148. ADVENTURES IN THE SOUTH SEAS 
appearance to arouse suspicion, as he rose from his couch 
and went toward the door, and attempted to prevent their 
entering, asking them why they had come. Upon this one 
of them struck him on the breast with a piece of wood—a 
native pillow, according to the report. He was probably 
much weakened by disease, but the blow must have been 
severe, as he fell mortally wounded and soon after expired, 
and he was buried the same day. 
“The natives did not deny having killed him, but they 
sought to excuse themselves by saying that it was according 
to their custom to put to death persons who became delirious, 
and that the teacher had been so occasionally during his ill- 
ness. Such was their excuse. The real reason, however, 
probably was that they wished to get possession of his prop- 
erty, which, though not of very much value, would seem of 
great consequence to them. 
“So ended Sipi’s brief career, a career about as dark and 
cheerless as can well be imagined, as regards that part of it 
which was passed in the mission field. No gleam of light 
had yet appeared on Vate. 
“The next visit to the island was made by the Rev. C. 
Hardie, of Samoa, and the writer [Mr. Murray], in Septem- 
ber, 1849, and at that time the state of things was very dis- 
couraging : three of the teachers and three children had died, 
and only one of the survivors was in a state of health to re- 
main. We had but one disposable teacher on board; he was 
willing to take up his abode on the island, so we were just 
able to keep the door from being closed. We must not stop 
to particularize the trials and dangers through which the 
teachers had passed. Their houses and plantations at some 
of the stations had been destroyed, their lives had been more 
than once in extreme peril, and they had experienced deliv- 
erances which seemed almost miraculous. 
“On one occasion a party, numbering thirty armed men, 
went to one of the stations where several of them were 
together, with the express purpose of taking their lives; 
