Ebook PDF Using Sage 300 Erp 2017 by Chris Heaney PDF
Ebook PDF Using Sage 300 Erp 2017 by Chris Heaney PDF
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by Chris Heaney
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CHRISTINE A. HEANEY
Preface A: To Instructors
This text has been written for students who want to become familiar with the Sage 300 2017
software (System Manager, General Ledger, Tax Services, Bank Services, Accounts Payable, and
Accounts Receivable).
Many students want to learn Sage 300 because they are increasingly aware of the need for this skill in
the employment opportunities they seek.
Sage has made it easy for students to study at home through the creation of a student limited edition
of the software, which can be downloaded from its Web site (downloading instructions are included in
Appendix B of this text). The Sage 300 2017 Limited Edition includes all modules of Sage 300 that are
required for working with this text and can be used for 400 days after it has been installed.
IMPORTANT Sage does not provide support for the student version of the software.
➐ Students’ needs This text has been designed to make your students’ learning process
simple yet substantial. It allows students to work independently at their
own pace and to learn from their mistakes.
➑ Case study While using the text, students work through exercises based on a
company called Omni Electrical Supplies that incorporate the material
taught throughout the book. The reports that students are requested to
print throughout the text are in the Instructor’s Manual, available only
to instructors who adopt this text from Pearson Canada.
➒ Review Questions At the end of each lesson, review questions test your students’ knowl-
edge of the software. The answers to these review questions are found
in the Instructor’s Manual.
❿ Challenge Exercises A challenge exercise is included at the end of each lesson. The challenge
exercise requires students to work through a company other than
Omni Electrical Supplies using the knowledge they have learned in the
text. There are no step-by-step instructions in the challenge exercise.
Students must think about what they need to do and refer back to the
exercises if necessary. The reports that students are requested to print for
the challenge exercises are available in the Instructor’s Manual.
⓫ Updates If you have been teaching this text for a number of years, there have
been significant changes made to this edition that you need to be aware
of. You will find detailed information in the Instructor’s Manual.
Instructor’s Manual
In the Instructor’s Manual you will find the following:
■ detailed information on changes that have been made in each lesson in this text revision
■ answers to the review questions found at the end of each lesson
■ reports that students have been asked to print throughout the book for Omni Electrical Supplies
■ reports that students have been asked to print in the challenge exercises
■ datasets for the end of each lesson as well as other datasets that we felt may be useful to you
while working through some of the lessons
■ an additional case study
■ the Chart of Accounts.csv file that students can use to import their Chart of Accounts in Lesson 3
■ Instructor’s Notes regarding potential problems that students may encounter while working
through the text, including a separate document on tips for troubleshooting the installation of
Microsoft SQL Server 2014 Express and Sage 300 2017
The Instructor’s Manual is your source for all of the completed datasets at the end of each lesson, an addi-
tional exercise, and answers to the review questions that help you provide a valuable learning experience
for your students. Datasets are also provided for the end of each lesson as well other datasets that we felt
may be useful to you while working through some of the lessons. You can use these datasets to demon-
strate the results of the exercises while students are working through a lesson, or you can use the previous
lesson’s data to demonstrate the exercises in the current lesson. The Instructor’s Notes list the purpose of
each lesson together with any potential problems that your students may encounter as they work through
the material, including some tips for installing both Microsoft SQL Server 2014 Express and Sage 300
2017.
■ Dumped Data for OMNDAT and OMNSYS for use as starter files for the A/R and A/P
modules. Instructions on how to use these datasets are included in the Setup Instructions
document on the DVD.
■ Dumped Data for YRNDAT and YRNSYS (the Challenge Exercise) for use as starter files for
the A/R and A/P modules. Instructions on how to use these datasets are included in the Setup
Instructions document on the DVD.
■ A Chart of Accounts file that can be used by students in Lesson 3 to import the Chart of
Accounts (a single csv file)
■ Lesson 23: Year End Procedures
■ Appendix C: Statement Designer
This text assumes that students have a basic knowledge of accounting and are familiar with Windows 7.
Although this text was written in Windows 7, we have included Windows 10 instructions where
necessary.
The author has taught how to use the Sage 300 software, including the DOS version and the
Windows version, on a per-module basis for more than a decade. You may be interested in the
author’s classroom experience and how this material has been used:
■ Environment: A computer lab for three hours with 30 networked PCs, each operating as a
stand-alone unit.
In this environment, I have worked with students, asking them to follow along with me in
the text. This structure allows me to explain various points as we work our way through the
text. Although I explain the fields as we work through them, I also suggest that students go
back over the text and read the material covered.
There are many sections in the book where I will teach a particular concept and then give
students time to work on their own to complete the material. For example, I use this approach
when creating the Chart of Accounts. Once I have shown them how to enter a few accounts,
I give them time to complete the exercise of entering all of the accounts before we start work-
ing through the rest of the lesson.
■ Environment: A lecture room for one hour with only a projector and no student computers;
then moving to the computer lab for two hours with 30 networked PCs, each operating as a
stand-alone unit.
In this environment, I demonstrate the information in the lessons, giving students a visual
learning experience. We then proceed to the computer lab, where I allow students to work
independently. There are times when we also need to work through the text together as a
group, but generally I find that most students are eager to start working on their own once
they have been shown what to do.
■ Environment: Distance learning
This is an excellent text for distance learning. Students are able to work through the step-by-
step instructions on their own.
With each of these teaching methods, I require an assignment to be completed at the end of the
course. I have included a challenge exercise at the end of each lesson that you can ask your students
to complete and hand in. Students create a new company in Sage 300. They are given the required
information but are not given any step-by-step instructions. Overall, I find that students have a clear
idea of what is expected of them after working through the text.
