410 A MISSION TO VITI. 



their dignity to comply with, which led to fatal conse- 

 quences. 



Some of the old convict gang were still alive when 

 a few of a more respectable class of white traders and 

 missionaries took up their ahode in the group, princi- 

 pally at Lakeba, Levukn, and Eewa. Of the traders we 

 know little except the incidental notices here and there 

 preserved ; but of the doings of the missionaries ample 

 records have been placed before the world in their own 

 publications. When the latter commenced their labours 

 the political state of Fiji was little understood, and we 

 can therefore not wonder that they should have made a 

 serious mistake in the very outset. They began their 

 work of christianization at Lakeba, one of the windward 

 islands. Now Lakeba is dependent on Cakaudrove, and 

 the chiefs of the latter state were naturally jealous to 

 see vassals assume a greater importance than themselves, 

 and they opposed the spread of the new doctrine with 

 all means in their power. When, after a time, mission- 

 aries established themselves at Somosomo, then the ca- 

 pital of Cakaudrove, at Viwa and Rewa, they struggled 

 against similar disadvantages. These three states were 

 more or less dependent on Bau, and Bau, irritated at see- 

 ing its subordinates in possession of all the good things 

 that an active intercourse with the Christian teachers 

 threw in their way, tried to crush the new doctrine by 

 its mighty influence. There can be no doubt that many 

 atrocities were committed in the native capital, merely 

 to prove how little Bau was influenced by the religious 

 change going on in other parts of the group. It appears 

 that at an early date Cakobau had invited the mission- 



