interpreter. The natives soon seemed satisfied with us. During the interval of about an hour and a-half which passed between their arrival on board the schooner and our anchoring in the port of Wallis, which appeared very safe, God caused me to gain the confidence and good-will of the chief Tungahala, who looked upon me, not as a Bishop, which was an unknown title to him, but as the principal traveller aboard the schooner. In his eyes, all the other passengers were my friends and fellow-travellers. I saw at once, at the sight of the port and from the information I received from the captain and from Tungahala as to the shipping and the language, that Wallis (should the mission hereafter succeed) would not only fulfil my first requirement, which was to learn the language of the Friendly Islands, but also my second, which was not less indispensable in more than one respect, namely, to procure for my Apostolic Vicariate a place of communication and an establishment for the administration, both temporal and spiritual, of all the missionary stations that were to be founded on the other islands. How earnestly I besought the Lord to grant my prayer, to open the kingdom of Heaven to the people of Wallis!

It was not yet mid-day when we cast anchor on the beach. Wallis is a small archipelago, the principal isle of which has a circumference of about twelve leagues. Seven or eight other islands surround it at a short distance, but only three or four of them are inhabited; they are all situated in a vast basin formed by the coral reefs against which the waves dash themselves, in some instances as far as a league distant, and which resemble a dense wall between wind and water, defending this small archipelago against the fury of the sea.

After having cast anchor I hastened to make myself ready to pay a visit to the king; it would take me about two hours and a half to reach the spot where he dwelt. In Polynesia, when the captain of a vessel or a passenger of some distinction goes to call on the chief of the island on which he has landed, it is a custom to offer him some presents as a sign of affection and peace. As to myself, I had taken the precaution to learn what kind of present would best please the King of Wallis. I was told the most suitable would be some pieces of stuff and ribbons, ironmongery, and a bottle of wine. I took these things from my stores in the ship and gave them to my interpreter whom I took with me. M. Bataillon, Mr. Stocks, the captain, and a young subordinate native chief who spoke a little English, were to accompany me on this first visit. We got into the schooner's boat to land, about a mile and a-half from the vessel. On our way we conversed with the young native chief--our guide. The prayers which I had appointed for missionaries about to land on the islands or enter among savage tribes were read

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on board whilst approaching Wallis. They consisted of the Litany of the Holy Virgin, the Miserere, the Veni Creator, then the words of the exorcism, and lastly the Bendictio Dei omnipotentis and the Sub tuum. We read these prayers together, before the natives reached us, on the open sea, so that they might not make any remarks on our persons or on what they might see us doing.

We landed opposite a little village of three or four houses. On landing I repeated the principal words of the exorcism and the prayer, Benedictio Dei omnipotentis, etc., without anyone noticing anything. The natives of the spot, few in number, looked at us with surprise, striking themselves on the stomach with their hands (a sign of admiration amongst them), and showed joy and confidence. M. Bataillon had on a black cassock. I was dressed like him and wore no other signs of episcopal dignity than the ring and the cross on the breast. The young chief, our conductor, told them in a few words that we were French travellers, learned, and desirous of making a stay amongst them for the purpose of learning their language and of entering into friendly relations with them through the means of the king and the principal chiefs. They hastened to surround us and salute us with affection, offering us cocoanut milk to drink and bananas to eat, which we partook of in the hut of the father of a family, living on the spot. We hastened as quickly as possible to receive these first marks of civility and hospitality, as we had still a two hours' walk to reach the king's residence, and were anxious to return the same day to sleep on board the schooner.

