He had lately established, near Auckland, for the
sons of the colonists, St. John's College, which in 1850
was placed under the Reverend Charles John Abra-
ham, the former Eton master, who had joined the
Bishop to act as Archdeacon and assist in the scheme
of education ; and here it was planned that the young
Melanesians should be trained.
The Bishop possessed a little schooner of twenty-two
tons, the ' Undine,' in which he was accustomed to make
his expeditions along the coast ; and in August 1849, he
set forth in her, with a crew of four, without a weapon
of any sort, to ' launch out into the deep, and let down
his nets for a draught' Captain Erskine of H.M.S.
' Havannah ' readily undertook to afford him any assist-
ance practicable, and they were to cruise in company,
the ' Undine ' serving as a pilot boat or tender on coasts
where the only guide was ' a few rough sketches
collected from small trading vessels.'
I. o
194 Life of y oh )i Coleridge Pattesoii [Ch. vi
They met near Tanna, but not before the Bishop
had been In Dillon's Bay, on the Island of Erromango,
the scene of Williams's murder, and had allowed some
of the natives to come on board his vessel as a first
step towards friendly Intercourse. The plan agreed
on by the Bishop and the Captain was to go as far
North as Vate, and return by way of the Loyalty Isles,
which fringe the east coast of New Caledonia, to
touch at that large Island, and then visit the Island of
Pines, at Its extreme south point, and there enquire
into a massacre said to have taken place. This was
effected, and In each place the natives showed them-
selves friendly. From New Caledonia the Bishop
brought away a pupil named Dallup, and at two of
the Loyalty Islands, Nengone or Mare, and LIfu,
where Samoan teachers had excited a great desire for
further Instruction, boys eagerly begged to go with
him, and two were taken from each, In especial Slapo,
a young Nengon^ chief eighteen or nineteen years
old, of very pleasing aspect, and with those dignified
princely manners which rank Is almost sure to give.
The first thing done with such lads when they came
on board was to make clothes for them, and when
they saw the needle employed In their service, they
were almost sure to beg to be taught the art, and most
of them soon became wonderfully dexterous In It.
On the Island of Pines, so called from the tower-like
masses of the Norfolk pine on the shores, was at that
time the French Bishop of New Caledonia, the O211, oiu,
as the natives called him and his countrymen, for whom
they had little love. After an Interview between the
two Bisho[)s, the 'Undine' returned to New Zealand,
where the native boys were brought to St. John's
College. The system of education there combined
aqriculLural labour and printing with study, and the
authorities and the boys shared according to their
1852.] Siapo 195
strength in both, for there was nothing more prominent
in the Bishop's plan than that the coloured man was
not to be treated as a mere hewer of wood and drawer
of water, but, as a Maori once expressed the idea :
' Gentleman-o^entleman thought nothine that oueht
to be done at all too mean for him ; pig-gentleman
never worked.' The whole community, including the
ladies and their guests, dined together in hall.
The five boys behaved well, Siapo being a leader
in all that was good, and made advances in Christian
knowledge ; but it was one of the Bishop's principles
that none of them should be baptized till he had
proved whether his faith were strong enough to
resist the trial of a return to his native home and
heathen friends. The climate of New Zealand is far
too chilly for these inhabitants of tropical regions, and
it was absolutely necessary to return them to their
homes during the winter quarter from June to August.
The scheme therefore was to touch at their islands,
drop them there, proceed then further on the voyage,
and then, returning the same way, resume them, if they
were willing to come under instruction for Baptism
and return to the college. In the lack of a common
language. Bishop Selwyn hoped to make them all
learn English, and only communicate with one another
in that.
The ' Undine,' not being large enough for the purpose,
was exchanged for the ' Border Maid '; and in the course
of the next three years an annual voyage was made,
and boys to the number of from twelve to fourteen
brought home. Siapo of Nengone was by far the
most promising scholar. He was a strong influence,
when at home, on behalf of the Samoan teachers, and
assisted in the building of a round chapel, smoothly
floored, and plastered with coral lime. In 1S52 he was
o 2
y
196 Life of yohn Coleridge Patteson [Ch. vi.
baptized, together with three of his friends, in this chapel,
in his own island, by the Bishop, in the presence of a
thousand persons, and received the name of George.
