24 The Work. 
with infinite labour, a version of the Gospel of Mark, whlch was 
printed in Sydney, and 3000 copies brought to Aneityum in the 
Fohn Williams. 
And now the little church, having attained stability and 
strength, put forth its first missionary effort. Two teachers— 
Waihit and Josefa—were sent forth to the neighbouring island 
of Fotuna, and shortly afterwards two more to Tana. 
In 1854 a church was opened at Aname, and the Lord’s 
Supper was observed with nine native christians. The multi- 
tude of hearers who assembled was nearly a thousand. Such a 
gathering had never been seen in the island since the world was; 
for the people lived in such hatred and fear of each other that 
they seldom crossed the narrow boundaries of their own tribes. 
The church at Anelcauhat was also rebuilt this year, and made 
capable of containing goo persons. Mr. Hardie, of the London 
Missionary Society—who visited Aneityum in October of that 
year — tells us that 2000 of the natives had openly re- 
nounced heathenism and embraced christianity; thirty schools 
were in operation, and everything indicated the most cheering 
progress. “ The christian party,” he writes, “has gained a very 
decided ascendancy all over the island; the ancient cus- 
toms are everywhere on the wane. War, cannibalism and 
heathen orgies may be now reckoned among the things that 
were. The Natmases are everywhere being cast away or 
neglected, and for eighteen months no case of strangling has 
occurred.” 
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4 
