Mission Ship "Duff"

IT has long been a matter of bewilder ment to me why Tahitians invariably call the L.M.S. missionary ship “Duff” by the name “Te Rapu”, writes a resident of Papeete. Normally the name “Duff” would become “Tufa” m Tahitian ton gues, and I could never understand how it could have become so alien a term as “Te Rapu”. The reason became plain when I read the story of its origin in Miss Teuira Henry’s book.

“On March 3, 1797, for the first time in •tihe records of Tahiti,, several earth quake shocks were felt and were accom panied with a high sea and a terrible storm, which greatly terrorized the inhabi tants. Early in the morning the first

shock took place, which drove the people out of their houses in confusion. At noon another occurred, which made them throw themselves pirostrate upon the ground and cry out for mercy to their gods. And at sunset a third shock caused many to hold night vigils, fearful that some awful calamity was at hand.

“On the following day, the 4th, there hove in sight the London Missionary Society’s ship “Duff”, to which the nat ives attributed the commotion, and in con sequence named it ‘Te Rapu’ (The Stir rer), a name they have always retained and have known it by no other. The good effect that the quake had upon the minds of the Tahitians towards the mis sionaries and their work was great.”