CHAPTER I. FROM THE FIRST PLANTING OF CHRISTIANITY IN NEW ZEALAND...
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CHAPTER I.
FROM THE FIRST PLANTING OF CHRISTIANITY IN NEW ZEALAND, BY THE REV. S. MARSDEN, IN 1814, TO THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR 1830.
EVER since the time of Captain Cook, the islands of New Zealand had been neglected, or visited only at distant intervals, by the crews of whaling and other vessels, who were little disposed to conciliate the friendship of the inhabitants; and, moreover, the odium thrown on the natives, who were viewed as ferocious cannibals, served, as it were, to interdict any cordial communication with them. Tasman, the first navigator who had visited the coasts, having, as before stated, had a boat's crew cut off; and the Commodore of two French sloops, Dufresne Marion, who, in the year 1773, entered the Bay of Islands, having also lost twenty-eight men, who were surprised and murdered; the loss of ten men belonging to Captain Furneaux's expedition, in 1773, who were actually devoured by the barbarians who captured them; the total destruction of the
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ship Boyd, in 1809; all afforded appalling proofs of the fierce character of the natives, and were sufficient to cheek any attempts at colonization or civilization. But there was one individual, who was not deterred by any of these tales of horror from attempting the rescue of the New Zealanders from their state of ignorance and barbarism. This was the Rev. S. Marsden, his Majesty's principal chaplain in the territory of New South Wales. This excellent man, having had frequent opportunities of observing the character of the New Zealanders, who occasionally frequented Port Jackson in the different whalers trading between the islands and that harbour; and encouraged by the success which had attended the endeavours of the English missionaries to civilize the inhabitants of Otaheite, had contemplated a similar establishment in New Zealand.
But in his benevolent plans he stood nearly alone, and his attempt was judged not only hopeless and impracticable, but rash, absurd, and extravagant. The Governor of Port Jackson, who long withheld his permission to Mr. Marsden to embark in the expedition he had fitted out for the purpose of forming a missionary establishment in New Zealand, yielded at length to his earnest importunity, and granted him
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leave of absence for four months; telling him plainly, that he did not think himself justified in granting him the permission, though, with extreme reluctance, he had acceded to his request. In the year 1809, a chief, named Tippahee, visited Port Jackson from the Bay of Islands; and having been received by Mr. Marsden, and hospitably entertained by several families in Sydney, he astonished every one by the shrewdness of his remarks, and the justness of his conceptions. He became, during his residence among the English, so convinced of the superiority of their manners and customs, and so affected by the contrast of an enlightened knowledge with the barbarous ignorance of his countrymen, that he exclaimed in the bitterness of his regret, "New Zealand no good." On his return to his native country, he evinced his gratitude for the kindness shown him, by rendering essential services to the different ships that afterwards touched at the Bay of Islands. Tippahee, on his decease, was succeeded in his authority by a relative named Duaterra, who formed the resolution of leaving his country for the sole purpose of seeing King George, and entered as a sailor on board one of our ships. After suffering numberless hardships, he was found by Mr. Marsden, when he was last in England, on board a vessel at
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Spithead, from whence he conveyed him back to the South Sea Islands, as a person who might he very useful to him in forwarding his benevolent purposes. Duaterra promised to exert all his influence to improve the condition of his countrymen; he readily acquiesced in the proposal of Mr. Marsden to form a missionary establishment among them, and guaranteed to all persons engaged in it, hospitality and kindness from his own tribe, and safe protection from the attacks of any other.
Availing himself of this favourable circumstance, Mr. Marsden, in the year 1810, proposed to the Church Missionary Society, that they should send out to New Zealand proper persons to form a mission. To this the Society readily assented, and engaged Mr. Hall and Mr. King, who embarked with all possible expedition, accompanied by Mr. Kendall, another missionary, who was engaged to act as schoolmaster.
