SIXTH VOYAGE OF THE PITCAIRN.
By C. M. Snow
ON January 22 of the present year our missionary ship Pitcairn left Oakland harbor, and on the following day left the harbor of San Francisco, on her sixth voyage to the islands of the South Pacific. On August 16 the Pitcairn buried her anchor again in the shore of the Oakland estuary, having been absent a little less than seven months. This voyage of the missionary ship was not for the purpose of establishing missions in the various islands she visited, but simply to carry provisions and various supplies to the missionaries already there. The vessel on this trip was in charge of Captain J. E. Werge, who has been with her in other capacities on a number of her cruises. Eld. E. H. Gates was also a member of the ship's family on the outgoing half of her voyage. From San Francisco the vessel sailed directly for Pitcairn Island, and arrived there on February 20, having made a pleasant and speedy voyage. Elder Gates remained on the island three weeks, while the vessel paid a visit to the island of Mangareva, about 280 miles northwest of Pitcairn. Upon this short voyage Bro. J. R. McCoy accompanied the ship. Elder Gates' stay at Pitcairn was a source of encouragement to the islanders, who were feeling somewhat depressed on account of the sad occurrence which had taken place there some months previous. Leaving Pitcairn Island, the ship took a course west by north and arrived at Tahiti after covering a distance of 1,200 miles. A short voyage of 120 miles brought the vessel to Raiatea, whence she sailed to Rarotonga, in the Cook Islands, then to Aitutaki, and back again to Rarotonga. From Rarotonga the Pitcairn continued her course to the northwest, and tried to make a landing at Palmerston Island (a little speck of land in the ocean, having a population of 34 people), but the attempt was unsuccessful on account of contrary winds, and she sailed on to the Samoan group, which is about 840 miles north by west from the island of Rarotonga. After making a short stop at Samoa, the vessel sailed around between the two principal islands of the group, and took a course south by west, heading for the island of Tongatabu in the Tongan or Friendly group, which is about 500 miles from Samoa. The ship made two stops in these islands, the first at Tongatabu, in the south of the group, and the second at Vavau, among the northern islands. Her course was then laid almost directly west for Fiji, some 400 miles distant, which was the real turning point in the voyage. On leaving Fiji the vessel sailed nearly due north, following the day line most of the time until almost directly west of San Francisco. In latitude 36° her prow was turned toward San Francisco, with a fair westerly wind, which brought her to port in due time, completing one of the smoothest voyages which she has yet made. We will turn backward over her voyage to consider a few points of interest connected with the islands at which she called. The last stop made on the voyage was at the island of Nukulailai, in the Ellice group, and directly north of Fiji. There are a number of small islands in this group, and on nearly all of them there are stationed agents of the London Missionary Society. Nukulailai has a population of 142, and the Samoan language is spoken there. There are but few white men in this group. Nukulailai has only one. Captain Werge considers that these islands are a promising field for our missionary efforts, and expresses strong hope that we may have missionaries there before very long. The Roman Catholics are contemplating establishing a mission on Nukulailai, but had not done so when the Pitcairn arrived. A considerable quantity of our literature was left at this island, which is about 600 miles north of Fiji. None of our missionaries have ever been in this group, altho it is a favorable field at the present time for missionary effort. On Fiji we have two missionaries, Brethren C. H. Parker and J. E. Fulton. Captain Werge reports a good interest in Fiji. Brother Parker lives right among the natives in a town across from Suva, and has a good interest. Quite a number there are keeping the Sabbath. In the Tongan group are Dr. M. G. Kellogg, and Brethren E. Hilliard and E. S. Butz, who are doing faithful service there. It was the plan when the Pitcairn left these islands to establish a mission on Vavau, in the northern part of the group, and Elder Butz accompanied the vessel from Tongatabu to Vavau with this in view. Elder Butz and Elder Gates both left the Pitcairn at this place, the latter sailing by steamer to Australia. Our missionaries on Samoa are Eld. Lake, Dr. F. E. Braucht, Emily McCoy, and Brother William Floding. The war and unrest among the natives here have interfered much with the work in these islands, and but little has been accomplished recently. Elder Lake has but recently arrived in Samoa and begun his work. On Rarotonga are Dr. J. E. Caldwell and family and Eld. J. D. Rice and family. There is much interest in the work on this island, and a number are keeping the Sabbath, tho no church has yet been built there. Eld. B. J. Cady and family are located still on Raiatea. A considerable number in this island are keeping the Sabbath, and there is a good interest. The workers in Tahiti are Brethren Stringer and Dean, the latter being a native minister. The work is progressing well there, and they have two good churches. There is a goodly number of Sabbath-keepers here, both among the natives and whites. A part of the cargo with which the vessel sailed from port was lumber for a frame tabernacle to be erected in Tonga, and several tons of literature to be distributed at the various stations where our missionaries are working. The few stops made by the Pitcairn on this voyage among the thousands of islands in the South Pacific show, among other things, the great extent of that field and the scarcity of effective, consecrated laborers to supply its needs.