190 Letter XIV. 
the sandalwood traders and others. First, on Aneityum’, 
a missionary and his wife landed in 1848, and they, with 
another, have been labouring on that island ever since. And 
if we compare the Aneityumese as they are now with the na- 
tives of any island not yet touched by the missionary, who 
represent the Aneityumese as they used to be, we arrive at a 
tolerably correct conclusion as to the results—at least ex- 
ternally—of the missionaries’ work. The difference is very ap- 
parent, even to the most superficial observer. On Aneityum, 
they are clothed, they are at peace, have given up all those, 
heathen abominations—such as cannibalism, strangulation | of. 
widows, infanticide, and obscene dances—and they regularly 
attend church on Sunday. Life and property are as safe. 
there, or perhaps more so, than in Great Britain. In fact, 
they are now a christian community. 
Now, do not misunderstand me. I don’t mean to assert 
that they are all upright, infallible persons—that none amongst. 
them ever do wrong. There are thieves amongst them, and. 
quarrelsome persons; and no doubt some who have still a, 
hankering after old times and old habits. But what I mean to 
say is this—that heathenism has taken its departure from that, 
island, that the young generation is growing up ignorant of all 
those abominable heathen customs once so common, and that 
they now deserve the name of a christian population as much as 
any of our communities do, where people are brought up every 
day for committing all sorts of crimes and offences. 
Men often accuse missionaries of colouring their reports, and 
sending to their churches exaggerated statements of the 
progress of their work. Such accusations do not apply here. 
If anything, I find that the missionaries are apt to take rather 
a depreciatory view of their own work; and: they are very 
cautious on all occasions to avoid making things appear better 
than they are. Here is what Mr. Copeland, of Fotuna, writes 
in one of the reports :— 
