Graves Restored
pp. 23-25 · Read in the full issue
Early L.M.S. Missionaries In Tahiti
From Our Own Correspondent
Papeete, July 5.
THE interesting task of locating the A “lost” graves of Tahiti’s pioneer mis sionaries, whose bodies were laid to rest in the district of Papara, was brought to a satisfactory issue on May 29 when re inforced concrete gravestones, suitably inscribed, were placed over the remains of Tessier (buried in 1820) and Davies (buried in 1855).
Both these men arrived in Tahiti by the convict ship Royal Admiral, which was on its way to Botany Bay in 1801.
In 1808 both fled from the local disturb ances to the island of Huahine on the brig Perseverance, and from there sailed for Port Jackson by the Cyclops in 1810.
Davies returned first to the field, reaching Moorea in 1811, and Tessier followed in June, 1813.
After residing again in Huahine, Davies took the post at Papara held by Bicknell (a Buff man who had arrived in 1797).
He remained in charge there for 35 years, dying at the age of 84. Tessier,- after locating himself at Matavai, (Point Venus), on Tahiti, went to assist Bick nell in 1818. On July 23, 1820, Tessier died and was buried by Bicknell, who
himself died within a fortnight. Bicknell’s body was taken to Moorea to lie beside the grave of a favourite child.
Mr. W. W. Bolton, M.A., who has throughout been the most interested and energetic party in searching for these “lost” grave sites, states that he encoun tered no serious difficulties once a care ful search of the records in Sydney and London had been made. Lying in a large coconut plantation, which he discovered to be the burial ground of the early con verts to Christianity and the site of the first chapel, there were two graves en tirely different from all the rest. Instead of being marked by the usual boulders of black stone, these two were conspicuous among the many scores surrounding them.
Tessier’s was outlined with roughly cut coral blocks, whilst Davies’ was covered by two fiat coral slabs.
That these were the graves of white men was self-evident—even if it were not known definitely that the two w'hite men lay in Papara. That they were mis sionaries—but not of the Duff band—was soon learned. Here then lay the two fellow voyagers of the Royal Admiral, and as pioneers for the faith that was in them, honour was due. This has now been done.
The weighty gravestones were carried to Papara by truck and lowered into place by means of a derrick. There was a considerable gathering of interested folk to witness the ceremony, including chiefs and sub-chiefs, pastors and deacons of the Protestant Church, and a sprinkling of local white residents who had travelled far in order to be present. Suitable ad dresses were made by the French Pro testant clergymen, Messrs. Moreau and Vernier.
The Papara people accepted the future care of the graves with ready willingness, sending warmest thanks to the London Missionary Society for not only thus vividly recalling the past, but also for meeting the cost of the renovation.