When the ' Border Maid ' returned, though he was
convalescent from a severe illness, he not only begged
that he might come back, but that the young girl to
whom he was betrothed might be taken to New Zealand
to be trained in Christian ways. Ready consent was
given, and the little Wabisane, and her companion
Wasitutru (Little Chattering Bird), were brought on
board, and arrayed in petticoats fashioned by the
Bishop's own hands, from his own counterpane, with
white skirts above, embellished with a bow of scarlet
ribbon, the only piece of finery to be found in the
' Border Maid.' The Rev. William Nihill had spent
the period of this trip at Nengone, and had become
deeply interested in the people. The island was then
thought likely to become a centre whence to work on
adjacent places ; but to the grief and disappointment
of all, George Siapo did not live through the summer
at St. John's. He had never recovered his illness at
home, and rapidly declined; but his faith burned brighter
as his frame became weaker, and his heart was set on
the conversion of his native country. He warmly
begged Mr. Nihill to return thither, and recommended
him to the protection of his friends, and he wished his
own brother to become scholar at St. John's. His
whole demeanour was that of a devoted Christian, and
when he died, in the January of the year 1853, he might
be regarded as the first fruits of the Melanesian Church.
Since Mr. Nihill was about to return to Nengone, and
there was a certain leaven of Christianity in the place,
the girls were not subjected to the probation of a return
before baptism, but were christened Caroline and Sarah,
after Mrs. Abrahani and Mrs. Selwyn.
Another very satisfactory pupil was little Umao.
,853.] Umao 197
An English sailor in a dreadful state of disease had been
left behind by a whaler at Erromango, where the little
Umao, a mere boy, had attached himself to him, and
waited on him with the utmost care and patience, though
meeting with no return but blows and rough words.
The man moved to Tanna, where there are mineral
springs highly esteemed by the natives, and when the
' Border Maid ' touched there, in 1851, he was found
in a terrible condition, but with the little fellow faith-
fully attending him. The Englishman was carried to
Sydney, and left in the hospital there ; but Umao
begged not to be sent home, for he said his parents
cruelly ill-used him and his brothers, and set them to
watch the fire all night to keep off evil spirits ; so,
when New Zealand became too cold for him, he was
sent to winter at the London Society's station in
Anaiteum. His sweet friendly nature expanded under
Christain training, but his health failed, and in the
course of the voyage of 1853 he became so ill that his
baptism was hastened, and he shortly after died in the
Bishop's arms.
Two more boys, cousins, from Lifu, also died.
There never was any suspicion or displeasure shown
among the relatives of these youths. Their own habits
were frightfully unhealthy ; they were not a long-
lived people, and there was often great mortality
among them, and though they were grieved at the loss
of their sons, they never seemed distrustful or un-
grateful. But it was evident that, even in the summer
months, the climate of New Zealand was trying to
these tropical constitutions, and as it was just then
determined that Norfolk Island should no lonofer be
the penal abode of the doubly convicted felons of
Botany Bay, but should instead become the home of
the descendants of the mutineers of the ' Bounty ' who
had outgrown Pitcairn's Island, the Bishop cast his eyes
igS Life of John Coleridge Patteson [Ch. VI.
upon It as the place most likely to agree alike with
English and Melanesian constitutions, and therefore
eminently fitted for the place of instruction.
The expenses of the voyages in the ' Border Maid '
had been met partly by the Eton Association, and
partly by another association at Syndey, where a warm
interest in these attempts had been excited and main-
tained by the visits of Bishop Selwyn, who usually
visited Australia, while the lads were wintering at
their homes. But the ' Border Maid ' was superan-
nuated, nor had she ever been perfectly fitted for the
purpose ; and when, in 1853, the Bishop was obliged to
come to England to take measures for dividing his
diocese, he also hoped to obtain permission to establish
a Melanesian school on Norfolk Island, and to obtain
the means of building a schooner yacht, small enough
to be navigated in the narrow, shallow creeks separating
the clustered islets, and yet capacious enough for the
numerous passengers. In the meantime Mr. Nihill
went to Nengone with his wife and child. His lungs
were much affected, but he hoped that the climate
would prolong his power of working among the Chris-
tian community, who heartily loved and trusted him.
