ON TANNA 141 
having been the stanch and faithful friend of the mission 
through all the vicissitudes of its early history. 
“When this danger was past, the teachers were allowed 
again to pursue their work without molestation. This, how- 
ever, did not continue long; another visitation of sickness 
gave rise to the old suspicions, and aroused the old indigna- 
tion against the supposed originators of all their calamities, 
and a murderous attack was made upon one of the teachers 
named Ioane. He was repeatedly struck with a club, and 
left probably for dead. He was severely wounded, his under 
jawbone was broken, and other serious injuries were in- 
flicted, the marks of some of which he carried to his grave. 
He was a virtual martyr. 
“Disease continued to commit ravages, and the poor peo- 
ple became more and more enraged. The teachers were en- 
tirely in their power, and it seems a marvel that any of them 
escaped. The next attempt made upon their lives was by set- 
ting fire to the dwelling house at the principal station. The 
inmates were mercifully preserved; but two days after, an 
attack was made upon one of the teachers, which resulted 
in his death. Vasa, the only literal martyr of the Tanna 
Mission, was waylaid and murdered. 
“It was two days after the attempt to burn the house that 
Vasa met his death; we have no particulars as to the manner 
in which it occurred. No friend was near to witness and re- 
port as to how the tragic deed was done. All we know is 
that in the evening of the day on which it occurred, at the 
hour when he had retired to the bush for secret prayer, 
either in going or returning from the spot where communion 
with God was sought, he was waylaid and murdered. It is 
very touching and deeply interesting to think of the lone 
man falling as he did under the club of the savage, cut off 
from all human succor, but not forsaken doubtless by Him 
in whose sight the death of His saints is precious. He had 
withdrawn from the haunts of men to seek communion with 
Him at the throne of grace, but something better, as we trust, 
even than the throne of grace awaits him. 
