Who tried to discourage ishmael from sailing on the pequod?

The man who tried to discourage Ishmael and Queequeg was Elijah. Elijah was introduced as the man who was strange, shabbily dressed and the one who was suddenly in the picture trying to tell them about the journey to Pequod. He asked if Ishmael and his mate belonged to the “ship”. Ishmael asked for confirmation if the ship he was referring to was the one going to Pequod. Elijah tried to discourage them by asking questions regarding whether what will happen to their souls if they will continue to sign up for the ship who was led by Ahab. Elijah said that to sign for Ahab’s ship meant that they have to sign their souls away. Elijah in the story was depicted as unwilling to say to Ishmael and Queequeg   straight out what he saw in his prophecies regarding the ship and its crew.

spread of christianity

no it wouldn't because yellow journalism would exaggerate in everything.