In the year 1876, Chalmers left the island of Raratonga, amid many tears and regrets of the people amongst whom he had spent ten years of hard, yet happy work upon which the blessing of God had rested, and after a few brief visits among friends, he entered upon his new field of service in New Guinea in 1877. Up to the time that he landed on its shores, comparatively little was known of the tribes which inhabited it. The only survey of any importance that had been made was by Captain Moresby, who conducted a series of observations which resulted in the discovery of the China Straits, and of the harbor which was named after the discoverer, Port Moresby. For three years previous to the landing of Chalmers, Mr. and Mrs. Lawes had been seeking alone to introduce the Gospel among the natives on the coast, and had gained their confidence. These workers welcomed the newcomers, who at once set themselves to work in furtherance of the Gospel, making for the time being, Port Moresby, their headquarters. A peep at the country and the people at this point may be interesting.
New Guinea is about three times as large as Great Britain, having a great diversity of climates and of inhabitants. The dwellers in the southeast are light colored, of the Malayo-Polynesian race, of which the Samoans, Maoris, and Tahitians are kinsmen. They wear little clothing, but tattoo themselves elaborately and deck themselves with paint and feathers. They dwell in villages of lake houses, surrounded by water. Houses are often built on the highest trees that can be found, on mountain tops and ridges which are regarded as places of greatest safety in time of war. In some of the villages there are streets of well-arranged houses, with crotons and other plants growing in the plantations around, and cockatoos perched in front of almost every house. The betel nut is eaten freely, making the teeth as black as jet. This is considered very beautiful, as are also the nose and ears pierced and ornamented with shells. In approaching a village for the first time considerable caution is needed, as sometimes from fear, and at other times when the war spirit runs high, the lives of the pioneer missionaries may be in danger.
On stepping on shore, he is usually surrounded by a group of wondering natives, to whom he gives a few beads, pieces of red cloth, and receives in return cocoa nuts, yams, and fish. Others would turn out in war attire with clubs, and appear in a threatening attitude, until they learned the peaceful mission of the white men. Then a present to the chief would usually secure an entrance to the village. By dint of friendly diplomacy and tact, the good graces of the natives are generally secured, and a hearing found for the message, although in some cases they are opposed to any landing on their shores. Cannibals are still to be found in certain parts of the island, and on one occasion, soon after Chalmers and his helpers landed in New Guinea, he was invited to a cannibal feast, to consist of two men and a child, which, of course, he refused, but saw soon after some of the natives with pieces of human flesh dangling from their arms and necks, which showed that it had been held. It was to this people, benighted, degraded, and brutal, hopeless so far as man’s ability to reach them is concerned, that the ambassadors of heaven had come with the message of Divine love and the tidings of a free salvation, and in the full confidence that the Gospel, which they bore was the Divine instrument which could reach them, and become to such as received it “the power of God unto salvation.” Well may its messengers rejoice while they sing—
“O glad and glorious Gospel
With joy we now proclaim,
A full and free salvation
Through faith in Jesus’ name.”