The Mission Fred. 13 
Infanticide and parricide were also practised. The mother 
might not forget her sucking child, but it was often wrested 
from her—especially if it was a girl—and cast out into the bush 
or on the sea-beach to die ; and the old man, who should have 
been his children’s glory, was buried alive by them. 
Such were the religious beliefs and social practises of the 
Aneityumese before the Dayspring from on high visited them. 
Let the reader ask himself what kind of a life these poor people 
could have. Could it possibly be a happy life—a gentle life— 
a noble life? And yet there are persons among us who would 
have stopped Mr. Geddie as he went, Lamp-in-hand, into that 
thick darkness, and entreated him not to interfere with these 
children of Nature: not to interfere with their religion—it 
was ¢hezr religion, and therefore good for them; not to inter- 
fere with their ways—they were ‘her ways, and therefore the 
best for them. 
a ae 