I can say with confidence that after using the material from this text, students come away from these
courses with a great deal of knowledge about how to complete tasks in Sage 300. They put a lot
of commitment and pride into their work, and I feel that the simplicity of this text gives them the
confidence to make mistakes and learn from them.
I always stress the importance of backups. This text does not always prompt students to perform a
backup. However, they should be performing a backup (using the Sage 300 Database Dump tool) at
the end of each work session.
It is my hope that you will find this text to be an invaluable tool in the teaching process of Sage 300,
as I have.
Regards,
Chris Heaney
Preface B: To Students
Please read Preface A: To Instructors as it contains information that you may find helpful. Also, please
read the following information to further understand the purpose of this text.
This text has been designed to enable you to learn Sage 300 2017 as easily as possible. The text attempts
to include all of the options available for each module as you go through the course. You should feel
confident to sit down at a computer and work through the text at your own pace.
This is a Windows-based program. Although I instruct you to press the [TAB] key to move from field
to field in many windows, you can always use your mouse to click in the field where you would like
to modify or enter data.
Sage has made it easy for students to study at home through the creation of a student limited edition
of the software, which is available as a download from Sage’s Web site and includes all modules of
the Sage 300 2017 program required to work through the exercises in this text. The limited edition is
available for 400 days after installation.
IMPORTANT Sage does not provide support for the student version of the software.
Everything you need to install Microsoft SQL Server 2014 Express and Sage 300 is available through
a download from Sage. You must follow the instructions in Appendix B showing you how to down-
load and install Sage 300 2017 and Microsoft SQL Server 2014 Express.
Once you have completed this text, you will have an understanding of the Sage 300
System Manager, Tax Services, Bank Services, General Ledger, Accounts Payable, and Accounts
Receivable modules. Together with your accounting knowledge, you should feel quite confident
about applying for a position requiring you to perform day-to-day Sage 300 operations.
This text assumes you have a basic knowledge of accounting and are familiar with Windows 7 or
Windows 10. Although this text was written in Windows 7, we have included Windows 10 instructions
where necessary.
IMPORTANT Throughout the text, various paths are displayed where you can access
information in the Sage 300 program, such as finding financial statement formats. The paths indi-
cate that your Sage 300 program files will be found in x:\Program Files (x86); however, your files
may be found in x:\Program Files.
Each lesson includes information about the processes you are going to work through as well as step-by-step
instructions. It is important that you read the necessary lessons before each class so you have an understand-
ing of the concepts in the lessons before you try to do the exercises. At the end of each class, ask your
instructor what lessons you will be covering in the next class so you can be well prepared.
Be certain to perform a backup (using the Sage 300 Database Dump tool) at the end of each work
session. You are not prompted to do this throughout the text because it is assumed that you are aware
of the importance of backups.
The reason it is important for you to perform a database dump rather than just copy your data is if
your school has a different version of Microsoft SQL than the one that is provided with the Sage
300 2017 Limited Edition. If this is the case, you will not be able to work between home and school
without performing a database dump first and performing a database load when you want to use the
files. Refer to Appendix A for directions on how to perform a database dump and a database load.
I hope that you will find this text to be an invaluable tool in learning Sage 300, as my students have.
Regards,
Chris Heaney
NEED HELP? The best source for relevant help when using the student version of Sage 300 xi
2017 is always your teacher or professor.
1. Create the OMNDAT and OMNSYS databases in Microsoft SQL Server 2014 Management Studio
Express. Instructions can be found in Lesson 1, Exercise 1-1, beginning on page 3.
Note You do not have to do this if you have previously created these databases in Microsoft
SQL Server 2014 Management Studio Express.
2. Create the OMNDAT and OMNSYS databases in the Sage 300 Database Setup Utility.
Instructions can be found in Lesson 1, Exercise 1-2, beginning on page 8.
Note You do not have to do this if you have previously created these databases in the Sage
300 Database Setup Utility.
Tip Before loading the databases in steps 3 and 4 using the Database Load tool, you should set
the Database Load tool to always run as the administrator. Although not every computer configu-
ration will require it to be set as the administrator, setting it will prevent problems. Refer to page
713 in Appendix B for instructions.
xii
3. Load the OMNSYS dataset found in the Dumped_Data folder on the Student Data DVD that
accompanies this text into the OMNSYS database (Instructions on how to use the Database Load
tool can be found in Exercise A-2 in Appendix A. Refer to the TIP above if you are unable to
load the OMNSYS dataset into the OMNSYS database.)
4. Load the OMNDAT dataset found in the Dumped_Data folder on the Student Data DVD that
accompanies this text into the OMNDAT database (Instructions on how to use the Database Load
tool can be found in Exercise A-2 in Appendix A. Refer to the TIP above if you are unable to
load the OMNDAT dataset into the OMNDAT database.)
5. Complete Lessons 9–15
6. Read the Accounts Payable Year End Procedures in Lesson 23 and complete Exercise 23-1
1. Create the OMNDAT and OMNSYS databases in Microsoft SQL Server 2014 Management Studio
Express. Instructions can be found in Lesson 1, Exercise 1-1, beginning on page 3.
Note You do not have to do this if you have previously created these databases in Microsoft
SQL Server 2014 Management Studio Express.
2. Create the OMNDAT and OMNSYS databases in the Sage 300 Database Setup Utility.
Instructions can be found in Lesson 1, Exercise 1-2, beginning on page 8.
