History of the “ Dayspring.” 51 
history, there was henceforth abundance of means found for her 
support ; and her popularity in the leading colony of the 
Australian group was always unbounded. 
Before leaving this year for the Islands, she was taken up to 
the Melbourne wharf, to give the public an opportunity of visit- 
ing the children’s mission vessel. She was boarded by multi- 
tudes of young and old. Captain Fraser made himself and his 
ship immense favourites with everybody ; and the “ Dayspring” 
was sent away, on her outward voyage, with any amount of 
presents, and with the good wishes and best blessings of 
thousands of the best people of Victoria. 
The year 1867 was a dark year on the Islands. The whole 
group was swept by more than one epidemic. First, hooping 
cough, and then diphtheria, cut off numbers of old people and 
children. The heathen, always superstititious and suspicious, 
attributed the loss of their children to the missionaries ; and it 
was feared, for a time, that a general massacre might ensue. 
The missionaries stood, wisely, to their posts; and in due time 
the feeling of hostility passed away. Even this year the “Day- 
spring ” received a remarkable proof of her popularity from the 
natives of Aneityum. Towards the end of the year’s work, it 
was found that the vessel’s foremast was decaying ; and as it 
was dangerous to venture so far as Melbourne, with a weak 
mast, the forest of Aneityum was searched for a suitable tree. 
One was found at a distance of about two miles from the sea, 
and was taken, by sheer force of native labour, to the harbour, 
and at length put on board the vessel. The valley in which the 
tree grew was among the mountains, and it was a great under- 
taking to drag it by main force to such a distance. Captain 
Fraser had got many a valued gift on behalf of the “ Day- 
spring ” during his career in command of the vessel ; but the 
one which he boasted chiefly of was the new foremast, presented 
to him by the converts of Aneityum. The spar would have cost 
450 in Melbourne. _ 
E2 
