Mission Work on the group. 195 
and the timber for his house was put on shore, the natives 
threw it back into the water; but as he persisted in landing 
it, they gave in, and he has been able to reside in safety on 
the island ever since. 
The missionary’s knowledge of medicine—though it may not 
in every case be very deep—gives him a hold upon the minds 
of his parishioners, and, not unfrequently, he now supersedes 
the disease-maker. Gunshot wounds, broken bones, sores, and 
fever and ague, come under his treatment. When the natives 
observe the good results, they gain confidence in his skill, and 
are not, I think, wanting in gratitude. 
The progress of the work all over the group is slow certainly, 
but I do not think on that account the less sure. There are no 
startling accounts of wonderful conversions, or of whole islands 
turning from their evil ways in one day—such as we sometimes 
hear of taking place in other quarters of the globe. The 
tribes here being so small, and the chiefs having so little influ- 
ence, such a thing cannot happen. Wholesale conversions 
cannot occur. Every man and woman has to be dealt with 
separately, and each has to be convinced of the truth for him- 
self and herself. Therefore it must be a work of time; but 
then it ensures that what is done, is done well. 
I am convinced that this work is going on steadily, and that 
these Christian missionaries are raising populations out of the 
fearful state of barbarism in which they have been living, are 
presenting to them the simple truths of Christianity, and are 
showing them that there is something to live for besides the 
mere gratification of the animal passions. They are doing this 
by the teachings of the church and of the school, and not less 
effectually by the example of consistent Christian lives. 
Before dismissing this subject, I must say a word or two 
about that other agency which is at work in this group—a hum- 
ble but none the less a useful one, viz., the native teachers. 
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