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2i6 The T^'iumphs of the Gospel in Fiji, 
The difference between heathenism and Christianity was 
never more startlingly shown, than in the treatment of sick 
and infirm people in Fiji. Mr. Calvert says, "Bald heads 
and grey hairs excite contempt instead of honour ; and on 
this account, the aged, when they find themselves likely to 
become troublesome, beg of their children to strangle them. 
If the parents should be slow at making this proposal, their 
children anticipate them. The heathen notion is, that as 
they die, such will be their condition . in another world ; 
hence their desire to escape extreme infirmity. I have 
never known a case of self-destruction which had personal 
defect or deformity for its motive ; but a repugnance on the 
part of the young, the sound, and the healthy, to associate 
with the aged, sick, and infirm, is the main cause of the 
sacrifice. 
The aged and infirm were often buried alive ; at other 
times, strangled or starved to death ; and strange to say, the 
use of a rope, in order to strangle them, and so put them ^ 
quickly out of suffering, was esteemed such a kindness, that 
the Fijians could not understand the missionaries viewing 
the practice in any other light. Was a family intending to 
go upon a voyage, or journey, any sick member likely to 
burden their hands, and claim their attention, was first put 
out of the way ; and should no earlier or more favourable 
opportunity offer, the invalid was quickly dropped over the 
side of the boat, when fairly out at sea. In some cases, an 
invalid was borne with for a short time, when particularly ' 
influential, or related to the chief, but this forbearance 
always vanished as soon as the sick one grew burdensome, 
helpless, or offensive. Killing the sick, to avoid trouble, and 
aged parents, to get rid of the helplessness attending second 
childhood, ranked as social institutions in Fiji, and he would 
have been a brave man who disregarded either practice. 
