A Triumph Song. 69

It seems strange to say that I admire their constancy and
moral courage.

“Up rose Sheuksh grandly, and though the Christians are
too numerous to apprehend any serious attempt to curtail
their liberty or power, yet they anticipated an attempt to do
so. He stretched out his arms, as if to display his sturdy
person and the robe that had figured in many heathen
orgies. ‘I wear,’ said he, ‘the outward sign of former
ignorance and of ancient customs, that never changed until
the white man’s faith was preached. I thought I ought to
keep them, for I am not wiser than the ancients who kept
them and did great deeds. I loved them. So did you. I
have struggled to maintain them. I have defied the Queen’s
officers. They threatened me as late as this last springtide
with prison and disgrace. I told them I would not avoid
them. I also resisted the Bishop, and suffered not his
teachers to land. I concealed not the wish of my heart. You
know to what lengths I went. Most of you approved my
doing. But the end has come. Let the waves tell the
story of our fathers. Our children’s lips will form no fit
words. Where do dead things go? This goes with them.’
Here he threw off his scarlet robe and the other insignia of
a heathen chief. ‘I am naked, but can clothe my body with
the white man’s clothes.’ This he there and then proceeded
to do. What will cover my heart? I can wrap nothing
round it. God sees it, and He knows all the past and the
present. He knows I am ignorant and sinful. He has this
summer made me know it. I am now dressed lke a
Christian. Those tokens of the dark past I will never touch
again. What shall I do next? I am too old to go to school.
I cannot read. I am likea child, knowing little, but wanting
to learn. Will Jesus Christ have me? Will He help me?
IT will never turn back. I give myself to God. Now pray
for me—pray, pray! I want to know what will please Him.
I must know. Begin at once to pray!’

“So the whole company bowed their heads in silence until
one of the earliest converts, named Stephen Gaiumtkwa,

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