and we will all
be strong for it on Tanna. We will not shoot without your leave; but if
you refuse they will kill you and persecute us and our children, and
banish Jehovah's Worship from our land."

I said, "I love all of you alike. I am here to teach you how to turn
away from all wickedness, to worship and serve Jehovah, and to live in
peace. How can I approve of any person being killed for me or for the
Worship? My God would be angry at me and punish me, if I did!"

He replied, "Then, Missi, you will be murdered and the Worship
destroyed."

I then stood forth in the middle before them all and cried, "You may
shoot or murder me, but I am your best friend. I am not afraid to die.
You will only send me the sooner to my Jehovah God, whom I love and
serve, and to my dear Saviour Jesus Christ, who died for me and for you,
and who sent me here to tell you all His love. If you will only love and
serve Him and give up your bad conduct, you will be happy. But if you
kill me, His messenger, rest assured that He will in His own time and
way punish you. This is my word to you all; my love to you all!"

So saying, I turned to leave; and Ian strode suddenly away and stood at
the head of his men, crying, "Missi, they will kill you! they will kill
us, and you will be to blame!"

Miaki and Nouka, full of deceit, now cried out, "Missi's word is good!
Let us all obey it. Let us all worship."

An old man, Sirawia, one of Ian's under-chiefs, then said, "Miaki and
Nouka say that the land on which Missi lives was theirs; though they
sold it to him and he has paid them for it, they all know that it was
ours, and is yet ours by right; but if they let Missi live on it in
peace, we will all live at peace, and worship Jehovah. And if not, we
will surely claim it again."

Miaki and his party hereon went off to their plantations, and brought a
large present of food to Ian and his men as a peace-offering. This they
accepted; and the next day Ian and his men brought Miaki a return
present and said, "You know that Missi lives on our land? Take our
present, be friends, and let him live quietly and teach us all.
Yesterday you said his word was good; obey it now, else we will punish
you and defend the Missi."

Miaki accepted the token, and gave good promises for the future. Ian
then came to the hill-top near our house, by which passed the public
path, and cried aloud in the hearing of all, "Abraham, tell Missi that
you and he now live on our l