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Revival Flames in Southern Seas: A study of the life and work of Samuel Leigh

Trailblazer missionary, full of faith and the Holy Ghost, Samuel Leigh brought revival flames to Australia, New Zealand and the South Sea Islands. With John Wesley’s words echoing in his ears, “You have nothing to do but to save souls,” Leigh stopped at nothing. Poisonous snakes, suspicious natives, and flooded rivers did not discourage Leigh, as he forged a trail on horseback through the virgin Australian bush in all kinds of weather. Or, he fearlessly faced man-eating Maoris, with spears raised and brandishing clubs.

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A study of the life and work of Samuel Leigh (1785–1852) and how he lit the match for revival in Australia, New Zealand and the South Sea Islands.

Excerpt from Revival Flames in Southern Seas:

Man-eating Maoris

New Zealand’s Bay of Whangaroa was definitely a place to avoid. Even among the Maoris, these natives there were known as the ‘man-eating tribe’. It was there, in 1809, the ship Boyd had foundered, to be destroyed by the natives, who then killed and ate seventy crew and passengers. Only four escaped to tell the story. This notorious bay was twenty miles from the Church Missionary Society (CMS) base at Bay of Islands, where Wesleyan missionary Samuel Leigh was staying. Leigh was looking for a suitable location for a Wesleyan base. He had heard of several populous villages near the Whangharei Harbor, south of Whangaroa, where there was little threat of Europeans being attacked. He hired a fishing boat and, with five natives, left to examine the more friendly part of the country. As night approached a storm came up, driving them out to sea, the strong winds and massive waves carrying them out of sight of land. The natives became despondent and afraid. They lay down in the bottom of the boat and left it to Leigh to manage the sail alone. Finally, near midnight, as the moon rose, they could see land again. But rather than Whangerei, where they had been heading, it proved to be Whangaroa.

This was the last place to spend the night but, because of the foul weather, Leigh was forced to land. With no choice, they would have to risk seeking protection from the harbour-dwelling head hunters. As they were asleep at that hour, Leigh fired off his muskets to let them know they had arrived—and that they were armed. At the sound, the natives jumped up and hurried to the shore to defend themselves. Leigh asked for the chief, told him of their disastrous voyage and begged for a hut where they could stay the night.
Leigh and his five companions crawled into the hut and quickly fell asleep but after a short time Leigh awoke with a start: a native was pulling on his legs. Soon all five were awake, quaking with fear. The clamour outside was hideous. One of Leigh’s men told him they were quarrelling about the time they intended to roast and eat them tomorrow. Leigh was so exhausted he was indifferent to life or death. He merely replied, ‘They cannot touch us without the permission of the white man’s God, and I am sure he has not, as yet, consented to us being killed or eaten: lie still and sleep’. He himself slept till eight o’clock next morning.

Leigh arose and ate breakfast from some provisions he had from the boat. Then he went outside the hut and read the Scriptures and prayed, while surrounded by one hundred and fifty natives, who had worked themselves up into a frenzy. He felt distinctly uneasy. He wanted to run, but that was absurd. What was he to do? He knew it was important that he remain calm and appear self-confident, and that the slightest indication of fear or haste would be the signal for his instant destruction.

Noticing that some natives were preparing to attack and others to release their boat, Leigh felt to ask Chief Tara (also called George, it seemed) if he would step into the boat with him. Would he be kind enough to show them more of their spacious harbour? George agreed. After sailing a short distance they saw the remains of the ship, Boyd, and the Chief told Leigh, with some delight, the bloodthirsty story. After sailing with George for a while longer, not a little apprehensive where this might be leading, Leigh returned to the shore and started walking towards the village with George. A crowd of natives was rushing towards him, spears raised and brandishing clubs. It was definitely time to leave. Leigh turned and headed back towards the boat, but the savages were almost upon him. The Chief stood by and looked on, doing nothing to stop them.

Leigh realized it was escape or die (Pages 2-3).

Alexander Strachan, Remarkable Instances in the Life of the Rev. Samuel Leigh: Missionary to the Settlers and Savages of Australia and New Zealand (London: James Nichols, 1855), pp.164-5.