"

I went at their head and removed it. It consisted simply of reeds stuck
into the ground, with twigs and leaves and fiber tied to each in a
peculiar way, in a circle round the Mission House. The Natives had an
extraordinary dread of violating the taboo, and believed that it meant
death to the offender or to some one of his family. All present entered
into a bond to punish on the spot any man who attempted to replace the
_taboo_ or to revenge its removal. Thus a mortal blow was publicly
struck at this most miserable superstition, which had caused bloodshed
and misery untold.

One day, thereafter, I was engaged in clearing away the bush around the
Mission House, having purchased and paid for the land for the very
purpose of opening it up, when suddenly Youwili appeared and menacingly
forbade me to proceed. For the sake of peace I for the time desisted.
But he went straight to my fence, and with his tomahawk cut down the
portion in front of our house, also some bananas planted there--the
usual declaration of war, intimating that he only awaited his
opportunity similarly to cut down me and mine. We saw the old Chief and
his men planting themselves here and there to guard us, and the Natives
prowling about armed and excited. On calling them, they explained the
meaning of what Youwili had done, and that they were determined to
protect us. I said. "This must not continue. Are you to permit one young
fool to defy us all, and break up the Lord's work on Aniwa? If you
cannot righteously punish him, I will shut myself up in my house and
withdraw from all attempts to teach or help you, till the vessel comes,
and then I can leave the island."

Now that they had begun really to love us, and to be anxious to learn
more, this was always my most powerful argument. We retired into the
Mission House. The people surrounded our doors and windows and pleaded
with us. After long silence, we replied, "You know our resolution. It is
for you now to decide. Either you must control that foolish young man,
or we must go!"

Much speech-making, as usual, followed. The people resolved to seize and
punish Youwili; but he fled, and had hid himself in the bush. Coming to
me, the Chief said, "It is left to you to say what shall be Youwili's
punishment. Shall we kill him?"

I replied firmly, "Certainly not! Only for murder can life be lawfully
taken away."

"What then?" they continued. "Shall we burn his houses and destroy his
plantations?"

I