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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 9

[introduction]

The following letter from the Rev. P. Milne, dated "Dillon's Bay, Eromanga, New Hebrides, December 1st, 1869," addressed to the Convener of the Mission Committee of the Synod, gives an account of two voyages he made in the Dayspring among these Islands. It will be seen that the traffic of deporting the natives as laborers to Fiji is, in many cases, little else than a system of kidnapping. Moreover, it stirs up a spirit of revenge from which the Dayspring, when at Tongoa, made only a narrow escape. It is earnestly to be hoped that such measures may be adopted as will check this iniquity:—

"I trust you have received my last letter of the 4th of September, informing you of our arrival at Aneityum. Since then our time has been chiefly spent voyaging among the Islands. We were, on our arrival, recommeded by the brethren to proceed with the Dayspring on both the voyages she was about to make, viz., one to the more southern islands of the group, and the other to Fate and Santo, and some others of the northern, in order that we might see as much of them as possible before settling; which we have done. We have thus seen more of the islands than any new missionary on his first arrival has heretofore done. We have been also allowed the privilege of choosing a place for ourselves, which we have found a somewhat difficult thing to do; seeing, as we have done, so many places, almost all equally open, and equally in need. We have, however, resolved to spend the summer (D.V.) at Dillon's Bay, with a view to our settlement on the south-east side of Eromanga next year. Meanwhile, we must apply ourselves with all our might to the acquisition of the language, without which we could be of little or no use at a station of our own.

"As to our first voyage, it was commenced on the 13th of September. The first island we visited was