find that the opinions which Jack and I had
been led to form, from personal observation on our Coral Island, were
thus to a great extent corroborated.

The missionary also gave us an account of the manner in which
Christianity had been introduced among them. He said: "When
missionaries were first sent here, three years ago, a small vessel
brought them; and the chief, who is now dead, promised to treat well the
two native teachers who were left with their wives on the island. But
scarcely had the boat which landed them returned to the ship than the
natives began to maltreat their guests, taking away all they possessed,
and offering them further violence, so that when the boat was sent in
haste to fetch them away, the clothes of both men and women were torn
nearly off their backs.

"Two years after this the vessel visited them again, and I, being in
her, volunteered to land alone, without any goods whatever, begging that
my wife might be brought to me the following year--that is, _this_ year;
and, as you see, she is with me. But the surf was so high that the boat
could not land me; so with nothing on but my trousers and shirt, and
with a few catechisms and a Bible, besides some portions of the
Scripture translated into the Mango tongue, I sprang into the sea, and
swam ashore on the crest of a breaker. I was instantly dragged up the
beach by the natives; who, on finding I had nothing worth having upon
me, let me alone. I then made signs to my friends in the ship to leave
me, which they did. At first the natives listened to me in silence, but
laughed at what I said while I preached the Gospel of our blessed
Saviour Jesus Christ to them. Afterwards they treated me ill,
sometimes; but I persevered, and continued to dwell among them, and
dispute, and exhort them to give up their sinful ways of life, burn
their idols, and come to Jesus.

"About a month after I landed, I heard that the chief was dead. He was
the father of the present chief, who is now a most consistent member of
the Church. It is a custom here that when a chief dies his wives are
strangled and buried with him. Knowing this, I hastened to his house to
endeavour to prevent such cruelty if possible. When I arrived, I found
two of the wives had already been killed, while another was in the act
of being strangled. I pleaded hard for her, but it was too late; she
was already dead. I then entreated the son to spare the fourth wife,
and after much hesita