Mary Liddiard | Page 6

about forty, her face, though not handsome, and
with a serious expression, was mild and pleasing. She was dressed in an
ample petticoat, made from the fibres of the hibiscus, while over her
shoulders she wore a tippet somewhat resembling a small poncho,
which completely shrouded the upper part of her form. Having finished
the labours of the day (for although of high rank, she was compelled,
like others, to work for her support), she was seated on a mat, with a
book open on her knees, from which she was endeavouring to read. Not
having long been a convert, she had as yet made but little progress in
her studies. She affectionately welcomed her niece and me as we took
our seats near her. Lisele then eagerly poured forth what she had been
hearing, so rapidly, that I could scarcely follow her.
"It is all true," said Abela, when her niece at length ceased speaking. "I
praise Jehovah that you know it."
When, however, Lisele told her of her wish to go back to her father,
Abela hesitated. "He will not understand you, my child," she exclaimed,
"and perhaps will not allow you to return to people whom he may think
so foolish."
"Oh, but I'll pray for him," answered Lisele. "I'll ask Jehovah to help
me, and I know He will hear me, so I shall not have to trust to my own
strength."
Abela remained silent for some time, and I saw that she was engaged in
prayer.
"You shall go, my child," she said at length. "Jehovah will take care of
you, and may He prosper your undertaking."
Delighted at having obtained this permission, Lisele returned to spend

the evening with us, for my father wished to have an opportunity of
speaking to her. He warned her of the opposition she must expect to
meet with from her people, and of the dangers she would have to
encounter, especially as he knew that she had been sought in marriage
by a young heathen chief, who might wish to detain her.
"But now I know the truth. I will never consent to marry one who is a
heathen," she answered. "And I do not intend to remain. I will only try
to persuade my father to visit you, and then I will return."
Lisele set off the next day, accompanied by two Christian people of her
tribe, who promised to protect her from the heathens, and aid her return
should it be opposed, even although they might risk their lives in so
doing. We were very sorry to lose her, as we feared that efforts would
be made to prevent her returning among us.
Maud could not restrain her tears. "I know too well how cruelly these
heathens can act," she said. "They will not hesitate to carry her off to
some distant island, whence she cannot possibly escape; or, if she
offends them by what she says, they may even kill her." Dear Maud
had indeed had bitter experience of the barbarities often committed by
the savage islanders.
My father had for some years been a missionary in another part of the
Pacific, when it was settled that he should occupy the Station where we
now were. I was too young at the time to remember much about what
occurred, so I can describe only what I have heard. As there was then
no missionary vessel to convey us, we embarked on board a whaler, the
Christian captain of which undertook to carry us to our destination. He
was, however, unable to make a direct passage, as he had in the
prosecution of his business first to visit several other places, still, as no
other means of getting where we wished to go were likely to occur, my
father was glad to embrace the opportunity thus offered. We had been
for some time at sea when a fearful storm arose, which compelled us to
run before it under bare poles, and carried us a long way out of our
course. The vessel received also considerable damage, losing one of her
masts and several spars. At length a beautiful island appeared in sight,
covered thickly with trees, and directly ahead was seen a commodious

harbour. The captain therefore ran into it and came to an anchor, that
the damages which the vessel had received might be repaired. He soon
found that it was inhabited by numerous savages, who pushed off in
their canoes to visit the strange ship. He, however, had so long been
acquainted with the treacherous character of the natives of most of the
Pacific islands, that he would allow no one to come on board, and he
had also boarding-nettings triced up to guard against any sudden attack
they might venture to make. We had on