THE islands of Polynesia number thousands, and their inhabitants millions, of various races.
Apart from the large groups and islands adjacent to Southeastern Asia, their inhabitants are estimated at 5,600,000. The Philippines, now open to the Gospel, let us hope, add from 7,000,000 to 10,000,000 more. Yet it is said that the population of Polynesia is much less since the vices brought by the white man were introduced.
A little over one hundred years ago the London Missionary Society was organized, and the Duff, the first known missionary ship that ever plowed the ocean, carried a company of missionaries from England to the South Sea islands. After sixteen years of toil and patient waiting, the first-fruits of the Gospel seed appeared at Raiatea, one of the Society Islands. Soon the mass of the people of the entire group renounced idolatry and professedly accepted the Christian religion. From there the message of peace was carried to the Cook, Samoan, Tongan, Fijis, and adjacent groups of islands. Much has been done for the people, but much still remains to be done. While many of the people have the outward form of the Christian religion, the heart retains its idols. Within the past two years a white trader was killed and eaten by the cannibals of the Northern New Hebrides. The Solomon islanders still engage in head-hunting. When a new war canoe is launched, it is christened with the skulls taken from the heads of neighboring tribesmen.
Typical West India Natives.
Two years ago, when I visited the Santa Cruz Islands, there were but two white men there. One of the men, Mr. Forest, had spent eight or ten years in the group, had acquired the language, reduced it to writing, and had translated portions of the Scriptures into the native tongue. Three mission schools had been opened, and some of the people were being taught to read their own language. Of the 6,000 inhabitants, seventy or eighty were professed adherents to the Christian faith.
In New Guinea, the mass of the people still cling to their idols and are sunken in heathenism.
Mission stations have been established on the southeastern and eastern shore of New Guinea,24but the western end and the interior of that vast island have scarcely been touched by the missionary. There are yet millions of heathen in these islands to hear the Gospel. "The isles shall wait for His law." How long must they wait?
