Volume 1 Pages 2-3

2

Feb Jan 1899 Call and Departure

Wens 25: Recieved a latter from the missionary comitee of the church of Jesus Christ of Later day Saints. Asking if I was willing to except a foren mission. To preach the gospel, and if so at what time I could leave.

I ansured this letter Feb 27 stating my willingness to except this call & could be ready at any time. Acordingly at our stake quarterly confrance held at logan. Feb. 29 & 30 I was called ( at the after noon meeting of the 29) to meet with the apostle in the vestry of the Tabernacle at the close of the meeting. I did as directed, and in conection with upwards of 20 elders who had met to recieve apointments to various fields of labor. I recieve my apointment at the hands of Apostle Georg Teasdale to labor in the Society Islands mission. To leave Sanfrancisco Mar. 1/99. From my apointment to the

3
Feb 1899

the time of my departure my time was spent in preperation & friendly calls

Wens 15- A fare well party was tendered me in the evening at the Ward Asembly hall, by where a great number of friends from the sourounding settelments as well as those from my own ward, had gathered for that purpose. Thy Hyrum Opra Orchasty furnished music. All seemed to enjoy the evening in the highest degree. An evening was spent which I shall long remember, for the respect and esteem shown to me.

Saturday evening 18// A suprise party was tendered me by the young Ladies M. I. A. during the evening The young ladies presented me with A fountian pen with which I write these lines, acompanied with the following verses.

Volume One Title Page

1

Daily Journal

of

R. A. Dowdle

From

Feb

21st

1899

To

Jan 5 1900

Missionary in Society Islands

I know no one is reading this right now...

But maybe someone will.  Anyway I'm going to do something different.  Ruth generously took the time to scan the entire set of diaries, I now have digital images of the pages.  I will post each page with the transcription.  If you see anything in need of correction, please reply in the comments, and I will fix the original document.  Once a volume is done, it can be saved as a document (with images) and distributed to anyone interested.  (It will be a word document, because that is what I have, sorry).

May 8 to May 14 1899

Mon. 8: This being my turn for to do the cooknig. Elder Curtis 35 May 1899 Papeete Tahiti

and I went to the City for provision I spent the evening writing to my Brother Aurelius, at Cardston, Canada

Tues. 9: Elder Curtis and I went to Tamaiti’s. We cleaned and oiled his clock and set it in running ordor. Elders Widtsoe and Davis returned from their trip around the Island. I wrote to my Sister Eliza at Canada.

Wens. 10: Fast day. I atended fast meeting at 8-25 A. M. Studied language in the afternoon

Thur. 11: I wrote a letter to my mother. The remander of the day spent reading, writing, Etc.

Fri. 12: Wrote to my Brother Samuel C. Dowdle. Also to the Improvement Era Thomas Hull manager Improvement Era, asking the Era to be sent to my adress. Walked with Elder Taylor to purchase vegitables from John Chinames

Sat. 13: Went to the City Exchanged money, posted letters Etc.
36 May 1899 Papeete Tahiti assisted in clearing the yard in the evening.

Sun 14: I attended three meetings Elder Hansen and I spent the evening at Papeete.

May 2 to May 7 1899

Tues: 2: Elders Davis and Widtsoe started on a trip around the island Elder Hansen and I went to Papeete Also did some washing of clothes 33 May 1899 Papeete Tahiti

Wens. 3: I did some studying on the language. Passed through a drill on the same to under Elder Tylor.

Thur. 4: Studied language in fore noon. The American ship: Tropic Bird arived in the afternoon, which we had been anxously waiting for, for two or three days. Elder Willey and I went to the City for mail. Returned about 7 in the evening wated down with papers & letters The letter from home that I had longed for never came. I kept my self buisy till a late hour reading the Utah news papers.

Fri. 5: Elder Chamberlin and I went to the City to get the mail that had not been destributed the night before. Elder Chamberlin had recieved word of the death of his Sister, I had recieved no word from home and to gether we walked, same wahat down hearted. I spent the remander of the day reading News papers & magizens. 34 May 1899 Papeete Tahiti

Sat. 6: Studied sone little on language. Elder Hansen and I cleaned up the houses for our porton of the weeks work. We gave the kitshen a good moping. Elder A. R. Curtis arived from the leward grop of islands, where he had been laboring. He brought a good report of the labor being don there.

Sun. 7: This being the regular fast day of the church it was obsurved by all us elders. Two meetings were held in the morning Elder Curtis took up the time at both meetings. I class was conducted by Elder Neff at noon. Sacrement meeting was held in the after noon. Prest. D. T. Miller was the speaker. Sacrement adminestered by Tamaiti, Elders Taylor, Hansen and I went to City in the evening, spent about an hour on board the Ship Tropic Bird.

