124 ADVENTURES IN THE SOUTH SEAS 
of the chief, he with three other young men set out to go to 
the mission station to beg that a teacher might be sent to 
reside there permanently, and that some native books might 
also be sent. The party had to pass through a place, part 
of whose inhabitants were still heathen, and by these the 
young men were attacked, and one of their number barbar- 
ously murdered. 
“An adjacent village made an unsuccessful effort to get 
the body of the young man for burial. It was disposed of, 
however, in the same way as that of Waiwai. It is worthy 
of remark that those who made the attempt to preserve the 
body from being devoured by the natives, were themselves 
politically connected with the murderers, and little more than 
a year before, they would have joined in avenging the com- 
mon quarrel and in the cannibal feast which followed the 
murder. Well might Mr. Geddie exclaim with reference to 
this case: ‘What a change the gospel makes! Among the 
Christian party all former grievances and animosities appear 
to be forgotten, and an injury done to one is regarded as 
an injury done to the whole body.’ ”’ 
Years afterward, the missionary on this beautiful island 
was able to send a glowing report of the work of God in 
the hearts of these erstwhile savage people. “‘Aneityum,” 
said he, “may well be considered spiritually, if not physically, 
the gem, not only of the New Hebrides, but of Papuan Poly- 
nesia. It is instinct with the fragrant memory of a man... 
who by the offering up upon it of his life to God through 
Christ, was the principal means of turning it from a heathen 
grove to a temple of Jehovah, to whom from all its valleys 
praises now ascend, commingling with the harmonies of its 
encircling ocean.” 
