162 NEW SOUTH WALES. 



about setting forth to propagate the gospel among the savages of the 

 New Hebrides, and was in full health and high spirits, in the ardent 

 hope of success in his mission. My information in respect to this sad 

 event, was derived from his associate, Mr. Cunningham. They had 

 placed native missionaries at Rotuma and Totoona. Mr. Williams 

 then landed at Tanna, which they found in a high state of cultivation, 

 and where they were hospitably received by the natives. These were 

 Papuans, and spoke a language much like that of the Hervey Islanders. 

 At Tanna, Samoan missionaries were also left, and they thence pro- 

 ceeded to Erromango. Here they found a barren country and a 

 different race of men, black, with woolly hair, who did not comprehend 

 a word of any of the languages known to the missionaries. 



The natives, although apparently suspicious, exhibited no symptoms 

 of actual hostility. Mr. Williams, with Mr. Harris, Mr. Cunningham,. 

 and the master of the vessel, landed, and were strolling about, amusing 

 themselves with picking up shells. While thus engaged, they had 

 separated from each other, and Messrs. Harris and Williams were in 

 advance of the others. On a sudden the war-shout was heard, and 

 Mr. Harris was seen running, pursued by a crowd of natives. He 

 was soon overtaken by them, and killed. Mr. Williams then turned 

 and endeavoured to reach the boat, but he had delayed too long, and 

 although he reached the water, he was followed into it and slain also. 



Mr. Cunningham and the captain escaped, although with difficulty, 

 and after some fruitless attempts to recover the body, left the island. 

 Mr. Cunningham was of opinion that the attack had not been pre- 

 meditated, but arose from a sudden desire to obtain possession of the 

 clothes of the persons who were on shore; he was also satisfied that 

 a single loaded musket in the hands of those left in the boat, would 

 have been the means of saving these two valuable lives. 



I had, in a conversation with Mr. Williams at Upolu, expressed my 

 belief that the savage inhabitants of the New Hebrides would not be 

 safely visited without the means of defence. He had in reply declared 

 himself averse to the use of fire-arms or any other weapon in the pro- 

 pagation of the gospel ; being of opinion that it would be more easily 

 and effectually disseminated without them. 



The missionary cause has sustained a great loss in Mr. Williams's 

 death ; for in him were united a true spirit of enterprise and fervent 

 zeal, with great perseverance and a thorough knowledge of the native 

 character. I still think with melancholy pleasure of the acquaintance 

 I had the good fortune to form with him. 



The town of Sydney may, for convenience of description, be con- 

 sidered as divided into two parts ; the line that separates them coincides 



