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that they should see his face no more?" What made him weep so much when he bade good bye to his wife and children at twelve o'clock that night, and embrace them time after time, as if he were never to look upon them again?

As soon as he stepped on board the Camden, however, his sadness left him. He had much to do, and much to think about. He had now begun his "great voyage,"-the voyage to which he had been looking forward for eighteen years-the voyage on which hung the hopes of British Christians-the voyage which would either end in bitter disappointment, or do more for the glory of his Saviour than any of his former attempts. The people that he was going to visit spoke a strange language and practised strange customs--they were cruel and savage cannibals.

On his way, he left some native teachers at Rotuma-an island which, as far as I can judge from the map, was about half-way. The reason why he called there was, that he thought he might find some natives of the New Hebrides on the island, and if he could get them to come with him, they might introduce him to their friends at home. When the Camden was within five miles of Rotuma, a canoe approached with four men in it. They were very strange-looking. Instead of clothes, their bodies were smeared over with a thick coat of turmeric and oil, which made them appear as if they were dressed in red coats. One of them came on board: he was a chief, named Tokoniua. He told them that there were no New Hebrides men on the island. This the missionaries were sorry to hear, but they resolved to leave teachers there if they could. So they sent to the king to offer him some. Meanwhile they landed and talked to the people. After waiting some time, and getting no answer from the king, they were going away: just as they were pushing the boat off, their little friend Tokoniua came running down the beach out of breath, crying out "back, astern, there;" they stopped - he jumped in and then gave another order, "Pull away boys." Mr. Williams, much surprised, asked him what he wanted. "I want my missionary," said he. Mr. Williams replied, "but the king does not wish for missionaries, and we are going to sail to larger islands than this, where we hope to leave them." "I no mind the king," cried Tokoniua; "he king his own town; me and my brother chief, we got town too; the king no come speak my town, I no go speak his town: suppose king no like missionary, me like him." Mr. Williams answered that they had no more time to stay, as they had a long distance to go, and many islands to call at, adding, Have we not, Captain Morgan?" As soon as the little man heard Captain Morgan appealed to, he turned to him, and exclaimed with warmth, " 'you very kind man, I know, Captain Morgan; what you say, Captain? You no give me missionary? Only one night, Captain, then I get my missionary and you go.

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What you say Captain? What you say?" By this time all on board were so interested in Tokoniua that they could not refuse him. So they waited that night, and then went on shore with two native teachers, Leitana and Tau, both of them Christians from Samoa. On landing, they found that the king had sent a message all round the island, desiring that no one would receive them, but the chief of that district had returned for answer, "If the teachers come, I shall treat them kindly, but leave their religion with themselves." Mr. Williams was going to kneel down and pray with Leitana and Tau, before leaving them, but the poor ignorant chief was terrified, and begged that they would not do it in his house, lest the spirits should be angry with him, and wreak their vengeance on his children. It did not seem prudent to press the point, so they lifted up a prayer in their hearts for one another, to Him who hears thoughts as well as words. This was on Wednesday, Nov. 13th.

On the Saturday evening, as they were steering fast towards the New Hebrides, they held a meeting for prayer, that God would protect them, if it were his will, from the power of fierce savages. As soon as it was light on Monday morning, they opened their eyes, and saw the green hills of Tanna, lighted up by the early beams of the just risen sun. Full of joy and hope they were, to find themselves anchored, at last, opposite the first of the New Hebrides group. Their joy was increased on landing. The natives were very friendly, and quite delighted at the thought of receiving the teachers. Therefore three were left with them at once. The next morning the missionaries came again on shore to see how the teachers were, and if they had been well treated. They said that they had been treated most kindly, and they wished to get their luggage from the ship, and settle themselves at Tanna. When the people saw them getting into the boat, they were afraid that they were going to leave them altogether; and it was not till they proposed to leave with them two other teachers who happened to be there, as hostages for their own return, that they were allowed to push off. They soon came back with their luggage and then the Camden set sail. Thus ended one of the most encouraging visits that Mr. Williams ever made to a savage island-the last before that fatal visit in which his precious life was lost.