We soon took leave of our amiable companions and proceeded to penetrate into the interior of the island. The roads were not wide, but were well kept. We frequently passed beneath the shade of woods of cocoanut and other trees, the foliage of which sheltered the traveller from the burning heat of the sun. We crossed tracts of uncultivated land, also fields of bananas, yams, and shrubs, from whose bark the natives make their clothes. This island was enchanting to the sight; Nature seemed to have set herself out to form vast groves and grand gardens. We passed on the road small villages whose inhabitants came out of their reed huts to see us. The young chief, our conductor, said a few words to them about us, and the natives, both men and women, showed surprise and joy, and repeated their kindly "ofa" (a kindly salutation). At length we reached the king's dwelling, which was a great hut made of reeds and in the shape of an oval parasol; it rests on four posts, and the roof has an elevation of about twenty feet. The roof is made of leaves and sloped greatly; the flooring is about two and a-half feet from the ground, and the house is open on all sides, enabling anyone to enter any part of it by stooping low. This is the form of nearly all the houses of the natives of the tropical islands of Polynesia. That of the king and other great chiefs are only distinguishable from the others, sometimes, by their size, but ordinarily by a thick fence of reeds, thoroughly interwoven and forming a kind of matting. Such also was the dwelling of the king I was visiting. His hut was not the only one in the bay of Fararen, where he lived; there was a cluster of others which formed a village sheltered by cocoanut trees, and the population of which would probably reach about two hundred persons.

On our arrival at the king's dwelling, the natives at once came from all sides to look at us. They had not failed to learn from our native guide who we were, whom we had come to see, and what we wanted to do; but they were totally ignorant of the spiritual motives which had led us there. We entered the house of the king who is called Lavelua. He was sitting on mats which covered a spacious but slight elevation of the ground. He received me, saying, "ofa," and shaking my hand which he did successively with each of my companions; then he invited me to seat myself on the mat on his right hand, close to him, with the captain. M. Bataillon was by my side and my interpreter was seated on a mat before the humble throne of the king. The king ordered a "Kavas" to be celebrated. A large circle of distinguished natives formed to the right and left of his majesty, reaching to the end of the hut. The interpreter offered the king, in my name, the presents which I had entrusted him to carry. The eyes of all the assembly were fixed on them. But no one moved and all were silent. "Kavas" is a ceremony of

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friendship among the Polynesians, during which is served, in a cocoanut shell, a drink made from the root of the "kava." Whilst they were preparing this drink in a large bowl of polished wood, the king uncorked the bottle of wine, which had just been given to him and drank a little out of a cocoanut shell. Then he offered some to us as well as the chiefs at the meeting, and we accepted this as a proof of their native good breeding.

While the young men and girls were chewing the roots of the "kava" to prepare the liquid, I entered, by means of my interpreter, into conversation with the king. I made him the proposition, to leave on his island two of my company, to learn the language of his country and to bind themselves to him and his relatives by means of friendly relations and good services. At first he appeared flattered by these proposals, but a doubt crossed his mind. He thought that perhaps we belonged to the Protestant missionaries in the neighbouring islands, who flog the natives for drinking wine or smoking tobacco. Several times he asked if I and my companions did not belong to these missionaries, adding that if we did, we must leave his country as speedily as possible. As often as he insisted on asking me this question, so often I reassured him, telling him that neither I nor any of my companions had, did, nor would for anything in the world belong to the class of people of whom he was thinking. I was forced to say this, not only in the interests of truth, but for the very preservation of our lives; for about two years before, the king of Wallis and his people had massacred over fifty-five native Protestants of the neighbouring islands, who had come armed to preach on his island, and to make war upon him in case of his refusal to be converted to their church. Since that time all the people hated the Protestant missionaries, and the king would on no account open to them the gates of his little states.

When he was reassured about us, being convinced that we did not belong to this sect of missionaries, he was greatly inclined to admit me and one or two of my companions into his country, and even into his royal dwelling. However, he said he would call a meeting of the principal chiefs of the island and confer with them as to our admission, and then give me a definite answer, and that he would let me know on the next visit I paid him. I told him I would come again and see him, and that if he himself would like to visit my vessel he would be well received. But, whether from motives of fear or of something else, he excused himself, alleging that a fete was to take place at which he had to be present. After saluting him and shaking hands we left, promising to pay him a second visit in a few days; we then returned on board to sup and sleep.

