16 A MISSION TO VITI. 



a square filled up by mould, over which a kind of shed 

 was erected. A dense grove of iron-wood trees, so much 

 reminding us, by their sombre aspect, of our pines, form 

 an appropriate accompaniment to the place. The wind 

 playing in the branches, caused a wailing melancholy 

 sound, fully impressing me with the idea that even the 

 savages who planted these trees must have had some 

 sparks of poetry in their composition. It is a strange 

 ethnological fact, that most nations surround the tombs 

 of those dear to them with trees belonging to the pine 

 tribe, or at least trees partaking, as the iron-wood does, 

 of their physiognomy. The Greeks and Turks think 

 the cypress a befitting expression of their grief; the 

 Chinese, the beautiful Cupressus funebris ; and the Ger- 

 mans and English, the arbor-vitse and yew. All attempts 

 to convince people that a graveyard ought to have as 

 cheerful a look as such a drear lonely spot can ever be 

 expected to assume have in the long-run proved a failure. 

 Ivy-clad church walls, mossy tombstones, and sombre- 

 looking yews, are in better keeping with it than gay 

 flower-beds or bright tinsel. 



The mission-station at Lakeba is close to a great 

 swamp, and cannot be very healthy. Many more salubri- 

 ous spots might doubtless be found, but the missionary, 

 in order to do the greatest amount of good, should live 

 amongst his flock, and avoid every kind of isolation. 

 He should mix with them as freely as he possibly can, 

 and, on the principle that example is better than precept, 

 exhibit as much of his daily family life as is compatible 

 with necessary privacy. From that point of view, the 

 place has been well chosen ; but it is certainly a great 



