AT SOMO SOMO 4] 
to subject themselves to the sight of such horrid scenes as 
they are called upon almost daily to witness. I know of 
no situation so trying as this for ladies to live in, partic- 
ularly when pleasing and well-informed, as we found these 
at Somo Somo.’ 
“The great kindness of the United States officer was much 
valued by the missionaries; but their work was begun, and 
they were resolved not to leave it. They were the right men, 
and their wives the right women, for such a position,—men 
and women of prayer, and faith, and unbending fidelity. 
“In July, 1840, the general superintendent of the South 
Sea Missions, the Rev. John Waterhouse, visited this sta- 
tion, where he found Mrs. Hunt very poorly, while her hus- 
band was away at Rewa, whither he had gone to afford 
brotherly sympathy to Mr. Cargill, whose most excellent 
wife had just died. 
“At this time the missionaries reported as follows: 
“ “We were the first missionaries to Somo Somo. No har- 
binger had prepared our way; consequently we had to bear 
many trials, and to contend with much opposition, peculiar 
to a new station. 
““The inhabitants of Somo Somo are proverbial, even in 
Fiji, for their depraved habits, and especially for their can- 
nibalism ; and all that we have seen of them during the past 
year, fully warrants the opinion which their neighbors have 
formed of them, and shows that they are right in consider- 
ing them to be the vilest of the vile. But though we have 
had to enter a field altogether uncultivated, and to sow the 
precious seed in a soil most unfriendly to its growth, the 
Lord has verified His own promise. His word has not re- 
turned unto Him void, but it has in some measure accom- 
plished that which He pleases, and prospered in the thing 
whereunto He has sent it. 
“ ‘Hundreds, from all parts of the dominions of Tuithakau, 
have heard the gospel, while visiting this place to trade, etc. 
Many of them have manifested great interest in the things 
