Aneityumese, then all
savages, murdered and ate every man of them save one, who escaped into
the bush. Living on cocoanuts, he awaited a favorable wind, and,
launching his canoe by night, he arrived in safety. The bereaved
Aniwans, hearing his terrible story, were furious for revenge; but the
forty-five miles of sea between proving too hard an obstacle, they made
a deep cut in the earth and vowed to renew that cut from year to year
till the day of revenge came round. Thus the memory of the event was
kept alive for nearly eighty years.

At length the people of Aneityum came to the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
They strongly yearned to spread their saving Gospel to the Heathen
Islands all around. Amid prayers and strong cryings to God they, like
the Church at Antioch, designated two of their leading men to go as
Native Teachers and evangelize Aniwa, viz. Navalak and Nemeyan; whilst
others went forth to Fotuna, Tanna, and Erromanga, as opportunity arose.
Namakei, the principal Chief of Aniwa, had promised to protect and be
kind to them. But as time went on, it was discovered that the Teachers
belonged to the Tribe on Aneityum, and one of them to the very land,
where long ago the Aniwans had been murdered. The Teachers had from the
first known their danger, but were eager to make known the Gospel to
Aniwa. It was resolved that they should die. But the Aniwans, having
promised to protect them, shrank from doing it themselves; so they hired
two Tanna-men and an Aniwan Chief, one of whose parents had belonged to
Tanna, to waylay and shoot the Teachers as they returned from their tour
of Evangelism among the villages on Sabbath afternoon. Their muskets did
not go off, but the murderers rushed upon them with clubs and left them
for dead.

Nemeyan was dead, and entered that day amongst the noble army of the
Martyrs. Poor Navalak was still breathing, and the Chief Namakei carried
him to his village and kindly nursed him. He pleaded with the people
that the claims of revenge had been satisfied, and that Navalak should
be cherished and sent home,--the Christ-Spirit beginning to work in that
darkened soul! Navalak was restored to his people and is yet living
(1888)--a high class Chief on Aneityum, and an honor to the Church of
God, bearing on his body "the marks of the Lord Jesus." And often since
has he visited Aniwa, in later years, and praised the Lord amongst the
very people who once thirsted for his blood and left him by the ways