The next day I went to visit the chief Tungahala, who received me very well. He often came on board to entertain himself with us; many native chiefs and others came also, shaking hands and showing themselves well disposed and friendly. But from time to time, the sailor who acted as steward for us was angry, because these natives hindered him in his work and importuned him with their demands, and some of them stole table-knives without his detecting it or being able to find out who had done it. These people, thorough-going thieves, never steal but in secret, unless they intend murdering those whose possessions they covet. If travellers, therefore, do not wish to be robbed, they must in some way or another keep the natives continually under their eyes, for they are wonderfully clever in satisfying their cupidity. So I had advised everyone on board to exercise the greatest vigilance over those natives who came to visit us in order that they might commit no theft and prevent the still greater evils which often ensue to travellers who in their just indignation reclaim the objects that have been stolen from them. So also, when I learnt that some table-knives had been taken, without anyone noticing, and without knowing which of the natives had stolen them, I urgently begged that no one would reclaim them, and that we should conceal all knowledge of what had happened.

The next day I paid a second visit to the King of Wallis. I was accompanied by the same individuals who had been with me on my former visit, but I had besides with me another priest and a catechist. These were M. Servant and Brother Joseph;

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and also, at my urgent request, the chief Tungahala, with several of his tribe, had decided to accompany us. Our company in crossing the island this time was therefore somewhat numerous. The king for his part had invited all the principal chiefs to a re-union in our honour. We were received with respect by his majesty, who gave us the seat of honour and ordered the celebration of the "kavas." Whilst it was being prepared one of the greatest chiefs of the island made a speech to the assembly which lasted a long time. My interpreter told me from time to time that the speech was very eloquent, but that its object was to dissuade the king from receiving me into his island. Every face appeared serious and cold. Each native was armed with a spear or an axe. It was evident that there was anxiety and hesitation among the assembly. A profound silence reigned when the speech was over. The king with a pensive air seemed plunged in thought. A few moments afterwards he called the chief Tungahala, who was at the bottom of the assembly, to him, and he immediately responding to the invitation of his majesty came and sat beside him. The two conversed in a low tone, but the interpreter and the people nearest to them could follow their conversation. Tungahala said to the king that the speech of the old man, his minister, was that of a madman; as for himself, who had frequented our company ever since we had been on the coast and in the island, he was sure that we were well-intentioned strangers, and that they could only gain by keeping us. How many secret prayers were made amongst my party to our Lord and His blessed Mother, and to the good angels of these people during the time I was holding this interview, which seemed so decisive for their salvation!

When the king had finished listening to Tungahala's discourse, he appeared reassured--his face expressed contentment; he turned towards me making with his head several signs of friendship and indicating to me by gesture that he accepted my proposals for the stay in his country of my companions. Then he spoke, and all the natives listened to him in silence as to an oracle; he addressed himself to all the chiefs, saying: "I have no strangers with me, you have always some staying with you; I am then the only one who has none. Well, to-day I wish to have these who are present; they shall reside in my dwelling;" and everything was so decided. There was not a single voice raised to contradict the king. It is to be remarked even that the old man, Kuwaru, who had spoken against our admission, said several times at each sentence of the king's short speech, "kua lelei," (it is good), a sign of submission given by all the people of conforming themselves to the will of the sovereign, even when he decided in a manner opposed to the opinions which they might hold, after he had listened to the advice which they freely offered him.

As soon as this solemn and favourable decision in our favour was published in the island at this memorable assembly, kava was drunk; the king drank a toast to myself and my companions, wishing us prosperous times and happy days. After the meeting was over I presented to the king the two of my companions whom I had selected to remain with him; they were M. Bataillon (a priest), and Brother Joseph (a catechist). His majesty agreed to them, and it was decided that a reed house should be constructed on the royal premises for the dwelling of his two guests; that he himself would provide their sustenance, and that the servants of the court should prepare their food. As to myself, I told the king that together with the other travellers I was going to visit the other countries in the neighbourhood, and that afterwards I would return to Wallis to see him. I may remark, that during the friendly admission that Lavelua gave the two members of my company, the people of the assembly learned from me that Brother Joseph was a carpenter, and that he had a large grindstone. This stone, which was still on board, but the excellence of which they could imagine--having seen similar ones on board other vessels--this stone, I say, attracted all their attention, and excited beforehand their admiration and their desires. They thought doubtless to see all the axes and knives on the island shining and sharpened by the means of a stone which they did not possess themselves. We left the assembly after making our farewells to the king, and telling him that we were returning on board the schooner to prepare the

