98 ADVENTURES IN THE SOUTH SEAS 
the astonished natives shouted, “Wonderful! What cannot 
Missi do?” 
Following his recovery, Popoina began coming to the mis- 
sionary to be taught the truths of the gospel. His mind 
worked slowly in grasping the things which Mr. Copeland 
sought to reveal, and long after he had become a regular 
attendant at the worship, he still showed that he was not 
yet done with the old customs, for when his father died, 
he placed food for his father’s spirit upon the grave. 
The first Christians were bitterly persecuted by the hea- 
then. “Plots were laid to kill Popoina and Saleiloa, the two 
chief helpers, but these died at their birth. One day, when 
the Christians were at worship, a native named Natuka en- 
tered the church, armed with a club. Immediately Waihit 
sprang from his seat, and forced the club from the native’s 
hand. 
“<«Sit down, Waihit,’ said Mrs. Copeland, and Waihit 
meekly sat down. ‘Give Natuka back his club,’ said Mr. 
Copeland, and Waihit gave it back. Then turning to Natuka, 
Mr. Copeland said, ‘Natuka, you came here to destroy our 
service, but Waihit took away your club. He could easily 
have killed you, but he is a Christian and did you no harm. 
Take your club, and do not disturb our service.’ Natuka 
slunk quietly outside.” 
Mr. and Mrs. Copeland had labored faithfully in Tanna, 
Aneityum, and then in Fotuna for many years, but in 1876 
Mrs. Copeland died. For two years she had been ill, and in 
the hope of her recovery she was taken to Sydney, Australia, 
where she remained for more than a year. When she 
learned that her illness was incurable, she returned to Fo- 
tuna to die among the people for whom she had given her 
life. In great sorrow of heart Mr. Copeland placed her be- 
side the body of their little boy, who had been laid to rest 
some years before, in the small inclosure where lay the teach- 
ers and their wives who had died in the service of the 
mission. : 