Note You do not have to do this if you have previously created these databases in the Sage
300 Database Setup Utility.
TIP Before loading the databases in steps 3 and 4 using the Database Load tool, you should set
the Database Load tool to always run as the administrator. Although not every computer configu-
ration will require it to be set as the administrator, setting it will prevent problems. Refer to page
713 in Appendix B for instructions.
3. Load the OMNSYS dataset found in the Dumped_Data folder on the Student Data DVD that
accompanies this text into the OMNSYS database (Instructions on how to use the Database Load
tool can be found in Exercise A-2 in Appendix A. Refer to the TIP above if you are unable to
load the OMNSYS dataset into the OMNSYS database.)
4. Load the OMNDAT dataset found in the Dumped_Data folder on the DVD that accompanies
this text into the OMNDAT database (Instructions on how to use the Database Load tool can
be found in Exercise A-2 in Appendix A. Refer to the TIP above if you are unable to load the
OMNDAT dataset into the OMNDAT database.)
5. Complete Lesson 9
6. Complete Lessons 16–22
7. Read the Accounts Receivable Year End Procedures in Lesson 23 and complete Exercise 23-2
Note The adjusted statement balance and the adjusted book balance should have a balance of
$23,944.47, and the bank statement should be out of balance by $0.00.
15. Continue with Exercise 15-9, step 33. After printing the Withdrawals Status report, print the
Deposit Status report
16. Complete Exercise 15-9 to the end of step 38
17. Complete Lesson 22, Exercise 22-10, to make the Dummy bank account inactive
18. Complete Lesson 8 beginning with step 2, “Perform a data integrity check,” on page 223
Note Ask your instructor for the reports and financial statements that you are asked to print in
Chapter 8 for reference purposes. They are available with the Instructor’s Manual.
19. Optional: Complete Appendix C: Statement Designer found on the Student Data DVD that
accompanies this text
20. Complete Lesson 23 (optional)
Acknowledgments
The writing of a textbook is a large undertaking, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all
of those who have been involved in the process.
First, thanks to all of my students (especially those in my very first class) who worked through early
editions of my original material, especially to those students who had to work on a chapter-by-chapter
basis. Through your attention to detail and valuable comments I have been able to make the text what
it is today.
Thanks to my friend at Mohawk College Debbie Badgley, who has been kind enough to teach from
my original texts, share her classroom experiences with me, and take my late-night phone calls,
allowing me to make this a better book.
Thanks to Mohawk College Continuing Education Business for the opportunity to develop and teach
the Accpac courses (now known as Sage 300) and for allowing me to design the material to be used in
these courses, which has led to the publishing of this text.
Thanks to the people at Pearson Canada. I would like to express my appreciation to Laura Pratt,
Megan Farrell, Colleen Wormald, Sarah Gallagher, Susan Bindernagel, Spencer Snell, and Erica Willer,
who have helped me throughout all stages of creating this new edition. A special thanks to Leanne
Rancourt for making the process go so smoothly. She makes my job so much easier!
A special thanks to Debbie Badgley for completing an accurate technical check of this text and sharing
her knowledge and experience.
Chris Heaney
In Memoriam
This text is dedicated to the memory of Samantha Scully, beloved friend and
colleague, who helped shape the success of this text.
xv
Introduction
Using This Text
This text has been prepared using Microsoft SQL Server 2014 and Sage 300 2017 software from Sage.
To use this text, you must have access to Sage 300 2017 and Microsoft SQL Server 2014, all of which
are included on Sage’s Web site. Please refer to Appendix B to learn how to install Microsoft SQL
Server and the Limited Edition of Sage 300 2017.
Backup
It is imperative that you back up your data after each work session. The instructions for backing up
your Sage 300 database files using the Sage 300 Database Dump tool are available in Appendix A. Also
in Appendix A you will find instructions on how to use the Sage 300 Database Load tool so you can
move your data files between school and home.
The reason it is important for you to perform a database dump rather than just copy your data is if your
school has a different version of Microsoft SQL than the one that is provided with the Sage 300 2017
Limited Edition. If this is the case, you will not be able to work between home and school without per-
forming a database dump first and performing a database load when you want to use the files.
Exercises
This text has been set up so that all hands-on exercises have been marked with an exercise heading, and
each keystroke within the exercise has been marked with a number. The steps you are to perform are in
italics, while the actual typing or required data selections are in bold. Examples of this format are shown
on the following page in the exercise on how to change your computer’s date format.
xvi
modules and you have not first completed the General Ledger module. Refer to the Setup Instructions
file on the DVD for information on how to use these datasets. The YRNDAT dataset is NOT a
completed copy of the General Ledger lessons. It contains only the balances in each account at the
end of Lesson 8.
Finally, the Student Data DVD also contains a “Chart of Accounts.csv” file that can be used in Exercise 3-3
to import the Chart of Accounts rather than entering all of the accounts manually. Refer to the ReadMe
file for technical support information and to the Setup Instructions file for information on how to use
the data on the Student Data DVD.
Important
Setting the Computer’s Date Format
The date format that you use in Sage 300 is determined by your Windows operating system and not
by Sage 300. The dates used in this text are in the month/day/year format.
If you are using a different computer each time you are working in Sage 300 (for example, in a lab
setting), determine which format your computer is in before every session by looking in the Regional
Settings section of the Control Panel. If you begin to enter transactions without checking the date
format of the computer, you may find that you have posted transactions to the wrong fiscal period.
