On the Island of Vate 
TuHE island of Vaté [Efate], one of the islands of the 
New Hebrides group, was discovered by Captain Cook, 
who, though he did not land upon its shores, was deeply 
impressed by its beauty. “The surface,” he remarked, “ap- 
peared very delightful, being agreeably diversified with 
woods and lawns.” 
Captain Erskine, who visited the island in 1849, wrote 
in high praise of its beauty as he was able to observe it 
under the conditions of his visit. The usual belt of trop- 
ical vegetation extended on all sides above the level of the 
sea, a white sandy beach running along the shore. The 
surrounding hills were of varied and picturesque forms, 
and were richly covered with green pastures, relieved only 
by the dull brown of some large patches of cultivation. The 
rainbow tints, caused by the rays of the setting sun, gave a 
peculiar beauty to the landscape, and many of the officers 
considered that none of the islands they had yet visited 
offered so beautiful a scene as that which lay before them. 
Yet here in the midst of nature’s most lavish beauty dwelt 
a people, savage almost beyond the power of description. 
The beginning of missionary work on this island is related 
by Mr. Murray, who, with Dr. Turner, began gospel work 
in that place. ‘‘We left Samoa, knowing little about the 
island, except the name by which it was known at that time 
to foreigners, Sandwich Island, and it did not even enter 
into the plan of our voyage to visit it on that occasion. We 
were led to depart from our plan, however, by what appeared 
to us plain indications of Providence. 
“In the course of our voyage we had reached Erromango, 
and were at anchor in Dillon’s Bay, the memorable spot 
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