Chapter 1: Landing Among Savages
Towards dark on the 12th of May 1896, the little Dayspring weighed anchor at Futuna, and steamed away for Tanna. After evening worship we gathered on the deck, our hearts full of thoughts of the morrow. Futuna gradually faded into the darkness behind us, while far before us a dull red glow from the volcano marked the south-east point of Tanna. A solemn hush fell upon us, and Mr Smaill of Epi proposed that we should have a time of special prayer for Tanna and the work of the coming day. It was a quiet and helpful hour as we laid all our hopes and fears and plans before Him in whose name we were going forth. We all felt that God was very near to us that night on the deck of our little ship, and we felt that He would enable us to do and endure anything.
At daylight we anchored off Port Resolution, where Turner and Nisbet landed so long ago, and where my father worked until he was driven out by the fury of the savages. Here we picked up Mr Watt, who has so heroically done battle with the Heathenism of Tanna; and then we steamed on along the south coast to Kwamera, the early home of Mr and Mrs Watt. We did not stay long here, but pressed on up the west coast. The scenery was lovely: now a white fringe of sand, now a bold and rocky headland, and always a background of magnificent mountains clothed to the very top with luxuriant vegetation. [Continue reading]
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