If your computer is not set up in the month/day/year format, you have two choices:
1. You can enter the dates used in the text in the same format as your computer. Remember to change
each date in the text to your computer’s date format or your data will not be accurate. For example,
01/12/2019 is January 12, 2019, in the text. If your computer’s date format is set to day/month/year,
you would have to enter the date as 12/01/2019 to enter accurate transaction dates.
2. You can change your computer’s date format. To change the format, do the following:
Windows 10
1. Click on the Search button in the taskbar
2. Type Control Panel in the field and press [ENTER] on the keyboard
1. Finder
The finder is a tool that allows you to look up records in key fields in all Sage 300 modules. You can
also access the finder by pressing [F5].
When a finder is available beside a field and you click on it, a list of all of the current records for that
particular field will be displayed. To select one of the items, double click on it or highlight the desired
record and click the Select button. The following screen shows a list of the accounts displayed for
Omni Electrical Supplies Ltd. when the finder is selected in an Account field:
Figure I-1
Using the top part of the window, you can limit your search by clicking on the drop-down list beside
the Find By field and selecting one of the following options:
Figure I-2
You can also specify what the desired record starts with or contains by clicking on the next drop-
down list, as shown:
Figure I-3
Type a value in the last field and the program will look for the first available item you selected
with the number(s) or letter(s) you entered. In the following Finder - Accounts window, you have
requested to find all accounts that start with the number 5:
Figure I-4
2. Previous/Next
The Previous/Next buttons allow you to scroll to the previous or next record in the list. You can also
jump directly to the first or last record.
3. New
The New button will clear the current record and reset all values back to the default, allowing you
to enter a new record. The first New button shown here is used when entering new records, and the
second New button is used when entering new batches and new entries within a batch.
5. Go button/[F7]
The Go button is displayed wherever you must fill in a number of fields before the program can select
a record. Once you have entered the required fields, click on the Go button or press [F7] to display
the rest of the record information.
6. Zoom button/[F9]
The Zoom in/out button is used to enter all fields for a single transaction in a separate transaction-
entry form.
Tip If you are adding detail lines in an entry and you move to another field on the screen, you
may not be able to add an additional detail line immediately. To add a detail line in the entry,
you must highlight the first detail line and then press the [INSERT] key.
Simulation
The company that you are going to be creating in this text is Omni Electrical Supplies Ltd., an
electrical manufacturing and machinery company. In 1982, Sarah and Jerry Williams purchased the
company, which had been in operation since 1958.
When Sarah and Jerry bought the business, it was an electrical manufacturing company with six
employees. There are currently 11 full-time employees. Sarah and Jerry have recently set up a machinery
division to buy and sell used heavy machinery. Their primary source of income is the manufacturing
of electrical items, such as staples and cable straps. They have recently divided the business into two
departments: electrical and machinery.
They are going to put their accounting records into the Sage 300 Premium Edition and have hired you to
help them with this task. (Please note that the Limited Edition software that you can download for free from
Sage’s Web site is the same as the Premium Edition but with a 400-day access limit.) Since they do not have
a lot of experience with computers and accounting, they do not feel comfortable learning all of the required
modules at once. They have asked you to help them set up their company over a period of three months.
Through discussions you have decided to install and set up the General Ledger module in the first
month, the Accounts Payable module in the second month, and the Accounts Receivable module in
the third month. They hope to be working independently after the third month. You have also told
them that they will have to learn Tax Services and Bank Services, but you will not activate them until
you start the Accounts Payable module.
Their current fiscal year is January–December 2019. You have told them that Sage 300 Premium
Edition can keep up to 99 years of history; however, they want to enter only the ending balances for
their accounts for the year 2018 and do not wish to enter historical data for any years before that.
You are now ready to begin the task of computerizing the accounting process for Omni Electrical Supplies.
Simulation
The company you are about to create is Omni Electrical Supplies Ltd., an electrical manufacturer.
The owners, Sarah and Jerry Williams, bought the company in 1982, but the business has been in
operation since 1958.
When Sarah and Jerry bought the company, there were six employees. Now there are 11 full-time
employees. Sarah and Jerry recently set up a machinery division to buy and sell used equipment.
Their primary source of income is from the manufacturing of electrical items such as staples and
cable straps. They recently divided the two areas of their business into electrical and machinery
divisions.
They are going to put their accounting records onto the Sage 300 program, beginning with the
General Ledger module, and they have hired you to help them with this task.
Their current fiscal year is January–December 2019. They realize that Sage 300 can keep up to
99 years of history; however, they only want to enter the ending balances for the general ledger
accounts for the year 2018. You will help them by setting up the General Ledger, entering the
opening balances, and entering the first month of data to be sure they are on the right track.
Once they feel confident using the General Ledger module, they will add Bank Services, Tax Services,
Accounts Payable, and Accounts Receivable.
System Manager
The System Manager is an integral component of Sage 300. It controls and maintains the com-
pany information used in the accounting applications, which are set up for each company you keep
accounting records for. The company information includes the company address and options entered
in the company profile, the fiscal calendar, schedules, bank and tax information, and optional tables.
The System Manager:
■ allows you to set up multiple system and company databases
■ maintains the security information that allows or disallows user access to specific tasks in your
accounting data
1
■ allows customizing of the company desktop by creating folders and letting you add icons into
these folders and combining common icons used for particular tasks
■ warns if tasks were not completed due to errors
■ includes Common Services (described later in this chapter)
■ includes Administrative Services (described later in this chapter)
■ includes common objects available to all accounting applications, such as
■ calculator, available in all numeric fields
■ finder, allowing you to look up records in database fields
■ macro editor, allowing you to automate tasks
■ scheduler, allowing you to process recurring transactions created within modules
Database Setup
Sage 300 works with the following database engines: Pervasive.SQL, Microsoft SQL Server, and
Oracle. Before creating a company in Sage 300, you need to know which database has been installed
to work with the program. Sage, the company that makes Sage 300, has supplied schools with the
Microsoft SQL database, so the instructions that follow assume that you are using Microsoft SQL.
