id, waving his hand around him, "the village, and the
church did not exist a year ago!"

We were indeed much interested in this account, and I could not help
again in my heart praying to God to prosper those missionary societies
that send such inestimable blessings to these islands of dark and bloody
idolatry. The teacher also added that the other tribes were very
indignant at this one for having burned its gods, and threatened to
destroy it altogether; but they had done nothing yet. "And if they
should," said the teacher, "the Lord is on our side; of whom shall we be
afraid?"

"Have the missionaries many stations in these seas?" inquired Jack.

"Oh yes. The London Missionary Society have a great many in the Tahiti
group, and other islands in that quarter. Then the Wesleyans have the
Feejee Islands all to themselves, and the Americans have many stations
in other groups. But still, my friend, there are hundreds of islands
here, the natives of which have never heard of Jesus, or the good word
of God, or the Holy Spirit; and thousands are living and dying in the
practice of those terrible sins and bloody murders of which you have
already heard.--I trust, my friends," he added, looking earnestly into
our faces--"I trust that if you ever return to England, you will tell
your Christian friends that the horrors which they hear of in regard to
these islands are _literally true_, and that when they have heard the
worst, the `_half has not been told them_;' for there are perpetrated
here foul deeds of darkness of which man may not speak. You may also
tell them," he said, looking around with a smile, while a tear of
gratitude trembled in his eye and rolled down his coal-black
cheek--"tell them of the blessings that the Gospel has wrought _here_!"

We assured our friend that we would certainly not forget his request.
On returning towards the village, about noon, we remarked on the
beautiful whiteness of the cottages.

"That is owing to the lime with which they are plastered," said the
teacher. "When the natives were converted, as I have described, I set
them to work to build cottages for themselves, and also this handsome
church which you see. When the framework and other parts of the house
were up, I sent the people to fetch coral from the sea. They brought
immense quantities. Then I made them cut wood, and piling the coral
above it, set it on fire.

"`Look! look!' cried the poor people in amazement; `what wonderfu