In Cannibal Land

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Oct 19, 1905

The Mission World gives the following extract from a letter from Dr. J. G. Paton, of the New Hebrides, as to the present condition of affairs among these islands:—

“God has given us over sixteen thousand worshipers, and over three hundred and thirty of them are native teachers and evangelists, who are now helping us in the work of trying to bring the remaining population, from forty to sixty thousand cannibals, yet on the group, to fear and serve our dear Lord Jesus Christ.

“On Malekula and its surrounding islands the natives are almost entirely without clothing. They frequently strangle the very aged and those long sick, or bury them alive. When their female children come to be from six to twelve years of age, they knock out their two front teeth, and then sell them to the highest bidder, for from six to ten or twelve hogs for each. The purchaser may have three or more wives already; he may be young, but is generally old. The poor girl may weep, and plead not to be sold, but she has no choice in it. Her father disposes of her at will, and under a guard armed with loaded rifles, her purchaser takes her to his home. If she runs away, as is often the case, she is forced to return; if she runs away a second time, she is fetched back, and a row of three or more holes is burned in her breast or side by fiery sticks; if she runs away a third time, a hot stone is placed behind her knee, or knees, so burning her that she can not run away again. So some are lamed for life. The buyer can sell her again, or kill her at will, and none dare find fault. She is his own. He bought her, and can do with her as he pleases. So women are slaves, and used as beasts of burden to men.

“The teaching of our dear Lord Jesus is the only effectual cure for all these evils. At the three mission stations on the island of Malekula, occupied only a few years, there are: at Uripiv, fifty-four church-members and three hundred and nine attending the services; at Pangkumu, eighty-six church-members and four hundred and fifty attending the services; and at Aulua, one hundred church-members and five hundred attending the services. These are doing all they can to help the missionary in bringing others to worship and serve Jesus Christ.

“How it would have rejoiced our helpers in the home lands to have seen nearly three hundred assembled on a recent Sabbath, when I baptized eleven adults, and dispensed the Lord's supper to six whites and one hundred and fifty-three of our natives, sitting on the green grass, where only a few years ago I baptized the first six converts and celebrated the first communion! Our converts from Christian villages generally live near one another, and begin and close every day with praise and prayer. They try to work for Jesus in teaching and preaching the gospel to others. By grog, ammunition, and firearms given to the savages, chiefly by French and other traders, many have lately been ruined and killed, and great suffering has been caused.”