The Limited Edition that is supplied with this text also runs on Microsoft SQL, so you can use the
same instructions below for creating databases in the Sage 300 2017 Limited Edition.
If you are working at school and want to take your data files home and use the Sage 300 2017
Limited Edition, you must perform a database dump on both the system and company database at
school, copy the files onto a backup medium, and then perform a database load on both databases at
home. When you are ready to bring your data files back to school, you must perform a database dump
at home on both the system and company databases, copy the files onto a medium, and then perform
a database load on both databases at school. While the database dump and database load features enable
you to work with the same data files using different database engines, it is also the easiest way to per-
form a backup of your Sage 300 data files. Information about database dump and database load can
be found at the end of this lesson; however, complete written instructions on performing a database
dump and database load on the OMNSYS and OMNDAT databases can be found in Appendix A,
Exercises A-1 and A-2.
System Database Stores information on users, passwords, security groups, security settings, and
currency for the companies that are linked to it. A system database must be
created before any company database is created, as company databases must
be linked to a system database. A system database may be linked to many
different company databases.
Company Database Contains information that is used by all the accounting applications for
a single company (e.g., the company profile, a fiscal calendar, schedules,
and optional tables). All information entered in the modules is stored in
the company database. A company database must be created for each new
company for which you will be keeping accounting records, and it must be
linked to a system database.
Exercise 1-1
NOTE Depending on how Microsoft SQL is set up in your school lab, you may not be able
to create your own system and company databases. The system administrator may have to create
them for you. Ask your instructor before you begin. You will have to follow these steps to
create the system and company databases while working in the Sage 300 2017 Limited Edition.
1. Create the folders in Windows Explorer if you are using Windows 7 or File Explorer if you
are using Windows 10 that will contain your Sage 300 system and company databases
For example, the text assumes that the databases will be stored in c:\data\omnsys and
c:\data\omndat, so these folders must be created in Windows Explorer if you are using
Windows 7 or File Explorer if you are using Windows 10. Refer to Figure 1-7 on page 7
to view the folders that have been created in Windows Explorer and used throughout this
text. Please note that the folders appear slightly different in File Explorer in Windows 10;
however, the folder names will be the same.
Ask your instructor where you will be storing your Sage 300 databases, and create the
appropriate folders.
NOTE Click Yes if you receive a message asking if you want to allow Microsoft SQL Server
to make changes to your computer.
7. The following window will be displayed (with your Server name and User name displayed):
Figure 1-1
NOTE You will need to know the server name displayed on this screen. In Figure 1-1, you
can see that the name of the server is DESKTOP-PHB4NVG followed by \SQLEXPRESS.
Please write down the name of your server, or you can copy it and then paste it when you
need it later. Please note that each machine will be different and your server name will not be
the same as the one in this example.
8. Click Connect
9. The Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio window will be displayed (with your server
name displayed):
Figure 1-2
In the first letter, sent jointly by Mr. Copeland and me from Tanna to
the Church at home, the following statements are found:—
“We found the Tannese to be painted Savages, enveloped in all the
superstition and wickedness of Heathenism. All the men and
children go in a state of nudity. The older women wear grass skirts,
and the young women and girls, grass or leaf aprons like Eve in
Eden. They are exceedingly ignorant, vicious, and bigoted, and
almost void of natural affection. Instead of the inhabitants of Port
Resolution being improved by coming in contact with white men,
they are rendered much worse; for they have learned all their vices,
but none of their virtues,—if such are possessed by the pioneer
traders among such races! The sandal-wood Traders are as a class
the most godless of men, whose cruelty and wickedness make us
ashamed to own them as our countrymen. By them the poor,
defenceless Natives are oppressed and robbed on every hand; and if
they offer the slightest resistance, they are ruthlessly silenced by the
musket or revolver. Few months here pass without some of them
being so shot, and, instead of their murderers feeling ashamed, they
boast of how they despatch them. Such treatment keeps the Natives
always burning under a desire for revenge, so that it is a wonder any
white man is allowed to come among them. Indeed, all Traders here
are able to maintain their position only by revolvers and rifles; but
we hope a better state of affairs is at hand for Tanna.”
The novelty of our being among them soon passed away, and they
began to show their avarice and deceitfulness in every possible way.
The Chiefs united and refused to give us the half of the small piece of
land which had been purchased, on which to build our Mission
House, and when we attempted to fence in the part they had left to
us, they “tabooed” it, i.e., threatened our Teachers and us with death
if we proceeded further with the work. This they did by placing
certain reeds stuck into the ground here and there around our house,
which our Aneityumese servants at once knew the meaning of, and
warned us of our danger; so we left off making the fence, that we
might if possible evade all offence. They then divided the few bread-
fruit and cocoa-nut trees on the ground amongst themselves, or
demanded such payment for these trees as we did not possess, and
threatened revenge on us if the trees were injured by any person.
They now became so unreasonable and offensive, and our dangers so
increased, as to make our residence amongst them extremely trying.
At this time a vessel called; I bought from the Captain the payment
they demanded; on receiving it, they lifted the Taboo, and for a little
season appeared to be friendly again. This was the third payment
they had got for that site, and to yield was teaching them a cruel
lesson; all this we felt and clearly saw, but they had by some means
to be conciliated, if possible, and our lives had to be saved, if that
could be done without dishonour to the Christian name.