Erromanga was reached in a few hours. The next morning, Wednesday, at day-break, the Camden anchored in Dillon's bay. Mr. Williams and Mr. Cunningham were standing together, leaning upon the side of the ship, as she was gliding along the water, opposite the coast. Mr. Williams was saying that he had not been able to sleep all night because of thinking of the great and important work before him, and the years it would take. Just then a canoe was seen on its way to them. At Mr. Williams's desire, a

boat was lowered, which took in himself, Mr. Harris, a good man who had gone to the South Seas in search of health, Mr. Cunningham, Captain Morgan, and four sailors, and they went to meet

the canoe. The men in it could not understand a word

that was said to them; however, they took some presents and seemed satisfied. Several natives were seen on the shore, making signs to the ship to go away. But it was a missionary ship-a ship freighted with salvation; how could it go and leave Erromanga lying in sin?

The boat was now very near the shore. The missionaries threw some beads on the beach, which the natives gladly picked up, and they came closer and took some fish hooks, and beads, and a small-looking glass. Mr. Cunningham said to Mr. Williams, "Do you think of going on shore?" "I should not be at all afraid of doing so," he replied; and turning to Captain Morgan, he said, 66 Captain, you know we like to take possession of the land; and, if we can only leave good impressions on the minds of the natives, we can come again and leave teachers; we must be content to do a little. You know Babel was not built in a day." So they stepped on shore out of the boat. Mr. Williams offered his hand to the natives, but they would not take it. He then distributed a few pieces of print among them, hoping to gain their confidence. Meanwhile, Mr. Harris said he wished to have a stroll inland, and see in what sort of a place they were. Mr. Williams followed after Mr. Cunningham. Mr. Cunningham remarked to Mr. Williams that he thought that the savages looked very fierce, and as though they meant to do some mischief, but Mr. Williams did not hear him, as he had a group of boys round him, whom he was teaching to say, "one, two, three, four," and so on. Captain Morgan, who had been waiting to see the boat moored safely, now began to follow the others. He had gone about a hundred yards, when the men who were left in the boat cried out to him to run. He lifted up his eyes, and saw Mr. Williams and Mr. Cunningham running with all their might; some furious savages after them. He ran directly. He and Mr. Cunningham jumped into the boat at the same moment. Mr. Harris was not in sight. Mr. Cunningham had seen him die. He had fallen into a brook-and the water had gone over his head, a number of savages standing by, and beating him with clubs.

He

But what became of Mr. Williams? Ah! you all know. ran straight into the sea, intending most likely to swim to the boat. But the savages were close behind him, and struck him on the head with their heavy clubs. Twice he dashed his head under water to avoid the blow, but it was in vain. A savage stood over him, ready to strike the moment he arose. He was pierced by a shower of arrows. Then about a dozen fierce savages laid hold upon his body and dragged it on shore, beating it in the most furious

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manner. It mattered not to him.

Already his soul had taken its flight to glory. Already he was in the presence of that Saviour for whose sake he had counted not his life dear unto himself. Whilst the body, which he had left behind, yet lay mangled and bleeding and dishonoured on the coral reef, he had received a starry crown from his Master's hand.

In sadness and in terror Captain Morgan and Mr. Cunningham made their way back to the ship. Those who were on board soon saw that there were two places vacant. "What is the matter?" they exclaimed! "We have lost Mr. Williams and Mr. Harris," said the captain. "Lost them!" they thought to themselves; 'they mean, that the natives have kept them till a ransom be paid, or something of that sort." "They are dead," added Captain Morgan; "they are dead; the natives have killed them." What language can describe the feelings of that hour?

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"Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour."

THE FEEJEE CANNIBALS.

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BY THE AUTHOR OF THE NIGHT OF TOIL."

;-no,

Of all the places in the world that I have heard of, I think the Feejee Islands are the most cruel. To eat human flesh is the delight of the inhabitants. As for killing a man, they think no more of it than they do of cutting down a tree. To shed human blood does not grieve them as much as it would grieve you to spill some milk upon the table-cloth far from it, for you would be sorry for your carelessness, whereas they would rejoice in the fine feat they had performed. You may fancy how miserable the people must be, who know that their neighbours would like to eat them. It would be almost as well to live amongst lions, as among the natives of Feejee. Are you not surprised that any missionaries dare to live there? Yet, some do. How much shocked they are by what they daily see and hear! When a man kills another, his great fear is, not lest he should be punished for his wickedness, but lest he should be deprived of any part of his delicious feast. He wants to eat the whole body up himself, as he thinks that, as he has killed it, he has a right to it. How dreadful!

A little while ago, there lived in Feejee a chief named

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