Pastor Dowe

The introduction sets up a conflict between Pastor Dowe and the people-  there is tension resulting from their inability to converse with him and it creates a separation between him and the people he is trying to reach. They are silent when he speaks, but out of "respect rather than of interest."
Pastor Dowe is frustrated by this, as "being a conscientious man he was troubled to discover this." It is also evident in the way he speaks to the "most intelligent and influential" men in the village, as he asks him like a child to repeat the lesson of the day.
Throughout the story Pastor Dowe gives 3 sermons to varying receptions.
Before first sermon he recognizes that the indigenous people listen to him out of respect, but are not grasping the literature. Nichlas says that they would prefer to have music, but the music on hand is "music for dancing" and Pastor Dowe tells them they will not use it. For the second sermon he incorporates salt, as he is asked to incorporate salt into the sermon.
For his final sermon he incorporates music, salt, and alters the bible verse to contain phrases and locations that are more familiar to the townspeople.

Pastor Dowe remains a protagonist in the light of his ignorance towards the indigenous people because the way he attempts to reach them, albeit misguided, he attempts to reformulate his approach instead of forcing them to attend the classical Christian ceremonies. It is with this that you are led to believe that he has a genuine wish to "save" these people.