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luggage of those who were to remain with him. He was satisfied, and offered his canoe with four or five young chiefs for the transport of his guests and their effects, which would take place two or three days after we left him. We returned, blessing God for all that had happened. Our admission, so strongly opposed by some of the influential men on the island, and obtained with signs of respect and good-will accompanying it, seemed to me to be already a signal of victory obtained over the powers of darkness.

Arrived on board, I turned my attention to writing out the spiritual powers and some mission instructions for the two persons I had delegated for the first mission I had established. M. Bataillon and Brother Joseph occupied themselves for their part in preparing their luggage and everything that was required for sacred worship, and other necessary work. To make this preparation it was necessary to open the hatches to get at the hold of the vessel, and then to pick out from the different cases belonging to the mission the things that were necessary to complete the furnishing of this first station. All this could not be done without people who might be on deck seeing it. Now prudence had warned me before, in my conversations with the captain, to strongly recommend that the natives should never be told what was on board the schooner, and above all, that they should never be allowed to see the interior. So M. Bataillon and Brother Joseph were obliged to prepare all their effects and get their furniture together either during the night or very early in the morning, and in either case previously consulting the captain, who was responsible for the vessel and for the lives of all on board.

It happened, notwithstanding all my precautions, that early one morning a young native who had remained on board--how or when is not known--came to look down the hatchway at the work that M. Bataillon, assisted by a catechist, was doing, preparing the furniture for his mission. Then the young native saw several open trunks and their contents. M. Bataillon was not long in noticing that a native was witnessing his occupation, and without seeming annoyed by the presence of the young native, he stopped working, closed the trunks and went on deck with the catechist. The captain having learned that a native had been found on board and had seen the contents of the hold, came and told me of it and we were both very grieved about it. Nothing had been done by M. Bataillon without the captain's approval. Nevertheless, we showed no ill feeling to the native whose cunning had kept him on board. He was treated the same as the others, but it would seem that his mission was fulfilled. He hastened to go ashore, profiting by the schooner's boat, in which some of the sailors were going on duty. He certainly did not forget to spread the news over the island that we had trunks and cases on board. And so all the morning there was a procession of small canoes bringing ugly-looking natives armed with axes and large knives.

In the middle of the day our deck, which was not very large, contained fifty or sixty of them--that is to say, it was completely covered. I did not notice all at once this influx of people, being very busy writing out the spiritual powers for M. Bataillon and the instructions for the mission which concerned him. But one of my catechists, whom I had ordered to remain constantly on deck to entertain the natives who visited us, became apprehensive that day for the safety of the ship and of our lives. He came down to me somewhat frightened. He told me that the natives were very numerous, all armed and of forbidding mien, showing no signs of friendship, and not even making the ordinary salutations they had been in the habit of making on former days. While reassuring the catechist, and dissipating his fears, I took into great consideration all he had said without letting him perceive it, and told him that I would come on deck in a few moments to witness all that passed, and ordered him to go on deck and exercise all vigilance.

After writing a little longer, I went up on deck and saw all that the catechist had reported. I did not wish to go up at the same time that he did for fear the natives should see that I had been receiving information about them. The three first persons I met were seated on the skylight, and were chiefs of a certain rank. My countenance

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was that of one who came to keep them company and show pleasure at receiving their visit. I looked at them as people who are about to salute you generally look; but they answered only by fierce and angry glances. Then, I myself refrained from speaking my salutation, and turned my eyes away from them without exhibiting any emotion, and preserving a mien of tranquility and peace. I was standing on the starboard side, separated only by the narrow skylight from the chiefs whose looks had offered me so bad a welcome. I was not far, either, from the tiller of the vessel, consequently I had under my eyes the whole crowd of natives who swarmed our decks. Some were sitting, some standing, some walking slowly backwards and forwards, as though investigating. None of them came to me. I saw no look of confidence; all faces were cold.

