266 A MISSION TO VITI. 



Roman Catholics present, he dwelt on the errors of their 

 dogmas, and abused the Virgin and the Saints in un- 

 measured terms. It would have been hardly possible 

 to preach a more impracticable sermon, or exhibit worse 

 taste or less discretion. Ritova, on pointing out the site 

 for a church, begged the Consul to write to the head- 

 quarters of the missionaries about sending him Chris- 

 tian teachers ; but, if possible, not a Tonguese or a man 

 of extreme sectarian views, who, by widening the breach 

 between Roman Catholics and Protestants, might endan- 

 ger the peace, whilst a man of moderate views would 

 have little difficulty in making the whole population 

 of one way of thinking on religious subjects. He after- 

 wards recurred to this topic when he saw me again, say- 

 ing though of course using different language that the 

 ethical part of Christianity, that which was the basis 

 of both denominations, had a deep interest to him, but 

 that he attached little value to mere dogmas. This was 

 a proof to me that this man had thought much more 

 deeply on religion than he had received credit for. When 

 lonely pacing up and down the trodden path behind his 

 hut, he had evidently sought to arrive at some solution 

 respecting the cbnflicting views rival denominations pre- 

 sented to him. 



One of Ritova's large canoes had come along with us, 

 but all the others had not made their appearance the 

 second day after our arrival. Some uneasiness being felt 

 lest the Tonguese had captured them, heavy laden as they 

 were with passengers, goods, and live stock, a messenger 

 was dispatched to the island of Kia, who returned with 

 two other canoes, having Ritova's son (Tui Macuata) on 