April 30 and May 1 1899 May Day Celebration

Sun. 30: I atended three meetings of the saints one of which I was called to desmiss. Instructions were given by Tamiti. Elder Wm B Taylor Elder Chamberlin and Rua.

Mon. 1: I with the other Elders spent May day in the canyon. We visited the old French Fort about 7 miles up the canyon. It is about 4 thousand feet above sea leavell. We reach it by way of a narrow trail that leads up the mountain side. This fort was build for the protection of women and children in case of atact by foren nations. Here upon the green grass we ate our lunch. Which I spread upon Bananas leaves, (it being my cook day. It was sugested by some one of the company that a poem be 30 May 1899 French Fort written by each one sugesting a line.

The following is the result.
Several headings were given I ecept this

A Mormons tale of woe.

1: The scean is so enchanting,
It fills my heart with love:
Becaus my heart is panting
To see my turtle dove.

2: When last I saw her violet eyes
Beyond the deep blue sea,
Her soul with love that never dies
Said I’ll be true to thee.

3: For three long years Ive wandered
My heart way down in pain,
My shirt will not be laundred
Till I go back again.

4: Oft have I known the pulse devine
That beats with in her wrist,
Oft has she squirmed in arms of mine
When her sweet lips Ive kissed

5: Oh when again shall fall the snow
Upon my smooth bald pate,
Oh when for us shall embers glow
Within the parlor grate

31 May 1899 French Fort

6: Me thinks the time is growing nigh
When a bill of sale I’ll see,
I’ll close tale and homeward hie,
To bread and milk and thee.

South sea mormons.



We also stopped at the watter fall which is one of the highest in the World, I am told. It being 680 feet. The stream in its long decent is transformed into little els than a spray by the time it reaches the pool below. It presents a magnificent sight which which well payes one for the long walk to reach it. We all returned gathering moss & fernes on our way also stopping to bathe in the cool refreshing watters of the river. During the evening my mind was wont to wander to seen of child hood of the happy May walks on Utah soil gathering the butter cups and Violets that adorned the fields & medows, of romping over the bench lands among the rocks and sage brush 32 May 1899 Papeete Tahiti Or watching Utah’s fair maidens dance around the May pole, and listening to the strain of music from the silver instruments born by her young men, as well as the knoble speaches of Utah’s vetrans. I am wont to draw the contrast then with now where my lot is cast with a small band of fellow laborers, cast out upon the mountain tops that rise from the midst
of the mighty deeps here as embasadors of Jesus Christ laboring for the caus of truth that for which he laid down his life. And for which many have filled the marters grave to up hold, In this he I find joy, Though childhood dayes with their joy and pleasures have gon, only to be recalled in the memory.

April 23-29 1899

Sun. 23: I atended two meetings, was called to open the morning meeting. In the afternoon Elder Taylor and I went to the house of Tamiti the counslor to the president of the branch, where we were recieved, by the family. A plate full of delisous pineapples was set before us upon the straw flour floor of the hutt. We were also given several pineapples for the Elders at home.

Mon. 24: Spent most of the day studying language. Went through a drill on same under Prest. Miller, With the little native girl whom we call topsy sitting at the opposit side of the table meking amusement for her self as well as for us, over our awkward way of speaking the words given us. Topsy or is the daughter of one of the local missionaries who is sleping at our neighbors preparitory to taking a mission around the Island. She is the pet, & life 28 April 1899 Papeete Tahiti the head quarters, she is twelve years of age, large bright eyes one eye being blured a large mouth rather thick lips a plesant voice, heavy black hair. Every morning she is to be seen bound into the house or yard where we are all at work, whil her plesant laugh & morning greeting with a hearty shake of the hand for each of us. Again in the evening she makes her apearence to spend an hour or to with her jokes and singing, her favorite song, Poor Nellie Gray, which she sings in broken English

Tues. 25: Spent the day studying language.

Wens. 26: I atended fast meeting at 8-30 A. M. Went through a drill on the language under Elder Taylor Wrote a letter to Elder F. T. Yeates who is laboring on

Thur. 27: Spent the day studying.

Fri. 28: I strolled out on the beach alone, with book in hand studying language

29 May 1899 Papeete Tahiti

Sat. 29: Studied language. Also asisted in clearing the yard of leaves and rubish colected during the week. Passed through a language drill in the evening under Elder Taylor.