266 A MISSION TO VITI. 
Roman Catholics present, he dwelt on the errors of their 
dogmas, and abused the Virgin and the Saints in un- 
measured terms. It would have been hardly possible 
to preach a more impracticable sermon, or exhibit worse 
taste or less discretion. Ritova, on pointing out the site 
for a church, begged the Consul to write to the head- 
quarters of the missionaries about sending him Chris- 
tian teachers; but, if possible, not a Tonguese or a man 
of extreme sectarian views, who, by widening the breach 
between Roman Catholics and Protestants, might endan- 
ger the peace, whilst a man of moderate views would 
have little difficulty in making the whole population 
of one way of thinking on religious subjects. He after- 
wards recurred to this topic when he saw me again, say- 
ing—though of course using different language—that the 
ethical part of Christianity, that which was the basis 
of both denominations, had a deep interest to him, but 
that he attached little value to mere dogmas. This was 
a proof to me that this man had thought much more 
deeply on religion than he had received credit for. When 
lonely pacing up and down the trodden path behind his 
hut, he had evidently sought to arrive at some solution 
respecting the conflicting views rival denominations pre- 
sented to him. 
One of Ritova’s large canoes had come along with us, 
but all the others had not made their appearance the 
second day after our arrival. Some uneasiness being felt 
lest the Tongucse had captured them, heavy laden as they 
were with passengers, goods, and live stock, a messenger 
was dispatched to the island of Kia, who returned with 
two other canoes, having Ritova’s son (Tui Macuata) on 
