Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-10-23
TALES OF PLUCK
And ADVENTURE.
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The Mission Women in the Fijis.

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The Mission Women in the Fijis.
Among the friends made in the early
days of my ministry, writes G. W.
Payne. in the New Voice, was the
Rev. William Moore, now deceased,
and several members of his family.
Mr.. Moore labored for many years in
the Fiiian Methodist Mission, his
career dating back into the dark days
of lust and blood amid which that
mission began. His party landed
among cannibal savages. Anarchy and
bloodshed prevailed on every side.
The missionaries were frequently
threatened with instant destruction,
their houses destroyed and their prop
erty stolen. In other parts of the
group mission workers found q
martyrs death. Many stirring Incl
dents occurred in the earlier and
darker days of their work which have
never been recorded. The incident of
which 1 write was related some years
since in my hearing.
Shortly after the advent of the mis-
sion party referred to, leading chief,
named Thakombau, acquired consid.
erable influence over the savages
throughout the group. He was a man
of great intelligence and striking per-
sonality. In later years, by wise
statecraft, he brought the scattered
tribes of Fiji into some SEM
blance of true nationality. But
his superiority displayed itself dur
ing early manhood in the successful
conduct of numerous wars with neigh
boring tribes. After every battle can
nibal feasts were held to celebrate
victory or to ameliorate the chagrin of
a temporary repulse. At such times
prisoners captured in war or kidnapped
from hostile villages were dubbed and
eaten. After some years the mission
aries succeeded in rescuing many Of
the prisoners destined for death. and
occasionally in checking the wild
orgies over those actually slain.
During one of the frequent tribal
wars the missionaries iourneyed to
distant village with view of recon-
CLING the tribes concerned. Thakom-
bau, for the time being, resided in
village adjacent to the mission station.
During the absence of the missionaries
party of his warriors brought in
seven women captured while gather
ing food on the plantations of their
enemies. The chief forthwith decided
to celebrate great feast, and all
night long preparations were in
progress. In the early morning news
came to the mission house that crowds
were gathering to witness the slaugh-
ter of the captives and to participate
in the feast. The wives of the mis-
sionaries were alone with their little
ones and few faithful attendants,
while the country was full of yelling
savages. In the absence of their
husbands no one remained to de-
nounce the iniquity or plead for the
victims. After brief consultation
these heroic women, leaving their
little ones and commencing all to
God, determined to act as the mis-
sionaries would have done had they
been at home. When they reached
the scene the butchery had begun.
Three bodies lay side by side, the
skulls dashed in by the death-club.
Without q moments hesitation these
dauntless women confronted the
frowning chief, denouncing the horrid
iniquity of it all and warning him of
the wrath of heaven against his deeds.
Then they pleaded for the lives of the
remaining captives. The chief waited
till they had finished speaking. All
present expected to see an outburst