After these events, a few weeks of dry weather began to tell against
the growth of their yams and bananas. The drought was instantly
ascribed to us and our God. The Natives far and near were
summoned to consider the matter in public assembly. Next day,
Nouka, the high chief, and Miaki, the war-chief, his nephew, came to
inform us, that two powerful Chiefs had openly declared in that
assembly that if the Harbour people did not at once kill us or compel
us to leave the island, they would, unless the rain came plentifully in
the meantime, summon all the Inland people and murder both our
Chiefs and us. The friendly Chiefs said,—
“Pray to your Jehovah God for rain, and do not go far beyond your
door for a time; we are all in greatest danger, and if war breaks out,
we fear we cannot protect you.”
But this friendliness was all pretence; they themselves, being
sacred men, professed to have the power of sending or withholding
rain, and tried to fix the blame of their discomfiture on us. The rage
of the poor ignorant Heathen was thereby fed against us. The Ever-
Merciful, however, again interposed on our behalf. On the following
Sabbath, just when we were assembling for worship, rain began to
fall, and in great abundance. The whole inhabitants believed,
apparently, that it was sent to save us in answer to our prayers; so
they met again, and resolved to allow us to remain on Tanna. Alas!
the continuous and heavy rains brought much sickness and fever in
their train, and again their sacred men pointed to us as the cause.
Hurricane winds also blew and injured their fruits and fruit trees,—
another opportunity for our enemies to lay the blame of everything
upon the Missionaries and their Jehovah God! The trial and the
danger daily grew of living among a people so dreadfully benighted
by superstition, and so easily swayed by prejudice and passion.
On Sabbath afternoon, the 6th of January, 1860, in a severe gale,
we were surprised to see a large Sydney vessel come to anchor in the
Harbour at Port Resolution, right opposite our house. Though wind
and sea were both dangerously high, the Captain and all hands, as we
were afterwards informed, coolly went to sleep. Gradually, but quite
perceptibly, the vessel was allowed to drift as if by deliberate
intention, till she struck on the beach at the head of the Bay, and
there was soon broken up and became a total wreck. For this also the
ignorant Natives gave us credit, as for everything uncommon or
disagreeable on Tanna; but we were ever conscious that our Lord
Jesus was near us, and all trials that lead us to cling closer in
fellowship with our Saviour are really blessings in disguise. The
Captain of that vessel, known to us only as “Big Hays,” and his wife,
said to be the wife of a man in Sydney who had run away with him,
and his like-minded crew became by their shocking conduct a
horrible curse to our poor Islanders, and greatly embittered the
feeling against us. They were armed with deadly weapons, and did
their wicked will amongst our Natives, who durst not attack so large
a party of desperate and well-armed men. But they were white
people, and so were the Missionaries; to the savage mind that was
enough, and revenge would be taken upon the first white faces,
however innocent, who came within their power.
The Natives of Tanna were well-nigh constantly at war amongst
themselves, every man doing that which was right in his own eyes,
and almost every quarrel ending in an appeal to arms. Besides many
battles far inland, one was fought closely around our house, and
several were fought around the Harbour. In these conflicts, many
men were bruised with clubs and wounded with arrows, but few lives
were lost, considering the savage uproar and frenzy of the scene. In
one case, of which we obtained certain information, seven men were
killed in an engagement, and, according to Tannese custom, the
warriors and their friends feasted on them at the close of the fray, the
widows of the slain being also strangled to death, and similarly
disposed of. Besides those who fell in war, the Natives living in our
quarter had killed and feasted on eight persons, usually in sacrificial
rites.
It is said, that the habitual Cannibal’s desire for human flesh
becomes so horrible that he has been known to disinter and feast
upon those recently buried. Two cases of this revolting barbarism
were reported as having occurred amongst the villagers living near
us. On another occasion the great chief Nouka took seriously unwell,
and his people sacrificed three women for his recovery! All such cruel
and horrifying practices, however, they tried to conceal from us; and
many must have perished in this way of whom we, though living at
their doors, were never permitted to hear.
Amongst the Heathen, in the New Hebrides, and especially on
Tanna, woman is the down-trodden slave of man. She is kept
working hard, and bears all the heavier burdens, while he walks by
her side with musket, club, or spear. If she offends him, he beats or
abuses her at pleasure. A savage gave his poor wife a severe beating
in front of our house and just before our eyes, while in vain we strove
to prevent it. Such scenes were so common that no one thought of
interfering. Even if the woman died in his hands, or immediately
thereafter, neighbours took little notice, if any at all. And their
children were so little cared for, that my constant wonder was how
any of them survived at all! As soon as they are able to knock about,
they are left practically to care for themselves; hence the very small
affection they show towards their parents, which results in the aged
who are unable to work being neglected, starved to death, and
sometimes even more directly and violently destroyed.
A Heathen boy’s education consists in being taught to aim skilfully
with the bow, to throw the spear faultlessly at a mark, to wield
powerfully the club and tomahawk, and to shoot well with musket
and revolver when these can be obtained. He accompanies his father
and brothers in all the wars and preparations for war, and is
diligently initiated into all their cruelties and lusts, as the very
prerequisite of his being regarded and acknowledged to be a man
and a warrior. The girls have, with their mother and sisters, to toil
and slave in the village plantations, to prepare all the materials for
fencing these around, to bear every burden, and to be knocked about
at will by the men and boys.
