Meanwhile, the natives
who composed our crew, having nothing particular to do, had squatted
down on the deck and taken out their little books containing the
translated portions of the New Testament, along with hymns and
spelling-books, and were now busily engaged, some vociferating the
alphabet, others learning prayers off by heart, while a few sang hymns
--all of them being utterly unmindful of our presence. The teacher soon
joined them, and soon afterwards they all engaged in a prayer, which
was afterwards translated to us, and proved to be a petition for the
success of our undertaking, and for the conversion of the heathen.
While we were thus engaged, a canoe put off from shore and several
savages leaped on deck, one of whom advanced to the teacher and
informed him that Tararo could not come on board that day, being busy
with some religious ceremonies before the gods, which could on no
account be postponed. He was also engaged with a friendly chief who was
about to take his departure from the island, and therefore begged that
the teacher and his friends would land and pay a visit to him. To this
the teacher returned answer that we would land immediately.
"Now, lads," said Jack, as we were about to step into our little boat,
"I'm not going to take any weapons with me, and I recommend you to take
none either. We are altogether in the power of these savages, and the
utmost we could do, if they were to attack us, would be to kill a few
of them before we were ourselves overpowered.
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