I continued to stand calmly, hiding the apprehension with which this assembly filled me, and began inwardly to offer myself as a sacrifice to God and to adore His designs of anything inauspicious that was to happen that day. My soul was filled with these sentiments, when one of the three chiefs who was sitting on the skylight on my left hand, took his axe, fixed to an enormous handle, passed behind the tiller, and came and stood on my right hand. We were thus in a line, with our faces towards the crowd. Our looks did not meet. I followed, out of the corner of my eye, all the movements he had made, and I remained standing calmly as though I had seen nothing. Scarcely had he placed himself beside me when he stretched out his arm, with the axe in his hand, as though measuring the distance to give me a blow on the head, and when he made this gesture I could still see, out of the corner of my eye, his eyes sparkling with anger and his lips trembling with passion. Alas! at that moment I thought my days in this world were ended, that I and all my companions and all on board would be massacred and then the whole vessel plundered, and that thus the first expedition of this mission was going to fail under the axe of the heathen at Wallis. I thought also that I saw the heavens open on this day of threatened calamities. Nevertheless, God filled my soul with strength; adoration of His designs, resignation and peace were in my heart. I showed no emotion, my attitude was that of a traveller who looked with pleasure at the crowd of natives that had come to visit him and not imputing to them the slightest evil intention.

While I whs awaiting the death-stroke in this frame of mind, I cannot tell what invisible power held back the arm of the furious native at my side. From time to time I examined him without his perceiving that I saw him; he stood in a threatening posture; he seemed by turns to be under the resolve to strike and then to hesitate as if lacking the diabolical courage to kill one who had never harmed him--who was defenceless, and offered no opposition, but tranquility and peace. An air of tranquility and peace is often the best means of disarming a savage; but if one shows signs of fear, or attempts to fly or offer a vain resistance, it is all over with him. Finally, after some moments had passed, being unable to make up his mind to strike me, my furious native left me, and passing by the tiller, went and sat on the form by the skylight, where he had been previously. His anger seemed appeased, he appeared discontented and ashamed of his want of courage, but he remained peaceful.

However, as prudence suggested the absence of the person against whom this furious anger was levelled, I hastened to leave the spot where I was, and went, as though nothing had happened, and walked about the deck amongst the troop of natives who covered it. They appeared cold, though some of them decided to offer me their "ofa," and I replied to their salutation with the same good-will as usual.

I could not, however, hide from myself the danger that I and all on board had undergone, and which we still ran on that critical day. I spoke to the mate of the schooner, who was forward on deck with some of the sailors. They all feared some misfortune for the vessel, although they had not seen the danger so closely as I had. The captain was absent on the island. Three or four of the members of my mission, priests and catechists, were also away; they had gone for a walk as far as the

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king's. I spoke, then, in such English as I could command, to the mate as to what peaceable measures we could adopt to free us from the danger which we incurred, of which he was as fully convinced as I was. He said that the captain not being there he did not know what to do. Then I asked him to send the ship's boat ashore with two or three sailors to ask the chief Tungahala, who was devoted to me, to come and dine with me. He was very influential, and lived on a little island exactly opposite the schooner, which could be reached in about eight minutes. He approved of this expedient, and at once ordered the sailors to carry out my desires. All the natives on board saw the boat cleaving the waters, and steering for Tungahala's dwelling, and showed themselves at once more peaceably inclined. For up to the present moment they had an air of investigation, cupidity, and ill-will, which showed that they but waited a given signal to give themselves up to murder and pillage.