Oh, how sad and degraded is the position of Woman, where the
teaching of Christ is unknown, or disregarded though known! It is
the Christ of the Bible, it is His Spirit entering into Humanity, that
has lifted Woman, and made her the helpmate and the friend of Man,
not his toy or his slave.
To the best of our observation, the Heathen, though vaguely
following some division of the week into seven days, spent the
Sabbath on Tanna much the same as their other days were spent.
Even when some were led to give up manual labours on that day,
they spent it, like too many Christians elsewhere, in visiting friends
and in selfish pleasures, on feasting and drinking. After we had been
about one year on the island, we had a morning Church Service,
attended by about ten Chiefs and as many women and children
belonging to them; though, once the Service was over, they paid no
more attention to the Lord’s Day. On some of the more Northern
Islands of the group, the Heathen had a sacred day. Twice, sailing
with the Dayspring, we cast anchor at an Island, but could not see a
single Native till next day, when one who could speak broken English
informed us that none of the people had been seen moving about
because they were “keeping their Sunday.” A number of the Tannese
spoke a little English, but they were the worst and most treacherous
characters of all. They had imbibed the profane Trader’s language
and his hatred of Missionaries and their work; and these, added to
their own Heathen prejudices, made them the most troublesome and
dangerous of men.
After the Sabbath Morning Service we used to walk many miles,
visiting all the villages within reach, even before we had got so much
of their language as to be able to speak freely to the people.
Sometimes we made a circuit amongst them, ten or twelve miles
away and as many back again. We tried to talk a little to all who were
willing to listen; and we conducted the Worship of Jehovah,
wherever we could find two or three disposed to gather together and
to sit or kneel beside us. It was to flesh and blood weary work, and in
many ways disheartening—no responsive faces and hearts there to
cheer us on and lift us up into fellowship with the Lord! But it helped
us to see the people, and to get acquainted with the districts around;
it also secured for us very considerable audiences, except when they
were engaged in war.
No real progress could be made in imparting to them spiritual
knowledge, till we had attained some familiarity with their language.
By finding out, as before recorded, the Tannese for “What is this?”
and “What is his or her name?” we got the names of things and
people, and made amazing progress towards mutual intelligence. We
soon found out that there were two distinct languages spoken in and
around Port Resolution; but we confined ourselves to that which was
understood as far as the other Mission Station; and, by God’s help
and great diligence, we were able ere long to speak to them of sin and
of salvation through Jesus Christ.
Twelve Aneityumese Teachers were at this time living on Tanna,
but they had no Schools, and no Books in Tannese, for that language
had never yet been reduced to forms that could be printed. The work
of the Teachers, besides telling to the people around all that they
could regarding Christ and the Christian religion, found its highest
value in presenting through their own spirit and character a nobler
type of life than any that Heathenism could show.
When a Missionary arrives, the Teacher’s first duty is to help him
in house-building, fencing, and the many manual and other toils
required in organizing the new Station, besides accompanying him
on the inland journeys, assisting him in regard to the language as far
as possible, and in general furthering the cause. But in altogether
virgin soil like that of Tanna, the Aneityumese Teacher, or one from
any other island, had the language to acquire first of all, not less than
the European Missionary, and was therefore of little use except for
manual labour, and that too had to be carried on by signs much more
than by words. Not only has every island its own tongue, differing
widely from and unintelligible to all the others, but even the people
on one side of an island could not sometimes understand or converse
with the people on the opposite side of the same. This rendered our
work in the New Hebrides not only exceptionally difficult, but its
progressive movement distressingly slow.
Word had reached Tanna, that, in a quarrel with Sandal-wooders,
the Erromangans had murdered three white men and a number of
Natives in their employment, in revenge for the white men’s
shamefully entreating and murdering the Erromangans. On Tanna
all such news were reported and talked over, when the Chiefs and
their men of war met for their evening repast—an event that
generally wound up with drinking Kava, which first produced
intoxication like whisky and then stupefaction like a dose of
laudanum. Excited by the rumours from Erromanga, they had drunk
more than usual, and lay about their Village Drinking-Hall in a
helpless host. Enemies from an inland tribe stealthily drew near, and
discharged their muskets amongst them in the dark, killing one man,
and so, according to their custom, war was known to be declared.
Early next morning, Miaki, the war-chief, despatched his herald to
sound the Conch and summon the people to battle. He made the
Harbour and all the country resound with it for six miles around, and
the savage hordes gathered to the call. Putting our trust in God, we
quietly resolved to attend as usual to our work and await the result.
Excitement and terror drove the Natives hither and thither. One man
close to us being nearly killed, his friends assembled in great force,
and with clubs and spears, tomahawks and muskets, drove the
offending tribe more than a mile into the bush. They, in turn, being
reinforced, drove their enemies back again to the beach. There,
seated within hearing distance, they carried on a grand sort of
barbarous-Homeric scolding match, and exhausted their rage in
javelins of reproach. A great relief seemed thereby to ensue, for the
rival Chiefs thereon approached our house and entreated me to dress
their wounds! I did so, and appealed to them for peace, and got their
promise to let that conflict come to an end. Alas, for the passing
influence of such appeals,—for I learned shortly after this, on my
return from Aneityum, where I had gone for a fortnight to recruit
from the effects of an almost three months’ continuance of recurring
ague and fever, that eight of the Harbour people had been murdered
near our house at Port Resolution. The Natives got into a dreadfully
unsettled state, each one wondering in terror who would be the next
to fall.
