Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1895-11-16
Jenson's Travels.


Mr. VIM. Wilson, the CHIEF engineer OF
the Nausoh sugar mill placed me on
cane truck and called on two Indians TO
act as propeller; and of We started for
Ma Korocificiri, two and ihree'iourth
miles distant. The poor fellows ran
then best, at least a part OF the way
endeavoring to give me a good ride,
which was pleasant throughout for me.
The road bed built to conduct the sugar
cane from the vast plantation fields to
the mill, passing through the central
part Of the fields. Ma Korocirlciri, con-
sists Of cluster Of houses located on
hill) which serves as quarters for one
Of the plantation overseers and large
number Of Coolies and Indians. At
this place met according to appoint.
men, made the previous evening, Mr.
Eafdley ]. Mare, one OF the plantation
oyereers, and Charles ]. Morey, q man
who has spent twenty five years In FIJI,
and understands the native language al
most to perfection. With these two
gentlemen started out on four.mile
walk through hilly country covered
with dense tropical forest, In the direc-
ton oil Bau, the old native capital Of
FIJI On the road We passed a point
where q pitched battle was fought many
years ago between two tribes or nations
OF F1ans, in which the side commanded
by the king OF Bau were victorious and
killed about eight Of their enemies,
whose bodies they took with them to
the island Of Bau, where they cooked
and deyoured them in regular eannibal
style.
AZ the end Of our walk we found our.
selves in the native village Of Namata,
which Is pleasantly situated on the bank
OF river or very wide creek called Wal
Namata. Here We were well received
and treated to luncheon In the house oi
Rula Manka. who was once a great chief
and also Judge under the Colonial
government. lie Is a stout, well built
man. with dgnihed bearing and a very
intelligent look for a Fijian. he also
occupies the largest house IA the village,
and has an interesting family. lie
could not tell US how old he was, but
said that he had beard when the
missionaries FIRST arrived In the Islands
lin 1881 He and his people seemed to
feel quite proud OF their little new church
which had recently been built upon the
hill top Immediately behind the village;
upon which showed him picture OF
the Salt Lake City Temple, and sample
Of the rock Of which Il is built, and had
Mr.. Mofey explain the nature and size
oil the building to him. lie seemed
astonished. as II he had never known
before that buildings Of such dimensions
existed In the world. lie also for the
first time In his life heard the name OF
Utah and the Mormons mentioned, and
wanted TO know II | and my people
we're Christians. Our interpreter ex.
planned to him that also cater Christ.
ianity In its prmeval purity, and preach.
ed the Gospel exactly the same as Il had
been preached by Christ and his Apos.
ties In ancient days This seemed to
please him very much; and only wish
ed that had possessed a knu. edge OF
his language so that might have given
him further explanations. At the chiefs
house we also met Ratu Tuisevura, the
district doctor, who Is grandson OF old
King Cakobau. lie decided to accom-.
pany US to Bau, where his father, the
head chief OF Fit. still resides.
We next hired a boat with four stout
Young fellows to row II, and down the
river, down the river 1t went mefrily, for
the rowers seemed to be IN the best OF
humor and broke out into hearty peals
OF laughter whenever they noticed any.
thing in the movements VI their paSsen.
gers or surroundings which pleased them.
AT length after rounding several points
and bends In the river we reached the
ocean, when our jolly oarsmen pulled
straight for the island OF Bau which we
reached about o'clock p. M, about
three miles from where we got into the
boat. We were met at the landing by
quite a number OF natives whose curl.
osity had been somewhat aroused at
seeing three white men nearing their is.
land town.
Soon after landing We met Mr.. A. /.
Small, the Wesleyan Methodist minister
residing here, and his wife. They we're
going of to I'LL an appointment ON
neighboring island. had a hurried and
quite interesting conversation with Mr.
small, who told me that the Wesleyan
Methodsts had 5000 adhetenls ON the
group, TO whom nine white missionaries
and a large number OF natives were
'dlscoursing the word Of God" every
Sabbath. Ten white missionaries were
the number allotted to the group. but
one OF their number had died quite
recently. So thorough has been the
labors oil the Wesleyans on Fiji, that
there Is not village ON the whole group
which is not included IN their lsId Of
operation. The headquarters OF the
Wesleyan mission are at tue native town
oi Navoloa, situated at the mouth of one
OF the outlets OF the Rewa river, about
eight miles from Bau. Mr.. Small ex.
pressed his dislike Tor the Catholics who
were a continued menace TO the labors
vi the Wesleyans, rs they were follow
ing In their track nearly everywhere,
sowing the seed OF dlscoTd and dispute,
as he said, among the natives,
Bau Is little island with an area OF
about twenty-five acres lying less than
hall a mile OIL the east coast OF Vii
Levu. II consists ol small round
tapped hill with rim OF fiat land three
parts around tia very narrow rim at
the side, but running out like the peak
OF cap into a good building level on
the northeast. The mission premises
occupy the hill top; the native houses OF
the town with their tiny gardens, trees
aud small water holes are all on the Hat.
The Wesleyan Methodist church, a rock
building with an iron root, is also situat.
ed on the Hat, but right at the foot Of
the hill. The flat noTtion nj The leland