THE FIJI ISLANDS 
481 
much facilitated their task, and Christianity followed in 
the wake of the spear and club. But so treacherous 
were the natives, and so addicted to cannibalism from 
mere appetite, that the struggle was a severe one, and 
numbers of the missionaries laid down their lives for the 
cause. King Thakombau, himself a confirmed cannibal, 
was at length converted, and human sacrifices abolished, 
and at the present time there is a church and school in 
nearly every village. It is not to be supposed that this 
Christianity is of a very high standard ; in a vast number 
of cases it is no doubt little more than a name, but 
taking the previous state of things into consideration, the 
progress made is wonderful, and it is probable that in no 
place has missionary effort been more successful, and its 
fruits more apparent, than in Fiji. The Wesleyan mis¬ 
sionaries work largely by means of native teachers and 
ministers, the time of the European staff being chiefly 
occupied in training and instructing these. All the 
children go to school, and almost all can read and write. 
The native clergy are fluent, and often really eloquent, 
speakers, and make good schoolmasters. In 1891 there 
were 914 chapels, and 3600 native teachers and ministers, 
under the management of 11 European missionaries, and 
the sect claimed over 100,000 adherents. The Roman 
Catholics have also a numerous following under an 
Apostolic Prefect and 19 French missionaries, the 
mission having been established in 1844. There are 
178 native teachers, and the education of both native 
and European girls is attended to by 2 0 European 
Sisters. The total number of Roman Catholics in 1891 
was returned as 10,500. The Church of England has 
two churches, one in Suva and one in Levuka. There 
are three primary schools for the education of European 
children, with a united average attendance of 250, and 
2 i 
