eet,
and there was still plenty of smaller wood on Aniwa, the larger trees
were apparently exhausted. One morning, however, we were awakened at
early daybreak by the shouting and singing of a company of men, carrying
a great black tree to the Church, with this same Chief dancing before
them, leading the singing, and beating time with the flourish of his
tomahawk. Determined not to be beaten, though late in the field, he had
lifted the roof-tree out of his own house, as black as soot could make
it, and was carrying it to complete the couplings. The rest of the
builders shouted against this. All the other wood of the Church was
white and clean, and they would not have this black tree, conspicuous in
the very center of all. But I praised the old Chief for what he had
done, and hoped he and his people would come and worship Jehovah under
his own roof-tree. At this all were delighted! and the work went on
apace, with many songs and shoutings.

Whenever the Church was roofed in, we met in it for Public Worship.
Coral was being got and burned, and preparations made for plastering the
walls. The Natives were sharp enough to notice that I was not putting up
the bell; and suspicions arose that I kept it back in order to take it
with me when I returned to Tanna. It was a beautiful Church bell, cast
and sent out by our dear friend, James Taylor, Esq., Birkenhead. The
Aniwans, therefore, gave me no rest till I agreed to have it hung on
their new Church. They found a large ironwood tree near the shore, cut a
road for half a mile through the bush, tied poles across it every few
feet, and with shouts lifted it bodily on their shoulders--six men or so
at each pole--and never set it down again till they reached the Church;
for as one party got exhausted, others were ready to rush in and relieve
them at every stage of the journey. The two old Chiefs, flourishing
their tomahawks, went capering in front of all the rest, and led the
song to which they marched, joyfully bearing their load. They dug a deep
hole, into which to sink it; I squared the top and screwed on the bell;
then we raised the tree by ropes, letting it sink into the hole, and
built it round eight feet deep with coral blocks and lime; and there
from its top swings and rings ever since the Church bell of Aniwa.

CHAPTER LXXI.
"KNOCK THE TEVIL OUT!"

ONE of the last attempts ever made on my life resulted, by God's
blessing, in great good to us all and to the work of the