Mr. Marsden purchased a vessel for the service and convenience of the mission, as likewise to keep up a regular intercourse between the island and Port Jackson; but being solicitous for the safety of the mission, he was anxious, first, to make a trial of the dispositions of the natives, by sending the vessel well armed to the territories of Duaterra, where,
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in the event of their being well received, he intended to establish the settlement. To accomplish this object, he appointed Mr. Kendall and Mr. Hall to go previously to the island, to make themselves acquainted with Duaterra, and to commence a species of trade with the inhabitants; for which purpose he supplied them with whatever articles he thought most proper to be exchanged. On the return of the vessel, the report they made of their reception was so encouraging, that Mr. Marsden was emboldened to complete his preparations for establishing the settlement; and to contribute still more to its success, he came to the resolution of accompanying the members of it himself, in order to superintend their labours. Duaterra had returned from the Bay of Islands with the missionaries, accompanied by Shonghi, a chief of superior rank, and Korrakorra, another chief, who was induced by his representations to accompany him to Port Jackson; and these chiefs now prepared to return in the vessel which was to convey Mr. Marsden and his fellow-labourers to their native country. The vessel, named the Active, of 110 tons burden, set sail from Port Jackson, November 19, 1814, having on board the following persons:--Mr. and Mrs. W. Hall, accompanied by their infant son; Mr. and Mrs. Kendall, with their
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two children; Mr. and Mrs. King, with their infant son.
The persons selected by the Society for this work, were men, not only of scriptural attainments, but experienced and useful mechanics, who could instruct the natives in cultivating their ground, building their houses, and regulating the whole system of their external and internal economy. They were men of regular and religious habits, and indefatigable industry; the one an excellent carpenter, and the other a shoemaker, who had been previously instructed, at the expense of the Society, in the mode of dressing flax.
On Monday, December 19, 1814, Mr. Marsden and his party landed on one of the small islands near Wangaroa, and had interviews of a very friendly description with several natives. On the 20th, they again landed at Wangaroa, to visit the scene of the catastrophe of the Boyd, and learn, if possible, some details respecting it. They were received by a large assemblage of warriors, and heard from the very chief who had taken the lead in the work of destruction, that his motive was, revenge for the cruel insults to which he had been subjected by Captain Thompson, Commander of the Boyd, with whom he had agreed to work his passage from Port Jackson to his own country. The captain,
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though the New Zealander was suffering from severe illness, had insisted on his working the ship, and on his refusal, had cruelly beaten and ill-used him, and, finally, landed him on the coast of New Zealand, after robbing him of every thing he possessed. In consequence of this provocation, the native chief planned the murder of Captain Thompson; whom he persuaded to land, on pretence of showing him where to fell timber for his cargo, and, immediately on his touching the shore, the captain was knocked down and killed by a party of natives posted in ambush. They soon seized the vessel, and destroyed the crew and passengers, with the exception of four persons,--a woman, two children, and a cabin-boy. The vessel itself was blown up by the accidental explosion of the powder magazine; but the chief who had been the perpetrator of the outrage told Mr. Marsden and his companions, that they might take any part of the wreck they thought proper, and that at low water, the guns might be got out, as also some cedar, which still remained in the hold.
After this chief (who was named George) had communicated to Mr. Marsden all these particulars, night drew on, and the warriors prepared for their rest, stretching themselves on the ground, and wrapping their garments closely about them. Mr. Marsden was, at this time,
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attended by only one of his companions, the others having returned on board the vessel: he remained, therefore, perfectly defenceless in the midst of the murderers of his countrymen; yet, reflecting on the disposition of the natives, which is never vengeful without sufficient cause, he felt no alarm for his safety, and, at the request of George, laid himself down to sleep beside George and his wife. The scene which presented itself at the dawn of the next day is thus described by Mr. Nicholas, the companion of Mr. Marsden. 1
"An immense number of human beings, men, women, and children, some half naked, and others loaded with fantastic finery, were stretched about us in every direction; while the warriors, with their spears stuck in the ground, and their other weapons lying beside them, were either peeping out from under their mats, or shaking from off their dripping heads the heavy dew that had fallen in the night.
"The morning of the 21st December found us in perfect safety, after having passed the night without the least molestation."
On the 22d, the vessel, in which Mr. Marsden
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had re-embarked, entered the Bay of Islands. The party landed at the town of Rangihoua, the residence of Duaterra.
On the 24th, Duaterra contrived to fit up a place where divine service might be performed, and by the help of some planks, and an old canoe, erected an excellent substitute for a pulpit and reading desk. The whole population of Rangihoua assembled within an enclosure formed to protect the chief's residence--and behaved with much regularity during the service, which was performed by Mr. Marsden, in a solemn and impressive manner. When it was concluded, Mr. Marsden addressed himself to his rude congregation through the medium of Duaterra, (who acted as interpreter,) taking for his text, St. Luke ii. 10. "Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy," telling them that what they had heard was the doctrine of the only true God, whom they should all be anxious to know and worship; and should therefore take all the pains in their power to understand the religion that was to be introduced among them.