About the time of my dear wife’s death, our brother Missionary,
Mr. Mathieson, also became exceedingly unwell. His delicate frame
fast gave way, and brought with it weakness of the mind as well; and
he was removed to Aneityum apparently in a dying condition. These
sad visitations had a bad effect on the Natives, owing to their wild
superstitions about the cause of death and sickness. We had reason
to fear that they would even interfere with the precious grave, over
which we kept careful watch for a season; but God mercifully
restrained them. Unfortunately, however, one of my Aneityumese
Teachers who had gone round to Mr. Mathieson’s Station took ill and
died there, and this rekindled all their prejudices. He, poor fellow,
before death said,—
“I will not again return to Port Resolution, or see my dear Missi;
but tell him that I die happy, for I love Jesus much, and am going to
Jesus!”
Hearing these things, the Natives insolently demanded me to tell
them the cause of this death, and of Mr. Mathieson’s trouble, and of
the other deaths. Other reasoning or explanation being to them
useless, I turned the tables, and demanded them to tell me why all
this trouble and death had overtaken us in their land, and whether
they themselves were not the cause of it all? Strange to say, this
simple question turned the whole current of their speculations. They
held meeting after meeting to discuss it for several days, and
returned the message,—
“We do not blame you, and you must not blame us for causing
these troubles and deaths; but we believe that a Bushman must have
got hold of portion of something we had eaten, and must have
thrown it to the great Evil Spirit in the volcano, thereby bringing all
these troubles and curses.”
Another Chief vindicated himself and others thus:
—“Karapanamun, the Auruman or great Evil Spirit of Tanna, whom
we all fear and worship, is causing these troubles; for he knows that
if we become worshippers of your Jehovah God, we cannot continue
to fear him, or present him with the best of everything, as our
forefathers have always done; he is angry at you and at us all.”
The fear of the deaths and troubles being ascribed to them silenced
their talk against us for a season; but very little made them either
friends or foes, as the next event will too painfully show.
Nowhat, an old Chief of the highest rank from Aneityum, who
spoke Tannese and was much respected by the Natives all round the
south side of Tanna, came on a visit to our island. After returning
home, he became very ill and died in a few days. The deluded
Tannese, hearing of his death, ascribed it to me and the Worship,
and resolved to burn our house and property, and either murder the
whole Mission party, or compel us to leave the island. Nowhat’s
brother was sent from Aneityum to talk to the Tannese and conciliate
them, but unfortunately he could not speak the language well; and
the Aneityumese Teachers felt their lives to be at this time in such
danger that they durst not accompany him as interpreters, while I on
the other hand did not understand his language, nor he, mine.
Within two days after landing, he had a severe attack of ague and
fever; and, though the vessel he came in remained eight days, he was
prostrated all the time, so that his well-intentioned visit did us much
harm. The Tannese became furious. This was proof positive, that we
were the cause of all their sickness and death. Inland and all along
the weather side of the island, when far enough away from us, they
said that the Natives were enjoying excellent health. Meeting after
meeting was held; exciting speeches were delivered; and feasts were
given, for which it was said that several women were sacrificed,
cooked, and eaten,—such being the bonds by which they entered into
covenant with each other for life or death.
On the morning of the following Sabbath, we heard what were said
to be the dying shrieks of two woman-sacrifices; but we went not
near,—we had no power to save them, and the savages only waited
such a chance of sacrificing us too. Soon after, three women came
running to the Mission House, and in tears implored us to try and
protect them from being killed by their husbands. Alas, we could
only plead for them, the Tannese and Aneityumese Teachers warning
us that if we even pled we would be instantly murdered, as the men
were raging mad with the thirst of blood. At another time, eight
inland girls came running to us and sat in front of our house all day,
saying they were afraid to go home, as the men were fighting with
their women and killing them. At nightfall, however, the poor
creatures withdrew, we knew not to what fate.
The inhabitants for miles around united in seeking our
destruction, but God put it into even savage hearts to save us. Old
Nowar, the Chief under whom we lived, and the Chief next under
him, Arkurat, set themselves to rescue us. Along with Manuman and
Sirawia they opposed every plan in the public assembly for taking
our lives. Some of their people also remained friendly to us, and by
the help of our Aneityumese Teachers, warned us of danger and
protected our lives. Determined not to be baffled, a meeting of all our
enemies on the island was summoned, and it was publicly resolved
that a band of men be selected and enjoined to kill the whole of those
friendly to the Mission, old Nowar among the rest, and not only to
murder the Mission party, but also a Trader who had lately landed to
live there, that no one might be left to give information to the white
men or bring punishment on the islanders. Frenzy of excitement
prevailed, and the blood-fiend seemed to over-ride the whole
assembly; when, under an impulse that surely came from the Lord of
Pity, one great warrior Chief who had hitherto kept silent, rose,
swung aloft a mighty club and smashing it earthwards, cried aloud,—
“The man that kills Missi must first kill me,—the men that kill the
Mission Teachers must first kill me and my people,—for we shall
stand by them and defend them till death.”
Instantaneously, another Chief thundered in with the same
declaration; and the great assembly broke up in dismay. All the more
remarkable was this deliverance, as these two Chiefs lived nearly four
miles inland, and, as reputed disease makers and sacred men, were
regarded as amongst our bitterest enemies. It had happened that, a
brother of the former Chief having been wounded in battle, I had
dressed his wounds and he recovered, for which perhaps he now
favoured us. But I do not put very much value on that consideration;
for too clearly did our dear Lord Jesus interpose directly on our
behalf that day. I and my defenceless company had spent it in
anxious prayers and tears; and our hearts overflowed with gratitude
to the Saviour who rescued us from the lions’ jaws.