32 THE CRUISE OF TEE 'CUBAQOA: 



verts desired to build a chapel, whereat the heathen majority, 

 very unreasonably, of course, took offence, and threatened 

 violent opposition ; but no such opposition was made, and not 

 a single outrage, or attempt at outrage, is recorded. But 

 Avhen we reflect how jealous much more civilized people are 

 of any invasion of their i-eligion, it seems to me that this 

 tolerance is highly to the credit of the uncivilized.' And 

 so docile and willing were they to be taught, that we actually 

 find, by the same authority — in 1853 — that ' the desire for 

 teachers is now universal, and we hope very shortly to oc- 

 cupy the island fully.' We are not very much surprised, 

 therefore, at finding Messrs. Herbert and Drummond, in 

 1857, confirming Captain Erskine's favourable impression, 

 and declaring that the ' Savage Islanders are a remarkably 

 mild and inteUigent looking people,' though we cannot quite 

 ascribe these national characteristics to the efforts of our good 

 friend Paulo — the unassisted native teacher — who some 

 five years before had gathered round him only 300 con- 

 verts. National character does not change with such rail- 

 road speed ; nor will even the missionaries, we suppose, 

 credit the teacher Paulo with powers of conversion exceeding 

 those of the Apostle Paul. Finally, in 1862, Mr. Murray, as 

 he himself informs us, visited Mue ; and this is Avhat he 

 says: ' My last visit to the island was at the close of 1853. 

 At that time it was much in the same state as when it was 



' The Chinese are not savages, but we see, by the recent massacre 

 at Tien-tsin, what passions are aroused by the intrusion of a foreign 

 religion. 



