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Sport 26: Autumn 2001
VI We Start With the Fullest Belief
VI We Start With the Fullest Belief
1
One day the Christians will come
with crucifix in one hand
and dagger in the other
to cut your throats;
one day under their rule
you will be almost as unhappy as they are.
2
We start with the fullest belief in the capacity of these races;
and with the strongest conviction. We
must prevent them acquiescing in the idea
of their inferiority, inability to help themselves, etc…
We aim at the practical teaching of the truth.
‘God hath made of one blood, etc.’
We don't aim at making Melanesians Englishmen, but
Christians; and we try to think out the meaning and attitude of the
Melanesian mind and character—
not to suppress it but to educate it.
3
My father
was a very wicked old man. As I grew up
it seemed to be my very trade
to lie and steal; and the Sabbath I generally spent
in hunting wild pigs.
I was sick and became a Christian.
Instead of going to war I got up,
put on a decent cloth and joined a party of steady people
who were going off to remonstrate.
I am greatly delighted to add
my old erring father
seems now to be turning to the saviour too.