APOSTATE CHRISTIANS. 135 



and gale, there was a temporary lull in the weather, and 

 our trip was altogether a pleasant one. About noon we 

 halted at Buretu, a fortified town, which has never been 

 taken, and is therefore regarded as impregnable. If it 

 is so, that must be owing entirely to the bravery of its 

 inhabitants, for the low walls with which it was sur- 

 rounded did not impress us with any great strength. 

 Some years ago a good number of the Buretu people 

 embraced Christianity, but when at a subsequent date 

 the town rebelled against Bau, they became apostates, 

 nor did the restoration of peace make them relinquish 

 their pagan religion, and they had at the time of our 

 visit, one of the finest temples in the whole group. 

 These and similar fluctuations must be expected in all 

 attempts to introduce a new faith, but from which Fiji 

 has been more free than many other countries similarly 

 operated upon. Wherever Christianity was preached in 

 the group it took a quick and firm hold, and the ultimate 

 conversion of the whole population is merely a matter 

 of time and . s. d. If the Wesleyan Society had 

 more funds at its disposal, so as to be able to send out a 

 greater number of efficient teachers, a very few years 

 would see the whole of Fiji christianized, as all the 

 real difficulties formerly in the way of the mission have 

 now been removed. On my representing the case in this 

 light, his Majesty the King of Hanover was graciously 

 pleased to subscribe as his first gift, 100, towards so 

 desirable an object, at the same time expressing his ad- 

 miration for the labours of individual missionaries I 

 named. If the Fijis should be taken by any European 

 government, the prosperity of the country would best be 



