FIRST PRINTING IN THE SOCIETY ISLANDS.
By E. C. Chapman
IT was in the year 1797 that the first missionaries came to these islands, and landed in Matavai Bay, near where our new church building now stands. The following twenty years of labor were full of perils and heartaches, while most of the natives continued in war and heathenism. Those dark chains of idolatry with which Satan had bound his prey did not at once let go their captive, and time after time the dragon spirit strove to hold its own by destroying all traces of Christianity from the islands. Even as late as 1815 a desperate attempt was made by the heathen party to murder all the Christians on Tahiti. Early in 1817 Mr. Ellis arrived at Papetaoi, Moorea, from England, with a small printing outfit, which was located soon after at the native settlement of Afareaitu, Moorea. This island of Moorea is one-eighth the size of Tahiti, and lies only a few miles off the western end of its larger companion. At this early date the missionaries had their principal station on Moorea, as the natives of that isle were more kindly disposed toward Christianity than were the Tahitians. The chief ruler of both islands at that time was Pomare, who was very friendly towards the missionaries, and assisted them in building suitable houses and transporting and locating their printing plant. This chief, as well as his people, looked with great wonder upon the introduction of the printing machine, and June 30, 1817, when all was ready to print the first sheet, Pomare visited the printing office, and, after closing the door and darkening the windows, so as to avoid being laughed at in case he made a mistake, he pulled the lever which printed the first sheet, while his chiefs looked on in wonder. As sheets were multiplied, the news spread from village to village, and copies were passed from hand to hand and from isle to isle. Natives came in canoes from all quarters, anxious to obtain a copy of this strange production. Their first work was a spelling book, after which a compilation of Scripture texts were printed. The publication of the Gospel of Luke was next undertaken, and by patient labor 3,000 copies of that important book were soon issued from the press. As leather was not to be obtained on the island, the work of binding the edition of Luke also necessitated the procuring of the skins and tanning the leather, and as the case was an urgent one, and animals were scarce, goats, dogs, and cats all had to contribute their skins, and the office was for a time turned into a tannery. Though the press was an old-time hand press, and many were the inconveniences in those days, when mails were years apart, yet in that little office of the English missionaries were produced pages of the word of God which helped many a heathen out of idolatry and wretchedness. In our recent visit to Moorea, for the purpose of scattering religious literature, we landed at this settlement, where, nearly four-score years ago, the natives read for the first time the Gospel of Luke in their own tongue. The years that have elapsed since light first shone upon their pathway from the word of God have not been a time of spiritual growth with the majority. Darkness covers the island, and idols of stone that have passed away have been followed by idols of rum and idols of self, and by service of the creature rather than of the Creator. May the Lord, who is alone able to transform the heart, work a work for these natives, is our prayer.