Ruatoka, the Friend of Chalmers 
It has been said that the evangelization of New Guinea 
differs in almost every particular from that of any other part 
of the South Seas. “The natives are found to be treacher- 
ous in the extreme. They speak a variety of dialects, and 
village is at enmity with village. They were among the most 
backward peoples of the earth, and the climatic conditions 
that had to be endured were not less deadly than the arrows, 
the clubs, and the spears of the savages.” 
The first missionaries to New Guinea were fully alive to 
the peril of their purpose. They well understood the deadly 
nature of the climate, and they knew well the fierce char- 
acter of the people. 
“The first teacher to be landed was a man named Tepeso, 
who, with a comrade, was left on Darnley Island, off the 
coast of the mainland. He it was who made the memorable 
statement in reply to those who tried to dissuade him from 
going by telling him the awful character of the people. 
Said he, ‘Wherever there are men, missionaries are bound 
to go.’ 
“After leaving Tepeso at Darnley Island, the missionaries 
took four teachers to Danan, and then brought two others 
to Saibai, only three miles off the coast of New Guinea. 
Here the chief lent the two white men an old, shaky native 
house for the night. The weather was unsettled, and their 
hearts were troubled about the future of the great task com- 
mitted to their charge. 
“Leaving the house, they wandered outside. In the gath- 
ering gloom, across the dark water, the haven of their hopes 
loomed dimly. They thought of the perils which must en- 
compass their devoted teachers when they left them behind 
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