290 
SAMUEL MARSDEN. 
Zealand. He took with him several fresh hands to strengthen 
the work there ; he located them at the Keri Keri. After 
settling the Mission to the best of his power, he returned to 
Sydney. At the request of the Governor, Mr. Marsden went 
again to New Zealand in H. M. ship Coromandel, February 
20th, 1820, only a few months after his return. He there 
landed, and, under the guidance of a Chief, Tamorangi, he 
took what was then a most wonderful journey overland to the 
Bay of Islands. In several parts they were in open war, and 
the Chief, who afterwards became a believer, often expressed 
his astonishment that he had ever dared to undertake such a 
journey. When Mr. Marsden reached the Keri Keri, his clothes 
were in rags, covered with mud and red ochre, from his near con¬ 
tact with the natives, who were then constantly smeared with it 
and shark’s oil; and with an old dirty nightcap on his head, he 
made his appearance before the astonished Missionaries. He 
arrived at a most seasonable time, for they were on the point 
of breaking up the mission, and leaving in the Dromedary , 
Captain Skinner, which was then in the bay. Disheartened 
by the opposition of the natives, and the horrid scenes they 
witnessed, they despaired of success ; when the father of the 
mission stood before the affrighted laborers. It was only a few 
months before that he had taken leave of them on his way 
back to Sydney. We can only regard the request of Go¬ 
vernment for him to go in the Coromandel as the evident 
work of God. Mr. Marsden alternately reasoned with and 
rebuked the Missionaries, and said, that though the way 
appeared dark, his faith told him that there would never be 
wanting a seed to serve God in this land, though they all 
might abandon it. He felt assured the work would go on. 
His firmness strengthened their faith, and increased their 
courage ; they resolved to stay—they stood their ground. 
The Lord soon raised up friends ; the dark clouds dispersed, 
and the Mission began to gain a firmer hold on the native 
mind.* The chief mistake Mr. Marsden committed in laying 
the foundation of the Mission, was in commencing it as a lay 
establishment, rather for secular instruction than spiritual, 
* These particulars I received from old Mr. King. 