Other fellow-labourers the Bishop hoped to obtain at
home, though it was his principle never to solicit men
to come with him, only to take those who offered them-
selves ; but all the particulars of the above narration
had been known to Coley Patteson through the Bishop's
correspondence with Mr. Edward Coleridge, as well as
by the yearly report put forth by the Eton Association,
and this no doubt served to keep up in his heart the
flame that had burnt unseen for so many years, and to
determine its direction, though he put himself unreser-
vedly at the Bisliop's disposal, to work wherever he
miirht be sent.
Voyage in the ' Duke of Portland ' 199
The means for the mission ship ' Southern Cross '
were raised.^ She was built at Southampton by
Messrs. Wigram, and, after all the delays, sailed on
the very same day as the ' Duke of Portland.'
Meantime here are a few extracts from Patteson's
journal-letter during the voyage. Sea sickness was very
slightly disabling with him ; he was up and about in a
short time, and on the 8th of April was writing : —
* What a day this has been to me, the twenty-eighth an-
niversary of my baptism to begin with, and then Easter
Day spent at sea ! I must tell you how I spent it.
The weather is not quite warm enough yet to have ser-
vice on deck, so hitherto the saloon has been made
our church : two rows of benches on each side of the
table, cabin passengers in their cabins with doors open,
making a kind of pew. Bishop at the door of his cabin,
C. and I at door of mine; service 10.30 a.m. I
read prayers and Litany ; C. the lessons, Bishop the
Communion Service, before which we sang the
Easter hymn. J. C. P. precentor and leader of the
choir. Bishop preached extempore, excellently, of
course. The table in his cabin was spread with a
linen cloth, and a magnificent jewelled silver-gilt
service of plate (the gift of divers friends for the
Melanesian Mission) upon it. Communicants, about
nine or ten, came into the cabin. I administered
1 Partly thus. My mother had always been eagerly interested in the
Mission, and when on the day of my father's funeral something brought
before her the request for the vessel, she said to Mrs. Keble how much
she should like to see the sum raised by contributions from those who
liked the Heir of Redely ffe, then in its first flush of success. Mrs. Keble,
pleased to see that anything could interest her, warmly took up the idea,
other friends joined, and by their great kindness a sum was raised suffi-
cient to be at least worth presenting to the Bishop by the hands of a
little three-year-old girl, just able to know that she had seen ' man,' and
given him ' letter,' though only later able to value his blessing.
200 Life of John Coleridge Patteson [Ch. vi.
the Cup. Then school, Mrs. Sehvyn taking girls ;
and a kind of mixed evening service at eight, reading
Psalms and lessons all round, and then many Church
prayers at the Bishop's discretion ; but the work of
the ship does not allow of a regular evening service.
Ap7'il \\th, 9.30. — I have just seen the Southern
Cross for the first time, and from this point, about
20° south lat., we shall see most of the constellations
of both hemispheres. It is a perfect cross, four
stars, but not very bright, nor very large, certainly
not so striking as the Great Bear or Orion, but still
the shape is remarkable.
I fall be well I have to preach to-morrow, which same
thing I don't much like. It is all very well holding
forth to those good simple folk at Alfington, but
before a live Bishop is another thing. Still I must
begin to do lots of things I don't quite like, and I
am sure I have been spoilt quite long enough, not
that I should find it at all difficult to recommence
that process.
Apial 20th, lat 4° N., long. 25° W. — Rather hot. It
is very fine to see all the stars of the heavens almost
rise and pass overhead and set — Great Bear and
Southern Cross shining as in rivalry of each other,
and doth hemispheres showing forth all their glory.
Only the Polar Star, that shines straight above you,
is gone below our horizon ; and One alone knows how
much toil, and perhaps sorrow, there may be in store
for me before I see it again. But there is and will
be much happiness and comfort also, for indeed I
have great peace of mind, and a firm conviction
that I am doing what is right ; a feeling that God is
directing and ordering the course of my life, and
whenever I take the only true view of the business
of life, I am happy and cheerful.
1855O ^^^ Iceberg 20 T
May 10. — It Is, I find, quite settled, and was
indeed always, that I am to go always with the
Bishop, roving about the Melanesian department, so
that for some years, if I live, I shall be generally six
months at sea. And not little to my delight, I find
that the six winter months {i.e. your summer months)
are the ones that we shall spend in sailing about the
islands within or near the tropics, so that I shall
have little more shivering limbs or blue hands,
though I may feel in the long run the effect of a
migratory swallow-like life. But the sea itself is a
perpetual tonic, and when I am thoroughly accus-
tomed to a sea life, I think I shall be better almost
on board ship.
