Maritilangi’s Story

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 6, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 10.

Maritilangi’s Story.

A singular tradition exists among the islanders of the New Hebrides.

The island of Tongoa, one of the group, first received the Gospel about fifteen years ago, from the lips of Oscar Michelson, a Norwegian evangelist. So richly were his labors blest that in 1893 all the inhabitants had been baptized, as well as those of the neighboring islets of Tongariki and Epi. Almost all the people know how to read, and each village has a school taught by a capable master. Public worship is well attended and family prayer observed.

In times past, these Tongoans worshiped evil spirits, with the idea of propitiating them, but they also admitted the existence of a supreme God. Twice a year they invoked Him—at seed-time to ask His blessing on their labor, and at harvest to thank Him for the fruits. The following is the peculiar prophecy which they say has been fulfilled among them:—

More than a century ago there arose among them a prophet named Maritilangi, which signifies “son of heaven.” He never fought, but lived in peace, even with the enemies of his village. When he was very aged he made this prediction: “To-day I have seen in spirit what will take place in the distant future. There will land in our island men with a white skin. Our bark stuffs will then be replaced by white cloths, and our hatchets by tools and improved weapons. And there, on that hill, the white man will settle, who will divide the island in two, and will lead you into the light.”

Then he led his people to the seashore, and, pointing to a rock with a smooth surface, he said, “Our houses are covered with thatch; the white man’s roof will be waton, like that rock.” Now waton means, in the language of the island, either stone or iron.

This prophecy has been fulfilled to the letter. When, fifteen years ago, the first missionary built his house on the spot pointed out by Maritilangi, and roofed it with galvanized iron, the native cried, “This is just what Maritilangi foretold!” and when Michelson constructed a road across the island, they saw in that the fulfilment of the prophecy about dividing the island in two. And when he preached the Gospel of Christ, the whole people recognized the accomplishment of the prediction that the white man would lead them to the light.—Union Gospel News.