With the Cannibals of New Britain 
In the year 1875 Mr. George Brown reached the group 
of islands of which the large islands of New Britain and 
New Ireland form a part, and there found a people of very 
dark color, extremely savage, nude, and depraved to the 
lowest degree. As his vessel reached the anchorage, num- 
bers of the natives came off in their canoes to trade, and 
of these not one had a single article of clothing or cover- 
ing of any kind. Looking round the shores, he could see 
no houses, but it was evident by the large numbers of men — 
upon the water, that villages were near at hand. 
These were the people to whom he had come to bring the 
glorious gospel of our Lord and Saviour. And as he looked 
upon the land and the people of the land, he thought of the 
work he had come to do, and wondered what trials he should 
have to bear, what joys and sorrows would be his. He 
thought, too, of the struggles that must be made, of the 
fight and victories before him ere the people to whom he 
had come would receive the gospel and be rejoicing in its 
assurance of a Saviour’s love. 
Four days after his arrival, Mr. Brown began to build 
a house for the mission. He found the natives friendly, 
and even willing to help with the work. Among the men 
who assembled, two were pointed out to him as slaves be- 
longing to bushmen who lived in the interior of the island. 
Of these bush people he heard that they were skillful war- 
riors of whom the coastal tribes were terrified. So perfectly 
had they developed the art of concealment, it was said, that 
though they might stand close at hand, it was impossible to 
distinguish them from the surrounding bush. All whom 
Mr. Brown met seemed to live in continual dread of attack, 
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