FRIENDLY ISLANDS. 301 



I regard the Wesleyan Missionary Society as a sectarian body. 

 Here at least the mission is conducted in a truly Catholic 

 spirit. The natives hear only the plain unadulterated Gospel 

 which we all receive, nor would they be aware (but for the 

 presence of a Jesuit mission among them) of the unhappy dif- 

 ferences which have rent the Christian Church. The mis- 

 sionaries take the New Testament in their band and expound 

 the truths of Christianity in their fulness and broadness; not 

 troubling the natives with curious questions and speculations. 

 They have also translated into Tongese, an abridgment of our 

 noble Liturgy, which is always used in the chapel service. The 

 result has been the total extinction of heathenism in these 

 islands, accompanied by a change in manners truly wonderful, 

 considering the short time that the mission has been established. 

 The last human sacrifice occurred but fourteen years ago. 

 Previous to that time they were common, and always on 

 the death of a high chief; either one of his children or wives was 

 strangled, and others of his relatives often maimed or grievously 

 wounded. At that time also, the natives, notwithstanding their 

 " friendliness " to strangers, were thieves and liars, and though 

 less savage than the Fijians, were living in the habitual sins 

 of heathenism. Now, they are a quiet, peaceable, and well- 

 ordered Christian community, and many have given unmis- 

 takeable evidence of the reality of their conversion, and become 

 able assistants to the missionaries in carrying on the work of 

 Christianization. Recently (in comparison) the Society has 

 established a mission in the Fijian group, where already the 

 converts number 10,000, including several chiefs. The Fiji 

 Islands are said to contain nearly 200,000 inhabitants, and 

 those not yet under missionary care are savages of the worst 

 character. They are cannibals to a fearful extent, habitually 

 feeding on human flesh ; not from revenge or from necessity, 

 but because they prefer it to other food. They eat their enemies 

 or prisoners when in their power ; but, if unsuccessful in catching 

 these — their lawful prey — they will cook their own wives or 

 children. Not long ago a case occurred at Fiji, when a wretch 

 ordered his wife to heat the oven, and when she had heated it 

 she asked him, "Where is the food?" "You are the food," was 

 the savage reply, when he instantly clubbed her, and then 

 cooked her for himself and the party. 



