The Children's Missionary Vessel By Reverend Hiram Bingham, Jr. Missionary to Micronesia Boston: Published by the American Board Missionary House, 33 Pemberton Square 1866 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1866, by THE AMERICAN BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the District of Massachusetts RIVERSIDE, CAMBRIDGE: STEREOTYPED AND PRINTED BY H. O. HOUGHTON AND COMPANY. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TO THOSE WHO BUILT THE FIRST MORNING STAR, AND TO THOSE WHO WISH TO BUILD ANOTHER. MY DEAR YOUNG FRIENDS, — You have all heard of the missionary vessel that was sent to the Pacific Ocean in 1856; not a few of you took stock in her. Perhaps you have read about her in the "Missionary Herald," the "Journal of Missions," the "Youth's Day-spring," the "Friend," or in a book written by Mrs. Warren1. Well, the little craft has been sold. She was almost worn out; and it was thought better to build a new vessel than to repair the old one. As I was the first missionary that went to sea in her, and have known her ever since, the Secretaries of the American Board a few weeks ago requested me to write a short story about her, in order that you may see how much good she has done, and so be all the more glad to aid in building another Morning Star to take her place. From the shortness of the time allowed me, to say nothing of my imperfect health, I should have been unequal to the task, had I not received much assistance from others. A great deal of this I have had from one who has known the Morning Star as long as I have, and has been my companion in nearly all my voyagings in her; and I take pleasure also in saying that kind friends at the Missionary House have, by their valued suggestions and criticisms, and in other ways, added not a little to the interest which this "Story of the Morning Star" may be thought to possess. Such as it is I offer it to you. And my prayer is that it may lead you to pity the heathen more deeply than ever. May I not hope that you will think more of that love, so great, so free, which has made it possible for them, as well as for you and me, to see the Lord Jesus in his Heavenly kingdom! H. B., Jr. Missionary House, May 19th, 1866. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EXPLANATORY NOTE. THOSE who desire to pronounce the native words found in the following pages as they are pronounced in the Pacific, will please to remember that a  is  generally like  a  in  father. e  is "     "  a  in  late. i  is "     "  i  in  ravine. o  is "     "  o  in  note. u  is "     "  oo  in  pool. ai  is "     "  i  in  fine. au  is "     "  ow  in  now. n  is "     "  ng  in  sing. As the names of certain islands will occur very frequently, I will add that, Ponape is to be pronounced nearly as if written Po´-nah-pa.* Kusaie "     "  Koo-sy´-a.* Ebon "     "  A-bóne. Apaiang "     "  Ap-py-áhng. Tarawa "     "  Tar´-rah-wah. Please to notice the marks which show where the accent is to be placed. * The final a in these two words, as also A in A-bone, has the sound of a in late. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CONTENTS.    CHAPTER I. The Lands The Morning Star Was to Visit CHAPTER II. The People She Was to Visit   CHAPTER III. What Had Been Done Before Her Visit CHAPTER IV. Why She Was Needed CHAPTER V. Her Voyage Around Cape Horn   CHAPTER VI. She Visits the Marquesas Islands CHAPTER VII. She Sets Out for Micronesia CHAPTER VIII. Her Visit to Kusaie CHAPTER IX. Her Visit to Ponape   CHAPTER X. Her Visit to Apaiang CHAPTER XI. Her Visit to Ebon CHAPTER XII. Waiting for the Morning Star CHAPTER XIII. Her Yearly Visits CHAPTER XIV. Some Things She Brought, and How We Used Them CHAPTER XV. Micronesians Who Sailed Her CHAPTER XVI. Her Last Visit to the Marquesas Islands CHAPTER XVII. Her Last Visit to Micronesia CHAPTER XVIII. Conclusion