On the following day, the missionaries commenced building their houses, assisted by the natives. Rangihoua, the village belonging to Duaterra, on the north-west side of the Bay of Islands, was the place first occupied; and here
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Mr. King was placed. The station was afterwards deserted, the houses having become dilapidated, and the missionaries removed to Tepuna.
Mr. Marsden returned to Sydney at the end of March, 1815. In 1819, Mr. Butler and Mr. Kemp were established at the Kerikeri: a beautiful spot, situated at the confluence of the tide and of the fresh water stream, from which it takes its name. The river is navigable to within four miles of the settlement, for vessels of 150 tons; and for small craft up to the wharf which was formed by the missionaries, who also erected here a capacious public store, built of whinstone, close to the banks of the river.
The serenity and peace enjoyed by the missionaries at this station, was owing to the protection of Hongi, the chief of the tribes resident there. This chief having visited England, and having been hospitably received by the Prince Regent, who made him many valuable presents, became the firm friend of the English, and uniformly defended them against such of his countrymen as were opposed to their residence in the island. On rumours of invasion from other tribes, Hongi watched by day and night to prevent insult being offered to the missionaries or their property. Nearly his last words, in the presence of all his friends, were,
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"Let the missionaries sit in peace; they have done good: but they have done no harm."
In the summer of 1820, Mr. Kendall having visited England with two native chiefs, it was resolved by the committee of the Church Missionary Society to take advantage of the opportunity, for the purpose of reducing the language of New Zealand to the rules of grammar; and of settling the orthography. For this end, Mr. Kendall and the chiefs were sent to Cambridge, and a grammar was prepared and published in 1820, under the kind and able direction of Professor Lee, Regius Professor of Hebrew, who had for many years acted as the Oriental tutor of the Society's students.
It was not till the year 1822, that any Clergyman had been appointed to the mission in New Zealand. The first who arrived from England to enter on this important work, was the Rev. Henry Williams, who, in August, 1822, received instructions from the Society to proceed to New Zealand. This devoted missionary (to use the language of those instructions) had already evinced his qualifications for the work, and had gained experience in it, by having spent the active years of youth in various quarters of the world; and his mind had long been steadily determined to the object before him.
In August, 1823, the settlement of Paihia,
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on the south side of the Bay of Islands, sixteen miles south-east from Kerikeri, was formed. Here Mr. Williams was stationed; and assisted by Mr. Fairburn, a carpenter, who acted as a catechist. For the first year, both they and their families lived in a house, made of raupo, a large kind of rush, growing plentifully on the sea-coast.
In the year 1824, they were joined by Mr. and Mrs. Clarke, and Mr. and Mrs. Davis.
In 1825, the Rev. W. Williams and his wife joined their brother at Paihia, and resided with him till 1837, when they removed to the East Cape. Mr. and Mrs. Brown arrived in November, 1839, to undertake the charge of the education of the missionaries' children.
In 1830, the station of the Waimate was formed, with a view to render the mission independent of New South Wales for its supply of provisions. It is situated seven miles inland from the Kerikeri, from which place a road was formed with much difficulty. The whole work of this settlement was done by natives, under the superintendence of Messrs. Clarke, Davis, and Hamlin. Upwards of 50,000 bricks were made and burnt, for building chimnies; 700,000 feet of timber were felled: three weather-board houses were erected, with stalling for 13 or 14 horses: stores, carpenters' and blacksmiths'
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shops, out-houses, 8 or 10 cottages, and ultimately a spacious chapel, capable of holding from 300 to 400 persons.
The introduction of ploughs and harrows, all made at the Waimate, constituted an era in the history of the country. Till these implements were introduced, the people little knew what their land was capable of producing; as but very small portions were brought under cultivation, owing to the great difficulty of breaking it up with the hoe or the spade.
Four schools were afterwards established at the Waimate; an infant school, a school for youths and adults, a school for women and girls, and a school for the infant children of the missionaries.
The year 1830 was further distinguished by the commencement of the translation of the Holy Scriptures, and of the Liturgy of the Church of England, into the New Zealand language. This was conducted principally by the Rev. W. Williams, assisted by Mr. Shepherd, Mr. Puckey, and Mr. Brown.
The progress of Christianity among the natives was such, as to encourage the missionaries in their labours.
The natives, in connexion with missionary influence and instruction, had almost lost their ferocious appearance; the attendance on
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public worship, and in the schools, continued steadily to increase. Mr. Marsden visited the mission during the year 1830, and assisted its members by his advice and direction. 2
