16 A MISSION TO VITI. 
a square filled up by mould, over which a kind of shed 
was erected. A dense grove of iron-wood trees, so much 
reminding us, by their sombre aspect, of our pines, form 
an appropriate accompaniment to the place. The wind 
playing in the branches, caused a wailing melancholy 
sound, fully impressing me with the idea that even the 
savages who planted these trees must have had some 
sparks of poetry in their composition. It is a strange 
ethnological fact, that most nations surround the tombs 
of those dear to them with trees belonging to the pine 
tribe, or at least trees partaking, as the iron-wood does, 
of their physiognomy. The Greeks and Turks think 
the cypress a befitting expression of their grief; the 
Chinese, the beautiful Cupressus funebris ; and the Ger- 
mans and English, the arbor-vite and yew. All attempts 
to convince people that a graveyard ought to have as 
cheerful a look as such a drear lonely spot can ever be 
expected to assume have in the long-run proved a failure. 
Ivy-clad church walls, mossy tombstones, and sombre- 
looking yews, are in better keeping with it than gay 
flower-beds or bright tinsel. 
The mission-station at Lakeba is close to a great 
swamp, and cannot be very healthy. Many more salubri- 
ous spots might doubtless be found, but the missionary, 
in order to do the greatest amount of good, should live 
amongst his flock, and avoid every kind of isolation. 
He should mix with them as freely as he possibly can, 
and, on the principle that example is better than precept, 
exhibit as much of his daily family life as is compatible 
with necessary privacy. From that point of view, the 
place has been well chosen; but it is certainly a great 