Tungahala did not keep us waiting. In less than a quarter of an hour he was with us. On his arrival on board I received him in the middle of the crowd on the deck. He was armed with an axe and carried himself with dignity as became a chief of great distinction on the island. He saluted me with affection and shook my hand. I said to him in English that not knowing his language I could not make myself understood by the natives, who had been on board for more than two hours, and I begged him to be kind enough to tell them from me that I was pleased to see them on board the schooner, but that their prolonged stay and the quickly following number of visitors so crowded the deck that it was impossible for the sailors to attend to their duties, and that I should prefer them to come oftener and stay for a less time and thus be less numerous. I had scarcely said this to Tungahala, who seemed to understand better than myself the hostile disposition of the natives, who were in such numbers on the deck, than, brandishing the axe he held, he addressed to them, with an air of command, a speech of a few words; and immediately we saw these people leaving the schooner on all sides in their canoes and making for shore. Of the whole of the crowd but few natives remained on board.

Tungahala dined with me and did not cease asking me very many questions to which I replied without divulging my character or my intentions for the salvation of the island of Wallis. He assured me of his protection and of that of the king and of his attachment and devotion. Although he had ordered that no one should remain on board for any length of time, he wished himself to pass the whole day with me. We appeared to understand each other without any explanation as to the danger we had incurred, both as regards the vessel and the lives of all my companions. Through his presence and authority we had been freed from a crowd of murderers and thieves, and by his remaining on board we were exempt from all danger. Natives continued to come, but they were fewer in number and their stay shorter. After that day of danger Tungahala came on board several times every day to see that everything was safe and was going on in an orderly and peaceful manner. During his many visits to the schooner we held long conversations together, about the island, about different countries, the origin of the world, and even of the Great Spirit who had formerly created it. He had already some idea of what I was telling him, but he listened with much attention, reflection, and respect; he desired to learn more, but prudence forbade me.

On the day succeeding the one of danger we had just passed, the furniture for the mission of M. Bataillon was all in order and the luggage ready. The king had already, early in the morning, sent his canoe with four or five men, as he had promised, to bring to him the two members of my company, whom he awaited with the luggage they required. We hastened to accept the service offered. Two or three trunks were put into the canoe, and, as I still had need of M. Bataillon on board, in order to finish the papers which concerned him, I sent another priest, M. Servant, Brother Joseph, and the interpreter, to take care of the luggage they were carrying, to thank the king for his kindness, and to announce to him the speedy arrival of M. Bataillon, who had been promised to him. We saw the canoe recede from us; all on

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board seemed content. They steered in the direction of the king's, making a long sweep along the coast, which was necessary when going there by water. When they had doubled the point of the island and were hidden from our sight, and not very far from the king's residence, the leading chief in the canoe told those belonging to my company to get out and to walk ashore through the water, the sea at this spot covering for a considerable distance a plain of hard sand, which is easily crossed, the water being only knee-deep. My three passengers were obliged to obey the order given them. The interpreter took M. Servant on his shoulders, and all three directed their course towards the king's residence, wading through the water. The trunks remained in the canoe and the natives declared they were going to take them immediately to the same spot. But they were a long time in keeping their promise, and our travellers waited for them at the residence of the king, he being absent. At last, towards evening, the canoe of our natives arrived. Brother Joseph was not long in finding out that all the locks had been broken. He opened the trunks and saw at once that several things were missing, having been stolen by the greedy and cunning carriers and hidden in some of their houses. When the king returned, I think he was not long in learning the theft that had been committed, but little was said about it at his majesty's. My companions found means to inform me of everything on board, where I was with M. Bataillon and M. Chanel, my pro-vicar. The news did not reach me till night-time.

Next morning I went to visit Tungahala, whose dwelling was but a very short distance from the schooner, and told him all I had learned. He seemed distressed by the news and filled with indignation against the thieves, his countrymen. However, under the circumstances I counselled justice and peace, and had no trouble in persuading him to accompany me on a visit to the king, to cause the stolen objects to be returned, or otherwise to get him to permit us to leave his state peaceably and with all our effects. Tungahala entered into all my plans. He called several of his followers and came with them on board the schooner. We breakfasted there and then embarked in order to land and cross the island to reach the king. There remained on board only M. Chanel, one or two catechists, and the men required for duty on the schooner.

