The Martyrs of Tonga 
THE missionaries to the Tonga Islands reached that group 
in the year 1797 on the 10th day of April. They were ten 
in number, and all earnestly devoted to their God-appointed 
work. They found themselves among a people of friendly 
disposition, though desperately needy in their depraved state 
of savagery. 
Living among these natives were found to be two white 
men. These were afterward joined by a third, and still later 
by seven others. With one exception they were all vicious 
and abandoned beyond description, and were more to be 
feared by the missionaries than were the fierce people whom 
they had come to help. The exception was a blacksmith 
named Beck. Though he professed no religious convictions, 
he attached himself to the interests of the missionaries, and 
gave them aid at all times to the limit of his powers; and 
when days of privation and persecution came upon them, 
he shared joyfully and fully with them in their sufferings 
and peril. 
The others used every opportunity to extort and steal 
from the luckless missionaries, and invented and spread 
among the heathen the most malicious stories concerning 
them. Thus encouraged, the natives lost their friendliness, 
and soon became insolent and threatening in their bearing. 
Early in the year following their arrival, the missionaries 
were made to feel the determined bitterness of this evil 
influence. On the occasion of the death of a woman of 
influence, the report was spread that her death had been 
brought about by the prayers of the missionaries. Imme- 
diately the superstitious heathen laid the charge of causing 
her death at the door of the men of God, and forbade them 
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