CHAPTER VI. JOHN H. BUMBY.
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CHAPTER VI.
JOHN H. BUMBY.
THE Rev. J. H. Bumby was the successor of Mr, Turner. He was comparatively young, and had no experience of mission work. An eloquent preacher, and of a most genial disposition, as well as burning zeal, he was very popular in England. But he was not suited to the rough work of New Zealand. The appointment was a mistake. Not to say that he was placed over men who had "borne the burden and the heat of the day," his special talents were lost.
He was accompanied by his sister, and by Messrs. Warren, Creed, and Ironside, with their wives. They sailed in the James to Hobarton, with the Rev. John Waterhouse and his family. They had been colleagues on the Birmingham circuit. Mr. Waterhouse came as the General Superintendent of the mission in Australasia and Polynesia. His head-quarters were at Hobarton. He made several voyages to New Zealand, and to the South Sea Islands, in his official capacity, and died in the year 1842.
Mr. Bumby was born at Thirsk, in Yorkshire, 1808, and entered the ministry in 1829. His health was delicate, but his spirit was ardent. It was hoped that he would become more robust in the fine climate of New
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Zealand, and be spared for many years of happy, useful toil. But the Master ordered otherwise.
He arrived at Mangungu early in 1839. Not long after, he started, in company with the Rev. John Hobbs, on a voyage to Port Nicholson, and the adjacent harbours, in a small schooner, with the view of extending missionary operations to that distant part of the country. With this object before them, they took with them several native teachers, who would stay behind.
Having made those visits, and satisfied themselves that the fields were "white already to harvest," they returned, in the schooner, to Kawhia. Here they were heartily welcomed by Mr. and Mrs. Whiteley, and were by no means sorry to exchange the tossings of the little bark, for the stability of terra firma. At that time, there was danger of a war at Mokau. In order, if possible, to prevent it, the three missionaries went as mediators.
It was a toilsome week's journey, over the most rugged paths, and some fearful precipices. Mr. Bumby had now his first experience of New Zealand travelling. Their mission was successful, and Mr. Bumby thus describes the scene:--
"I shall never forget the occasion: hundreds of savages, fighting men, appeared on either side of the valley, most of them naked, except their belt and cartridge-box, and all ready for action at a moment's notice. It was understood that the circumstance of either party crossing the boundary should be regarded by the other as the signal for immediate war. In the general rush, however, in which there was much savage violence, we succeeded in keeping them apart. Then followed the firing of muskets among the surrounding hills, and a war-dance, which literally shook the ground on which we stood. From all we heard and saw of the spirit and temper of the respective tribes, the conviction was not to be resisted, that, had we not interposed, much blood would have been shed, and many lives would have been lost."
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In returning to Kawhia, they spent a Sabbath at Teitu, an extensive village in the midst of a thick forest. The natives of this place had embraced Christianity, through the agency of their own countrymen They had built a commodious church. Twenty-one couples were united in holy matrimony, and sixty-two adults and thirty children were baptized. Leaving Kawhia, the brethren spent a few pleasant days at Mr. Wallis's station, Waingaroa. Thence they travelled homeward overland, and I had the pleasure of entertaining them at Tangiteroria, on the way.
After a short time, Mr. Bumby took a journey to Oruru, in the north, in company with Messrs. Ironside and Creed. They extended their visit to Wangaroa, where our first station was formed in 1822. Many natives were baptized by them in this tour. I don't wonder that, after the experience Mr. Bumby had now gained, that he should say, "It is an indispensable qualification for a New Zealand missionary that he should be a good walker."
Mr. Bumby had, in a high degree, those social qualities, sanctified by a high-toned piety, which could not fail to make his company always pleasant. He was greatly beloved by his brethren, and nothing pleased him so much as to have some of them near him. He was subject to fits of mental depression. The isolation of mission life in New Zealand was not suited to his temperament. His biographer truly says: "The New Zealand mission required more mental hardihood, and more social sympathy with the people, than he could yet bring to bear." The natives admired him for his generous deeds, but he never acquired the power of talking freely in their language, and therefore his
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sense of loneliness was the greater. The district meeting was a season of great enjoyment to him, in free and happy communion with his brethren. He felt the more need of their counsel because of the changes which were passing over the country; it was now a British colony.