The king was absent when we arrived. He was in the neighbourhood assisting at a public fete which the natives were holding there. However, close to his residence lived several natives of distinction, among them some of the carriers of our broken-open luggage. I begged Tungahala to send a messenger to the king to inform him that I was at his house, waiting to speak to him and bid him farewell. While we were awaiting his majesty, the little boys and girls of the royal family came and played round about us, showing much confidence and affection. I hastened to learn from M.Servant and Brother Joseph all that had happened during the night at the king's house. I learned that his majesty was very indignant about the robbery that had taken place the day before, that he had entrusted the grindstone to his four or five wives, ordering anyone to be punished with death who dared to unjustly appropriate it. Brother Joseph gave me also the names of the things that had been stolen by the natives in the canoe. Unfortunately they were all chiefs of high rank. Tungahala, on his side, learned from the natives the details of the depredations that had been committed. He seemed beside himself with indignation, and under its influence spoke to the natives who were inside the royal enclosure. We soon saw other natives arriving, dressed as for a fete and armed with lances. They did not seem to listen to Tungahala with pleasure, they went backwards and forwards in the royal enclosure and showed signs of great agitation. My interpreter told me that the subject of disagreement amongst them was partly the theft that had been committed and partly the restoration which Tungahala proposed they should make, and that it was very probable the natives would come to blows with their axes and that a fight would take place amongst them. Alas! on our part we inwardly commended everything to God, to the protection of the angels and of their august queen. A few minutes after the argument had started, all the disputing

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chiefs gathered together in one of the houses within the royal enclosure, so as to speak with less noise before us strangers and to drink kava. It was there that their debate was to be concluded, and it appeared that the equitable propositions of Tungahala were finally agreed to.

During their sitting I continued talking to my companions and to the children of the royal family. I noticed that the king had treated his two guests with great regard since yesterday, and taking all circumstances into consideration I felt confirmed in the hope that the Kingdom of Heaven was open for this people, and that there was no need to fear the difficulties and perils which the devil raises up, especially when he sees his kingdom going to ruin.

At last the king, for whom we had been eagerly waiting, arrived. He received me very well, and manifested great displeasure at the theft committed by the natives he had himself sent to me. He immediately gave orders for all the stolen things to be returned; several of them were brought to me, but others had passed probably from hand to hand to other natives. We could not get them back that day, but the king gave me hopes that all would be restored. I stayed a little while with the king who made us drink kava, and then I left, bidding him farewell, and promising that hereafter I would return to Wallis to see him. He wished me a happy voyage, and thanked me for the members of my company I had left him in the persons of M. Bataillon and Brother Joseph.

I had, unknown to the natives, given M. Bataillon a small sum of five or six hundred francs in case he should find it necessary to buy provisions from any vessel which might from time to time anchor at Wallis. Besides this, I gave him articles to exchange with the natives for the provisions of their country; enough to enable them to live there for eight or nine months. The furniture of the mission contained everything that was necessary for the Holy Sacrifice and for the sacred ministration, and the necessary tools for carpentering and for cultivation. It is easy enough for a stranger to live at Wallis when he has articles of barter, and when the people, and above all the king, are disposed to regard him with good-will and friendship. This island abounds in cocoanuts, bread-fruit, yams, sweet potatoes, and bananas. There are also great quantities of taros, of fish, and of birds. Pigs and fowls are also numerous there. For a European there is nothing wanting but flour, and even bread can be well replaced by the bread-fruit and yams.

After saying farewell to the king, and secretly giving my blessing to the two I was leaving, I, with all my companions, returned to the schooner. I told the captain to make all ready for a voyage to the island of Futuna. During the day and a-half or two days that we still remained on the coast, the natives who visited us showed us every good-will, and my conversations with Tungahala, who was often in my company, gained for me much affection and devotion on his part. I gave him to hope that in six months I would see him again, or that other friends of my company would have occasion to come to Wallis. I was led to give him this promise, because nearly a year had elapsed since I left France, and consequently other funds allotted by the Society for the Propagation of the Faith should soon be remitted to me together with a batch of fresh missionaries, which would place me in a position to strengthen the work I had begun by adding another priest to M. Bataillon, and facilitate my pastoral visits for the time I had mentioned. Such were the hopes my correspondence gave me.