TROUBLES AT NADROGA. 171 



As the difference between the heathen and Christian 

 population, mentioned in a previous chapter, had not 

 yet been satisfactorily settled, they found the country in 

 rather a disturbed condition. The conflict between bar- 

 barism and an incipient civilization was still going on. 



" The people were glad to see a missionary," says Mr. 

 Waterhouse. " I was sorry to find that some of our 

 native agents had not maintained neutrality between 

 the Christians and heathens, which, they were obliged 

 to confess, was not only against orders, but had proved 

 to be, so far as they were personally concerned, bad po- 

 licy. Since my visit in 1851 the bones of those human 

 beings who had been eaten had been collected toge- 

 ther and buried. The evening was spent in examining 

 and instructing the schoolmasters and Scripture-readers. 

 Mr. Moore has done a noble work in preparing so many 

 agents for these benighted parts. 



" Though in some danger, yet I felt it my duty to 

 sleep on shore to encourage my native colleagues to 

 abide by their post of honour. Only last Tuesday a 

 man was killed by a ' kidnapper.' There is no safety 

 in going outside of the house after dark. In some cases 

 the kidnappers enter the house, close or surround the 

 doors, dispatch the inmates, and make their escape. In 

 the event of an occurrence of this sort, I suggested that, 

 instead of allowing the intruders to kill us, we should 

 close in on them and bind them. 



" Colonel Smythe sent a native messenger to request 

 the heathen Chief to pay him a friendly visit. The 

 man performed his errand, and delivered his message. 

 The enemy then clubbed him, and sent him back with 



