Smyrna times., 1859-05-26
The Fijians-Results of Missionary Eff
forts among Them.


their inhabitants, derived from work published
by two English missionaries The moral traits
of the Fijans and the influence which mission
ary efforts has had upon them, furnish addition
al points tf interest. When the missionaries
first went to the islands the native Fijian was
found to be relcntlessy bloody and cruel, a liar,
decettul and revengeful. When person was
offended he seldom said anything, but placed a
stick or stone in such position continually
TO remind him of his grudge until he obtained
his revenge. Sometimes he would hang over
his bed the dress of a murdered friend for this
purpose. Boodshed was regarded as no crime
| lnantlcde common, and to murder the
aged and lnhrm was esteemed merltOrlOus.-
The condition of woman was most degraded
and cannlbalisn, with all its horrors and revolt
ing atrocities, was practiced without compunc-
ton. This practice is part of the Fijian's re-
ligion, and is held to be pleasing to the gods.
| The attempt to Christiahize these savages ap-
pears 10 have grown out Of a Wesleyan mission
begun about thirty years since in the Friendly
Isles, which soon rose into importance aud in
tluence. In few years hundreds Of the Ton
gans were converted to Christianity. The Ton
gans have much intercourse with the Fillans,
and many of them are TO be found in the FIJI
Islands. These latter the Christianized Ton
gans endeavored TO reclaim from the heathenlsh
vices which they practiscd in common with the
Fijians. These efforts were in good measure
successful, and Christianity continuing to spread
among the Tongans at home until the converts
numbered many thousands, they became Jealous
to extend the religious blessings they had re- |
celved to their friends the Fllians. The same
spirit reached the English missionaries who
were laborlng among the TOngans, and not,
withstanding the fearful risk Of the underta-
king, two of their number (Messrs. Cross and
CargilD emigrated to the Fyian group, arriving
! at Lembaka on the 18th of October, lS30.- !
The King of Tonga sent one Of his chief men
with them, with a present 10 the FIJI king, and
with entreates to use the missionaries well. -
AS they approached the shore great crowd OF
Withholding savageS, armed and blackened,
according to custom, greeted them with deaf
enng shouts. The dominant chief received
them favoraby, and promised protection. They
soOn had some houses built and not long after
mastered the FIjlan language, and had some
portions of Scripture in that tongue printed on
their press at Tongan. Preaching and religious
instruction was established, and many OF the
TOngans who had hitherto moved about FIJI IN
the unchecked indulgence of every vice, ac-
knowIedged the power of the gospel and became
truly penltent.
The influence for a season. however, was
rather reflex than direct. The example of the
strangers began to tell on the industrial habits
of the Fijans. Comforts, before un:hought of,
were sought after, and an eager desire was
manifested to get tools like those used in build
ing and gardening by the Missionaries. Nothing
passed unobseryec, and the natives could not
, help admirlng the orderly domestic arrange
ments and loving social intercourse exhibited
in the families Of the missionaries, who had
tIoir ooAo oh with fhnp n.
fluence of the new truth began to spread, and
very many of the people forsook their idoatry
and heathenism. This was especially the case
with the poorer classes The King, however,
kept aloof from the new faith, and not liking
I the changes which it produced in the habits OF
his subjects, attempted TO check It's progress by
prosecution. A heather party plaged the
4 houses Of the Christians in two of the towns,
destroyed ther crops, and led off their wives
captivcs to the Kings household. This and
D threats of further prosecution caused many to
' draw back; nethertheless, the work prospered,
and at the end of their first year the mission
q aries received saventy-nine adults and seven
teen children into the church by baptism.
The missionaries continued their labors, and
in 1888 the basis of their operations was greatly
enlarged, aud their influence correspondngly
e increased, by the arrival of printing and book
r binding materials from England, and three
: other brethren 20 the missionary staff. Com
parativelv, however, the light OF the gospel had
spread over q very small circle IN FlJi' ana
|. scenes of horrible cruelty were constantly Ia
king place within short distance OF the mis-
sionaries, while every vice was committed by
e the people among whom they lived. But they
, received more assistance from the Friendly
Isles, and established stations in other parts OF
: the Fiji group. In 1887 they received warm
= invitation from the King of Somosonio TO estab-
n ish a mission on his island, but on two OF their
number going thither in 1880, they were coldly
received. They found cannibalism prevailing
! in it's most revolving forms. The next year
- they were repeatedly told that they were to be
IL murdered. Commodore Wilkes, OF the Y. D.
Ex xPoring Expedition, who visited the Island al
IT this period, offered to remove the mperlled
n missionaries and their families, but they had
devoted themselves to the work before them
Il and would not forsake it, Notwithstanding the
n hardships, privations and danger they had to
- endure Commodore Wilkes bears strong tes
:, timony 10 their sclfsacrifcine devotion to duty
amid the most trying scenes. lhelr perSe
v verance and devotion were at length rewarded
:" brother of the King, a man of much infu
Us ence, renOunced heathenism, and Ia c0nsc
81 quence, hostility towards the missionaries d
minished and they were euabled TO procee
, n more boldly. Yet one of them came near losIn
it his life at the Kings hands for urging tn
claims of the gospel upon him during mt
-, illness.
S IS' The history of the little band of Mssonarle
.L who thus attempted the conversion OF the ter'
81. J. u cious islanders of the Fiiis, is checkered
L many affecting and thrilling events. They mt
The with frequent reverses and disappointment
INK but never despaired, and not only maintaine
ous their ground, but by the help Of reinforcement
10 labored so eectual!y that in FIJI there are no
ar. more than seven thousand church member
his about two thousand on trlal Tor memoershl
ass, and sixty thousand stated hearers o 'he Nosp
t il "A remarkable evidence of the power of t
SO, Christian religion. Notwithstanding the e
lier tent of tho field, there are but eight msso
aries on the islands - Boston Journal