This seems the place for Bishop Selwyn's impres-
sion, as written to a friend at this very time. ' Coley
Patteson is a treasure which I humbly set down as a
Divine recompense for our own boys.^ He is a good
fellow, and the tone of his mind is one which I can
thoroughly enjoy, content with the rh ail present, yet
always aiming at a brighter and better future.'
June 1 2. — It was pitch dark last night, blowing and
raining, and some anxiety was felt in consequence of
our having passed an iceberg. Two men were
stationed on the forecastle Instead of one, and the
captain was awake all night, I believe. I do not
find that the possibility of any such accidents occur-
ring disturbs me. God watches over us here as well
as on land. Awful indeed would it be to dash at
ten knots an hour against an iceberg. No time to
think of death before every soul would experience it.
In low latitudes this Is the chief cause of anxiety, as
of course these floating fellows cannot be marked on
charts like rocks, and probably many unaccountable
^ Left at home for education.
202 Life of yohn Coleridge Pattesoii [Ch. VI,
losses of ships may be attributable to this cause.
Yesterday, at 5.30 p.m., which answered to 1 1 a.m. in
England, we met in the Bishop's cabin, and held a
short service. Before we began it, we thought over
the names of those who were most likely to be
thinking of us at home and in New Zealand, and in the
little printed prayer which you all have, and which
the Bishop used, he introduced whatever was neces-
sary to remind us of all dear absent friends. Just
before we went to the cabin, J. wrote a note to the
Alnngtonians, which Fan must take over and read
to them — i.e., read it in several of the cottages where
she knows the people still feel an interest in me.
ftme 14. — It is too rough to attempt any work,
and I fear I shall write almost illegibly, the vessel
is rolling so heavily. Yesterday it blew a gale
of wind, and the night before it was at times
very stormy. One heavy sea at 4.45 a.m. almost
cleared the decks, carried away the strong seat, with
all the paint boxes, white lead, &c., inside, from the
poop, knocked the meat safe over, tore a plank
fifteen feet long out of the side of the ship (above
the water-mark, luckily), and broke right through the
bulwarks in two other places, knocked up the cuddy
skylight, and poured into the cuddy, &c. It only
came a little into my cabin, and did not flood it, though
it is still very soppy in one place. The captain
said, ' I never remember this vessel being struck by
such a heavy sea.' Not that there was any danger,
but the wind and sea were working up, and getting
furious. It was a cross sea too, coming in upon us
from different directions. At last we lay to, i.e.,
did not attemj^t to progress, as the wind was from
the north, and we could not sail with such a o-ale
upon our beam, so we just drifted, with two or three
1855-] ^ Gale 203
small sails only, before the wind, rolling- very heavily.
The Bishop and I spent the day in carpentering in
my room, every now and then being shot like shuttle-
cocks backwards and forwards, no matter whether
we were on hands or knees, standing or sitting.
Nothing gave way in my cabin. Having warily
tilted up my bed very much, so as to be lying as it
were at an angle of the letter V between the ship's
side and the wall, I slept like a top all night long.
Inasmuch as these two days I have felt especially
hungry and quite free from sickness, I begin to
think myself a sailor. I think it would have as-
tonished you who live at home at ease to have been
with me on deck yesterday for the few minutes I
ventured on the poop, holding tight by a rope, the
wind and rain rattling on my waterproof cap and
coat, whistling and singing through the ropes and
ring-bolts like the humming of the electric wires,
only much louder and shriller, the sea broken down
by the rain and thrashed up again by the wind, with
the planks groaning and creaking, and the sea
running very high. I think that if you had pos-
sessed sea legs to reach the poop and hold on when
you were there, you would have thought the present
condition of the good ship ' Duke of Portland,'
slightly unsafe. To-day it has been better, but the
wind is getting up now.
