28 The Fruit. 
dering its mother. From the missionary’s own pen we have the 
following sketch of him :— 
“‘ He took the side of christianity at the time that the mission 
was in its greatest trials. His previous hostility had been so 
marked, that his sincerity was for some time doubted; but he 
soon gave satisfactory evidence of it, by giving up many 
heathenish customs. All his influence was now exerted in 
favour of christianity. I shall never forget his kindness to my- 
self and my family when our lives were threatened. For more 
than two months he slept in my house, for our safety, and said 
that the heathen must kill him before doing any injury to us. 
Indeed, had not this man been raised up to befriend the mis- 
sion, it is questionable if it could have risen above the opposi- 
tion aimed against it. After Nohoat embraced christianity he 
became a humble disciple at the feet of Jesus. Though sixty 
years of age, he attended school regularly every morning, and 
his seat in church was never vacant. It was not to be expected 
that a man who had been under the influence of a degrading 
heathenism till far advanced in life, would become an intelli- 
gent and in all respects a consistent christian. He was naturally 
proud, passionate, and deceitful ; but, with all his infirmities, I 
believe that he was a good man. No man did more for 
christianity on this island than Nohoat,'and yet none suffered 
so much from the change. The class of chiefs to which he 
belonged were régarded with religious veneration while they 
lived, and were worshipped when they died. But when christi- 
anity divested him of his sacred character he was no longer 
dreaded ; and having been an unpopular man in the days of 
his heathenism, ‘he lost much of his influence, which he never 
recovered. When the mission to Tana was undertaken he ren- 
dered valuable aid, as he could speak the Tanesé language. 
On one of his visits to that island, he had undertaken to con- 
ciliate a tribe that were approaching for a fight. It wasa danger- 
ous embassy ; for the enemy, knowing his powers as a peace- 
