194 A MISSION TO VITI. 
home,” he continued, “all my thoughts are with my 
family, and I am never so happy as when I am under 
my own roof, and have my wife and children around me. 
When a few days ago my youngest boy was ill, I sat up 
with him three nights, and it would have broken my 
heart had he died.” 'The man was a savage, a heathen, 
yet could any Christian parent have spoken more warmly 
or naturally? Fortunately, affection is wisely placed by 
Providence beyond the reach or influence of any system, 
right or wrong. Like a beautiful flower, it springs up 
freely in any soil congenial to its growth. If the Fi- 
jians were only half as black as they have been painted, 
they would long ere this have been numbered amongst 
the extinct races ; for no society, however primitive, can 
possibly continue to exist, if the evil passions—the de- 
structive elements—preponderate over the good. The 
best vindication of their national character is their na- 
tional existence; the best proof of their living a life as 
free from vice and corrupting practices as any heathen 
can be expected to live, is a physical development on an 
average far above that of which our own race, with all 
its advantages of civilization, can ever hope to boast. 
In the evenings, Batinisavu or other men would come 
and entertain me with some of those innumerable 
stories, in which the natives may be said to photograph 
themselves, show in what direction their fancy wanders, 
and which no travellers, worthy of the name, should 
omit writing down. The supernatural element plays 
a prominent part in all Fijian stories, and whilst 
possessing a decidedly local colouring, they forcibly re- 
mind one of our own nursery tales. The natives are 