June 18. — You must think of us at 8 p.m. on
Sundays — ^just at 8.20 a.m. before you come down
to prayers. The Bishop has a service in the College
chapel; then, after all the 'runners' (clergy who have
district chapels) have returned, chanting Psalms, and
reading collects, which bear especially on the subject
of unity, introducing the special Communion thanks-
giving for Whitsunday, and the Sanctus, and the
204 Life of John Coleridge Patteson [Ch. vi.
Prayer for Unity in the Accession Service. I feel that
it must be an impressive and very happy way of
ending the Sunday, and you will be at Sunday
prayers at the other end of the world praying with us.
fiuie 2 2. — If old F. (his nurse) could have seen
the circumstances under which ' dear Mr. Coley '
had to make his toilette this morning, she would
have groaned within her. Impi'-imis, the dead-
lights being up, there was just a glimpse of light
from the bull's-eye, and that was all. Secondly,
about two-thirds of the floor of the cabin have been
saturated with wet for a good while, since the heavy
sea struck us, and generally I do not go on the
swampy part of my territory ; but of course, in a
rolling sea, I go where the sea chooses, and not
where I choose, so this was not over pleasant.
Thirdly, no water for washing, as the cask had been
upset in the night ; but subsequently, at 8.30, I did
get my washing and tooth water when dressed.
Fourthly, the wind blowing from aft whistled through
my cabin, creating no slight inconvenience to fingers
and toes, already quite cold enough. Fifthly, I had
not a dry shoe or slipper in the place. Some-
how, none of these things seem to matter now ; I was
dressed soon and on deck, and sea-water never gives
any one a cold. I tell you these little things, not as
if I thought them worth telling, and you see I am
writing in fun ; but I know you will like to hear
everything.
filly 3. — Still at sea. As soon as we rounded
the North Cape on Friday, June 29, a contrary
wind sprang up, and we have been beating
about, tacking between North Cape and Cape Brett
ever since. Fine sunny weather and light winds,
Init always from the south. To me it is a matter of
1 855-] ^^^ sight of Land 205
entire indifference ; I am quite ready to go ashore, but
do not mind a few more days at sea. The dimate
is dehghtful, thermometer on deck 55° to 60°, and
such glorious sunsets ! There is really something
peculiar in the delicacy of the colours here — faint
pink and blue, and such an idea of distance is given
by the great transparency of the air. It is full moon
too now, and I walk the deck from eleven to twelve
every night with no great coat, thinking about you
all and my future work. Last night the Bishop was
with me, and told me definitely about my occupation
for the time to come. All day we have been
slowly, very slowly, passing along from the north
headland of the Bay of Islands to Cape Brett, and
along the land south of It. A fine coast it is, full of
fine harbours and creeks, the bay itself like a large
Torbay, only bolder. Due south of us is the Bream
headland, then the Barrier Islands. We are only
about a mile from the shore, and refreshing it is to
look at it ; but as yet we have seen no beach ; the
rock runs right into the sea. Such bustle and
excitement on board ! emigrants getting their things
ready, carpenters making the old ' Duke ' look smart,
sailors scrubbing, but no painting going on, to our
extreme delight. It is so calm, quite as smooth as
a small lake ; indeed there is less perceptible motion
than I have felt on the Lake of Como. No backs,
no bones aching, though here I speak for others
more than for myself, for the Bishop began his talk
last night by saying, ' One great point is decided,
that you are a good sailor. So far you are qualified
for Melanesia.' To this may be added that Patteson
had been further preparing for this work by a dili-
gent study of the Maori language, and likewise of
navigation ; and what an instructor he had in the
2o6 Life of John Coleridge Patteson [ch. vi.
knowledge of the coasts may be gathered from the
fact that an old sea captain living at Kohimarama,
sent a note to St. John's College stating that he
was sure that the Bishop had come, for he knew
every vessel that had ever come into Auckland
harbour, and was sure this barque had never been
there before ; yet she had come in the night through
all the intricate passages, and was rounding the
heads without a pilot on board. He therefore
concluded that the Bishop must be on board, as
there was no other man that could have taken
command of her at such a time, and brought her
into that harbour.
The Bishop and Mrs. Selwyn went on shore as
soon as possible ; Patteson waited till the next day.
Indeed he wrote on July 5 that he was in no hurry
to land, since he knew no one in the whole neigh-
bourhood but Archdeacon Abraham. Then he de-
scribes the aspect of Auckland from the sea : —
It looks much like a small sea-side town, but not
so substantially built, nor does it convey the same
idea of comfort and wealth ; rude warehouses, &c.,
being mixed up with private houses on the beach.
The town already extends to a distance of perhaps
half a mile on each side of this cove, on which the
principal part of it is built. Just in the centre of the