How the Gospel was First Carried, 255 
mission effort ; and promised faithfully that as soon as 
possible missionaries should be sent to settle in the island. 
Nearly two years passed by, however, before the promise 
could be redeemed; but in July, 1839, Mr. Hunt and Mr. 
Lyth were sent to Somo Somo, relying on the king's promise 
to be kindly treated, and provided with houses. Contrary 
to expectation, however, nobody seemed to care about them, 
or their comfort, and beyond giving up one empty large old 
house of his own for their temporary use, Tui Thakow 
seemed to ignore them. The two mission families endea- 
voured to make the best of it, and hoped that the work 
commenced so unpromisingly, would end brightly. But 
dark days were in store for them, on several accounts. Ra 
Mbithi, one of the king's sons, had gone to the windward 
islands with a number of canoes, but had met with his death 
at sea, or rather, according to some accounts, had drifted to 
the island of Ngau, where, according to the custom with all 
shipwrecked sailors, he, with his men, had been killed and 
eaten. In accordance with custom also, several women, 
both wives and servants, were doomed to be strangled, in 
order that they might accompany the deceased prince into 
the spirit-world. Sixteen women were selected for strang- 
ling ; and the missionaries gave their first offence, by pre- 
suming to plead for the lives of the poor doomed creatures. 
Once, and again, they got the execution of the dread sen- 
tence put off, while canoes went out to search for the 
missing prince. Tidings came back that it was all true, and 
then, in spite of all remonstrance, the sixteen women were 
strangled, and most of them buried just in front of the 
missionaries' dweUing. Not only was this dreadful deed 
committed, but many others right before their eyes ; while 
for their remonstrance, they were threatened with death. 
Almost every week they had to see cannibal orgies carried 