As one of the results of the centenary year, a vessel called the Triton had been bought for the mission service; and a good accession to the New Zealand missionary staff embarked in her, viz., the Rev. Messrs. Buddle and Turton, with their wives, and Messrs. Buttle, Smales, and Aldred. She proved a bad sailer, and was long looked for. At last the Triton safely arrived at the Hokianga, on the 10th of May, 1840, more than seven months after sailing from Milford Haven.
She called at Hobarton, and there Mr. Waterhouse joined the mission party, and accompanied them to their destination. In addition to those for New Zealand, he had Messrs. Wilson, Williams, and Keverne, and their wives, for Fiji and Tonga. They all had nearly a fortnight's sojourn at Mangungu.
It was my happiness to meet them there. I was familiar with that road from my station--a four days' journey. I had walked it seven times in the space of one year. Mr. Bumby's house was crowded, he himself occupying a bare room adjoining the store; but he was jubilant. The Sunday was a high day. Ninety catechumens were baptized. It was on this occasion that our beloved friend made his first and his last attempt to speak in Maori, from the pulpit, by giving out a hymn.
From the Hokianga, Mr. Waterhouse took the Triton to Kawhia, that he might leave there, Messrs.
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Buddle, Turton, Ironside, Buttle, and Aldred, for their respective stations, and then proceed to the South Sea Islands. Mr. Bumby determined to go with them to Kawhia, and to come back by the overland route. They stopped there for a week. Thence the several missionaries repaired to their solitary stations and Mr. Bumby, with his native lads, turned his steps homeward, towards Mangungu. But that place he was never again to see!
He arrived at the station of Mr. Fairburn, on the Thames. From this place there were two ways of going to the Hokianga,--one coastwise to Wangarei, and thence across-land to Tangiteroria; the other by way of the river Waitemata, and over the isthmus to the Kaipara. Mr. Fairburn recommended the latter course; but Mr. Bumby, having a great dread of the Kaipara Heads, decided on the other route. He had several young men (natives) with him, who were good oarsmen, and strongly attached to their master.
They started in a canoe, on Thursday, June 25th. It was cold but clear weather,--not a ripple on the water. They landed at Motu-tapu, and slept there at night. The next day they renewed their voyage with fine weather: there were about twenty persons aboard the canoe. When they were nearing Tiritiri-matangi, a gentle breeze sprung up. One of the men rose up to hoist a sail--it was a heavy, raupo, triangular sail. To help him, some others hastily stood up, and the canoe was capsized! The natives could swim, and bent their efforts for saving Mr. Bumby, who could not swim. He was seated in the stern, with a book in his hand, when the accident happened.
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They righted the canoe, and got him into it again. To lighten him, they had taken off his outer garments. The canoe was full of water; and, shivering in the cold, he was baling out the water with his hands, when the natives, pressing into the canoe, overturned it once more. The natives were fatigued with their exertions, and one of them sank. Hemi Karana called to his companions to keep close to their missionary pastor. A Tongan lad and himself managed to get Mr. Bumby upon the upturned canoe. Almost naked, and in the cold wave, the Tongan became exhausted, and went to the bottom. For half an hour, Hemi Karana held his master in that position, when a rolling wave passing over them, loosened his hold, and Mr. Bumby was gone!
Karana was borne by the wave some way off, but being a good swimmer, gained the canoe again, with five of his companions. Looking down the pellucid deep, they saw the body of their dear master descending; but that was the last sight! Fourteen out of the twenty were drowned. The survivors righted the canoe, baled out the water, and secured what they could of the packages that were floating about. Then, with a melancholy feeling, they made their way home by Kaipara.
The first information that reached Mangungu, was by letter from the Rev. R. Taylor, dated July 11th, just seventeen days after the painful event. That was a dark day at the mission station. When poor Karana arrived, his heart was ready to burst with grief. As soon as the mournful tidings came to me, I went over to mingle my tears with the bereaved ones; and heard all the tragical details from Karana's lips. Long did his
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brethren gaze mournfully over the broad waters of the Thames, which closed on their friend, just as his work was beginning. But those who knew his moral worth, his radiant piety, his heart of love, will never forget John H. Bumby.
